Kira stood there not really sure what to do. ‘Guess I’ll have get used to a lot of hugging from now on, huh?’ Kira had to break the mood somehow. She didn’t want to offend Jesse by pulling away, so she did the only thing she could. She mentally reached out to Bo to distract herself. Bo, taking the hint, readily jumped in to help her.

‘At least for a couple of days.’

“Uh, Uncle Jesse? Um...” How could he let his uncle know Kira really NEEDED him to let go. Sensing her anxiety level rising, Bo placed his hand on Jesse’s arm causing him to look up at his blond nephew. Emotion still running high, he pulled the young man towards him, allowing Kira to slip out of the old man’s grasp.

‘Thanks.’

True, she had been more patient with Bo’s emotional outburst a few days earlier, but she’s always known Bo. Jesse is a stranger to her, blood or not. Plus, she’d not been faced with the knowledge of knowing that she could expect many more displays like this in the coming days.

“Come on Boss, ain’t no reason for us to stay.” Rosco would love to stay for the reunion, but he understood that this was a private family moment. He led Boss towards his car as he gave Luke a heartfelt smile (something he rarely did to the Dukes) as he passed by him.

Jesse started to pull away from Bo as he lightly smacked him upside the head. “I ought to tan your hide for making me worry so much about you!”

“I’m sorry Uncle Jesse. I didn’t mean to worry you none. I just ...” Kira put her glasses back on to hide her amusement as it appeared that Bo wouldn’t be granted a reprieve from Jesse’s annoyance over running off to Atlanta.

“Well let’s get inside. You’re just in time for supper. Go get cleaned up.”

“Yes sir,” Bo answered automatically, walking toward the house. Kira, not quite ready to face the others and wanting to head off any more emotional outburst, quickly followed right behind him.

‘Oh no you don’t. You’re not leaving me alone with them just yet.’

‘Scared?’ Bo teased her, trying to lift her mood but missing the mark.

‘Petrified.’

Jesse watched the twins walk in together slightly confused. When she faced Boss she’d seemed so confident. Now it was like that bold woman that stood there smirking at Boss had been replaced by a scared child. He wondered just what kind of life would make Kira scared of her own family. Because she was. He had seen it in her eyes just before she’d put those danged glasses back on. That must have been the reason behind them.

“Well, let’s go on in too.”

“Uncle Jesse?” Luke walked up, not sure if he really believed that Bo could mysteriously find his twin so quickly after just learning about her. Luke was suspicious and didn’t want to see Bo hurt if she turned out to be a fraud. “Do you really think that she’s Kira, OUR Kira?” The others had gathered around, letting Luke ask the same questions that they wanted to know the answers to. “How can we know for sure she is who she says she is?”

“Luke. She is Kira. She looks just like her momma. Plus, remember the bond that they have, it’s the same as the one that yours and Bo’s daddies had. If Bo says she’s Kira then there ain’t no doubt.”

Back in the hall, Bo waited for Kira to finish cleaning up before heading in to the main room. “Kira, you going to be alright?” Bo asked as she steps out of the bathroom.

Kira looked up to answer. She almost bluffed her way out but remembered the one rule that Bo said that Jesse had always enforce. Dukes don’t lie to Dukes. Well, if she’s a Duke, she’d better answer honestly or not at all. “Ask me later.”

There, a safe answer. Bo gave here a smile as he led the way to the kitchen. The leaf had been added to the table and chairs were added to accommodate the seven Dukes. Coy was about to sit in the chair next to his, Vance was already sitting opposite of the chair that Coy was heading for. That only left the seat BETWEEN Daisy and Vance for Kira. Bo caught Coy’s eye and barely shook his head mouthing the word please. Coy seemed to understand and took the other seat instead. The blessing was said and the Dukes all began to start their supper of pintos and sweet cornbread. No one seemed to want to be the first to break the silence. Not sure where to begin.

Finally, Bo took the lead. “Okay, I have to know, when did you get that paper signed? I know it wasn’t today ‘cause I was with you at the office.”

Kira looked up with a slight grin on her face. “Yesterday. Aren’t ‘cha glad I didn’t trust you when ya said you’d be in the clear as long as you weren’t caught crossing the line?”

“A word of warning, never trust Bo unless he’s behind the wheel of something on four tires.” Luke piped in. Kira laughed as Bo tried his best to look offended, then gave up and laughed along, too.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Just how is it that you were able to get that there paper for Bo?” Daisy asked while reaching for another piece of cornbread.

“I just asked Judge Barclay a favor. He owed me. It’s a good thing that I haven’t been in the habit of calling in those favors a lot. It made it a bit easier to get him to agree.”

“Just what do you do in Atlanta that would make a Judge owe YOU a favor?” Coy had to hear this one.

“I’ve been helping his daughter through a rough patch is all. You could say she learned the hard way what can happen to a runaway in the city. We clicked, so I’ve been like a big sister to her to help her out.”

“Now that still didn’t exactly answer Coy’s question. What do you do in Atlanta?” Jesse wanted to steer the conversation to how Bo and Kira met up after so long, but he’ll let the kids run it for right now.

“I… uh… I’m a public defender.” Kira heard a spoon clatter in a bowl. Not sure who dropped it since no one was eating anymore. No one but Bo that is.

“As in a Lawyer?” Luke tried to remember if he had ever heard of a Duke lawyer. Nope. Guess there’s always a first. Then a thought hit him causing him to burst out laughing. “A lawyer whose brother is on probation for running moonshine. I bet that’ll go over well with your co-workers.”

That broke the ice as the others joined in with the laughter and then began to ask Kira various questions about how she had became a lawyer. Kira explained, vaguely (she’s a lawyer after all), of going to law school as a condition of the Will left by Ben Kyle. She also had explained that she had become a P.D. instead of accepting the junior partnership at Ben’s old firm when Tom and Michelle had offered it. Wanting to prove that she could do her job without anyone’s help. Her tuition may have been a gift, but she had busted her hide to earn her diploma. Pride. The only thing that she had held onto all her life had kept her from taking the easier path. Duke Pride, Jesse acknowledge silently. It appeared she had her share. As he saw Kira talk about her time in Atlanta, he once again saw the confident young woman that had stared J.D. down earlier.

“For twins, you and Bo sure ain’t much alike.” Daisy looked at her cousins trying to find any similarities. “I’m tryin’ to picture it if Bo had gone off to Law school. And I can’t.” Daisy grinned at his pout. “Bo wasn’t much for book learnin’.”

“Nothing alike huh?” Kira raised an eyebrow to that. “I can out argue anyone south of the Mason-Dixon, I can out-drive, out-fight, out-race nearly anyone I’ve come across. I’m spiteful to a fault. Telling me I can’t do something is a sure-fire way of getting me do it just to prove ya wrong...” Kira took a breath when Bo laughed as he got seconds of his beans. “How am I doing? Sound like anyone else you know?”

“We’ll have to race tomorrow to see whose better between the two of us.”

“You’re on Bo.”

“You race?” Luke had a hard time combining the image of the Lady Lawyer who just happened to be his cousin with a racing fiend. They just wouldn’t merge. The way she’d just described herself did sound just like Bo. Of course when Bo argued it usually involves fists not words.

“That’s my racer on the back of the truck. I race moto-cross. I’ve done some stunt riding back in college, too.”

“Okay, I take it back. The two of you are so much alike it’s scary.” Daisy laughed. “Those high-falutin folks at your college must have loved that.”

“Why do you think I did it?” Kira grinned at Daisy. “I told you I’m spiteful.”

The rest of the dinner, to Kira’s relief, revolved around the various races that five out of the seven Dukes had entered. It was agreed that they would have a race the next day. The two race cars with the four fellas against Kira and her motorcycle. After supper, Bo and Luke got up and headed out for evening chores. Jesse went out with them, intent on asking the questions that had gone unasked at dinner.

While the three were out under the pretense of chores the other three Dukes, plus the new addition, went into the living room to sit. Kira felt her discomfort return as she was left alone with the three cousins that she had never met before. Vance was the first to break the silence by asking the obvious question. How did she and Bo meet up after having so long being separated? She wasn’t sure where to begin until Daisy assured her that Jesse had told them about hers and Bo’s dad being Luke’s dad’s twin. That they had the same kind of bond as she and Bo.

Well that helped. Knowing that while their link was unusual, it appeared to run in the family. Daisy also said that they all knew her as Bo’s imaginary friend when they were younger. So, Kira proceeded to go over the events of Saturday as she remembered them, while Bo was out in the barn doing the same for Uncle Jesse and Luke. After the stories were told, silence once again fell over the Duke clan. The men returned from the barn and Bo was glad that he seemed to get off fairly light when it came to the lectures he’d been expecting. Inside, he remained in the kitchen a moment. He caught Daisy’s eye and signaled her to join him from the door way.

“You need something, Sugar?” Daisy reached up to get her hug that she as of yet had gotten from her baby cousin.

“I just wanted to give you this for the festival is all. I didn’t get around to giving you one Saturday; what with everything. I want you to use this one.” Daisy looked down at the photograph that Bo had handed her, fighting back tears as she saw it. “Please.”

“Alright, Sugar. I’ll go put this some place safe.” After another hug, Daisy slips off into her room to put the picture away as Bo goes into the living room. Kira was sitting on the hearth looking out at the rest of the clan. They all seemed to be telling stories, apparently about him. Walking in, both Luke and Kira seemed to have just finished one story as they looked up at him as he walked in.

“I swear, Bo ain’t never grown up, just got taller is all.” Luke walked up to throw his arm around Bo. “Not sure he ever will now, either.” Bo pouted a bit. Not sure just how this conversation started.

“Well, maybe SOMEBODY shouldn’t have read ‘Peter Pan’ to him. Gave him the idea and all.” That made Luke stop short.

“How did you…?” Luke thought back to when Bo was little. He had indeed read ‘Peter Pan’ to him. But how did Kira know?

Kira shrugged her shoulders at his unfinished question. “You said if I wanted to listen then I had better listen when you read it to Bo because you weren’t going to read it twice. It’s one of my earliest memories... Maybe I shouldn’t have brought it up.” Kira felt like kicking herself. Been in the house only a few hours and already making people uncomfortable around her. When she was uncomfortable enough for them all.

Bo, seeing the shift in the room, tried to ease the tension by suggesting that Luke and he grab their guitars and play a while. They played some of their favorite songs; including Mamas don’t let your babies grow up to be Cowboys. Of course they changed cowboys to Duke Boys which Kira found just a bit too funny.

‘I know you’re scheming, Bo. I’m not getting my keyboard out. So go ahead and get the idea out of your head.’ Bo tried to give her his best, I’m innocent look, even though he was about to suggest just that. Well, maybe tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Jesse watched the two interact. He’d had years of practice watching his brothers talk without saying a word to know the signs. At least despite the years of separation and whatever havoc that had surrounded Kira’s life, it hadn’t been able to keep that bond from becoming as strong as if they really had lived together all their lives. Jesse forgot just how annoying it can be to be left out of the conversation going on barely five feet away from you. None of the others seemed to catch Kira’s frustrated looked towards Bo as he faked his innocence at some unsaid accusation. Jesse smiled as he saw the look that he knew meant that Bo wasn’t giving up, only waiting for later. He just wished he knew what he wasn’t giving up on.

Soon, the evening wore into nightfall and Kira and Bo went out to get her suitcase out of the truck. ‘Are you sure you’re going to be alright bunking in with Daisy? I mean, I saw how you were in there. You didn’t seem all too comfortable.’

‘I’ll be fine, Bo. Quit worrying so much. I’m a big girl; I can handle sharing a bed with Daisy.’

Bo looked at her trying to convince himself that she was right. But he didn’t stop worrying. ‘Well there really ain’t going to be much choice I guess. Especially considering there will be more Dukes than you can shake a stick at coming in tomorrow.’ Thinking about that made him even more worried about Kira.

‘Stop it Bo. It’ll be fine. How about helping me unload the bike while we’re out here. And no, I don’t want to take the keyboard in right yet.’

The two set to unloading the truck while Jesse watched from inside. As he stood at the window, Luke came up behind him bring a cup of coffee to him while sipping on his own. “They’re at it again. You think they even realize that they do that themselves?”

Jesse turned toward Luke as he spoke. “You noticed too, huh?”

“Yep. I remember when Bo would do it when he was younger. Used to annoy the dickens out of me. I wonder what they were talking about earlier. Bo seemed to have gotten the hang of teasing his sister already. It just seems a bit weird to watch ‘em go at it.”

“I’d like to tell you that you get used to it, but you won’t. I never did. You do learn to ignore it though.” Jesse paused and looked at Luke watching his cousins. “Luke, he’ll still need you. You know that right? Just because he has Kira back doesn’t-”

“I know Uncle Jesse. You had this same talk with Bo when Judd came back didn’t you?” Luke cut his uncle short. Not wanting to admit that he had begun to worry that Bo wouldn’t want him around anymore. Had Bo felt like this when Judd first came to the farm? Probably. They still weren’t exactly close. Luke headed on up to the room that he’d shared with Bo for nearly his whole life. Cots had already been set up to give Coy and Vance beds in there as well. There wouldn’t be much space left for walking by the time all the Dukes arrived.

Shortly afterwards, Bo headed up to bed, too. But he was still worrying. After he had gotten up for the third time nearly heading out to check on Kira but then stopping at the door, Luke had had enough.

“Bo, would you lie down and stay down. Watchin’ you is makin’ me sea sick.”

“I can’t help it. What if Kira has a flashback or something? She ain’t used to being in close quarters with people she really don’t know. I know she said she’s fine but...”

“What do you mean about her having flashbacks? What would she have flashbacks about?” Luke knew a thing or two about flashbacks. But what could have possibly of happened to Kira that would cause here to be in danger of having a flashback just staying in with Daisy?

Vance sat up now too. Clearly, there was a lot they still needed to know about Kira. “Why don’t you tell us a little more about Kira? Especially since whatever you know has you more nervous that a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers.”

So Bo sat and began to tell some of the stories he knew of Kira’s childhood; of the neglect and abuse. Of how she had began to runaway before she was even ten years old. Of how for the next six years she had spent more nights out on the streets of various cities in Georgia than she had in a house. By the time Bo had finished, Luke was feeling mighty guilty for the jealous pangs he had felt earlier. It looked like that, like Luke, Kira had hidden battle scars. But unlike Kira, he had been allowed to grow up before heading off to do battle in his war within the jungles of ‘Nam. Kira had fought a war from childhood in a number of homes, group homes, and even the streets.

Knowing more about his new cousin, he understood a bit more why Bo worried about Kira so much. He also felt proud of her for the lengths she has taken to change her life. Heck, it was amazing that she’d done all she had. He never knew Duke pride to of accomplished so much. Bo explained also that Kira was uncomfortable with a lot of touch. That she had pulled away from him a few times though she tried not to. That she was patient with it most of the time, but she might pull away from them, too. Bo didn’t want anyone to be offended if she did.

Luke made a mental note to talk to Daisy and Jesse. Finally, the guys all fell asleep, though Bo took a little longer. He got up twice more, but this time Luke didn’t stop him. He seemed to remember Bo worried a few years ago about him having flashbacks too. Of course Bo didn’t know just what they would entail, Bo always seemed to know just when Luke had revisited the war within his dreams. Maybe he could help Kira with hers. The VA had helped him with some techniques to ward off some of the flashbacks that plagued him. That was the last thought that crossed Luke’s mind as he drifted off.




‘Go to sleep, Bo.’

Kira heard the floor boards creak from the guys’ room several times before the creaks came all the way to Daisy’s door. Daisy had fallen asleep nearly as soon as she had lain down. That left Kira wide awake listening to the sounds of the house. Kira heard the creaks drift back across the hall then everything once again went quiet. Lying there, staring out the window, Kira tried to sleep. After remaining there for what seemed like hours, she drifted off into a restless sleep.

The sleep was short lived though as Kira bolted up in bed grabbing her arm. Sitting up panting in bed, Kira tried to slow her breathing as she looked down at her arm; the feel of the break still vivid in her mind. Looking over at Daisy, she saw she was still asleep. Kira got up as quietly as possible and changed into her jeans and a sweater and grabbed her messenger bag she kept her work in. If she wasn’t going to sleep she might as well get some work done instead.

Carefully, Kira made her way to the kitchen and sorted through her papers. She had a case going to trial Monday. It was the kind of case she hated. Her client was completely innocent but the evidence had pointed in their way anyway. She still had a friend digging for her trying to find one piece of evidence that would place reasonable doubt into the minds of the jury. Grabbing her pad, she started to go over her notes and started working on her opening argument. So wrapped up in her work, Kira never noticed when Jesse walked in hours later.

“Mornin’, you’re up early.” Jesse got the pans out to get breakfast since Daisy would be busy preparing food for the incoming Dukes all day only to go to work at the Boar’s Nest later. Jesse and told her not to bother with breakfast today. He’d handle it. Kira looked at her watch and saw it was about a quarter after five. Surprised, she started to put her papers away.

“I guess I am. I better move all this stuff away.”

“What ‘cha workin’ on?” He had yet to really get a chance to talk to his niece. In fact, she seemed to have been avoiding being alone with anyone. So here they were; alone for the first time in the kitchen and she looked like she was ready to bolt.

“Just getting things lined up for a case going to trial Monday. Figuring out my opening argument.”

Luke walked in and leaned up against the door frame. Looking at her, Luke guessed she hadn’t slept an hour all night. Looks like Bo was right to worry about her last night.

“Mornin’. By the way Bo talked last night I thought the only way we’d get you up this early is with a crucifix and some Holy water.” Luke grinned as he remember Bo describing how little of a morning person his sister was. “You sleep alright?”

Kira looked up with a grin on her face, “Fortunately, Daisy had a Bible on the nightstand. Where is that brother of mine anyway?” Kira ignored the question about HOW she had slept.

“Where else? Still in bed. I’m thinking of gettin’ a stick of dynamite to put under his pillow if’n he don’t get up.”

Kira finished putting her papers away as she laughed. “Want to have some fun? Go watch him jump. He has this coming. Trust me.”

Luke gave her a dubious look, glanced at Uncle Jesse who just shrugged his shoulders. Then Luke went back to the bedroom. Just as he walked back in the room, Kira called out to Bo.

‘BO!’ That caused Bo to jump off the bed in a jolt and landed on the floor. ‘Rise and Shine, Darlin’!’ Luke laughed out-loud once he realized what Kira must have done. ‘Time for them chores you missed so much.’ Bo got up and saw Luke watching him.

“Mornin’.” Bo got dressed and pushed passed a still smirking Luke to go to the bathroom.

Kira headed to Daisy’s room to put her bag up and passed Bo as he came out of the bathroom. ‘Was that really necessary?’ Bo scowled at her.

‘Would you have preferred the dynamite that Luke was considering instead?’ Kira laughed as Bo shook his head at her.

He’d missed a lot of sleep last night worrying over her. He guessed this was his thanks. Looking at her, he could tell that this picture of his sister so early in the morning didn’t match up with how he’d seen her so far. That meant she hadn’t just woken up. ‘Why ain’t you gone to bed yet?’

Kira rolled her eyes, ‘I did go to bed, I just couldn’t sleep is all.’ Kira left Bo in the hall, hoping he’d drop it. The bad thing about having a psychic link though is that it makes it harder to just walk out on a conversation. So with a door between them, Bo kept talking.

‘Kira, I was worried about this. I.. ‘

‘Bo, Luke’s waiting on you. GO ON. I done told ya I’m fine.’ Bo stared at the door separating him and Kira before heading on out to the barn.




Luke noticed that Bo was more quiet than usual. He wouldn’t talk about it but Luke knew that it had to be because Kira hadn’t slept last night. He knew that something had to give so he put his mind to the task of coming up with a solution. By the time that the chores were done, Luke thought he had one. So when they went in to wash up for breakfast, Luke headed up stairs and went to the door at the end of the hall upstairs. A door that was rarely used all to see if he was right.

Meanwhile, Daisy had gotten up and set the table while Kira sat in the main room trying to read out of a novel she had brought with her. Trying being the operative word. So far she has read the same paragraph six times; going on the seventh. Looking up as the boys walk in, Kira noticed Bo wouldn’t look at her. Kira wasn’t used to anyone worrying about her; especially not enough to get mad to boot.

“Mornin’, Sugar.”

“Hey, Coy,” glancing behind him she saw Vance as well. “Hey, Vance.”

“Sugar, I hear we have you ta’ thank for that show this morning. I bet Bo wishes he’d woke up when Luke told him to now.”

“Yep, he still looks out of sorts. Just watchin’ him jumpin’ off that bed like that this mornin’. I about died laughing.” Vance proved his point by chuckling at the memory. “Well, let’s get on in to breakfast.” The three went in to join Daisy and Uncle Jesse in the kitchen and sat down as Bo came in and took his own place between Kira and Luke’s empty chair.

“Bo, where’s Luke? We’re all waiting on him so we can start breakfast.” Jesse started dishing out some scrambled eggs into the plates on the table as he spoke.

“How should I know? He came in and got cleaned up ahead of me.”

Luke came in as Bo spoke. “Sorry, I just had to take care of something.” Luke took his seat ignoring Bo’s questioning look. Jesse said grace and took his seat at the head of the table and everyone began to eat while discussing the relatives due to arrive through out the day. “That reminds me; we told Lulu that we’d get those chairs from the Ladies League by nine. Shouldn’t take more than two or three trips to get them.”

“Why don’t y’all take my truck, too? That way y’all can save time. Get ‘em all at once.”

“You goin’ to trust Bo with your truck?” Luke tried to look around Bo to see Kira but all he could see was a mop of blond hair.

“It’s got four tires and a wheel ain’t it? It’ll be in good hands.” Kira laughed along with Luke as they both recalled his light joke the night before.

Bo even grinned as he shoved some eggs in his mouth. At least he hadn’t lost all of his sense of humor. Kira hoped that he’d lighten up a bit. She knew her own limits. And if it came down to it, she’ll sleep in the truck. She promised Bo she’d stay ‘til Sunday and she wasn’t going to let a little thing like a lack of sleep make her break that promise. By the end of breakfast, the whole Duke clan was laughing and joking about previous Thanksgivings. Kira was content listening to the stories as she continued to watch the others interact. She admitted to herself, she had begun to study them the same way she would have for a test back in school. Because she knew that when all was said and done, becoming part of this family was one test she didn’t want to fail.

After breakfast was cleaned up, Luke suggested that Bo and Coy head on out and he and Vance would be right behind them. That earned him some odd looks from the three cousins since he and Bo are almost always together. Leaving the three confused, Luke headed back inside. Left with nothing else to do, Bo and Coy headed over to Kira’s dark green pick-up. Spying the keyboard still in its black case, Bo grabbed it to take over to the porch. Kira must have forgotten about it when she offered her truck. She didn’t want to take it inside, but she shouldn’t say anything about him putting it there to make room for the chairs.

“What’s that?” Coy asked as Bo walks around to climb into the truck.

“Kira’s keyboard. I reckon’ she forgot it was still in the truck. Well, let’s get goin’.”

Inside, Luke found Kira once again trying to read out of her book. Not getting very far, either, by the looks of it. She was still on the same page she was when he finished his chores. “Kira, ya ain’t going to get too far in that book when your brain’s done fallen asleep.” Holding out his hand, “Come on, trust me.” Kira looks at Luke for a moment before taking his hand allowing him to pull her up off the couch. Not quite sure what he was up to, Kira followed Luke upstairs, assuming that he was just going to tell her to go back to get some sleep in Daisy’s room. When they passed her door and ended up at the end of the hall, Kira’s curiosity was peaked. “I figured that you might like to have a place to hide later on; once the invasion begins.” Luke opened the door that led to a steep set of stairs that Kira guessed went up to the attic. He stepped aside to allow Kira through the door and then followed her up. Once in the attic, Luke led the way over to the window. “It ain’t exactly the Ritz, but it should do.” Kira saw where Luke had pulled up an old mattress over to the window and had brought her things on up. “This way Bo won’t worry for ya’ so much.”

“But why?”

“Bo told me some of what’s happened. Seems only right to try to figure out a way to help ya feel more at home, Cuz.” Kira couldn’t help but smile at Luke’s gesture. “That’s what this family does. So, you’d better get some sleep. No one will come up here. The adults never do and the kids are too scared so no one will bother you. I’ll have Bo wake you for lunch.” Kira had to admit she was exhausted and here Luke ad done his best to give her a place to call her own in the chaos that would engulf the farm in a matter of hours. Without thinking, Kira reached out to give Luke a hug. It last only lasted a second and ended before Luke could return it. Remembering what Bo said about Kira not being big on affection, Luke was more than a little surprised, but pleased with the thanks that he’d just received. “Sweet dreams.” With that Luke headed back down to head to town with Vance to meet Bo and Coy.

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