Author's notes: Many many thanks to my editor Mary :)

Trixie awoke the next morning to the smell of bacon frying.  One look over into the corner of the living room told her that the midnight arrival had happened.

With a yawn she wandered into the kitchen where Honey was standing at the stove cooking breakfast.  Diana was giving the orphan its early morning bottle.  The rest of the Bob-Whites were gathered around the kitchen table drinking coffee and discussing the events of last night.

Trixie pulled up a chair beside Jim and carefully lowered herself into it.After she had settled herself down, she gave Jim a peck on the cheek and he settled her into a hug.

"I didn't mean to sleep so late," she said. "I was up for awhile thinking about the baby."

"I was too," Jim admitted. "You know,where did she come from?  Why was she abandoned?  Who abandoned her?  Why did they abandon her here?   Stuff like that."

"Me too," said Honey as she carried a plate full of steaming pancakes to the table.

"First things first," said Brian. "We need to take her to see Dr. Ferris after breakfast. He needs to check her thoroughly to make sure that she really is okay. We also need to buy some diapers, formula,a couple of outfits,stuff like that. What's in that diaper bag won't last forever."

"We've got some stuff here already," said Trixie, drowning her pancakes in strawberry syrup. "We've got two cribs already, some clothes, a tub, most of the essentials.  We do need to buy some diapers and formula though."

"That isn't all," said Honey ."Remember when we found Dodgy, Trix? A social worker has to come out and look us over.  We really need to call Sergeant Molinson.  He'll want to come out here and check things out.  He'll also need to see if there are any reports about missing babies and stuff like that."

"You're right, Hon," said Trixie. "Of course Sergeant Molinson will want to come check things out."

Mart chuckled, "He'll also spew off about you ruining all his clues!"

"Well, I couldn't leave a crying baby out on the doorstep all night just so when Sergeant Molinson comes any clues would still be there!"

"Of course not," said Jim placently as he pulled her over to him.

"Besides," said Honey, "there still might be some clues out there besides what was in the basket."

"Probably, Honey," said Trixie.

* * *

After breakfast, Brian, Trixie and Di piled into Brian's old jalopy and drove into town to see Dr. Ferris.  Afterwards they were going to go into White Plains to the Babies R Us to pick up a few things for the baby.

Honey, Dan, Mart and Jim were staying at the house to be there when Sergeant Molinson arrived.  If he finished checking out the scene early enough, they were going to meet Brian, Trixie and Di at McDonalds to discuss what he found.

"You know, Brian," Trixie said from the backseat where she sat beside the baby's car-seat. "You really ought to replace this old clunker."

"Why, Trix," said Di in mock amazement. "Give up this old thing? It's still in peak condition! Why, I bet we can at least get to White Plains before we have to call a mechanic!"

Brian cracked up."Okay, so it's a little old."

"It's not a little old," interrupted Trixie."If we had another antique sale tomorrow, your jalopy would be the oldest thing there!"

"I'm saving up a little here and there to buy a new car, Trix," said Brian, still chuckling over Di's joke."In fact, I might just have enough saved up to start looking."

Trixie clapped her hands excitedly. "Yay! A new car! Just make sure you get a big one."

"I'd better with three nieces and nephews coming."

"Oh, it'll be such fun taking them places," said Di with a giggle."I'm getting a car soon and then I'll be able to take them places too."

"Yeah, it will be fun. Here we are,"said Brian as he pulled up in front of Dr.Ferris's clinic. "All ashore that's going ashore."

Inside, Dr.Ferris proclaimed the baby to be a picture of health.

"She's a little underweight,but with all you kids doting on her,I'm sure that she'll be back to her normal weight soon," he said."How are you doing?" he addressed Trixie.

"I'm doing just fine, Dr.Ferris," she replied.

After a little more small talk,the trio left Dr.Ferris's clinic and headed down the highway once more.

At Babies R Us, Trixie was amazed at how much stuff they had. She not only picked up stuff for the castaway but for her own three as well.

"I can't believe how much stuff they had there!" Trixie exclaimed as they walked through the parking lot.

"Yeah," said Brian, "but the prices on clothes!"

"I know," said Di, "to be on the safe side, let's go to Children's Orchard and pick up a few things."

An hour later, they left the store loaded.

"I can't believe the deals they have there!" exclaimed Trixie. A shirt from Baby Gap, like new, two bucks!"

"Mother goes there to get most of the twins' clothes," confided Di."Nobody ever knows the difference."

"We'd better hustle if we're going to make it to McDonalds to meet the gang," Brian said.

"Gleeps!" exclaimed Trixie."We'd better get going! I'm dying to find out if Sergeant Molinson discovered anything!"

 To Be Continued