The Visit to Walnut Grove

James dies... and the Ingalls decide to surprise Cassandra by going home

Author's note: in case it isn't obvious enough any time a telephone is talked about it is the phones that the character's use in the actual show

Charles Ingalls' P.O.V.
Me and James went out to find a birthday present for Cassandra since her birthday is tomorrow but when we got to the store we saw 2 robbers and I guess they were scared me or James would get the police because one robber shot James in the chest and the other tried to shoot me in the chest but I dodged so I only got shot in the arm it hurt badly but I didn't care I was just worried about James, I knelt down to my son "Pa" James said weakly "I'm right here son" I said quietly then James stopped breathing...he was dead...I had to tell my family...Caroline...Carrie...Grace...Cassandra...they deserve to know...but how am I supposed to tell them...especially Cassandra...I have to...I got up, and used my good arm to punch the robber who shot James that robber shot my hurt arm to hurt it even more, I could probably lose my arm but I don't care this man murdered my son "get out punk or I murder you too" the robber who shot James said "no you murdered my son the day before his sister's birthday" I said "do you think I care?" The robber who shot James asked "you should" I said then of course the police heard all the commotion or something and came here, one cop grabbed me and the other two cops each grabbed a robber and took us to the police station "what are your names men?" The police man holding me asked "Ingalls, Charles Ingalls" I said "Johnathan Smith" the robber who shot James said "Steve Curtis" the other robber said "and what was going on there?" The cop holding Steve Curtis asked "that cop shot and murdered my son" I said pointing at Johnathan Smith "and what is your son's name?" The cop holding Johnathan asked "James Cooper" I said "why doesn't he have the same last name as you?" The cop holding Steve asked "I adopted him and his sister Cassandra when their real parents died" I explained "ok" the cop said "why is this any of your business anyways?" I asked "it doesn't matter" the cop said "can I please go and figure out how to tell my wife and daughters that James is dead?" I asked "fine" the cop holding me said as he let me go then I left.

Caroline Ingalls' P.O.V.
I was putting the girls to bed when Charles came home but I didn't see James and Charles arm looked really hurt "Charles what happened to your arm and where's James?" I asked "my arm got shot and James got shot too...James is dead..." Charles explained "oh..." I said quietly "where are the girls?" Charles asked "I just put them to bed" I said "we need to tell them..." Charles said "I know Charles I'll go wake them up" I said "alright Caroline" Charles said as I went upstairs to wake up the girls "girls wake up I need to tell you something" I said "what is it Ma?" Cassandra asked so sweetly...I wish I didn't have to tell her..."yeah Ma what's wrong?" Carrie asked "um your Pa will tell you..." I said "Pa and James are back?" Cassandra asked "well...um just come downstairs girls" I said "ok Ma" Cassandra, Carrie, and Grace all said as they got out of their beds and went downstairs and I followed "Pa what happened to your arm and where's James?" Cassandra asked so sweetly "me and James got shot...James is dead..." Charles said then of course all three girls started crying although Cassandra was crying the most and me and Charles decided to let it out too.

Carrie Ingalls' P.O.V.
"Girls you should get some sleep now" Pa said "I can't sleep Pa...first my Ma and Pa now James...me and Uncle Jed are the only Cooper's left and I'll probably get married eventually like Laura and Mary so my name wouldn't be Cooper anymore...and Uncle Jed might die soon too..." Cassandra said starting to cry with every word that passed her lips "Cassandra we never told you this but I had a brother once too, a real brother not an adopted one" I said "and what happened to him?" Cassandra asked "he passed away too and he was just a baby, and Laura blamed herself for his death, Mary told me this a few months before we met you and James" I explained "oh I'm so sorry" Cassandra said "it's alright" I said "but why did Laura blame herself for your brother's death? and how did he die anyways?" Cassandra asked "he died because he was sick, and Laura blamed herself for his death because Ma told us to pray for our brother's good heath but Mary said she didn't pray for our brother's good heath like Ma said we should've, so when our brother died Laura blamed herself for our brother's death and ran away to pray for God to kill her and bring our brother back to life" I explained "wow, well you guys weren't as upset as Laura, right?" Cassandra asked "no but close to it" I said "well at least you still have your Ma and Pa, my Ma and Pa are dead and my only real sibling is dead too your real Ma and Pa are alive and you have Mary, Laura, and Grace as your real siblings too" Cassandra said "I know I'm sorry Cassandra" I said "girls we can talk more tomorrow it's time for bed" Ma said "fine" Cassandra said "yes ma'am" I said "okay Ma" Grace said as me, Cassandra, and Grace all went back upstairs to go to bed and I waited for about a half hour for Cassandra to fall back to sleep then I tiptoed over to Grace's bed "Grace wake up" I said as quietly as possible "what Carrie?" Grace asked quietly "come on we're going to talk to Ma and Pa" I said "fine" Grace said as she got out of bed and we both tip toed downstairs.

Charles Ingalls' P.O.V.
"Ma Pa wake up" I heard Carrie say as she was shaking us a a little "what Carrie?" Caroline asked "I have an idea that might Cassandra feel better" Carrie said "what is it darling?" Charles asked "surprise her by taking her back to Walnut Grove" Carrie said "going home?" Caroline asked "that's not a bad idea, we can stay with Half-Pint at the boarding house" I said "can we Ma?" Grace asked sweetly "yeah Ma can we go and surprise Cassandra please?" Carrie asked "alright we'll go tomorrow but for now go back to sleep" Caroline said "I can't I'm too excited about seeing Laura" Carrie and Grace both said "yeah plus Caroline we also need to send Half-Pint a telegram saying we're coming back to Walnut Grove for a while" I said "alright well Laura does have a telephone we can call her" Caroline said as me and her got out of bed and went over to the phone with Carrie and Grace and I grabbed the phone and called Laura with it

Laura Ingalls Wilder's P.O.V.
"Hello?" I asked "hey Half-Pint" I heard someone say over the phone "Pa?" I asked "yep" Pa said "what's up Pa why are you calling this late at night Pa?" I asked "we decided we were gonna surprise Cassandra by taking her back to Walnut Grove" Pa said "so you, Ma, Carrie, Grace, James, and Cassandra will be staying in Walnut Grove with us for a while?" I asked "...no Half-Pint sorry..." Pa said "so only Cassandra?" I asked "no" Pa said "all the kids?" I asked "well not exactly...all the kids except James are going" Pa said "why isn't James coming?" I asked "he's...he's..." Pa said as I think he started crying a little bit "what Pa? What happened to James?" I asked "he's in Heaven...he got shot again and passed away" Pa said "oh don't worry Pa, he's with Charles Jr., Grandma, Adam Jr., Mrs. Garvey, Mr. Hanson, Royal, and Baby Wilder" I said "Baby Wilder?" Pa asked "he's my son who died that I had sometime after you and Albert left Walnut Grove after coming to visit me, Manly, and Rose but he died a few days after he was born" I explained "but still James will be happy in Heaven" I said "I know darling, we'll be in Walnut Grove sometime tomorrow" Pa said "okay Pa see you tomorrow" I said "see you tomorrow Half-Pint" Pa said "bye bye Pa" I said "bye bye Half-Pint" Pa said.

Charles Ingalls' P.O.V.
"Alright now that Half-Pint knows let's go to bed" I said "yay" Carrie and Grace both said quietly as they both tip-toed back upstairs and me and Caroline both got back into bed "I'm so excited about seeing Laura tomorrow" Caroline said "I know I am too now go to sleep" I said "alright I'll try" Caroline said as I starting falling asleep.