Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. The rights to those characters and to the show belong to the creators of the show, to CBS, The Sullivan Company and to A&E.

A New Blessing – Part One

This short takes place in 1878 as all the children come home to celebrate Thanksgiving. I have tried to stay with the show cannon ignoring the movies – hope this isn't confusing.

The dull throbbing pain in her back could be ignored no longer. Shifting slightly in the seat did not help and she finally opened her eyes, sighing loudly. Before her, familiar sights met her eye. The landscape was known – she had often traveled this line when she was at school in Denver. They were close. Joy flooded her spirit and she smiled widely despite the continuing pain.

"I must have slept longer than I thought," she said turning towards Andrew. "You should have woken me."

"Now why would I have done that? You've barely slept since we left Wyoming territory." Colleen turned in the seat to face him fully, shuttering as the pain in her back worsened. "Is your back hurting you?"

"How did you know?" she asked leaning forward slightly so that Andrew could maneuver his hand behind her.

"You were moaning in your sleep. I thought you must be in pain." Colleen blushed at the thought but relaxed as she felt the tension in her lower back begin to lessen. Andrew worked slowly across, pressing against the knots in her muscles and kneading them with his fingers. "How's that?" he asked noticing that her eyes were closed once again.

"Better," she crooned, a blissful look upon her face.

"Still think this trip might have been too hard for you."

"You sound just like ma. And I told her you were fine with it so don't you dare tell her differently. Besides I have my own personal doctor who travels with me." She opened her eyes to smile over at him, a wicked grin upon her face. "I want to have the baby here," she added.

"I know," Andrew assented though his eyes betrayed his thoughts.

Colleen reached for his hand. "It's not that I don't want you to deliver the baby – you know that." He nodded, casting his eyes downward because he still didn't quite understand. "Some of my first memories are goin' on calls with my mother to deliver a baby. And then I got to help Dr. Mike…. I can't help that it feels like a woman's job to me. I just want her there, Andrew. I need to have her there."

"I know," he intoned softly. "I'm not sure what my role will be though. I always feel like a bumbling idiot around Michaela."

"You're my husband and the father of this little one." She lovingly patted her stomach. "I want you to be there for the whole thing, holding my hand and helping me through it each step of the way. Will you?"

Andrew chocked back his own emotions amazed at how the thought of their unborn child stirred something deep inside of him. "Of course I will," he assured her.

"Good." She patted his knee and then returned to her former position. "You can rub my back again if you want," she said casually. Andrew chuckled but leaned over and began the rhythmic kneading once again.

The wagon drew to a halt near the tracks as a train whistle blew in the distance. Sully turned to look at his wife, a grin upon his face. "Hope ya stop worryin' once she gets here."

Michaela shook her head. "I remember the last stages of pregnancy too well. It isn't a time to be traveling about the country."

Sully couldn't help but laugh. "Just over rough terrain to fetch your injured husband," he teased raising an eyebrow at her. Before she had a chance to respond, he jumped down from the buckboard and lifted his arms to her. Michaela shook her head but stood allowing him to help her down.

"Katie." She turned just in time to watch her daughter jump straight over the side of the wagon and sprawl out in the dirt, soiling her dress.

The seven year old jumped up; her eyes wide with mischief. "I'm not hurt," she announced as if that was the only concern.

"Your dress." Her mother brushed at it with her hand while her father suppressed a laugh. She looked up into his blue eyes and he gave her a secret wink that made Katie giggle with glee. "Do you think this is funny young lady?"

"Papa does," she returned tattling on her father.

Michaela turned her face up to her husband. "The two of you are incorrigible." She rolled her eyes and turned to march off in mock anger. Sully and Katie simply laughed as they followed her to the train station platform neither the least bit concerned about the dirt on her dress.

The platform was crowded but they easily spotted Brian and Sarah standing a short distance away. Michaela reached them first, greeting them both with a hug. "You are coming to Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow?" she asked Sarah.

"Ma," Brian muttered, his cheeks turning red. "I hadn't asked her yet."

"Sorry," Michaela said apologetically sharing a secret look with Sarah.

Sarah giggled. "Your mother invited me two weeks ago," she informed Brian. "And yes, Dr. Mike I'll be there – our family is having Thanksgiving dinner a little earlier in the day which works out perfectly."

Brian cast Sarah a sheepish smile as he realized that asking her the day before wasn't much notice. "I shoulda asked you sooner," he mumbled looking at the ground.

"Yes you should have," Sarah agreed as she gave his hand a light squeeze. Sully and Katie had joined them now and Sarah affectionately patted the young girl's shoulder. "You look real pretty today Katie," she said in greeting.

"Thank you," she said politely and she received a nod of approval from Michaela. "You look pretty today too Sarah." She noticed that the two of them were holding hands and she couldn't help but giggle.

"What's so funny?" Brian asked looking down at his little sister in wonder.

"Are you two gonna get married?" Her voice was matter of fact as her brow wrinkled, thinking hard about the situation.

"Katie," Brian scolded as red crept up his cheeks. Sarah's cheeks were a shade of pink and she dropped her eyes to the ground not wanting to yet reveal the many hopes she felt inside. "You don't ask questions like that."

"Why?"

"Cause it ain't polite," Brian replied, his tone abrupt.

"Isn't polite," Michaela corrected as she caught the last part of the conversation. "What isn't polite?" She caught the look on all of their faces and knew Katie had said something potentially embarrassing.

"I only asked them if they were gonna get married."

Michaela shook her head at her daughter but smiled. Sully placed his arm around his wife as the same moment flashed through both of their minds. "Isn't very comfortable bein' put on the spot like that, is it?" Sully teased. "Ya asked me and your ma that one Thanksgiving not so long ago."

"I did not," Brian defended.

"You did," Michaela said softly. "We had come back from Boston and we were in the garden – well what was left of the garden and you asked…." she trailed off as the fond memory played out in her head.

"Oh yeah – that's right." Brian agreed as the moment slowly was recalled.

"And what did you say mama?" Katie asked always eager to hear about how her parents early courtship/

Sully smiled down at his wife who appeared to be in a daze. "We told him not yet but that we were courtin'." The train whistle blew again signaling the approach to the station. Their conversation was abandoned as they each turned towards the train anxious to greet their visitors. Michaela couldn't help but grin when she saw her oldest daughter practically waddling off the train. Her little frame seemed buried underneath the mound of baby. Andrew helped her down and the family immediately descended upon them.

"Ma," Colleen said happily, throwing her arms around Michaela's neck and hugging her tightly. "It's so good to see you."

"Colleen you have no idea how happy I am to see you. I was rather worried with you…"

Colleen cut her off. "I'm fine, the baby's fine… so no more worrying."

Michaela lovingly stroked her cheek. "You look so happy," she remarked noticing the twinkle in her daughter's eye and the soft glow of her skin.

"Oh ma, I am happy – happier than I ever thought I could be."

Katie chose that moment to make her presence known interrupting the mother daughter intimacy. She jumped up and down excitedly happy to have her sister home. Wanting to hug her, she tried to wrap her arms around her waist but found that they weren't going to make it. "That baby has made you very wide," she said her eyes growing large as she observed her sister's expanded abdomen.

Andrew quickly stepped in, unsure how his wife would take the comment. "She's beautiful though… baby and all." He placed his arm around her shoulder, giving it a light squeeze.

Colleen couldn't help but smile at her husband, glad that he tried to be so understanding even when she was temperamental. "Katie, would you like to feel the baby kick?" The little girl nodded in anxious anticipation. Colleen showed her where to place her hand and soon Katie was giggling as the baby beat out a little rhythm.

"Hi baby," Katie said talking into her sister's stomach. "I'm going to be your Aunt Katie – but usually aunts are old and I'm not so you can just call me Katie. And by the way, I know babies are supposed to kick but out here that ain't allowed even when Aaron Slicker pulls your pigtails." She crossed her arms decidedly as she said it and the adults all burst out laughing. "I got in trouble," she said crossly looking up into the face of her sister. "And all I did was kick him."

Colleen smiled and patted Katie's shoulder as she looked around the platform. "Where's Matthew?"

"Denver," Brian replied, finally stepping forward to kiss his sister's cheek. "He'll be in on the afternoon train."

"Wish we'd known – we could have come together." Colleen stifled a yawn as she spoke.

"Looks like it's a good thing you came now," Michaela replied knowingly. "I think someone could use a rest."

"I'm fine," Colleen protested.

"I was talking about the baby." Andrew chuckled at Michaela's comment as Sully and Michaela exchanged a look each remembering the multitude of times Sully had told her the same thing.

She laced her arm through Colleen's as Katie took her sister's other hand. "Let's go home – you can rest and then I want to hear all about Wyoming."

The day had been full and though Colleen had rested for a few hours that afternoon, she found herself dreadfully sleepy as she climbed the stairs of the homestead to her old room. Matthew had arrived at the house right before dinner, bringing everyone together finally. It had been awhile since they had been home at the same time. Brian was away in Denver at school while Matthew often traveled to Denver and even spent the night there when his work as a lawyer required him to. Andrew and Colleen hadn't been back to Colorado Springs since they had moved out west after her graduation. They had spent a few weeks here visiting before their move to the Wyoming territory and Colleen was thankful to be back in a familiar place especially with the baby so close.

The whole family had stayed up late listening to Andrew and Colleen's tales of the town they had settled in – Lander, Wyoming. They both were tired of city life by the time Colleen had graduated and each wished to return to the frontier where their services seemed to be desperately needed. The original plan was to settle close to Colorado Springs but when the town of Lander had made them an offer, it was too good to refuse. Though Colleen hated to be so far from her family, they had made Lander their home and people had readily accepted them – both of them. The area was rather progressive and though men often preferred to have Andrew examine them, Colleen found her own niche working with woman and children and had even managed to befriend the Indian tribes that lived nearby. Sully had been especially interested in this development and he had asked her question after question which Colleen was only too happy to answer.

It was only when the fire had burned down to embers and Katie was asleep in her father's lap, that Michaela had insisted they all go up to bed. After all, her mother had pointed out, tomorrow was Thanksgiving and there would be much to do to get ready for the meal. Besides there would be plenty of time for talking after everyone had rested. Brian and Matthew were staying in Brian's room, while Colleen and Andrew were in Katie's room. It was really Colleen's old room but Katie didn't like it referred to that way. Still Katie was only too willing to give it up, excited to be allowed to sleep on a cot in the tiny room that she used as a play room.

Colleen reached up to undo the buttons at the nape of her neck, struggling to go further than the top two. "Let me help," Andrew said gently stepping in and unbuttoning the rest for her.

"Thank you," she whispered demurely. It felt weird to be in her old bedroom with her husband undressing her – it had been the same last time they visited. Quickly she slipped out of the remainder of her clothes pulling on a warm flannel nightgown. Andrew was already in bed turning down the oil lamp as she climbed in, hoping she would be able to get comfortable enough to sleep.

Andrew smiled as she rearranged the pillows, running his hand over the fullness of her taut abdomen. "Won't be long now." Colleen could hear the excitement in his voice and it made her glad. She lay back against the pillows as Andrew's hand crept up past the baby settling over her soft fullness and lovingly stroking her though her gown.

"Andrew," she scolded.

"What?" he asked knowing exactly what she was thinking.

"We can't," she gasped in exasperation, hating it when he played dumb.

"I just want to touch you, kiss you… nothing more I promise. Is that alright?"

It didn't matter that the room was practically dark, he could feel the warmth that radiated from her cheeks. "I can't help it – it feels so odd to be in my old bedroom like this. I used to lie in this bed at night and wonder…."

"Now you know," Andrew replied, his hands still lightly caressing her body and face.

"Ma and Sully are right down the hall," she reminded him when he didn't stop.

"Probably doing the same thing," he laughed.

"Eww… don't say that."

Andrew chuckled louder. "You're so funny sometimes."

"They're my parents – I mean I know that they .. but still I don't want to think about it." She twitched as a pain stabbed through her lower back.

"Your back again?" he asked sympathetically. She nodded, her own hands already working on her lower muscles where the spasm seemed to be the worse. "Let me," Andrew sighed softly against her ear. Colleen turned away from him so that he could reach the area with ease. The pain lessened and Colleen began to relax until she drifted off completely into a dreamless sleep.

Michaela lay in her husband's arms just down the hall, a thin sheet of perspiration covering both of their bodies. Sully lovingly stroked her arm, a smug look on his face. Michaela sighed contentedly, pleasure still radiating through her body as she looked up at him. "You look pleased with yourself."

Sully laughed back in his throat, turning his face to brush a kiss across her forehead. "I didn't think ya would give in."

Michaela blushed giving a slight shake of her head. "I have to admit that it does feel a little funny knowing all the children are in the house but I was quiet," she finished dropping her voice down to a whisper as the color on her cheeks heightened.

Sully remained quiet, simply smiling down at her and she suddenly became paranoid. "I was quiet, wasn't I? Do you think they could have heard?"

"You were quiet," Sully assured her. "No one heard a thing but it is alright you know – we are married." The light teasing was fun and Michaela gave his side a playful pinch when she couldn't think of something to say in return. Michaela made to move away. "Where are ya goin'?"

"To retrieve my nightgown that you threw across the room – it's cold in here."

"No," Sully said pulling her back down in the bed. "Come here, I'll keep ya warm."

Michaela eyed him suspiciously. "But what if Colleen needs me in the middle of the night?" She pulled the covers up to cover her body as she spoke and Sully smiled in victory.

"She's got Andrew," he pointed out.

"Yes but I'm going to deliver the baby."

"She doesn't want Andrew to deliver it?" Sully asked rather surprised.

"Colleen asked me too. She wants Andrew there but she wants him there as her husband, not her doctor."

"Not like us, huh?" Sully chuckled.

"No, not like us," Michaela agreed growing quiet. A pensive look came over Michaela's face for a moment. At first he thought she was simply reliving Katie's birth but he soon realized that something was bothering her. He leaned his head down to place a warm kiss to her cheek. "Whatcha thinkin' about?"

"Nothing," she sighed obviously not telling the truth.

"Yes ya are."

Michaela looked up at him sheepishly. "It's silly."

"Tell me," he implored, the look in his eyes nothing but love.

"Do you realize," she hesitated covering her mouth unsure whether to actually voice her thoughts. "Do you realize I am going to be a grandmother when the baby is born?" Sully laughed gently. "I feel old."

"If you're old, than so am I. After all, I'll be a grandfather when that baby is born."

"True," Michaela agreed. "And we did promise to grow old together."

"You're the only person I want to grow old with," he kissed her once more as she settled down against his chest, her eyes finally closing to enjoy a peaceful slumber.

Down the hall, the two boys lay in separate beds talking about a variety of things – the conversation meandering from topic to topic. They both treasured their time together – their schedules were so busy that they rarely got to spend time with one another doing the things they enjoyed like going fishing. Recently, they had agreed to try to meet for dinner once a week when Matthew was in Denver. It had been good for them. The age difference has always made Matthew more of a parent to Brian in many ways but now that they were both adults, a true friendship had ensued.

Tonight Brian had an important question to ask his brother but he wasn't quite sure how to begin and so he had kind of directed the conversation from topic to topic, stalling the moment when he would have to be forthcoming. A lull in the conversation made him dread that Matthew had fallen asleep before he had the chance to ask. It ended up being just the push he needed. "Matthew," he whispered into the darkness.

"Huh?" came his brother's sleepy reply.

"Are ya sleepin'?"

"Not yet. Why?"

"I kinda wanted to ask ya something if ya don't mind."

Matthew roused himself at Brian's words and turned to face the bed his brother slept in, propping his head up with his elbow. "Go ahead."

"How old were you when ya asked Ingrid to marry you?"

Matthew let out a soft chuckle. "Why you thinking about getting married?"

"Yes," he said hastily and then instantly regretted it. "No… maybe," he added cringing at his own vulnerability.

"Which is it?"

"It's just somethin' I've been thinking about and talking about with Sarah. I finish school this next spring – guess I feel like I got some decisions to make."

"What does Sarah say about all this?"

Brian paused as a wide smile crept over his mouth. "I know she is excited thinking about the possibility. She wants a family – I could see her eyes shining watching Colleen today."

"Ya love her?"

"More than I ever thought possible," Brian replied speaking from his heart.

Matthew rolled onto his back and closed his eyes. "Sounds like you've got your answer to me."

Brian laughed. "I guess so," he replied closing his own eyes to dream about a blond haired beauty.

Colleen woke, the throbbing in her back worse than it had been previously. She tried to shift in the bed but it didn't help in the least. It felt like a hot knife cutting into her, making her breath catch in her throat. She gripped the side of the bed feeling as though her back was being ripped apart vertically. "Andrew," she gasped unsure why the pain was suddenly so bad. There was no reply though from her snoring husband. "Andrew!" she exclaimed.

His snore ended abruptly and he sat up looking around in confusion. "Colleen?"

She moaned loudly. "My back – it hurts bad," she managed to choke out.

"Just a spasm?" he asked already lowering his hand to begin to apply counter pressure.

"It's different." Her breathing returned to normal as the pain began to lessen.

"Different? Do you think…?"

"I don't know," she said nervously. "I suppose…"

"Should I get your mother?" Andrew began to climb out of bed.

"Not yet. Even if it is labor – I'm sure it will still be awhile yet. Just hold me." Andrew pulled her into his embrace a new nervousness taking over his body. A million thoughts flew through his mind as he tried not to think about what might be happening.

"Oh," Colleen said suddenly.

"More pain?" His hands were already moving down her back but Colleen shook her head.

"I think my water broke."

Just a fun piece… second part up tomorrow hopefully!! If not you will get a late Thanksgiving story. Happy Thanksgiving for those celebrating and Happy Thursday to everyone around the world!!!