A/N: I received a message that said, "A show never dies as long as you keep it alive with your writing." You inspired me to revisit two of my favorite characters. Hope you enjoy!

Every Kiss Counts

The first time he saw her, she was wielding a shot gun and chasing down a lynch mob to protect a friend, a colored friend at that. Not that Chris saw color, but it was unusual just the same.

The first time he thought he might kiss her, they had just returned from Wickestown. Their developing friendship had triggered a fondness in him for Mary that he hadn't yet dare to define. But, when he found her tied to that damn bed, scared out of her wits, something inside him shifted. If he could have killed that no good son of a bitch Wickes a thousand times over he would have.

He could admit now that it had scared the hell out of him too. She had held it together, however. Mary was strong and independent, frustratingly so at times.. He prayed that Wickes hadn't touched her. The fact that she was still dressed in her own clothes and the fact that they were neither torn nor tattered gave him hope.

Mary turned into him as they hit the open road back towards Four Corners, curling her fingers into his shirt. He wrapped himself about her as best he could in the saddle and tightened the hold he had around her waist. "You're safe, Mary," he whispered over and over again until she finally relaxed into him. When he pulled his mount up short in front of The Clarion, Mary cautiously lifted her head from the crook of his neck and squinted into the sunlight. She flinched when Nathan reached for her and clung a little tighter to Chris. He allowed her the time she needed to gather herself, gently ghosting his hands up and down her back before reluctantly letting her slide away into Nathan's arms.

When Nathan emerged from his one-room makeshift clinic, Chris was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. "She's alright. A little banged up, but he didn't touch her, not in the way your concerned about." Nathan watched as relief washed over Chris's typically stoic features. His eyes cut to the door that stood between him and the woman he desperately needed to see.

"Go on up. She'd like to see ya".

Chris hesitated, not sure visiting with Mary right now was the best idea for either of them.

"She needs you," Nathan quietly urged.

With that, Chris shot up the steps. Mary would always have what she needed if he had anything to say about it.

He knocked softly on the door and called her name. A few quick footsteps and the door flew open. In less than a heartbeat, Mary's arms locked around his neck, fingers seeking purchase in his shoulders.

Chris's arms banded about her waist tucking her into his chest. She cried and she shook as the last of the adrenaline drained away. She could let him be strong for her, just this once, and he was happy to do it.

Chris slid his arm behind her knees and cradled her to him. The rocking chair by the window became their sanctuary where he held her through the sobs and into the small hiccups as the tears began to dry and the fear faded away. When the reality of their current position settled in, Mary sat up a little straighter in his lap and wiped her nose on her sleeve. She peered up at Chris through wet lashes unable to stop the flush that rose from her neck to her cheeks.

"Beautiful," Chris thought as she wiggled her way out of his lap. She walked to the window and wrapped her arms about her middle as if she were trying to physically hold herself together. Chris ambled his way slowly to her side and dared to run his hand the length of her hair.

"Come on, I'll walk you home." She nodded her consent, and he turned her toward the door never allowing his hand to leave the small of her back until they reached the bottom of the stairs. It was late and the citizens of four corners, at least the respectable ones, were all tucked in for the night. Chris walked Mary through the doors of The Clarion, across the office, and right up to the door leading to her home.

"You okay from here?" he asked quietly. Mary drew in a deep shuttering breath and nodded. Chris gently turned her toward him and ran his hands up and down her still crossed arms. He placed a chaste kiss on her forehead and turned to go before he betrayed what was fitting and proper. Mary let him go knowing he would keep watch over her from his perch across the street. It was the only thing that allowed her to sleep.

2

The second time he kissed her, the innocence of it surprised him most of all. It was the second night of the long trip home from escorting the wagon train. She told Gerrard she couldn't marry him and Chris had been able to breathe again upon hearing the news. She had all but asked his permission on that old log, just the two of them. Had he been thinking with his head instead of his heart, he never would have asked her if she loved Gerrard.

Gerrard was a good match for Mary even if it broke his heart to admit it. He should have never offered Mary his one sided, selfish opinion, but seeing her there, blue eyes focused intently upon him, he felt like she could read the secrets he kept hidden away in his soul. Lying to her was never an option.

He and Mary hadn't spoken much that first day on the trail home. Mary had chosen to ride in the back next to Vin who was nursing a weary heart himself. She had caught him peering back at the two of them more than once, each time offering him a small reassuring smile that he felt himself returning despite his best efforts to the contrary.

Billy rode in the saddle with Chris secure in his sure and steady arms. Never had Chris heard one human being prattle on so about nothing in particular, well, except maybe Ezra, but at least he could understand what Billy was saying.

By the time they made camp that first night, Billy was sleeping soundly in Chris's arms and Mary was doing all she could to stay upright in the saddle. Chris handed Billy down to Josiah and spread a pallet under a tree for his smallest friend. Josiah placed him gently on the worn blanket and Chris tucked him in under his black duster.

"Quite the contrast isn't it?" Josiah remarked seeing the small innocent figure wrapped securely under the intimidating uniform of a seasoned gunslinger.

Mary joined the two men where they stood watching over Billy. "Thank you for taking care of him today," she whispered. "I hope he didn't talk your ear off".

Chris just smiled and returned his gaze to the boy as Josiah quietly retreated from the pair.

"How long has he been asleep?" Mary asked as she spread her own pallet next to her son.

"Lost him a few miles back. Pretty sure he even talks in his sleep," he quipped with no malice.

Mary stifled a yawn and smiled. "I guess we could all do with some rest".

Chris nodded once, "Yep. We'll make any early start of it tomorrow. Good night, Mary."

Mary watched him walk away toward the horses and took in a deep renewing breath. The last thing she saw as she settled onto her blanket was the gentle stare of the quiet man she had come to care about. She could admit to herself, at least, that he was the reason she couldn't marry Gerrard.

Vin joined Chris by the fire when everyone else settled for sleep. "You okay?," Chris offered along with a hot cup of coffee.

A humorless chuckle escaped Vin's throat. "Nope," he said and took a sip from the old tin mug he was holding, "but I will be, I suppose."

They sat in amiable silence, Vin watching the night sky and Chris searching the black expanse surrounding their camp, ever vigilant, while stealing glances at Mary where she slept securely wrapped around her son.

"She cares about you, you know".

Chris turned his eyes slowly back to the fire. "Yeah, well, that's the kind of thing that could get her killed."

"She don't see it that way," Vin said matter-of-factly.

Chris turned his gaze to Mary once again and was bombarded by unbidden flashes of a future, his future with Mary and Billy and more. He shook his head to clear it. A future with anyone was not something he needed to be contemplating. Nothing good could ever come of it, of that he was sure.

He dumped what was left of his cold coffee and stoked the fire burning in front of him. After one last sweep of the perimeter, Chris settled on his own hard pallet and allowed himself to sleep.

The second day of travel found Mary riding next to Chris toward the back of the pack. She had awoken warm and content to the distinct smell of leather and Chris. Certain she hadn't burrowed under his duster in the night, she dared to hope that Chris had perhaps quietly tucked her in as well.

Billy was unusually quiet in the saddle with Ezra of all people. He leaned back lazily against the well-dressed gentleman content to listen to the rise and fall of his southern drawl.

The group pulled away from their leader as he and Mary were satisfied with their own pace in the rear. A majority of the day was spent in small talk and companionable silence. There were shy glances and flushed cheeks, sly grins, and long stares. By the time they made camp that night, the electricity between the two was palpable.

Chris walked the perimeter of the camp, once again last to sleep. Mary watched him from where she lay, ever aware of the small spark that had grown and now burned steady for him low in her gut. She rose, quietly, and made her way to the tree where Chris stood vigil, his eyes heaven ward surveying the night sky. When she reached him, he casually turned his head in her direction giving her his full attention. "Trouble sleeping?" he asked, sly Larabee half-grin in place.

"I could ask you the same thing," she quipped, eyes on the sky.

Chris smiled despite himself. A loaded silence settled around them as they each contemplated all that has passed between them. Lost in her thoughts, Mary's hand flew to Chris's bicep when he slid his arm around her waist and pulled her toward him. He placed a long soft kiss on her temple and tightened his grip on her hip. She shivered as his lips ghosted over the shell of her ear. "You should get some rest. Long day tomorrow." As she turned toward him, he slipped away disappearing into the darkness just beyond the trees.

3

The third time he kissed her, he was helpless to do anything but. His friends had just hauled him back from prison. Inmate 78. He had feared that would be the name carved on the marker over his grave.

Mary watched from The Clarion window as they hovered behind and beside him on their way to Nathan's. They knew better than to do any more than that. Pride alone would carry him up those stairs. It wasn't until she tasted the salt on her lips that she realized she was crying. Wiping furiously at the traitorous tears, she decided she would find one of the men and ask just exactly what had happened. She didn't have to look far as Vin showed up at her office door less than an hour later. "Is he okay?" she blurted out before he even had a chance to say hello.

Vin dampened her worry with a reassuring smile and shared with her what exactly he knew of Chris's time in the corrupt prison. Chris hadn't been forthcoming with much of the details, but Vin knew his friend well enough to know that it had been bad. As she made to thank him and say her goodbye, Vin stopped in the doorway and eased his hat back onto his head. "Buck told him that you was concerned and that you made a pretty good case for settin' chase to find him".

A pretty pink blush colored Mary's cheeks. "Well it's no different than I would have done for any of you, I assure you."

"Yes m'am," Vin drawled. "I just think he wouldn't mind if you checked on him."

Mary smoothed the nonexistent wrinkles in her skirt. "I might find him later," she said with a careless flick of her wrist, "if I can get my work done by a descent hour. I have quite a bit left to do here". Mary's eyes danced around the office, landing on anything but Vin.

"Well, he's staying up at Nathan's tonight," Vin offered, "you know, if you was to get things wrapped up here in time to visit." He couldn't help the knowing little grin that crept across his face.

"Goodnight, Mr. Tanner," Mary teased, knowing she had failed miserably in feigning indifference where Chris was concerned. She sent him through the door with a friendly little shove and a good-natured chuckle.

Shortly thereafter, Mary found herself climbing the steps to Nathan's. She knocked on the door and, after a quiet, disappointing moment, turned to leave. She stopped, hope welling in her chest when she heard the door knob rattle. Her heart sped to a pace she was sure it had not attempted in years when she saw him standing in the doorway, shirtless and shoeless with tousled hair and the top button of his pants scandalously undone. Her eyes roamed his chest where multiple deep bruises marred the tanned skin she had only ever pictured in her mind's eye. Mary stared, transfixed as Chris drug his hand through the hair on the top of his head, the movement accentuating the toned muscles of his arms and chest. He cleared his throat bringing Mary back to herself. She shook her head to clear her thoughts but not before a beautiful blush rose to color her neck and cheeks.

"I… I'm sorry. You were sleeping. I didn't mean to wake you."

"Wasn't sleepin'," he groused, voice thick and gravely from his recent woes. He back stepped, opening he door wider, inviting her in wordlessly.

Mary hesitated, shocked by her less than prudent reaction to seeing him in his current state of undress, before crossing the threshold into Nathan's sanctuary. Her eyes drifted to the rocking chair by the window, and her thoughts to the memory of him holding her there while she nearly cried herself to sleep, not all that long ago. She missed the quick upturn of his lips as he watched and wondered if she too was remembering the last time they were together in this room.

Chris reached past her, brushing her arm as he made to grab his shirt from where it hung across iron foot board. Mary shivered, fists balling at her sides, before stubbornly lifting her chin and turning to face him. He knew the instant she made the decision not to shy away from the contact. He struggled a bit with his shirt, wincing as he worked the sleeve up and over his damaged shoulder. Emboldened by his vulnerability, she reached for the collar and lifted the clean, crisp white shirt up and in to place. She was the picture of focus and determination as she adjusted the front and set to work on the buttons. Chris stood stone still, mesmerized, while Mary went about her task. Her senses were on overload thanks to Chris's proximity, and she needed a distraction before she fell apart completely.

"Vin told me some of what happened to you while you were gone," she whispered. When he didn't respond, she pressed on, praying her voice would not betray her. "He said they had you in a hole... I..."

Chris gently covered her wrists, effectively ending the battle she was losing with his buttons and pulled her hands to his chest. Mary's eyes shot to his and she nearly lost herself in the swirling storm of greens and blues that met her there. "Buck said you're the reason they came lookin' for me."

"I was worried about you," she answered in a rush. "You had been gone for too long and I was afraid... I... I thought..."

Uable to put word to her fear that he had been lost to her forever, Mary instead flattened her hands against his chest seeking proof that he was indeed alive and safely home where he belonged. She was surprised to feel his heart thundering in time with her own. He was freshly bathed and shaved, aside from the whiskers he had left under his nose and around his mouth. She longed to trace that line of stubble and had no power to stop herself from stroking his cheek. He smelled of leather and spice and she knew his scent would linger on her clothes long after they had parted. Chris snaked his arm around her waist and nudged her gently toward him, negating the remaining space between them. Mary's lips parted in response, and Chris wasted no time fitting his lips to hers. His kiss was agonizingly slow and tender, almost reverent, until a soft moan escaped Mary's throat. Chris lifted Mary against him and teased her lips apart with a swipe of his tongue. Mary opened to him willingly, hands scraping through his hair and across his scalp. Their kiss quickly grew fevered and urgent with only the need for breath forcing them apart. Mary dropped back to her heels and balled the front of his shirt in her fists to steady herself. Chris, as affected as Mary, rested his forehead against her golden hair and struggled to slow his rapid breaths. A sudden knock on the door sent Mary skittering backwards towards the window. Nathan entered without invitation and immediately felt the crackle in the air.

"Oh, Miz Travis, I didn't realize you was visitin'.'"

"Hello Nathan," she squeaked and cleared her throat. "I just came up to check on Mr. Larabee."

Nathan's attention shifted between the two but before he could work out just exactly it was he walked into, Mary was saying her goodbyes and heading for the door. The look on Chris's face betrayed nothing of the situation, yet somehow Nathan knew it best not to ask any questions.

TBC

A/N: Second chapter already written. Will post this week after a few more edits. Thanks for reading! All feedback is appreciated!