Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the story of christy, nor any of the characters. this is written completely for my amusment only.

A/N : I've given this a rating of M, because of some adult themes/suggestions. Most of these will be later in the story, this first chapter is PG13

How did I get myself into this situation?

I thought to myself staring down at the diamond engagement ring in my hand. The ring David just proposed to me with, right in front of all the children, and Dr. Neil MacNeil.

Neil, with his ruggedly handsome good looks and unruly curly golden red hair looked completely devastated. David looked triumphant, like he was so sure of my answer. Looking back up at Neil on his horse Charlie I could feel my heart breaking. After talking earlier that afternoon with Fairlight I had realized that I was head over heels in love with Dr. MacNeil. I had even gone so far as to ride to his house to tell him this, when I had found him in the arms of his wife. Margaret. I had forgotten about her, tormented I rushed back to the mission only to have David Propose to me and for Neil to have followed me.

I looked back down at the ring in my hand, then at David.

David, ring, Neil, David, ring, Neil. I thought I would go crazy.

David breaking into the silence yelled at Neil. "Get Out of here Doctor go home to your 'wife', you are only confusing Christy, she's mine."

"That's where you are wrong Reverend, Neil said in that Scottish brogue of his that I loved so much. "Christy isn't an object or prize to be won; she is a beautiful, intelligent, caring woman, who knows her own mind and heart".

"Stop it both of you I yelled. breaking in before they got in to a fist fight.

I looked up at Neil, our eyes locking, mine begging him to listen. He gave me a slight nod of the head, understanding lighting his eyes. I turned my back to him and took a step closer to David, a smile spreading over his face, so sure he had won. That is until I spoke.

"David, I'm sorry I can't marry you." I said holding the ring back out to him, David not taking it. "Christy please, think about this, I won't ask again" David stated. "I don't want you to, David; I'm in love with Neil. I said tears in my eyes.

"Christy, you can't, he is a married man, just get over it and marry me. It's time for you to grow up Christy, you will be shunned and disgraced for loving him" David taunted me. I took a step back from him, still holding the ring out to him, David still not taking it.

"I'm sorry David but neither my answer nor my feelings will change' I stated. With that I snapped the ring box shut and dropped it on the ground, turn towards Neil and ran to him, Neil reaching down and swinging up behind him on Charlie just like in my dreams we were riding away together. I could hear the gasp of the children and David calling my name but I didn't care.

We didn't go far just over the next rise out of sight of the mission and school. Neil stopped Charlie and slid off the horse lifting me down beside him. As soon as my feet were on the ground Neil's mouth was on mine. His kiss was completely chaste, soft, and loving, but filled with so much passion, longing, and love that I was having hard time breathing. Pulling back from me slightly, Neil looked into my eyes reading the love shinning in them. I knew he wanted me to say what I was feeling but I was holding back.

"Christy, why did you come to my cabin lass? Was it to tell me how you felt, is that why you ran away" Neil asked never taking his eyes off my face, nor his hands from my waist. I couldn't trust my voice so I simply nodded. "And what it is you feel lass, do you actually love me, or did you just use me to get away from Grantland?" Neil asked me clearly afraid of what my answer would be.

"Neil, I should think you would know the answer to that. Of course I love you, which was what I was coming to tell you, Fairlight made me see that it was you that I was in love with not David."

"And how did she do that Christy. Neil asked obvious curious.

"Well she just asked me a few questions. First she wanted to know who the first person I thought of when I woke and I answered David because he was usually hammering on something. Then she asked me who was the last person I thought of when I went to sleep and I said one of the children. Then she asked who was the one person that made me so mad that my blood boiled and of course I answered Neil MacNeil, but it was the last question that opened my eyes.

She asked who was the one person I told all my secrets to, who I shared my dreams with, who I went to with all my problems, who was my best friend. And I realized that since from almost the first time meeting you that it was you. You Neil MacNeil are my very best friend and I love you more than anything in the world."

"Aye, as I love you lass, you are my very best friend as well", Neil said before lightly brushing his lips over mine. Than he finally stepped back from me dropping his hands from my waist. "But it doesn't matter lass, I'm still a married man we can't be together. It would go against everything you believe in, it would destroy you, and I can't let you do this. I've got to take you back to the mission. He said sadly.

Reaching up to tuck that stubborn curl of his back behind his ear, I said " I know Neil, but I had to tell you how I felt, I knew you would have to take me back, as much as I want to be with you now is not the time. But I have faith that we will be together some day, it will all work out somehow. Just know this Neil MacNeil, I love you and will always love you, I'll wait as long as I have too. I'm not ever going to leave you Neil, no matter what I'll be here for you." With that said I kissed him on the cheek and then he mounted Charlie and pulled me up behind him to take me back to the mission.