Time period - Post season 19. Brand new timeline which does not coincide with Return to Dodge.

A note about the rating - there may be an MA chapter here and there in this story. Any chapters that contain sexual situations will be posted with warnings so anyone who doesn't want to read that can skip. (I write smut. What can I say?)

NOTE - The inspiration for this story came from the song 'Million Reasons' by Lady Gaga. It was Matt and Kitty from the first moment I heard it.

I bow down to pray

I try to make the worst seem better

Lord, show me the way

To cut through all his worn out leather

I've got a hundred million reasons to walk away

But baby, I just need one good one to stay

- Million Reasons

Kitty tipped the porter who took her luggage and took a moment to stretch. Although she was grateful to be traveling by train and not stagecoach, it was still going to be a few days of travel. She decided to walk along the platform for a bit before boarding. Smiling, she watched as loved ones said their goodbyes. Her mind, as it had for over 20 years, immediately thought of Matt.

She'd left Dodge three years prior and never looked back, although the longing in her heart was sometimes too much to bear. He loved her. She knew that. But he was never going to give up that badge. Not for her or anyone else. All the big and small disappointments added up to one heartbreak that signaled it was time. Time to go, to find a new place, a new home, a new life. Pining away for Matt Dillon was not a life. Oh, sure, she'd had a successful business, and wonderful friends. But if it hadn't been for Matt, she'd have left Dodge long before.

Pulling her ticket from her reticule, she looked up to board the train when a familiar figure caught her eye. The tall man turned, gesturing to a bag at his feet. The porter took it and left, leaving him standing alone.

Kitty swallowed heavily. She didn't even think about what to do. It was as if gravity was pulling her to him. One foot in front of the other, she made her way to his side.

"Matt?"

He whirled around, his eyes wide at the sight of her. "Kitty?"

She smiled, and there was an awkward moment before they both leaned in for what was supposed to be a quick hug. But arms tightened around shoulders and waists until Matt cleared his throat and they released each other.

"What are you-"

"What-"

They both stopped and laughed before Kitty answered Matt's question. "On my way home. My cousin and her husband moved to Denver last year. They just had a baby. I came in to help her out some. You?"

"Nothing as exciting as a baby. A trial."

"In Denver?"

Matt smiled. "It's a long story."

Before she could stop herself, Kitty said, "Maybe we can meet in the dining car and you can tell me all about it."

"Well, I'd like that very much, Kitty."

"I'm in Car Three, number two. Come on by before dinner," she offered.

"Private compartment? Well, at least one of us will sleep well on this trip."

She thought of him, cooped up for days in a seat too small, and again, her mouth was quicker than her mind. "You can stay with me. I mean, there's room for four. You'll be able to stretch out and get some rest."

"Uh…."

"ALL ABOARD!"

"Oh! That means us. We should go."

"May I escort you to your lodgings, Miss Russell?" He offered his arm.

"With pleasure, Marshal Dillon."

~mkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmk~

Kitty was very aware of Matt's hand on her back as they walked through the crowded train to her compartment.

"Here we are," said Kitty, as she opened the door to her room.

As train compartments go, hers was as spacious as one could hope, with a small brass sofa bed, a second pullout bed above, dresser, and a small area for luggage, which included a sink and dressing area.

The moment Matt walked in, however, the room seemingly got smaller.

"This is nice," Matt said, taking off his hat and looking out the window to the platform outside.

"I figured if I'm going to travel all this way, I might as well do it comfortably."

Matt nodded as the train suddenly lurched forward. Kitty was thrown off balance, but Matt was right there to catch her, stopping her fall. Her hands instinctively grabbed his around her waist.

"You alright?" His mouth was at her ear.

She nodded, squeezing his hands. "Caught me off guard, I guess."

He chuckled, his breath tickling her ear. "I'll say."

Kitty rebuked herself for the flush that crept onto her cheeks and patted his hands. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." He seemed reluctant to let her go, but did so anyway.

She cleared her throat. "So? How have you been?"

He nodded slowly. "Okay. You?"

"Fine. Doc told me about your foot. Doesn't seem to have slowed you down a bit."

Matt looked down at his boots. "It was just a graze, really. He told you about that?"

"He keeps me informed on the news of the town."

Matt turned to the window, the prairie passing by. "Seems the information only goes one way…"

Kitty bit her lip. "Matt, I asked Doc not to tell you things-"

"It's okay, Kitty. I understand." He turned and smiled at her. "I don't want to start off like this. We're still friends, right?"

She swallowed heavily. The word 'friends' was heavy on her heart. "Of course, friends."

~mkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmkmk~

"Maisy wanted me to stay on in Denver longer, but she's got the mothering thing down pat. And Louise is such a good baby. I was starting to feel….in the way, I suppose. And I'm anxious to get back to New Orleans. Max takes good care of The Painted Lady, but I miss home." Kitty smiled as she sipped her wine. "Tell me about you. How did you find yourself in Denver?"

Matt cleared his throat as the waiter passed through the dining car with trays of food. "Double murder." Before he could finish, the waiter placed their dinner plates in front of them. Matt took one look at their rare steaks and shook his head. "Not exactly suitable dinner conversation."

Kitty raised her eyebrows. "Since when has that stopped you?"

"Maybe I've changed some." He smiled as he cut his steak.

"Doc said he got a letter from Chester," she offered.

"Yeah. He's quite the family man now. It's been good for him."

"I'm glad. He deserves it." Kitty stared out the window by their table, a wistful look on her face.

Matt watched her. "What are you thinking, Kitty?"

She shook her head. "Nothing in particular. Just…how things work out, I guess. Life's funny."

"Well you go ahead and let me in on the joke anytime."

Kitty smiled. "Why do I feel like our conversations are going to be like walking through a field of landmines?"

Matt let out a laugh that invited more than a few looks from diners nearby. "I suppose maybe that's true enough." He looked into her eyes. "Will that stop us?"

The look he gave her stole her breath. Nearly every part of her wanted to run, like she'd done three years ago. But the biggest part of her, her heart, was beating faster than it had in years and there was no way she could leave the table. Swallowing heavily, she replied, "No, cowboy. I don't think it will."