A/N – Ok, so I'm reposting each of the chapters. They're slightly adjusted and edited. The story is going to stay 'T-rated' now, but I may choose to write up the missing moments and post them as a separate 'M-rated' story. It should be about 14 chapters by the time it's finished; I'm going to finish off these few weeks where Amy and Ty are a bit of a mess and then go into a series of one-shots for the second half. Sorry for all the delay and so on, I honestly have been manically busy, but thank you for all those who have stuck it out Reviews really appreciated.
''We'll keep in touch though. We can compare notes! It'll be just like old times,'' Amy laughed. All of her stuff was packed in her truck; text books, notes, clothes and happy memories. She hugged Daisy, her best friend from college.
''Of course we will,'' Daisy replied, ''I can't wait - the next step. Working!'' They laughed together. Amy brushed her light brown hair out of her face.
''You'll have to come to Heartland sometime,'' Amy said to the brunette.
''You bet! I wana see this place you are so obsessed with,'' she grinned back, ''See you soon.''
Amy got in the truck and turned the ignition key. ''See you.''
As she drove off the campus she looked through her mirror at the place she had spent the last 7 years. Despite feeling homesick for the first little bit she had loved every minute of it. The challenge of her course, the social life she had, the friends she had made, Chestnut Hill, the list went on. She was a fully qualified vet now; free to lead her life, not studying. Working at Heartland and being with her family. Despite previously being unsure as to whether this was the right thing for her, she was convinced now that it was. She felt, although she would never have believed it before, more confident treating horses than she ever had. Her instincts were almost always right and she now had the ability and knowledge of backing this up with a proper diagnosis. It made her warm inside to think that now she could finally concentrate on Heartland full time.
Once again Amy found herself thinking how much Heartland had changed since she left for her pre-vet programme nearly seven years ago. Lou and Scott had the beautiful Holly - she was seven now, horse mad thankfully and unbelievably adorable; Amy had a feeling that the novelty of her niece being so cute wouldn't last long, she was sure that she would begin to drive her mad soon.
Ty and Joni were still at Heartland although Joni was now engaged to a young teacher from Amy's old high school. He had moved down a few years back and the two had met one night and clicked instantly. Amy had only met him a few times but he seemed like a great guy. Ty was still single after breaking up with Heather not long after Amy had first met her. Amy knew he had had a few flings but apparently nothing serious.
Tears pricked in her eyes as she thought of the other changes that had happened at Heartland. Sundance had gone, Spindle had been sold and worst of all Nancy and Grandpa had passed on. It had happened about three years ago. She had found it so hard at the time, now she couldn't believe how long ago it had happened. She just couldn't believe that Grandpa had gone. It would be so strange being at home with nobody there. Although she had lived alone most of the time while she had been away she had never really been at Heartland on her own. Sure she'd been back for holidays but it wasn't the same.
Just after that had happened, Heartland had gone through some tough financial times so the decision had been made to sell Spindle. He was going brilliantly, competing on the 'A' circuit. Amy was stoked, although she hadn't had a lot to do with his breaking and schooling - that had all been down to Ty and Joni. Sundance had gotten a bad bout of colic well before that and twisted his gut. There had been no chance of saving him.
It had been tough being away during the bad times at Heartland but that was in the past now and Amy knew that, although she carried a part of each of them with her at all times in her heart, she had to get on with life and make the best of what she had.
She finally pulled up Heartland's long sweeping drive and a warm feeling spread through her. Finally she was home. She brought the truck to a stop and jumped out, taking a deep breath, inhaling the sweet smell of hay, straw and horse. Although she had worked a lot with the horses on campus, it didn't smell quite the same as at home. She pulled a few suitcases out of the truck and lugged them up to the house. It was seven o'clock in the evening. She suspected that everyone had gone home; there was no sign of anyone. She had to admit that she was a little surprised and disappointed - she had expected someone to be here.
She pulled out her keys and unlocked the front door, lugged her bags in and dumped them in the kitchen. The light snapped on.
Holly threw her arms around her.
''Auntie Amy!'' she squealed. Amy took in the scene around her. The kitchen was filled with people who she loved. Lou, Scott, Matt, Soraya, Ty, Joni, Tim, Helena and Lily.
''Welcome home!'' Lou shouted, running over to hug her sister. Amy grinned and hugged her sister before picking up Holly.
''You've grown young lady,'' she smiled at the young girl.
''I know, I've got a new pony now,'' she said excitedly, bouncing up and down in Amy's arms.
''Is that so?'' Amy asked, ''I can't wait to meet her.''
''We can go now!'' the little girl nearly shouted.
''Hang on a minute,'' Lou grabbed Holly from Amy laughing, ''She's only just got here. Let her speak to everyone and relax. There'll be time tomorrow.''
Ty came over and hugged her, ''It's good to have you back Amy.''
Lou had cooked up a storm, a beautiful chicken casserole with cheesecake for desert. After cooking for herself or getting takeaways at VirginiaTech it was nice to have proper home cooked food. Her cooking had improved though - at least she could cook more than pasta now!
''So, how does it feel?'' Scott asked a little later, once they had finally finished the huge meal, ''being a fully qualified vet, I mean.''
''Umm, great I think. I mean I've only just graduated and I have loads more still to learn, practically anyway. I don't think that my books will be leaving the truck for a while anyway - just in case,'' she smiled. Scott nodded in agreement.
''So you're still ok to do a bit of extra work for me on occasion?'' Scott asked.
''Of course, the more experience the better, right?'' Amy's stomach twisted in nervousness, she felt worried about stuffing things up; she didn't want her being new to the job to be an excuse. Scott owned the vet surgery now - he had bought it when the old owner had retired and Amy didn't want to ruin the reputation that the business still had.
''What do you mean?'' Ty asked, sounding restrained.
''I'm just going to do a bit of extra work for Scott so that I don't forget everything that I've learnt. It won't be much but it's a bit more experience,'' Amy replied, confused about Ty's reaction.
''That's a great idea Amy,'' Joni cut in.
''I think it's fantastic,'' Tim smiled at her.
''Well, she'll be a big help to me too,'' said Scott confidently. Lou touched him on the arm, smiling, and stood up.
''I know that this Amy's big homecoming but Scott and I have a bit of news to tell you. We wanted to say when everyone was here,'' Amy watched as her blue eyes met Scott's and he gave a slight nod of encouragement.
''We are going to have another baby!'' Lou blurted out, unable to contain herself, ''I'm about 4 months gone.''
Amy jumped up and hugged her sister.
''Congratulations! I can't believe it.''
Everyone else hugged Lou and offered their congratulations.
''I would have told you all sooner had I known - it was a bit of a shock to be honest,'' Lou explained, ''We only found out last week.''
Amy glanced at her father, tears shone in his eyes; he looked so happy. It was a long time since she had seen him, Helena and Lily. They had moved back from Australia now and lived just the other side of town running the same business as before only on a much smaller scale. Amy loved the thought that all her family were so close now and it would be so much easier to keep in contact and visit each other.
Amongst all the chaos, Amy noticed the back door open and Ty slid quietly away. She excused herself for a moment whilst everyone cooed around Lou and followed him.
''Are you just going to take off and not even say goodbye?'' she asked playfully.
''Sorry,'' he said, looking at the floor, ''I'm just really tired.''
''Are you ok? You seem kinda... I dunno but you don't seem like you,'' she pushed gently.
''I'm fine, like I said, just really tired,'' he replied, still avoiding her eyes.
''Ok, I'll see you in the morning then.''
''See you Amy,'' and with that he turned and walked off into the darkness, leaving Amy confused and worried; this wasn't the Ty she knew. Briefly she panicked - maybe there was something going on with his family or something else, but she brushed the thoughts aside, he probably is just really tired, she thought to herself as she walked back towards the farm house.
As she reached the back door, Helena and Tim walked out.
''We're going to head off now I think - Lily is really tired. We'll see you soon and have a proper catch up then, ok?'' Tim said, giving her a hug. Amy hugged him back.
''Ok. I'll see soon,'' she replied, hugging Helena and Lily too.
It wasn't long before everyone left, making their excuses and heading off. Amy found herself left alone in the farmhouse. She wondered around the rooms, checking that everything had been left as before. It had and she entered her mother's room and sat on the chair. A puff of dust surrounded her - like all the rooms, it had been a while since the place had been cleaned. But her mother's room was exactly how she had left it that night. That fateful night. Amy choked on her tears, not wanting to cry but suddenly feeling so alone, so very alone.
Amy awoke to light streaming into her bedroom. She blinked, trying to wake up and shake the sleepiness from her head. Parts of her dream came back to her. She had been standing in the kitchen in a pair of old jeans and sweater. Then she had been on the Clairdale ridge road in the middle of a storm. Her mom was riding Pegasus, but Amy couldn't catch up with her. No matter how fast she ran her mom just sped Pegasus up and galloped away, laughing.
Amy shook her head, trying to erase the dream from her mind. She swung her legs out of bed and checked the clock.
''Crap,'' she cursed. It was nine o'clock. She had forgotten to set her alarm, not used to the early mornings. She pulled an old pair of jeans and a t-shirt on, pounded down the stairs and reached the back door just as Joni and Ty walked in.
''I see you felt too above mucking out this morning,'' Joni grinned cheekily at her.
''I'm sorry, completely forgot to set the old alarm,'' Amy felt a blush creep up her neck; she really hadn't meant to do that; her aim had been to be out on the yard before they arrived.
Joni shook her head, ''Nice excuse, you just think you're too good for us now.''
Amy rolled her eyes, ''How did you guess? Do you want something to eat? I don't know what's in the cupboards but I'm sure Lou has kept them well stocked.''
She opened a cupboard to see a tin of muffins.
''These will do. Muffin?'' she asked, shoving one in her mouth. Shoving the coffee percolator on, Amy pulled three mugs from another cupboard and looked at Ty and Joni.
''So what's the plan then?'' she asked, expectantly.
''Whatever really. Depends on what you have planned for the day,'' Ty responded, an edge creeping into his voice.
''Well actually I haven't got anything planned - just catch up with everything that's going on here,'' Amy said, she had been looking forward to meeting all the new arrivals since she had last been here, six months previously. However, she was confused by Ty's behaviour; it was almost as if he was annoyed with her. What for she had no idea.
She poured the three coffees out and handed them around.
''Mmmm, good coffee Amy. Just what the doctor ordered.'' Amy smiled and stamped her feet into her trainers and opened the back door.
''When does Lou usually arrive?'' she asked.
''About half ten - she likes to get Holly off to school first,'' Joni replied.
''Cool. So how about the grand tour?''
''I'm going to make a start but Joni knows what's going on so I'll leave her to it,'' and with that Ty headed to the tack room. Amy watched him go; hurt that he didn't want to show her around.
''Come on then,'' Joni smiled, ''We'll start with the front stables.''
''Our numbers are down at the moment as you know Amy,'' Lou said, ''What I really want to do is to get them back up to full. Joni and Ty have done a fab job but we do need the money, I'm afraid. The loan we took out really needs to be paid back and we still have so many maintenance jobs that need doing but we just don't have the money to spare. And your college loan needs paying back. It will all come together but it is going to take time. It would definitely be beneficial for you to do some work outside of Heartland. I know you probably don't want to but...''
''No Lou,'' Amy cut in, ''it's fine. I don't mind.''
''Well that's good.'' Lou smiled at her, ''it's so good to have you back.''
Amy looked at her radiant sister; pregnancy was a good look on her. Lou's skin glowed and her eyes shone.
''So do you know what it is yet? Boy or girl?'' Amy asked excitedly.
''Nope,'' Lou replied, ''We want it to be a surprise. Do you want us to come over and keep you company tonight? I don't mind.''
Amy studied her sister; she looked concerned, ''No, I'll be ok I think. Watch a bit of telly, chill out a bit, set my alarm!'' she laughed, hoping that her sister didn't hear how high and fake it sounded. But Amy reasoned with herself; Lou had her own family, her own life. She couldn't be over here every night just for her.
Amy watched the TV, not paying the slightest bit of attention to what was going on. Her mind kept drifting. Firstly to Ty, he had avoided her pretty much all day. She tried and failed to convince herself that they were both tired and it was probably just her over thinking things. She would have to talk to him tomorrow. She thought of the all the horses, she couldn't wait to start working with them properly, getting to know them and their little quirks. Tomorrow was also her first afternoon working for Scott. Her stomach did backflips when she thought about it. It was all very well doing practical's at VirginiaTech and a bit of work at Heartland but going out with Scott was the most pressure, bar exams, that she'd ever had. At least she only had to do horses - she had chosen to specialise with horses rather than to be able to treat all large animals although she was still qualified to work with small animals such as dogs and cats.
Her eyes opened with a jump. She looked at her watch - it was eleven o'clock. The programme she had been watching had finished an hour ago, she must have fallen asleep. Amy got up and went to bed, setting her alarm for half five.