Disclaimer: I do not own anything !
A/N: I am so sorry this is coming to you guys so late. I kinda got blocked when it came to this story but inspiration hit and well here it is ! Thank you to Hippogriff-Tamer for betaing this for me.
Christy awoke the day after her wedding slightly confused as to where she was; that is until the events of the past twenty four hours went flying through her head. She turned her head and looked over at her still sleeping husband. She still had a hard time believing that she was now Mrs. MacNeil and that Neil was now her husband. The thought brought a blush to her cheeks as she recalled what had occurred between them the night before and wondered silently if every night would be like that. Still blushing, she pulled gently out of her husband's arms and found her clothes. Quickly dressing she made her way down the stairs to the kitchen. There she found a basket on the kitchen table with a note from Fairlight. After reading it she smiled and using the contents of the basket began making breakfast for her husband.
Neil was aroused by the sound of someone moving around cabin and quickly say up and looked around when he saw nothing out of the ordinary he turn hoping to see his new bride beside him but found her gone. He smiled as he got out of bed and dressed before heading down the stairs to greet his wife. He had to stop when the thought came to him then a huge grin came over his features. Christy was finally his wife! He continued down the stairs and came to a dead stop at the sight of her working in the small kitchen. He could hear her humming softly to herself as she finished preparing breakfast. He walked up quietly behind her hoping not to startle her and then wrapped his arms around her middle.
"Good Morning Mrs. MacNeil," he said as a way of greeting.
Christy, who had felt his eyes on her since the moment she had heard him come into the room, smiled before turning in her husband's arms. "Good Morning to you too, Neil. I hope I didn't disturb your rest when I got up," she said reaching up to push a wayward curl from his face before blushing nearly scarlet and pulling away.
Neil knew that she was still a bit nervous about the intimacy that they had shared. It would take a little while before she would be completely comfortable with the attention he would undoubtedly shower upon her. He answered, "No, Lass. You didn't disturb me. In fact, I had no idea you had even gotten up until I heard you moving around in here."
"Oh," was all she said before turning back to the stove to remove their breakfast from the oven.
She was still nervous about being alone with him but at the same time she craved this time with him. She knew now that she was a doctor's wife there would be times when he would not be there with her. She thought back to what Margarete had said to her once said to her about being left alone in the cabin with no one to talk to but the walls. She shook her head at the thought. She knew that she wasn't alone for she had friends in the Cove unlike Margarete who had not bothered to get to know any of the families living around her.
She was so lost in thought she had not noticed that Neil had set the table. She found herself flushing in embarrassment. He simply chuckled and pulled out her chair for her before sitting himself. He blessed the meal and together they enjoyed their first meal together as husband and wife.
After they had eaten their fill they cleaned up together neither really wanting to be away from the other for long.
Once the chore was finished they stood awkwardly looking at each other, neither really knowing what to do or say. Then Christy noticed the clock on the mantle and gasped. "Neil we have to get to the mission house!"
He snapped out of his thoughts and looked at the clock bewildered by her startled cry before remembering that her parents were going back home that day. He simply nodded watching as she gathered up her cat and nearly ran to the door. Though he did catch sight of her slight limp as she ran past him.
"Christy are you hurt?" he asked concerned for her.
She stopped and looked at him trying hard not to blush and shook her head but she knew that he would not let it go until she had told him what was wrong. "Neil, I am fine just a bit sore..." she said letting her words trail off knowing he would understand what she was trying to say but couldn't.
He immediately flushed when he caught on to what she was referring to. "I am sorry, love," he said pulling her into his arms and holding her.
"Neil, I said I was fine. You didn't hurt me, besides it was kind of unavoidable," she stated with a blush not quite believing she was having this conversation with him just then.
He nodded then walked out of the cabin with her still beside him.
They rode up to the mission house just as her parents were walking out of it. "Christy!" her mother called as she dismounted her horse.
"Hello, Mother," she said as she was pulled into a hug by Julia Huddleston.
"Walk with me, dear," her mother said. Christy left with her mother curious as to what she had to say. They walked to the schoolhouse and then stopped.
"Christy, I am happy that you found someone who loves you so completely and I wanted to say I am sorry for trying to get you to come home so often in the past. I can see know that this is your home but I want you to know that should you ever need to come back to Ashville our door will always be open. I also wanted to know what you will do now that you are a married woman. It's not likely you will be able to continue to teach."
Christy froze with her mother's last words. Even though she had never thought about it she knew her mother was right and it broke her heart that she would not be allowed to teach her children anymore. The mission would have to find another teacher to take her place.
Julia stopped and turned to look at her daughter. She could see the shock on her face and understood immediately the heartbreak she saw there as well. Christy loved the children here and not being able to teach them was going to hurt her dearly.
"I... I didn't think about that. But school starts again in a week. Surely they will not be able to find a teacher on such a short notice even though they have known that they will need to find a replacement when I married."
"Is...Is that why you wanted to talk to me? To tell me that they have already found my replacement?"
"No, but it is something that you will have to think about dear. You are a married woman now and your place is at home." with those last words her mother walked back to the house and left Christy staring at the school house tears gathering in her eyes. Neil found her still standing there a half hour later. Walking up behind her, he pulled her back into his embrace and simply held her. He had a feeling he knew what she was thinking but waited to see if she would say what was on her mind.
"Neil," she whispered brokenly turning to look at her husband and best friend.
"Christy, I could never ask you to give up your heart's desire," he said brushing the tears from her beloved face.
"But..."
"Let the Cove decide whether or not they want a new teacher. I could never ask you to give it up at least not right now though there may come a time when it will be necessary to do so."
She understood immediately as to what he was referring to and she knew that when that time came she would give it up but she also knew that now was not the time. She nodded and they turned back to the mission house to say goodbye to her parents.
After saying goodbye Christy pulled Miss Alice aside and asked her if it was still feasible for her to continue teaching or if the mission had found a replacement for her.
Alice seeing the look the young women she saw as another daughter was giving her she tried to withhold her mirth. The Cove had already decided that they didn't want another teacher for their children and said that as long as she was willing to teach their children then they were fine with her continuing on at least until she became with child and as long as her husband did not mind.
"Christy, thee need not worry about your position. The families have already decided to allow you to continue teaching the children at least until you are with child and Neil is okay with you doing so."
Christy's eyes lit up and she embraced her mentor and friend before running off to find her husband to tell him the news.
Later that night, after retiring for the evening, Christy wondered if she would ever get used to the feel of Neil lying beside her. She looked at his sleeping face and smiled before laying her head on his bare chest drifting off to sleep.