Disclaimer- Dr Quinn and all the wonderful characters belong to their rightful owners,

Each chapter will represent an episode, so I plan to update the story weekly (real life permitting) hopefully you will be able to enjoy this alot more then the last story :)

Nesohto

A season seven story

The Monument

She walked at pace, her long green skirt swishing round her ankles as she rushed along the street.

Hitching 2 year old Katie further up her hip, Michaela strode her way across the track towards the post office. It had been just over 2 months since Colleen and Andrew had left for Philadelphia, the time had passed quickly, which was not something that could be said about the mail. These days it only took a week for any letter to arrive from the East, a lot less than the month it had taken when she first moved to Colorado Springs, but it still felt like an eternity. The time delay only added to the pain she felt that Colleen was so far away, and even though her eldest daughter was a married woman, residing with a talented doctor and working towards her dream of becoming a physician, Michaela didn't like the fact that it would take her best part of a week to get to Philadelphia should she be needed.

She gasped slightly as Katie accidentally pulled on her hair. It was becoming a habit of Katie's, the little girl had always been a child that liked to grab hold of things, but with her strength increasing Michaela had seriously considered cutting her hair shorter, a notion that had been quickly scrapped at Sully's appalled reaction. Oblivious to the discomfort she had just inflicted on her mother Katie babbled happily to herself, giving everyone who passed her a beaming smile. Knowing that Katie's action was in no way malicious Michaela gave a daughter a smile that matched in magnitude and approached the window of the post office. Quickly she moved her daughter, resting Katie's weight on the window frame of the post office hatch "Hello Horace. Is there any post?"

"Certainly is Dr Mike" Horace returned the lady doctor's charming smile and handed her two envelopes "One for Sully, and one for Miss Katie from Philadelphia"

He turned away as the telegraph apparatus began tapping out a message.

"Thank you Horace" Michaela returned Katie to her hip "Look sweetheart, a letter from Philadelphia who do you think this is from?"

"Coween" Katie called happily, reaching to try and take the white envelope from her mother, her smile reaching epic proportions. Michaela slid her finger in the gap in the envelope and carefully tore it open. Unfurling the thick piece of paper inside, she handed Katie the envelope for her to play with and began to read her daughter's familiar looping penmanship.

"Dr Mike!" Horace called Michaela back to him, "Telegram's for you"

Michaela moved back up the platform to take the piece of paper in Horace's long fingers. "Thank you Horace"

"Anything nice?" Horace asked curiously, nodding to the paper

Michaela looked at him quizzically and scanned the message that he had transcribed. "Fortescue's? A delivery? I haven't ordered anything, are you positive this is for me" she glanced at Horace puzzled by the message.

Horace nodded fiercely. "Sure is Dr Mike, was real clear, Michaela Quinn Colorado Springs, Colorado. Mrs Quinn's order will be delivered Wednesday to the clinic"

"Mrs Quinn?" Michaela scanned the note again "You've written your" Horace shook his head misunderstanding Michaela's issue. Michaela sighed "Mrs Quinn is my mother Horace; I would either be Dr Quinn or Mrs Sully"

Horace gave her an apologetic smile, "Sorry Dr Mike. Sounds like your Grandma is sending you something" Horace reached out and tickled Katie, causing the little girl to squirm in delight. Noting Michaela's concerned expression Horace retracted his hand "You could send her a telegram, find out what it is?"

Michaela considered his suggestion for a few moments before shaking her head "No, Mother would have informed me if she had wanted me to know the contents of the delivery." She rolled her eyes in frustration "I'd hate to ruin the surprise"

Brian rushed across the meadow towards the clinic, his eagerness to find out what his Grandma had sent getting the better of him. He had had five days to wonder about what the delivery could possibly be, five days in which his mother had time to become more and more anxious about the contents of the mysterious delivery.

He dashed across the bridge and dodged a pile of horse biscuits, before quickly mounting the platform beside the gazette and sticking his head through the open door "Hey Miss Dorothy" he called to his mentor who sat writing at her desk "You're out of papers"

Dorothy smiled "Well that's encouraging"

"You see any delivery turn up for Ma?" Brian asked hopefully.

Dorothy shook her head as she rose from her desk, "No but every time I have been outside she has been staring out the window. She looks nervous" She picked up a bundle of newspapers and crossed to the door "Didn't your grandma give any clue to what is it that's being delivered?"

"Nope" Brian followed her outside "Just that it's from a company called Fortescue" he grinned as he caught sight of his mother peering through the window nervously as she did her filing. "Paper's are selling real good" he commented as Dorothy set down her pile in the stand. "Think it's the story about Joe Peterson being the new sheriff now that Daniel's gone"

Dorothy smiled at the boy "I doubt it, after all anyone who was interested voted in the election"

"Maybe it means people have got used to you and Cloud Dancing" he gave Dorothy a nod as he moved towards the step "I'll be seein ya, promised Ma I'd help clean the clinic"

Dorothy watched as the gangly teen moved away from her and smiled. Lovingly she patted the paper stand, sales were definitely up the last few weeks, she just hoped that Brian was right that those who had been boycotting her had finally come around and sales would continue to pick up, so she could pay back Loren the money he had so kindly lent her.

Michaela helped Grace from the examination table and turned to wash her hands "Everything appears normal Grace."

Grace sighed in relief and slowly buttoned her dress to cover her small newly developed belly "I'm just so glad I don't feel sick any more, Nothing worse than working with food all day when you feel like that"

Michaela gave her a smile of understanding "Just enjoy this time, the next month or two are the most enjoyable. The sickness is gone, you have energy again, you can still see your feet" she smiled widely "Now shall we schedule your next check up for the same time in a fortnight" Obtaining a nod in agreement from Grace, Michaela turned to her desk and fished out an appointment card. "Of course if you have any questions you can come back at any time" she held the card out to Grace "Sully was very excited about the prospect of your pie tonight. I'm afraid that my efforts are still not to his taste"

"Well they do say that no one makes pecan pie like mine" Grace grinned at Michaela and crossed to the door.

The two friends exited the stone clad building and stepped out onto the dust street, intent on passing through the alleyway between the gazette and the clinic. Michaela instinctively turned her head a moment before the noise reached her. The sound of shouting, of straining horses, of creaking tortured wheels. Michaela along with what seemed to be every town's person on the street turned in the direction the noise was emanating. Slowly an overburdened wagon crept into view. The four cart horses were straining hard, their black flanks shiny with sweat as they dragged the wagon behind them. The reason for their strain was evident, the contents of the wagon was huge, far too large for a standard wagon, it's size dwarfing the wooden vehicle, overhanging each side.

Michaela watched with mounting dread as the tarp covered cart was pulled slowly towards her clinic. Her mind began racing desperate to know what her mother had sent, but fearing it at the same time.

She gulped down her fear and stepped forward "Is this the Quinn delivery?"

The driver nodded "Certainly is Ma'am"

"Michaela Quinn" Michaela made her claim on whatever was hidden beneath the tarp.

"We'll need 20 men to get this unloaded" Michaela looked at the man in surprise, the male driver laughed "Stone is mighty heavy Ma'am"

"Stone?"

"Yes Ma'am, and we should probably go to the gravesite directly"

Michaela opened her mouth to say something but stopped at a loss for words.

Seeing her friend uncharacteristically silent Grace stepped forward "What is it?" she nodded at the huge delivery

The driver shot a puzzled look in Michaela's direction "It's a burial monument. For Marjorie Quinn"

Grace placed a comforting hand on Michaela's shoulder as Michaela's mouth dropped open.

"Dr Mike" she whispered pulling Michaela's gaze off the delivery and onto her "You go get Katie and Brian, I'll get Robert E to sort this out for you"

Sully lovingly enclosed Michaela in his arms, immediately his wife turned into him and away from the sight of the numerous town's people struggling with the delivery. Her breathing was short and sharp and Sully could tell she was fighting back the tears. He knew she felt responsible for Marjorie's death and the delivery had only served to open her wounds. Holding Michaela tightly Sully made an appraisal of what was being unloaded. The monument appeared to be almost seven feet long and about five feet tall, and from the appearance through the tarp it appeared to be edged with rounded columns and ornately carved at the top. It was being unloaded just short of the cemetery, and despite the fact there was near enough 30 men helping out there they were still breathing heavily from the weight of the heavy stone. He sighed and rubbed Michaela's shoulder to provide her some comfort, sometimes Michaela's mother frustrated him, Elizabeth just never seemed to see past herself to how she was affecting her daughters.

"Maybe I should help out" a voice called from behind them.

Michaela broke away from Sully as Brian approached unnoticed holding Katie. She accepted her daughter from her son and hugged her, trying to hold Katie's blonde head close to her chest, while Katie tried to look with interest at what was occurring across the meadow. "Big" the little girl called pointing at the monument. Michaela nodded wordlessly and took a deep intake of breath. Husband and wife stood and watched as the men wrestled the monument for the ground. They moved cautiously forward as all eyes turned to them, those that had struggled eager to see what was under the tarp. Sully kept his hand pressed firmly in the small of Michaela's back, supporting her both physically and emotionally.

The driver seemed oblivious to Michaela's obvious discomfort and cheerfully held out a knife for Michaela to cut the tarp. Seeing his wife's hesitation Sully stepped forward and unsheathed his own blade. With two quick motions he slashed the ropes that kept the tarp in position. The grey fabric fluttered to the grass, revealing what it had hidden. Sully took a step back to take in the detail of the work, while the carving was beautiful and the lettering pristine in its precision, with a Latin quote taking the first billing and in relatively small size lettering Marjorie's name and birthday and death date beneath; the monument would be ostentatious even for Boston and sat as it was in the meadow it looked plain ridiculous. Sully glanced about and noticed how many who had helped were retreating fairly rapidly from the meadow, turning to face Michaela he could see why, her eyes were filled with tears and her colour was rising rapidly. Taking a step forward Sully engulfed his wife and daughter in his arms holding Michaela upright as her sobs came hard and fast.

Matthew helped Robert E lower the casket the blacksmith had been working on to the ground. The livery man was suffering with a sore back after he had helped to heave the huge monument to the ground the day before.

"I don't think it will fit though," he continued his conversation

Robert E nodded in agreement and pushed his hat back up his head "Think it'll need foundations too, else it will sink in the mud. It's a lota work"

Matthew nodded "Thing is way Dr Mike is feeling, I'd doubt she'd want to pay anyone to do it, and Sully won't do it, you know how he feels about the graveyard"

"Don't dig in it less it's for a body" Robert E muttered sagely "Feel the same way"

"Way I see it Marjorie's already got a gravestone, I don't see why she sent this thing, it just all seems to pointless and over the top" Matthew sighed

"I sent it..." both men turned, horrified at the sound of Elizabeth Quinn's voice "... because it is a replica of the monument situated on the family plot in Boston, and as Michaela has made it perfectly clear that her and my grandchildren will be remaining here in Colorado Springs no matter what. I have seen fit to ensure that there is the appropriate burial provision available to the family."

Matthew gulped several times, looking like a fish out of water. He found his manners quickly enough and stepped forward dutifully kissing his adopted grandmother on the cheek "It's good to see you. Why didn't you let us know you were coming?"

Elizabeth looked Matthew up and down with an ill disguised air of contempt at his attempt to gloss over what she had clearly heard of their conversation. "I will not be staying long; I came to pay respects to Marjorie and to ensure that the monument is properly situated. I take it Michaela is in the clinic" not waiting for an answer Elizabeth gave Robert E a curt nod and strode off down the street towards the clinic.

Matthew watched the older woman march off on her quest and threw down his tools. "I better find Sully"

Michaela smiled slightly as she watched Katie imitate her sheet folding technique by scrunching up the small cloth square that Michaela used for wiping her hands with; no matter how terrible she felt Katie always managed to cheer her up. Moving to the cot where Katie sat she sat down beside her daughter and pulled the balled up cloth square from Katie's hand. "That's very good sweetheart, but shall we try a different way?" she flattened the fabric out on her lap "can you make a triangle?"

Katie contemplated her request for a few moments before grabbing the corner of the cloth and attempted to fold the fabric diagonally in half. Michaela beamed and gathered Katie in her arms, smothering her little girl in kisses and causing the little girl to erupt in a fit of giggles "You're so clever"

The bell rang, interrupting their play and cuddle. Michaela rose slowly, Katie still in her arms and crossed to her desk "Come in"

The door swung open and Elizabeth marched in "Mother!" Michaela exclaimed in shock.

"Michaela" Elizabeth stated plainly, her face fixed and rigid.

"Gamma" Katie called sending her grandmother a beaming smile, oblivious to the tension that had appeared in the room.

Elizabeth smiled lovingly at her granddaughter and reached to stroke Katie's soft blonde hair "Hello angel"

"Mother, I..." Michaela started but Elizabeth held up her hand.

"I came to inform you that I will be arranging the setting of the monument, I will handle all the expense. I will be staying in the local establishment" she said coolly

"Mother that's not necessary, you can stay with us or here at the clinic" Michaela offered, despite her mother's tone. Inwardly she felt like a hand had gripped her heart and was squeezing tightly, her mother had obviously been dwelling on Marjorie's death and despite how their relationship had appeared when Elizabeth had last left Colorado Springs it was obviously damaged again.

"No Michaela" Elizabeth almost whispered "I will stay at the hotel, but I would appreciate if I could spend some time with my grandchildren"

"Of course" Michaela said without hesitation, eager to please.

Elizabeth nodded in gratitude "If you will excuse me"

Michaela watched mortified as the door swung shut behind her mother. "Gamma angy" Katie muttered staring at the closed door.

"Yes darling I fear she is" Michaela kissing Katie on the forehead.

The toddler glanced up at her mother, noting the expression on her mother's face "Mama sad" Katie extended her arms and wrapped her hands around Michaela's neck indicating she wanted to give her a hug "Feel better" she kissed Michaela's cheek "Kiss it better"

"Thank you sweetheart" Michaela held her daughter tightly, taking comfort from her little girl's actions.

She looked up as the door to the clinic opened and Jake stepped in "Jake"

Jake twisted his hat in his hand "Had to call a town meeting Michaela, bout your mother and the monument," he looked awkwardly at her "Thought I'd walk you over"

The impromptu meeting was surprisingly full, many people eager to see how the council would handle Michaela's notorious mother. The council sat at the table under the steely gaze of Elizabeth, patiently waiting for Robert E to arrive.

"I simply don't understand the reason for this" Elizabeth directed at the council "My daughter's grave is my concern, hardly an issue for the town council"

"I'm afraid it is" Robert E informed her as he walked into the church. He approached the table and placed a reassuring hand on Michaela's shoulder "I measured" he told Jake, shaking his head as he sat down.

"Mrs Quinn" Jake addressed Elizabeth "We were concerned about the size of the monument so Robert E measured the area around the grave to see if it would fit."

"I'm afraid that it would cover two other graves" Robert E told Elizabeth, unable to keep eye contact with the woman as her blue eyes burned into him.

"Therefore" Jake cast a sideways look at Michaela as she sank low in her chair knowing what he was about to say "As Mayor I have to forbid you to put up the monument on Marjorie's grave"

"Forbid me" Elizabeth's voice sounded strangled.

"Yeah" Jake looked away from her suddenly finding the wood grain on the table very interesting indeed "my word is final" he brought the gavel down on the table.

Elizabeth stared at the council for a split second before rising to her feet and bustling out of the church.

Michaela shot a pained look at the council members who shrugged in way of apology and rose, rushing from the church to catch up with her mother.

Outside the church Michaela was surprised by how fast her mother was walking, so fast in fact that Michaela was forced to run to catch up with her.

"Mother"

"I cannot speak to you at this time Michaela" Elizabeth hissed in anger

"Mother please" Michaela fell along side Elizabeth "Please stop. You have to understand why Jake had to do this"

Elizabeth snorted in derision and continued to stride toward the Golden Nugget where she was staying after the temporary closure of the Chateau.

"You have to have known that Jake can't allow you to erect the monument knowing it would cover the other graves" Michaela attempted to reason. She stopped as Elizabeth climbed onto the porch of the hotel. Elizabeth turned abruptly, surprising Michaela and causing her to take a step back under the fierceness of her mother's stare.

"I understand Michaela that Marjorie would not be dead if it had not been for you coming to this backwater town to help these ignorant fools. I know that she would still be alive if you hadn't tried to play God and I can't allow myself to forgive you for that" Elizabeth turned as her hateful words died in the air and rushed into the hotel, leaving Michaela shaking in the street.

Sully slowly padded down the stairs to sitting room. Michaela sat crumpled in one of the wing back chairs, staring listlessly into the fire.

"You said you were coming up" Sully knelt beside her.

Michaela stiffly rotated to face him, her face red and swollen from the tears that she had already shed. "She blames me" her voice came in shuddering breaths as her diaphragm tried to recover from her sobbing fit "she blames me for Marjorie's death"

Sully shook his head and took her hand into his, kissing it gently "No she don't, she was angry and upset and you were there"

Michaela blinked back her tears "You didn't see her Sully, see the way she looked at me or hear the way she spoke" she turned her face away from him as the tears started to roll down her face "She hates me, my own mother hates me"

Sully reached forward, pulling Michaela from the chair and into his lap so he could hold her properly as he knelt on the floor. He rocked her as he would rock Katie, vainly trying to sooth away his wife's pain. "She don't hate you" he kissed her silk like hair "I promise you she don't"

The sound of creaking floorboards distracted him and he looked towards the stairs, to the two young men staring with concern down at them through bleary eyes. Seeing that Sully was dealing with their mother's heart wrenching sobs Matthew pulled his younger brother up the stairs, leaving Sully to comfort Michaela.

Brian stared at the uncovered monument; he simply couldn't understand how a lump of stone could cause so much pain. Yawning he made his way towards the school house. It had been a long night Neither he or Matthew had slept well, both of them half listening out for sounds of their mother in distress, and Katie, who had been thrilled at bunking in with her brothers had been intent on sleeping in both of their beds for exactly the same amount of time, had constantly been getting up and down and switching beds in an attempt to achieve an even split. The whole situation was just a mess. As he approached the building a thought struck him and he paused, unable to walk as his tired brain formulated a plan. Grinning to himself he pivoted and began to move in the direction from which he had come.

He stopped in front of the in dispute monument, his eyes scanning the abundance of space on the smooth stone slab in the centre, space which would if Elizabeth had her way would be filled with the names of her descendants who passed away while in Colorado Springs. Enough space that it wouldn't be filled for generations. His grin widened and he took off running again heading for town.

He dodged his way between the carts and horses and jumped up into the Barber shop. Jake jolted with surprise nearly slicing Loren's neck open as he slid the razor across the other man's skin.

"Jeez Brian" Jake chastised him "I nearly took Loren out"

"Mr Slicker I got an idea" Brian cheerily announced "about the monument"

"Aww Brian" Loren flicked Jake's hand out the way "we already decided"

"Hear me out Mr Bray" Brian dropped his book strap on the bench "Most of the crosses are wood right? Wood rots, and there's all that space on the slab in the middle, what if we put everyone's name on it, everyone who died."

"Everyone buried in the graveyard" Jake mused closing his razor and chucking a rag at Loren.

"A memorial to the whole town, that way everyone gets remembered, and Grandma still gets her fancy memorial" Brian continued

"Ah Elizabeth will never go for that" Loren scoffed wiping the shaving foam from his face.

"It's a compromise," Brian pointed out "The town is compromising by having that big thing in our little graveyard like Grandma wants and she's compromising by having the names on it" he looked up at the two men hopefully "What do you think?"

Jake smiled "I think it's worth a shot. Go get your Ma, I'll get Hank, Loren you get Robert E"

"She's not in town, I don't think she's coming in she isn't feeling all that great" Brian told Jake awkwardly

"She got Motheritus huh?" Loren joked placing a reassuring arm around the teen boy's shoulders

Jake nodded to Loren and lifted his hat from the hook by the door "Brian you get to school, we'll ride out to the homestead to speak to her" he looked pointedly at Loren as the shop keeper opened his mouth to complain.

"I s'pose the Reverend can watch the store for a little while longer" Loren relented "It's a good idea Brian" he whispered to the young boy "Just hope the women go for it"

Michaela watched as Katie played with her toy bricks, a small smile on her lips as the little girl studied each side of the cubes, deciding which painted side would best suit the pattern she was creating on the rug.

Distracted by her daughter Michaela didn't hear the sound of the approaching horses so was shocked by the sound of someone knocking on her front door. Apprehensive she approached the door and cautiously opened it. Seeing it was her fellow council members she opened the door fully.

"Good morning gentlemen" she stepped back to allow the men into her home.

"Hey Dr Mike" Robert E greeted as he slipped inside and made his way to Katie.

The little girl too absorbed in her bricks to pay attention to the visitors yelped as he lifted her into the air. Robert E twisted Katie around and her expression of surprise transformed into a huge smile "Wob E" she greeted him, wrapping her short arms around his neck.

Michaela smiled warmly at him before turning to face Jake "If this is about Mother then..."

"Hold ya horses Dr Mike" Jake removed his hat "Brian came up with an idea"

"Brian?" Michaela looked at him curiously, puzzled as to why her son would go to Jake and not come to her

"Think he got struck by inspiration" Loren explained seeing her bemused expression "and you were out here"

"Well I'm feeling a bit..."

"Mama sad" Katie interrupted Michaela

"No secret's with that one around, eh Michaela" Hank drawled closing the door "Look can we get on; some of us got things to do"

"Right" Jake pulled himself tall "as I was saying Brian came up with an idea. The idea that the monument could be used for everyone in the graveyard"

Michaela considered the suggestion "I think that's a good idea"

"Great" Hank muttered "It's settled"

"No it ain't" Loren stopped the long haired man in his tracks "We still got to speak to Elizabeth" he looked at Michaela "I can do it if you like"

Michaela shook her head "No, I'll do it"

Jake shook his head "No I will, I'm the mayor, I told her no in the first place"

Hank smirked "So much for your decision being final"

Nervously Jake stepped in front of the door to the room that housed Elizabeth, he removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair in an attempt to make himself look presentable. Taking a deep breath he knocked on the door. After several moments of silence he turned to leave, figuring the occupant was out.

The door creaked open "Yes?"

Jake looked back at the door and fixed a huge smile on his face. "Mrs Quinn I wonder if we could talk"

Elizabeth opened the door fully, Jake frowned he was surprised to see the formidable woman looking so fragile, it was almost as if she had aged 10 years since he had last seen her "I fail to see what we have to talk about Mr Mayor"

"Well Brian came up with a suggestion about the monument" Jake began, taking note of the way Elizabeth's blue eyes lit up at the sound of her grandson's name "The council think it's a good idea and we wanted to run it by you"

Elizabeth held her arm out indicating for Jake to enter the hotel room. Nodding his head in appreciation Jake stepped inside the room "What did my grandson suggest?" Elizabeth asked sinking into the only chair in the small room.

"That we put everyone's name on it, everyone who's buried in the graveyard. That is be a memorial for the whole town"

Elizabeth looked away from Jake staring into the distance, for a few horribly long seconds Jake was uncertain what she would say. Finally she turned back to face him "I think that is an acceptable solution"

"Great!" Jake gave the older woman a beaming smile "I'll get Robert E right on it" he pulled open the door, but hesitated.

"Was there something else?" Elizabeth asked, her voice sounding tired.

Jake looked over his shoulder at her "Dr Mike's in the clinic, just er..." he trailed off.

Elizabeth regarded him for a few moments "Thank you Mr Slicker" Jake smiled, this time, she sounded sincere.

Michaela rose at the sound of a knock on the door "Come in" she called crossing to stand in the familiar position that she occupied when accepting patients. Her face fell as her mother walked in.

The two women woman silently regarded each other, eventually the part of Michaela's brain that held her medical knowledge won out over the emotion processing part and she stepped forward concerned with the pallor of her mother's skin.

"Are you feeling alright?" she asked taking hold of her mother and guiding her towards the examination table

"No" Elizabeth told her plainly

"Can you describe how your feeling?" Michaela held her mother's wrist feeling the pulse.

"I feel terrible, I can't sleep, I can't eat" Elizabeth made eye contact with Michaela. Michaela held her mother's gaze, both women struggling to keep from crying "I'm sorry Michaela"

"I'm sorry too" Michaela whimpered throwing her arms around her mother and hugging her tightly.

"Me too" Katie called running over from her toys to wrap her arms around her mother's legs. Michaela broke her embrace from Elizabeth and bent down picking her daughter up and depositing her on her Grandmother's knee. "You too"

Elizabeth wrapped her left arm around Katie's waist and held her right out for Michaela; pulling her youngest daughter closest to her she smiled faintly. "I'm sorry for those terrible things I said to you. It was inexcusable. Forgive me"

Michaela shook her head "There is nothing to forgive"

Elizabeth squeezed her hand that encircled Michaela's slender waist "I love you so much, you know that don't you?"

Michaela nodded fighting back her tears

"Love me?" Katie asked curiously. Elizabeth gave her granddaughter a radiant smile and brought her lips down to make contact with Katie's blonde hair smothering the little girl in kisses. When she had finished Katie returned the gesture kissing her grandmother directly on the lips "Love Gamma" she turned to her mother and beckoned with her fingers, Michaela bent down she was level with her daughter "Love Mama" Katie whispered, and kissed her on the lips as well.

"Love you" Michaela whispered back. She straightened up and gazed into her mother's blue eyes, "You're not staying at the hotel a moment longer, you will have Colleen's room" it wasn't a request but an order "You are to stay with us until the memorial is ready"

"Ladies and Gentlemen may I have your attention" Jake called as he stood at the entrance of the cemetery "We come out today for a special reason, to unveil the memorial to those we have loved and lost to the good lord in the sky. Let me introduce the lady that brought us this gift" he took a step back and held his arm out to Elizabeth "I give you Elizabeth Quinn"

Elizabeth took a step forward giving Jake a nod of thanks as he backed away from her. "Thank you Mr Mayor. I am pleased that I am able to give Colorado Springs this gift. I am also pleased having been given the opportunity to review Robert E's fine work at the amount of space that remains, space which I know that had my daughter Michaela not been here would be full" she shot a proud look in Michaela's direction "I would also like to thank Brian who came up with this wonderful idea. Brian if you would do the honours"

Brian released the fabric curtain which until that point had covered the stone monument, the assembled townsfolk clapped in approval as the list of those who had passed was revealed. Each name beautifully carved into the stone surface in the order in which they passed away.

The ceremony over Michaela walked arm in arm with Elizabeth towards the station "You don't have to leave now Mother, stay a few days"

"Thank you Michaela but I must, I have imposed on your hospitality for too long" Elizabeth told her as the crossed the tracks to where Sully and Brian had stacked her luggage.

"It's no imposition Mother"

"For you maybe" Elizabeth smiled and lowered her head closer to Michaela's "But I feel that Sully is feeling neglected. Two weeks is a long time and I know it can't be easy finding enthusiasm with your mother in the next room" Michaela looked at her mother shocked, Elizabeth chuckled "Come now Michaela I have five daughters" she gave her youngest a knowing look "Now I hope that next time..."

"We'll visit Boston" Michaela interrupted "It's only fair"

Elizabeth gave a sigh of relief "Good, these train journeys are intolerable. I'll wire you when I get to Philadelphia"

"Philadelphia?" Michaela questioned.

"Yes," Elizabeth hugged her "I promised you I would keep an eye on my granddaughter, and that is what I intend to do" she broke apart from Michaela as the train pulled into the station "I love you"

"I love you too" Michaela followed her mother to the train and assisted her up the steps.

Elizabeth safely on board Sully approached Michaela engulfing her in his strong arms.

"What she say that had you looking so shocked?" He asked

Michaela rested her head back against his broad chest and laughed slightly "She was concerned that I haven't been feeling very enthusiastic with her being in the next room"

"Oh"

"mmm" Michaela teased, tenderly stroking his forearm "I have to admit, I can definitely feel my levels of enthusiasm rise though" she turned into him staring up at him coyly

"Oh" Sully grinned at her, his eyes sparking with the thought of what awaited him that night.

They both raised their arms as the train began to pull away, waving even though they were unsure where Elizabeth sat, but the actions were half-hearted as man and wife were too caught up in each other's embrace to focus on anything else.