A/N: A very long prologue to encourage you to read a bit of back story. If you haven't seen Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, please go watch t now. If you're too lazy to watch it now, but have positively put it on your agenda, investigate at imdb or for a quick synopsis.

I'm still getting used to writing in a style other than what I do for HP, and if you can't already tell, I love writing about feisty lovers, so bear with me through the process. And drop some constructive criticism in the review box. Thanks!

Prologue

"Close yor eyes."

"Oh Frank, you know I--"

"Just hush up and close em."

Sarah huffed, but did so. Immediately and to her delight, she felt a hot pressure on her lips. She couldn't keep the sigh from escaping after Frank pulled away. It reminded her of that fateful night, when he had stolen her--and her heart--away from her father's home.

"Frank!" she blushed slightly as she looked up at him.

He smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, I couldn't help it. But that wasn't your surprise. Close yor eyes."

"Not again," Sarah whined.

"Now Sarah, I am yor husband. You have to do as I say."

"Frank Pontipee, I do not have to do any such thing!"

"Fine," he sighed rocking back on his heels, "but ya won't get your surprise."

Sarah thought about it for a moment. "Can't you just show it to me?"

"Nope. Then it won't be a surprise."

"Oh alright. But only because I want to," she fussed before closing her eyes once again.

"Right this way madam," he said, taking her hand and leading her forward.

They walked for a while in a winding path that Sarah assumed led through the woods surrounding his brother Adam's cabin. "Watch out for that root!"

"Frank, this is silly. How much longer?"

"Just a bit."

"Frank."

"You are the most impatient girl I've ever met."

"I'm the only girl you've met."

"Be nice," he whispered, suddenly very close to her.

She gasped and he laughed, resuming their walking. She only put up with this because she knew it was making him happy. And because she had a feeling she knew what was coming. She had waited a while for this, as Frank was elder brother only to Gideon, she had to wait through Benjamin and Dorcas, Caleb and Ruth, Daniel and Martha, and Ephraim and Liza. Finally, it was their turn.

"Oh!" She hadn't been paying attention and her formerly carefully-placed footing had fallen by the wayside.

"Root," said Frank, catching her easily. The fright of the fall caused her to open her eyes. Her face had landed right in the flannel of Frank's chest. She looked up at him, grimacing.

"Be careful. And close 'em." She opened her moth to object, but he cut her off. "We're almost there. Please, honey."

Much to her chagrin, she melted at the endearment. "For you," she wrinkled her nose.

She had just enough time to see him beam before she shut her eyes again.

"Just a bit further." He was speeding up.

"Frank, just to remind you, I'm walking blind."

"Here. I'll help you along." Suddenly, Sarah was swept off the ground, feeling what she had once before--Franks' shoulder beneath her stomach.

"Frank, put me down. Frank!"

"Not a chance!"

She was bouncing along as he jogged. She put her hands on his back to give her some sense of stability.

"Frank, I've got to open my eyes."

"Alright," he said suddenly, letting her slide with a bang onto her feet. "You kin open em now." As she obeyed, he spun her around.

Before her sat the most beautiful little cabin she had ever seen. From the looks of it, Liza and Ruth had started a garden on the side, and she recognized little Alice's touch in the lace curtains at the front windows. The ground around it had been cleared, and, per tradition, they had been given two pigs, a lamb, and a cow. Frank would still help Adam work the vast lands of their father, but they now had something that was just their own.

And privacy, Sarah realized. Not that she didn't love living with Milly and the other girls, but there was hardly space for alone time unless it was outdoors somewhere. It was also a new Pontipee tradition that the couple be given a free week off of chores. A honeymoon, of sorts. The honeymoon they had never truly had. Sarah blushed scarlet.

"Do--do ya like it?"

"Oh, Frank!" Sarah managed to choke out before throwing all of herself onto him. They were still kissing as he picked her up and carried her into the cabin.

Once they had crossed the threshold, he set her down. "You're cryin'?" He sounded shocked.

"Only because it's so beautiful."

"So, so you're happy?"

"Yes, Frankincense Pontipee," --she was the only one ever allowed to call him that-- "I am so happy I could scream."

He still looked slightly wary, so she brushed her tears away and asked him, "Show me the inside?"

"Well, this here's the kitchen and eatin' room," he pointed to her right. "Over there's a room with a fireplace, for sittin'" he gestured to the left. "And back there," he took her hand, "is the--" he gulped, "bedroom."

"Oh?" Sarah walked forward to peek into the room. Here, finally, was Dorcas' touch. It was so cozy, and there was a beautiful porcelain vase sitting on the table next to the bed. She had filled it with wildflowers.

"Sarah," Frank moved to stand in front of her, "welcome home," she smiled as he bent his head to kiss her.

"Wait," she pulled back. "What's upstairs?"

"Oh, that. That's nothin'."

"I want to see, Frank. Please?"

"C'mon," He tugged at her hand and walked up the staircase. The top was divided into two parts.

"Two--two more bedrooms?"

"Well, in case someone comes to stay…"

"But two?"

"Or in case someday we might--iffin' we was to--"

He was so adorable when he got shy--which was hardly ever.

"I see." She fiddled with her fingers and tired to stop the smile from lighting up her whole face. Dorcas was already pregnant. She supposed it was a benefit to having your own cabin.

"Well, I suppose you're hungry."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Let's go get something to eat." Having helped prepare the other cabins, she knew that there would be food waiting for them in the kitchen. She bounded down the staircase, Frank hot on her heels.

"Ooh, look, Frank. Milly's fresh bread, and vegetables and venison and--"

"I ain't exactly that kind of hungry." One arm circled around her waist and the other pushed her long hair over her shoulder. She felt his lips trailing along the back of her neck.

"What about supper?"

"It can wait 'til later."

She turned to face him. "Are you sure you don't want just a bit of--"

He cut her off, pressing his lips onto hers. The hair on her arms crept up to standing.

"No," he stepped back with a mischievous gleam sparking in his eyes.

"If--If you're sure…"

He smiled wide, showing off all his teeth. "Oh, I'm sure."