The moon was high in the sky, its beams illuminating the rugged terrain that defined the Colorado territory. A gentle breeze stirred the tree leaves momentarily before silence was again restored. Not a creature disturbed the sanctity of the night and one could easily have missed the two figures perched on the top most step of a wooden homestead, as still as statues, their shadows blending into the darkness.

A small timepiece above the mantelpiece within the homestead struck midnight and the fire in the grate had burnt low, yet the two characters outside remained oblivious, motionless.

Michaela's head was tucked under Sully's chin, his arm wrapped around her waist pulling her close to him while his other hand lay clasped with hers in her lap. Gently, Sully stirred and glanced at Michaela. She made a slight movement and burrowed closer to him. Sully smiled and watched as Michaela slowly opened her eyes and smiled back at him. The couple looked so comfortable as they sat intertwined together that an outsider might have suspected they were husband and wife. In truth, Sully and Michaela were living out the last few weeks of their engagement and neither could wait for the day that would unite them, heart and soul forever.

It was with some regret that Sully pulled away from Michaela, knowing that he was putting an end to his last evening with his fiancée for two weeks. The morning would bring the stage that Michaela would board to take her back to Boston and the medical conference that she had been so excited about for days.

Sully smiled as he recalled how she had come racing to the new homestead barely reigning her horse in time and jumping out of the saddle before Flash had even come to a stop.

" Sully! Sully!" she had panted, waving a piece of paper frantically.

He had come running at the sound of hoof beats his heart pounding as he registered her flushed face, initially terrified that something had happened, with the kids, in town, to Michaela…

"What happened?" he said as he grabbed her arms.

"Oh Sully! It's the most amazing thing!" she explained jubilantly. "There's a medical conference in Boston and I have been invited to attend. It's going to be a collection of the finest physicians sharing their knowledge of current advances in medical therapies! This could be an excellent opportunity for me to try and improve the care I can give my patients in the clinic."

Sully let go of her arms and stared at the ground, trying to absorb what Michaela was saying.

"Sully?" Michaela looked at him questioningly.

"How long will you be gone for?" he answered, slowly looking up to meet her gaze.

"Just two weeks. I can leave tomorrow and will be back a whole month before the wedding and perhaps I can persuade Mother to travel with me" she explained. She waited a minute before dropping her gaze, disheartened by Sully's lack of enthusiasm to the idea. "If you really don't want me to go Sully, then I wont"

Sully looked at Michaela's face that had lost the sunshine and radiant happiness of her arrival and was now suddenly childlike, doubtful and vulnerable. How could he possibly refuse her something that would make her so happy?

"No, it's fine Michaela, you should go. I want you to go." He reached out and took both her hands, drawing her closer to him. "I'm marrying a fine doctor and I couldn't be prouder of her." He placed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

"Thank you Sully" Michaela whispered "Your opinion means everything to me."

"Come on then Dr Quinn," Sully added, "lets get you home, you have to pack."

"Sully?"

Michaela's voice brought him back to the present and he registered her looking at him with some concern.

"Sorry guess I was day dreaming" he said. "Anyway, it's gettin late, time I was getting goin"

"Thank you Sully, for sitting with me" Michaela added as she rose to stand next to him on the steps, "And for agreeing to help out with the children."

"Any time Michaela" Sully whispered, "Besides, in about two months they're gunna be my family too"

"Two months" repeated Michaela slowly and a smile started to spread across her face.

"Can hardly wait" Sully voiced the opinions of both their hearts and leaned over to kiss her gently before adding softly "G'nite"

"Good night Sully" replied Michaela as she watched him stride off down the lane and into the darkness. She waited until she was sure he had gone before sighing softly to herself and re-entering the homestead to catch a few hours of sleep before day break.

The next morning passed in a whirlwind fashion as the children got ready for school, Michaela prepared breakfast and then helped Matthew to load her things into the wagon. The mood was sombre on the ride into town and Michaela was acutely aware that the children were dreading the separation as much as she was. However, as she drew the horse to a halt outside the clinic and descended carefully, she smiled brightly and called the children over to say goodbye. The children had agreed the night before that they would say their goodbyes before heading off to school and, as the stage coach was scheduled to leave at 9 o'clock anyway, Michaela had maintained there was no reason why they should miss out on valuable learning time. Nonetheless, Brian did not dismiss a final chance to get out of school.

"Are you sure we can't stay and see you off Ma?"

"No Brian," Michaela said firmly, "I don't want you to miss anything important! And besides, I am only going for two weeks and I will be back before you know it. I am sure you'll have lots of fun with Sully."

"Do ya think he might take me fishing?" Brain added hopefully, his young face alight with excitement.

"Course I will Brian, whenever you like." Sully had seen the family gathered at the clinic and had arrived just in time to hear Brian's comment.

"Thanks Sully! Bye Ma" Brian said as he grabbed his mother in a quick hug before setting off in the direction of the school house, the idea of fishing sufficient distraction from his mother's departure and no doubt his early morning lessons.

Colleen rolled her eyes as she approached her mother and embraced her. "Bye Ma, take care of yourself and don't worry about the clinic. I'll come by after school to make sure everything's ok."

Michaela returned Colleen's embrace with warmth. "Thank you Colleen but make sure you have some fun while I'm away and look after the boys. All three of them" she added mischievously with a glance at Sully.

Colleen giggled and drew away to make room for Matthew.

"Bye Dr Mike" said Matthew giving her a quick kiss on the cheek "and don't worry I'll keep an eye on Colleen and Brian for ya"

"Thank you Matthew, I know I can rely on you." Michaela gazed proudly at her eldest son. "Don't forget to say goodbye to Ingrid for me."

"Count on it" replied Matthew as he walked with Colleen towards the school house. A short distance away, the pair turned back and waved before turning away again. Michaela waved and sighed softly as she watched her children, remembering the awkward few weeks as she had tried to get to know them after Charlotte's sudden demise and how they had slowly grown to be a very special part of her heart.

Another very special part of her heart placed his hand on her shoulder, turning her gently towards him. Michaela hesitated and took a deep breath. She had been dreading saying goodbye to Sully, even though she knew she would be back in two short weeks. Since they had begun courting, so many obstacles had prevented them from being united, yet recently it seemed like their hearts had been truly open to each other and for Michaela this had brought a revelation. Sully's love had kindled the darkened embers of her soul and had made her passion for him burn brighter than ever. For a split second, her heart considered not getting on the stage and leaving Sully but her head soon called her heart to reason and she stood still, biting her lip, unsure of how to say goodbye to the most important person in her life, how to tell him she loved him so dearly and how to explain that she would miss him every second until he held her in his arms again.

As Michaela stood so unsure in front of him, Sully was memorising her elegant features, etching this memory of her into his heart to comfort him during the long nights when she was away; The contours of her chin, the hue of her lips, the curve of her neck and finally, those eyes, those beautiful mismatched eyes that could come alive with vivacity, passion, fire and burn a path into the very core of his being.

Michaela's gaze dropped under his stare and Sully reached for her gloved hand, pulling her towards the clinic door. Well aware of Michaela's dislike of showing affection in public, Sully led her into her sanctuary, away from public view, where he could say goodbye properly.

Once inside, Michaela moved towards her desk, turning away from Sully in an attempt to calm her racing heart and check the tears, she was embarrassed to admit, that were forming at the corners of her eyes. Sully watched her for a minute, knowing full well what was going through his fiancées mind, before he approached her from behind.

"Michaela" he began. She turned in his arms to face him and his hands found their accustomed place on her hips. "I….well ….I just…."

Michaela smiled at Sully's stuttered attempt at farewell and she reached up to caress his cheek. He turned to place a gentle kiss to her palm before leaning forwards to kiss her lips. As the kiss deepened, Michaela placed her arms around Sully's neck, pulling him closer and closed her eyes tight, breathing his scent in deeply and forcing herself to remember just how his arms felt around her.

After a few minutes, Sully drew back and slowly reached up to caress her face. "Be careful Michaela" he whispered "and hurry back to me. I love you."

"I love you too Sully" replied Michaela and after a final hug withdrew and began to walk towards the clinic door.

Suddenly, Sully made a grab at her left hand but missing the fingers, pulled her lace glove off instead. Michaela turned and said laughingly "Keep it. It might look better on you anyway."

Sully grinned as he made his way back over to her.

"But you know, since you took something of mine its only fair if you give me something of yours" Michaela added archly.

"You do have something of mine" said Sully as he reached for her hand. "You have my heart" and so saying, he lifted her hand and kissed the diamond engagement ring that shimmered on her fourth finger.

"Sully…." began Michaela, overcome with emotion, her heart heaving with the love she felt for the man in front of her. Again, she reached for him and drew him so close that she felt his heart beating strongly against her own.

They stood together for a few minutes until the sound of an approaching carriage drew them apart.

Wordlessly, Sully led Michaela outside to the stagecoach that now stood blocking most of the street and signalled to one of the men to load up Michaela's things.

"Goodbye Dr Quinn" he said, as he helped her up into a seat, a slight smile lightening his features.

"Goodbye Sully," replied Michaela, unwilling to release his hand.

"I love you" repeated Sully once again as the stage coach driver shouted out their impending departure, and slowly released her hand and closed the door.

Michaela immediately leant out of the open window to look down at Sully and as the coach began to move she waved frantically.

A gust of wind robbed her of her last words and before she could repeat them, the stagecoach had turned a corner and Sully was gone.