Author's Note: Yo guys! Nice to meet you all...i'm looking for a new bunch of readers this time cos im on a new fanbase :D i just love heartland and i'm hoping you'll love my story!! please review, it makes my day!!

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING, wish i was Lauren Brooke but i'm not, all of this belongs to its rightful owners, i just use my overactive imagination to re-arrange and slightly change it for you guys. i make no claim on any of it.

Blurb: When Ben announces he's leaving Heartland is torn at the seams. Friendships, romance and even business is thrown into whirlwind as the Heartland characters battle among themselves to regain control of their feelings and still heal horses. Then when Ashley turns up looking for a job Amy doesnt know what to think, she'd thought it was the end of her competing career but Ashley is trying to persuade her otherwise...what if, after all this time, her dreams lie in a different direction altogether.

Summary before you read: Set around the time(ish) of Holding Fast. Ben has recently announced his departure and an unexpected replacement has turned up. In my version of this Amy hasn't yet got rid of Storm, but she is toying with the idea of selling him to Nick for Daniel because she can't keep up with competing and Heartland. Amy and Ty aren't dating right now, but Lou and Scott are (they're just not married yet) Matt and Soraya are getting really close but not dating, and obviously Matt's finished with Ashley a while ago. And also Venture and Joni don't come to Heartland in this one.

"Maybe you should give her a chance Amy, she might be the best person for the job. And if she's coming here then that must mean there's nowhere else for her to go. Maybe heartland could be the best place for her right now." Lou's words rung true and Amy could still here Matt saying to her, 'there's probably no one in the world who needs help more than Ashley Grant'. But she'd tried that once before and got it thrown back in her face, she was hardly likely to put everything behind her and welcome Ashley to Heartland as a replacement for Ben. Amy glanced at Ben now; he looked really uncomfortable,

"Hey Amy," It was as if he'd sensed her watching him, " I can hang around a few weeks, I'm sure Nick would understand. Then you could wait for another offer to come up." She instantly felt guilty; of course she didn't want Ben to hang around longer than he wanted to. Or did she?

"No that's fine. You're right Lou," She looked around at Ty, Grandpa, Lou and Ben, "I think we should take Ashley on as our new stable hand." Amy forced a smile for Ben's sake and took the handset Lou held out, dialling the mobile number Ashley had left with the job application.

"Hello, Ashley Grant." Ashley's cool, clipped, telephone voice answered on exactly the third ring.

"Hi Ashley, it's Amy here."

"Amy!" Her voice changed to a lighter tone instantly as Amy turned her back on the others and walked into the office where she didn't feel like she was being watched through her entire conversation. "Are you ringing about the job?" Ashley's voice had a slight tremor to it, as though she actually cared about the response, Amy decided to be civil.

"Yes actually. I've talked things through with Lou and Grandpa, and Ty of course, and we've decided we'd like to give you the job." The words sounded forced and alien but Ashley obviously didn't notice.

"That's great." She replied smoothly,

"We just need to discuss the arrangements then." Amy heard a deep breath being taken at the other end,

"I was going to bring Bright Magic with me." Amy's eyes widened and she bit back the sarcastic response 'I thought Heartland wasn't the place for horses as good as him'. Instead she found herself gabbling,

"Yes, yes that would be fine. He can have Red's stall. Ben was planning on leaving on Thursday afternoon, maybe you could come by tomorrow without Magic and we can get you settled in." Amy caught herself from going off on automatic pilot by remembering this was Ashley she was talking to.

"I'd love to Amy. What time do you start work?" Amy gave a harsh laugh

"I start at six." She retorted, and heard silence on the other end, she remembered she needed to be polite, "But if you wanted to come round about nine that would be great."

"Ok, I'll be round then. Bye Amy." Amy hung up, her head still reeling from what she'd agreed to.

The meeting had split up and she hurried through the deserted kitchen to get out on the yard where she could think straight. After doing the rounds of the stalls she made her way up to Sundance's paddock and Amy noticed a figure leant on the gate, one she recognised as Ben's. Amy caught herself blushing as she saw him, her and Ben had been getting awfully close before he'd announced that he was leaving, since then things had been different, Amy hadn't been able to pretend that she didn't care he was leaving, so where did that leave her? She went and leant next to him.

"Needed to think?" He asked,

"Yeah, you?" He nodded.

"I guess that was a big thing for you." Amy laughed,

"It could be worse." She paused, wondering whether to say what was on her mind, "How are you feeling about going to Nick's?"

"Great, his barn is incredible!" Ben enthused, and Amy smiled to see the glow in his eyes, but inside she felt a nagging disappointment well what did you expect him to say? "I feel a bit weird that tomorrow is my last full day at Heartland though," He glanced around at his surroundings, "I'm sure gonna miss this, and I'm- um- I'm going to miss you too Amy." She felt herself blush, that's what you were expecting him to say but she'd never imagined she would have meant that much to him.

"Thanks Ben." She replied softly, and then to cover up their embarrassment, "It's going to be weird not going to shows together, or for me, not going to shows at all."

"Have you decided what you're going to do?" Amy shook her head and looked down. On impulse Ben grabbed her hand. "Come with me. We could be working pupil partners, Red and Storm would love it, Nick's will be amazing; come on! The dream team, we'd keep winning and you could fulfil your dream to compete." Amy laughed, for one wild moment she could have believed it.

"Ben if I could-"

"Why can't you?" He took hold of her other hand, Amy found herself blushing more deeply. She wrenched her hands away from his.

"Ben you know I just can't." She walked quickly in the direction of the stable block, trying to push from her mind the tidal wave of feelings she was having.

Next morning Amy was awake far too early. She made herself a coffee and walked in the semi-light to the barn. She found her way to Storm's stall and leant on his neck, weaving her fingers in his mane.

"Oh Storm, how can I let you go?" And a little voice in her head answered, you don't have to, you heard Ben…they're your dreams you should go for them! And Ben…Ben…Her mind stumbled over the name, she had no idea what had happened suddenly. Sure they were close friends, sure they had their arguments, they'd flirted a little but it was hard not to when you spent eight to ten hours every day with someone as good looking as him; but this was different. He held my hand. She shook her head and drained her coffee mug, going to get started on the early morning feeds.

Amy managed to immerse herself in work so much that she didn't see Ben more than to say good morning before dashing to save a water bucket from over flowing at the hose. It was at exactly nine o'clock when Amy heard an engine in the drive way, she clapped a hand to her forehead and stopped grooming Molly; she had, of course, completely forgotten about Ashley coming round. Amy got to the drive in time to see Ashley turn off the engine of her shiny red sports car and step out. She pulled her glossy blonde hair back off her shoulders and smiled widely at Amy. She was wearing dark jeans, expensive looking trainers and a Harry Hall puff-jacket, Amy thought she noticed a flicker of doubt cross Ashley's face as she looked around. Let's see how long it is before she goes running back to mummy.

"Hi Amy."

"Ashley." Amy took a deep breath, "I'll take you inside to say hello to Lou and Grandpa and then we can take a look round the yard and meet the horses. Would that be ok?" Ashley nodded looking nervous as Amy led her towards the farmhouse.

"Hi Ashley." Lou smiled up from the doorway of the office, "I thought I heard a car pull up. Yours is the red one right?" Lou was trying to sound casual but to Amy it was bitingly obvious that no one else at Heartland would be able to afford a car like that.

"Yes it is." Ashley was ill at ease but smiled anyway,

"I'm sorry Grandpa's just gone to run a few errands," Amy heard Lou saying, "But I'm sure he'd love to meet you when you come tomorrow, though of course you wont be officially started until Friday. Oh by the way, have you got accommodation sorted or are you travelling from Green Briar every day." Amy watched Ashley curiously as a muscle jumped in her jaw,

"I've actually moved away from Green Briar." She replied stiffly, "It's why I need to bring Magic here, I've got nowhere to keep him now that mum's- I mean, now that I've moved away from mum." Seemingly relieved to finish the explanation a smile was firmly back in place while Lou stumbled with an answer.

"Oh that's…Oh I see. Ok well I'd better get back to the office." Amy gave her a rueful smile and directed Ashley back outside. So Ashley's stepping away from her mom, now that really is interesting. And her bringing Magic here…Amy's interest intensified in spite of herself. Bright Magic was Ashley's 6-figure-sum Danish Warm Blood and he was a star in every sense, the way that storm was, but he'd been going badly under Mrs Grant's stifling training methods. Amy had once taught Ashley another way to get through to a horse and she was sure Ashley still remembered, maybe now she's here her and Magic will be ok. Although of course she'd never want them to be better than her and Storm Amy knew she'd always be happier as long as the horses were happy, regardless of whether or not she won, not that it matters now I wont be competing, she reflected sadly. She pulled herself abruptly out of her brain's incessant rambling,

"Let's do the tour shall we?" Ashley seemed grateful to get out of the house even as she threw a doubtful glance round the stable blocks. Here goes nothing. Amy thought, before turning her pessimism to a bright smile, "Over there is the trailer park," She gestured left, "All these fields are turn out paddocks, each horse goes in a specific field; it'll take a little while to get to grips with." She tried for a reassuring smile but saw Ashley twiddling with the hem of her jacket.

"Why is that field empty." She interjected sharply,

"It's Pegasus' field," Amy felt a lump in her throat, "That's where we buried him so we just keep that one empty. Now," She moved on, noticing a tiny, quizzical frown appear on Ashley's brow. "These six stalls are mainly for our permanent residents. Red you already know and Sundance." They moved along, "Melody and Daybreak still share this stall because it's biggest-"

"So Magic will be in Red's stall?" Ashley cut in. And as Amy turned sharply in annoyance she noticed she'd left Ashley behind, the girl was paused with an absent hand resting on Red's neck."

"Yes." Amy clicked her tongue impatiently and Ashley pouted a little as she got the hint and kept up. "This is Jasmine, she's a permanent rescue horse, very sweet tempered. Storm, you've met before. And this is little Sugar Foot."

"He's a sweetie," Ashley commented, looking down at the Shetland, "He looks like my first pony, a little." Amy knew Ashley had been blessed with a string of impeccable horses since the age of about three and Amy doubted very much whether any of them were as cheeky as Sugar Foot or had ever been through what he had, still it was a surprise that Ashley even remembered them as far as Amy was concerned.

They moved to the centre of the yard. "Tack room and rug store are over there by the trailer park, the feed room is just behind these stalls. Muck heap over there, and we keep the wheel barrow and things in the back barn. You can see the training rings," Amy paused, expecting a sarcastic comment but none came. And there's Ty," She smiled and he came over.

"Hi Ashley," He smiled warmly, "Nice to have you on board." Ashley nervous shook his outstretched hand; apparently she hadn't been expecting courtesy. "Amy I notice you were halfway through grooming Molly." Amy nodded gratefully noticing his effort to take Ashley off her hands, after all there was only so much Ashley Grant she could stand at one time. "How about I take Ashley round the back barn, introduce all our residents and get her up to speed. We'll leave the trails and the real work till tomorrow." He jerked his head towards the rest of the stalls with a smile and Amy split off to get back to her grooming. It must have been a lot of pride to swallow to get Ashley here, I just hope it's worth it for us. I just feel like she couldn't ever belong, not to Heartland.