Everything Else

I don't own these characters; I just like to spend time with them. No other profit to be had.

Author's Note: This is for my friend Janie, who wanted a Christmas visit with Matt and Kitty after they left Dodge. This is a follow-up story to The End of Nineteen and The Beginning of the Rest.

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"Mama." Four year old Matthew ran into the house, leaving the door open in his rush to speak to his mother. "I wanna go with Daddy." He declared as he ran into the kitchen, tracking mud on his mother's just mopped kitchen floor.

"Matthew!" Kitty chastised him. "How many times have I told you to wipe your feet? And go close that door. We can't heat the outdoors as well as the inside."

"But I wanna go with Daddy." Matthew restated ignoring his muddy boots and the still opened door.

Kitty shook her head, passed her son and went and closed the front door, not realizing in her irritation that Matt was just about to enter. "Go where, Matthew?" Kitty asked her son as the door opened again and Matt came in carrying 2 and a half year old twins Tommy and Caroline.

"Hey what was the idea of closing the door in our faces?" Matt asked as he sat his children down and bent to help them off with their coats.

"Oh I'm sorry, honey." Kitty said crossing over to help with her children's clothing. "I didn't see you all there. I thought Matthew had just left the door open again.

Hearing his name, Matthew ran over tugging at her skirt. "I wanna go, Mama. Please."

Kitty looked at him then at Matt. "Go where?" She asked.

"I plan on riding out into the country tomorrow and finding us a Christmas tree." He told her. "Matthew wants to go."

"Un huh." Kitty said decisively. "It's too cold and too far out. You all would catch your death of cold."

"No I won't, Mama." He protested. "I won't die, honest."

Kitty smiled and shook her head. "I didn't mean it like that, sweetheart." She said as she reached to unbutton his coat and take his boots off. "I just meant you could get sick being out in the cold."

"No I won't." He stated again. "I promise."

Matt, sensing an argument between his stubborn son and his wife decided to head things off at the pass. "Matthew, why don't you go on upstairs to your room and take your brother and sister with you? Okay?"

"Will you tell her its okay I go with you?" He asked, with pleading in his bright blue eyes.

"We'll talk about it." Matt winked at his son, watching him turn and take his younger brother and sister by the hand and lead them to their rooms upstairs, somewhat mollified. Turning back to Kitty, he saw the look on her face. "Kitty," he began.

"Oh, no you don't, Matt Dillon." Kitty declared when her children were safely out of ear shot. "I am not going to let you take my son clear out in the middle of the woods in this kind of weather."

"What do you mean 'this kind of weather?" Matt asked. "It's not doing anything out there."

"Oh really?" Kitty asked pointing to the window. "Then what's that white stuff on the ground out there? Salt?"

Matt took a deep breath and realized the argument between his wife and son had switched to him and her. He didn't blame her really. She'd had such a hard time with her pregnancy with the twins and with Matthew being so sick three months prior, Kitty had become extremely cautious with her children.

"Kitty," Matt said softly. "I'm sorry, honey. I don't want to fight. If you don't want Matthew to go, he won't go."

Kitty looked up at Matt ruefully. "No, Matt. You have nothing to be sorry for. I was just being over protective again. I know I shouldn't be so worried all the time but…"

"But you love your kids and came too close to losing them and don't want to take anymore chances." Matt finished for her as he reached over and pulled her into his arms. "I understand that, Kitty. Honestly I do, but sooner or later you're going to have to relax a little."

Kitty nodded against his chest. "I know you're right but it's hard, Matt. I can still remember Doc's face when he told me I might lose the twins and when Matthew was so sick…" a hitch in her throat stopped her as she struggled to keep from crying.

"Kitty," Matt said gently, patiently. "The thing you have to remember is that you didn't lose the twins and Matthew got well. They're all three healthy, happy kids. But they're not gonna remain happy if we smother them in a desire to protect them."

Kitty didn't answer for a while. She knew Matt was right but it was hard to relax and let go. Images of what almost happened kept playing over in her mind. "I'll try, Matt." Was all she could bring her self to promise.

Matt kissed the crown of her head and hugged her tightly before releasing her to remove his coat and boots. As he pulled off his coat a thought occurred to him. "Say, Kitty, I've got an idea."

"What?" She asked taking his coat from him to hang it up.

"How about you and the kids come with me tomorrow?" he asked. "I was planning on riding out to Professor Harwood's place for the tree. We could pack a picnic lunch, and eat out there before heading home."

Kitty looked at him curiously for a moment. "All of us?"

'Matt nodded. "Yes, all of us. We can borrow Homer's sleigh and leave in the morning. Make a day of it. The kids would be happy and we'd both be there to make sure nothing happened to them." Matt could tell she was thinking about it wasn't entirely convinced just yet.

"I don't know?" she hedged. "I mean, since he passed away no one's been out there besides the bank."

Matt nodded. "That's true, but what of it? The house will still be there. The bank wouldn't mind us borrowing the fireplace to get warm while we ate.

Kitty was still hesitating, still not sure.

"Oh come, honey." He cajoled. "It'll be plenty warm in that sleigh with blankets wrapped around everyone and with the two of us there to watch them, the kids would be completely safe and we'd have some fun. All of us."

Kitty thought about it as she hung up Matt's coat. The kids were getting a little stir crazy with being cooped up in the house and she knew they hadn't had a day just for the family in some time. Matt's 'in name only' job had proved to be more than that lately and Matt had been spending very little time at home.

"Alright," she sighed. "We'll do it. But I want us home before it gets too late and when I tell the kids it's time to go, you had better back me up."

Matt chuckled as he pulled her back into his arms and pulled her up for a kiss. "Yes, Ma'am." He said.

TBC