A/N: I think many of us agree that Arizona Midnight was a terrible episode. This was my way of making it just a little bit more bearable. Enjoy!

As he tiredly trudged up the stairs of the Long Branch, he couldn't help but notice how quiet things seemed. He really hoped that Kitty and the kids had stayed in town the entire time he was away. Since Bonner, he refused to let them stay at the house alone when he was out of town. It had been months since she had recovered, but the image of her lying in Docs office, looking anything but alive, still haunted him. When he walked into her old rooms, he was surprised to see his children either still sleeping, or in the case of their oldest, quietly reading.

"Hey there Tiger," he smiled at the seven year old.

"Daddy!" Nora squealed and leaped into her father's arms. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," he replied. "Things are quiet around here this morning."

"That's cause we stayed up real, real late!"

"You did? Why's that?"

"Because Mr. Arizona Midnight was supposed to turn back into himself, that's why!"

Matt looked puzzled. "Mister who?"

Nora rolled her eyes, a trait she had certainly inherited from her mother. "Arizona Midnight, Daddy! He turnded into an elephant at midnight! And when the sun came up he was supposed to turnded back!"

Realization dawned on Matt as he listened to his daughter's story. "Huh. And did he?"

"No, but I bet he will someday! Uncle Festus thinks maybe he didn't know what time it was."

Matt nodded, trying very hard not to laugh at Nora. Her temper was one to match Kitty's.

"And just why were you all awake so late? Midnight is awful late for you kids to be up."

"We were asleep, Daddy! But did you know elephants are very loud? Mr. Arizona Midnight elephant woke us up! And Daddy, we never saw an elephant that up close before, we just COULDN'T go back to sleep right away!"

Matt looked thoughtful. "No, I guess not." He looked toward the bedroom door that was mostly closed. "And where was Mama while all this was going on?"

"Oh Mama was outside with everyone else. She let us come down to pet the elephant, then let us stay out on the balcony til we got sleepy again. Then she put us back to bed and came back outside. She went to bed just a little bit ago." Nora paused. "And Daddy, she didn't look too, too happy."

"Well I guess not if she was up all night," Matt chuckled. He set Nora back down. "Tell you what, you keep reading your book and I'll check on Mama. When you are all awake and ready for something to eat, come wake us up. No one leaves this room, understand?"

Nora nodded. "Yes, Daddy."

Matt smiled. "I love you, Tiger."

"I love you too, Daddy." A pause. "Daddy?"

"Yes?"

A hesitation, and then in a quiet voice, she asks, "Mr. Arizona Midnight elephant will turn back into just Mr. Arizona Midnight, right?"

He paused, looking thoughtful. "What do you think, honey?"

A bright smile bloomed across her face. "Oh yes, Daddy! I really think he will! He just has to. It would be awful to be stuck like an elephant forever!"

Matt had to smile, thinking back to the words the little man had said to him earlier- something to believe in.

"You hold on to that one, kiddo." She nodded her head furiously and returned to her book. Matt watched her a moment before turning to head to get some sleep himself.