Disclaimer I do not own the characters in this story. I wish the people who did would use them and create new series. I have just borrowed the characters.

Brian's Christmas Present.

Clare Quinn

Sully and Daniel sat many hours discussing what they would like to achieve in their lives. Their friendship had stood the test of time from a very early age. Now they were older sitting on a fallen tree.

It wasn't hard: Daniel still wanted wealth and to be influential.

Sully only wanted to have a family, the one he had craved for since becoming an orphan. He would say to Daniel ,"Just look for the North Star. Comes in handy when you lose your way."

He knew his friend would realize it would be the way to find him wherever he was in the future.

Sully had made friends with the new lady Doctor in town. She had stirred him ever since he first laid eyes on her in the field before she fell flat on her face.

"It takes time, but one has to believe that people are good at heart." This was his thought as Christmas was approaching and he knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to give them all a gift as he had not been part of a family Christmas celebration since he had been on his own. To Daniel and him it had always just been another normal day. Briefly he had been able to enjoy it with Abigail but that too had been only for a short time.

Michaela had become close but he was desperate for more. Since she had taken the Copper children and he had walked off after she saved Chief Black Kettle he had forced himself to stay away. It was agonising but he wanted this so badly that he was afraid of being seen as too eager and frightening her off.

Brian was the problem. He empathised with the boy as he saw his early years reflected in the child each time he looked at him. Sitting on a boulder sharpening his tomahawk he found a dandelion flower and blew the seeds into the wind and made a wish that the Great Spirit would show him the perfect gift for the small child.

The others were easy: a carved hair comb for Colleen and Matthew, he decided could use a pocket knife. Michaela...He smiled as looked at the beautiful shingle he was sanding with her Western as well as her Cheyenne names carved onto it. This was a real labour of love; it just had to be perfect.

Wolf placed his cold nose on Sully's lap wanting his ears scratched, and Sully was beginning to fret over Brian's gift again. He knew that wolf had sired a litter of pups when he mated awhile back. Then like a bolt of lightning it hit him he could take a pup Brian had always been keen on Wolf, and now his faithful friend had provided the perfect gift. He knew Wolf would not mind him taking a pup.

Winter was fast approaching and so was Christmas. The weather was going to turn very soon and snow was due with the heavy dark clouds.

Collecting all the gifts he set out to go to the old homestead. Blizzard conditions did not disturb him; he was on a mission. It was Christmas Eve and nothing would stop him from delivering his gifts to the family.

Knocking on the door Michaela, as beautiful as a picture opened the door wide and invited him in. He began handing out the gifts one at a time, happy to see the pleasure on each and every face.

Silence fell and he made to return to his lean-to when all of a sudden Michaela offered an invitation for him to stay and partake of their Christmas meal.

Smiling he replied, "I'd like that." And so he shared his first Christmas with the people who would eventually become his family.

The End