A Variation on the episode, "The Sweetest Gift"...

Christy, eager to prove to herself and everyone else that there is nothing noteworthy abou ther relationship with Neil, does not invite him to dinner at the mission.

David succeeds in asking William Huddleston if he can court Christy – who warns that she is very young, but that he should really speak to Christy about it as she has always known her own mind.

Mr Huddleston brings it up with Christy that night...

Christy listed off all the reading she needed to do.

"I never realised."

"Neither did I before I came here."

He looked at her with wonder, "Before you came here you hardly ever wore your hair up."

She looked in the glass, "Well it just seemed more teacherly this way."

"It is very grown up, as you are. I can understand how your minister is so taken."

"Well, I'm not too grown up to miss you."

"I miss you too."

Christy told him of all the things she missed.

"You may be grown up but you're still my little miss aren't you?" he touched his thumb to her cheek. "You won't rush into anything will you?"

"What do you mean? What did David say to you?"

"Nothing particularly surprising. I could have had some fun with him, but I felt rather sorry for him."

"Why is that?"

He cocked his head to one side. "Because young mens' hearts break just as badly as womens'."

"I haven't made any decisions yet."

Her father nodded, his knowing expression frustrating her no end. He kissed her forehead and said good night.

Later in the episode...

Her father finds her in the school house after she's finally convinced Mrs O'Teale to take a pair of shoes for Mountie. She rails off all the dreams and hopes for the cove but her father interrupts her – her mother was disappointed she would not come home for Thanksgiving.

"I can't leave," she shook her head, begging her beloved father to understand. "Some of our neighbours don't know where their next meal's coming from, and the children don't have a lunch to bring to school."

He was so clearly disappointed.

"I can't come home right now. I'm sorry."

"I'm not sure your mother will understand."

"Then I'll write to her. Maybe I'll be home for Christmas."

"Christy, listen to me. Maybe you shouldn't get so involved in this place, with these people."

"But I want to be involved, that's why I'm here."

"Don't misunderstand. They're good people, and Miss Alice is a wonder, but life is so hard here; I don't want you to be hurt by it, or disappointed. I can see that you struggle."

"The children never disappoint me. They lift me up. And life is hard – but there is hardship and pain everywhere, and I cannot hide from hurt my whole life – that's no life."

"Your mother only wants what's best for you."

"I know, and some days I might even agree with her about what that is – but not most days. Most days... the children make every harship worthwhile. That's what I have to make mother see."

Her father insisted they phone rather than write a letter.

The story continues as per the television episode – Christy's father suffers a stroke and after initial diagnosis Neil leaves to tend another patient. Christy's mother arrives with their family doctor and dismisses Neil without a second thought.

Neil confronts their family doctor as he is leaving. Mrs Huddleston still refuses to listen to him. Christy watches the exchange between them, then storms off. Neil walks in the opposite direction...

As soon as she was surrounded by trees she felt foolish – having a tantrum wasn't going to help her father, and neither was his doctor, but maybe Neil could. What was there to lose? She found him at the stables, roughly adjusting Charlie's reigns.

"What did you mean when you said 'new treatements'?"

"I didn't think my-"

She interrupted him, "I'm asking you. I'll convince my mother – this is too important."

He nodded once and started to explain how the brain could be retrained, and how with physical therapy, stroke patients could be taught to walk and move independently. "It's not my area of expertise but I can talk to a friend who's had some success in this field."

"Thank you."

"Of course." He smiled, "I can't promise anything but you're right not to give up."

"I feel so helpless. It's not as if I understand any of this, or can help in any way."

"And yet here you are. You don't give up, do you?"

She looked up at him, wondering what he was referring to exactly.

"Your faith isn't deserting you now is it?"

She looked up at him, uncertain. "It's so hard."

He reached out and touched her arm. She had to resist the pull to go to him, find comfort in those arms. She pulled away, crossing her arms resolutely.

"Thank you. I should..." She turned to the door and only lingered for a moment before leaving.

As in the episode, Christy confronts her mother, demanding she let Doctor MacNeil see her father. Her mother tells her she doesn't understand, she's still a girl. Christy insists she's not – nearly twenty! Coping fine living away from her family.

Her mother's expression was skeptical. "Are you? Keeping one man dangling when you obviously have feelings for another?"

She'd tried to be guarded but her mother had picked up on it. "Doctor MacNeil is my friend. I respect his skill and dedication. That is all." She wanted to say more but feared her defence would have the opposite effect to the one she intended.

"He could be the best country doctor in the world – but he's still a country doctor."

"By choice. He went to a fine medical school in scotland. He could have gone to any big city and probably have been rich and famous. But he chose to practise here – because he loves these people. Mama, please. You have to let me send for him. What harm could it do?"

"It could break your father's heart."

"No, we'll explain. Neil will tell him not to get his hopes up."

"Christy, your judgement is clouded by your feelings."

"We have to try. He said something about physical therapy and training the healthy parts of Daddy's brain to take over the jobs of the other parts – I don't understand, but I've seen Doctor MacNeil perform the most difficult... I believe in him and you should to."

"I don't even know him."

"But you know me."

"Yes, I do. And once you get an idea in your head you'll never let it go until-"

"I'm not the same little girl who left home a year ago." Christy sighed, seeing this was going nowhere. "I have work to do."

Christy's mother makes amends and goes with Christy to the O'Teale's – a great success in the end, as she helps Christy convince Mrs O'Teale to take some charity. Then Neil show's up and Becky O'Teale thanks hims for healing her Tracoma... and Mrs Huddleston is won over – gives her permission for him to see Mr Huddleston.

Neil reassured them all and Christy looked on. There was hope. He would heal. But her joy was so tainted by the fact she must leave Cutter Gap. Watching Neil work, listening to him, even being teased by him – especially that – made it hard to be the happy, dutiful daughter she needed to be. She stepped out onto the balcony, looking out at the beloved mountains, a view that had been a comfort so many times. Now it must be savoured – she would leave in a few days, possibly for good.

Neil followed her out, obviously surprised by the emotions clearly etched into her features.

"Why do you look so sad?"

"I have to go back to Ashville. My mother needs me."

"I know. Alice told me."

She looked to him, wondering what he really thought, really felt, and then he began to tell her and she wasn't sure she wanted to hear it.

"You've done a lot of good here Christy. I know we've had our differences from time to time, but I've got to give credit where it's due."

This was goodbye. He wasn't expecting her to return – he was saying his piece. She couldn't bare to think this might be one of their last conversations. He was trying to comfort her and she was being irrational – this wasn't really important. Her father's health, and the people of the cove was what mattered. "I'm fine." She insisted, knowing she wasn't fooling him for a moment. He reached out to put an arm around her but restrained himself, sighing in frustration. "It's for the best. All that matters now is that my father gets better, and the people of the cove have enough to get by this winter." She watched him struggling. "And I won't be here, always reminding you of her. Maybe..."

A flash of something crossed his face and she feared she'd said too much.

"Don't think that. Nothing will be better here with you gone. Your place is with your family, I understand that, but don't tell yourself I'm better off – that any of us are better off without you. That'll never be true."

His eyes bore into hers, indignant and pleading.

She tentatively reached over to where his hand rested on the railing and placed hers over it. "Thank you." Her voice broke on the words and she returned to her parents.

The story continues just like in the television episode – Christy's father improves greatly over a short period of time and her mother gives her permission for Christy to stay in Cutter Gap.