DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF HEARTLAND!!!!!

A/N By the way I hate babies so Lou was never pregnant, she's still married to Scott though.

Amy clicked her tongue impatiently as she waited for India and Sarah to walk her down to the car park. The two fashion-conscious girls were still applying their make-up and Amy was desperate to get out of the dorm. Ty was picking her up and taking her back to Heartland for lunch, then they were going with Joni to collect a horse from the next county. Amy couldn't wait to settle back into the old rhythm of working on the farm. For the last 4 months she'd been blocking it out of her brain, trying to forget how homesick she felt. But in anticipation of seeing Ty and everyone back home she jiggled impatiently and called to her friends to hurry up, hugging herself in excitement.

"So tell me again how gorgeous Ty is!" giggled India. "I can't wait to meet him. You've told me almost nothing about him but I know from the 4 photos you have of him on your desk that you're in love. The way he's gazing into your eyes in that one of you at the wedding!"

Amy nodded. "We've been dating for a few years now. I just miss him so much." She sighed, then suddenly brightened. "Look! There he is! At last!" And she ran across the car park and flung herself into Ty's arms, kissing him and squeezing him as tight as she could. Ty laughed and hugged her back, then released her as Sarah and India came up.

"So you must be Ty!" Sarah looked him up and down as she spoke, then gave a smile and a nod of approval to Amy. "We've heard so much of nothing about you!"

Ty laughed. "That's always Amy!" he said, grinning at his girlfriend. "Of course she's told me all about you two. Aren't you the ones who got caught drinking in the dining room at three in the morning with a load of kids from juvie?"

"Ty!" Amy laughed. She turned to her friends. "Sorry about him. We usually only let him out on Thursdays, but this was a special occasion." Sarah smiled. "So, I'm really gonna miss you over the next couple of weeks. You'll call me?" "Of course", said Amy, hugging them both in turn. "See you in the new year!"

They hugged one more time then made their way back to the warm college. Amy and Ty watched them, arms around each other.

"So", Ty said quietly. "I missed you."

"Yeah", echoed Amy. "I missed you too." She smiled at him then he kissed her, a long kiss that she'd missed so much. Then he squeezed her hand gently and they got into the jeep that would take Amy back home, back to the horses, back to Heartland.

x x

Amy strained against her seatbelt as they drove up the drive. There was Sundance, Spindleberry, Jake, Jasmine and more horses and ponies she didn't recognise. Ty stopped and dropped her off at the gate then drove on up to park the jeep. Amy unlatched the gate and hurried over to her pony.

"Sundance!" she murmured softly. The cheeky buckskin nickered and snorted into her hair. Amy laughed and hugged him, catching sight of Spindle out of the corner of her eye. He seemed to inspect her for a minute then came trotting over to her, pushing his nose into her pocket, looking for treats. She stroked his neck and a rush of affection washed over her as she looked at the healthy colt in front of her who was just rising 3. Ty reached them and Sundance bucked and cantered away. Amy raised her eyebrows.

"Explain?" she said.

"It's a long story" he said. "It begins with me trying to teach him some manners without horse treats and ends with him bolting down the yard back to the paddock. Now he won't let me catch him at all."

Amy giggled. "Serves you right for trying to change him. He's just perfect as he is!" Ty rolled his eyes and hand in hand they walked back up to the house.

X X

"Amy!" shrieked Lou, hurrying out of the house and throwing her arms around her younger sister. "Welcome home! I can't believe it's been so long! I'll have to try and visit more often, I miss arguing with you so much!" She looked at Amy affectionately then turned to Ty. "Do you want lunch now or when you get back? It's warm now but I can heat it up later if you're not hungry. Or you could get something on the way. Whatever."

"Now's good", said Amy. "I'm starving, I haven't had anything to eat today, I was so excited about being back!"

"Now it is then", said Lou, and guiding her sister into the house, chatting excitedly, they sat down at the table and began to eat.