Sully looked out at the rising sun over the view before him. In the bed nearby, Michaela slumbered without disturbance. When they had first married, it was rare that she slept soundly. Perhaps it had been due to all the years of catching sleep whenever her patients were giving her time, perhaps it was because she had merely never been born to be a deep sleeper. It had concerned Sully at first, though she had confessed that sleeping with him provoked her to sleep deeper, better.
But with the pregnancy, Michaela slept. Hard, and for a long duration of time. She was always tired. Abigail had been as such during the first few months, catching sleep whenever she could. Sully recalled back to before he and Michaela had gone to Boston, when he found her asleep at her desk, and smiled now at the thought that it hadn't been mere fatigue, but an unknown pregnancy. They were going to be parents.
A father. He was actually going to become a father. How could he have been so lucky? He looked over his shoulder watched her sleep, the copper hair knotted in a braid that hung down the side of her neck. She was snuggled up against his pillows, as if even in her sleep she was attempting to surround herself with his scent, his presence.
The glow of pregnancy radiated from her. The morning sickness concerned him. Abigail had not had an easy pregnancy, and Sully felt guilty for even comparing her pregnancy to Michaela's, but it still concerned him. Hidden fears that he was afraid to share with his wife, that she would die as Abigail had. For every instance of bad that he could compare to Abigail's pregnancy, he became even more worried.
And the town. Clenching his jaw briefly, he regarded her and thought back to the town. Many had supported their union, even in it's unorthodox fashion. But the few that were questioning, poking their nose in – those were the people that made it hard. Not that it would have been easy. And soon, the gossip queens would shout from their pulpits at the barber shop, mercantile and saloon. They would scream and shout and the whole of the world would know what they thought was their concern.
After all, they couldn't hide it for very much longer. Michaela's coat worked some, but her clothes were still fitting tighter. When she was working, she wore the apron, but it couldn't hide everything. She was showing and for every additional bit of skin that came out, Sully thought her even more beautiful and felt his heart swell even more with love and devotion. Even more guilt – he didn't want to feel obligated to hide the pregnancy. He didn't want Michaela to feel as though she had to. They were merely postponing the inevitable.
Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to her forehead and pushed a loose strand of hair out of her face. She whimpered slightly, but didn't stir. He smiled and crept out of the bedroom. He stopped at Brian's room, hearing his heavy breathing even before he got there and checked on the boy. Still sleeping, an arm draped over a book that he had been reading. Next was Colleen's room, which was closed. He respected her privacy, but still placed an ear to the door. Nothing amiss.
When they were still living at the old homestead, Sully had quickly learned to leave notes for Michaela if he left early. She would worry, he would feel bad, the extra few seconds made the day and night better for everyone. A quick note was scratched on Brian's writing tablet for school and he exited the house with his buckskin jacket wrapped around him.
Wolf greeted him outside, whining happily. "Hey, boy," Sully reached down to give him a pat on the head. "You're gonna have to start sleeping inside, ya know. There's a nice place by the fire for ya." The animal whined and licked his master's hand. "Do ya think you can watch over the place for me?" Another whimper and the animal raced off to the front porch.
Sometime later, before the dew was claimed by the morning sun, Sully's horse came up alongside a teepee at the reservation. Jumping off of his horse, mere moments had passed before Cloud Dancing exited and joined him to breathe in the fresh, crisp morning air.
"This is a good morning," the Indian stated as they looked about.
"Have the spirits told you that?
"No. It is a good morning."
There was a rather comfortable silence between them, despite the fact it was laced with Sully moving a bit more than Cloud Dancing's stoic form.
"There is something that you want to tell me."
Nodding, Sully smiled. "Yeah."
Cloud Dancing did not even bother to contain his grin. He was pleased that his brother had found such happiness in Michaela. There were many times he had seen the expression on Sully's face in people. He remained silent, however, waiting for Sully to share his good news.
"I'm afraid to say the words out loud. That I'll jinx myself if I do. Said them once before… couldn't live through that again. Words like that… they can have power."
Cloud Dancing nodded understandingly. "Sometimes, words only have power because we give them power. Yet not saying the words… the silence can be powerful, too."
Once again, there was a silence between them. Sully fought to swallow his fears, Cloud Dancing's presence helped him find the strength to get through it. Sully thought about Michaela, the strong woman who was also so vulnerable. The one he wanted to protect from all harm. And he thought of the life that she would bring forth into this world.
"Michaela and me are gonna have a baby."
The words slipped from his lips before he realised that he had spoken them. And the words brought forth so much joy, a glimmering reminder of the happiness he had felt when Michael was curling her fingers through his hair in the afterglow of their love making, telling him that she was pregnant. And that fleeting memory made him feel stronger. More confident that maybe, just perhaps, everything would be okay.
"The spirits have blessed you," Cloud Dancing commented, the knowing glint in his eye as he patted Sully on the shoulder. "You will be a good father, as you have been to your other children."
"Michaela is strong…"
"Women who give birth are strong. It is something no man could ever do. Not even the strongest warrior could do give birth." He squeezed Sully's shoulder slightly, attempting to reassure him once more. "You once told me that she is an awfully strong force of nature. I have no doubt that nature will do its part for her."
"The town…"
Somehow, Cloud Dancing knew what Sully's voice left unsaid. "You know the ways of my people. You know what they would say. Your people, however, do not see things the same. And yet, there is still an innocence to be found upon the birth of a child."
"Same result, no matter what." Sully looked at his friend.
"We are not always so different."
Michaela jumped down from the buckboard as Colleen and Brian scrambled out.
"Have a good day at school," she said, reaching down to kiss Brian's cheek and wave farewell to Colleen. "You'll do fine on your exam, I know you will."
"I studied!" Brian proudly exclaimed before grasping the leather strap that held his books together and ran off towards the school house.
"Only he would run towards the school when everyone else wants to run away from it," Colleen smiled. She kissed Michaela's cheek. "I'll see ya after school and help ya clean up the rooms."
"You don't have to do that," Michaela responded. "I can manage."
Moving closer to her adoptive mother, Colleen shook her head. "Dr. Mike? Ya can't push yourself too hard. I gotta watch over ya at the clinic."
"Who told you to do that?" Michaela inquired, rather confused at the insistence from the young woman.
"Who do ya think?" Came a voice from behind them. "Have a good day at school, Colleen."
"Bye Sully!" And she went off towards the school as well.
"Mornin'." He smiled at her and kissed her cheek softly.
She grinned her crooked smile, watching as the passer-by watched them intently. "You weren't there when I woke up this morning. How is Cloud Dancing?"
A bit ashamed for not being there, he nodded. "I needed to see him. He's good, so it Snowbird. They are plannin' on us comin' to visit them end of the week." He reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a small pouch. "This is from Cloud Dancing. He says it'll help with the baby."
Michaela could not even be mad at him for telling their friends as she looked at the small pouch. How different her life was here instead of Boston. How different from a year ago. "I will thank him. Did you eat?"
"No, did you?"
"Yes, but I am ready for more food."
Sully could not hide his laughter as he reached for her hand and guided her behind the clinic towards the café.
Loren and Jake were sitting down for their morning coffee as the couple arrived.
"Well, well, well. If it ain't the newly weds." Jake smirked
"Not so newly," entered Hank. They were shocked he had managed to be awake so early, but they didn't comment as Grace brought over a cup of coffee.
"You're just jealous," Grace responded before turning her attention to the couple. "Now, what are y'all havin? And don't mind them. I ordered a professional band to bring some music in. Instead," her voice dropped and became deadpan. "They sent them."
"Yeah, Michaela. Whatcha havin'?" Hank sneered.
Loren set down his cup and looked at Hank. "Now, play nice, Hank. No needing any words from you."
"I think ya should've married the Andrew guy. Or was his name David? Marry your first fiancé. Ain't that a little bit of a hypocrite?"
Grace fumed. "You keep your mouth shut, Hank, or you can get out of my café!"
"I was just leavin'." Hank stood up, his eyes flashing at Michaela while he moved to walk away. "Company ain't to my likin'."
"Your company is never to anyone's liking," Grace rolled her eyes.
Michaela sat next to Sully, her hands folded together on the table before her. Every inch of self restraint had been called forth to prevent her from jumping on him, her impatience made worse by the hunger and the pregnancy. Her coat was hiding the growing bump, even has Hank threw insults at her.
Hiding. They were hiding. Hiding everything. Hiding their marriage, hiding their pregnancy, hiding the fact that they were happy.
"One breakfast," Sully ordered, fuming but maintaining his composure as he watched his wife thinking precisely what had been running through his own mind.
"And what would ya like, Dr. Mike?"
Clearing her throat, Michaela looked up at Grace. "Do you still have some pie from last night?"
"Yeah, we do. Not bad in the morning." Grace giggled, thinking that the doctor was joking.
"I will take a full breakfast, double the biscuits and gravy, and a slice of pie."
The Cajun stared at the doctor in complete shock. So did Jake and Loren. And Sully.
"What was that, Dr. Mike?" Grace asked once again.
"A full breakfast, double the biscuits and gravy, and a slice of pie. And pickles on the side, if you please, Grace."
Looking at Sully, who remained stoically amused, she cleared her throat. "Did ya not eat last night?"
"Ya sound like you're eatin' for two!" Jake joked, amused at his josh and assuming it to be false.
She rose her head, her hands clutching each other and the multicoloured eyes sparkled in amusement.
"I am."
Silence took over the café.
"You're what?"
"I am. I am eating for two."
Graces face went from shock to a look of complete and utter happiness. "Oh mercy me!" Her pitch went up. "I'll get right on that Dr. Mike! Oh, Lord bless us! A baby!"