Jake could not stop himself from rolling his eyes while looking at the great Boston banker went on about how fantastic the business was going to be for the town. As mayor, of course, he knew that he should be supportive of the town growing. After all, the railroad and whatnot. But still. Jake was pretty sure that this man had more crap coming out of him than Ol' Harrison's flock of cattle. He was too friendly; his smile too broad and over exaggerated. And he looked too… clean for Colorado Springs. Regardless, the mayor stood by and listened, pretending to understand the technical aspects and pretending to be interested in the non-technical parts. Finally the group departed and Jake began to meander back to the barber shop.

"He's sure got some fancy pants," came a quiet voice behind.

"Yeah. He's from Boston." Jake smirked as Hank joined his side.

"Boston? Another one? What are they, rabbits?" He shook his long hair and took a swig of whiskey from the flask, sighing through his nostrils a bit. "I have had enough of people from Boston…"

"Oh, shove it, Hank. Everyone knows ya don't hate Dr. Mike. Yer just angry that you weren't formally invited to the reception. They didn't exactly send out invitations all formally."

"This don't bother you none?"

He shrugged. "They're married. She's saved my life. She's saved yours, too, ya ass. So what if they eloped? It's not like they was gonna hide it forever."

"Just until there was another Sully on the way," Hank interpreted. "She's actin' like a hypocrite!"

Jake could not honestly get riled up about this, and he laughed, shaking his head. Until a voice came up from behind them.

"Excuse me, what was that?"

The banker.

"Our good doctor and her husband are expectin' their first child, s'all." Jake announced.

"Michaela?"

Hank shot up at this. Only two other men managed to get away with calling her that. Sully and himself. Not this weird foreigner that looked as though he had something up his backside.

"Yeah," Hank replied gruffly.

"I was under the impression that they were quite recently married, but I will make an effort to extend a congratulations to them."

"They had their reception when they got back from Boston. But they had eloped before then." Jake mentioned casually. Hank watched the calculating look in the banker's eyes. Either he was a danger and a threat or a new fun chew toy, he couldn't decide which.

"Eloped?" His eyebrows went up in surprise. "I never would have thought that a woman of Michaela's breeding would… well… elope!"

"It's a cock and bull story," Hank interjected, curious to see what the banker would do with his take on it. "They had the reception for their 'elopement' right when she was barely started showing the kid. So have to be a bit curious as to the timin'."

"Is that so?" Preston looked around, as if he would find inspiration in the mud, or that pile of dung on the ground before abruptly clearing his throat and looking back at Hank. "I hadn't realised that they were so… yes, well. How interesting. I was rather curious about… her husband's… attire when I saw them."

"Ya mean how Sully dresses like an injun? Yeah, he does that." Jake shrugged

"Intentionally?"

Jake gave a nod of confirmation. "He's an injun lover."

There was another visible shock for the banker. "You mean to tell me that Beacon Hill Michaela Quinn married a man who dresses like a heathen?"

"Eloped. Don't mean much for marriage," Hank took a puff his cigar.

"Voluntarily?"

Hank stared at him as though this was possibly the stupidest question asked. "Uh, yeah?"

"Thank you, gentlemen. I would like to see you tomorrow, Mayor Slicker. I have something to propose for you."

---------------------------------------------

Sully walked into the house, shrugging his coat off of his shoulders as he tried to shake off the cold from the night. "Michaela?"

"In the kitchen!" She called out, turning her attention back to pans in front of her. She was making stew, which was something she actually could make, with the help of Colleen's recipe. "I'm making dinner."

He smiled and tried to keep back any comment about her cooking skills as he walked behind her and wrapped his arms around her growing figure. "Hey."

"Hello," she smiled. She gasped suddenly and then giggled a bit.

That was certainly not the reaction he was going for. "What?" he couldn't help but ask, pulling away from her though smiling at seeing her happiness radiate from her easily.

"Here," she reached for his hand and placed it against her stomach.

He waited and suddenly he felt a strange sensation under the palm of his hand. He had felt it before, on Abigail. "It's movin'!" he exclaimed, his eyes alight.

"Yes," she smiled and reached up to push a lock of his hair behind his ear. "He's been rather eager today. I didn't know she was moving, I thought it something else. But then I felt for certain that it was movement."

He lowered himself to his knees before her and placed his ear against her stomach. Curling her fingers over his hair, he felt perfectly content just then. Warm and safe with his wife in his arms, her body changing beautifully to accommodate the shape of their child. How could one be happier?

"Hey, little one."

"Would you go get me my bag?" She smiled.

"Is everything alright?"

"Yes, just get me my bag, please?" Her eyes twinkled and he quickly went to retrieve the black bag before handing it to her. She made her way to chairs in the dining room and sat down, reaching for his hand and guiding him to his knees before her. Her stethoscope was pulled out and she placed it to her ears before searching for a particularly point on the abdomen. Smiling, she handed him the ear piece and indicated for him to put it on.

He complied and there was a sound of rushing water that fluttered in his ears. He eventually realised that it wasn't rushing water, it was something else.

"What is that?"

She waited a moment before responding. "Heartbeat."

His fascination made her heart beat so lovingly that she nearly cried from happiness. He kissed the fabric over her dress and made himself comfortable, rubbing her stomach and listening.

"Sully?"

"Hmm?"

"I have to stir the stew."

"Uh-huh."

He didn't move. She rolled her eyes in play before gently pulling his face away from her stomach. "That does involve me standing up."

"I got it. You stay there."

"I'm perfectly capable…" She began.

"Yeah. And I'm perfectly wantin' to spoil my wife."

It would be futile, she knew, so she remained seated as Sully began to rush around to tend to the stew.

"Everything is goin' well, right?"

"Hmm?" She idly listened before attempting to formulate an answer. "Oh, yes. The new coat of paint on the clinic was a good idea. I will have to thank Matthew again for recommending it. And they are planning a late spring wedding. May, I believe."

Lifting the spoon to taste, Sully sniffed and had to admit that the food was a bit edible and actually good. "I was talkin' 'bout the pregnancy."

"Oh," she said. "Yes. Just…"

The last word perked his ears up and he looked at her. "Just what?"

"Just a bit more weight gain than I should have, I suspect. Then again, every woman does gain it differently… I just…"

Turning back towards her completely, he walked back into the dining area and placed a hand reassuringly on her shoulder. "Hey. You're always beautiful to me."

"Even when I'm huge and fat and ugly?"

He grinned. "Even when you're pregnant, beautiful, and radiant."

---------------------------------------------------

Preston was making a great commotion outside of Jake's barbershop. Michaela had heard something going on outside, but did not investigate until she was doing looking over Mr. Gunthrie's remaining symptoms.

"You are feeling better, though. And your throat is healing quite nicely," Michaela said with a smile.

"I'm feelin' much better, Dr. Mike. Thank ya for seein' me."

"Oh, the pleasure is mine, Mr. Gunthrie."

He smiled his goofy grin and indicated to her stomach. "How is the little one doin'? My wife says she reckons ya carryin' a girl!"

She gave a small laugh and nodded. "We are doing quite well. Thank you, Mr. Gunthrie. And tell your wife 'thank you', too."

"Much obliged, Dr. Mike." He reached into his pocket and gave her a couple coins. "If ya stop by the homestead tonight, we got some chickens for ya. We ended up keepin' more than we could keep up!"

She nodded and agreed before showing him to the door. "What is all of that commotion?" she wondered aloud.

"Not too sure. Gonna go check it out." Mr. Gunthrie said and began to walk towards the barbershop. Reaching for her coat against the biting cold, Michaela began to follow him and saw Sully standing on the outskirts of the crowd.

"This money will bring great changes to Colorado Springs…" Preston was saying.

Reaching his side, he placed a protective arm over her and she looked upon him with questioning eyes. "Lodge wants to give the town a lotta money."

Immediately her brow furrowed. She knew what Sully would think about it. How money made men greedy. But she agreed with this sentiment as she heard promises of great things to coincide with the arrival of the railroad and how men were being promised a fortune from Preston.

"You can own your own business! Set your own hours! And my bank will loan you the money you need to start these endeavours! And the money that I will donate to the town will help ensure your success!"

Unable to keep her mouth shut, Michaela spoke. "And just what do you intend for the town to do with this money?"

"I have already laid out a plan…"

"Shouldn't the town decide?" She said confidently. "If you are being so kind as to donate money to the town, then it should be the town council that determines what the town does with it. Not you, Mr. Lodge."

"The town council?" He stared at her.

"Yes. As a member of the town council, I propose a meeting."

"You're a member of the town council?"

"Yes."

Preston couldn't resist. "I would think that only upstanding citizens would be apart of such a council. Not women… such as yourself, with fluctuating morals."

That was enough for Sully to see red. He began to walk towards the banker when he felt Michaela's hand upon his arm.

"Don't, Sully." She turned her attention back to Preston. "I was not aware that my morals were being called into question, Mr. Lodge."

Hank poked his head out and paid attention with idle curiosity until the banker put his attention towards Michaela. That was when whatever he was feeling just didn't settle right. Of course he heckled Michaela. But he wasn't keen on someone else doing it, and he was not impressed by where these accusations were going. It showed that the banker had too much sway over the people of the town, power which was better suited to their local bartender.

"Perhaps they should be." He smirked. "I am certain that the whole town would love the details of your supposed elopement to your rugged mountain man. Did a lion perform the ceremony? Or a bear? And when is your baby shower, Michaela? I would love to personally provide you with buckskin diapers."

Michaela went blanche with shock, regarding the man with a shocked disgust. She almost said something but then a horse bucked near Robert E's. The men focused on cornering and restraining the animal and it seemed all focus was lost from the doctor and her husband. But as the crowd settled down and Preston made his way back to the boarding house, Michaela looked up and saw many of the faces in the crowd that had smiled for her once before suddenly averting their eyes at the doctor's gaze.

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Author's Note: Sorry guys, it's taking longer to settle in than I anticipated. I'll try and be better from now on.