Five days later, Christy Huddleston sat in her room of the mission house, well her room for at least another few hours; she would be Mrs. Neil MacNeil and would be leaving with him in his cabin by this evening. Christy was sitting in front of her vanity mirror in what was going to be her wedding dress, while her mother fixed her hair. Looking down at herself Christy couldn't help feeling a little sad that she was going to marry Neil in one of her nicer dresses to be sure but not a real wedding gown. Oh well, at least she was going to marry the man she loved more than anything else in the world. Her mother however did not feel the same way, of course.

Staring at her daughter's reflection in the mirror, Julia Huddleston forced herself not to frown. Her baby girl was getting married today; it should be a happy day. But for the life of her, she could not be happy that her only daughter was marrying a country doctor, and not a well-bred man from the city, she was going to lose her. Of course Christy would never have been able to marry a well-bred man now that she was carrying a bastard child, even if it wasn't her fault, her reputation was still ruined in the eyes of society and in her eyes as well, though she would not say that to Christy. Attempting a smile she met Christy's eyes in the mirror and said "well you are already dear, it won't be long now".

Christy smiled a real smile up at her mother, although she knew her mother was not happy in the slightest bit. "Thanks mother, thanks for everything. I know you don't approve the match but it's for the best, and I really do love Neil, try to be happy for me that I found someone to love me no matter what." Julia looked at her daughter and nodded her head as a single tear fell from her eyes. "I'm going to miss you so much baby girl." She cried as she pulled Christy into the fiercest hug she had ever given her daughter, she never was one to show much emotion. Christy hugged her mother just as tightly.

Neil stood at the front of the little church/school building waiting for the love of his life to come to him, of all people Bird's EyeTaylor stood next to him. The two men had become good friends since the day Bird's Eye had saved his life. Looking over at him now Neil saw a smile on the mountain man's face, glancing to the front of the church Neil saw the reason for it; opal Christy's maid of honor was walking to the front of the church (the two had been courting for a few weeks, and there was already talk that another wedding would soon be coming). Neil grinned, but then he saw Christy on the arm of her father, and the smile stretched so far on his face he thought it might stay that was permanently. His heart has hammering so loud in his chest he felt sure the whole church could hear it.

Christy met Neil's eyes and felt a blush steal across her cheeks, the look in his eyes was so consuming she couldn't help the red stain spreading. When she finally reached the front of the church she felt her father place her hand in Neil's to turn to Dr. Ferrand who was performing the ceremony. Christy didn't hear the words really she couldn't keep her eyes off of Neil, but she must have said what she was supposed to because the next thing she knew she was being pronounced as Neil's wife and feeling his warm lips on her in a soft and sweet kiss that promised of many many more later in the privacy of their bedroom.

The Jollification that took place afterwards lasted several hours, but when it was finally time for the 'shiveree' to take place Christy was terrified. Opal Mchone, Mary Allen, and Ruby Mae (of all people) were the ones to lead her away to her marriage bed. Ruby Mae of course chatting nonstop as the women help her prepare for bed, the things coming from the young girls mouth just made the blush that Christy had been wearing to spread all over her body.

When she was finally ready all the women left except for Opal, this she was glad for. Opal looking at the young woman who had been through so much two months ago was worried that Christy was scared so she decided to try and soothe her. "Miz Christy, iffin ya got anything ya wanta ask me about, feel free ta." Christy met the older woman's eyes and starting crying, "Opal I'm scared! What if he hurts me like David did, I don't know if I can do this!" Opal hugged Christy to her chest and petted her hair and in as soothing a voice as she could manage said to her "Now Miz Christy ya should know that the doc ain't about to hurt ya like that. He loves ya; he would never do nothing to hurt ya. I'll bet that iffin ya tell Neil that you be scared he will understand and not try anything till ya be ready." Christy smiled and hugged Opal tighter, knowing in her heart that she was right.

Sometime later, the men brought Neil to the bedchamber and threw him in before stomping back downstairs and out of the house. Neil smiling looked up to see Christy sitting in bed with the covers pulled up to her neck looking for the world like a scared little girl. Neil knew she wasn't ready to pursue the physical aspects of a marriage bed just yet so he just walked over to her and sat on the bed next to her. Putting his hand to cup her cheek he said "I love you Mrs. MacNeil and always will, we can wait." Then he leaned in and kissed her softly before standing up to go to his side of the bed to undress and climb in. as he laid down next to Christy he just looked at her and smiled, never once touching her.

Christy slid down so she could lie down, rolling on her side so she could look at Neil. Neil just looked back at her smiling the love shinning from his eyes did her in. she felt the tears start to fall as she scooted closer so she could press her lips to his. Neil's hand came up to her face as he kissed her back, letting her take the lead. Smiling Christy deepen the kiss, slipping her tongue into his mouth to tease his tongue. His teased right back. Christy let her hands wander across his chest playing in the curly red hair there, before running her fingers down his sculpted abs, then up his back. Neil groaned into her mouth, but remained still letting her still lead. Christy feeling embolden by that sound grinned again before her she pushed against Neil's chest causing him to roll to his back, she rolling with him so she was laying on top of him.

Christy broke the kiss that she had started and sat up, her legs straddling Neil's body. Looking down into the face of the man she loved so much, she bit her lip before she reached down and pulled her nightshift over her head leaving herself completely naked and exposed to her husband. Neil so wanted to touch her but forced his hands to remain where they were that is until Christy took one of his hands in her own and brought it to her breast to leave it there before leaning down to capture his mouth again. She could feel Neil's desire for her as she sat directly atop of it; all that remain between them was Neil's long johns. Gritting her teeth Christy told herself she could do this, she wanted to do this, looking down into his eyes again; yes she definitely wanted to do this. Smiling she nodded at Neil and let him take charge.

Neil wasted no time, in a matter of seconds he hand Christy underneath him and his long johns were nowhere in sight. Smiling he kissed her mouth again, and whispered "are you sure". At Christy's nod Neil entered her slowly, watching her eyes for any sign of terror, he never saw any. All he saw was love and desire for him. Once he was fully inside of her he smiled and thought to himself, she is finally mine. Christy wrapped her legs around his waist and together they soared to unspeakable heights of pleasure.

Afterwards as she lay in his arms feeling his warm breath on the top of her head, she thought to herself. God I never would have imagined it could be like that, not after what David did. It didn't hurt at all, Opal was right, Neil would never hurt me the way David did. I should never have doubted that for a second. "What are you thinking" Neil's voiced asked interrupting her thoughts. She smiled and said "that I love you and want to do that again with you for the rest of my life." Neil's booming laugh reverberated off the walls and shook against her sides, causing her to fell that same burning sensation that she now knew was desire for him. Grinning up at him slyly she ran her fingers to caress him in a very tender area.

Not quite seven months later, Christy gave birth to a son, whom they named Duncan Neil MacNeil, and for a baby that was supposed to be early, he was a whopper. The people of the cove all just laughed and grinned to themselves thinking that must have been the reason for the rushed wedding, Miss Christy and the doc must have gotten a little too frisky beforehand, they would snicker. The happy couple knew that was the assumption, and did nothing to dispel those rumors. Duncan was Neil's son in their eyes, that was all that matter.

By the time Duncan was five years old, Christy and Neil had given him a brother, Conner, and a beautiful little sister named Fairlight, both of whom had curly hair that was the same red color of their fathers with big blue eyes. It was obvious by this time that Duncan was in fact not Neil's, seeing as he was a miniature version of David Grantland, expect with Christy's blue eyes. The people of the cove never said anything; they all realized that David had done more than beat Christy when he attacked her. They knew she didn't want people to know, so they all pretended they didn't notice the resemblance her son had to the man they once called reverend and had respected. None of them had any respect whatsoever to him now.

Opal and Bird's Eye had married a year after Neil and Christy. The two were very happy together. Bird's Eye loved her sons as his own, and together they raised three more children all little girls to Opal's delight! Jeb eventually remarried, to a woman from Raven Gap, who had a parcel of her own youngin's, but he never was the same after Fairlight's death. Dr. Ferrand eventually retired and stayed in cutter gap to become its minister. They were all pretty sure it had to do with Ms. Alice even though the two never married. Christy and Neil eventually left the cove, but not after many years. They had another child a daughter named Catherine. They were married almost fifty years when Neil died. Christy died a week later from a broken heart so her children said. They were sure that if Christy had died first, Neil would have followed right behind as well, the two had loved each other so much they couldn't live without the other.

The End

A/N: I hope everybody enjoyed this story. sorry it took so long to finish but my mind has been elsewhere reading other people's stories. there are quite a few talented people on this site. I have more stories in my head, but as of right now only one of those is for Christy. I look for to reviews and if anybody notices any mistakes let me know. I try to read over my stories several times before publishing but I still miss a few things.

Also to TVFANATIC143 thanks for the reviews and following my stories!