Chapter 9

Now it's the family's turn to get a chance to say hello.
Katie just kind of stands there waiting to be greeted. She hasn't seen these people in two years and it's all overwhelming to her.
"Colleen, I can't believe how big you have gotten! Look at you!" Michaela tells her daughter as she gives her a big hug.
"I know, ma. I woke up one day and my feet were gone. I don't remember being this big when I was carrying Isabella. I have a feeling I am having a boy."
"A boy? That would be wonderful, Colleen."
Colleen smiles as she holds her huge belly.
"Gramma!" Isabella screams as she runs into Michaela and wraps her arms around her waist.
"Isabella! How big you have gotten!" Michaela tells her granddaughter as she kneels down to her level.
"I'm six now." Isabella says as she holds up her hands revealing six fingers.
"You are a smart girl, too."
Isabella nods and grins as Michaela wraps her in a hug.
"Hi, ma."
Michaela stops what she is doing with Isabella and looks up to see her son, all grown up. She stands up and looks at him for a minute and then hugs him fiercely.
"Brian."
"Ma, there's someone I want you to meet."
Brian puts his hand on the young lady's shoulder.
"This is Maggie. Maggie, this is my ma, Dr. Michaela Quinn."
Michaela extends her hand.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Maggie."
Maggie shakes her hand.
"The feeling is mutual."
"I would love you to meet my daughter, Katie."
Katie looks at her mother after hearing her name.
"Katie, this is Maggie."
"Hello, Maggie." Katie shakes her hand.
"This is my husband, Byron Sully. This is Maggie."
"A pleasure to meet ya, Maggie." Sully shakes her hand.
"So this is the surprise you had for us, Brian."
"Yes it is, ma. Are ya surprised?"
"I am surprised. But in a good way."
Brian smiles.
Andrew approaches his in-laws.
"Hello Michaela, Sully."
"Hello, Andrew."
They shake hands.
"So are you nervous about becoming a father again?"
"You have no idea, I was so worried that Colleen was going to go into labor before we got here."
Michaela laughs.
Colleen walks over to her mother.
"Ma? What are you laughing about?"
"Just something Andrew said."
"What did he say?"
"He was worried you were going to go into labor on the way here."
"I know, he wouldn't leave me alone the whole trip."
"Well, you don't have anything to worry about, because you are here now and I will take good care of you and that baby."
Colleen smiles.
"I know you will, ma."
They hug.
Sully approaches them.
"I think we should be heading for the homestead."
"Okay, Sully."
They all say their goodbyes to the townspeople as they all pile into two wagons. Sully makes sure Michaela sits in front with him since she is in a delicate condition. He doesn't want anything to happen to this baby. He is hoping that this is the son he has always wanted. He is going to take such good care of Michaela; she won't be able to stand it.
As everyone is getting situated in the wagon, Sully puts his arm around Michaela.
She looks at him with a surprised look on her face. He gives her a look of pure affection.
"I love you, Michaela."
"I love you too, Sully."
He puts his hand on the spot where the baby is growing. She looks down at what he is doing. Then she places her hand over his and then looks back up at her husband.
"Our baby."
"Yes, our baby."
Then they passionately kiss. Katie notices.
"Okay, you two. Are we going to sit here and wait for you to stop kissing or are we going home?" Katie teases.
They pull out of the kiss and look at their daughter.
"We're going home, Katie." Michaela tells her daughter.
Sully gets the wagon moving.
On the way to the homestead Sully notices that Michaela looks like she's not feeling good again.
"Are you feeling okay?" he asks.
"Just the usual, Sully. I will be alright once we get home."
"You are gonna lie down once we get home."
"Yes, I will lie down for a little while and then I am going to visit with the children."
"When are you going to tell them the news?"
"When the time is right, I am surprised nobody in town told them."
"I am glad that they are on Matthew's wagon and we just have Katie and the luggage with us. I don't want them to suspect anything yet."
"They are going to be so surprised and happy, Sully."
"Just as we are. Who would have thought we would have another baby at this stage of our life?"
"I surely didn't. I didn't think I could still get pregnant. I went all that time and never got pregnant and then at 50 years of age, I'm having a baby."
"It's our second chance to have the baby that we lost."
"Yes, it is. This baby is going to be so loved, it going to want to live."
Michaela puts her hand on her stomach.
"You hear that, baby. You're gonna make it."
Sully grabs her free hand and kisses it.
"We're gonna make it."
Michaela looks up at him with tears in her eyes. She never thought she could love one man so much. Their daughter and their unborn child was proof of that love. It will still be going strong until the day they die.
Katie just sits in the back of the wagon between the luggages listening to her parents.
Would it always be like this? Katie hopes so. She doesn't want to be anywhere else but where she is right now. She is going to be a big sister and a great one at that.
Her thoughts continue on as they reach the homestead.

Chapter 10 coming soon...Michaela tells the others about the baby! Stay tuned!