Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. The rights to those characters and to the show belong to the creators of the show, to CBS, The Sullivan Company and to A&E.

The Places to Love

Chapter Ten

The clues had been building all morning: the tears when Sully left that still hadn't stopped as she drove in to work, the way her pants were a little hard to button as she dressed, the cramps in her lower abdomen that were simply a nuisance. Yet Michaela didn't get her hopes up – could she be imagining all the signs of her period because she wanted it to be true. Yet by that evening, she had in fact started. Normally it wasn't a cause for celebration, more of an unpleasant fact of life but this time everything was different.

When Sully called, it was the first news she gave him. "You're sure?" Sully asked.

"Well yes," Michaela laughed. "I mean there are certain physical things…" Sully was chuckling now too, realizing how silly he'd sounded. "Now you have a reason to come home."

"Like I didn't already." Michaela couldn't help but smile at his sweet words. "You making out alright?"

"Fine," she said looking wistfully at the empty bed that they normally shared. "Think I'm used to sleeping with someone now though. It's going to be weird to be alone."

"I know what you mean," he said growing quiet.

"How was the first day of the convention?"

"Good. I'm glad we came. This is just the sort of thing to really get the business off the ground. Course they messed up our reservation so Robert E and I are sharin' a room."

"Is that why you're being so quiet?" Michaela asked.

"I'm not being quiet," he protested.

Michaela laughed as she decided to tease him a bit more. "Don't want your friend to hear you being mushy, huh?"

"It's not that…I just…" He seemed to be a little tongue tied and Michaela's laughter wasn't helping the situation.

Changing tactics a little, Michaela spoke again. "Do you know what I'm wearing right now?"

"I.. uh…"

"That little pink nightie that's practically see through. It's rather warm in here tonight." Her voice was low and sultry.

Looking across at Robert E who was flipping through the channels on the television, Sully cleared his throat. "Uh… Michaela…"

"If you were here right now, I'd unbutton your shirt slowly, stopping to kiss each new bit of revealed skin." She paused and waited to see what he would say but again he cleared his throat, his breathing slightly heavier than before. "I'd be down in front of you on my knees, my lips level with your navel. My fingers on the button of your pants…."

In a high pitched voice that was uncharacteristic of Sully, he stopped her. "While I am enjoying this immensely…"

"Uh-huh?"

"Think I need to go take a shower." His voice was a whisper now and it made Michaela laugh.

"Okay go take your cold shower." She grew serious now. "I love you and I miss you."

"Me too."

"Me too, what?" she asked pressing her lips together.

Loudly now so that there could be no doubt about it, Sully spoke into the phone. "I love you and I miss you."

"Good night Sully," Michaela added almost forlornly.

"Night Michaela. I'll call you in the morning."

With that she rolled over in bed to hang up the phone with a frown. Everything seemed too quiet without Sully here and she was starting to think that getting a dog was a terrific idea. Standing, she laughed as she passed the full length mirror. She was wearing yoga pants and an old tee – far from what she'd told her husband. It was fun though to lead him on like that and it amazed her that she was capable of doing something so sensual. So much had changed in such a short time. Their first night together wasn't that long ago really – back in February right after a particularly memorable birthday dinner Michaela had decided after their engagement at New Years that physically their relationship should move forward. Sully knew she was inexperienced in that area and he was always so understanding when she asked to stop or grew tense in anyway..

As she walked into the living room, Michaela couldn't help but think of it. Stopping in front of the couch she let her mind drift back to that night. Things started innocently enough on the couch, as they shared kisses in the darkened room. Sully's hand was on her back, the other tangled in her hair. He had moved down to kiss her neck and Michaela closed her eyes, letting her body relax back onto the couch. As he hit a particularly sensitive spot just above her collarbone, she arched her back and moaned a little. Sully pulled back, never having heard quite a noise from his fiancé before.

When he looked up at her, Michaela was ready, her eyes shining with love. "How do you feel about me?" she whispered, wanting those lips that brought her such pleasure to speak his emotions.

"Michaela," he breathed out before kissing her hard on the lips. "I've never known a love like this." He moved back a little, his face taking on a serious expression. "Never," he repeated.

Scarcely daring to breath, Michaela cradled his head in her hands. "Make love to me."

The words felt like someone else's and Sully looked perplexed for a moment. "Michaela, are you sure?"

"I'm sure," she said feeling jitters for the first time all evening. She pulled him towards her, their lips meeting in a short sweet kiss that chased away any doubt in her mind. Sully took his time, continuing the kissing on the couch for a bit longer. Michaela could not recall how it had happened but she distinctly remembered the feeling of being in his arms, held tight against his chest as he carried her into the bedroom. There was no light besides the outside street light which beamed through the windows casting shadows on the bed.

Neither turned on a light, neither wanted to break contact with the other. The next hour was like a slow dance as clothing came off a piece at a time. Sully's mouth traveled up and down her body, discovering secret places that no one had known. Unsure of how to reciprocate, Michaela let instinct take over. Her hands moved of their own accord and the first time Sully moaned it only encouraged her to continue. Medically, she knew that the first time would be uncomfortable, perhaps painful but Michaela had felt neither particularly. The only thing she remembered was a momentary intense pressure and then nothing but sweetness. It only confirmed to her that this was the person she was meant to be with.

Standing now in the living room, she felt her own body reacting to the memory and she closed her eyes wrapping her arms around her. She felt more alone than ever now and vowed to herself not to daydream like some silly schoolgirl. A light knock at the door broke her reverie and she instantly glanced at the clock wondering who it could be. Another knock, louder this time, came again as she crossed through the door and looked through the peep hole. Matthew stood on the other side, visibly upset.

Opening to him, she instantly knew something was wrong. "Matthew?"

"Mike, I'm sorry to bother you so late but I have a favor… I don't know who else to ask. Ingrid's still in Sweden and won't be home for another week."

"Matthew whatever you need – you know I'll help."

"I just got a call – my mother has been taken to the hospital. I need to go but my brother and sister…" He looked confused unsure what he was even asking of her.

"Do you need me to watch them? To go to the hospital?"

"They're at the hospital… I just need someone to go with me." He looked up, his eyes pleading with her. Michaela reached inside the door to grab her purse and car keys.

"Come on, Matthew. We'll take my car."