A/N: Sorry for the lack of updates... to all my stories. I'm going through chemo therapy right now, and to be honest it's kicking my ass. I'll update when I can.

The day had dawned bright and sunny so Lil and Quin had taken Tyler and Pogue out for a ride to see the homestead, leaving the other four to their own devices. Caleb was stretched out on the bed in his room when he felt a knee sink into the mattress next to him and opened his eyes to see Meredith leaning over him with a smile on her face. "Hey there," he murmured.

"Hey there yourself."

He reached his arms up and pulled her closer, until her body was flush with his. "I was just thinking about you."

"You were? And what exactly were you thinking?" Meredith ran her lips over his lightly.

"That it had been too long since I'd kissed you." So saying he deepened the light kissing, running his tongue over her bottom lip, seeking entrance into her sweet mouth. Meredith immediately opened to him, and her hands, which had been holding her up, relaxed and moved to curl into his dark, silky hair. Caleb pulled her over until they were lying side by side on the bed, and his hands moved up and down her back, kneading into her flesh, and slowly working their way under her top to span her bare back. Meredith wrapped a leg around his two and lost herself in this man who'd come into her life as such a surprise. He made her feel things she'd never felt; want things she'd never really wanted before. Sure she'd had regular teenage hormones, and she'd had boyfriends, but she'd never desired them the way she desired Caleb.

"Mer..." he whispered.

"Caleb, I want you," her voice was hoarse and needy. Her navy eyes met his own dark gaze and didn't look away as her hand moved down to work on his belt buckle. As he moved in for another kiss a flash of fierce anger hit both of them causing them to wince. "What was that?" she was truly confused.

Caleb frowned, "Reid." They were up and moving quickly.

**

Reid had heard the car pull up outside and that's what had drawn him out to the front porch. He'd gotten there just in time to see Sheridan being pulled into a hug by a dark haired guy, slightly shorter than himself, who'd just gotten out of the passenger side of a pick up truck.

"Billy, what're you doing here?" Sheridan asked with a smile on her face.

"Came to see you darlin'!" the dark haired man grinned. "Tommy's uncle was making a delivery out this way when you guys got into town, and when he told Tommy, Tommy told me."

"It's good to see you!" She turned her attention to the driver of the vehicle. "Hey Matt! How're you doing?"

"Real good Sheri, you look good. Is Lil around?"

Meredith and Caleb had just gotten out onto the porch, and Caleb approached his friend. "Lil and Quin went out for a ride with Lil's boyfriend and our other friend," Meredith told the blonde man.

The man's smile faltered, "Oh. Well. It's goot to see you Merry. Yall both look like that yankee school is treatin' you good."

Merry smiled. "It is. We like it quite a bit. Matt, Billy, this is my boyfriend Caleb, and our very good friend Reid. Guys, this is Matt and Billy, we all kind of grew up together here in Donner's Falls."

"Pleasure," Caleb nodded to the two men. Reid just nodded as he tried to control his emotions. Sheridan looked confused.

"Well, we can't stay," Billy gave the petite girl another hug, and the way he held her spoke of more than friendship. "However, there is a party out at Frankie's tomorrow night. If you all are still in town yall should all come, bring your friends of course. It should be a good time!"

Meredith gave the men a friendly smile, "We'll see if we can, haven't talked to Frankie in a while. I'll let Lil and Quin know yall stopped by." Sheridan stepped away from the vehicle as both men got back in. Matt gave Merry a nod, and then they were driving off.

Reid didn't say a word, just headed directly inside the house and up to the room he was using as his own. "Leave me alone Caleb," he managed to grind out from clenched teeth when he heard his friend enter the room.

"I can feel your anger a mile a way Bro, what gives?" Caleb kept his tone calm.

"I can't do this."

"Do what Reid? I'm not following you."

"This... this couples thing... I can't do it..." This time it sounded as if Reid was in pain. "I like Sheridan man. I feel things for her."

Caleb was shocked. What he was hearing went against everything the other man had been saying.

"I keep fighting it, but how can I? Ever since Abbott dragged her out to dance I've wanted to take care of her."

"That's not a bad thing Reid," Caleb tried cautiously.

"Isn't it?" Reid still stared out the window. "What if she's not the one? What if it's Quin? What if I have these feelings for her and I have to see her end up with Pogue? What if we're not supposed to be..."

"Together?" Sheridan's voice came from the doorway, shocking both men. They both turned to look at her, but she only looked at Reid. "You think you're the only one that's scared of this? That you're the only one who might have feelings that might not have any say in what happens?" He shrugged, and she moved more fully into the room. "You're the one I want to end up with Reid, no matter how many barbs we throw at each other. I'm scared too, but I think it's time we stopped running and fighting what's supposed to happen."

**

Lil and Tyler lay on the blanket cuddled close, laughing with their friends. The day had been wonderful so far, but storm clouds were moving in, and Lil wondered if they'd get the storm they'd missed the night before. They'd gotten a bit of rain, but nothing of what they were supposed to get. They'd have to head back soon. Quin was up walking around and had begun to gather apples off the trees about twenty feet away.

"We should help her," Tyler laughed as he watched the blonde trying to hold onto about ten apples in her arm and still grab another.

Pogue was already standing, "I'm on my way." He figured it should be safe seeing as they were still within good line of sight of Lil and Tyler. It wasn't as if he had a problem with Quin, or Sheridan for that matter, but he'd loved Kate and he honestly didn't think that whatever these feelings were the others were feeling could be the same thing. Plus, although it didn't hurt the way it had, he wondered if he was really supposed to have a relationship. He'd been with Kate for three years and she'd walked away as if that time was nothing. If he was really worthy, would it have been so easy for her? He shook off the melancholy feelings and joined Quin under the apple tree, "Need some help?" he grinned at the blonde.

She looked at him with an embarrassed smile, "Okay, so maybe I'm trying to take a few too many home."

"You think so?" he chuckled, but then gasped as a pain hit him in the solar plexus. It seemed to hit Quin at the same time because all of the apples dropped from her arms and she almost doubled over. "Are you okay?" he wheezed.

"It hurts," she managed. For a moment Quin thought she was going to collapse to her knees, but then Pogue's hands came out to steady her. As soon as they grasped her upper arms, a tingling spread throughout her body. Her shocked eyes met his and she felt as though something was attaching them. "I thought we had to be alone?" her voice was tremulous with a small amount of fear.

"Me too," he agreed but couldn't stop the step towards her. He could distantly hear Lil and Tyler scrambling in the background, but didn't know what they were doing. "I have to..." he murmured staring intently at her mouth which seemed to glisten up at him in invitation.

"I know." Then his mouth was meeting hers and Quin moved until her hands clutched him closer to her.

**

Sheridan moved until she stood less than a foot away from Reid, then she looked to Caleb. "You need to leave and shut the door after you," she told him softly.

He looked at both of them silently before nodding. Neither looked at him again.

Reid and Sheridan stared at each other and their hearts and hope was in their eyes. Before the door shut, Sheridan reached out with shaking hands and clasped Reid's. As soon as the door shut it was as if there was a soft stirring of wind. Reid pulled her closer to him and leaned down. "If we aren't meant to be it's probably really stupid to do this, but I don't want to go forever without kissing you at least once," he whispered.

She nodded and then he kissed her. His lips were gentle on hers, thorough and confident. Her arms wrapped around his waist, drawing him closer, and his hands now cupped her face. Suddenly, the kiss became more, and a sharp pain shot through the both of them. Something flashed and the connection strengthened. Reid couldn't get enough of her mouth, and she met him fully. Finally, he pulled away only to place kisses along her cheek, jawline, and neck, until he held her tightly.

"You're mine," he told her in a voice raw with emotion.

She smiled into his neck, "I'm yours."