Kitty was putting the finishing touches on the last of the Halloween decorations. She stood back for a moment to view her handiwork then went to the kitchen to pour a cup of coffee. She walked over to the big arm chair in the library and sat down to relax. It had been months since she returned from Dodge and it was only in quiet moments like these that she thought of Matt. She had finally given a life with John a chance and she was surprised to find that she was falling in love again. There was no doubt that Matt would always be somewhere in the recesses of her heart but when he walked down Front Street she realized that her undying love for him was not enough. She had to finally admit that he would have been home long ago if he really loved her with all his heart. While enjoying a few minutes of peace before the children came home from school the night before ran through her mind.

Returning home from dinner he suggested that they sit for a minute on the porch. John waited for Kitty to get comfortable then he got down on one knee, opened the jewelry box, and held her hand. "Kitty, I know you will never love me like you've loved Matt but I love you with my whole heart and soul and I will be a good husband to you. I will always love and cherish you and the children until the day I die. Will you marry me?"

She softly touched his face, "oh John."

With his other hand he took the hand that was caressing his cheek and kissed it. "Well?"

Kitty's eyes began to water, "John, the past few months have been wonderful and in time I know a moment like this will mean so much to me but right now…well…I still need some time." She stroked his face, "Once I sign the papers Matt will be gone from my life...I don't know if I'm ready for that yet."

John looked down, "I understand." He stood and sat down next to her in the rocker.

Kitty reached out and held his hand. "John, it's only been a couple of months since I returned from Dodge."

John clasped Kitty's hand, "I know you and Matt had a love that only happens once in a lifetime and I understand that. Kitty we are very good together, we always have been. I know we'll never experience the passion that you and Matt had but every couple finds what is most comfortable for them and I think we have. I just need you to know that I love you Kitty and I will for the rest of my life." John paused for a minute before he continued, "I don't need an answer now. Just think over what I've said and when you're ready, I will be too."

A tear slid down Kitty's cheek, "John, Matt still occupies my thoughts now and again. I don't think that it would be right to marry you if I'm still thinking about him. You do understand, don't you?"

John smiled, "I do, but I needed you to know how serious I am about us Kitty. I want you for my wife, not just a lover." He reached out and touched her face. "I really believe that one day you will be happy again Kitty…with me" He leaned over and kissed her."Take as much time as you need."

Kitty tried to convey her fear, "John, but what if…"

John put his finger against her lips, "If you never want to marry me then we'll just continue what we've had. I know you love me, not like Matt I admit, but I know you do and that's enough." He stroked her face, "honey, whenever you're ready, you let me know." He closed the box and handed it to her. "You keep this and when I see you wearing this ring on your finger I'll be the happiest man in the world." He stood and helped Kitty out of the rocker. "Good night Kitty." He gently brushed his lips against hers. "I'll see you tomorrow. I wouldn't want to miss seeing Katie's costume."

Kitty smiled, "good night John, see you tomorrow." Kitty watched as John walked down the path to the street. He turned back and both waved to each other as he then continued down the road.

She smiled as she stood to walk toward the backyard. Standing in the doorway she recalled the day when life was so perfect. Matt was statuesque in his wedding suit and she a huge seven months pregnant. She stared blankly at the spot where they promised to love each other forever so many years ago. As the memory faded she imagined what it would be like with John holding her hands and making the ultimate commitment to love, honor, and cherish. She sighed as she returned to the library with a mind deep in thought. Her quiet moment was broken by the sound of the children bustling through the front door. "I'm not going trick or treating Katie and that's final."

"Wait until I tell Mom, she'll make you."

Matthew turned, "no, she won't."

Kitty shook her head and made her way to the hallway. "Matthew, why won't you go with your sister and two brothers?"

"It's cause he doesn't want Becky to see him in a costume." Katie raised her hands under her chin and batted her eyes.

Matthew turned to Kitty, "Ma, tell her to stop."

"Katie, stop teasing your brother." Kitty pushed Matthew's hair off his forehead. "I think you need a haircut Matthew."

"Ma, can't I leave it like this?"

Katie reached up and stroked Matthew's hair, "that's cause Becky loves running her fingers through it."

Matthew turned and his eyes narrowed, "Katie, stop it with your brother. I'm not going to tell you again." Kitty pointed her finger for emphasis. "Now go on and change, your brother will go with you."

"Aw, Ma!"

"Matthew, go with them for a few blocks."

Matthew made a face, "do I have to wear a stupid costume?"

"No, you don't."

Katie yelled from the top of the stairs, "you're gonna' look stupid without one."

Kitty was beginning to lose her patience, "Katie…change…now!"

"Yes, Mom."

Mother and son walked toward the kitchen and Matthew sat down in the big arm chair waiting for his siblings to return. Kitty poured another cup of coffee as she looked over at Matthew patiently waiting. He was growing up to be a fine young man and Matt would be so proud of him. As she sipped the coffee it angered her that Matt would deprive his children the opportunity to know their father. Matthew was tapping on the chair with his fingers as he looked over at Kitty. "What's taking them so long? I just want to get this thing over with."

Kitty let out with a slight laugh, "your father," as she shook her head.

Matthew looked annoyed, "my father what?"

"Oh, nothing. You just reminded me how antsy your father got when he didn't want to do something."

Matthew furrowed his brow, "why do you keep thinking about him? He has never thought about us."

"Matthew I told you what happened to your father, didn't I?"

"But where is he now Ma? He didn't come back with you, did he?" Matthew could see by the expression on his mother's face she was hurt by his words. He stood and hugged Kitty. "I'm sorry Ma."

She put her hand on Matthew's face, "you've had to shoulder so much for someone your age." She grabbed the cup of coffee and turned toward the hallway, "well, I'll be in my office upstairs if you need me." Matthew nodded in agreement as Kitty turned back to him, "thank you for going with them today Matthew. I'm sure if Becky does see you she'll be even more impressed with the young man you are then she already is." Kitty smiled and walked down the hallway toward the front stairs when she heard a knock at the door. She yelled back at her son, "Matthew I got it." She grabbed the bowl of candy from the table and turned the knob. As the door swung open the bowl in Kitty's arms began a quick descent to the floor. The swift reflex of the visitor saved the candy from scattering across the floor.

"Aren't you going to invite me in?"

In shock, Kitty moved back a few steps to let him pass. She closed the door and took the bowl from his arms and laid it on the table. "What are you doing here?"

He looked around the foyer. "I used to call this home."

Both afraid to make the next move they stood in silence. The moment was interrupted by Matthew laying down the rules for their annual Halloween house hopping. The children slowly approached the tall man standing with their mother in the hall. Kitty turned toward them, looked back at Matt, then back at them. "Children…this is your father." Each child took a moment to process her words. Kitty looked at their blank stares as Matthew took a few steps toward him. Matt smiled as he looked into the eyes of his tall, strong, and handsome son. Matthew stood for a second eyeing his father and then in a flash slammed his right fist into Matt's stomach. As Matt doubled over Matthew's left fist crashed against Matt's jaw. The hit propelled Matt's body into the hallway wall as Matthew stormed upstairs. "Oh Matt!" Kitty steadied her husband as she assessed the damage to his face. "Katie get me a towel for your father."

Matt waved off Kitty's ministrations. "I'm all right Kitty."

"I'll tell you when you're all right." Katie stood watching her parents, "Katie, honey, please get me a towel." After Katie left Kitty tried to coax Matt into the living room. "Now cowboy let's get you seated and let me look at your face."

He took a deep breath, "Kitty, my face is fine."

Kitty finally got her husband moving toward the sofa. Matt sat down and Kitty sat next to him as Matt looked up to see his two sons staring down at him. He smiled at the boys then grabbed at his jaw as the pain shot up his jaw line. Katie brought the towel and Kitty began to dab at Matt's face and check inside his lip. "I think you're going to live," she smiled at Matt as she held his face in her hand.

Matt smiled, "ouch," he held her hand, "that's good news doctor."

They stared into each other's eyes oblivious to anyone around them, "ah hum." Kitty turned toward her daughter, "Mom, is Matthew going with us trick or treating?"

"I think your brother needs to simmer down a little first."

Matt turned to Kitty, "mind if I take them?"

"Matt, that's not necessary…"

"Would you Daddy? Please?"

Matt started to smile but stopped himself before he felt the pain. "I would love to." He lifted his body out off the sofa and headed for the door with his princess and two pirates in tow.

Maggie's arms were full as she fumbled with the keys to the front door. Before she could turn the lock the door opened and the packages began to slip from her arms. Matt caught them before they hit the floor. "This is the second time this has happened to me today."

Maggie was stunned. "Matt? Is it really you?"

He handed the two packages to his sons and hugged his friend. "It's really me Maggie."

"But I thought...I mean…you didn't come back from Dodge."

"Poor judgment Maggie," he looked back at Kitty, "very poor judgment."

She hugged him again, "well then…welcome home."

"Thank you Maggie."

"Ah hum."

Matt turned toward his daughter and shook his head, "oh, if you aren't like your mother." Matt put his hand on Katie's back, "come on." The two boys laid the packages on the table by the stairs and followed their sister. Matt turned back toward Maggie and Kitty and winked, "see ya later."

After the door closed Maggie turned to Kitty. "Doesn't Matthew usually go with them?"

Kitty looked up the stairs, "he was until he decided to send his father into the wall with a couple of punches."

"Oh Miss Kitty, how awful."

Kitty smiled, "Matt took it well. I have a feeling he was very proud of his son."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to have a talk with him right now."

"No, I mean about Dr. John."

Kitty took a deep breath, "I don't know Maggie but right now the only thing I need to do is speak with my son."

Maggie nodded, "Good luck."

Kitty nodded, "I'm going to need it."

Kitty slowly opened the bedroom door. Matthew was reading and looked up when Kitty entered the room. "Save your breath Ma, I don't want to hear it."

She kept moving toward the bed. "And what did you think I was going to say?"

"I'm sure you're not happy that I hit my father," he snickered, "father."

She shook her head, "no, to tell you the truth Matthew I wasn't going to say anything. I thought I'd let you talk, if you want to."

Kitty sat down on the bed and he stared at her for a moment, "he's going to ruin everything for you and Uncle John, Ma. We've gotten along fine without him. We don't need him here."

She placed her hand on his arm, "Matthew, I know you don't want to hear this but he is your father." He started to speak and Kitty held her hand up for him to stop. "I'm not here to defend what your father did; I know he has hurt you very much but I think he should be given an opportunity to tell us why he did what he did. Don't you want to be able to tell him how you feel?"

Matthew's face showed his displeasure, "not particularly, I don't want anything to do with him."

Kitty took a deep breath, "well…I never could move mountains!"

Matthew looked puzzled, "what?"

Kitty smiled, "it's something I said to your father many years ago." She stood, "Matthew, I can't force you to get to know him I just wish, for your own sake, you'd give it a try."

She started to walk out of the room when Matthew called after her, "Ma, are you going to take him back?"

Kitty stared for a moment and shook her head, "I really can't say Matthew…I have a lot to think about."

Kitty walked down the hall and into her bedroom. She walked to the French doors and folded her arms across her chest as she looked out at the slowly setting sun. She wasn't sure what she was feeling at the moment. The only man she had ever truly loved, her passion, her whole life, had come home and here she was wondering what she was going to do. Just a few years ago, her heart would have burst with joy at the sight of him standing at the door but that didn't happen today. She was more stunned and burdened with decisions than excited about the future. She took a deep breath when she heard footsteps on the stairs and the bedroom door closing.

Matt turned the latch on the door and stood staring at Kitty as the evening sun bathed her face in soft yellow hues. She was still the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on and he shook his head wondering how he ever thought spending time away from her would make him happy. He had a good deal of time on the train to think and he was prepared to do anything to make their reunion perfect. As his eyes ran up and down her body he smiled as he thought of how he planned a moment like this.

With eyes focused on the horizon she could feel the person coming closer. She closed her eyes as he placed his hands on her shoulders and she leaned back into his chest. "You seem to be a million miles away."

She took a deep breath, "I was."

He chuckled, "our daughter is really something." He whispered in her ear. "You were right she had me wrapped around her finger in no time." She didn't answer and Matt leaned over to look at her face. "Something wrong Kitty?" She shook her head and when he turned her toward him tears were slowly running down her cheeks. "There is something wrong, what is it?"

She shook her head, "I don't know Matt… I'm just a little confused at the moment."

"About what?"

Kitty walked away, hands raised in resignation, "about you, about our life, about the effect your sudden appearance has on our children…pick one."

"How's Matthew?"

She waved her hand, "oh, he'll be all right." She turned and moved closer to touch his face, "how are you?"

He smiled, "I'm fine." He grabbed his jaw, "I gotta' tell you our son lands quite a punch." He put his hands on her shoulders, "he made me proud Kitty and you've done a fine job with him."

She nodded, "well…I just hope he gives you a chance to get to know him."

He ran his hands up and down her arms. "I think in time he will."

They stared into each other's eyes for a moment then Matt leaned over and kissed her lips. His fingers gently glided down her body as he continued to kiss her tenderly. She broke from his embrace, "Matt…please!"

She moved a few feet away from him. "Kitty, do you want to talk about it?"

She quickly whirled around to face him, "you just can't waltz in here and think that making love to me is going to make everything all right. You humiliated me in Dodge Matt…"

He walked over and put his hands on her shoulders, "honey, let me explain."

She hit his hands to remove them from her shoulders, "I can't tell you how happy I was when I received the telegram saying you were still alive. I traveled day and night to be there with you and sat for weeks praying that you would regain consciousness so I could tell you how much I still loved you. Before we had a chance to return home you decided that some old trapper buddy of yours deserved you risking your life again. Not once did you ever give any consideration to my feelings or ask me before you made the decision to track down this friend of yours who could have been just as guilty as the Army said he was. Now, I will admit, I made the mistake to stay in Dodge but it shouldn't have come to that." She began to pace, "our whole life has been like that Matt. There was not much I could demand from you when I was just your lover and you were the high and mighty Marshal but now that I'm your wife and…well…seeing you every twelve years doesn't cut it in my book."

He walked up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders, "Kitty, you have every right to be angry."

She folded her arms across her chest and replied sarcastically, "thank you for being so understanding."

"Damn it Kitty." He ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm trying my hardest to make this up to you."

She turned back toward him, "you robbed me and your children of twelve years Matt. Twelve years we can never get back because you chose to be accommodating to everyone else but us."

Matt took a deep breath, "I don't know what else I can say. I've made some very poor decisions that deprived me of a life with my family too…you know."

She shook her head, "we didn't run away from you Matt, we were always here. You could have made a life with us if we were that important to you."

He stood in front of her as he held her by the waist, "you have always been important to me Kitty. Sometimes I have a real funny way of showing it, I know, but you are."

She turned away from his embrace and he took a deep breath. He had never seen Kitty like this before and he didn't have a clue how he was going to make her understand. He slowly moved closer and stood behind her waiting to follow her lead. After awhile he realized he was the one who was going to have to break the silence as he reached out to turn her toward him. They stared into each other's eyes, "I need you Kitty." With her eyes filling with tears he leaned down and gently kissed her. She touched his face and he tenderly pulled her to him. As their kisses became more passionate Matt began to slowly undress her as she responded to his touch. Before long they were naked in the slowly darkening room and he swept her up in his arms and laid her gently on the bed. He quickly kneeled over her and he heard her gasp as he thrust forward. As the guilt from his selfish act engulfed him his thrusts became faster and deeper. He needed to erase the hurt he caused for so many years and again love and satisfy her like no other man had ever been able to do. He wanted desperately to recapture the magic they had so many years ago but so far she was not responding. He smiled when he finally felt her hips keeping rhythm with his as she urged him on with a need he had never experienced with her before. The self control he had in the past was lost as the waves of fulfillment pulsated through his body. His voice resounded throughout the room as he screamed out her name in a repetitive chant. He fell hard against the mattress and as he regained his breath he looked at Kitty, smiling, gently caressing his face with her fingers, "welcome home cowboy." He lay there unable to move a muscle as she continued to smile running her fingers through his hair. "You need a haircut Matt." He smiled as he pulled her closer to him and gently kissed her lips. She rested her head on his shoulder holding him tight then snuggled under his chin and stroked his chest. He smiled as he playfully fondled her breast. "You cut that out."

He chuckled, "what?"

"You know what." She looked up at him, "I haven't figured out whether I'm going to forgive you or not and that's not helping me make a rational decision."

He shrugged, "all right, if I can't influence the judge well…" he removed his hand.

She watched him with surprise, "I wouldn't want you defending me in court…you give up entirely too easy."

He smiled, "I don't know that it's giving up too easy. I certainly wouldn't want to upset the judge by not playing by the rules she set in her courtroom."

She shot him her look, "figure you might have done enough of that already?"

He nodded and smiled, "something like that, especially since I might have gotten back in her good graces…somewhat."

She lightly ran her hand down his body, "maybe…but from what I hear the jury is still out."

Matt raised his eyebrows, "oh…so it's a jury trial now?"

She spoke in between kissing his chest, "getting a…little nervous…right about now?"

He shook his head, "no, I think I've presented my case well enough."

She looked up, "hmm…you might have." He closed his eyes as she ran her lips down his body.

He loved her touch, there was no other woman in the world that could excite him the way she did. His thoughts brought him back to the time in the desert when he was a guy named Dan. Even though he was a man with no identity he was sure that there was someone who he loved beyond words. He could have made a life easily enough with the woman in Arizona but there was this gnawing feeling deep inside that tortured his soul. He knew he could never be settled until he found the person that caused this constant tug on his heart. Kitty looked up and saw Matt staring at the ceiling. She slid up next to him and kissed his neck, "penny for your thoughts?"

"Hmm?

"What are you thinking about Matt?"

"Oh, nothing," then he looked into her eyes. Try as he might he could never resist telling those eyes the truth. "I was thinking about the time I didn't know who I was."

"Why is that on your mind now?"

He ran his fingers through her hair, "as strange as this might sound you were always with me Kitty. I didn't know who I was or where I came from but in my heart, in my very soul, you were there. You didn't have a name or a face but I could constantly feel you. When I heard the word Dodge it wasn't the dust covered streets, the hot summers, cold winters, or the badge on my chest that came to mind. It was the light lit in the upstairs window of the Long Branch, climbing up the back staircase, opening the door into your waiting arms that I could see so clearly. It was your vision that made me realize who I was and where I belonged. In your arms, just like I am now, and I promise you I am never going to leave them again until I die."

Tears were streaming down Kitty's face. "Oh Matt."

He wiped away the tears, "It's going to be all right Kitty. I'm never going to leave you again."

She ran her fingers down his chest, "why did you leave me in Dodge?"

He sighed, "Kitty, when I looked up at you in the window and I saw your bruised face I realized that I had failed again. When I well enough to travel we should have gotten on that train and come home but my sense of duty caused me to put you aside again and help someone who I knew so many years ago. I left you in Doc's office to go save someone who meant nothing in my life but I made him more important than you. If I had gotten on that train and brought you home Mannon would have never found you in the Long Branch, would have never beaten you, would have never come close to killing you. My failure, that's what I saw when I looked at you and the guilt was crushing me so much that I couldn't breathe. Foolishly I thought that it would be better if you found someone else. Someone who would always be with you and take care of you and didn't have so much violent history to haunt you. That's what I wanted for you; for you to start over with someone else and forget about me."

She stroked his face, "what changed your mind?"

"I aimlessly rode around for a few weeks then eventually went back to the cabin. Brave Bear was in ill health and the two little ones were taking care of him as best they could. I stayed with them until his death then once we buried him I took the children to the reservation so they could be with their own people. I went back to the cabin figuring that you never wanted to see me again but once I returned this overwhelming feeling of loneliness came over me and I cried. I couldn't stop crying and it was then that I wished you were there to hold me and tell me everything was going to be all right like you always did. All I kept seeing was you in the window of the Dodge House, tears streaming down your face, and the look of love you still had for me. I decided then that I had to come home. I wasn't sure of the welcome I would receive," Matt smiled as he clutched his jaw, "but I needed to see my family again and with any luck they would be waiting."

Kitty became very quiet, "Matt…John asked me to marry him last night."

"Oh?" Matt took a deep breath, "are you going to?"

"I hadn't given him an answer but I was thinking about it."

He sat up resting his back against the headboard, "Kitty, did you and John…"

She stared into his eyes, "are you asking me if John and I made love?" He nodded, "yes, Matt, we have."

A look of astonishment came across his face as he shook his head, "Kitty, how could you do that to… us?"

Kitty was now sitting up in bed furious, "us? Oh, believe me Matt you were never in the equation…and how dare you question me! You left me Matt, you left me alone with four children and do you know who was here when they were sick or scared or needed someone to be a guiding force in their lives? Who walked them to their first day at school, cheered them on at recitals, and took them fishing? Do you know who Matt? It was John; he was here to be their father. You want to know why I made love to him because he loves me Matt. When I came back from Dodge I was devastated. I loved you so and you walked away from me."

"Kitty, I just explained why."

"That didn't help me as I watched you walk away into the night. When I returned home, John was here and you know something Matt I realized then what a wonderful, caring, loving, kind man he really is." She paused a moment, "don't worry Matt, you are still the best lover I have ever had…John didn't best you in that category…your title still remains."

He ran his fingers through his hair, "Kitty, just the thought that he…"

"I guess you'll just have to learn to live with that Matt. It's over and done with now…just like I'll have to live with the fact that you shared a cabin with a young Indian woman for years."

"Kitty, now, I told you nothing happened between Bright Moon and me."

She chuckled, "a young woman living under the same roof for years and you expect me to believe that you never once tried to love her?"

He shook his head, "Kitty, I've told you a million times you are the only woman that I want to make love to." Matt paused a moment. "Well…she did try Kitty but I turned her down."

She shot him her look, "so you say."

He reached out for her arm, "it's the truth Kitty."

She took a deep breath, "you know something Matt I don't care to sit here and be accused of being unfaithful to you. By your actions in Dodge you told me that you no longer loved me and I acted accordingly."

He folded his arms across his chest, "yeah, by sleeping with another man."

"Not just any man Matt, a man who truly loves me!" She tried to untangle herself from the sheets, "I don't know why I'm even defending myself since I've done nothing wrong." Finally freed from the sheets she turned back to Matt, "go back to your Indian squaw and have another family that you won't be interested in!" She slammed the door to her changing room. Matt leaned back against the headboard and ran his fingers through his hair. He certainly hadn't planned for their reunion to turn out like this or to hear that John and she had been intimate. He took a deep breath, flipped the sheets off his body, and reached down to pick up his clothes. He dressed slowly then sat for a moment hoping that she would have calmed down enough that he would be given another opportunity to speak with her. He slowly walked toward the door of the room she was in and contemplated knocking but he thought better of it. As he turned to leave their bedroom he was not sure where he was going to go or what he was going to do. All he knew was that he couldn't let Kitty marry John.

Matt slowly walked down the stairs, carpet bag in hand. As he walked across the foyer to the front door Katie ran to him. "Where are you going Daddy?"

He smiled, "I don't know yet Katie."

"But why can't you stay here?"

He glanced up the stairs, "I think your mother needs some time alone."

She took his hand, "you're not going to leave again...are you Daddy?"

He ran his hand over her hair, "I'm never going to leave you again Katie and that's a promise."

"Where will you go?"

He smiled, "oh, I'll find a room somewhere…don't you worry about your old dad."

"You'll come and see me tomorrow…won't you?"

He put his bag down and hugged her, "you bet I will." He picked his bag off the floor and walked toward the door. She walked into the living room as Maggie followed Matt onto the porch.

Matt was down the end of the pathway when Maggie called after him. "Matt, wait a minute." He stopped and turned, "where are you going?"

"I have to find a room…any suggestions?"

She smiled as she dug into her pocket, "our house is the blue one," she pointed, "fifth one down. You take this key and make yourself at home. You're going to stay with me," she put her hand up, "and I'll not take no for an answer."

"I wouldn't think of it." He smiled, "thanks Maggie."

She nodded, "I'll be home later, see you then." Maggie made her way back to the house while Katie stood at the front window watching her father walk away.

Kitty finished dressing and sat on the bed. She wasn't sure how their conversation escalated into a fight but the fact that he was home was all that mattered. She straightened her dress as she stood and headed downstairs for dinner.

Katie noticed John walking up the pathway and ran to him as soon as he entered the front door. "Uncle John…my Daddy is home."

John looked confused as Kitty came down the front stairs. He looked at her, "Matt is home?"

She nodded, "came home a couple of hours ago."

He looked around, "where is he now?"

She shook her head, "I don't know."

"I do…my father walked toward Aunt Maggie's house." Katie was so excited, "oh, Uncle John he is so tall and he took us trick or treating and I swear all my friends were so jealous."

"Katie, why don't you help your Aunt Maggie with dinner?"

They watched as Katie skipped happily away. John turned to her, "you all right?"

She nodded, "it was quite a shock seeing him standing at the door."

Before they could finish their conversation Katie came back into the room, "Mom, Uncle John, Aunt Maggie says dinner is ready."

After dinner John and Kitty sat on the porch. "It was a pretty quiet dinner tonight."

Kitty nodded, "that it was."

He looked over at her, "you want to tell me what happened?"

She took a deep breath, "well…there was a knock on the door, I opened it, and there stood Matt. The children came into the foyer, I introduced their father, and Matthew gave him two good punches and sent him reeling into the wall. Matt took Katie and the twins trick or treating, I had a conversation with Matthew, Matt and I made love, and then we had a huge fight. He left the house and I guess the last he was seen was heading down the block toward Maggie's home." She sighed, "I guess that should have you about caught up."

He winced when she mentioned that Matt and she had made love, "quite a busy few hours."

She chuckled, "I've never done anything on a small scale."

He laughed. "No, I guess not." They sat in silence while his heart was breaking. "I guess for all concerned I better not come around anymore."

Kitty looked over at him and placed her hand on his arm, "John, I haven't made any decision yet. If I had Matt would be here."

He smiled, "I know Kitty but the children need some time alone with him. It's not going to help matters if I'm around to lean on."

"I'm not sure what I'm going to do with Matthew." She shook her head, "right now he doesn't see his father in the picture at all."

He held her hand, "give him some time."

She nodded, "you know, it's funny. I had planned this day for almost thirteen years and when it finally came it wasn't as good as how I envisioned it." He stared at her, "I don't know what to do John."

He kissed her hand, "follow your heart."

She smiled, "my heart is not thinking too clearly these days."

He nodded, "I'm sorry if I've made your life complicated Kitty."

She shook her head, "you helped me keep my sanity for all those years John. I don't know what I would have done without you."

He smiled, "I've loved every day with you and the children and I will never regret the time we spent together but I'm also a realist. Matt is home, he is the children's father, and the love of your life. Whatever issues you have now are temporary and eventually you'll settle in as a family…as it should be."

She leaned over and touched his face, "oh, John, you are such a kind and sweet man."

He smiled as he took her hand and kissed it, "probably why you were starting to fall in love with me."

She nodded, "I did John."

He stood, "well…I have a long day tomorrow so I think I'll head home and get a good night's sleep."

She stood and took his arm, "John, you're right about the children having a relationship with their father but I'm still questioning whether I'm willing to take a chance on loving Matt again. I guess what I'm saying is…well…there is no guarantee that Matt and I will be together."

He ran his fingers down her face, "you have already made me the happiest man in the world and the time we shared together I will always cherish." He sighed, "Kitty, I will never love anyone else so when or if you decide I'm the one…well…you have the ring. The rest is up to you." He kissed her on the cheek and walked down the path. He closed the gate and looked back at her illuminated in the soft glow of the light from the house. He waved and she smiled as she returned his gesture. She watched him walk from view and then she returned into the house.