(Okay, here it is. The final chapter of Stay Strong. I can't believe it's over now. It's like letting go of something really dear to me. Oh man... but it's the right thing to do considering the small amount of time I will have to write in the next months. So, I want to thank you sooo sooo much for sticking around, reading this story and sharing so many many kind and wonderful reviews! I really couldn't wish for a more great audience! Hope to meet you again some time, hopefully for another story! Take care, everybody :D )

Chapter 32

The night brought closure and beginning at the same time. As if the page of a book had been turned and revealed a new chapter. A new chapter of life.
Not only did the weather change from a horrendous snow storm to a clear morning that already showed the first shade of sunshine in the sky but so did Lisa's life.
She was now standing at the edge to the little patio outside that overlooked the frozen lake on which the ice shimmered in the most beautiful way.
It was early and cold and the snow covered the landscape in a thick white blanket. Everything seemed to shine and glimmer in its own beauty and even though the storm had been terrifying it couldn't have created a more mesmerizing scenery than the one she was looking at right now.

When she woke up about half an hour ago the darkness was disorientating. Lisa needed a bit to figure out where she was and what happened. The smell of cold smoke hung in the air and she could feel the cool temperature on her skin that was not covered by the many blankets she was wrapped in and kept her body warm. Lisa could also feel that she wasn't alone. The warm body next to her and the soft fabric of clothes underneath her palm revived the memory of the night and rose various emotions within her. The conversation she held with her husband run through her head like an audio tape and caused her to quietly get up, careful not to wake him. Lisa needed some fresh air to cool off her mind and to settle down the many heavy thoughts.

The frigid temperatures and brightness outside were just right to let the constricting feeling fade away and Lisa felt renewed by the air that was floating through her lungs and brushing against her face.
Her legs had carried her strongly and safely through the deep snow over to the patio. Something drew her towards it. Some inner inspiration.

Now that Lisa was standing there more thoughts came to her mind. This place held many beautiful memories and one by one she started to remember them. Lisa stayed calm and patiently let the pictures come back to life. She wasn't excited about it, no. She was used for her memories to come back to her every now and then. She just had to find the right place that would trigger the right buttons in her head to bring back her previous life. The dude ranch and patio were such places and so Lisa relaxed and enjoyed the little private show in her head.

One memory stood out particularly. The night of their wedding. She remembered it clearly and could even recall the tingling feeling of the cold winters night on her skin. It was different to the cold Lisa was feeling right now while standing in the morning scenery that was just sending the first faint rays of the sun across the sky and changed the bluish glimmer on the lake to a violet tone.
On the night of her wedding it was cold but at the same time Lisa felt warm by the excitement and happiness to marry the man she loved. She felt so happy and lucky and eager to face the future with him. Today however, the coldness was not mingled with excitement and warmth. It rather met uncertainty. Uncertainty about what might come to them in this next chapter. The accident had affected her confidence and trust in life badly. It was hard to stay positive and to believe in the future.

Once those heavy thoughts were back in her head and suppressed the good memories, Lisa reflected on last night's conversation once more.
It hadn't been easy to tell Jack all the things she had been carrying around for so long and even tough everything was out into the open now, Lisa still didn't feel lighter but kept carrying the burdens on her shoulders. The problems were still there. Fairfield's fate was still on her, the temporary inability to walk would get the better of her when she least expected it and the problem with Val Stanton was still bothering her.
The only good outcome of the conversation was that they shared things with each other. Now it were two people that had to deal with all those things but they hadn't come up with a plan to solve them.
There needed to be plans.
The night had been too short for this and the exhaustion too big.
Maybe she could deal with some of them alone.
Jack wouldn't like that.

A flock of geese flew across the sky towards the rising sun that was now peeking through the tree's branches. Lisa knew that those birds migrated for the winter, looking for some warmer place to live and coming back home when the cold season was over. Yesterday's late and unexpected snow storm must have surprised them and Lisa couldn't help but to see the similarity to her own life. Now that the storm was over it was time to return home, to a warmer and safer place. A place of comfort and family. Perhaps this way the other problems would be solved easily.

Suddenly the feeling of soft fabric brushing against the skin of her jawline, hands rubbing over her arms and the aspiration of breath beside her ear, startled her a bit.
"Good morning.", a low voice appeared next to her before she felt his lips on her cheek and caused her eyes to shut to take in the moment of their closeness. There it was, her home, appearing just at the right moment.
"Hi.", she responded softly with a smile. Their cheeks melted together and his familiar stubble tickled on her skin.
Jack had wrapped her into one of those blankets they had been sleeping in tonight and put his arms around her to pull her in closer.
She was glad he was here now and stood with her on this memorable spot.

They were taking a long moment to just stand like this, embraced in each others arms and looking across the beautiful winter scenery. There was no need of any words yet. The silence and their closeness spoke more than that and Lisa found the chance to come to terms with yesterday's conversation. This time in a more positive way.

She wasn't alone in all this mess. In this new chapter of life there was enough blank space to write a story that would include the both of them again. They needed to walk into the future together. No more loneliness. No more pushing away.

Jack cleared his throat quietly and his thumb stroke over the back of her hand that he hold onto dearly.
"So,", he started to speak and she listened up, "what's our future plan?"
It was funny how they both knew each others thoughts without speaking and Lisa loved this man even more for his ability and sensitivity to get into her mind so effortlessly.
She turned within his embrace and looked up at him for a meaningful moment. Those grey eyes, framed by an age drawn skin watched her carefully. She could see the uncertainty, worry but at the same time encouragement and confidence reflected in them and knew that she could tell him.
"I'm going to sell Fairfield.", Lisa said and her voice didn't leave any doubts about her final decision. They looked at each other closely. Her eyes spoke the rest of the words he would need for an explanation and softened the lines on his face eventually.
"Okay.", he nodded.
"You're okay with that?"
"If this is what you need to do, I will support you all the way.", he assured and emphasized this promise by squeezing the spot on her back where his hands were resting.
"Good.", she smiled gratefully and exhaled the tension that had bottled up nevertheless. The relief of letting go the first burden was coming in immediately. She would be letting Fairfield go. Her business. The business of her family. She was the one that would end this family tradition and couldn't help but to feel also guilty about it. Still, Lisa knew her father would have understood. He would have understood her decision after everything she had been going through this past year. He wasn't one of those people that expected you to put career over health, work over family, money over life. This was what differed him from all the other business men out there. This was why people had loved him, what made Fairfield Stables so successful. Lisa was raised and had grown up this way. Work was important but not as important than to sacrifice your life for it. Maybe this was the reason she had been drawn to Heartland in the first place. Because the family handled things just like that, on a whole different level, but basically they shared the same principles and beliefs. In Jack she had found a partner of the same mentality. Despite the difficulties in the beginning, Lisa knew this now, after all those years they had spent together.

Obviously sensing that she was lost in thoughts, Jack gently squeezed her again to focus back on them.
"And what about us?", Jack asked carefully and almost reluctantly let her go when Lisa left his embrace. She looked across the lake again before walking around the fireplace to the exact same spot they wedded four years ago. He watched her from the other side of the fireplace and she could feel his uncertainty about her intentions.
"Remember the night we stood here, saying 'I do'?", Lisa spoke, picturing them and all the lights that had surrounded them that night.
"Yes. I'm glad you remember."
"It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life, I will never forget."
He waited for her to go on but instead Lisa took her time to just stand there. With closed eyes the memory replayed like a little nostalgic movie in front of her. She smiled by the beautiful pictures that were running through her mind.
After a moment his footsteps on the snow came closer and stopped next to her before Jack took her by the shoulder and gently turned her towards him.
She opened her eyes and looked straight up into his.
"I need you. I really do.", she finally admitted.
"I need you, too. And I am sorry. For everything."
Lisa felt put back in time when Jack leaned down towards her and kissed her like he did on that night four years ago. Her nose nestled against his cheek when he pressed his lips firmer against hers.
An exciting feeling spread through the lower part of her stomach and she grabbed the edge of his winter coat to not only hold on to him but also on to that moment.
The first lines of this new chapter were written right here and Lisa knew that it was going to be a good one this time. The excitement and eagerness to master the future with the man she loved was back and there was no doubt that she would marry him over and over again.

They parted slowly to let the moment of intimate togetherness last a little longer and when Lisa opened her eyes to look at him, the sun was just rising above the treetops and bathed them into a golden light. Everything looked so renewed, as if winter was finally over and spring was greeting nature with new life, with new opportunities and new inspiration.
Lisa just felt like that. At that very moment she discovered herself again. Her strength, her confidence, her positivity and love of life. She wanted to size the chance and work towards a normal life again. It wouldn't be the same as before the accident happened. This life lay in the past and with all the changes that had tripped them up, it was time to stand up again and walk on. She was ready and hoped he was, too.

Lisa slipped her hands around his waist and snuggled her body a bit closer against his.
"So, I was hoping if you agreed on a little idea I have in mind.", she started and he rose an eyebrow. "Let's hear."
"I need to get out of here for a bit, find some space to breath and get a new perspective on ...well...things. I was wondering if ... maybe you would come with me?"
The thought of leaving for some time had been with her for quite a bit now. Whereas, Lisa had wanted to do it alone first, she wished now more than ever that he would join her. She didn't want to do it alone, she couldn't. So, the look in her eyes was pleading and hoping for an answer she would like. The lines on Jack's face were drawn into a smile now after he had come to a quick decision about it.
"I would very much like that."
"You do?", she reassured.
"Yes. I think we both deserve something like that.", Jack nodded in agreement. Another soothing wave of relief washed over her.
"Any plans where you want to go to?", he asked and the sound of fear that she had already chosen a far off country resonated in his voice.
"I think that's something we should decide on together.", she said with a slight wink in her eyes. She knew how much he disliked to travel.
He laughed, totally understanding the deeper meaning in her words.
"Have I already told you how much I love you?"
"Mhh, I can't remember.", she teased and her hand pressed against the lower of his back to animate him to lean down again while she tilted her chin up, asking him for another kiss.
"No?"
"No.", she breathed with a smile before their lips met a second time. They kept looking at each other for that short moment that brief kiss lasted before he pulled back again.
His expression changed into seriousness.
"But first thing you're gonna do is seeing your doctor.", he demanded.
"And you will talk to Val, right?"
"Deal."
"Deal."
It was more of a promise than it was a deal and the couple knew that they had to keep this promise and fulfill it to make the next steps, to write the next lines in that chapter.

They stayed at the lake for a little longer to watch the start of the new day together. With the rise of the sun, everything seemed to wake up now. There were multiple birds flying across and around the lake, squirrels were running up and down the trees and on the other side of the lake, among the trunks of two evergreens a red deer hind appeared and cautiously walked through the snow. Its nose was sunken into the white fluffy ground, apparently looking for something to eat that was hidden under that blanket of snow.
All this time Lisa had spent on Heartland, she had never noticed the wildlife up here. The beauty, the quietness and the space to breath. Those were the moments she needed to find new perspectives, to find a life again she wanted to live.
With a sigh and a little smile on her lips, the side of her head fell against his shoulder. They were heading into the right direction, she knew it and snuggled a bit closer into his side.

The End

(extra note: turns out the inability of Lisa's walking was a result of the stress and the amount of time she was standing on her feet and walking around. She was just not ready then to be up and about that much. So with selling Fairfield, which she really does in this story, the stress is gone. So at the end she will fully recover)