Waking up in the state Capitol with Matt beside her the next morning was a thrill that Kitty couldn't believe was real until she rolled over to face the brightly shining sun outside their third floor window. His badge had left her disappointed so many times, the sight literally made her stop breathing for a moment.

"My meeting isn't until this afternoon so we can do anything we want this morning." Matt was instantly awake, ever attune to the sounds around him. He heard a sob.

"Hey, you're not crying again are you?" He quickly rose to his hands and knees, rolling her over to look at her face, "What is it, Kitty?"

"Oh, you…" She used his big broad shoulders to pull herself up and kiss him with a huge smile on her face, "Do you have any idea how much I love you?"

He responded by wrapping his arms around her, passionately returning the kiss as he let her weight topple him over on top of her. They both came up for air in a fit of giggles.

"Say, are you hungry?" he asked suddenly, "Let's go get breakfast. Dang, we slept late after that stage ride! Look how high the sun is."

"Late? Honey, this is early!" she cocked an amused eyebrow at him, "Did you forget I work nights?"

"Well, I guess I'm just anxious to see that dress on you. The one you were gonna wear to the Sociable. You brought it, right?"

"I waa gonna save that for tonight." she countered, "That's not a walkin' around town dress, Matt."

"Well, maybe not around Dodge." he argued, "but we're in Topeka, Kit. And we're here together. Isn't that a special occasion? I wanna see it on you now!"

"Oh, alright." she took a playful swat, her face flushed with laughter, "You win. Just give me a few minutes." She scrambled out of bed, picking up her bag as she scooted into the other room.

It was a little more than a few minutes before she returned but Matt didn't mind. He understood that it takes a woman longer to get ready and he knew the result would be well worth waiting for.

"So, what do you think?"

His back was turned when she came out, having taken the time to get himself dressed and shaved. When he spun around, the sight nearly floored him, "By golly, Kitty, you're beautiful." He crossed the room in two big steps and swept her off her feet, spinning her around in his arms, "I just...well, I'm just real glad we're together because I sure wouldn't want to miss this."

"Well, you sure know how to make a woman feel special, Marshal." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again, "Now, you were saying, you're hungry?"

"Well, yeah..." He hesitated as his eyes traveled over her. Then he remembered something. "Actually, I've got big plans too."

Kitty's curiosity grew as he grabbed a picnic basket from his luggage. Then, after ordering their breakfast at a diner near their hotel, he hurried them on to Topeka's huge stable to rent a buggy.

"So, where are we going?" She finally spoke as he clapped the horse's back with the reins.

He grinned in response. "You'll find out soon enough. I've been in Topeka a few times over my career and I know just the spot I want to take ya."

All she could do was settle back as he drove alongside the Kansas River but she was floored when he finally stopped.

"I had no idea this was here!" she gasped, wide-eyed at the little flower garden park set within the hustle and bustle of the state Capitol, "It's beautiful, Matt. This is wonderful."

"What's wonderful is seeing you happy." he beamed, as they settled on the big blanket he'd managed to hide in the picnic basket, "I don't ever want my job to come between us and I know it does."

"Matt, I know a United States Marshal doesn't keep regular hours, Matt." she spoke softly, "I'm sorry I lost my head the other day. I didn't mean to make you feel caught between a rock and a hard place...but I have to say, you outdid yourself to help me feel better." Looking up, they held each other's gaze for a long minute then he lifted a forkful of bacon and eggs to her lips.

"Open up, sweetheart."

"You're too much, Matt…" She burst out laughing, taking a few minutes before doing what he asked.

"How is it?" He caught a tiny bit of egg that was stuck on her lip and stuffed it into her mouth while she chewed.

She quickly pulled back and grabbed a napkin when she cracked up again. Then the next moment she was choking.

"I'm sorry, Kit." He smirked as she gagged her windpipe clear and continued giggling. Pretty soon, he was laughing too, "I really didn't mean—"

"Oh, Matt," she finally caught her breath, "Ooooo, you're just too much." She shook her head, eyes sparkling, "I-I love you so much."

"What do you wanna do today, Kit?" he asked suddenly, his voice earnest, "I picked breakfast. Now you tell me what you want to do. And don't say dancing because I'm taking you this evening."

Her eyes widened, "Really?"

"Of course." he grinned, "You wanted to go to that Sociable so badly, I gotta take you dancing while we're here to make up for it."

"Ooo, Matt!" her eyes shone, "I don't care about that darn Sociable. I just wanna be with you!"

"Well, I just wanna be with you too, sweetheart, but I hope you're still up for dancing." A grin broadened across his face, "Even if I probably can't dunk any torches in a water trough here in the Capitol." He leaned in to whisper in her ear, "I telegraphed the Sheriff at the relay station the first night. He's an old friend. He invited us to join him and his wife for dinner then I'm gonna show you off around the Capitol. What say?"

Her eyes widened, "I-I don't know what to say, Matt." She reached up to touch his forehead, as if he was sick, "Y-you're not usually so spontaneous."

"I'm tryin', sweetheart." he caressed her cheek, "I'm trying awful hard. I do love you so much and I hate it when the spontaneity of my job ruins my spontaneity with you." He took a sip of coffee, "So what are we doing today?"

"Well, um," her mind was still spinning, "I, well—why don't we just go for a private buggy tour of the city? I wanna hold your hand while we see the sights."

The wide grin she loved so much appeared instantly, "Sweetheart, that sounds golden."

After dropping their dirty dishes off at the diner, they resettled into their seats and relaxedly made their way towards the river so they could drive over the massive Leavenworth Bridge.

"It's a gorgeous day." Kitty sighed, leaning into him as the horse pranced over the rapids. She straightened up to stare as the current, "How do they build something so huge, Matt?"

""What's gorgeous is you." the Marshal pulled her back into him.

"Wow, that's some pickup line..." She grinned.

"You think so?" he grinned back, "It musta worked 'cause I got me some lady."

"And I got me some man." She kissed his cheek.

"I'm sure gonna miss you while I'm at my meeting."

"Me too."

"I'm sorry I don't say it very often," Kit," his voice softened after a few minutes of silence, "but I'm really thankful you've let me be a part of your life. Being with me can't be the easiest thing in the world and you'd have your choice of men if you ever wanted to take a look."

He bit his lip for a minute, "Sitting under that tree with you the other day, when you said you didn't want to be with me...that was a real wake up call. I don't ever want to lose you...but I'd understand if you don't wanna do this anymore. My job...the life I lead...the badge. If you want…"

"Matt Dillon!" she looked thunderstruck, "If I didn't wanna be with you, I surely wouldn't come all the way to Topeka just to say so." She pulled his face close and gave him a quick kiss, "You're the best, Matt. The absolute best. And I don't want to lose you either—ever."

Pulling back slightly, she held his eyes, "I understand, Matt. I truly do. I know you have a job to do. Heck, that's part of why I love you. You're the kindest, bravest, smartest, strongest, sweetest, most loyal man I've ever known and you wouldn't be you if you did your job any other way." She kissed him again, longer this time, "And no matter how much I want you with me sometimes—or even all the time—it's wrong for me to get upset at you because if you did that you wouldn't be the same man I love with all my heart."

There was a long pause before he answered her. He pulled over to the side of the bridge so they didn't block traffic while they stared into each other's eyes.

Finally he found his voice. "Kitty, let's go back to our room. It's awful hot out here and I sure don't think you should get that beautiful dress all sweaty." He smiled again, "We can even have our lunch brought up to our room before my meeting."

Author's Notes: LovingmesomeMK: Thanks for the reviews!