A/N – This chapter became necessary after I wrote the last one. Once Sully invited Andrew to lunch, I realized I'd face the wrath of readers if I skipped over it. Besides, we know Andrew ate at the homestead a couple of times, so this fits right in with the modern twist theme.

Chapter 8

The Sully home was nestled among firs, spruces, and maples off a winding lane in the outskirts of Colorado Springs. Though Andrew was certain modern materials had been used to build it, it had a rustic feel. Two stories, two dormer-style windows on the upper floor, a porch out front, and three car garage on one side. The style looked appropriate for Sully, who gave off the vibe of a mountain man, but Andrew never would have guessed that this was Colleen's home.

"I inherited the property when my first wife died," Sully explained as they got out of Andrew's car and walked up to the porch. "There used to be a small cabin, we would come up here on weekends to snowshoe and just get away from things for a while. When Michaela and me got engaged, I decided to tear down the cabin and build a new house here for our new family."

"You built this yourself?"

"I designed it, and did some of the construction, but hired experts for most of the work. Wouldn't do to have the house falling apart on my wife. The fancy window was Michaela's idea," he noted as they entered the home. Sully set down his backpack and walking stick. "Michaela," he called out, heading straight for the kitchen with Andrew in tow.

"Sully, you have perfect timing, lunch is about ready," she replied, accepting his kiss on the cheek. "Andrew, it's nice to see you again. Are you joining us for lunch?"

Before Andrew could respond he was accosted by an Alaskan Malamute eagerly sniffing the newcomer. "Whoa, uh… if it's no bother."

"Not at all. Just let me make another sandwich."

"Hey, Dr. Cook. That's Mika," explained Brian, entering the kitchen. "He does tricks. Wanna see?"

"Uh, sure."

"Mika," Brian said to get the dog's attention. "Mika, sit." Mika followed the instruction. "Mika, growl." The dog began snarling, and Andrew blanched, forgetting it was a trick. "Mika, sit. Good boy," Brian praised, and Mika ceased his growling and eagerly accepted Brian's affectionate petting. "See, it's just pretend."

"Maybe you should have started with something simpler, Brian, like shake or play dead," said Sully, giving Andrew a reassuring clap on the shoulder.

"Yeah, but any dog can do those. Growling's more impressive."*

"Dr. Cook." The familiar voice from the foot of the staircase was clearly surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I, uh…" Andrew was unable to form a coherent reply, lost in the sight in front of him. Rather than her usual work uniform of lavender scrubs and signature ponytail, Colleen was dressed in tan shorts that hit mid-thigh and an unbuttoned blue plaid shirt over a white tank, hair framing her face, baby Katie in her arms. The look was completely casual and decidedly domestic, but she might as well have been Cinderella arriving at the ball for Andrew's reaction. As if the free-flowing hair and bare legs weren't enough to stupefy him, a mental picture suddenly came into focus of he and Colleen with their own home, their own dog, their own baby…

"I invited him," Sully said when Andrew failed to respond. "Andrew, the bathroom's down the hall and to the right. And I'll be right back," he added, giving a quick kiss to Katie's brow before heading upstairs to clean up after the hike.

"Oh, uh, thanks," Andrew said, snapping out of it and moving down the hall. Get a grip, he thought. Just because Sully had planted the idea in his head that he and Colleen might have a future together did not mean that he and Colleen were on the same page. He was many chapters ahead, and he needed to give Colleen time to catch up – if she was even interested in reading the book at all.

Once Andrew was back in the main part of the house, he saw that a sandwich tray, a bowl of potato salad and another bowl of chips were out on the kitchen island, with Michaela and Colleen arranging plates, glasses, utensils, and napkins. Not knowing what else to do, Andrew went to peek at the baby in the bassinet. "How's Katie doing?" he politely inquired.

"Gained another four and a half ounces this week," Michaela said proudly. "And I should warn you that she reserves the right to interrupt our meal at any time."

"She's awful loud when she cries," Brian added, pouring himself a glass of lemonade. "You can hear her from almost anywhere in the house."

"A healthy set of lungs then," Andrew responded good-naturedly. "And a solid Palmar grasp on you, too," he cooed to Katie, her tiny hand wrapped around his index finger.

"Andrew, you're the guest, so please help yourself first," Michaela encouraged, gesturing to the lunch spread. "I can offer you iced tea, lemonade, juice, or water to drink."

"I really should rehydrate after that hike, so water will be fine, thank you."

The next twenty or so minutes were spent eating and talking about the hike Andrew and Sully had taken with Cloud Dancing. Andrew learned that the man and his wife Snowbird owned a property with horses and gave riding lessons, tours on horseback, and talks about the old customs upon request. The conversation naturally progressed to the story of how the two men met (Cloud Dancing had come upon a despondent Sully in the wilderness, feeling like he had nothing left to live for after the deaths of his wife and child, and had brought the heartbroken man back to live and work with him even though Sully had known nothing about horses), then Michaela changed the subject by asking about other sightseeing Andrew had done thus far.

"You really should see Garden of the Gods," Colleen enthused. "It's so beautiful."

You're beautiful, Andrew couldn't help thinking. He didn't know if Colleen was seeing him as the guy under the white coat yet, but at least she was being introduced to him, which he supposed was a start. "Well, I had thought about seeing that next weekend, but Sully made me an offer I couldn't refuse." He paused dramatically before adding, "I'm going to be spending the day with you… all of you," he quickly amended, glancing around the table.

"You're going to the fair with us?" Colleen surmised.

"It'll be something new for me. I've never been to a fair."

"Never?" Brian asked incredulously.

"This will be my first," Andrew confirmed.

"This means you'll get to meet Matthew and Ingrid, Andrew," said Michaela. "Other than birthdays and holidays it's the only time we're all together as a family."

"Maybe I should invite Patrick to go with us," Colleen said, instantly bursting Andrew's bubble. "He said he wanted to get to know the family better, and he hasn't met Matthew and Ingrid yet."

"Sure," said Sully after a pause, giving the young doctor a sympathetic look.

"He drives a Porche," Brian informed Andrew, who really didn't need to hear that kind of information. "Colleen likes him 'cause he's rich."

"Brian!" The color began to rise in Colleen's cheeks.

"Brian," Michaela admonished, "it's not polite to talk about people's money, especially behind their back."

The teenager shrugged and stood to bring his dirty dishes to the sink. "If he didn't want people talking about his money, he shouldn't be driving such a fancy car. I gotta get going, I gotta get to work."

"I should go, too," said Andrew, who only moments ago was in no hurry to leave. How was he supposed to compete with a Porche when he drove a rental car? And hadn't Colleen said her grandma's luxury lifestyle was one of the reasons she'd wanted to stay in Boston?

"You don't need to rush off, Andrew," said Michaela.

"No, really, I should be going. I have, uh, things to do. Thank you for your hospitality, Michaela, Sully. It was nice seeing you again. I'll, uh, I'll see you Monday, Colleen."

"Bye, Dr. Cook." Colleen's face was still flushed from her embarrassment.

Sully followed Andrew to the front door and stepped out with him onto the porch. "Sorry about that."

"It's not your fault. I know you mean well, Sully, but maybe this isn't meant to be."

"You're giving up already?"

Andrew scoffed, "I won't have that kind of money for another two years, when my student loan's been paid off**. If that's what she wants…"

"You think so little of Colleen that you think she only cares about money?"

That stopped him. "I… I guess not," he admitted, chastised.

"Just come and enjoy a day at the fair with us. You got nothing to lose. If she still picks Patrick, then at least you can say you've tried."

Andrew again wondered why Sully was pushing so hard on this. Did he know something about this Patrick guy he wasn't letting on? Sully would only want what was best for Colleen, and maybe he felt Patrick wasn't it? Andrew slowly let out a breath. "All right. I'll be there."

:

That evening, as Michaela was nursing Katie, she and Sully assessed the situation.

"That was thoughtful of you to invite Andrew to the fair with us," Michaela said from the rocking chair as her husband relaxed in bed. "It must be lonely living the life he does with no family or close friends to share things with."

"He's an owner of a lonely heart, all right. He's hung up on Colleen."

"He is?"

"Even if he hadn't told me on the drive back, I would have guessed it from how he reacted when she came downstairs."

"Of course… that's why he left abruptly when Patrick's name came up. He was jealous… Though if he has feelings for her, why hasn't he asked her out?"

"Remember when Brian was about ten, and that new girl, Sara, came to school? And he thought he wasn't good enough for her because she was a year older? Men come up with all sorts of excuses 'cause they're afraid of getting hurt."

"Fear of rejection? I suppose that would make things awkward at the office, but why would he assume Colleen would've turned him down? From the way she's talked about him I'm sure she would have been happy to accept."

"We know that, but Andrew don't. You should a heard him in the car, Michaela. He'd completely talked himself out of a relationship with her before one could even begin."

"Hmm…" Michaela was quiet a moment, pondering, checking little Katie. "And perhaps with him it's more than your typical fear of being rejected. Why, we practically rubbed it in his face that he's only here temporarily. Why bother forming an attachment when you know in advance that you'll suffer the pain of separation?"

"Maybe. But whatever the reason, I invited Andrew to come with us because I didn't want him to give up on finding happiness without even trying. That's no way to live."

"No, it's not." Michaela joined her husband in bed after placing Katie in her crib. "Though unfortunately for him it might be too late with Colleen. He who hesitates…"

"If it's too late with Colleen, then hopefully he'll have learned not to be as gun shy the next time he meets a girl he likes. He needs to know it's okay to take a chance."

"Like we did?"

"Like we did," he agreed softly as they nestled under the covers.

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*for those of you who don't know, Mika was one of the dogs that played Wolf. Anytime Wolf snarls on screen, that's Mika.

**for this story, my head cannon is that Andrew was able to pay off most of his student debt when his father passed but not all of it. A Harvard education ain't cheap!

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