Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. The rights to those characters and to the show belong to the creators of the show, to CBS, The Sullivan Company and to A&E.
Morning Dreams
This story takes place the morning after Sully and Michaela's first night as man and wife.
A bright May sun rose over the mountains burning off the fine mist that lay hovering above the ground. It was early enough that the spring air was still chilled from the night. A doe moved in a nearby thicket licking her fawn's face with a mother's care. Birds began to twitter in their nests as the sun climbed higher and higher in the Colorado sky. A low rumbling could be heard in the distance growing closer with every moment that passed. Quickly the doe moved to stand protectively over her fawn frightened by the sound. She could feel the subtle shaking of the ground and she looked up to watch as a train moved slowly down the tracks. As it passed, the noise faded away and the doe relaxed as the peaceful quiet of the early morning returned.
The train rumbled down the line drawing ever closer to Denver with each length of track. The fireman shoveled more coal onto the fire which in turn boiled the water. The steam pushed against the pistons turning the wheels as black smoke billowed from the front of the engine. As the countryside rushed by, the passenger car swayed gently back and forth along the track almost as if it was marking time. The shades of the passenger car windows were drawn against the early morning sun. Inside the car, the air was chilled not unlike the air outside. The semi darkness, the nip in the air and the gentle rocking motion of the car created the perfect environment for the inhabitants to continue their peaceful repose.
Her mind hovered somewhere near consciousness as flashes of memory raced through her brain at dizzying speeds. There were hands moving, caressing, touching. Two pairs of hands feeling their way along unknown territories, exploring for the first time a new world of delight. There were eyes roaming back and forth along secret places, drinking in the beauty of the other. Eyes of such blue that she felt as if she was looking into the sky on a clear day and seeing a glimpse of heaven. They were warm and inviting drawing her in to his very soul. There were lips kissing, consuming devouring old familiar places and unfamiliar new ones as well. Each time those lips touched her skin, they elicited a pleasure she had never known before.
Slowly she began to rouse from her peaceful slumber, though she fought against this waking, choosing instead to revel in the waves of love that washed over her body. There was a light sensation of something lying against her stomach. Softness and warmth radiated from the object and though it felt foreign against her bare skin she desired its presence. Somehow her mind deduced that the love washing over her emanated from this object. Taking a deep breath, she felt the article rise and fall along with her stomach muscles. What was it laying against her? No mere thing would radiate the warmth or the love that seemed to flow through it reaching down to her innermost being. Somewhere in the vestige of her memory, she remembered dreaming of someone's arm wrapped around her, holding her. The arm had been muscled and tanned by the sun. On second thought, had that been a dream?
The notion of opening her eyes to verify reality eluded her at the moment as her mind continued to lazily drift in and out of slumber. Perhaps it was her own arm lying against her stomach and moving with each breath she took. Lightly she wiggled the fingers of her right hand feeling only the stiffness of a freshly laundered cotton sheet. Taking a deep breath, she wiggled the fingers of her left hand encountering warm flesh that was not her own. Her breath caught in her throat yet still she did not open her eyes.
A terrific excitement rose up in her chest at the thought that someone was lying next to her. If someone was laying next to her then it was their hand lying on her stomach. Her mind began to stir at that moment as she moved ever closer to consciousness. She became aware of the rumble of the train on the tracks and the gentle rocking motion that wished to lull her back to sleep. Never had she woken feeling so at peace with everything around her. At that moment it occurred to her that if she opened her eyes, she would remember everything but still something held her back. There was a nervousness that invaded her and she kept her eyes shut tight.
Her mind wondered though what she might find if she did open her eyes. The hand on her stomach touched bare flesh so she must be undressed. Strangely she could not remember having slept like this since she was a small child and then it had only been allowed in order to escape the oppressive summer heat. In fact the more she thought about it, there lingered a faint impression that sleeping in the nude was somehow wrong. Wrong. Was it wrong? Did she feel guilty? Was she ashamed? Wrong- no it didn't feel wrong and she didn't feel guilty or ashamed. Those emotions seemed far away from anything she was feeling at this moment in time.
Logically she knew everything could be confirmed if she only opened her eyes. Always one to want to see the proof, she almost giggled at her own unscientific approach to her situation. If she opened her eyes she would know whether everything running through her mind was in fact only a dream. Yet she didn't dare open them even a small bit for fear that the truth would devastate her. What if she really had dreamed it all? What if her mind was only playing tricks on her? What if when she opened her eyes, she was looking at the wall of the old homestead? The realization that it had all been a dream might be too much for her to bear after so many lonely nights.
Yet if it had all been a dream than it was a dream more wonderful than anything she had ever dreamt before. In the air there lingered a sweetness that she could almost taste. Her soul was wrapped protectively in a tenderness that clung to her. Her heart beat out a rhythm that dripped with love. Her body tingled with a thrill that she had never felt before. Had it all been a dream? A desire fulfilled by the mind while she was asleep. What are dreams but hazy intangible things that seem to slip away when you try your best to remember them. This feeling, this moment wasn't intangible in the least. It clung to her in the form of a newly awoken passion. The more she tried to remember, the more her mind recalled. The way his lips had felt on her throat and shoulder traveling always lower. The way his hands had been gentle as they caressed her flesh. The feeling of his body pressed against hers. The moment when two had become one.
Inhaling until her lungs could hold no more air, she slowly let out the breath. One eyelid opened slightly to take a small peek but she was disappointed that she could not see anything. Quickly she closed her eyes tightly screwing her face up like a small child would as anticipation rushed through her body. Her body tensed as she prepared herself to open her eyes fully. Then in one moment they were open. It was not the wall of the old homestead before her but the shaded windows of a passenger car. A brass lamp swayed slightly back and forth on the wall with the train's movement.
She was lying on her side with someone snuggled close behind her and her heart leapt at the thought of him. Again the idea that she was in a dream surrounded her. Slowly she lifted the edge of the blanket and looked underneath. The hand on her stomach did in fact belong to the one who held her heart. His tanned skin stood out against the creamy ivory of her own. It really wasn't a dream. Every thought, every moment, every gasp, every surprise had been real. Quickly her eyes scanned the car as her thoughts skipped from place to place.
Yes- there was the door that they had entered through. A wide smile spread across her face as she remembered the way he had picked her up and carried her to the bed after the door had closed behind them. Her eyes moved again settling on the window shades. Yes – there were the shades they had drawn to turn their afternoon into instant night. Still her eyes searched for other symbols of their first night together. Her eyes noticed the intricate Cheyenne wedding shirt lying on the end of the bed. Yes – this was the shirt Sully had worn to pledge himself to her forever. A light blush crept across her cheeks as she remembered how she had helped lift it over his head. There had been other times when he had stood before her shirtless but last night had been different; the kind of different that she had longed for her whole life without even knowing it. Still roaming back and forth through the carriage, her eyes spotted her wedding dress laid over one of the wingback chairs. Yes – there was her dress which had been abandoned in the heat of passion.
Her mind remained fixed on that thought - her wedding dress. After so long was it really possible that she was married? There had been moments as a young doctor when she thought it would never happen and then David had come along. He had respected her as a doctor but there had always been something missing. Never had she known what that something was until right now. Upon learning of his death, she had naturally assumed she would never marry. Strange how fate had stepped in colliding two worlds so that the most unlikely people ended up together. Sully was so different from her yet he understood her as no one else had before including David. For a moment, she wondered if her wedding night with David would have been anything like this but she found that she couldn't even imagine herself with him. They didn't belong together – she belonged here with Sully.
Closing her eyes she allowed her mind to wander to the night before. When she had touched his chest, he had moaned softly with pleasure. Whether he knew it or not, that moment had put her completely at ease. With that one sound, the fear that she wouldn't please him had passed away. Raising her head, her eyes had found his, leaving her lost in the love and desire reflected there. All of his movements had been slow and gentle, putting her at ease so that when he joined the two of them together for the first time there had been no fear within her, only a deep abiding love. Opening herself to him had always seemed so frightening. Yet yesterday that had all changed. He had given himself to her fully and completely. How could she give him any less than all of herself? Now he would know her more intimately than anyone ever had. There was still fear in that thought but there was also a desire to know love like that.
A slight tickling sensation on her stomach made her think that his hand had moved. The thought that he was awake was exhilarating and scary all at the same time. No longer could she lie still without seeing his face so slowly she turned over in the bed. This required her first to move her own hand which rested against his thigh. Allowing her fingers a minute to caress him, she reveled in the fact thatwhat had been forbidden was no longer. There had been times when she had been frightened for him to even kiss her because she knew the passion that he stirred in her. There had also been times when she had reminded herself that they had to stop before things went too far. Never again would it be wrong to touch him, caress him, or love him like she needed to.
Finally she lifted her hand and used it to help her turn over to face him. His hand fell as she moved, dropping onto the bed between them, leaving her feeling disconnected from him. For a moment, she tried to pretend that it didn't bother her but eventually she gave in. The urge to laugh struck her as she contemplated how to get his arm back around her without waking him. For a few minutes, she laid quietly willing him to feel the disconnection as well and to do something about it. Finally she decided this was not going to happen, at least not in a timely manner, so she took matters into her own hands. Gently she lifted his hand and rested it against herself once again, smiling as she felt his fingers on her skin once more.
A contented sigh slipped out of her lips as she finally raised her eyes to look at his face. Her eyes settled on his lips and she couldn't help but bring her fingers up to lightly brush over them. These were her lips now. These lips would only kiss her – only enflame her. With the utmost care, she leaned in and placed a light kiss to those lips, claiming them as her own.
As she pulled away, she noticed that his mouth was slightly parted revealing his teeth and tongue. A heavy blush settled across her face as she recalled the enjoyment she had experienced when he had nipped at her bottom lip. Never had she imagined that teeth could be so sensual but at this moment she wanted to feel that sensation again and again. These were her teeth now. His tongue that had tasted the skin of her neck and shoulder before moving lower in dizzying circles that lifted her to heights she had never experienced before. The fact that Sully had been married before had always made her feel apprehensive but lying here beside him now, she felt thankful that he had known what to do, how to elicit pleasure in her that only came with experience. His tongue - that was hers now too.
Lightly she ran her fingers along his cheek, smiling at the light stubble she felt growing there. His eyes were still closed but she wondered now if he was really asleep. She thought for sure she had seen his mouth curl up into a smile the moment before or maybe her mind was playing tricks on her again. Raising her eyes to his closed lids once more, she imagined the color that she would find if one of them was to open. There would be a vibrant sparkling blue that would instantly transport her to another world where only Sully and she existed. His eyes had never left hers as they had joined as one. For that she was grateful. His eyes reassured her and reminded her of the deep love that he held for her. These eyes she would share with others for they needed to see the compassion and love that resided there but when they were alone these eyes would be hers as they reassured her without words how much she meant to him.
Tenderly, she trailed her hand down to his chest and rested it there over his heart. She lay back against her pillow and relaxed letting the gentle rhythm of his breathing move her hand up and down. Consciously she tried to make her own breathing in time with his but found it too frustrating. She giggled quietly at her own silliness, enjoying the moment. Then her hand began to move among the soft curls of hair. She watched as goose bumps formed on his flesh with her subtle motion. Again she trailed her hand lower and lower until it came to rest on the top of his thigh. There she stopped trying to decide if this was a natural place for her hand to rest - after all she didn't want Sully to think she was too bold.
A soft chuckle startled her and she quickly looked up to see Sully watching. The warmth radiating from her cheeks told her a deep blush had settled there. Her hand was still on his thigh and though part of her wanted to move it, the other part that wanted it to stay won out. Dropping her head, she moved her eyes away from Sully's and anxiously chewed on her bottom lip.
"What were ya thinkin' about?" he breathed softly pulling her closer to him.
"Nothin'," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Then why was your face all wrinkled up like when you're frettin' about something."
Michaela giggled lightly breaking the tension that had been building inside of her chest. "I was trying to decide…" She stopped there finally raising her eyes to look at him.
"Decide what?" he asked trying to suppress a grin.
"Whether to leave my hand or move it," she replied sheepishly.
"Do I get a vote?" he teased. "'Cause my vote would be to leave it." He smiled down at Michaela and once again she marveled at the feelings this man evoked within her.
"Majority wins," she said, smiling in return.
Sully leaned in to place a gentle kiss on her lips to which Michaela eagerly responded. Pulling back slightly, he ran his hand up her body to cup her cheek. "Good morning Dr. Quinn," he said seductively.
"Good morning," Michaela echoed. "You don't have to be so formal." More laughter followed this statement until Sully once again claimed her lips with his own.
This time when he pulled away she left her eyes closed. Tenderly, he trailed kisses down her neck until he reached her collarbone. In between each kiss he spoke one word until he had asked her "Are you going back to sleep?"
"That is normally what you do in bed," she teased.
"I can think of other things if you're interested."
"I'm interested," she replied her lips meeting his once again. "I love you," she whispered, her voice breathy as he placed kisses to her shoulder, lightly nibbling at the flesh there.
"I love ya," he returned. She closed her eyes as each of their hands moved endlessly exploring. He gasped when she gently nipped at his bottom lip with her teeth. She smiled as he breathed her name close to her ear just as their bodies joined as one. Again his eyes reassured her as his body awoke a deep passion from within her. Closing her eyes she sighed and wished that every morning dream would end like this.
End of Part 1
I realize this scene or the "Honeymoon Scene" has been written and rewritten thousands of times in fan fic and so I had vowed to myself to stay away from it for the simple fact that I wanted to look for new angles and thoughts. This idea wouldn't leave me though and since my Homecoming muse took the night off (let's hope she's not on strike) I decided to do this. I know there are tons of fics out there and I really think so many of them are done really well. This is simply my attempt. This is unfinished because I hope to write one from Sully's POV to go with it. Thanks for reading the story and for "listening" to my little disclaimer. As always I'll be curious to know what you think!