A/N: This is my first Christy fanfic. Based more on the television show than the book. This is after the episode when Christy was kidnapped with Sam Houston by Jarvis Tatum and when David was shot. Christy has accepted David's proposal and the wedding is set for spring. As you can tell this is a Christy/David pairing. The one I thought they should have developed better. All characters belong to Chatherine Marshall and family. I'm only borrowing them for a time.

A Cold Mountain Night

Chapter Two: Eloping

On a normal day Christy could walk from the mission to the doctor's cabin in about fifteen minutes. But in the snow and cold of the mountain it took much longer. Halfway there she was kicking herself for not taking one of the horses. But the walk gave her a chance to prepare herself to see Neil. They hadn't seen him much since Christy and David became engaged. Some said that Doc was avoiding the mission just to stay away. Christy knew it had something to do with the engagement.

Christy hoped that he would be there. She knew he was home because his horse was tied up in front of the cabin. Christy kicked the snow off her boots before climbing the stairs. She knocked softly on the door and waited for Neil to come to the door. He opened the door and was shocked to see Christy standing there.

"Miss Huddleston," Neil said, shocked. "What are you doing here?"

"I haven't been feeling well of late and I wanted to get checked over," Christy said plainly. "It's mostly been my stomach."

"Has Ruby Mae been cookin' again?" Dr. MacNeill asked.

"Not since Fairlight has been back at the mission. I have no idea what it could be," Christy responded.

It was strange for Christy to be back with Neil. She had been so preoccupied with her growing relationship with David that she almost felt bad that she hadn't been round to see Neil. Despite everything, she did enjoy talking with Neil. She decided to test the waters and ask about his trachoma research.

"How has your research been going?" Christy asked politely, as Neil reached for his scope.

"Very well. In fact I may be leaving the cove for awhile. Going to Baltimore to present what I have discovered. Deep breath in."

Christy did as she was told. Neil did his normal checkup. When he was finished he sat down next to Christy. He kept his scope in his hand and began to talk.

"Stomach viruses come and go usually in a few days. Has there been any other changes that you have made that could be affecting your stomach?" Neil asked.

"Maybe it's just my system telling me to slow down?" Christy wondered aloud. "I'm doing so much at the mission. I've been helping a few of the other women of the cove learn to read. Fairlight's got Mary Allen coming with her now."

"That is progress," Doc commented. "And how is the wedding coming along?"

"Mother is making all the arrangements. As much as David and I want to be married here, we gave into both of our mothers and agreed to meet halfway. We'll be getting married in my parent's church in Asheville. My parents have arranged to have Mrs. Grantland come there. We've written to Miss Ida and she and Clarence are going to try to make it."

"Sounds wonderful," Doc said. "Take it easy for a few days. I'm sure it will pass."

Christy thanked Neil and started for the door. "Christy?" She stopped and turned to face the doctor. "Are you happy?"

"Very," Christy replied, smiling.

Neil nodded. Christy walked to the door and opened it slightly. It had grown quite dark in the time that she had been there. She remembered Neil, David and Uncle Bogg's warning about walking in the woods at night. Although most mountain men wouldn't hurt a woman, Christy turned back.

"Neil?" Christy called. "It's gotten quite dark. I don't feel right walking home alone. Could you walk with me?"

The gentleman in Dr. Neil MacNeill had no choice. As much as it pained him to be around Christy, he couldn't allow her to walk back to the mission alone in the dark. The Scottish knights of his ancestors would haunt him for life if he did. "Of course, Miss Huddleston."

He put on his coat, took a lantern from the wall and offered his arm to her. The two walked together back to the mission by the small light of the lantern. Halfway to the mission Neil heard hoofbeats coming towards them. Neil held the lantern up and discovered that it was David coming for Christy.

"Evening Reverend," Neil called. "I was helping Miss Huddleston home."

"Doctor," David greeted. He climbed off of Prince and walked over to Christy. "Is everything all right?"

"Yes David. Dr. MacNeill thinks it's a virus that should run it's course in a few days," Christy answered. "I'll be fine."

"Thank you seeing Christy home, Doctor. I'll take her the rest of the way," Daivd said.

"As you wish," Neil said. He turned to leave. "Miss Huddleston, if symptoms persist let me know and I'll give you a tea to settle your stomach."

"Thank you Dr. MacNeill."

David lifted Christy onto Prince and walked beside him. Once they were a good distance away David stopped. He turned to face his beloved. The moon was starting to phase to only a crescent. The children of the cove liked to call the crescent moon "God's thumbnail". David held out his arms for Christy, which she gladly accepted. He held her close to him for a moment. They stood together in the moonlight for a moment before walking hand in hand back to the mission house. Christy enjoyed these times of stillness and quiet in the cove. She hoped that it would stay this way for a very long time.

"I love the cove at times like these," Christy said. "It's so quiet and peaceful. I could stay here forever."

"If that would make you happy we will," David said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "Anything you want. I love you so much Christy."

"I love you too, David."

They shared a small kiss before walking on. Fairlight had just set the table for supper when David and Christy returned. Her oldest boy John had gone fishing earlier in the day and had great success. He had caught enough for his family and the mission. Fresh fish in the winter was something to celebrate. Fairlight had breaded the fish in corn flour and fried it up crisp in the pan. Hot cornpone was just coming out of the oven as David and Christy came inside.

"Something smells delightful," Christy commented.

"John caught us a lot of fish," Ruby Mae said. "Mrs. Spencer has been cookin' all afternoon."

David pulled Christy's chair out for her. Ruby Mae and the Spencer children all took seats at the table. David said grace and soon the mission house was filled with chattering and laughter. Christy kept stealing glances over to her beloved. Everytime that David would catch her eye his soft smile melted her heart just that much more.

It had been ten weeks to the day that David and Christy had become lovers. He had a special gift for her. He had snuck into her room and noticed a catalouge open on her desk. A photograph of a very fancy hat had been earmarked. David took it upon himself to contact Christy's mother in Asheville to get the hat for her. It had come in the other day and David had slipped down to El Pano to fetch it. He planned on giving it to Christy that evening.

Because the Spencers' were staying at the mission there was very little chance that David and Christy could have their tryst. John was bunking with David. Zady, Clara and Lulu were with Ruby Mae and Fairlight and Least'un were with Christy. Neither could slip away unnoticed. Christy slipped up to her room while Fairlight and the others were cleaning up from dinner. David waited a moment before following her up with his gift. Christy gasped when she heard David close the door to her room.

"Did you realize that it's been ten weeks that we have been carrying on like this?" Christy asked, not looking back at David.

"Yes I have," David said, coming up behind her, wrapping his strong arms around her. "It's been wonderful. I got you something."

He handed her the box. Christy was curious as she opened the brown paper of the round box. She lifted the lid and gasped. It was the hat she had been admiring.

"Oh David!" Christy gasped. "How did you know?"

"I was snooping," he admitted. "Do you like it?"

"David, it's a hat. You know me and hats."

She threw her arms around him, holding him tight. Her heart was overflowing with emotions. Guilt about lying to Miss Alice, joy for the other wives of the cove learning to read, and the love of a young man. It was enough for her at the moment.

Time passed slowly in the mountains in the winter. Christy's days were spent teaching and helping around the house. Her nights were spent in the arms of the man she loved. They were careful that they were never seen coming or going. Christy had even begun to keep clothes hidden in David's bunkhouse. It was one morning that she found one of her skirts was not fitting right anymore. Her stomach problems had seemed to pass. That was apparent to everyone when her appetite returned and increased. She began keeping small food items in her desk at the school. She was just hungry all the time. Fairlight stayed late one evening after dinner to speak to Christy. Having had five children she knew the signs and Christy was showing almost every one of them.

"Miz Christy, may I speak with you?" Fairlight asked.

"What is it Fairlight?" Christy asked as she dusted off the piano.

"You've been acting strangely of late," Fairlight began. "And I think I know why. You and Preacher are goin' to have a baby."

Christy stopped in her tracks. She wanted to believe that she had misheard Fairlight. She couldn't be.

"I don't want to overstep myself, Miz Christy. But I know these things. I've had five young'uns. You and Preacher need to have a talk. Miss Alice or someone else is going to notice and say something."

"Thank you Fairlight. You have always been a good friend to me. Excuse me."

Christy went off quickly to find David. She always knew where to find him in the evenings. David spent his time on the schoolhouse steps when he had a sermon to write or if he just wanted to be alone. Christy wrapped herself tight in her shawl and set out for the school. Just as she thought David was leaning against the railing of the steps, just staring out at the night. He sat up when he saw Christy coming. No matter what he was doing, Christy always came first.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," he said catching her in his arms. "Christy, what's wrong?"

"How soon were you wanting to start our family?" Christy asked.

"What do you mean? Whenever you're ready," David replied, confused.

"It may be sooner than we planned."

David stood stunned for a moment. Christy wasn't even sure if he was breathing. She shook him a few times to get him to snap out of his daze. "David? David say something."

"I'm going to be a father?" David questioned.

"Yes David. You're going to be a daddy."

David took Christy in his arms and spun her around, excitedly. He had never been happier in his entire life. Christy saying yes tied for the happiest moment in his life. He held her close and as he did the realization hit him. He had made Christy, the love of his life a mother before a wife. He knew that he needed to marry her soon as not to scandalize her or their child.

"What are we going to do David?" Christy asked, the first time David had ever heard fear in her voice.

"We'll go to EL Pano and have the minister there marry us," David said. "We'll just have to explain to the mothers that we didn't want to wait. I'm sure they'll understand."

"We can still have the big wedding Mama is planning," Christy said, the fear leaving her voice. "It'll just have another very important guest."

"That it will. I'm really happy about this Christy. I hope you are as well."

"I'm afraid but very happy David. Happier than I have been in a very long time."

David knelt down in front of Christy, stroking her belly for a moment. He was just as scared as Christy was about becoming a parent. But he was detrimined to make sure that he never showed that fear to Christy. He would remain the strong unwavering presence that he had been from the very beginning.

The next morning David and Christy rode down to El Pano. Well Christy rode Prince and David walked next to her. She was wearing her best dress that still fit and the fancy new hat that David had given her. David was wearing his suit, looking quite dapper. Ruby Mae was curious and had tried to ask questions but was quickly dismissed.

They met with the minister in El Pano and he agreed to marry them. It wasn't the fancy wedding that Christy had always dreamed of having. It was quiet, intimate and just as wonderful as the huge thing her mother was planning. But for the young pair it was just what they could have wanted. They were together and it was enough for them.

Most of the mountain husbands and wives don't wear rings, mostly because they are expensive and unnecessary. David had fashioned two matching brass rings out of the broken peices of Prince's old bit and bridle. It gave him much joy to slip the ring onto Christy's finger. Their first kiss as a married couple was chaste but loving.

Ruby Mae was the first to see David and Christy return. She ran to meet them. Because they both had gloves on she wasn't able to figure out what they were up to. David helped Christy down from the horse and the two walked past Ruby Mae and all her questions. They almost got all the way to the house before being stopped by Miss Alice.

"Thee has been carrying around a secret, David," Miss Alice said. "And thee is going to reveal it."

"Christy and I eloped this morning," David said. "We didn't want to wait any longer."

Ruby Mae squeals with delight. Miss Alice is shocked by the rash choices of the teacher and the preacher. She was disappointed by the deception but smiles warmly at the young couple. Miss Alice in her wisdom and age knew there was something more to this sudden elopement than just impatience. She knew all would reveal itself in time. Miss Alice did agree that David move into the mission house with his bride. They could use his old bunkhouse as a boarding location if they ever needed it.

That evening David and Christy got ready for bed, together. It was the most intimate moment in their entire relationship. Cuddling together Christy welcomed the warm and caring arms of her husband.

"Good night Mrs. Grantland," David whispered into her ear. "I love you."

Hearing those words waft over her like a soft wind, Christy fell into a peaceful sleep. They would deal with the rest as it came along.