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 Three: Health Scares

Christy Grantland a few weeks after she and David eloped to a slight flutter in her stomach. It startled her for a moment. She moved her hand to see if she could feel the baby move again. But the fluttering feeling was replaced with the warm breath of her husband on her neck. She woke with David's wrapped around her tightly. They had awoken together many times but she never lost the feeling she had since their first morning. She could hardly believe that in little over a year she had left home. found the love of her life, in both teaching and in David, got married and was going to have a baby. She sighed when she felt the soft kiss of David on her shoulder.

"Good morning Mrs. Grantland," David whispered. "How did my girls sleep?"

Christy laughed and turned to face Daivd. "How do you know it's going to be a girl? It could be a boy."

"It's going to be a girl. She's going to look just like you. Big beautiful brown eyes and soft brown hair," David said, tucking a bit of her behind her ear.

"Or it could be a little boy just like you. Bright and strong. Brave, godly, kind-"

"Don't forget charming and handsome!" David teased.

"Let's not forget humble!" The pair laughed. Christy snuggled into David's arms. She loved this time of day. Just lying with David, putting off getting up until the last possible moment. It was very peaceful. Until Ruby Mae would rap on the door to tell them that breakfast was getting cold.

If Chirsty thought David was overprotective before they got married, triple it now that they were. Now that she was carrying his first child the triple overprotection was tripled twice over. He walked her to the school, had Rob Allen and John Spencer keep an eye on her while he was away during the day and he walked her home after school. He was a shadow on Christy that she at first found annoying and now it was endearing.

As Christy grew the more questions she got from her students. The girls wanted to know what she was going to name the baby. Christy had been thinking about that for a while now. She knew that she if it was a boy or a girl she was going to fit the name Spencer in somehow. The Spencer's had been such a blessing to both her and David since they arrived. It was only fitting that she should name her baby after them.

During the lunch and recess break Christy was sitting on the schoolhouse steps watching the children play. Creed and Little Burl Allen were trying to organize a game. Most of Creed's games were silly and fun to watch. Today he was trying to remember the rules to baseball that David had taught them awhile back.

"Teacher I can't 'member the rules Preacher taught us!" Creed called to her. "Do you remember them?"

"Not really Creed," Christy called back, standing to go over to the boys. "When Reverend Grantland comes back from fixing the mill with your father maybe he can remind you. Why don't you boys go play catch?"

Just the short walk had made Christy very tired and dizzy. The saw the green of the trees spin around her. She took one step and collapsed. Shouts from the children ranged from terrified to panicked to calm and steady.

"Creed run home and git Pa and Preacher! Git goin' boy! Sam Houston! Go fetch the doc!" Rob yelled to his brother. Creed took off fast as lightning with Sam Houston right on his heels. Rob swore he had never seen the boys run that fast in his life. He and John carried Christy over to the mission house where Fairlight was waiting for them. Rob and John laid Christy in her bed and Fairlight pressed a cool rag to her forehead. Christy blinked and brought into focus Fairlight.

"What happened?" Christy managed to ask.

"You had a spell," Fairlight said. "John and Rob Allen carried you in. Creed went for David and Sam Houston went for Doc. You're doing too much Miz Christy. I think it's time you told Doc."

Christy sighed and rolled over. She knew that she needed to slow down. Even David had said so. She prayed quietly that the baby would be fine. She had fallen asleep for what only seemed like seconds but when she woke up David was beside her, holding her hand tightly. When she finally stirred she looked to her left and found David and to her right Dr. MacNeill.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Grantland," Doc said. "You gave us all quite a scare."

"You sure did Teacher!" Christy heard Little Burl Allen call out. "I ain't never seen Creed run so fast in my life!"

The Allen boys were shooed out of the room by Fairlight and by a steel-eyed look by Dr. MacNeill. He then turned his attention back to Christy. "Now Christy, what happened?"

"The boys called me over to try to explain to them the rules of baseball. I must have stood up too fast and got dizzy. That's all. There's no need for all this fuss over me. I'm fine."

"What about the baby Christy?" David whispered.

"Baby? Christy are you pregnant?" Neil asked, softly.

"Yes," Christy said, squeezing David's hand tightly.

"I wish you would have told me sooner."

"We only realized it ourselves a few weeks ago Doctor," David said, rising to Christy's defense.

Neil and David had a stare down. The husband versus the doctor. Neil backed down. "Christy, please take it easy. You don't want to put yourself or the baby at risk."

David and the doctor rarely agreed on anything except their concern for the schoolteacher. All it took was a glance from both men and she relented. "What do you plan I do?"

"I suggest that you shorten your days teaching," Neil said. "And stay off your feet as much as possible."

"Anything else?"

"Take it easy. That's all I ask."

With that Neil started to pack up his things and left the room. David moved up onto the bed and pulled Christy into his arms. They sat quietly in each other's arms for awhile. David kissed the top of her head.

"I have only been that scared once in my life," David whispered. "When Jarvis Tatum had kidnapped you. I knew something was wrong when I saw Creed come running. I got here as fast as I could. I think I have a way to keep you off your feet."

"And what is that? Build a fancy chair and have Rob and John carry it around all the time?" Christy teased.

"No!" David laughed. "I'll carry you myself."

"I think I'll like that better."

Christy's life seemed to change practically overnight. From the moment she woke up she could tell things were different. The entire house was being extra careful around her. She went to get her own cup for her tea and was shooed out of the kitchen by Fairlight. As she was getting ready to go to the school Ruby Mae offered to carry her books for her. She got outside and was joined by Rob Allen and John Spencer who had built a wagon of some sort for Christy to use. The wagon sent her over the edge.

"I am having a baby! I am NOT a brittle little old lady!" Christy yelled.

"But Preacher said that Doc told you to-" Ruby Mae started to argue.

"I know what Dr. MacNeill said! I can take care of myself! I don't need anyone to wait on me hand and foot! DAVID! Where's my David!"

Christy Grantland was on the verge of a good old fashioned temper tantrum. Fairlight watched from the kitchen, trying not to laugh. She thought back fondly of her own tantrums. It came with the journey of becoming a mother. It would pass with time. Christy stormed away from the house and towards the school. She was angry. She didn't enjoy being treated like a China doll. She was not breakable, fragile or invalid. She was with child. As she got closer to the school she could see David sitting on the schoolhouse steps. He looked up and saw his wife coming at him, angrier than she had ever seen her. He stood up and met her on the lawn.

"Did you tell everyone what Neil said?" Christy demanded. "Did you David?"

"I mentioned it to Fairlight," David said. "I figured she might be able to hel you. I didn't mean to make you angry."

"David, I left home because I was tired of my mother treating me like a breakable doll. I don't want that from you!" Christy yelled. She was so angry that she was shaking. David reached out to hold her but she pushed him away. "I don't need yo to protect me all the time! I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

"Christy, calm down," Daivd said softly. "I'm sorry. I never meant to make you feel like this."

"But you-you-" Christy collapsed mid word.

David caught her just before she hit the ground. For a moment David stopped breathing. "Christy? CHRISTY!"

He gathered her in his arms and ran back to the house. He was more frightened than he was the few days before. Fairlight and Miss Alice, who had just arrived back from a trip to another mission, met them halfway.

"David! What happened?" Miss Alice demanded.

"We were arguing and she collapsed," David said.

"Take her inside," Miss Alice directed. "Rob Allen, go for Dr. MacNeill."

"Yes ma'am."

Miss Alice took charge of the situation, helping David get Christy inside. Christy stirred when David set her down. She didn't fully wake up but she was mumbling.

"David? David?" the soft sound of his name from Christy's voice damn near broke his heart. He got as close to her as he could without being in Miss Alice's way.

"I'm right here, darling," David whispered to her.

David had never looked more worried and frightened than he did at that moment. Miss Alice suggested that he step out for a moment. David wouldn't hear it. He was glued to Christy's side. Although he knew this was no one's fault, he felt that he was to blame. He had made her angry and it had caused this. He was floating in a sea of despair and uncertianity.

Christy woke up just when Dr. MacNeill arrived. She was confused and disoriented.

"What happened?" she asked. "All I remember was that I was arguing with David."

"You collapsed," David said.

"Christy, I need you to listen to me," Neil said, kneeling next to her bed. "You need to keep your emotions in balance. I believe that your blood pressure is not remaining stable. If it goes too high like it did when you were angry with the Reverend you can have a spell like you did today. If it goes too low, like it did the other day you could have a spell. You need to slow down and rest."

"Please Christy," David begged. "Please listen to Neil."

Christy sighed. The last thing she wanted was to be treated like a fragile little doll. But with the baby and the risk to her health she had to give in. "All right you win. But remember I am under protest. What are your orders, Dr.?"

"You can still teach but no riding, running, getting too excited or too tired. Let us help you. You are a very stubborn girl, Mrs. Grantland and you need to let go for a little while."

Christy nodded and rolled away from Neil to face David. He kissed her nose softly. "How about you take a little time off from the school? Miss Alice and I can handle it."

"I think that's a good idea," Christy said.

Days passed slowly for Christy. She followed Neil's orders and took it easy. Most evenings just to get out of the house she and Daivd would take a short walk. They would walk hand in hand talking and laughing like they always did.

"Be it a boy or a girl, I want our child's name to be Spencer," Christy said. "Jeb and Fairlight have been such blessings to both of us that it seems right."

"Spencer Ida Grantland," David mused. "I like the sound of it."

"Spencer David Grantland," Christy teased.

They walked back to the mission house. In the evenings after their walk, they would sit by the fire and discuss everything from their days to how they wanted to raise their child. But mostly they sat together, holding each other. For just that small amount of time they didn't have to worry about Christy's health or the baby. It was just them, being together. And that was just enough for them.