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.

A Sense of Belonging

Chapter Twelve

Sully wasn't sure exactly how it happened but he found himself standing in the middle of Victoria's Secret surrounded by bras, panties and lingerie. It was Marjorie's suggestion that he pick up a present for Michaela after dinner, in case there was any lingering resentment about pushing into talking with Elizabeth. Of course Sully's idea of the perfect present and Marjorie's idea were completely different.

Holding up a garter belt, Marjorie called over to him. "What do you think about this, Sully? It also comes in black."

"What is that?"

"A garter belt," Marjorie laughed as she crossed to him. She held it up to her hips and Sully quickly got the idea. "Uh… Michaela doesn't wear those."

Marjorie rolled her eyes. "It's not a practical thing. It's supposed to be sexy."

"I don't know if this is the kind of gift I want to get her," he said a deep wrinkled forming between his brows. "I mean this kind of feels like a gift for me rather than her."

Marjorie had disappeared again, behind another set of racks and Sully finally resolved himself to the fact that she wasn't listening to him. Looking over at Rebecca who was admiring a satin nightgown, Sully asked her advice. "Is this a good gift for Michaela?"

"Oh don't ask her," Marjorie yelled back still hidden from view. "If you looked up prude in the dictionary there would be a picture of her."

"Hmph!" Rebecca frowned in Marjorie's direction before turning back to reply to Sully. "I think that Michaela would appreciate something tasteful that you could both enjoy."

Emerging once again with several things in her hands, Marjorie laughed. "We could always get something for you to wear." Reaching over she tapped his backside boldly with her hand. "That butt would look great in a thong or g string."

Suddenly picking out something for Michaela sounded like a much better idea and he turned to look at the rack of nightgowns that was nearby, ignoring Marjorie's comment altogether. "There's so many," Sully said holding out a sheer red slip and trying to imagine it on Michaela. He put it back down with a shake of his head.

"Oh this is cute," Marjorie said having discovered the bridal section on Sully's right side. She held up a little pair of black panties and tank. "What do you think?"

"It says bridesmaid," Rebecca pointed out.

"Duh… I know. It's for me." Marjorie held it up to the front of her and smiled. "I think I'll go try it on." With that she disappeared but Rebecca and Sully neither one minded, knowing she was more of a hindrance than a help.

A saleslady approached from the side and asked, "Can I help you find anything?"

"Just lookin' for something for my fiancé but not quite so red."

The young blond laughed. "Perhaps something more innocent looking?"

"Yes," Sully said as he nodded.

Almost instantly she picked up something to show him. "This is a babydoll nightie, only slightly sheer."

"Oh I like that color," Rebecca chimed in. "And the lace. Michaela will like the lace."

"It has matching panties that go underneath," she pointed out lifting up the material to show him.

Sully swallowed hard as he imagined Michaela walking out of the bathroom in this, her hair loose about her shoulders. The color was somewhere between pink and peach and it was much more subtle than the red or black items. The top was trimmed with lace with a little bow underneath the fitted section that would outline her breasts. While the top was solid, the rest was sheer and he knew he would be able to make out the lace trimmed panties through the material. "Yes," he managed to mutter. "I'll take that one."

They stopped at a card store on the way home, so that Sully could get a gift bag. Actually the one from the store was nice enough to use but they all agreed that walking through the door with a Victoria's Secret bag in hand and announcing it was a gift for Michaela, wouldn't sit well with Elizabeth. Every mile closer they came to Michaela's apartment, the tension in Sully's truck increased as each wondered if things were now resolved between Michaela and their mother. When they reentered the apartment, they found Elizabeth seated beside Michaela on the couch, carryout containers scattered on the coffee table.

"Oh, I'm glad you're back," Elizabeth began. "I need some help convincing Michaela that we can pull off a wedding this weekend."

"What?" Marjorie exclaimed, throwing down her shopping bags in a near by chair. "A wedding this weekend? Why the rush all of a sudden?" She turned to look at her sister. "Michaela, are you pregnant?"

Her sister's cheeks turned scarlet, knowing how she'd thought she might be. "No," she quickly answered, turning her eyes to Sully. She couldn't read his expression. There was a small smile on his face and his eyes had taken on a glassy appearance. "Perhaps it would be better if I talked to Sully alone for a minute."

"Of course," Elizabeth said rather supportively earning her looks of surprise from both Rebecca and Marjorie.

Michaela stood and headed towards the bedroom. Sully hesitated for a moment as if he wasn't sure what was going on but with a gentle nudge from Rebecca, he followed her inside. Michaela's back was towards him as he closed the door and set the present on the bed. "Mother seems to be insistent that we should go ahead and get married. I told her that it simply isn't the right time but she keeps pressing." She felt Sully's arms close around her, his breath on the side of her face.

"Why isn't it the right time?"

Sighing in frustration, she started to enumerate the reasons she'd given to her mother. "Well for one I don't have a dress and then there's…"

Sully interrupted her second item. "You do have a dress."

"We never bought it the other night after the fight in the store."

"I know. I went back and bought it the next day," Sully informed her as he turned her in his arms.

With wide eyes, she looked up at him. "You bought that dress?" Sully nodded and kissed the corner of her mouth lightly. Michaela couldn't help but smile, knowing that he would have had to put the dress on his credit card which Sully hated to do. Her voice was softer this time as she continued. "We don't have a church or reception hall. We haven't invited anyone."

"I'm sure that we could have it outside like we were planning at one of the parks here. As for guests, who all did you want to invite? I mean your family is here – all our friends are here." He kissed the other side of her mouth this time as he finished speaking.

"The house isn't done," she pointed out.

Sully chuckled gently. "You've got this place. I've got a place. I'm sure we can make one of them work until the house is done." He felt Michaela tensing in his arms as he swiftly took care of each objection. Tightening his grasp on her, he kissed her hard on the mouth capturing her top lip between his.

Michaela felt his teeth graze her lip and she shuddered against him, loving the sensation. As he pulled back, she gave her last objection, though she knew it was a weak one. "I don't have any time off for a honeymoon."

Quickly removing his arms from around her, he stepped back. "That's it wedding's off," he teased.

"Sully."

"Honeymoon's the most important part," he reasoned. "Without that, what's the point of gettin' married?"

It was now Michaela's turn to quell his objection. "I could make it up to you," she whispered now pulling him close. Her face was only inches from his as she rubbed up against him. "And we could always have a proper honeymoon later on." Their lips met once again, the kiss deep and fierce as each struggled to get closer to the other.

"You've convinced me," he whispered when she pulled back to catch her breath. One hand was holding her tight about the waist, the other tangled in her hair.

"And you've convince me. I suppose we should go tell them."

Sully looked longingly at the bed. "I suppose we should. But can I give you your present first?"

"A present?" She raised her eyebrows at him, remembering seeing Marjorie's bags from Victoria's Secret and then looking over at the gift bag on the bed. She smiled broadly and then stepped away to sit on the edge of her mattress. Sully picked up the bag and handed it to her, a tentative smile on his face. He hadn't given her such a personal gift before and he hoped that it wouldn't make her feel awkward.

Michaela removed the tissue paper and looked down into the bag as she slipped in a hand to draw out the gown. "Oh Sully," she murmured.

"Is that a good Oh Sully?" he asked as she then retrieved the matching panties.

Michaela laid out both items on the bed and stood. "Of course it is. I love it." She opened her arms and he stepped immediately back into her embrace. "Thank you," she said giving him a feathery kiss. "It's beautiful."

"I can't wait to see it on you." As he spoke he pressed her body closer to his, making her aware of the subtle changes that were already occurring.

"I think I could arrange a private showing," she teased as Sully kissed her once more before letting her go. "Do you need to go by your house?"

"For what?"

Dropping her voice low, she looked at him impatiently. "Protection."

Sully gave a little smirk. "Oh that's all taken care of," he whispered and patted his back pocket containing his wallet. "Just don't forget to unlock your window." He raised his eyebrows at her as he spoke.

"I won't," she said walking past him with a seductive smile on her lips.