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 Twenty

Mary Keyer Park was always one of Michaela's favorite places from the time she first moved to Colorado Springs. She'd discovered it quite by accident one day but it turned out to be a wonderful place to come and relax. In the middle of the cleared area, a small pond with an island was the main attraction. Many weekends she'd find herself crossing the bridge with a book in hand to read in the white gazebo that occupied the island. Yet the place was also the sight of the second place Sully kissed her after their official first date. Michaela could still remember the way his arms felt around her, his lips pressed gently against hers – it was a feeling she never wanted to end.

She'd called him on her way back from the dress fitting, hoping that they might spend a few moments together. Elizabeth had her on lock down, already warning her that she was not about to let Sully see her again after the rehearsal dinner that evening. That was what drove them to spend these few moments together, sneaking a break in their hectic day. A bench ran the inside perimeter of the gazebo and that was where Sully met her, now sitting as close to Michaela as possible. He stroked her arm lightly, enjoying the bright May sun and the solitude of the moment.

"Where does everyone think you are?"

Michaela laughed and turned slightly towards him. "I'm sort of hoping they simply lost track of me. I mean between the dress fitting and the errands." She rolled her eyes as she spoke. "I can't wait until this wedding is over."

"Glad to see you're so enthused," Sully teased.

"Oh you know what I mean. I want all these preparations to be over." She sat up quickly. "Which reminds me, we're supposed to pick out a song for our first dance as man and wife. Do we have a song?" It was now Sully's turn to laugh. Michaela turned to look at him but he remained quiet. "What?"

"No." Sully held up his hand as he shook his head. "You don't want to know."

"Tell me."

With a sly smile, Sully began, "Remember that night we went out with Robert E and Grace."

Michaela smiled widely. "That wasn't me dancing. That was three glasses of wine which is why I don't normally drink."

"Still – it would be a real shame for all our friends and family to miss out on that. What was that song you liked? Bringing Sexy Back?"

"Sully, I'm serious."

"So am I." For that he received a scolding look. "Oh… all right. If you want a boring song; what about that song we danced to at your hospital benefit?"

Michaela looked confused for a moment and then smiled. "At Last?" She hummed a bar and then started to sing. "At last, my love has come along." Sully nodded as she moved into his waiting arms. "My lonely days are over, And life is like a song." Their lips met, both feeling the words in their hearts.

"That's how I feel," he whispered, bringing a hand up to caress her cheek. "My lonely days are over."

"I never dreamed I could be this happy," she whispered near his ear, leaning in to place a series of kisses to his jaw line. A deep contented peace settled between them as they continued to share innocent kisses, all the time mindful of their surroundings. Michaela felt as if she could stay here all day in Sully's arms with the sun sparkling off the water. Yet their solitude was soon interrupted by the ring of her cell phone.

With a disgruntled sigh, Michaela answered it. "Hello."

"Where are you?" Marjorie began. "We've been waiting at Grace's for twenty minutes."

"Why at Grace's? I thought we were all going to meet back at my apartment." Sully snickered as she spoke and she flashed him a warning look.

"Are you at your apartment?"

"On my way," she fibbed telling herself that the park was on the way to her place.

Marjorie laughed. "Listen, stop sexing up Sully and get over here. There's going to be plenty of time for that after tomorrow."

Michaela's cheeks blushed instantly. "I'm on my way," was her only response and she hung up the phone.

"Guess the peace and quiet couldn't last forever." Michaela nodded in agreement as Sully pulled her close once more. "In roughly thirty hours, we are going to be setting off on our honeymoon for two uninterrupted days of bliss."

"Where are we going?" Michaela asked having slept through the conversation in bed the other night.

"It's a surprise."

"I have to know what to pack," she protested.

Sully couldn't help but chuckle. "No you can't stand to not be in control." He knew he was taking a chance saying those words and that it could easily backfire on him but it didn't.

Michaela nodded. "Alright, I give you complete control." She spread out her arms as she spoke indicating that she was giving something up.

Sully pulled her back to his chest once more, his mouth right behind her ear. "I'm going to hold you to that," he laughed and then leaned up a little more to kiss her cheek. They both rose reluctantly, ready to step into the last twenty four hours before they would officially be man and wife.

Michaela couldn't control the butterflies that invaded her stomach as she stood looking in the mirror for what felt like the millionth time. Everything felt too surreal and she kept pinching herself to see if she was dreaming. The dress was a perfect fit, the seamstress having only finished taking in the waist this morning. Her bedroom door opened and Elizabeth entered in a rather elegant green silk. She stopped at the sight of her daughter, a wide smile perched on her face. "Oh Michaela, you look beautiful."

"Thank you," her daughter whispered coming closer to her mother to give her a hug. "We rode by the park on the way back from the dress shop. I can't believe how wonderful it looks." She smiled appreciatively, knowing that most of it was Elizabeth's doing. "I don't know how you managed to pull this off."

"I have my ways," she replied with a mysterious look in her eye.

"Thank you." Michaela could feel her eyes pooling with tears and she looked up at the light to try and keep them from falling and ruining her make up. "Thank you for doing all this…for making my wedding so special."

"Stop you're going to make me cry," Elizabeth whispered already dabbing at her eyes. They hugged again, holding onto each other for a moment. They broke apart only when the other girls entered the room. Each made a fuss over her dress, their words buzzing about the room making Michaela more nervous.

It was Rebecca who finally settled them down. "Alright, alright," she said waving her arms in the air. "It's time for an age old tradition in the Quinn house. Michaela needs something old."

Elizabeth stepped behind her daughter and placed a strand of pearls around her neck. "These were your great great grandmothers and every one of your sisters has worn them on their wedding day." She closed the clasp and made to step away. "Oh they also count as something borrowed so make sure I get them back after the wedding."

That sent up a cacophony of laughter as Michaela looked down to admire the prefect circles.

"Something new," Marjorie said stepping forward. She held a triple stranded pearl bracelet that appeared to be a perfect match for the necklace. Michaela raised her arm so Marjorie could place it around her wrist. "Perfect," she whispered admiring her handiwork.

It was now Rebecca's turn to step forward. "Blue was hard," she began. "All this red didn't seem to allow that color so we decided that the blue needed to be hidden. That was when it occurred to us that you didn't have a garter." From behind her back emerged a lacey leg garter with a blue ribbon weaved around it and tied in a neat bow.

Michaela's cheeks turned bright red. "We are not doing that crazy garter thing."

Everyone laughed again, no one willing to take her serious. Marjorie stood behind her and began pushing her towards the bed. "Come on, we have to put it on."

"Please someone tell me that we are not doing this."

More laughter met her fervent plea, as she sat on the edge of the bed, so that Rebecca could slip the lace circle on her leg. "Oh Michaela it will be fun," Marjorie spoke up. "We've all done it." All heads nodded around the room with the exception of Elizabeth.

"Besides I kind of have my eye on a few guys I'd like to catch it."

Michaela narrowed her eyes in confusion at her sister. "She thinks she is going to catch the bouquet," Rebecca explained finally standing once again.

"I am going to catch it," Marjorie confirmed. "And I hope Hank and his well defined abs catches the garter." She raised her eyebrows knowingly. "Who wouldn't want that man slipping a garter up your leg?"

"Me," Michaela replied sending everyone laughing once more. She looked around the room and smiled widely, glad to have her sister and friends here with her. Her eyes settled on the bed, Sully's side of the bed to be exact. Never again would she sleep alone. After so many years on her own, the realization and all that it meant felt strange. A warm feeling settled just above her navel and soon spread upward. Happiness, complete and total happiness engulfed her. She was ready. "Let's go," she whispered before turning towards the door, anxious to begin her new life with Sully.