Authors Note—

Okay, so I know I promised TP and I'm really working on it. I just hate the chapter I wrote and feel like I owe this story an update. I decided against the chapter about Liz because I think that it is a bit too soon to get into the plot for the next story in this series. It will come more towards the end though. Well, on another note, this week should be filled with update since my mom and step-dad are in AZ and I'm stuck with my dad. I'm basically in my room all night and since he doesn't have wireless connection I won't have anything else to do… so, updates can come this week just as fast as I get a lot of reviews! Sound good?

Review

-Steph

Question: When is Amy's birthday? AND: What should Amy get Ty for his birthday? I had a couple of good suggestions but they weren't exactly what I was looking for, for this story. It did give me the perfect idea for Amy's present from Ty, though!

Oh and there's a reason Amy was kind of jealous of Baldwin Ways and everything and you'll find it out in this chapter!

Disclaimer: Everything recognizable belongs to Lauren Brooke.

§Baldwin Prince§

Chapter Two—Heaven on Earth

Saturday, April 29, 2006

Amy's POV

Heartland used to be my own little heaven on Earth. Used to be, being the key phrase there. Everything had just… changed so much after mom had died last year.

First, dad wasn't ever around anymore. It didn't escape me what he was doing in Australia for three weeks out of a month every month. Even the stable hands know and that's embarrassing. No one has 'business meetings' this much and not all in the same place.

Half of the barns were empty and that little store that had been moms pride and joy had been closed up. All on dads orders, of course. He'd even sold Gypsy May, mom's horse. The amount of rescues coming in had been cut in half… even less and dad kept turning away people who wanted to send their horses to us. It was a miracle he hadn't sold Sunny and Artemis (Alex's horse).

I'd heard the hands talking when they didn't think I was there, they thought dad had given up on America, that he was planning on closing up the farm and moving back to England.

Alex has been strong through it though and he'd given up complaining about my poor cooking skills. Lou came around a lot more then she used to, just to help us out and all. She had the whole mother thing down whereas I did not. I was sixteen and taking care of my little brother. Yeah, let me just say that when it came time for Alex to get papers signed for school by a parent/guardian… yeah, it made for some interesting times. Ally and John were there too to help us out but… it really just wasn't the same as it had been before.

And it was basically because of those reasons that I spent just about everyday at Baldwin Ways. It was a welcomed changed from Heartland. Baldwin Ways was a thriving horse farm, people were always busy there and the barns were never empty. And, people actually made me feel like I belonged there.

And, yeah, after I left Ty and Baldwin Ways I did feel a bit guilty about taking up his offer to go to the Derby. It was mostly about leaving Alex but dad was home this week and he could take charge of the parenting duties… if he could stay away from Australia and his mysterious mistress for that long. I'd only be gone for like four days; maybe Alex could just stay with Lou and Scott.

But, it wasn't like I was about to say no. I mean it was the Kentucky Derby! And I'd be going as a guest of the Baldwin's… what more could you ask for? As far as I knew, this was an all expense paid for trip. Ty had assured me that I wouldn't have to do anything in the way of accommodations. He told me that a room was already ready for me and that meals were taken care of. Of course I'd tried to protest and offer some amount of money but this was Ty and he was pretty adamant on taking care of everything himself. I gave in, and now I was leaving for Kentucky with Ty and his brother on Wednesday. I'd been told that his mom and dad were leaving on Monday with Zach, Zach's wife and three kids and, of course, Baldwin Prince.

To say I was a little excited would have been a rude lie. I wasn't excited; I was more practically ready to time travel to get there sooner.

But, my fantasizing about the Derby brought to realizations to mind. The first being the issue of what I was going to wear and, the second, how I was going to tell my dad. No doubt he wouldn't want me to go. But, I was going and that was all there was to it.

I wouldn't miss this little four day trip with Ty. First off, it was his birthday… his first birthday that I would be able to celebrate with him. And, well, I really wanted to see his face when he opened his birthday gift from me and I wouldn't be able to wait until he got back to give it to him… and, yeah, okay. He'd never invited Ashley to the races before and I couldn't help but feel a little elated at that fact. It had to mean something, right? I mean, I know he always told me how much he loved me and all but, now it was like something that would prove it to everyone else… I didn't need any proving of that fact.

I closed the door to the house behind me and was about to go up to my room when a voice stopped me.

"Amy? Is that you?" it was dad.

"Yeah, dad, it's me," I called back.

"Come here a minute, will you?" it may have been phrased as a question but it wasn't. It was a demand.

I spared the top of the stairs a fleeting glance before I walked slowly to the living room where dad was sitting on the couch watching TV. I lingered in the doorway.

"Yeah?" I said when he still didn't seem to notice my presence there.

Dad looked up. "Oh, Amy," he smiled a little but it was so different then the smiles he used to give. It was sadder and it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Sit, I have something to tell you." He gestured to the couch next to him.

I sat down carefully. He was going away again… back to Australia when he had only gotten home two days ago.

"Yeah?" I said again, this time more wearily.

Dad looked away from me and back to the TV where he began to flip channels. "I'm going on a business trip on Tuesday and I won't be back for a while." I looked out of the window over the green fields, blinking back tears. I knew it was coming but was I wrong to hope that I was wrong? "So I'll need you to take care of Alex."

"I won't be able to do that," I said softly, the guilt at leaving Alex coming back.

"And why not?" Dad turned his gaze back on me; his gray eyes were harsh and cold. They never used to look like that.

"Ty's invited me to go to the Kentucky Derby with him and his family."

"Were you planning on telling me of this little happening?" dad asked.

"He just asked me today," I said softly.

"We'll you'll have to tell the Baldwin's that you will not be able to make it after all," another demand, but this one I wasn't going to go through with.

"I'm sorry but I'm not going to be able to do that."

Dads' eyes flashed. "Oh yes you can and you will. You have a responsibility to your family, Amy!"

"Don't you think I know that, dad?" I burst out in exasperation. "What have I been doing every time you decide to run off to Australia? It's time for you to step up; you're the parent, dad." I tried to calm down a little. "I'll be back on Saturday or Sunday, I'll take care of Alex then, just stay until then," I almost pleaded.

His response was not the one that I had hoped it would be. "Do you have any idea how much it would cost to change that ticket?"

I swallowed my anger in a hard gulp. "We're your family, dad," I said, almost crying. "You're never here anymore and even when you are you don't pay any attention to me or Alex. Alex needs you around, dad, he's only twelve, you can't do this to him!"

Dad was silent. I knew I should have apologized for my words, but this was probably the only chance I'd get to speak on both mine and Alex's behalf and, no matter how much it hurt him, he needed to hear this.

"I know that mom's death made everything difficult for everyone but it's not anyone's fault! Especially not mine or Alex's. You're the parent and you left us when we really needed you, dad. I'm only sixteen and you expect me to take care of everything. I can't do it all, dad, I have school and homework and friends and the horses to already fit into one day. I love Alex and I'd do anything for him but he doesn't need me, he needs you."

"This is very pressing business, Amy," he completely ignored everything I had just said to him.

"All I'm asking for is four extra day, five at the most, then you can go back to whatever woman you have in Australia." It was harsh, I know, but it needed to be said.

Dads' eyes widened and he stared at me. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh come off it, dad!" I laughed dryly, looking back out of the window. "Everyone knows what you're doing there. No one's believed it was business since the first week you were gone. Even the hands know!"

Dad's gaze was hard. "And what do you propose I do with Alex?"

"Cancel, or at the very least delay your trip!" I said in exasperation.

"I'm afraid that that is just not possible," he said.

I sighed. "Well then call Lou, I'm sure she'd let Alex stay with her and Scott for a few days, she's offered it before," I added as an afterthought.

Dad pulled out his cell phone without another word or glance to me and I knew I had been dismissed. I got off the couch quickly and left the room, jumping up the stairs and running down the hallway to my room. I dropped my bag on my bad and went to the window.

I'd always loved this window, it provided me with a view of the fields and the barns… and the training rings.

One of the jumping rings was the one that caught my eye. There was a big, dapple gray Hanoverian flying over jump after jump in that ring. I smiled as I leant my elbows on the ledge to watch. The dappled Hanoverian was Alex's horse, a real good jumper that horse was. And, yes, Alex was quite a good rider. As I watched Alex steer his big mount cleanly through the course I knew that he could go somewhere with his talent.

Sunny and I were good but I knew that we weren't going anywhere with a showing career. Alex was different though. Some people just had this extra little spark to them when they rode and you knew they had serious talent. Alex was one of those people. Ty was another that had that real talent but I suppose Ty wasn't looking for a showing career, only a good time.

Everyone also said that Artemis was too big for Alex and, on first glance they were certainly right. Alex did look a bit too small for the big and muscular gelding. The first time I watched Alex ride Artemis, I remember thinking that that horse would take advantage of him and pay him no attention. But Alex handled the horse admiringly well, his contact on the reins was soft and he didn't pull on his horses' mouth. He had a soft seat and he and Artemis had a real bond… and real talent. Alex was only twelve and Artemis only five, they had a good future going for them already and it would only get better.

Having Artemis was probably what really helped Alex get through mom's death and everything that was going on with dad and… just everything. He'd always spent a fair amount of time with Artemis but he spent more with him now. Rarely a day went by anymore that he didn't ride Artemis. Sometimes he'd go on trails or do cross-country, sometimes he'd work in the rings over jumps or just on the flat and others he'd just lead Artemis around the property, letting him graze and talking to him.

I finally turned away from the window and once again thought about my upcoming trip with Ty.

It really was exciting. I'd never been to American races and I was quite anxious to see how it was done. I've watched on the TV of course but going would be so much better. It was a huge day for Ty and his family and Zach and his, too, as well as everyone that was associated with Baldwin Ways, and I just couldn't quite believe that he'd invited me to go.

Well, I suppose it was only natural that he'd invite me sometime seeing as we were dating, but still. It was times like this that I was glad that Mrs. Baldwin… er, Liz, didn't seem to hate me anymore. She was amiable as Brad was around me, but she no longer gave me those looks. Yeah, those looks. I think she had finally accepted me and it would only take time for her to actually like me more. Maybe the Derby would give us that chance. I was hopeful.

And, with thoughts of Liz came thoughts of impressing Liz, and what better way to do that then through dress? Liz was a person that liked to look her status at all times, even when she was out on the yard I'd noticed. Liz really was an elegant woman if I'd ever seen one! I knew that by trying a little extra hard in my attire for the Derby would mean a lot to her.

Shame I wasn't really one with an 'eye for fashion'. I basically wore jeans and t-shirts, I'd be damned if I knew what the latest style was. Soroya was the one that was good at that and she'd be the exact person I called for dress tips.

I grabbed the cordless off my desk and punched in Soroya's number.

"Hello?" Soroya's mom answered the phone in her sweet voice.

"Hey, Mrs. Martin, is Soroya around?"

"Oh, hello, Amy! Let me just go and get her." Mrs. Martin had always been so nice to me.

"Hey, Amy!" Soroya's voice drifted through the phone.

"Hey," I couldn't keep the smile out of my voice and she could hear it.

"What's up?" she asked curiously.

"Well, you'll never guess what just happened…" I trailed off.

"Um… give me a hint," she requested eagerly, probably picking up on my excitement.

"Okay," I laughed. "It has to do with Ty…"

Soroya paused for a second. "Well, I can think up about a million different things that could have to do with him. Give me another hint."

"I need your help picking something to wear," I said after a moment of consideration.

Soroya squealed so loud that I was forced to take the phone away from my ear until her moment had passed. "He asked you to marry him!"

I blushed in spite of myself. "No, Roya, that's not it."

"Oh," she even had the decency to sound a little disappointed. "Then what is it?" now she was eager again.

"Ty asked me to go to the Kentucky Derby with him!" I gave up making her guess anymore, I was too eager to just tell her.

"Oh my God!" Soroya exploded. If I had thought that she was loud before… oh boy, I was just proved wrong. "Do you have any idea how big this is, Amy?" she turned serious.

"Um—"

She didn't give me a chance to reply. "Ty was with Ashley for roughly three years and never did he once ask her to go to the races with him! It caused this huge fight between them whenever there was a race coming… which was like every other week. The fights were worse before the Triple Crown races, the Breeder's Cup and the like. And now he's asked you to go! I am proud to call you my best friend!"

My smile widened. "So, will you help me find something to wear?'

"Yes! Of course I will!" she burst out in excitement almost before I had finished my sentence.

"Thank you so much, Roya!"

I don't even think she heard my thanks. "It will have to be something perfect," she mussed. "You'll be in the newspapers and all… oh, Amy!" she squealed again. "This is just so exciting!"

"I know," I sighed happily.

"Okay, so, Matt's supposed to be here in like two minutes and tomorrow I'm going to that acting clinic at Virginia Tech but on Monday you and me have a date with the mall right after school. I am going to find you the most amazing dress ever. And I'll make appoints for a manicure and a pedicure," she said, "we're going all out for this, Amy, you are going to look amazing! You're going to blow Ty away once I'm done with you!" she assured me confidently.

"Okay, Roya," I laughed.

"I am totally and completely serious," she even said it seriously. "Do you know what Ty's friends have rumored about the girl he finally invites to the races?"

"Um, no. What?" I was curious now. I could only hope that it could mean something good.

"They've said that the girl he--," Soroya paused. "Oh shoot. I'm sorry, Amy, but I've got to go. Matt just got here. I'll pick you up Monday morning so we don't have to waste time dropping your car off after school, okay?"

"Yeah, okay, sounds good but what were you about to say?"

"Oh, I'll tell you Monday!"

"But… fine," I sighed.

"Bye, Amy!"

"Bye."

I put the phone back in its holder on my desk and flopped back on my bed, looking up at the ceiling.

I was still worried about Alex and how leaving him with Lou for a few days. I wasn't worried on how Lou would treat him or if Alex would like Lou because, well; they were brother and sister too after all. I knew Lou would do everything possible to make Alex comfortable for the few days he'd be with her. I wondered if Alex wouldn't feel as though he were intruding or un-welcomed with Lou and Scott since they had just had their first child. A little girl named Anna- Marion Trewin.

I just worried how it would affect Alex. I'm the one that's been there constantly for him since mom and died. I knew he'd lost faith in dad but I didn't want him to loose his faith in me, too.

I'm sure that Lou would arrange for Alex to be able to come over to Heartland everyday to see Artemis… wait, that's ridiculous. Lou does run the business side of Heartland so Alex will be able to see Artemis everyday… and he'll get to bond with his little niece.

Alex loved Lou and I was sure he'd like to spend sometime with her. It was just how his mind would explain his going to Lou for five days to him that worried me.

I smiled despite my fears. Everything was going to be fine. I was going to the Derby with Ty and Alex was going to be fine. Maybe dad still needed to work out what ever was going on with him but me, Alex and Lou would always have each other. Even though Lou was married and a mother herself, she was always there when we needed her.

For the first time in a long time Heartland was beginning to seem more like it had used to, to me.

It felt more like home… more like my own little heaven on Earth.

a/n: it's short but the next chapter in Amy shopping with Soroya! And that's going to be fun :) review! –Steph