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.

The Places to Love

Chapter Eight

They rode in silence, each enjoying their surroundings as they rode out towards the ranch. The sun was still high in the afternoon sky, leaving few shadows on the ground because of its position. It was Sully who first realized they hadn't spoken since they left the city limits of Colorado Springs. The silence felt comfortable but he wanted to ensure that Michaela was alright, especially since the business trip still loomed before him.

"How do you feel?" he asked reaching over to squeeze her leg just above the knee.

Michaela turned to face him, drawing in a deep breath as she emerged from her trance. "Good… at peace."

"You sure?"

"Sully, Cassie said I'm fine, that I've healed well physically. She just wants us to wait…"

"I know after your first period," he sighed because she'd misunderstood his intention. "I don't just think about sex you know."

"I know," Michaela said softly taking his hand in hers and giving it a light squeeze. "Perhaps I'm projecting."

"Projecting?" Sully asked, unsure what she meant.

"Assuming you are thinking about the same thing I am."

Sully smiled broadly, letting his thumb caress the palm of her hand. "Is that what you're thinking about?"

"The last time we were at the ranch it was our honeymoon." A light blush sufficed her cheeks but her face told him she was relaxed.

Sully nodded, fondly remembering the few days they'd shared there. "Maybe when I return… we could take a day or two to be alone. Perhaps come up here." As he spoke Sully turned into the dirt road of the ranch, slowing down so not to kick up too much dust.

"I'd like that," Michaela replied, looking forward to the time when they could resume intimacy. It wasn't long before the Jeep Cherokee pulled up in front of the cottage. The front door opened and a gaggle of children came pouring out into the yard. Michaela smiled as she stepped out of the vehicle admiring the freedom they carried with them. "Look Sully," she whispered as he came around the car. "Aren't they cute?"

Afraid that she was feeling a little emotional, he pulled her close. "Sure are." Lightly he kissed the side of her head. "You alright?"

"Fine," she said snuggling against him.

Snowbird appeared in the doorway. "Ah, here are the newly weds." She walked towards them with a wide grin. Her feet were bare and she was careful to hold up her full skirt so that it didn't drag the dirt. Michaela had become used to their clothes which looked as if they belonged on a video of Woodstock from the seventies. "We were getting a little concerned when we didn't hear from you."

Sully nodded. "Past few weeks been sort of busy."

"I bet," Snowbird said with a raise of her eyebrows. What she was thinking couldn't have been father from the truth but she had no way of knowing that. "You've come at a good time. The children are done with their afternoon lesson."

"Afternoon lesson?" Michaela asked as Sully and she started to follow Snowbird into the house.

"Homeopathic medicine. The commune has lessons all year for the children. School is not something that begins in September and ends in May. Learning is for life and it should be for every season."

Sully and Michaela exchanged a look, knowing this was one of the issues they'd disagreed on before they were married. Yet Michaela had to admit that Snowbird was making a great deal of sense. Perhaps school as she'd known it wasn't the best way to educate children.

"Today we went on a walk looking for herbs that grow naturally wild and then we weeded the garden."

"What about reading and math… writing?"

Snowbird smiled at the doctor. "There is time for that as well. Every morning after yoga the children have regular lessons. But the afternoons are for electives. They can choose what it is they want to learn." They were in the house now, headed out to the backyard where Cloud Dancing was. Snowbird stopped and looked at the doctor. "I believe Gardner posited the theory of multiple intelligences. There is a school in Chicago if I'm not mistaken."

Sully watched in amusement, knowing Michaela was trying to hide her surprise that Snowbird was so knowledgeable on the subject. "Yes," she said.

"We believe the same here. We want the children to grow in all areas – not only in academics." She smiled at the doctor kindly. "I know it is very different than what you are used to but if you are open minded…" Her voice trailed off as she looked up at Sully.

"I try to be," Michaela replied also glancing at Sully.

Suddenly feeling very self conscious because of both women's gazes, he stepped towards the back door. "Is Cloud Dancing out here?"

Snowbird nodded as she chuckled. Sully slipped through the back door, instantly spotting the tanned skin of his friend among a row of sunflowers. "Not growing anything illegal out here, are ya?" Sully joked.

Cloud Dancing emerged. "Ha'ho." He grabbed the man he regarded as a son by the lower arm before pulling him into a hug. As he stepped back, he looked concerned. "There is sadness in your eyes."

Sully frowned and gave a brief nod. Turning to look off into the distance, he explained. "I met with Kat yesterday."

"Kat?"

"My mother."

"Kat." He sighed. "She used to go by Katie. That's why I didn't recognize the name. I suppose the name change is significant."

"What do you mean?"

"She is a different person now." His words were sure and certain and Sully couldn't help but to look back into the face of wisdom he found so reassuring. "I knew Katie but she is not Katie anymore."

"Was Katie the person who left me?"

Cloud Dancing had feared this day for as long as he could remember. In truth he couldn't believe he had managed to avoid telling him before now. Sully had never asked though but now he knew it was time. "She has told you?"

"She told me I was stealing her soul."

There was silence from Cloud Dancing at first as he took in the hurt behind those words. Turning to the side, he walked toward the back gate, assuming Sully would follow which he did.

Inside the house Michaela watched them exit the yard. She wanted to go with him because she feared another emotional release like she'd experienced the day before. It was Snowbird's hand on her arm that roused her. "Would you like some iced chamomile tea?"

"That sounds lovely," she replied finally moving away from the window as the back gate shut behind her husband. It wasn't long before they were both seated on the couch, cool glasses of iced tea in their hands. Snowbird smiled at Michaela, watching as the doctor wrestled with her own thoughts.

"Sully will be alright. This is something he must deal with."

"I know. I just hate to see him hurting."

"You are hurting too?" Michaela nodded, thinking that Snowbird was talking about the fact that she was hurting for Sully. "Is marriage not what you expected?"

Michaela's head shot up and she quickly shook it from side to side. "Oh I love being married. I meant I was hurting because Sully is hurting."

"There is nothing else?"

The black steely eyes bored into her, seeing to her soul in a way that Michaela knew she could tell there was more. She meant to shake her head no. She meant to make her lips say no. Yet then it was tumbling out – everything that had happened in the past few weeks. The miscarriage jumbled with things about Kat. When she stopped speaking, she felt as if a weight had been lifted off of her. The eyes that met hers were full of compassion.

"It is not easy to lose a child but you will not grieve forever. There will be others."

"I can't think about that right now," Michaela whispered. "I don't even want to try really. I mean if I get pregnant again, I'm afraid I'll be paranoid. If I don't get pregnant…" Her voice trailed off, leaving her sentence incomplete but Snowbird could read the closing thoughts in her eyes.

"You will hope again. There is always time after the pain that you feel vulnerable. Cling to Sully now. He will be your shelter."

"He has been but I feel bad laying it on him now with Kat's reappearance."

Snowbird took a long drink of her tea and set the glass down on the coffee table in front of them as she formulated her next words. "Let nothing come between you. Speak about everything. This is the way to grow a marriage – to grow together." Michaela could not argue. She knew Snowbird was right and she nodded in appreciation. "Your bond to each other is strong and sure. Trust it – it will hold."