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
Epilogue
Michaela sat up and punched hard at the pillows, taking her frustration out on the inanimate objects. Sully hearing the noise from the kitchen hurried into the living room. "I see your nap is going well."
Casting him a murderous look, Michaela sighed loudly and slumped back onto the couch. "I'm as big as a house – I don't know how I can possibly get any sleep."
Sully suppressed a grin as he picked up her hand and brought it to his lips. "Cassie said she would induce you this week – you could pick the day."
"I know," Michaela sighed leaning over onto Sully and letting him wrap his arm around her. "I'm sorry to take it out on you. I just feel so…. Huge."
"Well, you look beautiful." Sully raised his other hand to trace the outline of her jaw letting his hand settle on the small of her neck.
Michaela nestled in closer to him. "You can't be serious," she laughed. "I look like a cow."
Sully's eyes rested on her cleavage line as he moved one finger to trace the edge of her shirt. "I like how your body has changed." He felt Michaela's hand move against his leg, arousing him further as he now placed his palm over the fullness of her breast. Leaning forward, he tipped her head back and kissed her lightly on the lips. "You're so beautiful. I wish…" He pressed his lips together and gave his head a light shake, stopping himself before he uttered his thoughts.
With an impish grin on her face, Michaela moved her hand to unbutton his jeans. "This is one of the things doctors suggest to get labor moving," she said already tugging at his zipper.
"Oh it is?" Sully asked swallowing hard as her hand hit a sensitive spot.
"Mmm-hmmm," Michaela nodded already lost in the moment as Sully stood to lead them upstairs.
A bit later they lay on the bed, sheets thrown back and legs entwined as Sully caressed her belly. "Do ya think that helped?" he asked watching the relaxed expression on Michaela's face.
"It helped," she whispered with a secretive smile never opening her eyes. She felt Sully tense and she laughed. "It helped relax me," she finished. "How about you?"
Sully leaned back against the pillows, placing his palm flat against her stomach. "Oh I feel relaxed…. Actually think I could sleep a bit."
"Me too," Michaela replied letting the fullness of her stomach rest against the pillows on her side as Sully's hand comforted her with its presence. Neither spoke again for the next hour or so, though Sully never slept. He simply watched his wife, a protective feeling rising in his chest as if he guarded her sleep.
Yet the afternoon's activities didn't disappoint and sure enough at around ten that night, they made their way to the birthing center on the outskirts of Colorado Springs. When Cassie delivered a baby girl around seven that morning, she placed the child to Michaela's chest and watched as the two held onto each other and the babe. Michaela looked up at Sully with watery eyes. "Katherine," she said. "And we'll call her Kat."
Sully shook his head. "No my father always called my mother Katie. We'll call her Katie." He paused for a moment to admire his new daughter. "I wish she could see her."
Michaela gave his hand a light squeeze. "I think she can, Sully. I feel her presence, don't you?" Moving the baby to her breast, Katie quieted for a moment as if she knew how important these next words were.
A thoughtful look crossed Sully's face. "They never really leave us, do they?" Michaela looked at him slightly confused. "She's here and so is my father and you're father. They're all here in you and me..." He leaned down and placed his hand against his daughter's tiny back. "And in Katie."
Placing her hand over Sully's, Michaela simply nodded as tears flowed down her cheeks. "Welcome to the world, Katie Sully," she whispered. "Welcome to the world."
Thanks for reading. I'm sorry it took me so long to finish this story. I'm not sure when I'll have a chance to move on but I want to finish Homecoming and I want to write a sequel to the Colorado Springs high school story. Those are my plans for the future. Thanks for hanging in here with me.