A/N: Sorry this one took a bit longer to be updated. I meant to have it up before I went away for the Canada Day long weekend but I guess that didn't happen.

Thanks so much for all of the reviews on the last chapter. You guys Rock! Special thanks to ReJo who was review #100 (a special parade will be thrown in your honour).

Not too many chapters left!

Disclaimer: I only get to play with these guys in my mind and in my stories, and even then I don't have much control over what they do.

Thanks to SallyJetson for the great beta'ing.

Chapter 16: No Place Like Home:

Bozeman, Montana:

Lindsay brought in the last box from the car. She had moved back into her parents' place in Bozeman. She and Jason would build a house on the property and move in after they were married, but for now her old room would have to do.

She looked around at the walls, full of reminders of her past: her beside her first pony, her and her friends at the county fair, her after she graduated. She sat down on her bed and grabbed her teddy hugging it to her chest, letting a few silent sobs escape.

He had left the next day. He was supposed to stay till the end of the week but apparently he couldn't stand to look at her, and had left early. He had left just like she had asked him to, like she had begged him to.

She sat there clutching onto Teddy, willing the thoughts from her mind, when she heard a noise on the stairs. She quickly wiped her cheeks and rose from her bed to face the window, hiding her red and puffy eyes.

"Linny, dinner's almost ready. Your ma wants you to set the table."

"Sure thing Pa. I'll be down in a minute."

She wiped her tears away one last time before making her way downstairs; trying to face the new life she had forced herself into.

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Later that night Lindsay decided to go for a walk. She couldn't stay inside any longer and found herself combing the outskirts of the ranch, staring at the rows upon rows of wheat.

Since her return nothing was like she remembered, and while the view in front of her was wonderful, she found herself comparing it to another view she'd left behind. Most things here were smaller and quieter than she remembered, and even though the sky and land were huge and swept vastly in front her, she felt like it could all cave in on her at any moment.

She was torn from her thoughts as she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around to see her father approaching. He was a large man and looked older than before she had left, but he still had the same twinkle in his eye that she loved.

"You always did like coming out here. Can't say that I blame you, it's a good place to think; think about your place in it all."

"Yeah. I can't remember the last time I've seen so many stars in the sky."

"Yep, and like always; you forgot your coat. Your ma and me don't want you to catch a cold on us now." He helped her slip on her forgotten coat as they continued to stare up into the sky.

"It's been a long time since you've been back. I don't think you're my same little girl who left here."

"I may still be short, but I haven't exactly been little in quite some time."

"You'll always be my little girl, you know that."

Lindsay smiled up at her father. "I suppose so."

After a moment her father continued. "Jason's a good man. He'll treat you right and look after ya."

"I know daddy." Lindsay answered quietly.

"What I'm saying is he'll give you a good life, but… is it the life you want?"

This caused Lindsay to stare up at her father, a perplexed look on her face. "What do you mean?"

"Well like I said you've been gone a long time. Seen more than I ever did. Maybe Bozeman isn't where you belong anymore."

"What brought this up all of a sudden?" Lindsay asked staring at the ground.

"All day you've been funny. You may put on a smiling face for your ma and me, but I've known you your entire life. I brought you into this world and I can tell when my girl ain't happy." Her father explained. "Plus a little birdie told me."

"I know you've always had a way with the animals, but if they've started talking back, you might have to get that checked out." Lindsay replied with a smile.

"A figurative birdie. One who certainly doesn't back down easily, and has a strange accent, but I guess one you'd probably be used to by now," her dad replied with a smile.

"WHAT?"