Warning: This chapter contains sexual content between two consenting, married adults. However, due to circumstances that do not allow actual sexual intercourse, other methods of achieving sexual satisfaction are used. So if the idea of oral sex offends you, please skip over the love scene.

Chapter 105

May 20, 1871 – Colorado Springs

When the carriage turned around the bend, Sully noticed Michaela's cheeks growing pale, and a lump began to rise in his throat. Was it all too much? Should they turn back? But when she looked at him, it was as if she could read his thoughts, and she took his hand in hers, squeezing it with delicate reassurance.

"I'm fine, Sully. I'm just a little tired."

"Soon as we get home, I'm takin' you up to bed," he said matter-of-factly. He saw a grin pull up in the corners of Michaela's mouth, and he chuckled. "To rest."

"You worry too much." Her eyes were bold and truthful.

"I don't think I worry enough," he retorted. "If ya think we ought to turn back and go into town…"

"No. I'm fine, Sully."

"Maybe ya been up too long…"

"Sully, no! I'm alright. I promise you…if I feel weak, I'll let you know. I feel wonderful. I'm just a little overwhelmed."

"Andrew said he thought you'd be fine today…I don't know…"

"I'm fine, Sully. The babies are restless, but I feel fine." Robert E. looked back momentarily from the driver's seat.

"Everything alright?"

"Yes, Robert E.," Michaela assured him, giving Sully another reassuring smile.

"We don't have to spend the night at the house…"

"Yes we do, Sully. I'm tired of lying in that clinic room. I want to be in my own home with my own husband. You and I both know it isn't incredibly comfortable to fit two people in those little beds."

"We always managed," Sully pointed out, causing a blush to rise to Michaela's cheeks.

"Sully!" she laughed, motioning toward Robert E. Sully grinned a knowing grin and leaned in closer to Michaela, pressing his lips to her cheek. "You're terrible."

"I am?" he asked. She nodded, a giggle escaping her lips. "But ya love me."

"And I always will."

Johnny sprawled out on his bed above the clinic and laughed, when Snowball, Wolf, and Pup came barreling into the room, all jumping up onto his bed and greeting him with licks and sniffs.

"Stop!" he laughed, as Pup wallowed on his face for a moment before licking his nose. Johnny's delirious laughter echoed through the halls, and Mary came running to see what was funny, momentarily forgetting the fact that she was angry with him.

"What's so funny?" But she stopped as soon as she saw what had caused the commotion. Johnny sat up quickly, startling the pups who were now nearly half grown. He was surprised to see her standing there, but he couldn't help but keep laughing, when Snowball pushed her nose into his back, nudging him off of the bed.

"So you're talkin' to me now?" Mary immediately realized what she had done without thinking, and her cheeks reddened.

"I didn't say I wasn't talking to you. I just said we shouldn't be friends anymore."

"Same thing," Johnny replied, standing up straight and shoving his hands deep into his pockets. Mary sighed heavily and turned away.

"Sorry I bothered you," she called over her shoulder, as she rushed down the hall and to her room. Johnny groaned in frustration, but he didn't have long to think before Gabby knocked on his open door. She was dressed down into her town clothes, but her blonde hair was still up in ringlets from the wedding. Her mother had spent so much time trying to get her hair just right that she felt it would be rude to take it down so quickly.

"Hey Johnny," she said with a smile. "You want to go for a walk?" Johnny shrugged his shoulders.

"I dunno." Gabby sighed softly and moved into the room.

"Bet we could get some fishing in." Johnny laughed.

"I remember the first time ya went fishin'. You were so worried 'bout getting your dress dirty."

"Well, I'm not now. From what you've told me, the fish practically jump onto the line this time of year. Come on, Johnny. It'll be fun." Johnny's smile faded, and he shook his head.

"It wouldn't be the same without Mary. We used to go all the time."

"Well, if she doesn't want to go, it's her choice. You can't make someone do something they don't want to do," Gabby said quietly. "That's what my mother always told me." Johnny sat back down on his bed, and the pups whined before beginning to wrestle with one another. Snowball yelped and bit Wolf on the tale, and he took off running out of the room with his two siblings close behind him.

"I think I'm gonna stay here. You go if ya want…maybe Brian'll go with ya."

"Are you sure?" Gabby asked. "It won't be the same without you." Johnny shook his head.

"Maybe some other time, ok?" Gabby nodded with disappointment before turning and leaving the room. Johnny sighed and moved toward his window, watching as Brian Cooper climbed up into Matthew and Ingrid's wagon. But, as soon as Gabby came outside, his attention was diverted to her, and a few moments later, he and Gabby were walking off to gather fishing supplies. Johnny frowned watching them, and he turned away from the window. He wished his father was there for advice, considering they really hadn't gotten to the heart of the matter the night before. But, he didn't blame him for that.

He turned toward the door and walked out into the hall, passing Dr. Cook, who was on his way to his own room. When he reached Mary's room, he knocked on the door. When it opened, he saw Mary's sad eyes, and before she turned away, he saw her lip tremble.

"What do you want?"

"Gabby and Brian just went fishin'."

"Why didn't you go?"

"Didn't feel like it. Thought I'd stay and talk to you."

"Why? We aren't friends anymore."

"Sure we are. We can still be friends."

"No we can't."

"Why not?"

"Because."

"That ain't an answer, Mary. Just 'cause you're six, and I'm almost eleven don't mean we can't be friends. It just means that you're younger than me."

"Why would you want somebody like me as a friend?"

"'Cause you're my best friend. Ya have been since we met, Mary." Mary shrugged. "I'm sorry I said you was jealous."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Why not?"

"Because!" she protested, turning toward her window. "Leave me alone, Johnny. Go catch up with Gabby and Brian."

"Why?"

"You'd have more fun with them."

"Who says?"

"Me."

"Well, we used to have just as much fun. We could go over to the playground at the schoolhouse. Or…or we could take the pups out to the meadow where they're cleanin' up from the weddin'. They ain't been to the meadow in a real long time."

"I don't want to go!" Mary finally snapped. "Leave me alone!" Johnny stepped back a little. He hated that Mary was so angry with him. He didn't want her to be. He wanted to be her best friend again. He missed her like crazy, and it was all because of some stupid jealousy. He knew that wasn't her fault, but he knew he couldn't do anything about it either.

"Ya know…maybe ya are jealous." Mary turned to glare at him. "But you're actin' like a little kid by doin' this."

"I am a little kid."

"Yeah, but ya used to act older than ya are, and now you're actin' like…like…"

"A baby?" she asked.

"I didn't say that," Johnny replied. "But ya know what? You say ya don't wanna be my friend? Well, fine. I tried. I wanna be your friend, Mary, but if ya don't want me, then I'll leave ya alone. I just don't want us to stop bein' friends because of Gabby." Mary turned away form him again. "I really like playin' with her too, but she's not my best friend."

"You like her."

"So?"

"So…what happens if you decide you want her as your friend more than me?"

"That ain't gonna happen."

"You don't know."

"Sure I do. You tellin' me you don't want to be my friend ain't helpin' any though." Something in his words made Mary giggle.

"It's kind've silly, huh?"

"Kinda? I'd say it's real silly," Johnny replied. "C'mon. Why don't we go do somethin' fun?"

"Just you and me?" Johnny smiled and nodded.

"Yep. Just you and me."

"What if Gabby and Brian show up?"

"We'll just tell 'em…that we got other plans. Just 'cause Gabby's my friend don't mean she has to come along every time."

"You meant it?"

"'Course I do. Maybe now you can be friends too." Mary shrugged.

"She's nice and everything, but I don't know if we can be friends."

"Like my pa says…ya never know until ya try." He motioned toward the door. "C'mon, Mary. Let's go."

Daniel and Carrie walked arm and arm toward the mercantile. They were still dressed up in their wedding attire, and Carrie was itching to get out of the frills and curls, but Daniel had sworn to her that he thought she looked beautiful. She'd countered that by saying that if he didn't like her just the way she was, then he could find someone else who was willing to wear the curls and frills. But, he'd silenced her with a kiss and then assured her that he'd love her even if she shaved her head and went around wearing smelly sheepskin. But, she then assured him that would never happen, so that was the end of that conversation. Now they were walking and talking, laughing once in a while at something the other said, and when Carrie spotted Hank standing just behind the swinging doors of the saloon, she squeezed Daniel's arm, signaling him to stop, and the walked right up onto the porch.

"Carrie, what're you doin'?"

"Just a minute," she murmured without looking back. Daniel had half a mind to follow her up there, but from the tone of her voice, she wanted to speak with Hank privately. But, he stepped closer to the saloon, settling on lingering by the rail, keeping an eye on Carrie, though he knew she could take care of herself when it came to Hank.

"What do you want?" Hank asked, standing in the shadows of his empty saloon.

"I wanna thank you."

"What for?"

"For what ya did for Dr. Mike earlier."

"That? That wasn't nothin'. Folks was disturbin' the peace. I was countin' my money, and since the sheriff wasn't no place around to stop it, I figured I'd step in and do his job for him."

"I don't think that's the reason."

"Ya don't, huh?"

"No."

"Then tell me…what was the reason, huh? Since ya seem to know me so damned well."

"I think you saw how much it was hurtin' her…"

"She can take care of herself."

"Ya felt guilty, 'cause you were with her when—"

"Wasn't my fault," Hank snapped. "Ain't nobody's business. Folks'll believe what they want to, and I don't give a damn what they think about me."

"Of course you do," Carrie said with a snicker. "If ya didn't, ya wouldn't have stepped in and defended Dr. Mike today." Hank blew smoke in Carrie's face, but she didn't flinch, though the smoke stung her eyes like salt in an open wound. "Why don't you grow up, Hank? Act like a man." Noticing that she'd struck a chord in him, she stood firm. "Real men know better than to try to make other people miserable."

"Like that deputy ya got, hmm? Daniel knows how to be a real man?"

"He knows more about it than you do. You're miserable, Hank. Ya do a good deed, and ya don't even know how to own up to it. Maybe if ya learn, you'd realize it ain't so bad…ain't nothin' to be ashamed of."

"Well, maybe some of us got a little more growin' up to do, huh?"

"Maybe," Carrie replied, her eyes daring his.

Watching from behind, Daniel felt the situation growing more and more tense, and he slowly approached Carrie, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"Darlin', we better get goin'."

"Coming," she answered, her eyes not leaving Hank's. Her anger at him was growing more intense by the moment. Why couldn't he just figure out what he wanted? If he wanted to be a complete jerk all of the time, he should just stop doing good deeds for everyone. All he wanted was attention despite the fact that he made the point of making himself all alone with his whiskey and his women. What a lonely life. And suddenly, she felt sorry for him. She turned, smiling at her soon-to-be husband, and she took his hand, walking off with him and leaving Hank alone with his thoughts.

As the carriage disappeared down the dusty road, Sully scooped Michaela into his arms, causing her to giggle with nervous joy.

"Sully! You're going to hurt yourself!" she joked. "I'm the size of a…a buffalo."

"Buffalos ain't nearly as pretty as you," he teased.

"Are you agreeing with me?!" she asked, pretending to be offended. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, bringing her face an inch from his.

"Nope. Can't say I am," he answered. "You ever tried to pick a buffalo up?"

"No," she laughed.

"Me neither, but I reckon they're pretty heavy."

"And I'm not?"

"Not too heavy for me. 'Sides, you're carryin' our babies." Michaela smiled, as Sully opened the door and carried her inside. Michaela marveled at the furniture that already decorated the house. It had been furniture that she and Sully had picked out together, and now it was…not just on the page of a catalogue but really there. Her heart warmed at the thought of sitting in one of those wing-backed chairs and nursing their little ones in front of a glowing fire.

Sully let her down, and she slowly walked toward the living room. Her legs felt a bit wobbly now, and she began to teeter forward. Sully reached out, pulling her close, as worry creased his brow.

"You ok?"

"Yes," she breathed. "I just need to…to sit down."

"Alright," Sully agreed. He placed her down in one of the lovely white chairs, and he watched the color begin to return to her face.

"Robert E. put our things on the porch. I'll go get 'em." Michaela nodded, and she closed her eyes, as Sully went to retrieve the things that had been packed for them for their overnight stay. When he returned, Michaela slowly stood up.

"I'd like to change into something more comfortable. This dress is beautiful, but it's a little warm." Sully nodded, and he helped her up the stairs before returning with their things. Michaela was standing in front of a full-length mirror, staring at herself in the mirror. She hadn't really gotten a good look at the full expanse of her belly in a while, and the size astounded her. She knew she'd be larger, because she was having twins, but the fact that she was so used to her small waist and figure caused her eyes to widen at the sight of her no-longer noticeable curves and her very large stomach and expanding breasts. Her cheeks were flushed, and when Sully came up behind her, he placed his arms around her, touching her belly, and she leaned into his back.

"Need some help?"

"I'm afraid so," she replied, grinning a little, as Sully's nimble fingers began to work with the hooks and loops and strings.

"I don't mind," he assured her, easing the dress off of her shoulders, kissing her exposed skin. She moaned softly, and she closed her eyes, pulling her arms out of the sleeves. A piece of paper fluttered to the floor, and Sully stooped down to pick it up, smiling in recognition of his own handwriting. He glanced at her, seeing that her eyes were still closed, and he placed the paper aside, focusing on relaxing her.

He loosened the bodice enough that it slid off, and the skirt pooled at her feet, leaving her in a loose shift. Sully smiled, as he began to work with the laces of Michaela's shift, but she turned in his arms, wrapping her own around his neck. She leaned in to kiss him and giggled when her belly got in the way of them getting too close.

"I wish I could give you the wedding night you deserve," Michaela said softly, her fingers tracing along his lips.

"I already told ya that don't matter. We got plenty of time. We don't have to…well, you're the doctor. You know what's safe." Michaela nodded, and she kissed him again, wishing they could make love without a care in the world, but that wasn't possible right now. Not yet.

"I don't want to disappoint you."

"You could never disappoint me, Michaela. I want ya to have a special weddin' night, but I don't wanna hurt you. I don't wanna do anything that could hurt you or the babies. Just…just let me know if it starts to hurt." Michaela nodded and closed her eyes for a moment, reveling in the fact that she was his wife now, and despite the fact that they couldn't make love, they could still please one another in other ways. She wanted to make it worthwhile for him just as much as he wanted to make it worthwhile for her.

Boldly reaching toward his waist, she brought her hands up under his wedding shirt and began to caress the smooth muscles of his abdomen. He raised his arms, and together, they removed the beautiful and delicate shirt and placed it aside. A blush welled in Michaela's cheeks, and she bent down, pressing her lips to the center of his chest, letting her breath warm him, as his hands began to let her hair down from its pins and ringlets.

When Michaela's hands moved to his back, she felt an overwhelming sense of newness wash over her. They'd done all of this before, yet now there was something more there that hadn't been before. Perhaps it was the fact that they hadn't been intimate in so long, but perhaps it was also the fact that they were truly married now, despite the fact that they'd felt married all along, and the idea of this being their first intimate moment as legal husband and wife began to register with both of them.

Sully pulled back a little, when Michaela began to press kisses to his chest, and she looked up at him, her eyes burning with desire but filled with many emotions. Anxiety, exhilaration, and joy. She stepped toward him, but he reached out, beginning to toy with the buttons on her shift. She let him, and her hands moved up his arms, feeling the muscles there, caressing every bit of flesh she could reach, and their gaze never broke.

"I missed you," he admitted. She smiled, lowering her head before taking his hand in hers and placing a kiss to his palm, as he caressed her cheek with his fingertips.

"Me too." She stood still, her entire body quaking, as he finished unbuttoning her shift. She raised her arms, letting him slide it off of her body. She shivered as the air in the room made contact with her skin. Sully's eyes wandered over her body, admiring the way it had already changed so much over the past few weeks. Her breasts were a bit fuller, and her belly was smooth and glossy looking. He reached down, stroking the tightened skin. She felt his ticklish ministrations, and her stomach shrunk back. Sully laughed a little, and she giggled, biting her bottom lip nervously, as he knelt down to place his hands on either side of her belly, kissing her there. She moaned, as his kisses traveled lower, and when his breath hit the inside of her thighs, her hands found his shoulders and gripped them, holding on tightly.

His tender kisses started to send her soaring over the edge for the first time in so long.

"Sully…I…I need to lie down," she breathed. He looked up at her, his eyes full of worry.

"You alright?" he asked. She blushed heavily.

"I'm fine. I just…think…well, the bed…" She couldn't believe how quickly she was becoming tongue-tied. It wasn't supposed to be this awkward. Not with him. But at the same time, the awkward feeling made it even more exciting, and her heart pounded desperately in her chest. She watched him stand, his eyes admiring her body at a time that she felt most vulnerable. She was simply amazed at the fact that he could still look at her in this shape and have that same adoring, desirous look in his eyes as he had every time they were together. If it was even possible, she began to love him even more.

He scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bed. She smiled as he laid her across it, and her hair spilled behind her, blanketing the quilt in golden-red strands of silky tresses.

She felt his hands on her knees, inching her legs apart, and she moaned as he touched her again, filling her with absolute rapture. Her breathing began to quicken, as her body responded to his actions.

"Sully!" she exclaimed. "I…oh God, Sully!" Hearing her say his name caused his own desire to strengthen, and his fingers began to massage her, drawing out moans from deep within her. He began to climb kiss his way up her body, taking his time when he reached her breasts, teasing each nipple with his mouth, causing her to arch her back in an urgent plea for more. When his mouth sought hers, she gave into him completely.

Never letting his mouth leave hers, Sully kicked off his boots and maneuvered himself out of his buckskins, letting his bare flesh touch hers. Her hands immediately began to roam, and she reached out, stroking him and causing him to groan in surprise. She smiled against his lips, as they tumbled back onto the pillows again, and as his mouth explored her neck, her hands drew his desires out, causing him to writhe above her. When he turned on his side, she looked into his eyes, watching them roll back and then flutter open to look into hers. His hands began to touch her again, and it was all she could do to keep herself grounded on the bed. She smiled, still blushing, and she swallowed any embarrassment that may have began to creep up on her.

"Michaela," he gasped, letting her know that he was close. Her caresses intensified until he let go, and they came over the edge in unison.

Afterward, they lie there holding one another, caressing the soft skin upon their arms, their backs, their hips. His ragged breaths warmed her, and he pressed a shaky kiss to her sweat-beaded brow. He saw the flush still in her cheeks, and she opened her eyes, snuggling closer to him and capturing his lips with her own. Then she rested her head on his chest, and he held her, rocking her, as a tear slipped down her cheek.

"Is it different?" she asked after several moments of silence.

"Hmm?"

"Us? This? Is it different?" He heard the shake in her voice.

"I…I don't know," he answered truthfully. "Did I…"

"Everything was perfect, Sully," she assured him. "I suppose I just…I wasn't certain how…I mean…" Sully tilted her chin so he could look her in the eyes.

"There's nothin' ya can't say to me. Ya know that."

"I know. I've always known," she replied, her fingertips softly making a path from his sternum to his belly button. "You're happy, aren't you?"

"Why would ya even ask that? 'Course I'm happy. Ain't you?"

"Yes. Yes, I'm very happy," she whispered. "I suppose I was just worried that everything would change after we married."

"Some things are gonna change."

"I know," she replied. "I suppose my biggest fear is that…before we were married, it was about…about being together, because we were afraid of losing one another. I'm still afraid, but…but something's changed now that we're married."

"Why's that?"

"I know it's silly, but I felt…before we were married…that I could lose you at any moment. You were shot right there at my side, Sully. That night…I decided then and there that I wouldn't let you go without you knowing how I felt."

"And ya didn't. But I made it."

"But now that we're married, I'm even more terrified. If I lost you…"

"Hey," he whispered, his eyes searching hers. "You're not gonna lose me, Michaela. Never."

"You can't promise that."

"We been here before."

"I know." She sat up, covering herself with the comforter on the bed. "I want you to be happy."

"That's what I want for you. That's all I want for our family, Michaela."

"You're certain you'll be happy?" Sully narrowed his eyes.

"Michaela, I wouldn't have married ya if I didn't want to." Michaela looked down at her stomach, and Sully swallowed the lump in his throat "You think I'm marryin' you just 'cause you're pregnant?" He started to get out of bed, but Michaela stopped him.

"No! No, I don't. I suppose that thought runs through my mind every so often, but that's my own worries…You've told me before that you want to be with me, and I believe you. I do. I suppose that sometimes my thoughts get too heavy, and—"

"I swear to ya, Michaela, I'm here 'cause this is the only place I wanna be. I wouldn't be happy if I wasn't with you. You're the reason I'm here right now. If I hadn't found you, I'd still be lost. I'd still be out there wonderin' how things could've been." A few more tears trickled down her cheeks.

"Oh, Sully. I'm sorry. I'm…I'm ruining our wedding night." Sully grinned at his emotional wife and cupped her cheek in his hand.

"No you're not. Nothin' about this day's been ruined." He snuggled up closer to her, kissing the top of her head. "Well, except…" He sighed, knowing he shouldn't have started to bring it up.

"Except what?"

"It's nothin'."

"No it isn't," Michaela replied. She studied his face. "The townspeople tried to get to you, didn't they?"

"I handled it, Michaela. It's over now."

"They tried to get to me too." Sully felt his body tense.

"Michaela, if they did anything…I swear…"

"No! No, Carrie and…and Hank fought them off," she said with a laugh in her voice.

"What?"

"It surprised me too, Sully, but when Carrie jumped in, Hank came out and told everyone to leave us alone."

"Don't sound like Hank. You sure it was him?" he asked, disbelief in his eyes as Michaela rolled hers.

"Of course it was him, Sully. I'm pregnant not blind." He let out a chuckle in her shoulder.

"Sorry. I'm just surprised."

"So was I." She looked at him. "Did he say anything to you?"

"Not since last night," he replied. Michaela raised an eyebrow.

"You didn't say anything about that…" Sully shook his head.

"I was out visitin' Abby and the girls' graves, and he showed up." Michaela sighed.

"I'm sorry, Sully."

"Well, he said he was there visitin' Jake…then he was sayin' he felt bad about what happened. I was still so…mad at him for bein' there…"

"He helped me, Sully. As much as he provoked me, he still helped me when I did collapse. He could have just let me fall and walked off. He could've let me and our babies die, but he didn't." She placed her hand on her bare belly. "He has a good heart somewhere in there. He just doesn't like to admit it…or prove it very often."

"I'm grateful that he did help ya. I just can't get past some of the things he said."

"It's the past, Sully. I'm not worried about it anymore. It isn't worth worry about, because it's over." He watched her eyes glisten with tears, and she smiled, kissing his cheek. He admired her for being so noble and so willing to forgive. He decided that he'd try to look past what Hank had done, though it was going to be hard. He knew that what was most important right now was his family, and he wasn't going to waste his energy being angry at someone that didn't deserve that much attention.

"The past," he agreed, kissing the tip of her nose. She smiled, and when their eyes met again, he pulled her into a warm embrace, igniting her passion once more.

The train slowed to a stop, emitting clouds of loose western soil from underneath it. The platform was nearly abandoned, save for a few impatient folks that were going on their way to Denver. But, for the most part, the townsfolk were settling down for dinner at home or at Grace's Café, so nobody really noticed when a tall, lanky fellow with dark eyes and raven hair stepped off of the train with one hand on his holster and the other crumpling a yellowed note between his fingers.

"Can I help ya, sir?" Horace Bing asked from his post. The stranger studied the odd-looking man for a moment before swaggering toward him, his hand clutching the name of the one he'd come for.

"Maybe. I'm lookin' for this lady." Horace stared down at the old piece of paper and looked at him curiously.

"Well, she's with her husband right now—"

"Cant' be."

"Why not?"

"'Cause I'm her husband. I've come to take her home."

Author's Note: Thanks for the feedback so far! Please let me know what you think! More is on the way!