Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
"Coming Home: A Christmas Story"
Written By: Emily A. Linzi
While Brian was visiting with Mr. Bray and the Reverend, Nia was getting acquainted with the layout of the town and the place Brian referred to as home. She was enjoying herself in this town it was a place she would love to raise her kids instead of the hustle and bustle of the city. She hadn't told Brian because he loved living in Boston so much and she didn't want him to give that up. Brian found her roaming around the town, by the time he caught up with her she was in the meadow.
"You know that's right where my parents got married." Said Brian.
"Really?" said Nia.
"Yeah about 8 years ago." Said Brian remembering Michaela and Sully's wedding day.
"This town is beautiful, someday I'd love to live here and raise my family here." Said Nia bringing up the thought of family.
"I would love to raise my family here you know close to my parents and family." Said Brian agreeing with her.
"Well then let's make a promise if and when we decide to start a family we'll move back here a do that." Said Nia.
"Alright it's a promise, when we start a family we'll move back here." Said Brian thinking they'd be back sooner than she thought if everything went according to his plan.
That afternoon Brian and Nia returned back to the homestead and found Matthew outside in the yard with Katie.
"So what did you do in town?" Said Matthew
"Nothing just showed Nia around and stopped in a had a talk with Mr. Bray and the Reverend." Said Brian as he watched Nia play with Katie.
"Yeah, well that's good." Said Matthew.
"Can I ask you a question?" Said Brian.
"Sure." Said Matthew.
"Well I'm thinking of asking Nia to marry me, now don't tell anyone okay, but I already bought her a ring." Said Brian.
"Well, so what's the question, sound to me like you already have your mind made up." Said Matthew.
"Well Nia and I want to move back here to raise a family, could you help me find a place close by?" Asked Brian.
"Sure, but are you ready to leave the newspaper so soon?" Asked Matthew.
"Yeah I mean this is home and besides I can just as easily write for the paper in Denver and Nia might actually be able to write under her own name out here." Said Brian.
"That's true." Said Matthew.
"You promise you won't tell Ma and Sully that we talked about this?" Asked Brian.
"Absolutely, I won't tell a thing, just don't tell Katie about your plans for sure she'll go and tell Ma." Said Matthew adoringly about his sister.
"Trust me I won't." Said Brian.
"So have you told Nia about this little plan of yours?" Asked Matthew.
"Well we've talked in future sense, but no she doesn't know about how soon this will be." Said Brian.
"Well I hope turns out how you want it." Said Matthew.
"I do too." Said Brian responding to his brother.
(Meanwhile at the Clinic)
Michaela, Colleen, and Andrew worked side by side just as they did before Colleen left for medical school.
"So Ma do you need help with anything?" asked Colleen.
"No I think we're all set for now why don't you two go and get some lunch from Grace's and I'll join you soon." Said Michaela.
"Are you sure?" Asked Andrew.
"Yes I'm sure." Said Michaela.
"Okay, we'll see you there." Said Colleen.
Colleen and Andrew left the clinic and started the short walk to Grace's for lunch.
"Andrew, do you think Ma was just trying to get rid of us somehow?" Asked Colleen.
"Maybe, I mean Michaela has been working by herself for so long that I think she has gotten used to it." Said Andrew. "And with the new hospital coming along so well, she might be trying to soak up the piece of having her own practice, before going back to hospital shifts." Said Andrew.
"Your right, I mean we haven't been here practicing for awhile, these are Ma's patients not ours, we don't know their problems. We have our patients in Boston that we know and that Ma doesn't." Said Colleen thinking how silly she was being.
(Back at the Homestead, Later that evening)
After dinner that evening Brian found Nia on the porch again looking at the stars.
"They don't really change you know." Said Brian as he walked on to the porch holding Nia's coat.
"I know. I just don't get many opportunities to look at them in Boston. I'm either writing a story hoping to get it published, or editing someone else's hoping it doesn't." Said Nia not looking at Brian at all while she talked. "Goodness, Brian when did I get so cynical that I actually hope that someone's hard work doesn't make the morning paper?" Asked Nia, now looking at Brian who was sitting next to her.
"I don't know, but I do know that I love you and I want to spend my life with you." Said Brian.
"I want the same thing Brian. But how are we going to do it?"
End of Chapter 5