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.

Promises to keep

A sequel to Walking After You

By Kruemi

Chapter 1

The ring tone was a different one than she was used to. Yet still, she reached out in order to pick up the receiver but the phone wasn't on its accustomed place either. The insistent tone, however, suddenly stopped and a deep voice right next to her said quietly, "Thanks, Maude."

Coming up from the soundest sleep she had experienced in years, Michaela tried to get her bearings. All she was able to remember was the desperate feeling of a final loss and a safety she had never known before. Suddenly, the mattress moved and a strong arm pulled her against a broad chest.

At this moment, it was all coming back. Her father was gone. He had asked her to come to Boston, realizing after a heart attack that it was only stupid pride that kept him away from the daughter he loved. Yet reuniting, they lost each other for good because of an infection that couldn't be stopped. But there was something else. In the middle of her sadness she had found the confidence to finally trust the man who was lying next to her with every fiber of her being. His hand lay on her stomach, covering almost all area between her navel and breasts. The warmth of his body seeped into hers and contently letting her lids droop again, she snuggled her back even closer to him.

Sully smiled. When Michaela invited him last night to share her hotel room with her he knew that she was ready to do the still missing last step in their relationship. Their first time together had been incredible and if he could have his way, he would stay with her in bed all day. Yet he couldn't. Nuzzling the soft, coppery hair he whispered into her ear, "Mornin'."

His breath moved some of the fine wisps on Michaela's temple. They tickled his nose and he pressed his face deeper into the silky mass as to chase away the sensation, even though it was a funny one. Feeling her move deeper into his embrace, he secretly sighed. Feeling her skin on his, smelling her unique scent almost drove him crazy. How he wished he could give in to his desires, making her cry out his name again! Yet clearing his throat, he informed her casually, "The kids wanna wake us."

When she only nodded he grinned, waiting for his words to sink in. As they at last did, Michaela sat up with a start, pulling the cover up to her chest, "Sully, we are naked!" Her voice betrayed that she was kind of horrified.

"Yeah." Sully wasn't able to suppress his amusement. Still chuckling, he added, "Maude thought so, that's why she called as to warn us."

Yet this new fact didn't lighten Michaela's embarrassment. With one hand already fishing under her pillow for her pajamas, her tone was somewhat shrill when she reiterated, clearly flustered now, "Maude thought so?"

"Michaela," Sully slid up in a sitting position as well, sobering. He reached for her arm, making her look at him. "Ya don't regret last night, do ya?"

She instantly softened. Blushing under his gaze she assured, "Of course not. It's just…"

Averting her eyes she looked at her hands that were fidgeting with the fabric of her pajamas she had just found. Taking a deep breath, her color even heightened when she searched for the right expression, "I don't know, Sully. I don't want Katie and Hannah to get confused…" Her voice trailed off again.

"They've already seen us sleepin' together," he pointed out, trying to understand her problem.

"I know." She glanced at him, giving one of her crooked smiles. "But that was different. We only slept together back then and didn't… I mean…"

Thinking he knew what she was struggling with, Sully relaxed. "They don't know what we did last night, Michaela."

"But Maude does," she blurted unhappily, yet he simply laid an arm around her shoulder, kissing the side of her head, "She's grown up. And so are we. No need to worry. Besides, I don't wanna get caught naked by the girls as well."

He had barely pulled his blue boxers on and Michaela her top and shorts when they heard the tapping of small feet before their door, accompanied by giggling.

Immediately, Sully took Michaela under the cover with him. "Let's pretend we're still asleep."

She couldn't see his mischievous grin yet she very soon realized that he didn't want to only tease their daughters. She had difficulties to breathe evenly as his hand slipped under her top, slowly wandering higher and higher, caressing her and tantalizing each pore of her skin.

Maude carefully looked into the room to see whether she could let in the little girls. She had still to get used to the sight of Dr. Mike in her daughter's place but Sully had made it clear to her that if she didn't, she couldn't participate in her granddaughter's life. Actually, the hardest part was to hear Hannah call the other woman 'Mommy' yet Maude was determined to accept it. She had already grown fond of the doctor's daughter Katie who was interrupting her musing at this moment, "Can we go in, Mrs. Bray?"

Quickly glancing in the direction of the bed again, she saw a grin tugging on Sully's lips. The older woman hoped that this was his way of telling her they were prepared for the girls to join them. Thus she simply stepped aside, making room for the children.

Although Hannah and Katie weren't related to each other, one would think they were twins despite the differences in their appearences. Similar in age, they had almost the same slender figure. Yet the blond-haired Katie had brown eyes while Hannah's were of the same blue like her father's. She had his curly hair as well, only that it was so dark that it could almost be called black. Anyway, since their first meeting at the kindergarten several months back, the little girls felt drawn to each other. The happiest day in both their short lives had been when their respective parent told them they would be real sisters soon.

Holding hands, they carefully tiptoed towards the bed. They only saw their mommy's face for their daddy lay behind her. Did she really still sleep? There, her lips twitched! The children glanced at each other knowingly. As to suppress their own giggling, each of them covered her mouth with the free hand. Not wasting one more second, they didn't creep up anymore but rather jumped onto the mattress next to their mother. Hannah, still too shy as to shower her mommy's face with kisses as Katie was doing now, tried to tickle her on her sides instead. Yet she hadn't counted on her father who suddenly grabbed her, holding her above his head as if she were still a baby. Squealing in delight she cried, "Daddy!" until he let her down again.

The scene that played before her brought tears to Maude's eyes. Although Sully and the doctor weren't married yet it was clear that she saw a family celebrating the new day. A happy family, despite all the problems they had to solve yet.

It was Maude who gave them the first challenge of the day. As they all were gathered around the breakfast table in the hotel's dining room, she cleared her throat. "I had a call from Loren last night."

Sully nodded in understanding; he knew what was coming. Michaela, however, looked up from her plate, questioningly, "Is something wrong at home?"

"No," the older woman assured, "Loren only feels lonely." She smiled wryly.

Instantly, Michaela felt guilty. Although Sully's former mother-in-law had offered to accompany them of her own accord, she shouldn't have accepted it. After all, they were still strangers to each other. Laying down her knife and wiping her mouth with the napkin, Michaela swallowed. "Mrs. Bray, I'm very grateful that you came with me, helping with Hannah and Katie. But of course your husband needs you more."

She was already rising to her feet when she added, "I'll go to the reception as to look if they..."

Yet Maude covered Michaela's hand, which still lay on the table, in order to hold her back, "No need for that. I've already dialed them. They found a flight that leaves at half past ten. Unfortunately that does mean I have to set off really soon."

"It's alright," Sully chimed in, smiling reassuringly at Abigail's mother, "I'm here now. Thanks for bein' there for Michaela when I couldn't."

Wide-eyed, the little girls followed the conversation. "Mrs. Bray will leave?" Katie asked, insecure whether she had understood the adults right.

Hannah looked at her father hoping he would deny it. As Sully nodded in affirmation though, she instantly protested, "But we wanted to go to the zoo today!" As soon as the words were out, she glanced at her grandma, guilt written on her small face. This was supposed to be a secret.

For the children's sake, Sully tried to suppress any expression of disapproval hearing this news. He had once explained to his daughter why he didn't like places like a zoo. Realizing that he needed to talk to Maude about the principles he had for raising Hannah, he made an alternative suggestion instead, "I hoped you'd enjoy seein' the ocean, sweet girl."

Whilst father and daughter had a mute communication, the women looked at each other. They could tell that Sully was upset yet Michaela as well as Maude acknowledged that now wasn't the right time to ask questions.

As far as Katie was concerned, she was puzzled. Never before had she witnessed a disagreement between Hannah and her father. Thus she didn't know what was going on. Fortunately, her mommy's voice distracted her before she began to feel uneasy. "Sweetheart, did you already tell Hannah about the sailing ships in the harbor? Or the cruise ships that can have up to ten or even fourteen stories?"

Instantly, Michaela had Hannah's attention as well. "Fourteen?" It was obvious that the little girl thought her mommy was exaggerating.

"Yes, Katie and I have seen them," Michaela nodded. "Actually, you would do me a favor if you looked whether there is one. You could show it to me later today."

Hannah's face lit up and Michaela knew that this problem was settled for the moment. When she felt Sully's warm lips on her temple, she momentarily closed her eyes, wishing she could stay with her family all day. Yet she, too, couldn't have what she wanted.

……………………………………………………

An hour later, after she had said goodbye to Maude and Sully was on his way to the harbor with their daughters, Michaela rang the bell at the entrance of the house where she had spent her childhood and youth. Although she had only been away from this place for little more than six years, she felt like a stranger here now. Maybe it was the knowledge that this would never be her home again which added to her uneasiness.

However, when after a few moments of waiting her mother opened the door, all thoughts about herself fled. Taking in the petite figure in the doorway, the grayish complexion and the light shaking of the hands, Michaela realized for the first time that Elizabeth Quinn had grown old. "Good morning, Mom," she said softly and was surprised when she gained the attempt of a smile in response. Since Michaela had revealed that she was not only pregnant but would raise her child alone, her parents had only met her with disapproval. On her father's side it was mostly caused by disappointment about her failing yet her mother had simply and constantly been furious. Maybe they could finally make their peace as well.

Michaela had no way of knowing that they would have another confrontation only a few hours later, after the lawyer would finish reading her father's will.