Matt & Kitty New Orleans.

Matt, Kitty and Davy started walking to the apartment building. As they walked Davy seemed to be slowing down. Matt reached down, picked Davy up and put the boy on his shoulders. Davy giggled with delight, a sound that Kitty realized that she had heard way too seldom.

Back at the apartment Kitty quickly fixed a simple meal, and the three sat down to eat. Not wanting to discuss serious matters in front of Davy, Matt and Kitty kept the conversation light. Kitty mentioned that she had told Davy about Festus. Matt talked about the latest adventures of Festus and Doc.

After dinner Kitty was putting Davy to bed when the boy asked if Matt could come and tuck him in. Clearly he was taken with the man. Matt went in to say good night.

Davy looked up at Matt and asked "Will you be here tomorrow?"

Matt tucked the blankets around the boy, "Yes, I will."

Davy looked up and asked, "Promise'"

Matt answered seriously, "Promise, you just go to sleep. I'll be here in the morning,"

Matt returned to the living room. Kitty smiled, thinking that the apartment was just not big enough for Matt.

Matt went over to Kitty and kissed her fervently. Kitty responded with all the passion and need that she felt. The made their way to bed and answered each other's desires. It had been way too long.

After making love they held each other needing to talk.

Matt had known about the continuing struggle to pay off the debts incurred by Carl. Kitty now told him about Iris going to work for Queenie, and the visits to the brothel to try to get Iris to leave.

Matt held Kitty close to him. "Honey, you know that whatever you have to go through, you are not alone, don't you?"

Kitty smiled at him, "Oh Matt, I always know that. You are always with me. Sometimes thinking about you and reading your letters were the only things that kept me believing that I could get through this. I wouldn't have even been able to find Iris if you hadn't contacted Captain Blake and tonight – you were there when I most needed you."

Matt squeezed her even closer, "I almost was too late."

Kitty kissed him again, "But you weren't."

Matt looked the woman he love so much and said, "Tomorrow we'll go the Queenie's together."

Kitty sighed. " Yes, I'd like that."

Matt then filled Kitty in on his own doings. His explained his resignation, the thinking behind it, his trip to Topeka and the job that he had accepted. He rose and left the bedroom for a moment. When he returned Kitty was sitting on the side of the bed.

Matt went to her, knelt on one knee and took her hands in his. "Kitty Russell would you do me the tremendous honor of becoming my wife?"

Kitty looked at Matt, her heart surging with love. She saw all the love in his eyes and simply whispered "Yes."

Matt slipped the engagement ring on Kitty's finger, he rose and took Kitty in his arms, their need for each other once again arising.

After making love they fell asleep in each others arms.

Kitty was awakened a few hours later. She had heard Matt groan and move to sit on the side of the bed.

"Matt, what is it?"

"Kitty, I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you. It's not even dawn, you should go back to sleep."

Kitty could see that Matt was in pain, although he tried to cover it.

"Matt Dillon, there are certain things you are good about saying but not very good about accepting."

"Honey, I don't know what you mean."

"Matt, what about the idea that – whatever you are going through you are not alone."

"Kitty, you know that's true."

"Matt it goes both ways. I saw that fight in the park and I saw you being hit hard across the back with that metal bar. It is catching up with you. Yep, I know your back is really hurting right now and keeping you awake. So, I want you to lie down on your stomach right now and let me work on your back. I'm pretty sure I can ease the pain."

"Kitty, I love you for that, but I don't want you to be up all night."

Kitty gave him the look not to be fooled with, so he dutifully went back to bed and allowed her to massage his back.

Kitty knew that the bullet that Matt had taken in his back about 3 years ago had made his back vulnerable. It took a little doing but Matt's back muscles gradually relaxed and he drifted back to sleep. Kitty kissed his forehead gently and snuggled in to go back to sleep herself, so happy to be with her cowboy again. Tomorrow, together they would try to get Iris to come home.