"Jimmy wait," Faith called causing him to pause one more time and look at her. He saw her waddling toward him and opted to meet her half way since moving had become so laborious.

"What is it, sweetheart?"

"Do you really have to go?" she asked looking up at him with near childlike eyes, "I mean you could stay, couldn't you?"

"I'll be right back here tomorrow morning," he reminded her for what was at least the twelfth time. "I will be fine. You will be fine. I will see you tomorrow when you are coming toward me in your pretty dress that Lou and Jenny made you."

"I don't sleep well without you," she said looking at her feet and fighting the tears.

"I know you don't. But it's just one night and then you never have to again," he assured her.

"I don't want to be without you," she said and the tears could not be held off any longer, "Not even for one night."

Jimmy wound his arms around her and held her close feeling her sink into him.

"I know you don't but you have to," he told her, "I love you and I always will."

He pulled back just a little and tilted her chin up so that he could look into her eyes.

"I promise this is the last night we ever spend apart. That won't be in those vows tomorrow but I promise you right here and now and I'm pretty sure God's listening in on this. I will never leave you. I learned my lesson and you will never be able to get rid of me now."

He kissed her once more and then was on his way. Faith just stood there crying. Lou and Jenny had stayed in the house in order to give Jimmy and Faith some privacy to say their goodbyes but finally looked out when it was so long and their friend had not returned to the house.

"Oh no," Jenny said under her breath and then muttered something else in Lakota as she scurried outside.

Faith wasn't aware of much as Jimmy rode away from her. All she could think of was the last time he had ridden away. Her heart broke the same as it had then. He said he'd be back but he left anyway. He left her alone even though she didn't want to be alone.

"Brides are not supposed to cry the night before the wedding," Jenny gently chastised wrapping her arms around her friend, "Even when they are moody and about to have a baby."

"I told him not to go," Faith said distantly, "And still he left."

"It's only for this night."

"The telegram came and he never even asked, he just decided and I told him I loved him. I told him to stay and he still left."

"Faith that was a very complicated situation," Jenny tried to soothe, "He did what he thought was best."

"He wasn't ever coming for me. He wasn't ever coming back. I had to come find him. He left me for good. He left me forever."

Lou walked up and heard the last part of Faith's sobbed tirade. She smoothed Faith's hair and whispered to her.

"No, he didn't leave you. Not all of him did anyway. He came back here and something was missing. His heart was somewhere else."

"But he's gone, Lou," Faith choked out through her tears, "He just rode away like before."

"This is nothing like before," Jenny cooed at her, "That man loves you. He's coming back."

"And if he doesn't," Lou said with a hint of a smile, "I'm not above riding out and bringing him back at gunpoint."

The women slowly managed to get Faith back into the house and set on the couch. Jenny went to make tea while Lou sat next to Faith.

Jimmy made his way to the old bunkhouse. He hated riding away from her like that. He still didn't feel particularly secure in letting her out of his sight. That would change in time, he knew but she was still so wounded and so frightened and he hated leaving her and thinking she might need him.

As he made his way through town, Teaspoon and Buck came out of the marshal's office. He stopped for them.

"Thought maybe you might want to go for a celebratory drink being as you're getting yourself hitched tomorrow," Teaspoon said.

"I'm not really feeling like drinking," Jimmy said and he wasn't. He was feeling more like turning the horse and riding full out back home so he could sleep with Faith in his arms.

"Just come on in the office with us," the older man insisted, "Not asking you to go to the saloon or nothing. I know you've developed an aversion to them places."

Jimmy wanted to continue on to the bunkhouse. He wanted to be alone but then he realized that maybe being alone right now wasn't the best plan. He really hated being alone when he was honest. So he climbed down from his horse, tethered it and followed the other men inside.

"Rachel sent over some food for us," Buck said pouring and handing Jimmy a glass of whiskey, "She's pretty busy finishing food for tomorrow."

"I'll just bet she is," Jimmy said as he watched the other two men get their own glasses, "This isn't going to be a big party, is it?"

"Your bride didn't want one so we're trying to respect her wishes," Teaspoon replied, "Had to fight Rachel to keep from inviting half the town but it might still be more people than Faith had in mind."

"Hopefully she'll get over it," Jimmy said cringing at the thought that maybe she would be upset.

"Trust me, son," Teaspoon told him, "She'll be so happy to be getting married that she won't mind an extra person or two."

All three men held glasses so Teaspoon cleared his throat.

"I feel the need to say a few words as yet another of my boys has seen fit to find himself a good woman," he began, "And she is a good woman, Jimmy. You make sure she always knows that. I been married six times now and I think I might give lucky number seven a go here before too long if I can convince the lady to take a chance on me. I failed a good number of those times but each failing teaches you something. Maybe if I can pass on a little of what I know then it won't take you boys six tries to find happiness. You got to talk to her and listen to her, really listen. It gets hard sometimes though don't repeat that to Rachel. But it's important. I think the most important thing of all. And she has to know every day that you love her. You make sure you do those things and it all should fall into place pretty well for you. So let me raise a glass to young Hickok here. May your days with Faith be many and filled with joy!"

They clinked their glasses and quickly threw back their drinks. Jimmy could feel the warmth spread through him. It had been a while since he had indulged himself with a drink. He hadn't been in a saloon since the night before he heard of Faith's dream. He frankly didn't care if he ever set foot in another one. He'd rather play cards with Buck and Teaspoon for matches than sit in one of those loud rooms again with the jangling pianos and the women trying to rub against him. He knew he'd never want for female companionship again so he had no need of those women. And when he was with Faith he never felt the need so much to drink heavy. He'd have a beer with supper if he was out at a restaurant but no need to throw back whiskey. Still his nerves felt calmer for the drink—or maybe it was Teaspoon's words of advice. No, he was sure it was the whiskey.

Buck noticed the tension leaving Hickok's shoulders, tension he hadn't taken notice of when they had stopped the man as he rode through town.

"You weren't getting cold feet, were you Jimmy?" Buck asked only half teasing.

"No," Jimmy answered quickly, "Just a little nervous I guess."

Buck nodded. When Jenny had come back to be with her father, he at once felt the attraction to her as he had when they had first met. She had changed and he supposed some of that was just growing up a bit. She knew how to act among the white world and yet carried the independent fire that came from her time with the Lakota. She was sure of herself and she had put away her anger in favor of compassion. He'd in truth never met anyone with more of it than she had. People he thought deserved none of it, she felt badly for their ignorance.

"Just think of all they miss out on, Buck," she would say to him, "Think of your friends. Think how they've become family and then think of how many people would miss out on the chance to know what wonderful people they are because of their petty prejudices and ignorance."

She had even lost her anger for her father again only thinking of how lonely he would be without his daughter. It didn't take long before the man came around. In honesty he was heading that way for a while. Buck understood now things he wouldn't if not for his Eagle Feather. He now was proud to call Bill Tompkins a friend as well as father-in-law. He knew that he would have missed out on that if not for Jenny's compassion leading the way. Still, as much as he came to love her and as sure as he was that he wanted to wed her, the night before his wedding he was a mess. He wasn't nervous that he was making the wrong decision or that he would regret marrying her. He was afraid she would regret marrying him. He feared he would not be the husband she deserved and he thought perhaps Jimmy was worrying the same things.

"You will be fine," he assured clapping Jimmy on the back before downing his third or maybe fourth shot of whiskey, "She already loves your ugly mug so that's a good start. And you take good care of her. All she's been through I doubt you'll run into anything that you can't handle."

"It's not just being good enough for her that has me nervous," Jimmy answered putting an arm around Buck's shoulders more to hold himself up than anything else. "She's going to have that baby nearly anytime now and I don't have the slightest idea what I am supposed to do with a baby."

"You know what?" Buck asked fighting to not laugh, "I don't either. I'm scared to death."

Then Buck did start laughing and Jimmy joined him in laughing and they nearly fell down as each was the only thing holding the other one up.

"How about it, Teaspoon," Jimmy called to the old man who had sort of slumped into his chair behind his desk, "You raised us. Any ideas how the two of us can manage to be pas?"

"Now the both of you have seen me with babies and know full well I don't know what to do with a baby anymore than you do. When those young 'uns get older, then you come and talk to me."

That got them all laughing until they were crying. It wasn't too much longer before the whiskey ran dry and they all decided they should move along and try to get some sleep. Buck decided to sleep in the old bunkhouse with Jimmy since his own wife wasn't at home either.

"Hey Buck," Jimmy whispered into the darkness once they had both turned in for the night. "I'm glad you're here with me."

"I'm glad you're back with all of us too, Jimmy," Buck said.

"I know everything that happened with Aaron was terrible and I hate what he did to her," Jimmy went on, "But if she hadn't gotten that telegram then we would've gotten married without any of you around. I can't help thinking in some ways this is better. The baby—my baby—gets to know his uncles. Or hers, I suppose."

"There now," Jenny said as she tied the last rag into Faith's long hair, "Tomorrow you'll have the prettiest curls for Jimmy. What a vision you'll be for him."

"Thank you," Faith said, "Both of you. You've both been so good to me. I really am sorry about that scene earlier. I know I was being silly. He'll be back. Of course he will. I just guess I get scared still."

"That's to be expected," Lou said sitting next to her, "Things have happened so fast for you. To finally have a way to get away from Aaron and get here and then finding Jimmy and getting engaged and Aaron finding you…why anyone would still be getting scared. It took me a year at least before I quit jumping at shadows. You're used to Jimmy being here to protect you and he's damned good at it too. Tonight though you have me. I'll be in the living room with a gun. No one hurts my friends. And for sure no one hurts my family."

Faith smiled at Lou.

"And I will be right here so you won't be alone at all," Jenny said, "And I think right now you should try to get some sleep. It won't do for your groom to see you with circles under your eyes."

"You're right," Faith said, "I look enough of a fright these days. No need to make myself worse as I go waddling toward him."

Lou left the room and headed to the living room while Jenny turned the lamp down. Faith rolled over and just soaked in the day. It hadn't been that bad really. She and Jimmy had spent most of it together and had only just gotten up and decently dressed before her friends had gotten there. Faith had felt so warm and loved in Jimmy's arms and knew she could count on that feeling forever. But of course the memory of his arms around her only made her long for them all the more. She felt so empty and so frightened. She knew no one was after her anymore and she was beginning to believe no one was after Jimmy anymore either. If anyone did want to get to her they would have to go through Lou who was armed and Jimmy had told her enough tales of Lou during her pony express days that Faith knew no one was getting past Lou. She had friends and she had the life within her and things were going to be alright. As if to confirm this, the baby in her belly squirmed. It seemed to have a harder time making larger movements and Faith knew that was because there just wasn't the room there. She also knew that they were getting this wedding in just in time. She had been feeling the tightness overtake her abdomen off and on for a few weeks and that meant her body was getting ready to do the real work of pushing the child out.

Faith still closed her eyes trying to pretend that Jimmy was near but he wasn't. There were no arms around her and she could not hear his deep breathing. She could not fall asleep listening to his heart beating in his chest.

"Faith," came the whisper, "Faith are you awake?"

"Yes," Faith answered honestly.

"I didn't wake you, did I?" Jenny asked softly.

"No, I have such trouble sleeping without him."

"I understand," Jenny replied, "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"When the time comes for me to have my baby, will you be there?" Jenny asked her, "I'm really very frightened and I'd feel better with you there."

"I could be nowhere else," Faith assured, "It's a very scary thing. I've been afraid every day since I was sure that I was carrying that something bad would happen. I lost a few before Adam, you know. I think today was the first time I wasn't afraid for the baby. Aside from my little episode I have felt actually quite well today. But I know the fear, Jenny. I'll be there for you. I'm sure by then I can trust Jimmy with the baby."

"I'm sorry to bring up your Adam. It must hurt so to think on him."

"It always will but don't be sorry," Faith said very softly, "Memories are all I have of him. If I didn't think of him he would truly be gone forever and that I could not bear. I wish at times that Jimmy could have known him, that you all could. He was such a sweet boy. But he is part of a life I don't have anymore and I am meant to bring this baby into the new life."

"I am so glad you came to Rock Creek," Jenny murmured now close to sleep.

"I am too," Faith told her and it was the truth. The circumstances that brought her here might have been the most terrible she could imagine but Jimmy was better with his family and she was learning that she was better off as well. She had friends for the first time since she was a schoolgirl and she was learning they were more than friends, they were sisters, brothers and even a father and mother of a sort. She thought back on the day that Jimmy had approached her in town and offered to help her with her supplies. She had been frightened and almost still insisted he go on his way but then there was something in him, a light flickering under the surface of the infamous gunman that made her think maybe she was safe with him. And she was—safer than she had ever been. Now she truly had everything she could ever want, well she had nearly everything she wanted. In the light of the new day she would get the one thing that she still lacked—his name. It wasn't just for her that she wanted that but for the child struggling against the confines of her belly. Once she had the name for her and for their child they would truly be family and that was really all she wanted or could want.

On the other side of town Jimmy was just drifting off himself. He had at one time thought that family was something he did not need. His own growing up had taught him only self reliance and mistrust. But Buck and Kid and Ike and Cody and Noah and Lou had taught him that he could trust others with his life while Emma and Teaspoon and Rachel had taught him that there were those who could be trusted with things far more important than his life. He'd had a rich life when they were all together. Maybe not rich in money but he considered himself rich in all that mattered when he was with them. Leaving them he thought he was leaving it all behind and that he no longer was worthy of such things. Faith had her own lessons for him. He sometimes thought she had brought him back to life. As much as he loved the pieced together family that had been established during his time with the express, he knew the dawn would bring the day that he would become head of his own family. It was daunting and yet exhilarating at the same time. He would be husband and father and somehow he would rise above the example set by his own father and instead walk in the footsteps of the man who truly taught him to be a man. He knew if he could be half the man that Teaspoon was that he might just be up to the task of deserving his Faith.

I do believe we are on the home stretch of this story...one or two chapters more I think. I know I will say this again but for the record I want to thank everyone for hanging in with me even when this story got difficult and sad. It has kept me going to know that there are people out there who care what happens to Faith and Jimmy and their baby!-J