Disclaimer: I do not own Dr.Quinn Medicine Woman. That right belongs to the creators of the show,The Sullivan Company,CBS, and A&E. I do not want to infringe on the rights of anyone mentioned in this story.
As Sully entered the dining room for breakfast he noticed how late in the day it was. He and Michaela had stayed up talking and kissing so it was after midnight when they finally went their seperate ways to get some rest.
James and Mrs.Johnson was at the dining table talking when they noticed him. "Morning Sully." James said smiling.
"Morning." Sully replied. Looking around the room he asked,"Where is everybody?"
"Well, Sleepyhead. Everyone else has started their day. The kids are out playing and Moll...I mean Michaela is at the general store working."
"Oh." Sully said as he chewed on a mouthful of pancakes.
Trying to get some information out of him Mrs.Johnson pried,"Ya'll must have stayed up late. Michaela was tired this morning too."
"Stayed up late talking is all." Sully replied not wanting Mrs.Johnson to think badly of him or Michaela.Chewing on his last bite of pancakes Sully laid his napkin down getting up from the table. "Think I might go to the general store. Have some supplies to get."
As Sully left the boarding house Mrs.Johnson replied,"Supplies indeed!" as her and James laughed.
When Sully entered the general store he didn't see Michaela but he did see a silver hair man on a ladder dusting the shelves. The man climbed down when he noticed Sully. "Sir,how can I help you today?"
"Just looking around." Sully replied going over to the hardware section of the store to bide his time until he saw Michaela. He hadn't realized how much he missed seeing her at the breakfast table until he didn't see her this morning.He knew his head would be full of thoughts of her but he could wait out the rest of the day as long as he got to see her in the morning.He knew after dinner tonight they would spend their time playing games with the children. And after the children went to bed they would spend their time talking and getting closer to each other.
As Michaela came out of the stockroom she spotted Sully in the hardware section staring off into space. Placing the items she had on the counter she walked behind Sully. Clearing her throat she tapped him on the shoulder saying,"May I help you,sir?"
Chuckling he turned around,"Actually I was looking for a girl."
"Really?" she asked faking a surprise look." I'm afraid we are not that kind of bussiness." a crocked smile appearing at her lips.
"She's about your height. Long brown hair. Mismatched eyes. Most beautiful woman in the world." he said smiling.
Walking behind the counter she replied smiling,"Nope. Haven't seen her."
Putting his hands on the counter Sully leaned over it giving her a gentle kiss on the lips."I missed ya this morning."he said. "So did I." she replied biting her bottom lip.
"This must be Sully." John replied coming up to the counter.Holding his hand out for Sully to shake. "That's right." Sully replied taking the proffered hand.
"The name's John Ashton. I own the store." John said making his position in the store and town clear to the young man.
"Michaela told me a lot about you." Sully said."I want to thank you for taking care of her."
"Moll...uh...Michaela told me this morning about everything. I'm glad she finally knows who she is.Everyone in the town is real protective of her." John said. Looking into Sully's eyes he added," I wouldn't want anyone to take advantage of her."
"You don't have to worry," Sully replied. "I'm not going to let anyone hurt her." Just then the door to the general store opened and Dr.Matthews came in looking for some cigars.
As John left the counter to wait on the doctor Sully whispered in Michaela's ear,"See ya tonight." as he gently kissed her cheek.
As she watched Sully leave the general store her mind was in the clouds and it only came down when John said,"Molly! Wrap up the doc's packages."
Sully,Michaela,and the children were all sitting in the parlor of the boarding house after dinner. Matthew and Brian were immersed in a game of checkers, Colleen was reading a romance noval and Michaela was reading Emerson. Sully was reading the newspaper as Mrs.Johnson excused herself to retire for the night.
"Hmm." Sully moaned as he read the paper. "Any thing interesting?" Michaela asked laying her book down in her lap.
"Article here. Says John Wesley Powell,a veteran of the civil war who lost part of his right arm at Shiloh and a self taught expert on mountain geology leads the first recorded voyage through the Grand Canyon of the Colorado."
"That sounds pretty exciting." Colleen said yawning.
"I wouldn't mind seeing the Grand Canyon one day." Matthew said as he jumped one of Brian's checkers.
"Me neither." Brian chimed in. "Maybe one day we can all go." Getting up from his seat he went over and stood in front of Michaela. "Can we ma?" Brian asked.
Putting her book down again she answered,"I don't know Brian." Then seeing the disapointment on his face she smiled and said,"Maybe!"
Trying to take his mind off the subject she said smiling," You know what? Halloween is coming up pretty soon. You need to start deciding what you are going to be?"
"I haven't made my mind up yet." Brian said." We always have a big Halloween party in Colorado Springs. Do you have one here?"he asked.
"I don't know." she replied looking down."You'll have to ask Mrs.Johnson that." she said sadly.
Brian noticing the sad expression on his mother's face thought he could cheer her up.Without thinking he said,"Don't be sad ma.If they don't have a party here you can always go to the Halloween party we have in Colorado Springs."
Looking up from her book surprised Colleen exclaimed,"Brian!"
Not knowing what he did wrong he replied,"Well she can. It might help her remember too!"
"Hey little brother!" Matthew exclaimed. "I thought we were playing checkers over here." Trying to difuse the situation and help his mother out of a tight spot.
A half an hour later the children excused themselves to go up to bed to rest. As they went upstairs Sully folded his paper and walked over to Michaela to sit in front of her chair. Taking the book out of her hands he laid it down on the table beside her. Turning the edge of her mouth into a crocked grin she looked into his eyes. He took one of her hands as he pulled her up from the chair. They walked over and sat down on a braided rug in front of the hearth.
Sully placed a kiss on the back of her hand,"Michaela," he began."Brian meant well."
"I know Sully." she said sadly."I think I'm handling everything and all of a sudden I'm reminded that I can't remember a thing."
"I know." he said cupping both sides of her face as he applied kisses on her forehead,her nose then her lips. As he pulled away he said,"I've been wanting to do that all night."
"So have I." she replied blushing. "I never believed I could be this happy."
"I know we got a long road to go." Sully said. "There's no maps. But if you're willing to start off without one."
"I am." she whispered. Pulling back a strand of hair that had fallen in his eyes.
"Then I know where to start." he said kissing the back of her hand. " How would you feel about going home?" he asked as he leaned down to gently kiss her lips.
Seeing her face becoming utterly terrified at the idea he quickly replied,"I know you're scared. This is the only place you've ever known. But there's a whole town full of people who care about you.That want to see you get better. You'll have me and the children there beside you the entire time."
Taking a deep breath she replied,"I don't know. What if I go there and still can't remember." As a tear fell down her face she looked around the room," This is the only place I've ever called home."
"I just want you to be happy." Sully said kissing her forehead."If staying here makes you happy then we'll stay." Looking into those beautiful eyes he loved so much he replied hoarsely,"There's nothing I won't do for you."
It was then that Michaela realized that Sully loved her enough to give up the only place HE had ever called home. The place where his Cheyenne brother was. The place where his and the children's friends were. She realize that even though she had good friends here she didn't have any family here. Well not until Sully and the children showed up. Wherever they were... that was home to her.
She wiped her tear stained face as she smiled up at him."There's no maps,right?" Seeing Sully's puzzled expression she lovingly cupped the side of his face in her hand,"My life is with you and the children...I want to go home."she said as she brought Sully's lips down to hers.