A/N – Thanks so much for the reviews and messages about the Christmas Tale, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Someone had asked if this will take the place of Christmas in the story, it won't. A lot of people seem interested in Sarah, she's a fun character and she'll be along in a couple chapters. Several also commented that the story seems one that can be added to later on, I've considered several including one about their time apart, going from one to the other over the eight years ending with Amy leaving to the Kentucky Derby. We'll see, back to AfterTyme when this is over. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 34

Amy slowly lowered herself into the hot steamy tub and into Ty's waiting arms. He wrapped her up in them as she leaned back and immediately began nibbling at her neck.

She shifted slightly and turned her head so that their lips could meet. Her arm curled around his neck his hands roaming over her body as she sighed into his mouth.

When they broke away from each other Amy settled herself against him, her head laying against his chest.

"Comfy Amy ?"

"That is an understatement Ty, and I'm ready to talk whenever you are, your choice."

"Well, your father has always blamed me for your leaving and we steer clear of each other or at least I do."

"And ?"

"Jackson mentioned that Jack calls me son and I call him Jack."

"Oh my, you've had quite the evening."

"It's fine Amy, I hope it's ok that I told him and the girls about me, well my past and what brought me to you, I guess I should have run that by you."

"No sweetheart, no, I think it's important that they know and you were very good about what you kept Jackson from hearing for now and understood that the girls are mature enough. I trust you Ty, you have good instincts and judgment when it comes to kids, you always have, and it's important you not push their questions away, that's a matter of trust between you and them. Too young is perfectly acceptable an excuse by the way, both the girls and Jackson understand that there is formation that's inappropriate."

"And the son part ?"

"I've got nothing right now, let's see how Harley goes but Ty, ultimately this is between you and him, and the girls, and each of your comfort levels. I can give you this for reference, I used the words son and daughters as soon as we set adoption in motion, from the moment I told Betty I considered them my children."

"And them ?"

"Well JT you realize had to actually be told I wasn't his natural mom a few years ago, that's an awkward conversation and I think the little bugger knew anyway and just put me through the wringer a little. The girls didn't take long at all, a few months."

"Adoption ?"

"Deep in tonight are we sweetheart ?"

"Just repeating your word."

"It comes after marriage, the kids will decide as individuals as you will I guess."

"I get that, just curious though ?"

"Planning on getting married lover ?"

He looked at her for a second and smiled, a loving, knowing and full on Borden impish smile "this won't be that conversation you." He said it tapping her nose.

"Fair enough" she said but her eyes were shining and her smile was a glow of sunshine that warmed him from head to toe. "Jackson's a lock and you know that, the girls, I think will as well, but they are their own people Ty."

"They sure are. So Bert tells me he and Meg are Jackson's god parents."

"Yeah, like Chuck and Charlie our relationships seem to encompass our families. Trudy called me to her bed when it got near the end and put Chuck's hand in mine. I love him like a son Ty. Bert is the only one I could trust to see Jackson through, him and Meg, they've been the rocks through the surgeries. Bert believes with all his heart and always has in the soundness of the surgical plan. The plan was that Bert and Meg would adopt JT if something happened to me and see him through. The girls don't actually have but, well, with the Marauders, I think they're covered. If Betty couldn't deal with the girls, Trish and John would keep them safe. Seems the Graingers didn't truck much with religion so no godparents. Betty started talking to god after the accident. She doesn't go to church or anything but she does talk to god."

"She favors one sided conversations." Ty added with a laugh.

"Noticed that have you ? Ty no matter what the kids decide you need to be their dad, you understand that right ?"

"I do Amy, it's the scariest and most exciting thing I've ever had to think about."

"If tonight's an example of your being a dad, you'll go down in history as one of the best sweetheart."

"Amy."

"No my love, kiss me and then tell me about my dad Ty and how did I not know it was bad."

"Don't know how you could have without a spy at the dinner table, he went to dinner I didn't. When I had to interact with him I did it quickly. He needed to blame someone Amy, he took it hard."

"He took abandoning me for the second time hard Ty ?"

"He went with Casey on her rodeo tour Amy."

Their evening conversations had become interesting in that they had decided that they wouldn't get emotional or let it last past the moment and there were two other rules. They had to have the conversation while making contact. Naked helped but wasn't a requirement and either could call a kissing break.

There was emotion but without any contention. It was over, in the past, and the decisions for good or bad, right or wrong would not interfere with a truth they had both come to themselves and that cemented seeing each other again. They were for the most part incomplete without the other. There was no other way to describe it.

"He call and share that with you did he ? Because he didn't call me for all those months, when I left, I had no way of knowing I'd ever speak to him again, just like when I was 5, he probably talked to Lou and I'm pretty sure Grandpa but not me."

"He felt bad."

"How bad and for what ? Pissing on the small ranch we found, the part when I was blind ? The car parts ? Hassling me about Charger ? Hot Shots ? Ahmed ? The running away like a coward part ? Which part Ty, I needed him, someone on my side, come hell or high water Ty you stand to support your children."

"I don't know Amy, regardless, he's coming."

"I'll talk to Grandpa in the morning."

"And say what ?"

"Ty, he can't come here and mouth off in our home in front of my, no that's wrong, our kids, or Betty and our colleagues, I won't stand for it. I don't do demands from belligerent children or adults anymore and no one raises their voice to me here, no one."

"Yeah, he may not listen."

"Fine, he won't listen to me, I have Marauders too. Let's get out of this tub and rinse off."

"Come on Amy, you're not going to have him kicked out."

"Ty, two things will not happen this weekend, we will not be bullied or disrespected by my father and we will not finance Lou's Nashville Maggie's."

"She's been having a rough time of it Amy, we could help."

"She may have a Maggie's in Calgary and Edmonton to start, we'll fund the whole damn thing but her part will be making Heartland her home base."

"Amy you can't."

"Yes we can Ty, Grandpa's 86 years old, he needs her."

"We can't dictate where."

"Give me a reason why, no one ever had any problem dictating my life. I worked for years keeping Heartland going and I still do, I gave up college, yes it was my choice but still, and in the end my reward was to be a studio above the barn, the four stall barn of course and the opportunity to ask permission of my grandfather and have him say no if I wanted more. Not one person saw me for anything more than that and before this crap with Ahmed was even an issue. Where was my acknowledgment for what I had accomplished ? Let's not go overboard and put on aires and expand the barn ? What did it take, a month before everybody but me was satisfied ? I was back to where I belonged, walk in trade. High performance horses were above my pay grade apparently. Grandpa was in charge, Lou was a shining star building an empire and Amy shut up, you walked away, I had no aspirations, there was no advancement, all was good."

"You had changed Amy."

"Of course I had changed Ty, I mean putting aside the pressure I was under from the harassment, we all change, high school, college, vet school, you didn't change ? Why, because you lived in a trailer, did it all on your own ? Were there people telling you what you aspired to was something beyond your abilities or station ? When was it determined that all of my successes be cast aside. You would never have heard me ever say anything you wanted was beyond you Ty or that I wouldn't stand with you while you did it." Amy said it with tears in her eyes.

"Nobody ever told me that and I didn't do it on my own, not any of it."

They were in the shower now and Ty reached over and turned her away from him and started soaping her back, "I think we need to get back to randy Amy and shelve your dad until morning, Jack can talk to him but I will also do that before we set him loose."

"Ty, you don't have to get in the middle."

"I think it's time I did Amy, we've decided that obsessing over the past 8 years isn't going to change a damn thing. He's fond of telling me that Heartland isn't actually my home, it's not my prize for driving you away. What's he going to say about Pegasus ?"

"Oh Ty, that's just not true, Heartland is your home and will always be, it's why I left." She said it softly and was almost sorry she said it but she knew deep down that he needed to hear it before it was said to others.

"I don't understand."

"I had a dream, after I rode over to the trailer that day with the cow surgery, not that day but that week. I was in my room and they called me for dinner and I was sitting across from you at the table in the ranch house and you were engaged and showing Grandpa the plans for the loft. Lisa and Lou and Georgie were all admiring the ring, my ring on some stranger's finger and the plans to the loft, all I could see were my French doors x'd over because she thought they looked stupid. And then you looked across at me and smiled and went right back to talking to Grandpa."

"I didn't know what to do Ty, what you wanted, you sent me away over and over and then one day I was bailing you out, like you would have called your sister, or a buddy. Something had to change and I couldn't ask Grandpa to choose between us and you would have destroyed yourself without a home and family to take care of you, so I left."

"I would never have done that to you Amy."

"Why would I think that Ty ?"

"Because I loved you."

"You loved me ? I'm sure that's true and has always been true but you wanted nothing to do with me Ty, do you know what it felt like to have you just walk into the house and ignore me, look through me. Or in town ? At Maggie's ? I was wearing your engagement ring Ty and you treated me like I was some, I don't know what, some chick you screwed and was done with. You seemed disappointed and disgusted with me. I felt like I was the brunt of finger pointing in town like some pathetic hanger on too stupid to know you'd moved on. It went on for months. I'm shocked you just didn't show up for dinner and sit down next to me. It was horrible, demeaning and embarrassing."

"We were on a break."

"You were on a break Ty, I wasn't, I wanted to talk and you wanted I don't know what. What end did you see if you wouldn't talk to me and let me know what you were feeling ? Was I supposed to believe that you'd just show up one day and miraculously see me differently, was I supposed tame a herd of wild horses, rescue them single handedly ?"

"I needed to know that you still wanted me that we still had the same dream."

"I've always wanted you and this is my dream Ty, I told you I wanted to fix horses and be with you, look around, drink it all in, is it good enough, anything like you envisioned ?"

"I don't think anyone envisioned this."

"No, I don't suppose any of you did or thought me capable of doing it, I sure didn't see this and Would never have believed it possible. It was these people, perfect strangers that said I could and stood with me, but I would have wanted to do this with you, together, I asked."

"I thought you capable of doing anything you set your mind to Amy, I don't know why I didn't, I just don't."

"I don't understand any of this, not now and not then Ty and the truth is we probably weren't ready, I don't care, this is where we are and I don't want to do it without you anymore."

"Then we'll do it together from now on and be done with the past."

"Sounds like a plan, now what is Georgie bringing for me ?"

"Oh no, you can wait until morning."

"Ty, you know I hate surprises !"

"You hate not being in control, you love surprises, it's knowing they're coming that drives you nuts."

"Fine, but I expect a lot of sex to keep my mind off all this until morning."

"Yes ma'am, it'll be my pleasure but my demanding boss expects me to work all day tomorrow and I need some rest before morning."

"Then you'd best get started Dr. Borden, randy Amy will not be denied."

Ty laughed, his eyes bright and desirous. They had toweled each other dry and he scooped her up and over his shoulder. She shrieked as he carried her from the bath and into the bedroom and flipped her onto her back, splayed across the mattress.

"ooooh caveman sex, yes please Dr. Borden !"

Amy dressed and left Ty sleeping while she made coffee at 5:15. She startled when the knock came at the door at 5:30 and was surprised when she answered. A second later Georgie was in her arms and hugging her. "Oh Georgie, it's so good to have you here."

She held her niece away from her a minute later and they looked each other up and down, both had tears in their eyes. "You're beautiful Georgie."

"How did you not age at all ?" Georgie asked her wiping her eyes.

"I have for sure Georgie, come in, grab a cup of coffee and I'll get Ty up."

"I'm sorry, you must be Wyatt." Amy said pulling him in for a hug as well. "It's good to

meet you."

"You too Amy."

"Get comfortable, someone see to the horses ?"

"Someone named Bryce put them in a paddock by the house, he mentioned Ty needing Harley available."

"Yeah, we'll fill you in, see anyone at the house ?"

"No I asked for Ty and he pointed here."

"We expected you at 7:00."

"She couldn't sleep so we just left early." Wyatt said

"Pegasus centers are amazing Amy."

"Thanks Georgie, I hope you give joining us serious thought."

"And Wyatt ?"

"We run a 50 million dollar corporation and a 100 million dollar charitable foundation Wyatt, we do good work and always need attorneys. Like I said, take some time and give it some thought, no pressure."

"And school ?" Wyatt asked.

"Cornell law ?" Amy asked.

"Excuse me ?"

"We're working on Cornell Law and Vet school. The vet school isn't a problem, two faculty members and a lot of pull, we have a call in to the Dean of Law, we have some pull there too."

"Bert Koenig, that's amazing and who else ?"

Amy smiled, "Auntie Amy."

"Get out, you're a faculty member ?"

"We'll catch up, with everything in time, you're staying here in the cottage for this visit with us and if you decide on joining us we'll set you guys up with a place at the ranch, there are several options."

Amy excused herself to the bedroom and then moments later screeched and giggled, "Ty, not now, aaaaggghhhh, Ty stop, Georgie and Wyatt are here."

"Hi Georgie" he called out laughing.

"Hey Ty" Georgie called back laughing as well.

It was at this point that the adults sort of lost control of the moment and Georgie got the full Jackson in all his glory.

The knock was low to the ground but loud and with Amy in the bedroom Georgie opened the door. Jackson looked up for a second surprised and then catching sight of Amy walked by but glanced back at Georgie and then Wyatt. "Morning mom. Where's ?"

Amy smiled and held her thumb over behind her as JT scooted by. "Hey Dr. Borden, you're not going to believe this but, woah, is that a bite scar, that's so cool, got any others, what's that one ?"

"Jackson !" Ty said looking at him, "focus !"

"What, oh, you gotta come see this, Harley's outside ! In a paddock !"

"I know Jackson, Georgie brought him."

"Georgie, my cousin Georgie ?"

Jackson turned and looked at Amy who pointed at Georgie.

At this point JT walked back out past Amy and right up to Georgie. "Jackson Timothy Fleming," and put his hand out.

"Georgina Fleming Morris, I prefer Georgie and you ?"

"Georgie's fine with me."

"No, I didn't mean" and then she looked down at the big grin on his face and smiled. "Cute."

"JT, Jack, Jax or Jackson. You must be Wyatt, very cool name."

"Thanks" Wyatt said shaking JT's outstretched hand.

"Jackson ?"

Ty had come out pulling on a sweatshirt. "Would you get Harley and Pal into the small meadow behind the family barn and then move Spartan in with them please, make sure they have hay and a filled trough ?"

"Sure thing Dr. Borden, oh mom, Gran and Grand Mere said everyone should come to breakfast at the house. Pavel's setting up by the barns for everyone else."

"You think maybe that should have been the first thing JT ?" Amy asked.

"Maybe but have you seen that scar ?"

"Jackson, the horses ?" Ty said turning him towards the door.

"Yes sir."

"See you at breakfast." Ty finished as the door started swinging shut.

Amy burst out laughing as soon as he walked out and the door closed.

"What the fuck Ames ?"

"It's a pretty cool scar Ty."

"Wow" was what came out of Georgie's mouth. "So you two getting along Ok are you ?"

"Seems to be working itself out." Amy answered laughing.

"You're early Georgie." Ty said. "I'm not used to early Georgie."

"Very funny, I was anxious, this is a cozy set up." She said looking around at the house.

"It is, you two have the second bedroom, I'll have one of the hands move your stuff. We start at 7:00, gates open at 9:00 and apparently we're expected for breakfast."

"I need a shower, I'll be up in 15 minutes you all go on ahead."

Amy walked over and reached up to kiss him "sorry for laughing."

"It's fine, it was funny, he's, I don't have the words."

"I have the words, mom's hungry." Amy said smiling and turning to the door.

The first to get to Georgie was Lisa and they hugged long and hard and then she switched to Wyatt. Jack was next for both.

Georgie turned and stared for a second when the girls came down the stairs.

"Wow, you two are pretty identically beautiful. I'm Georgie."

The girls each hugged her and then Wyatt and introduced themselves. Lisa introduced Betty as they gathered at the table. They sort of milled about and Georgie thought it strange until the door opened and Ty walked in alongside Jackson who was of course going a mile a minute.

"Spartan and Harley were real happy to see each other. So I figured, you know, I put Merlin out there too, so they can get to be friends."

Georgie who was talking with the girls watched as Ty walked over and kissed Amy before heading to the end of the table and sitting, Jackson next to him and the rest of the group pulled back chairs.

"Wow" She said again and smiled when Amy had her sit next to her followed by Wyatt and then the girls. Georgie leaned over and whispered, "uhm you two have some sort of uhm agreement ?"

"Promise watches" Maddie said matter of factly with a smile "must be Canadian."

"Watches ?"

"Later Georgie" Amy said as the door opened and Bert and Meg walked in.

"You two hungry ?" Betty asked.

"No we're good Betty" Meg answered and then smiled at Ty and then at Amy, "that's nice."

Bert looked over as people began serving themselves.

"Ty, when you're done let's get morning rounds out of the way before the carnival starts."

"Almost there Bert, oh, this is Georgie, my second, Georgie, Bert Koenig."

Bert smiled, "it's good to meet you Georgie, I hope you decide to join us. This is my wife Meg."

"It's an honor sir, I've read some of your articles and assisted on some surgeries based on your work. Good to meet you too Meg."

"Your counterparts will be by any minute I'd say, don't believe anything they tell you about me. He said smiling. "Betty, we need brunch on Sunday with Lorin in the library please, Zabar's if we can swing it."

Betty nodded "how many ?"

"Meg and I, Lorin and Pat, Amy and Ty, Georgie and Wyatt is it ?"

"Yes sir." Wyatt answered.

"We'll work out the list." Bert finished.

"Lorin ?"

"Dean of the Cornell Vet school, he's nice Georgie." Amy said.

"Amy, I."

"I know Georgie, both of you, but if you decide yes and don't want to lose the year we need to do this now, we can always decline but once every slot is filled they're filled."

"No pressure."

"No pressure." Bert assured her.

"Wyatt, you good with this ?" Georgie asked.

"Georgie, we can't afford Cornell Law." Wyatt said softly.

"If you stay that won't be an issue Wyatt." Amy said.

"Amy we can't let you." Georgie cut in.

"Shhh, stop, you'll be treated like everyone else on the ranch. You work here and agree to work off your education and we'll take care of it. Every hand with a family and kids gets the same offer."

"Uhm Ok, how do we even begin ?" Wyatt asked.

"Our corporate council will be by later to meet you, he'll explain, I assume you'll intern to him or closely with him or maybe Charlie. His name's Trevor Margolies and he's family Wyatt, you'll like him." Amy explained.

Sandra and Bryce walked in next.

"Well this is nice I guess." Sandra said looking at Amy.

Amy smiled "right and I guess we better get out."

"Wait, wait, this is a large enough crowd for Amy I'd say, well, it's not a busy summer day in Saratoga but I have one more thing." Ty said getting up and walking over to Georgie.

"Georgie that thing I asked ?" He whispered.

"Oh, uh, sure, here." She said standing up and digging in her jeans.

A moment later she handed something to Ty as clandestinely as she could.

"Ames ?" Ty said reaching out and helping her up. He smiled and reached down to kiss her, with feeling, the crowd was patient.

"Uh Ty ?" Amy asked breathless when he pulled back.

"I love that watch, and mine Ames but I figured since we were starting again and let's face it, the watch is a bit Canadian, how about we just do this." As he said it he slipped Amy's original promise ring over her finger for all to see and then brought it up to his lips and then turned her hand to kiss her palm.

"Oh Ty, you kept it all this time." She whispered crying looking at it "my promise ring."

Amy smiled and as she had done so many times in the past week reached to her chest to feel their engagement ring and startled.

"Hasn't been there for a few hours." He whispered in her ear. "Trust me ?"

"I do, I love you Ty."

"And I love you Amy."

"How much ?" Charlotte asked innocently.

"Well played Charlie !" Maddie whispered.

"Well Dr. Borden ?" Jackson asked with the biggest grin. "You want to be one of us don't you ?"

Amy giggled.

Ty was beet red at this point then he spread out his arms "sooooooooo muuuuucccccchh."

The room exploded in applause and Ty turned and bowed. The girls each hugged and kissed him. Jackson had a big grin on "I knew you could it Doc."

"Wow" was all that Georgie could utter.

"Work, crowds of people coming, let's go people !" Sandra called clapping her hands.