From Beginning to End …A Gunsmoke story

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks for all the great feedback! This is my first ever fic and I've been so nervous in releasing it so seeing all the positive feedback has been really making me feel awesome. That includes you, guests.. I'd thank you personally, but sadly I'm unable.

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After a rather brutal winter, spring had finally began to sprung. It had been almost three years to the day that Kitty arrived in Dodge, and she couldn't be any more content. Things were going well at the Long Branch- Bill had noticed that she had a penchant keeping track of things so he asked for her assistance in ordering and keeping up with the books. She enjoyed the added responsibility and the little bit of extra pay that came with it. She had made a lot of great friends in town and had grown especially close with Chester, Doc and Matt. That's not to say that things had been exactly easy, because nothing in life is perfect. She had her fair share of run ins with drunken cowboys who tried to get a little too rough or unwanted suitors aggressively vying for her affection.

But the one constant through it all: Matt was always there to protect her. They had grown exceptionally close over the last couple of years. But that only served to make it incredibly difficult when the facts of Matt's job became all too real. She had seen him take a couple of bullets from a couple of two bit outlaws and even a knife from another but she was there by his side helping him recover each time. He was her best friend.

At some point though, things has began to change for Kitty. Each time Matt would walk in to have a drink she would get butterflies in the pit of her stomach. She wasn't exactly sure when it began, but her cheeks flushed at the very idea. She began to look forward to his company so much that she had memorized the sound of his footsteps – and when she heard the sound of those large boots and the clanking of the spurs – her heart would began to flutter. She wouldn't dare talk to Matt (or anyone else for that matter) about it though, because why would a US Marshal involve himself with a saloon girl?

It was just after dinner time when Kitty was sat at a table in the back looking over some books but mostly daydreaming and lost in thought when she looked up and saw him standing at the batwing doors, scanning the barroom floor. She softly waved at him and he flashed her a warm smile before entering and making his way over to her table to take a seat.

"Hello Matt."

"Evening, Kitty."

"Can I get you a drink?"

"Sure. That'd be fine."

"All right, I'll be right back." And she went over to the bar and returned with two beers.

Matt took his glass and smiled appreciatively. "Thanks, Kitty. It's looking like it's going to be a full room in here tonight, huh?"

"Sure is. Business has only gotten busier. Can't complain though." She offered a smile.

"What's that you're working on there?" Matt asked after looking at the books Kitty had been working on.

"These? Oh, they're the books for the Long Branch. Bill asked me to help him keep up with it now that business is booming. He's even offered me a little more pay to do so. I'm just keeping myself busy before the night crowd comes in." She replied proudly.

"Oh that's fine, just fine." He smiled. "Say, I came in here to ask you something."

"Ya did?"

"This weekend's the barn dance. I wasn't sure if you had a date yet but uh, if you, uh," He began to stumble over his words nervously. He seemed to sometimes get nervous when talking to Kitty.

"If I what?" She smiled, trying to encourage him along.

"If you don't have one, I'd be uh, glad to take you." His ears flushed slightly, not sure of himself as to why why he sometimes got tongue tied talking to her.

"Well as a matter of fact, I don't. So, Marshal Dillon, I accept your offer." She smiled.

"Great, its set then. Well, I'll let you get back to work," he said as he rose to his feet.

"Bye, Matt. Be safe out there."

"I'll see ya later, Kitty." He touched the brim of his hat and then walked away.

Kitty couldn't do anything but grin like a Cheshire cat once he got out of view. Her best friend just asked her out on a date.

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It was the evening of the barn dance and Kitty couldn't be any more excited. Matt was going to be downstairs to pick her up soon, and she had hurried to make those last minute preparations. She had chosen to wear a simple blue cotton floor length dress with a black lace trim and a pair of black shoes. The last thing left for her to do was put in her earrings and she was finally ready to go.

She began to make her way down the stairs when he laid eyes on her first. The sight of her almost took his breath away. "Why, she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.." he thought to himself as she finally saw him and flashed him a smile. She was taken aback by the sight of him as well. He never was much for dances, and he had been out of town for the sociables and barn dances in the past so this was their first time going to an event together. She thought he looked so incredibly handsome in his courting jacket and string tie. The curls lining his forehead almost made her weak in the knees.

"Hello Matt.." she greeted warmly when she finally made her way over to him.

"Evening, Kitty. You look beautiful tonight."

Her cheeks flushed immiately. "You look mighty good yourself, Marshal."

He offered her his arm. "Ready to go?" "Sure am."

And they made their way over to the barn. It was only less than a 20 minute walk from the Long Branch so they decided to walk so that they could spend time together, alone, talking.

When they got to the dance, Chester and Doc had already arrived before them and beckoned them over to the refreshment table. Doc handed them each a drink. "I was starting to wonder if you two were ever going to make it."

"Sorry Doc, it took me a while to get ready!" Kitty smiled.

After taking a couple of swigs, Matt set his drink down and turned to Kitty. "Miss Kitty, would you, uh," "Great, more stuttering. Get yourself together, Dillon." Matt thought to himself. "Would you, uh, give me the honor of dancing with me?" He asked nervously.

Kitty immediately felt butterflies in the pit of her stomach. "I'd love to." And she took his arm and they glided over to where everyone was dancing.

They had a great time at the dance that night laughing, talking, and socializing with their friends. For every bit of many people that came to greet Matt also greeted Kitty. Matt took notice of that fact, too. He sure was happy that most of the town seemed to like Kitty, respect her even, and hardly anyone looked down on her for her profession.

By the time the evening was winding down, Matt offered to talk Kitty back to the Long Branch. On the way back, neither of them had noticed the clouds rolling in over the horizon. They were over half way back to the Long Branch when the first few drops began to fall.

"Oh no.." Matt looked up and sighed. "I guess we had better hurry."

"I'd say! Let's walk faster," Kitty replied. And they sped up their pace.

Only, the rain began to build and before they knew it, it was coming down at a steady pace.

"Great, just great!" Kitty said, getting soaked.

"Come on, let's make a run for it. The boardwalk's just over here." He took her hand and began to pull away, urging him to follow her.

She struggled to keep up. Not only did his giant legs give him an advantage, he was wearing boots and she was wearing dress shoes. She began to get bogged down by the dampening dirt and couldn't keep up his pace. "Wait, Matt!" She called out to him, speaking loudly so that he could hear her over the rain.

Without any warning, he stopped, turned around, and scooped her up into his arms and took off running. This was the first time he had carried her and she felt light as a feather to him. She shrieked as he lifted her into his arms, not expecting it but she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck to hold on tight. After the annoyance of their situation faded, Matt began to laugh. She looked up at his face and saw his dampened curls framing his face and again found herself weak. His laughter was contagious, too, for she began to laugh at their misfortune as well.

They eventually reached the boardwalk and he carefully set her down. He took her hand and guided her down the walkways, being sure to walk faster in between the buildings but not so fast that she was unable to keep up. By the time they reached the Long Branch, the quick spring shower had slacked up.

"Well that figures!" he said out loud.

She couldn't do anything but laugh. "That sure was a pain! Here, lets go around back. My room is just up the stairs. She led him around to the back and they climbed the stairs. Once at the landing, she reached for her key and unlocked the door. She turned back to him. "Thanks for a wonderful evening, Matt. I really enjoyed myself." She then paused, unsure what was going to happen next. She sure knew what she wanted to happen.

His heart began to pound. What should he do? He wanted to badly to just take her into his arms and kiss her senseless, but he couldn't. He wasn't sure what she would make of it since they were just friends, and what could she possibly see in a dusty cowtown lawman? He was too scared to upset her and ruin their friendship if his feelings weren't reciprocated and the kiss wasn't welcomed so he just offered a simple "I had a great time as well. I'll see you later, Kitty." And he tipped his hat to her.

He couldn't' see the frown she had on the inside. "Sure. Good night, Matt." She offered him a small smile as she stepped inside and closed the door. She made her way over to the window where she watched him walk down the stairs and back out into the street. She closed the curtains and turned around and that's when tears started welling in her eyes.

She had desperately wanted him to kiss her. What did I do wrong? Didn't he gave a good night? A million jumbled thoughts began to run through her mind.

She wiped away the tears and began the process of shedding her soaked clothes.

TBC