Kitty sat perched on Matt's lap, taking the occasional sip of her drink while she recounted the details leading up to that terrible day. For the most part, Matt's remained stone faced. He didn't want her to see that he was dying inside for because he still blamed himself for what happened to them since he agreed to let her go on her trip alone in the first place. He winced as she told him about how Mason slapped her when she didn't feel much like eating dinner. He just couldn't bear the thought of anyone laying their hands on her.

"Kit, I'm sorry all of this happened to you."

"Don't be sorry, none of it was your fault."

"I should've done more to protect you."

"Nonsense. Neither of us saw any of his coming."

Matt just sighed and took another sip of his drink and used the arm that he had wrapped around her to hold her closer.

"Matt?"

"Mmhmm?"

Kitty sat up slightly so that she could look into his eyes.

"What happened to you that day?"

"Which one?" Matt asked. He knew exactly which day she was referring to, but he wasn't exactly relishing the idea of recounting what happened after he told her to leave him behind.

"You know. After you put me up on Buck." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "When I thought I lost you forever."

She allowed her gaze to drift from him. She was still upset that he didn't try to get away with her, though she understood why.

Matt closed his eyes as both the emotional and physical pain of that day came crashing back to his memory.

He opened them again some time later to see her looking at him with a sorrowful expression.

"Well, by the time I walked back to the front yard, I could see that they were starting to leave their hideout behind the bushes so I didn't exactly have time to think. Just time to do."

Kitty nodded in understanding.

"I couldn't risk them seeing you up on Buck, so I knew as soon as I came around the corner, I better come firing. And I was pretty sure that was going to be the end of me. I only had one goal – to try to take out at least one or two of them before they got me."

Kitty's eyes began to mist at the very idea.

"I couldn't hear anything else over the sound of the gunfire so I could only pray that you listened to me and took off. And then…" his voice trailed.

At that point, Kitty couldn't hold back her tears.

"I got hit a couple of times and everything started to go black. I just knew I was a goner."

Kitty sniffled and ran her arm across her nose. "How did you get away?"

"I don't remember. I came to for a minute and felt the pain so I figured I must still be alive but then I blacked out again and the next thing I remember, I woke up at some farmer's house on the Oklahoma border. All I know is, if it weren't for them, I'd be dead."

"Whoever they are," Kitty said with a smile as she reached over and began to rub his upper arm. "I'm glad that they found you. That they saved your life."

Matt sighed at the thought and then relaxed his face as he looked at her with a softened expression before taking her hand. "I did it for you, Kit. And without question, I'd do it again."

Matt's simple admission left her stunned and she pulled her hand away and used it to wipe her eyes. "Oh, Matt.."

"I mean it, Kit. I'd do anything for you."

"Matt, I.." her voice began to choke between the tears and the sniffles that she was unable to control. "I…"

"What is it, Kit?"

"The worst part of that night was the loneliness I felt afterward. I just couldn't stand the very thought of you being gone. The thought that I'd never be able to tell you…" and she came to a stop, unsure how to put into words what she had wanted to say next.

"Tell me what?" he wondered.

She took a deep breath and relaxed against him, snuggling herself as close into his chest that she possible could.

"That I'd never get the chance to tell you how I feel."

"And how's that?" he asked as he used a single finger to lift her chin so that he could look straight into her eyes.

"That I…I…..well, that I love you, Matt."

"I love you too, Kitty."

"What?" she asked as she blinked a couple of times, not sure she heard him right. She wasn't expecting him to return the sentiment so easily. Matt never was one to just let his emotions out so quickly.

Matt took both of their glasses and set them on a table next to them so that their hands were now free and he took her hand and entwined his fingers with hers. "I said, I love you too."

"Oh, Matt.." She smiled up at him.

"You're one of the only people I can truly trust. That I can talk to, about anything. You're my best friend, Kit. But more than that, I was hoping that.. well, that.." and he began to stutter over his words.

Kitty just sat there looking at him, patiently giving him the time to express his emotions. She knew that this didn't come easily for him.

He sighed as he managed to muster up the courage to fully express himself. "You know that I could be taken from this life at any time. So I can't promise you that I'll always be here, that I'll always be around."

Kitty wasn't sure what he was getting at. After all this time, was he trying to tell her that he didn't want to be friends anymore? She was going to be pretty pissed if they both poured out their hearts to each other only for him to go on another one of his diatribes about how lawmen are destined to live lonely lives. "What do you mean, Matt?"

"What I mean is, that it's not going to be easy. You know how I sometimes have to leave at a moment's notice, and you've seen first hand how dangerous my job can be. But I was kinda hoping that you'd..well, that you'd be my girl."

Kitty smiled as Matt continued. "The whole time I laid there on the ground waiting to die, I couldn't think of anyone but you, Kit. Hoping, praying that you'd listen to me and made it out of there safely. And I couldn't bear the thought of you having to be out on the prairie alone. I was just praying to God with my dying breath that He'd see to it that you got home safely."

"Oh Matt, of course… I'd be proud to be your girl."

Matt hugged her tightly. "I can't promise you that I'll always be able to go with you and do all the things we want to do but what I can promise you is that you'll have my heart, always."

Kitty nodded and again snuggled into his chest.

"There's something I have to tell you though, Kit."

"What's that?"

Matt sighed. "One of the brothers got away."

"What?"

"After I was shot, I managed to kill two of them. But I was starting to black out. The youngest one got away."

"What are you going to do?"

"Don't you worry your pretty little head about it, Kit. In addition to the charges they already had, he's now got a wanted dead or alive bounty on his head for the attempted murder of a US Marshal. There's nowhere for him to hide. Someone will find him, eventually."

"And if someone finds him alive?"

"Then I'll go get him and bring him back here to hang. For what he did to me. For what he did to you." He looked down at her. "Try not to worry too much. We'll find him soon enough."

"Oh Matt.." she sighed and looked up at him.

He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. This time though, neither one of them could control their emotions. Kitty reached up and placed her hand on the back of his head to pull his head down and deepen the kiss. Matt pulled her tightly against him as he wrapped both of his arms around her and pulled her in front of him. She broke away temporarily to untie her robe, take it off, and toss it to the side. She then reached down and pulled the bottom of her nightgown up enough for her to be able to straddle his lap as she again pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss. "Matt.."

Matt pulled away from the kiss, breathing heavily as his body began to respond involuntarily to the sight and feel of her. He placed a hand on each side of her and thumbed the sides of her breasts. "Yes?"

She felt him harden against her and she let out a soft moan as it began to drive her absolutely wild. "I want you Matt.." she trailed her hands up his shirt and unbuttoned the ones that he had buttoned up from her earlier attempt. She looked at him and her eyes flamed with desire. "I need you, Matt."

"Kitty.." he said with a low growl. "You gotta stop looking at me like that, or.."

"Or what?" she said as she placed a series of playful nips up his jawline before nibbling softly on his earlobe.

"Are you sure you this is what you want? I would never do anything to hurt you, Kit. Never. I will stop if.."

She interrupted him as she looked at my him dead in the eyes so that he could see the both seriousness of her face and hear the sincerity in her voice. "Yes, Matt, I'm sure.. Please, I don't make me wait any more… Please…" She begged him in a sultry voice as she grinded into his lap and a couple of soft moans escaped her lips.

Again, he let out a low growl as he held on to her and stood up. She wrapped her legs tightly around him and held on to his shoulders as he carried her over to her bed. He carefully laid her down and removed his clothes and boots in record him. She opened her arms up wide and he then got in bed and climbed on top of her, propping himself up on his elbows. "I love you, Kit."

"I love you too, Matt," she said as she wrapped her legs around him, inviting him to go further. His lips then crashed down into hers and all the emotions and the pent up passion came crashing together as they joined together for the first time.

GSGSGSGSGS

It was before dawn the next morning that Matt had gotten up and started to get dressed. Although he tried to remain quiet, Kitty eventually began to stir.

"Morning, sweetheart," he looked over at her as he put on his boots.

"Do you ever sleep in?" she questioned as she sat up and pulled the covers up over her.

He chuckled aloud. "I can't sleep in. You know I've got to do my morning rounds."

Suddenly, something dawned on her. She got up and walked up to her robe that was laying on the ground and put it on.

Matt stood up. "What's the matter Kit?"

"I almost forgot.." she went over to her elephant and unpinned the badge. "I have something of yours that you need."

"Oh yeah?"

She walked back over to him and smiled as she pinned his badge back to his chest. "I believe this belongs to you, Marshal."

"Thanks, Kit. It's so early, you should get back to bed. How about I come back in a couple of hours and we can get Festus and Doc and go have some breakfast?"

"I'd like that, Matt." She said as she walked back over to her bed, removed her robe, and climbed back over the covers.

Matt walked over to the bed, leaned down and kissed her on the lips before he went over to the door, put on his hat, and tipped it to her. "I'll see you later, Kitty."

"See you at breakfast time."

And he shut the door behind him.

GSGSGSGSGSGSGS

The next few weeks and months saw Matt out of town more often that either one of them had cared to admit. But when he was in town, the two were inseparable and were often found sitting in the Long Branch. They had long since decided that it would be safest for them to keep their relationship on the down low – only Doc and Festus knew the true extent of what went on between the marshal and the saloon keeper. That didn't stop tongues from wagging though. One couldn't help but notice that their body language changed when in the presence of each other – their eyes spoke volumes.

Before they knew it, it had been just over a year since that fateful day back in western Kansas. They both tried to put the pain as far away as possible, yet one constant reminder remained – the "WANTED" poster hanging up on the town bulletin board announcing that Thomas Andley had yet to be caught. Kitty had figured that he must be long gone by now, but the thought was always in the back of Matt's head.

One morning, Kitty joined Matt and Doc for breakfast. Doc and Matt were both busy polishing their plate when they noticed Kitty just toying around with her food.

"What's the matter, Kit? Is it not good?" Matt asked in between bites.

"Oh it's fine. Truth is, I'm not very hungry."

"Everything okay?" Doc asked. It wasn't like Kitty to at least not drink her coffee and eat her toast.

"It's nothing. I haven't been feeling very well lately."

"Well, after we're done eating, why don't you come up to my office and let me take a look at you. In the mean time, at least try to eat something."

"Sure Doc," she offered him a weak smile and took a couple bites of toast and a swig of her coffee to appease him.

It wasn't too long after that her stomach began to turn.

"If you two will excuse me, please." And she suddenly stood and before Matt and Doc could stand themselves, Kitty was already halfway out the door. They just looked at each other and Matt plopped down a couple of coins to pay for everyone's breakfast and they followed out after her. When they stepped out of the boardwalk, she was nowhere in sight.

"Kitty?" Matt called out as he looked around. Nothing.

Doc began to look around himself and that's when he heard the sounds of retching coming from the alleyway.

"Matt, over here." He called over to him before going into the alley and up to Kitty.

"Kitty, for heaven's sake. Are you okay?" he asked.

Matt followed up right behind him.

"I'm fine, really.." Kitty stood up. "I've just got a stomach bug. I'll be okay. I'm just a little tired and I need to go rest."

"Matt, help me get her up to my office. I want to take a look at her and make sure it's nothing." Doc pulled at his earlobe, not really buying Kitty's story.

Matt noticed Kitty feeling faint and a little unsteady on her feet.

"Here, Kit. Let me help you." And she nodded as he bended down and picked her up, cradling her in his arms.

They all walked down the street and up to Doc's office.

Doc held the door open as Matt walked in and carefully placed Kitty down in one of the bed's in the other room. Doc went over and sat on the bed beside her.

"How long have you been feeling poorly, Kitty?"

"Not long. Just for a couple of days or so. But it's hit me really hard."

Doc felt of her forehead. "Well, you don't have a fever so that's good."

Matt looked over at the two. "I'll give you two some privacy." And he went into Doc's office, shutting the door.

Doc made sure he was out of earshot before proceeding. "Kitty, I know it's probably not likely, but I need to ask.." and he began his examination. "When was your last cycle?"

"Oh Doc," Kitty huffed. "It's not that!"

"Didn't say it was. In fact, I said it's probably not likely." Doc continued onward and continued with his little white lie in an attempt to get more information. "It was just a question. Standard procedure."

"Well, if you must know, it was.." and she began to try to remember. "It's been a while, I guess. But I've been under so much stress that I haven't given much thought to it. This has happened before."

"I see," Doc noted. "I really don't mean to pry into your personal business, Kitty. But I have to know. Are you and Matt.."

"Am I and Matt what?" she asked, annoyed.

"Well, I know you two are intimate but.. are you, you know, together… regularly."

"I can't believe you're asking me this!"

"It's just a question, Kitty."

"And it's none of your business how much we're together!"

"I'll take that as a yes." Doc said as he concluded his exam.

By now, Kitty was more than annoyed with Doc's blatant intrusion into her and Matt's private life. "So, just give me one of your powders there and let me be on my way."

"I don't have anything that will help you, Kitty."

Kitty sat up incredulously. "What do you mean you don't have anything.."

"You're pregnant."

And with that, Kitty fainted.

Doc made sure that she was all right and after she had come to, he called out for Matt. "Matt, you can come in now."

Matt walked in and saw Kitty sitting up rubbing her forehead and Doc walking over and sitting down at his desk. He looked over at Doc. "Is she going to be okay?"

"Sure, in a little while. Months maybe."

"Months?" Matt grew more concerned and didn't catch on to his hint. "What's going on? What's wrong with her?"

Doc looked over at Kitty and then back at Matt. "Matt, maybe you should sit down for his."

"You're scaring me, Doc."

"You should be."

Matt sat down in the chair beside the exam table. "So, go on, spit it out."

"You're going to be a father."

Matt's jaw almost hit the floor.

"Kitty's fine, a little dehydrated from feeling sick to her stomach, but otherwise fine. I'd like her to stay here for a little bit while I make sure she takes in some fluids but once she's not looking quite so pale, she'll be good to go."

Kitty herself was still stunned by the revelation and her head began to swim so she just sunk back down unto the bed.

Matt didn't really have time to process the bomb that Doc had dropped on him because he was too worried about Kitty. She looked pale as a ghost and obviously wasn't feeling good.

"It's going to be okay, Kit." Matt said as he pulled a cover over Kitty. "You just rest up and Doc'll have you feeling better in no time."

Kitty nodded and closed her eyes. She really wanted to get some rest, so that hopefully her stomach would settle down. She'd have to talk over the elephant in the room with Matt at a later time.

Doc looked over at Matt, needing to find a way to break them up so that he could take to him in private. "Matt, would you mind going back down to Delmonicos and get some plain broth for me? I'd like to have her at least drinking something before she leaves."

"Sure, Doc. I'll be back in a little bit," and he reached over, kissed her forehead and stood to leave.

When he walked back into the office, Doc trailed after him and shut the door behind him.

"Just a minute, Matt."

"Yes, Doc?" he turned around.

"I know this is very early, but what are you going to do, son?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, about Kitty's situation."

"I'm going to do right by her, Doc, if that's what you mean."

"Are you going to marry her?"

"Of course," Matt said, grabbing his hat and putting it on his head. "Is that even a question?"

"Don't do it for the wrong reasons."

"What do you mean the wrong reason? She's going to have my baby."

"Exactly. She wouldn't want you to do so out of pity for her. Make sure it's because you want to. Because you love her. Not because you have to."

"Doc," Matt sighed. "I don't see how this is any of your business."

"Kitty's my good friend. And so are you. Of course it's my business."

"I love her, Doc. I'll be honest. You know I don't think about the future. That I just live life one day at a time, because I never know how much time I have."

"Well, you better start thinking now."

"My point is, I love her. And I couldn't picture living life without her. So this wasn't exactly in my plans, but I'm going to do right by her. And it'll be because I want to."

"You'll have to convince her of that."

"And I will."

Doc sighed and figured he had been hard enough on Matt and would let him leave. "So, about that broth you were going to get for me."

"I'll be back," and with that, Matt set off towards Delmonicos.

GSGSGSGSGS

A couple of weeks had passed since Matt & Kitty had received the news that would change their lives forever. Neither of them had even so much as hinted at getting married, so Kitty didn't think anything of it when Matt invited her on a picnic one sunny Saturday afternoon. They regularly went on picnics anyway, although they hadn't been on one in a while with Matt's hectic schedule and then Kitty's sudden illness, so nothing seemed out of sorts as they rode over to their usual spot. If Matt was nervous about anything, he sure didn't let on. Kitty had finally gotten her appetite back and was just looking forward to spending some time alone and eating a good meal for a change.

Matt had set out their blanket and took out all the fixings when Kitty walked up and sat down and fixed her plate. Together they ate and talked about anything and everything besides the obvious. Kitty had been contemplating on how to broach the subject, because she still wasn't sure exactly how Matt felt about the news, but decided better of it since she didn't' want to ruin the mood.

They had finished eating and Kitty sat back and braced herself by placing her hands on the ground behind her as she basked in the warmth cast in their direction by the setting sun. Matt cleaned up their plates and put away the rest of the food before sitting back down beside her and looking over. There was something about the sunset that seemed to set her hair on fire. Kitty seemed content and just had a certain glow about her with her dazzling sapphires blues. He was certainly away by her beauty.

"Hey Kit?"

"Hmm?" she said, opening her eyes just a little.

"Can I talk to you about something?"

"Oh great," she thought to herself as she sat up completely. "Sure. What's on your mind, Matt?" She knew very well what was on his mind.

"I've been doing something thinking lately."

"Oh?"

"Yeah.." he looked over at her before reaching over and taking hold of her and pulling her into his lap. "Thinking about us."

"And?" she looked up at him with a raised brow questioningly.

"I just want you to know how much you mean to me."

"I know, Matt."

"No, I don't think you know how much. I love you with all my heart. And I'll be honest, I'm a little nervous for us. I don't know how all this is going to work out."

"Matt, I…I don't know, either. I didn't in my wildest dreams imagine this was how things were going to happen."

"I've been doing some thinking, and I was hoping you'd help me figure it out, together."

Kitty smiled at his naivety in this moment which she found to be charming. "Well, I am your girl, aren't I? And we're going to have a baby. Of course I'll figure it out with you."

"Well, I know what you're going to think. And yes, it's my duty to take care of not only you.." And Kitty was taken aback when Matt moved a hand unto her belly and rubbed softly. "..but also our baby. But beyond all that.." and Matt then reached into his pocket. Kitty sat up, not really understanding what was going on. All this was very unlike Matt.

"I want to prove to you how much I love you. And I want to raise our baby together, with you not as my girl, but my wife…"

Kitty's eyes grew wide, she could barely believe her ears.

Matt pulled out a beautiful sapphire ring set on a silver band. The sun's rays seemed to hit at just the right angle that the gem shone unlike anything Kitty had seen before.

"I know it's not much, but when I saw it, I thought instantly of you. Kitty…" and he took her hand into his as he looked into her eyes. Kitty knew Matt well enough to know when he was being pressured into something. All she saw in his eyes was nothing but love. "Will…" and he began to stutter, suddenly growing nervous. He was honestly afraid of her answer. "..Will you marry me?" In this moment, his heart was on his sleeves. He silently prayed hard that if she said no, that she would let him down gently.

"Matt…" she said, looking at the ring that he had presented to her. "Are you sure? I don't want you to feel like I'm forcing you into this.."

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life. I won't lie and say I know how all this is going to work out, but I wouldn't want to figure it out with anyone else."

Kitty took in a deep breath. There were hundreds of thoughts going through her head at a million miles an hour. After what seemed like forever, she let it out and then looked up at him and smiled. "Yes, Matt. I will marry you."

He smiled down at her and then placed the ring on her finger and pulled her close to him, again placing his hand gently on her belly. She snuggled further into him.

"I love you both, Kit."

Kitty just smiled and closed her eyes. She was absolutely on cloud nine.

TBC