Sully stared out at the night sky, contently curled up on the back of the buckboard with his wife tucked securely in his arms. No matter how tired he was, he knew that she was worse for wear. There had been many things that Sully had seen; the circle of life had been a permanent part of his days since his own birth in the middle of the ocean. Pain, happiness, the careful balance to have enough suffering as to embrace the beauty and enough beauty as to not let the suffering take hold. The fire that was blazing before them sparkled and spat out the occasional complaint for it's very existence, and the birds served as a pleasant caress against their resting forms. A cool breeze skipped over his skin, the goose pimples sparking across his tanned physique and he snuggled closer to his resting wife. He had to protect her from the cold, but also being as he lacked a shirt, he didn't mind stealing a bit of her warmth. The blanket that Matthew had so thoughtfully included that morning was wrapped around them tightly, his buckskin coat curled around her front.
Said blanket shuffled slightly and Sully removed his head from the less than ideal position against the wood to investigate. Once again, it moved. Followed by a soft coo. Smiling, Sully reached to pull the blanket back and stared upon the two faces of his children that were curled up contently against their mother's chest.
"Hey, ya gotta be quiet. Gonna wake your Ma."
Oh holy spirits, he had just referred to his wife as a mother and it was to an actual child and not to a growing belly. His heart swelled and he gulped back the emotions that were still lingering on the surface from the hours before.
Never in his life had he felt that strange, uniquely profound fear. He had carefully walked with her, helping her along. He was so panicked that he had not even thought to send Wolf for help and when the idea had dawned upon him, he realised that the scent of smell could attract various animals and it was probably safer to keep the companion nearby. It had been only he and Michaela, which was not what they had prepared themselves for. Then again, even if they had been in the clinic, they wouldn't have been prepared for it all.
But never before had he been so inspired by Michaela's strength and diligence. She walked him through it as he supported her. When she told him that he would have to deliver their child, every possible scenario that ran through his head was laced with pain and yet another grave stone. Was he eternally cursed to destroy the lives of the women he loved? The star of Sirius, burning, scorching, destroying everything that he loved and held dear merely by holding them close by.
"Sully.
You need to do this." "I can't. I can't... I can't
lose you, Michaela..." "Sully, if you don't do it,
you will lose me!" Her tears had begged him and suddenly he had
wondered if she had felt like this when people were begging for her
assistance to save their lives. And somehow, without even knowing
where, he had found the strength to reach out and help her. "Tell
me what to do."
"It's
a boy, Michaela... it's a little boy." She had merely
nodded, the tears speaking of her pain and love in some strange
concoction that consumed her emotions. She went over the procedure as
to how to clean him and never before had Michaela seen such
tenderness in Sully's touch that she wondered how she could have ever
have been so lucky to have him as a husband. Catherine was forgotten.
She was not a part of this; this was their time.
"A
girl, too. Matthew was right." Michaela smiled weakly as
her body began to prepare for the afterbirth. Respect for the
pregnant patients went up ten fold in the last several hours and she
sighed as she rested against the strong tree tat had helped her find
strength within the roots of the earth to bring forth these children.
After that less than pleasant process, Michaela looked down at their
children, both of which were curled up in their father's coat. "Oh,
Sully," Michaela sighed. "You're amazin',
Michaela." She smiled softly, but was eternally a
physician. "She is smaller than her brother. But... you said she
is breathing well?" He knew that she wanted to inspect
them again so he carefully removed the girl from his coat and placed
her gently into her mother's arms. After a moment, he removed his
shirt and used his knife to cut it in half. The girl had almost no
hair while the boy had a shock of dark brown hair. The newborn blues
were their eyes, and Sully swore that he had never seen two more
beautiful babies. They looked exactly like Michaela, he was certain
of it. But they were so small. "Sully, what are you
doing?" "Making them clothes so they don't get
cold." She couldn't help but smile at that, lowering her
face as she guided the girl to her breast. After several moments and
attempts, she finally latched on. There was a relief at having the
burden against her body gone, but suddenly she saw this tiny little
infant that she was now in charge of, the one she had to worry for
and Michaela felt the tears prickle in her eyes. "Michaela?"
Sully said, having just finished wrapping their son and moving close
to awkwardly pull his wife into his arms. "What's wrong? Are ya
bleedin'?" Please, let whomever was in charge of the
world not be so cruel to him. But she shook her matted hair,
caked with sweat and leaned her body into him. "I'm scared.
Sully, they're so beautiful, what if I can't protect them?" Sully
had the same fear but hearing his wife voice it made his heart
settle. "You'll be a great Ma, Michaela. I promise." "I'm
sorry I doubted you. I know that child of Catherine's isn't yours.
You... I am so sorry." "Hey... now ain't the time to
talk about that. You take care. When you're feelin' up to it, we'll
head back home."
They had gone over a million names and had a handful left before he had left. But once they had a proper look at their children, there was no doubt in their minds as to the names. Simple, pleasant.
"Come on, son. Gotta keep quiet," he reminded the newborn once again.
"Too late. He already woke up his mother."
"You look so beautiful sleepin' there, Michaela." He smiled and offered her the canteen of water. He had never seen her drink so much before. He had begun stalking her with a biscuit much like he had done during her pregnancy, but she still wouldn't eat. "Ready to go back home?"
Michaela nodded. "Yes. Let's go home."
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The homestead was dark when they approached, save for a single lantern that had been left in the window. Sully did not wait for long, however, before more lights were lit and a particular little boy came running out the door.
"You're back!"
"Omph!" Sully coughed out as Brian nearly tackled him to the ground. Matthew and Colleen were fast behind him, though it was Matthew that noticed where his mother was.
"Dr. Mike? Ya okay?"
"Yes!" She called out and Sully detached Brian from his body before moving to pick up his wife. The jacket was still covering her and the child rapidly followed them into the house in front of the barely surviving fire.
"Ma?" Brian asked softly as Sully placed her into the chair and carefully removed his coat to reveal the two infants that were curled against their mother. "The babies!"
"Shh!" Colleen exclaimed, placing her hand promptly over Brian's mouth and glaring at them. "Oh, Dr. Mike. They're so pretty. And so little!"
"They're perfect," Michaela whispered.
"Kids, I'd like t'introduce ya to your brother and sister. Alexander Josef and Cassandra Elizabeth Sully."
"Alexander and Cassandra?" Matthew said.
"We've been calling them Alex and Cassie." Michaela smiled.
"Where'd those names come from?" Brian asked innocently.
"The Trojan War. Paris was born as Alexander. And he had a sister, Cassandra." Michaela easily explained.
Sully did not mention the fact that he liked the idea of his son living up to the name meaning of Alexander, which was protector. And the fact that Cassandra meant to entangle men, if only because no man was ever going to touch his baby girl.
"Hi, Cassie," Colleen said softly. "Here, I'll help ya get cleaned up, Dr. Mike... Ma." She smiled at her surrogate mother and the whole family began the process of settling the mother and children in.
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Catherine walked up towards the homestead. The boy that was normally on her skirts was not with her and she came upon the barn to find Sully carrying around Alex, showing him around the barn.
He had done it earlier that morning with his daughter while Alex fed. It made him feel a swell of pride. "This is where yer Pa and brothers keep their horses. And that's Flash, yer Ma's horse. Be careful of that one. Bit much for you..." his voice trailed off as he saw the blonde hair shining in the afternoon light.
"Catherine."
"Sully." She did not get down. "I am going back to Baltimore."
He didn't know exactly what to say to that and nodded. "For the best."
"I didn't realise that you and Dr. Mike were married."
He stared at her for a moment, trying to read her and determine if that was true. "I loved her before I met you, Catherine. Ain't nothin' gonna change that."
"You're a good father."
"Maybe you should be with your son's father."
He watched as she visibly stiffened. "I don't know who his father is. Nor his mother. He's not my son. I don't know who his parents are, and the orphanage that I found him in was none the wiser. He was left on their doorstep." She looked down. "I had to give him a better life. But it was so hard, Sully. I couldn't do it on y own. I thought..."
"You thought I'd help ya." He sighed. "Catherine. That's askin' a lot. That's presumin' a whole lot more. I don't want t'lecture ya. But I don't think comin' back here was a good idea."
"Don't worry, Sully. I'll walk away from your life."
He wasn't falling for it. His son stirring in his arms was enough to remind him.
"Bye, Catherine." And with that, he walked back to his house, his wife, and his family.
Entering the front door, he heard the woman leave and found his wife carefully crawling to find some food from the kitchen.
"Finally! 'Bout time ya got something down."
"Catherine left?"
He never knew his wife to side step a conversation when tired and curious. He nodded though and kissed her cheek before going to fuss on his daughter. "Got the boy from an orphanage and bit off more than she could chew."
"She was rather presumptuous."
He could hear the restraint in her voice.
"Told her that. Then told her that I didn't think her comin' back was any smarter."
"She's gone."
"Yup."
"No more of her?"
"Nope."
"And you're staying?"
"Yup."
"And you're happy."
He smiled and looked at her, a twinkle in his eye.
"Yup."
Glaring at him with a teasing gaze, she threw the wash rag at him and laughed.
"Thank you, Sully. Thank you for our little girl and boy."
He smiled and pulled her into his arms.
"Thank you. For these lives."
She smiled at him and placed her head against his shoulder, letting his warmth and protective stance embrace her, beyond her insecurities, beyond her fears, and into the safe cocoon of their life.