Disclaimer: I do not own Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman or its characters.

So this is my first Dr. Mike fic and I'm kind of nervous about it because I know that most people either liked Emma or hated her. But I always wondered what would have happened if Emma came back. So this is about that and it takes place after Season Six but its kind of AU. I've changed some things and will continue to change some things, but I hope you guys like it. And I promise that it'll get more exciting as the chapters go on and they'll be more Sully/Mike interaction as well. Just a lot of background information needs to be taken care of first. Please review, Ciara.

Mathew helped Dr. Mike out of the wagon she was now in her sixth month and she was still trying to do everything, but they were all trying to make her slow down. Andrew had explained that she had to be more careful because her age caused her to be more prone to miscarriages. After her miscarriage she had been a little more accepting of help from Andrew and everyone. It seemed like the whole town was looking after her.

"Mathew, I'm fine you could go back to work or maybe go over to Grace's for some breakfast." She smiled. "Grace just hired a girl to help her. She's quite pretty."

He shrugged. "I don't know."

She nudged him. "Go on, maybe you could bring me back some apple pie."

"Pie at this time?" he asked, shaking his head.

"Mmmm… with maple syrup."

Mathew wrinkled his nose. "All right. I'll be back in a little bit."

He walked through the side alley into Grace's Café. She smiled warmly at him. "Hello Sheriff," she said handing him a cup of coffee. "I'll have Kirsten get right over to you." She winked walking off to finish cooking up breakfast.

A pretty blonde walked over her blonde hair braided and coiled tightly in to a bun at the nape of her neck. She had bright blue eyes and porcelain skin accented by her flushed red cheeks. Flashing him a sweet smile she stood across from him.

"Morning, Matew," she said pressing a kiss on his cheek.

He cleared his throat taking off his hat. "Morning."

She smiled. "What can I get you this morning?" she asked in her sweet Polish accent.

"Eggs and bacon."

She nodded. "I'll have it right over."

"Thank you," he said. As she walked away he studied her and he realized that he had met even courted girls for almost the past two years, looking for Ingrid. He had found her in Kirsten. It was almost painful sometimes to look at her because she reminded him so much of Ingrid. Everything he had wanted he had found in her and that made him propose a month ago and now she was happily planning their wedding for next month. His mind reeled back to all the girls who he had courted or been forced to meet. There had been none that fit him as perfectly as Kirsten. Gorgeous and sweet she was what he had been searching for ever since he had lost it. She made him smile with her kind words and open heart. The way she volunteered at the school and always took Katie from Dr. Mike whenever she could. They were going to start a family right away. His dream had been postponed for two years, but now he was getting the woman he loved and a family just like he had always wanted. Then he had found a letter Colleen had gotten from Emma informing her of the death of Gilda St Claire. No one had made him feel like Emma had. It was all so confusing because he hadn't felt the same about Ingrid as he did Emma, but he had felt something and it was just as real. Denying it had proved impossible. There was nothing he could do from thinking of her and missing her. No one made him laugh or smile as much as Emma had not even Ingrid.

Ingrid had been so sweet and she just made his heart light up from her kindness and goodness just like Kirsten. Emma was wild and determined but had a caring nature about her. Never once had she pushed him like everyone else. She had let him feel everything he felt from Ingrid's death yet at the same time make him feel more alive than he ever had. It just was too soon after Ingrid's death. He kept comparing Emma to Ingrid and it had been futile. He knew that now, but Emma wasn't coming back and it was time to move on. Kirsten was here and she loved him. He loved everything about her and that was enough for a good marriage.

Emma sat on the train, holding Cassidy against the right side of her and Lily in her arms. For the past month they had been traveling, and now that she could see the Colorado landscape again she felt her hope rejuvenated. She had never thought that one place could be considered home but as she traveled around the world with Gilda St. Claire she realized that the only place in the world that she could claim to be hers was Colorado Springs. The town had been against her, but she had never given up and finally she had pushed through her past and proved herself. For some reason she had felt that there was still more and that Gilda St. Claire could provide it. Shortly after she had arrived Gilda had met a dashing man, Stephan Rezelli, in Greece who she fell madly in love with. They had married soon after finding out Gilda was pregnant with Cassidy and a year after Cassidy's birth Lily had been born. Stephan had taken Gilda out on a boat ride and a storm had capsized the boat. Their bodies were found three days later. Emma was left as the guardian of the two small children and according to Gilda's will the head of the children's estate. After two years in Europe, Emma had realized that there was nowhere she was happier than home. But as she saw the Colorado Springs train station her mind was only consumed with one thought Mathew Cooper and her stomach was doing somersaults left and right. She caught her reflection in the mirror. It was dark outside; she had bribed the conductor to make a special trip out to Colorado Springs that night. What she was going to do when she got there she wasn't sure, but now that she was here paying him to take her back was starting to seem more appealing. The train rolled to a stop and she took a deep breath. She stood up holding Lily against her chest, rubbing the infant's back.

"Cassidy," she whispered. "We're here."

The small toddler's eyes opened and she yawned. "We're here!" she repeated. Her blonde curls bounced up and down hitting the shoulders of her dark blue dress rapidly. "Emma we're here!"

Emma laughed. "Yes, I know. What do you think?"

"Its dark," she said furrowing her brow.

"Well, maybe you can see better when we get outside." Emma yelled after Cassidy as she ran ahead. "Hold my hand!" Cassidy folded her arms and glared at her. "Cassidy Claire you hold my hand or I'll put you back on the boat to London."

"No!" she screamed, crying. "Please Emma don't leave me."

Emma bent down and placed a kiss on the small girl's forehead. "I won't I promise." She held her hand out and Cassidy latched on tightly now. The conductor was waiting for them on the platform.

"Is there someone coming to pick you up?" he asked, holding Emma's hand as she got down.

"No, no one. We'll manage thank you again."

"I at least need to bring your luggage somewhere, Miss."

"Would you just leave it with Horace? He runs the telegraph office." She took a look at the clock and sighed. "I hope he's still up."

He smiled warmly at her. "Oh I'm sure he is and if not he won't mind waking up for such a beautiful woman."

Emma laughed. "I look better in the moonlight I guess."

He unloaded her luggage and Horace yawned not really listening as the conductor piled the luggage into his office. He didn't notice a young brunette with two small children walking towards Bray's General store or that Dr. Mike was just closing up.

"Come on Ma, Sully won't forgive us if he comes home and you aren't in bed yet," said Mathew practically pushing her out the door.

Brian was waiting in the wagon with Katie. "Katie's tired too."

Michaela laughed. "All right, I can't fight all of you." Mathew helped her up into the carriage. He saw a figure walking towards Mr. Bray's that looked like Emma. He shook his head in disbelief as he mounted his horse. "Mathew, are you all right?"

"Yea, I'm just tired. I think I'm going to sleep at your house tonight. In case Sully doesn't get home."

"All right."

Emma knocked loudly on the store door. "Mr. Bray," she called. The light of a candle slowly descended and Emma gulped as she heard him grumbling as he got closer to the door.

The old man opened the door and stood stunned in the doorway. "Emma?"

She shifted Lily in her arms, trying to hold a collapsing Cassidy and an infant was proving tiresome. "I was hoping that you might be able to put us up for the night. If it's trouble I can go to Hank's."

He noticed the two girls and shook his head. "No, I just I'm surprised to see you." He let her in locking the door again.

"Well, I just thought it was time to come home."

He nodded. "I would say its past time."

She noticed her desk was still where she had left it, but Cassidy was practically falling asleep and there was time to talk about particulars later. "Do you mind if I get them settled first before I explain myself?"

"You don't have to explain yourself, but I'll show you upstairs." He grabbed her bag and told her to watch her step. "Do you need anything for the baby?"

"Don't go to any trouble."

"I have a shallow basket and some bedding downstairs. I'll be right back." He slowly moved away and Emma had changed the two girls into their nightgowns by the time he had returned. Emma set Lily into the basket and thanked Loren graciously.

"Do you want a cup of tea or something?" he asked.

"I can make it, though," she said. She heard him mutter something under his breath as he went downstairs. She laughed glad to hear that he hadn't changed. After boiling some water she handed him a cup and they walked back out into the main room. Gesturing to the desk she smiled at Loren.

"Does that mean my old job's still waiting?"

He grumbled. "I guess so." He pulled his robe tighter. "Store hasn't been the same since you left anyway. I suppose I could let you back."

"I'd appreciate it, but I promise we'll find a new place to stay in the morning."

"No hurry," he said under his breath. "Does Mathew know you're back?"

"No," she whispered.

He nodded. "Well I'm going to go up to bed." He went to walk away when Emma's voice stopped him.

"They're not mine, Loren. They're Gilda's."

"I didn't ask."

"I know, but I'm just saying."

He nodded lighting a candle on the side of the stairs for her before climbing up the rest.

Emma leaned back against her chair. She had sat there for days watching customers go in and out purchasing stuff while they looked at her with disdain. The looks had changed but it was the contemptuous looks that had stayed with her the most. Things had changed now and she was coming back with a different view on the world. She had seen things that most people in this town had only read about. Through her fashion she was going to bring the world to Colorado Springs and in turn she would have her family again. Dr. Mike, Sully, sweet Brian, Loren, Miss Grace, Dorothy, and Mathew they were all here and their love had been the only thing that had carried her through everything. It had been what called her back like a beacon that shone across the Atlantic into her window in Rome. Now I'm home, she thought, running her fingertips along the bolts of cloths. Tomorrow there was so much to do.

Please Review! Thanks!