Chapter 23

Wolf sensed that a big event was approaching. He didn't know what kind of, but for a few days now, he could feel with every fiber of his body his master's increasing excited anticipation. If he had been able to put his own longings into words, the Alaskan malamute would have told everyone who was willing to listen that all he wanted was that things go back to normal. Although a very faithful and patient dog, it became harder for him to cope with the constant changes in his life, especially those regarding his sleeping places.

Fortunately, it had been only twice that Sully ordered him to stay in that house with the confusing big number of floors and doors and the bad-tempered man living there. Yet as a well-trained dog he'd obeyed when he had been told to sleep with the child which he already knew. The other place, the one with the small rooms and little space to run around where his master had lived for a while, hadn't been too bad for he was at least allowed to curl up on the foot of the bed of his favorite woman.

Yet even though Sully eventually took him back to the house where he had grown up, Wolf wasn't able to relax for there were too many people around who made too much noise over the day. The nights weren't much better because he had to chase away intruders quite often. The dog didn't like to do that, but even more than a peaceful night he wanted to protect his home. It was good to be back there but he missed Michaela who still stayed at the tiny place. All that Wolf wanted was to sleep at her feet again and enjoy the quietness of his life. Hopefully his master's growing excitement meant something like that…

xxx

Michaela was nervous as well. Not because Sully had told her that today was the day she could move back into her apartment; she was looking forward to doing so. His having invited all their friends to join them for a housewarming party but insisting that she wouldn't be involved in the preparations wasn't the reason either. Her slight anxiety had its source within herself because she didn't know how it would work once Sully and she were back at sharing his house. Until now, their relationship had remained one of close friends. Although they lived at different places, he at his home and she in his apartment, they had made time for each other so they could share meals now and then. It hadn't been as easy as it sounded because Michaela was back at work and Sully busy at the building site practically every waking hour. Only one awkward moment had occurred between them since the day of the tornado: when she had asked him what sum she should write onto the check. He had smiled though as she amended herself, rather asking about the number of months he would take into consideration for his calculation.

Anyway, the spatial distance between them had lulled her into a false sense of security: since there was no immediate need to think about the future, she had avoided doing so. Although Sully had turned into the man again she had fallen in love with, she simply couldn't forget the other side of him he had revealed after his accident. On the other hand, the fact that he hadn't tried to be more than a friend to her lately bothered her, deep down, as well. Not that she would ever admit that to anyone, she barely allowed herself to think about it, but the thought was there, making her insecure. That was why she saw her returning to the house at the end of Stout Drive with mixed feelings.

xxx

Sully knew that without his friends, he would have never been able to re-build his home. The men had done an incredible job; he hadn't expected that after only four weeks almost everything was as good as new. The property made the impression as if a tornado had never raced over it. Yet when he looked from where he was standing on the porch along the rest of the street, all the reminders were still to be seen. Although the debris had been removed, the devastation was as visible as it was right after the twister had hit. Only two other owners of buildings had begun to scaffold their houses. Obviously the others weren't as lucky as he was.

However, when Wolf, who was sitting next to him while he was lost in thoughts, suddenly straightened to his feet, wagging his tail excitingly, Sully knew that his faithful companion already heard Michaela's Toyota nearing, even over the chatter and laughing of his guests who were setting the table in front of the new barn.

Sully's pulse began to race; finally the day had come. He couldn't wait to show Michaela the new interior of the house. Much to his astonishment, she had agreed not to take sneak peeks before everything was done when he'd told her he wanted it to be a surprise. Actually, she had barely been here once she had fetched her personal things she needed in the other apartment. In a way Sully felt guilty because she had lost the major part of her wardrobe that had been kept upstairs. To be precise, not only her clothes weren't usable anymore but practically everything from the second floor was either gone or broken. Secretly, Sully had begun to fear that Michaela, after enough time to think about it, might come to the conclusion that the house wasn't safe enough for a child to grow up in. Maybe that's why she had shown so little interest…

Anyway, watching the greeting ritual between her and Wolf once she had left the car she had parked in the garage, Sully couldn't help but grin. Every time when the dog put his paws onto her shoulders, standing on his hind legs and trying to lick her face it became apparent how small Michaela was, which made the devotion of the big animal towards her look somewhat comical.

With his gaze still directed to the garage, Sully didn't notice that his friends were done with their task and on their way to him.

"Do we get that tour through the house now?" Grace, the café owner, asked in a quite amused tone as she noticed where his attention was directed.

Jumping by hearing her voice, Sully turned so he could see her. Trying to hide his embarrassment because he had been caught watching Michaela, he hastily responded, "Sure. C'mon in."

"It's fine, Sully," Grace chuckled. "We don't mind waitin' for Dr. Mike."

Hearing her name, Michaela looked at the group on the porch and hurried to join them.

After receiving welcoming hugs from all women, she rather shyly proffered her hand to Sully. "Hello," she said quietly, "Here I am."

"Good," was all he could manage, gazing into her eyes, trying to read her mind. Would she still want to stay after she saw all the changes he'd made? There was only one way to find out, and thus he squared his shoulders as he said, tearing his eyes from hers, "Alright ladies, let's get in."

Michaela, however, lingered behind, waiting until everyone else had entered the house. She wasn't sure whether she wished that Sully had made all the changes downstairs he had suggested before their breaking up. Combining her living room and his kitchen to one large room would be a beautiful sight, she was certain of that. But it also would mean she could barely live as a single anymore, for her only private place would be her bedroom and bath upstairs. If these rooms were still there, that was.

Eventually pulling herself together, she stepped over the threshold. As she immediately realized that the shape of the room hadn't changed at all, she couldn't help but be disappointed, yet feeling Sully's eyes on her she knew that there was more to it.

Sully had a hard time not to beam too obviously when he saw Michaela's reaction. He had feared she would be relieved seeing that everything still looked as it had before. Her face had fallen though, and so he hurried to put a smile on it again.

"Here," he said, reaching for the doorknob, "that's new."

With only little effort, he pulled the door open. Yet to everyone's astonishment, it was half of the wall that was folding until it merely seemed to be a post at the end. After Sully had opened the other side the same way, living room and kitchen were united, just as he'd pictured it that day that seemed to be ages ago now.

Sully didn't register Grace's and Charlotte's acknowledging words; he was only interested in Michaela's reaction. Slightly biting her lower lip she didn't speak as their gazes locked again. However, the shine in her eyes told him everything he wanted to know.

Eagerly, he ventured into the kitchen in order to show the other changes and adjustments but was stopped by Charlotte clearing her throat.

As curious as the women were, they were too much Michaela and Sully's friends to not realize that this presentation should be their private moment. Mutely communicating they had agreed to leave the couple alone.

"I better take a look that Brian isn't up to any mischief," Charlotte said.

"Uh," Grace took the clue, "I think I might have forgotten to put the steaks into the beer."

Myra, holding Samantha on her hip, nodded, "And I don't wanna get Hank fired up again 'cause he feels abandoned."

Only Snowbird didn't give a verbal reason for her following the others outside. Her wide smile spoke volumes though.

Slightly puzzled, Michaela watched her friends leave but soon turned back to Sully. "I like this solution," she said quietly, yet after looking around again she frowned. "All in all it seems to be smaller though."

"'Cause it is." Sully was beaming again. "I needed to change the outline anyway, so I moved my bathroom," he explained whilst gently steering Michaela forwards.

"It's is here now." He opened a door across from the removable wall. "Now it's easier for guests to use it 'cause ya don't have to get through my room first or even climb the stairs."

Michaela craned her neck to get a better look. "It's beautiful," she breathed as her eyes swept from the creamy ceramic floor tiles to the light lime-green toilet bowl and sink. The polished faucet sparkled in the light coming through a small window that wasn't directed at the yard but showed the meadow softly sloping upwards outside.

Knowing that the real surprise was waiting upstairs, Sully pushed the door to his room open, "Not much to see here," he said dismissively. "Just most of my old stuff." What he didn't say out loud was, that he hoped he could soon use it as the place where he wouldn't sleep anymore but do his carvings.

As he laid his hand onto the small of her back so as to guide her to the stairs, he didn't notice the effect of this gesture on Michaela for he was with his thoughts already on the second floor. Michaela, however, shivered slightly as she felt the light pressure of his hand. Only by feeling the warmth of his palm did she realize how much she had missed his touches.

However, once upstairs, she instantly noticed a second door before the one to the master bedroom on the right. Questioningly, she looked at Sully who wasn't able to conceal his excitement anymore. "I thought we need a nursery," he said, his eyes shining.

"Oh," was all Michaela replied. Yet her deep blushing indicated that she was fully aware of the intimacy of the moment. They were standing before the room that would belong to their baby.

Not wanting for the situation to become awkward, Sully opened the door. "There ain't any furniture yet. But that's the next on my list, to ask how ya'd like them."

Michaela stepped into the room nevertheless. It smelled of fresh wood for Sully hadn't painted the walls yet. Obviously he didn't want to decide about that without her either. The window to the yard stood ajar, and a soft breeze carried the voices of their friends up to them. Remembering that they had guests, she eventually turned around. At a loss for other words, she repeated the ones from earlier, "It's beautiful, Sully."

"Glad ya like it," he grinned in response. Stepping aside so she could join him in the hallway again, he continued, "The bathroom and yours are still pretty much the same. They're just a bit higher for I used a different roof construction this time. It should be more stable, though you can't really protect your house when a tornado…"

"Oh, look at that!" Michaela exclaimed as she peeked into the bathroom, not realizing that Sully only rambled on because he grew more nervous with every step that took them closer to what he considered the main attraction of this floor.

"Where did you get this one?" She pointed at a large triangle tub in the right corner, already seeing herself relaxing in a nice, warm bubble bath.

"Loren knows someone who makes them fittin' for the room," Sully explained.

Hearing the old man's name, Michaela frowned. Both Bray's had offered all kind of help once they heard that that the house had been hit by the twister. In fact, Charlotte and Maude had teamed up providing her with meals, and had become friends in the process.

Alarmed by Michaela's sudden sobering, Sully asked, "What?"

Fearing they might get back to fighting over his not letting go of Abigail, he hoped he could convince her that Loren was a friend to him rather than his former father-in-law. Yet to his astonishment she said hesitantly, "I thought Maude and Loren would be here, too."

Relieved beyond measure, Sully chuckled. "They'll come when they're done with stocktakin' at the shop. Loren said they'd be here in the late afternoon."

"I'm glad they will come," Michaela assured, proceeding to her old room. As Sully had promised, it almost looked as if nothing had happened to it. Only the lack of her personal things hinted that this wasn't the original chamber anymore. She had her sanctuary back.

"Thank you," she whispered, not turning around though for her vision was blurred by tears, "so much."

Sully could easily have taken advantage of the situation. He was sure Michaela wouldn't mind if he took her in his arms right now. Yet he wasn't as certain of how she would think afterwards, when she'd calmed down again, and thus he rather suggested, "How 'bout we join the others in the yard?"

"No," Michaela instantly replied. Wiping the tears away, she pivoted giving him a watery smile. "It's alright. It's the pregnancy that makes me cry so easily. I'd like to see the last room, too."

"Ya sure?" Sully wondered, feeling his palms get sweaty as his pulse began to race again.

Having recovered her equilibrium her smile was sincere as she retorted playfully, "Sure I'm sure. I'm a woman. I'm curious."

Despite himself, he chuckled. He waited until she stood next to him before he opened the door, feeling like Ali Baba who shared his secret about the cave full with treasures. This was the room that was made only for them, but only if Michaela really wanted it, and he would wait as long as it took for her to be certain.

Michaela had barely stepped inside as she already stopped again. Not having foreseen that, Sully bumped into her, grasping her shoulders to steady himself. Since she didn't wriggle out of his grip, he left his hands where they laid and waited.

Michaela's jaw had actually dropped. Not because the room wasn't cramped with all kind of ancient furniture anymore, but because a certain item still stood at its place as if it had never been moved. She had seen with her own eyes though that the tornado had not only ripped the roof from the house but destroyed this very room, too.

However, there it was: the bed of Sully's ancestors, as beautiful as ever. In total bewilderment she shifted so as to look up at him. "How is that possible?" she demanded.

Averting his eyes, Sully swallowed hard. She hadn't shied away from beneath his hands on her shoulders, and having her directly before him made it almost impossible not to kiss her. Thus he concentrated on her question. "It looks that this wasn't the first heavy storm that hit the house, so my grand grandfather attached the legs of the bed to the floor. I did the same. It was a close thing, but it worked."

Of course Michaela had noticed Sully's nervousness about showing her the upstairs rooms, but only now did she understand. This furniture wasn't just some bed or some heirloom, it was their bed. If she allowed it, this particular bed could be seen as a symbol for Sully's and her relationship: it showed that even bad tempests could be survived, allowing a new beginning. As Sully continued peering into her eyes, she felt the familiar heat rising into her cheeks. Then something in Sully's gaze changed, and after another minute he said, "I'm so sorry. I've been an idiot."

Michaela's eyes became misty again. In order to save herself from crying once more, she rather fled into the rational world of explanations. "Maybe you've heard of John Milton's words," she said, looking at her hands that she carefully placed against his chest. "The mind is its own place, can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven. You felt as if thrown into water, destined to drown whilst I saw that there was ground right beneath your feet."

Michaela spoke somewhat absent-mindedly for she felt Sully's heart hammering a staccato against his ribs under her palms. What would she lose if she gave them a second chance? That Sully wanted it was more than obvious. For the first time in weeks, she was certain that she would rather win.

Slowly, she lifted her head. As soon as he held her gaze again, Sully asked, "Can ya forgive me?"

Not able to voice her reply for her emotions got the better of her, she only nodded. That, however, was enough for him. Suppressing his desire for more, he kissed her softly before he whispered into her ear, "We'll take it ever so easy."

Nodding again, Michaela threw her arms around his neck, and as he felt her already slightly protruding belly pressed against his stomach, he suddenly knew that all would be well. They would raise this child together, and if they were lucky they would even have another one. Their moment was roughly interrupted though as they heard Hank yelling from downstairs, "Hey lovebirds! Care to join us? We're starvin'!"

As Sully growled in pretended exasperation, Michaela couldn't help but laugh out loud. "We are coming!" she called back.

When they stepped out of the house, everyone was sitting around the table, apart from Wolf of course, who came running towards them, his new friend, a Golden Retriever that belonged to Zack, right on his heels. As the reunited couple strode along the table to the two empty places at the far end, Michaela heard Myra telling Grace that she had her son when she was only fourteen. She'd had only two choices: being thrown out by her parents and raise the child on her own or accepting her sisters offer to take Zack in, under the condition though that she never tried to see him again. Across from the two women Robert E. was in a deep conversation with Cloud Dancing about horse races whilst Charlotte showed Snowbird an article in a magazine. Only Hank watched them getting to their seats, suddenly, Michaela was engulfed by a sense of belonging that she had never felt before. This place was her home; she knew it without a doubt. Of course Sully made mistakes, but she wasn't flawless either.

Feeling the afternoon sun on her face, she knew that the cold spring was over and had finally turned into a warm, early summer.

I know that a few of you are disappointed that this story is over at this point. But the things still to tell wouldn't fit into a *cold spring*; so I hope you forgive me. Thank you all so much for reading!!!!