The man paid the money he had promised. The guard made sure it was all there and then unlocked the door and took off his shackles. The man left quickly. He had alot of unfinished business to do.

Michaela finished setting the table. She went and called the children in for supper. They began to eat. Soon after they did their father arrived home. All four of them went running to him. Michaela smiled at how he tried to hug them all at once.

Michaela thought to the past year. It had been hard. Influenza had swept through the town and killed many people. Including Sully's wife Anna and their small babies. It had also killed Michaela's two daughters. It had been a sad time for everyone. Somehow after six years they had found each other again.

Her family was very different from a lot of peoples. She was raising Anna and Sully's two older children. She was also raising her son from her second husband and her and Sully's daughter.

Michaela found it hard at first to adjust. Things had become so different. But their love had gotten them through it. Michaela had lost Sully once and she wasn't going to loose him again.

They all sat down to dinner. It was a great time for conversation and listening to what the little ones had to say. Michaela looked at Alex, Victoria, and Damion. Then she looked at her husband. The resemblance was very clear. Even though Alex had a different mother from Victoria and Damion. If someone looked at the three of them and then at Sully they looked like full blood siblings. They all had his brown hair and blue eyes.

Later that night Michaela sat and dug through her chest. So many memories of her and Sully. As she dug deeper down she pulled out a thick wad of papers. They were tied together with a piece of string. Michaela untied and looked at what it held. Michaela's eyes filled with tears. There in her hands was proof of Anna's and Sully's life together. There were wedding photos. Family photos. There was photo that hurt the most. It was of Sully and Anna smiling and holding hand. Michaela could tell they had been truly happy. They had many more pictures showing their happiness.

Sully finished checking on the horses. He went inside and upstairs. As he was about to open his bedroom door he could hear his wife crying. He opened the door and looked in. There was his wife sitting on the floor. Surrounded by photographs. Sully walked up to her. Then he saw what had made her so upset. It was pictures of Anna and their life they had shared together. He sat beside his wife.

"Michaela I know that you are hurting. But I can't just get rid of everything I shared with her. We did have something between us I don't want to forget. For my children sake. I want them to know who there mother was."

"Sully why bring up the past for them. They are so young. Let them live with peace. I can be a mother to them. Just like you are trying to be a father to Samuel even though he is not yours. Why can't we let the past to rest."

"Michaela we have had a hard time the last few months. I want them to at least know something about their mother when their older."

"Sully I don't want to relive the past!"

"Something else is bothering you. Tell me please Michaela?"

"Sully my life was terrible. He drew knives and guns at me. He would hit me unless I did what he wanted. I was so afraid for my life. I don't want to ever feel that way again."

Sully embraced her in his arms. He held her as she wept the tears of pain. Sully knew that they needed to get through the past before they could go into the future.

A well dressed man stepped off the train. He looked around at the small town. He had to find them. He checked his luggage and got a room. Then he asked around to see if anyone knew where he could find them. He boiled with anger as he thought about his brown haired beautiful wife. He had something in mind for her.

Damion couldn't fall asleep that night. He pulled the picture of his mother out from under his bed. He stared at her face. He could feel her looking back at him. He ran his fingers over her face. It was beginning to fade. Everything was changing. He had a new mother. His father had changed since he had married her. He didn't know if he could ever accept her as his mother. It hurt to keep going on. This woman who had taken his mother's place had removed every trace of his mother ever living. It had been two years since she died. He missed her terribly.

Michaela could hear him crying. She opened the door and went to the bed and embraced the young boy. He pushed her away. He didn't want her to comfort him. He only wanted things to go back to the way they were.

"Damion let me help you.", she replied softly.

"I don't want you, I want Papa.", he said to her with anger and hurt in his voice.

Michaela felt Sully put his arm on his shoulder. She looked up at him. She had tears welling up in her eyes. She left the room quickly and went downstairs and outside.

Sully sat on the bed and embraced his son. He knew what he was feeling. Sully wasn't sure how he could make things any better. Ever since his mother's death he had become quiet and distant.

"Papa I miss Mama. I can hardly remember her. Everything is fading. It's like she didn't even exist to you anymore."

"Son that's not true. I loved your mother very much, but life doesn't always go the way we want it too. Right before your mother died she told me to be happy and to live a happy life."

"Papa why did you have too marry her?"

"Because I love her. Just because I got married doesn't mean I love your mother any less."

"I am hurting so bad inside. I don't know what to do anymore. I feel like I can never talk to you anymore. I feel like I am getting pushed aside. I used to be the oldest. Now you got Alex as your daughter. You spend a lot of your time with her."

"Damion I have known you your whole life. But I am just starting to get to know my daughter. I will try to spend more time with you and your sister. I promise. I love son."

"I love you too Papa."

Soon he fell asleep. Sully quietly left the room and went downstairs and outside. He sat beside his wife. She looked out into the black night and just stared.

"Michaela you have to give him time."

"Sully don't you see. It's not going to work. I will never measure up to her. She meant everything to them, and you mean so much to them too. I see how he looks at you. He will never accept me. I feel like I am the broken part. I don't fit in here. I see the way you look at Damion, Victoria, and Alex. They are your blood. Samuel and I don't fit in. We'll never fit in."

"Michaela I love my children. I love Samuel as if he were my own, and I love you. We will get through this. Just give it time."

"Sully it's been two years almost. How much more time can I give. I feel like I am going to break and never get back up. Sully I need to get away. I need to find my place again."

Sully had heard this before. But the last time she had said that he had lost her. He didn't know what he was going to do. But he wasn't about to let her run and hide away from her problems like she did before.

Michaela rode into town. She needed answers. Everything inside of her was telling her something. She couldn't figure out what it meant. She turned her horse around and headed for the homestead. Just as the homestead came into view a storm came in unnoticed. Michaela urged Flash on. Soon the horse spooked and reared up. Michaela felt her body fly to the ground and hit it hard.

Sully finished closing the shutters. He wondered where Michaela would be. He decided that she probably stayed at the clinic until the storm died down. He turned out the lights then checked on the children and went to bed. Sleep soon overcame him. He dreamt of him and Michaela. Soon he had a vision. He and the children were at a funeral saying goodbye.

Sully woke up. He knew something was wrong. He got out of bed and woke Brian up. He then saddled his horse and rode into the darkness. He didn't have to go far up the road until he spotted his wife's horse. He grabbed her reins and tied them unto the horn of his saddle. Then he continued to ride. Soon he found Michaela laying on the ground motionless.

He got down off the horse and ran to her. He checked to see if she was alive. She was but barly. Her pulse was weak and her breath short. Sully picked her up and then put her on the horse. He mounted and quickly rode off.

He soon reached town. He went to the clinic and knocked on the door. Soon Andrew and Colleen opened the door.

Andrew saw Michaela laying in her husband's arms. He quickly took her and put her on the examining table. He went to work with his wife beside him helping him.

"She has a gash on the forehead. It may have causes brain damage. Colleen give me the morphine."

Andrew soon went to work. He checked for brain damaged and other possible injuries. He looked down at the floor for a moment. He had done operations before. But something was very different about this one. He then went back to helping Michaela.

Sully sat outside. He couldn't be loosing her know. Not after everything they had been through. He put his head in his hands and began to cry. After a few minutes the door opened.

Andrew looked at Sully and slowly began to tell him,"Sully I have some bad news..."

Sully took a deep breath and prepared himself for the worst. He looked down at the ground and listened to what he had to say.

"Sully, Michaela has a blood clot on her brain. I need to remove it before it does any further damage to her brain."

"Has it caused any damage yet?"

"I don't know. A doctor only knows when the patient regains conscience. Sometimes they don't even do that."

"Do what ever you have to. Just save her life."

Andrew went back inside and began to operate. Sully stared up at the stars for the first time since his daughter had died. He could see them so clearly on that night. He and Michaela would spend hours just looking up at the stars.

"Katie if your there, I wanted to say that I love you and miss you. Please don't let him take your mother away from me too. I need her to survive. Katie I think about you all the time. I thought about how you would look today if you were alive. Katie everything is all messed up. I don't know if I could go on anymore."

Sully looked up and saw a star shoot across the sky. Sully could feel his daughter's presence near by. He didn't know what to do anymore.

"Papa, don't give up. You need to go on. You have people who love you and need you. Please don't give up."

Sully could hear her voice faintly, but he still heard it. He looked around and couldn't see anyone. He then noticed his daughter's spirit standing before him.

Sully noticed she looked very sad. He wanted to reach out to her and comfort her. Sully felt her pain. It was very deep sadness. She reached her hand out to his and then said,"Papa you can't give up. Mama needs you to be strong. You need to keep living. Papa it wasn't your fault that so many of your loved ones died. You need to get through this. And one day you will be here with me."

Sully looked up and she was gone. He knew that his daughter spoke the truth. Sully missed her more and more everyday. He couldn't shut out everyone who loved him the most. He had hurt them by not telling them the truth once before. He had so many secrets from his past that no one knew. He locked them away hidden away from all the pain in his life.

Just then the clinic door opened and the Andrew walked out. He looked very tired. Sully stood up slowly. He searched Andrew face for anything. He found a single tear fall down his face and hit the ground.

"Sully the operation was successful, but her lungs were damaged in the accident. I don't think she is going to make it. I am so sorry. She is asking for you."

Sully couldn't be hearing this. His beloved Michaela was dying. He almost lost his balance. Andrew put and arm on him to keep him up. Sully then walked into the clinic. There on the table was Michaela covered in her own blood.

"Sully I want you to tell the children that I love them. Tell them I am sorry I won't be able to watch them grow up into the wonderful adults they will become. I love you so much Sully."

Sully could see that she was gasping for breath. She was just wasting away before his very eyes. He couldn't stand to watch her in so much pain.

"Michaela don't give up. You need to fight. I love you Michaela. I don't know what I am going to do if I loose you too."

"Sully you will find the way."

She wrapped her hand in his. Then took one last breath and looked up and was gone. Sully breathed into her mouth. But it didn't do anything. He began to beat hard on her chest. As if he could will the life back into her.

"Michaela come back! Don't give up on me. I won't let you go. I will never let you go. You are my heartsong. My one and only true love. I will die without you. Michaela do you hear me? I will never give up on you. You have to come back to me."

Andrew ran to Sully and pulled him away from Michaela,"Sully she's gone. There was nothing any of us could do."

"No I could have protected her. It's all my fault. I wish they could take me instead."

Sully felt a hand touch his own. He looked over and couldn't believe what he saw.

Sully almost fell when he saw Michaela open her eyes. He went to her side and kissed her several times. He wanted her to know that he loved her. Michaela looked into his blue eyes. They could tell her so many things about him. She felt as if she had just woken up from along night sleep. But then she got terrible pain in her legs and arms.

"Sully what happened?",she asked quietly.

"You must have been riding home when the storm came. I guess Flash got spooked and then reared up and you fell off. I thought I almost lost...lost you.",he could hardly say the words.

"Sully you will never loose me. I will always be with you here in your heart.",she pointed to her chest.

William walked around in the Cheatue. He had heard about the accident a few days ago. He hoped that she suffered the way he did. He had hurt him deeply. He didn't know where his kids were but he was going to find them. They were all he had left and he wasn't about to let her stop him. He was prepared to do anything to get them. Anything.

Michaela finished planting the seeds. She got up and went inside. She went upstairs in her bedroom and got into bed. Soon she fell asleep. She started to dream of things that frightened her.

Sully came home after dark. Brian and the younger kids were all eating dinner when he came inside.

"Where's your Ma?"

"She got home and did some planting then went upstairs to bed."

Sully sat down and ate dinner with his children. Soon after the kids went upstairs to bed. Brian and Sully remained downstairs. They sat in the living room to talk.

All of a sudden a terrible scream was heard. Sully ran upstairs into Alex and Victoria's room. He looked to see if either of them had screamed and they both were sound asleep. Then he went into his bedroom to check on Michaela. He looked at the bed and didn't see her anywhere. He went downstairs and looked around in the house and couldn't find her anywhere. He went outside. He found a rope hanging out their bedroom window. He saw two horses tracks leading away from the homestead. Brian came outside and stood beside Sully.

"Brian I think someone taken your Ma. I'm gonna go after them. I need you to stay here and watch over the kids."

"Alright Pa, but be careful."

Sully went into the barn saddled his horse and then quickly mounted and rode off into the night. He knew he had to get his wife back no matter what. But who would want to hurt Michaela. Then he knew who it must have been.

Michaela sat in front of William. She had been gagged and tied up. She couldn't believe this was happening. How did he get out of prison. She only knew she had to stay alive for her family, for Sully.

Sully rode home after hours of searching. He found nothing. The tracks had stopped and he had no idea where to look. He pulled his horse to a stop and dismounted. He looked around at the homestead and the land. He and Michaela had built there life upon them. He knew that if she wasn't with him none of it mattered. Nothing mattered without her. He loved her so much.

Michaela opened her eyes and looked around. She was tied to a chair in a small room. It was dark. She could hardly breath. She didn't know where she was or how she was going to get out of this situation. Her mind began to take control of her. So many bad thoughts began racing through her mind. What was William going to do to her.

Charles and Sarah got off the train. They looked around at what they thought to be a savage town. It was very rustic. They went over to the Gold Nugget to get a room and a decent sleep. Then they would attend to their business tomorrow.

Sully walked into the homestead. His children were quietly sitting at the table. They looked up at him with tears in their eyes. They knew he hadn't found Michaela. Sully looked down to the ground choking back his tears. He sat down and stared at the wall. He didn't notice when they told him goodnight and went upstairs to bed. He couldn't stop thinking about Michaela. Where was she, what was William doing with her? He had many questions but no answers. He went upstairs and fell asleep.

The next morning there was a loud knock on the door. Sully woke up and put his buckskins on and his shirt. He then went downstairs and looked out the window. He didn't know who was there. He slowly opened the door.

"Excuse me I am looking for Byron Sully."

"That's me what can I do for you?"

"Well you don't know me or my sister but were Charles and Sarah Parker."

"Your Anna's sister and brother right."

"Yes, we never met. But we did hear of her death. It was very sad time for my family."

"Well what can I do for you."

"We knew that you two had children, and we were wondering if we might be able to see them and spend some time with them while were in town."

"I don't know. Right now isn't the best time. My wife was kidnapped recently and we are looking for her. The kids are really sad about it."

"Well I could watch them while you are looking for her and I am sure that Charles would be happy to help you look for her."

"Yes of course I will."

Two weeks passed and everyone began to loose hope. They only went to look when they had time. They all believed she had died and she wasn't coming back. Sully searched every day for her. He didn't find any proof that she was still alive. He couldn't believe she was dead. He knew that she was still alive.

Sully went about his life normally, but he wasn't the same person anymore. Everyone could see a change in him. His children tried to fill the hours at night with laughs. But when he was all alone in his room he would feel so alone. Michaela wouldn't be there every time he would want her.

Sully drove into town one day. The reverend approached him. Sully got down off his horse and tied him up. He looked down at the ground. The reverend reached his side.

"Sully I would like to have a memorial service for Michaela."

"I don't think I can say goodbye."

"Sully it has been a month you need to move on for your children's sake. They have lost one parent they don't need to loose another. It's time to let go and say goodbye."

"Alright",he said almost breaking apart.

"We are here today to honor the memory of Dr. Michaela Quinn-Sully. She was a magnificent woman who had many talents. She had a good heart. She cared about everyone no matter their color or race. She treated everyone equally. She will be missed by family and friends. Some of her family and friends would like to say a few words."

Dorothy stood up and spoke,"When I first came to town Michaela treated me fairly even when everyone believed that I had killed my husband. She became my friend and we shared a wonderful friendship. She was a kind, decent, and loving person. I will never forget what she did for me."

Jake then spoke,"At first I judged her for being a woman and a doctor. She taught me how wrong I was. She saved my lives many times, and the lives of many of the townspeople. If she hadn't come out west many of us wouldn't be her today. She will be missed."

Matthew stood up,"At first I didn't want to live with her. I didn't hate her, but I didn't accept her right away, but she loved me and guided me. She was my Ma. I loved her deeply and I will never forget the kindness she showed my and my brother and sister. She showed us many valuable things in life."

Sully was last to speak,"Michaela was a great woman. I loved her so much. She showed me about love and family. We built a life together and I don't know how I am going to go on. She showed the whole town that she was a great doctor. She earned out respect."

Sully walked along in a daze. He couldn't remember anything but the pain. It all had come back. He had felt all once before. He did want to feel the pain anymore. he wanted it to all go away. He finally saw the homestead. He walked up to it and looked at the beautiful house he had built for Michaela. It hurt so much. He didn't want to do anything without her. His life was meaningless without her. He fell to his knees on the ground, and put his hands on his face and cried.

Damion couldn't stand to see his father like this. It was tearing him to pieces seeing him in so much pain. The house that was once filled with laughter was now so gloomy and depressing. It had been three months since his step-mother had been kidnapped and died. Everyone else had moved on but his father. He still hadn't let go.

Brian finished washing the dishes then went outside to check on the animals. He went inside the barn. He found his father sitting and staring into space. Brian hatted to see him like this. He had been that way since his Ma had passed on. He knew it was even harder that they hadn't found her body.

"Pa You need to stop blaming yourself."

"Brian it was my fault that she isn't still here. I should have protected her."

Brian didn't know what to say to comfort him. He only knew that his father had to move on with his life even though he was hurting so much.

Sully went to bed that night. He knew he would raise his children and watch them grow up and move away then he would grow old alone. His beloved Michaela would not be at his side to enjoy all the times ahead. He fell fast asleep.

Sully woke up and got dressed. Then went downstairs. His daughter Alex was making breakfast. He went up and gave her a kiss on the cheek. It had been so many years since his wife had died. He missed her still to this day. He had grown older in the last twelve years. His children weren't young anymore. They were all teenagers. He went outside to saddle his horse. He went in the barn and got his horse then he saw something out of the corner of his eye.

Sully walked over and saw his friend Cloud Dancing sitting. He reached down and took his hand. He helped him to his feet. Cloud Dancing said nothing, just looked at his friend. Then he finally spoke.

"The years have not treated you well my brother. You have moved on through them. But your heart still has not. You wander alone because you have not let go. This is what will happen if you don't go back and find her. You will become and old man, and you will die alone and hurting. You must find her. For yourself, for your heart and soul."

"Cloud Dancing I can't change the past. It's too late. And I was too late 12 years ago. I should have listened to my heart. I blame myself every day for her death."

"Go back change all of this. You must go back. The future can not end up like this or you will loose another person you love. Go back now before it is too late.",then he pointed to a bright white light. Sully walked toward it and he was soon surrounded by light.

Sully woke up. He got up and dressed. He looked in the mirror and found himself to be a young man again. He ran to his children's bedroom. They were still young children. Sully prayed to the Spirits for bringing him back. He heard footsteps on the stairs. He went into the hall. Michaela was walking up the stairs. When she reached him. He threw his arms around her and wouldn't let go. He kissed her several times. Then he touched her face.

"Sully what's wrong?"

"I just love you so much. I never want to loose you."

All of a sudden a horse whinnied. Sully grabbed his tomahawk and Michaela's hand. He went outside with his wife right behind him. There was William tying a rope up to their window. Sully pulled him down. He then knocked him unconscious.

Michaela couldn't believe that he was there. In the distance several riders armed with rifles came riding up to the homestead. They had badges pinned on their coats.

"I'm real sorry he gave you folks any trouble. He escaped from prison. We tracked him here. Thank you for helping us catch him."

"That's alright, just make sure he stays in prison this time."

"Oh we will"

They tied him up and rode off. Sully held Michaela in his arms. He was glad he was given a second chance to change the past. He would never forget what the spirits had done for him. He held her close as the sun came up. He knew they would live together to see many more sunrises. Their souls would forever be connected. They were soul mates. Born to love and live with each other.