Re: A Journey Home - ch. 22 -- The Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman Fan Exchange

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Date Posted: 09:46:37 03/25/03 Tue
Author: dqfan
Subject: Re: A Journey Home - ch. 22
In reply to: dqfan 's message, "Re: A Journey Home - ch. 20 & 21" on 09:29:31 03/25/03 Tue

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

"You'll call and let me know you're home safely?" Charity tried desperately to keep her voice steady as she straightened the collar on Peter's jacket for the third time, yearning to keep him close, if only for a few more seconds.

Thoroughly dismayed by the burgeoning sentimentality that was threatening to overcome her, Charity instantly regretted agreeing to this excruciatingly public airport farewell. The fact that dozens of similar post-holiday departures were taking place all around her was of little comfort as she felt a single, traitorous tear begin to moisten her cheek.

Somehow, Charity had held on to the hope that Peter might stay in Colorado Springs a while longer, long enough for her to share New Year's Day with him at the very least. But now, here she was, on December 31st, forced to bid consecutive goodbyes to Chloe, Chip, Sophie, and, most of all, her precious Peter.

As she faced the conclusion of their visit, along with the passage of another year, Charity felt more than entitled to a hint of wistful melancholy. The women of WALPOCS were lively companions to be sure, but never once had they gifted Charity with the all-encompassing, heart-stopping, whirlwind mixture of panic, excitement, and joy that Peter and his friends had managed to stir in her in just one week. Charity would miss them all more than she could ever express.

"Sophie, dear," Charity turned to the latest, lovely addition to her family. "Thank you so much for everything."

"Oh, Charity, I'm the one who should be thanking you." Sophie hugged Charity tightly, certain that she and Peter would not be as happy as they were today without her patience, guidance and encouragement.

"On the contrary, your suggestions were wonderful," Charity continued earnestly.

"Suggestions?" Peter prompted curiously.

"Yes, Sophie had a few suggestions for the WALPOCS - marvelous ideas..." The glowing praise in Charity's voice was quite apparent.

"Did she?" Peter pressed for further details.

"Just a couple of thoughts," Sophie mumbled ingenuously.

"I just mentioned to Charity that I thought it might be better to display the Virginia City letters chronologically, rather than divide them into batches -you know, the ones written by Michaela and the ones written by Sully," Sophie explained.

"How did you put it?" Charity wanted to recall correctly. "Allow the reader to more fully 'appreciate their enthusiasm�'"

Peter's ears suddenly perked up. There was something about that phrase. Something he couldn't quite remember�

Sophie could only blush as Charity continued effusively, "It's absolutely brilliant�I mean, explaining your concept using Sully's own words�Why, that shows a real masterful grasp of the material in so little time�"

"I could've done that," Peter scoffed.

With his nose seriously out-of-joint, Peter made a mental note to read that particular batch of letters again as soon as they got home.

"Do you know, we're still trying to decipher exactly what Sully meant by that telegram," Charity remarked off-handedly.

"What do you think, Sophie?" she asked pointedly.

"Oh, I think I'd have to conduct a little more research�" Sophie mumbled her excuses, fearful of Sully's wrath if she ever disclosed the phrase's actual meaning.

"Research�" Peter muttered under his breath in disbelief.

"And that is precisely why I have this gift for you, Sophie," Charity acknowledged, ignoring Peter's jealousy with a crooked smirk as she pulled a leather bound album from within her bag.

"Consider it a late Christmas present - or an early wedding present," Charity added with a wink.

Sophie ran her hand over the smooth, polished leather, mystified over its contents. Slowly, she lifted the cover and her breath caught instantly.

"What is it?" Peter asked, moved by Sophie's clear excitement.

"The letters�" Sophie sighed in amazement, looking toward Peter in surprise.

"There's a copy of every single one," Charity smiled lovingly, "and in chronological order. I know how much they meant to you - both."

"What's this?" Sophie's eyebrows raised as she pulled an embossed notecard from inside the front cover.

"That�would be your official invitation to assume the presidency of the Women's Auxiliary League for the Preservation of Colorado Springs upon your marriage to Peter," Charity offered with a grin.

"Oh no, I couldn't�" Sophie blushed, secretly thrilled by Charity's request.

"You're dethroning me?" Peter whined indignantly.

"You were our president, Peter, not our king," Charity quipped bluntly. "Let's just say, your term has ended."

"Just like that? I'm out�" Peter's pride was mortally wounded, regardless of the fact that he'd been given his long-sought freedom from the WALPOCS on a silver platter.

"She gives you one tiny idea and she's in?" he continued incredulously. "I saved the time capsule! Doesn't that count for anything?"

"Of course it does, Peter. You'll be our President Emeritus. You can keep your chair�" Charity soothed, while Sophie looked everywhere but at Peter as she tried to keep from laughing.

Peter contemplated his new title dejectedly until a deliciously devious idea struck him. "So, if I don't marry her�" he started innocently.

Sophie was about to hit him with her carry-on bag in retaliation, but Charity was ready with her own reprisal. Snatching Sophie's left hand, Charity waved it menacingly in front of Peter.

"You listen to me, Peter Scarbrow," Charity threatened glaringly, "if there isn't a gold band sitting next to this emerald within the year, I will have no other choice than to invite Randolph P. Lodge for a month's stay at Mount Horizon as your personal guest."

While Peter and Sophie both gulped at the prospect, Charity pressed for confirmation. "Have I made myself clear?" she warned.

As they dared nothing but to nod in unison, Peter could only grumble to Sophie under his breath, "You're not getting my chair�"

Thankfully, Chloe and Chip took that moment to return from the airport lounge and their pre-flight libations. "Well, I better see about that upgrade," Chip announced cheerfully.

Before heading toward the ticket counter, Chip turned to Peter with a grin, "Pete, it's been fun!"

Peter smiled, not hesitating to shake Chip's outstretched hand. "Yeah�yeah, it has," he agreed with a chuckle. "Just like old times�"

Then, with a mischievous twinkle and a pointed glance toward Chloe, Peter issued a not-so-vague warning to his old friend, "Don't make me regret it."

Chip took the hint with a guilty nod and waved a mock salute in farewell to one and all.

The surreptitious looks passing between those three were driving Sophie slowly crazy but she forced herself to stand silently by as Peter took Chloe aside for a private goodbye.

"Chlo�thanks again�really�I know Chip would've never come if you hadn't convinced him�" Peter wanted to be sure she knew how grateful he truly was.

"I'm just glad we could help," Chloe replied graciously.

"Be happy, Peter," she added, reaching up to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"You, too, Chlo," Peter wished, returning her kiss. Then, with a sly look toward Chip, who was busy smooth-talking a flight attendant, Peter cautioned, "And be careful�"

Chloe smiled knowingly. "I will," she promised. "Happy New Year, Peter."

"Happy New Year, Chlo," Peter whispered quietly as Chloe left for the life she was destined to lead without him in New York.

"Be careful?" Sophie questioned, not even bothering to pretend she hadn't been eavesdropping as she sauntered over and placed her arms tightly around Peter's waist, hugging him close.

"Uh-huh�" Peter grinned like the Cheshire cat while Sophie was dying of curiosity.

"So, are you going to tell me?" Sophie asked, poking him in the ribs, knowing Peter was enjoying his secret a little too much.

"Chloe has a new man in her life," Peter revealed teasingly.

"Who?" Sophie pulled away slightly to look Peter in the eye, dying to learn the mystery man's identity.

Slyly, Peter whispered in her ear, "Chip�"

Sophie's mouth hung wide open and her eyes popped in amazement as Peter exaggeratedly mimicked her expression. "Oh, poor Chloe�" she winced as their foreheads met in commiseration.

"I know�" Peter sighed hopelessly, still quite unable to believe it. Then, realizing there was little he could do about it, Peter placed a playful kiss on Sophie's nose, and sighed again, "I know�"

"Flight 110 to Vancouver via Seattle, is now boarding at gate 23," the booming announcement startled them both.

"Well, I guess this is it, Aunt C.," Peter extended his arms for one last hug.

"My life will be quite boring now," Charity remarked dramatically as she fell sadly into Peter's embrace.

"Um, I don't know about that," Peter chuckled, looking up to see Ben Reardon approaching them with a rather large bouquet of yellow roses.

"Sheriff, this is a surprise," Peter smirked, trying to control his merriment. It sure hadn't taken Ben long to act on Peter's suggestion concerning Charity's favorite flowers, Peter laughed to himself.

"Yeah, well, I know how you hate goodbyes, Charity," Ben mumbled self-consciously. "So, I thought maybe I could take you to dinner tonight. It being New Year's Eve and all. No sense in you moping�."

Fumbling with the roses, Ben added gallantly, "These are for you."

"Oh, how beautiful! Yellow roses are my favorite," Charity inhaled deeply of their incredible fragrance.

"Yeah�I�I know�" Ben whispered shyly, careful to avoid the twinkle in Peter's eyes.

"Why, thank you, Ben. I'd love to greet the New Year with you," Charity smiled, rather flirtatiously at that.

Suddenly, Charity felt Peter's hands tightly about her shoulders as he came up behind her and whispered mischievously in her ear, "See, Colorado Springs is never boring�"

Charity turned and sighed at their inevitable parting. "I love you both. Come back soon, please?"

"Promise," Peter and Sophie replied together.

"Take care of yourselves, kids," Ben added, warning sternly, "stay out of trouble now, don't go climbing any mountains�"

"Oh, no," they both mocked with wide child-like grins. "Not us�"

Then, preferring not to explain just how impossible it would be for either of them to stay off a mountain for long, Peter and Sophie wisely waved a hasty goodbye, grabbed their bags and headed for home.

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Re: A Journey Home - ch. 23(Final) -- dqfan, 09:51:00 03/25/03 Tue