When Tallia's eyes fell on Alex she released her daughter and gave Alex a brief hug. "I'm sorry to both of you for exploding as I did. I must admit that it took me by surprise and I'm not exactly reconciled with it yet." She glanced at Michelle and smiled. "I know that I can't stop you though. You've got too much of your grandparents in you."

Tallia took a deep breath and looked at the door, her lips twisted in a grimace. "I think we've kept your father waiting long enough." When the two teens hesitated she shooed them towards the kitchen door. "Let's go." Tallia stepped between Michelle and Alex and placed her arms across their shoulders.

Her father was standing beneath the naked bulb, staring out at the endless night that was punctuated with nocturnal noises. A quarter moon offered its wan, yellow light and the myriad of stars looked like holes in the sky.

The rasp of the handle turned Dylan's head and he watched Tallia emerge with the two offenders. She had a smile on her face and Dylan knew that he would give in. He didn't even try to uphold the angry facade but closed the space between himself and his woman-daughter and held her tight against his chest.

"This is me trying to be angry with you," he informed the girl huskily.

He felt her shift and loosened his arms, allowing her to step back. "All your life you are a quiet, unassuming, responsible child, never making any waves. Now the first big decision in your life and you do this." He shook his head, his voice holding nothing but humor, the anger all but drained from him. "Well, doing things with half your heart was never your way, was it, Michelle?"

Michelle smiled tentatively and Alex chanced a glance at her. "I love you both and I'm sorry that you found out this way. I feel ashamed that I didn't confide in you when this first started but-" Michelle shrugged and her father made a conciliatory gesture.

"It's over now and the decision has been made. We'll do our best with what life deals us."

Michelle felt a lightness in her heart that filled her chest and threatened to burst. She hugged both her parents and then turned to Alex. They looked at one another and then fell into each other's arms, Michelle sobbing with relief and Alex closing his eyes to cherish the moment.

Standing back, Dylan and Tallia saw how perfect the two children were for each other. They looked at each other and smiled in that way that parents do when they see something that only parents can see. "Congratulations," they whispered and then took themselves into the house, informing Danny that the secret that he had so willingly shared was true. From outside, Michelle and Alex could hear the whoop that issued from Danny's mouth and separated just in time to catch the thirteen year old boy that came flying out of the house.

"Yes!" he shouted. "I'm gonna have a brother!" He punched Alex in the arm and they traded shots before he jumped at Michelle and gave her a breath stealing bear hug. Michelle had never seen him so excited.

"Let's all go inside," Michelle suggested. Danny led the way and Alex hesitated, keeping Michelle from entering the house.

"My beloved," he said, his voice low and choked. "I didn't think your parents were going to accept it." Michelle could tell that this had frightened him and tenderly pressed her lips to his, trying to erase his fears.

"I knew they would relent," Michelle said lightly, though she had felt no such thing. She, too, had thought that this once she had gone too far. "What else could they do?"

 He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and laughed. "What else, indeed! Have you ever considered that someday you might come up against someone who is impervious to your charms?"

Michelle looked thoughtful and then shook her head. "Hasn't happened yet, " she said, her eyes dancing with pleasure.

They stepped back into the house and eased into the living room. Tallia was sitting on the couch with Danny next to her but Dylan was not to be seen.

"Where's Daddy, Mom?"

Tallia turned to the couple. "He went to lie down. It appears that you have worn him out," she explained dryly.

Michelle lowered her head. "Yes well. I think I'm gonna head up and see about relaxing. Night, Mom." She turned to head up the stairs but Danny's voice stopped her.

"What about me?" he demanded.

Michelle turned on him and pinned him down with a look. "Ohh, I'll have plenty to say to you when I get the chance," she said menacingly. When he squirmed in his seat she laughed and shook her head. "Don't worry, Danny! Goodness. Night to you too, then!" And she slipped up the stairs.

Alex stood awkwardly at the foot of the staircase, shifting from foot to foot. He opened his mouth to speak but then shut it. When Tallia glanced at him with raised brows he gestured to the top of the stairs, saying, "I guess I will too. Get to bed, that is. . . I mean, my-" He stopped when Tallia nodded her head.

"Good night, Alex."

"Night, brother," Danny said happily.

"Night." Alex took the stairs two at a time and strode to his room. He changed into a set of boxers and was about to get into bed when he heard a knock on the connecting door.

"Come in."

Michelle popped her head in and her body followed. She had changed out of the flowing skirt and blouse and into sweats and a shirt.

"I just wanted to-"

"Why don't you sit down?" Alex offered.

"Oh." She settled herself on the edge of the seat and continued. "I just wanted to thank you for taking me out tonight. I had a nice time."

Alex eyed her. "Are you sure? I feel as though I traumatized you by making you go!" he joked.

Michelle chuckled. "Well, I can't say as I go to town everyday. That many people tend to make me nervous." She shrugged. "I did have fun, though."

She got up and made to leave but Alex jumped up from the bed and caught her hand. When he didn't say anything, she extracted her fingers from his with a smile and reached for the door.

"You looked really beautiful tonight," he finally blurted out. "And I'm glad you had a good time. Besides, you don't have to leave so quickly." He tried to pull her to him but she leaned back. Confusion crossed his face and she smoothed his brow with a tender hand.

"Why don't we do our own thing tonight and get used to the thought of being. . ." She hesitated. "Of being engaged."

The next morning Michelle awoke to a presence in her room sitting quietly on the floor.

"What-? Johnny? What are you doing here this early?" Michelle's voice was still thick with sleep and she slurred her words together.

The young man sitting next to her bed seemed much too awake for it to be as early as-

"Johnny! For Goodness sake, it's seven!" She was indignant and her voice squeaked with it.

He just smiled and gave a little chuckle. "I never thought I'd catch you off guard. I just came over to see how Fancy was coming along, and your mom told me to come on up." He laughed again. "I guess she thought you would've been up by now too." He arched his brow and looked suggestively toward Alex's room.

Michelle made a mental note to discuss with her mother this invasion of privacy but tried to let none of her anger show.

"Since you seem to want to know, I didn't get to bed at exactly a reasonable time last night. Or, I guess it would be this morning." She shrugged off the discrepancy and swung her legs out of bed.

Alex chose this time to walk in, a shirt thrown over his usually bare torso.

"Michelle, is something wrong? I thought I heard you-" His eyes fell on Johnny and his eyebrows seemed to climb into his hair with surprise. "Oh! I didn't realize that you had company."

"I didn't either," Michelle grumbled.

"My, you two are chipper this morning!" Johnny commented with a cheerfulness that he was quickly losing. "Should I just come back later?"

Michelle was sorely tempted to tell him to go right ahead and come back tomorrow but bit her tongue as Alex spoke up.

"Why don't you go down stairs and get a bite to eat while we get dressed?" he suggested smoothly. "We shouldn't be more than a few minutes."

Johnny's eyes narrowed at the way that Alex referred to himself and Michelle but then stood in congenial agreement.

"That sounds great. I came over before breakfast, hoping I could catch it with you guys." He smiled quickly and then left the room.

Michelle peeked at Alex out of the corner of her eye and grimaced. "I feel as though I have grit in my eyes and I'm running on five and a half hours of sleep," she growled. "You can go and have a nice, friendly little breakfast and show him Fancy." Michelle burrowed her head beneath her pillow and her words became muffled. "I'm going back to bed!"

Alex grinned ruthlessly and snatched the pillow away. He scooped her up in his arms and dumped her unceremoniously in the chair, hurrying out of the room before she could verbally whip him.

The girl glowered in her chair before eventually yanking on the clothes of yesterday that lay on the floor. The shirt was rumpled and the jeans less than crisp, but at the moment Michelle was too disgruntled to care.

Alex intercepted Michelle at the head of the stairs and slipped his arm around her waist. She froze, every muscle in her body tensing. Alex nuzzled her hair and gently kissed her cheek; Michelle 's face broke out in a grin and she giggled.

"You're incorrigible. To think I'm going to have to live with this 24-7." Michelle rolled her eyes while Alex feigned offense.

"No one's forcing you into this, you know."

Her fingers slipped up to his chin and traced his lips. "Ah, but if I chose not to, who would keep you in line and make sure that you took care of yourself?"

He looked down at her and rested his forehead against her cheek, squeezing her close to him. "Forgiven?" he queried.

A grin played across her lips. "Lets go get something to eat, Alex."

Johnny eyed the couple as he followed them out to the barn. With hands ever so casually linked, they were still completely focused on each other. And Michelle had a hue about her. . .

He shook his head to disperse the crazy thought. She would never have done it. . . She couldn't have. . . His eyes clouded. Could she?

Once more he shook his head and entered the stables not a step behind Alex and Michelle.

"Well, there's the patient." Michelle pointed to the large, black head reaching around the frame of the stall. "I lounged her yesterday and it was practically flawless as usual." Michelle grinned with pride and stroked the velvety hair of Fancy's broad face.

Her neighbor remained silent as he slipped into the stall, running his hands along the mare's sides and under her barrel. Fancy snaked her head around and blew against Johnny's hair, a puff of green alfalfa dust clinging to the black locks.

"Thanks, venerable hay-recycler," Johnny mumbled sarcastically. Michelle smothered her laughter and brushed the dust from his well-oiled strands. "And she doesn't need any encouragement from you, missy." Johnny turned and gave her a rueful grin.

Michelle's eyes grew wide with feigned innocence. "Would I encourage such behavior?" Her lips pulled into an impish smirk and she tilted her head. "Okay, so maybe I would."

Alex laughed and drew Michelle into a loose embrace, placing a hard kiss on her forehead. "Come on, let's show him how she's doing." His face broke out in an infectious grin. "Then we can show him Spirit." Alex's eyes danced with anticipation and he was practically bouncing on his toes.

Johnny arched an eyebrow in Alex's direction and quirked his lips in a silent question of the boy's sanity. It was Michelle's turn to loose her laughter - in peals that echoed off the stable walls.

"Okay then. What are we waiting for?" Michelle took up a halter and stepped into the stall. "Go get Spirit and we'll start the show."