lb_heartland | Fic: Inheritance of the Heart 5-6/18

Inheritance of the Heart
Chapter Five
Word Count: 3,011
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Lou/Scott, but mostly, eventually... Ty/Amy.
Warnings: Character death (in chapter one only)
Disclaimer: I'm never going to grow up. That means... I'm not legally responsible for anything, right?
Summary: She went away thinking it would always be there, always be the same. She was wrong.
Author's Note: So this idea came into my mind, and it seemed like the ideal solution at first, but as I looked into it more, then it seemed more complicated and probably not the right idea after all. But it's all a part of figuring out how things are going to work for Heartland, for Amy and for Ty.

Rebuilding and Reforging

"Amy," Ty began, turning the truck down the road, towards town. He had a lot to do, and he needed to talk to her before this went much further. He was trying not to look at her, which shouldn't be difficult because he needed to focus on the road. Still, there was something about her that kept drawing his eye. Had she really changed so much that he couldn't reconcile it with the girl he'd known? He had seen Amy like this before, fresh from a shower, usually in a rush to get to school. It shouldn't be so different now. They were both adults. It shouldn't be this hard to separate what they used to be from what they were now. "About this trip..."

"What's going on with your mom? Is it the depression again?"

He shook his head. "Not exactly. It came back with the cancer."

"Cancer?"

He nodded. "Ovarian. It came on pretty suddenly, and we were pretty worried for a while. She was too depressed to fight it at first. Your grandpa, he was the one that suggested using the kind of oils we use for the horses to help my mom. It's not exactly the same, but I found a man in Utah who's a real expert on essential oils and using them, not just to treat but as preventives and to cook with... It's amazing the things he knows. I'll have to show you the book I bought. Everyone but your grandfather thought I was crazy when I went to Salt Lake for three days training, but the guy really knows what he's talking about, and he uses high quality oils. We use the same things ourselves in different blends."

Amy smiled at him. "It's nice to see you excited about this. Did... your idea to start that school with Tanya come from this oil training?"

"Partially, yes. I know you don't like the idea, but it—"

"No, Ty, I think I overreacted, just like I've overreacted about a lot of things lately," Amy admittedly a bit sheepishly. "It is a good thing, teaching kids about oils and horses. Everyone should learn. It's just hard for me, accepting that so much has changed around Heartland. I guess I always figured it would stay the same while I was gone. It was the wrong thing to expect. I'm trying to adjust. It's hard. So much is... I can't go back, Ty, and I keep thinking that I want to."

He studied the road, trying to find the right words to say. "I know the feeling. I've had a lot of moments thinking that, especially after my marriage fell apart. It would have been easy to get caught up in how much I wanted to go back and never take that path, but I can't go back. I can't take back the choices I made, and I definitely can't take back the choices of anyone else. Your grandpa helped me see all that. He'd lost a lot more than I have, and he always came out stronger."

"You really miss him, don't you?"

Ty nodded. He had learned a lot from Jack, and Jack had seen him through a lot of bad times in the last year. "He was a good man, and he really took care of me when everything seemed to be out of control. I think he missed having someone to take care of, since Lou moved away, and he wasn't spoiling the grandkids during the day anymore."

"I missed so much, Ty. Lou, her kids, Grandpa..." Amy smiled faintly before adding a much quieter, "you."

He looked over at her, thinking he might not have been meant to hear that last part. Was she... blushing? Why would she blush? "I think we can get our friendship back, Amy, if we're both willing to work at it."

"I am," she said with a nervous smile. "I just... This isn't going to be easy, is it? I mean, for one thing, there's the living arrangements."

He took a deep breath. He knew they had to discuss it, but it wasn't something they could avoid forever. "I'm not going to kick you out of the farmhouse. That's home. It's your home."

"But it's your home, too, Ty. It's not right for me to kick you out, either."

"I don't think either of us is comfortable with the idea of sharing, though, and... Maybe we should wait to discuss anything else until after... after the appointment," he said, wanting to see just how she was going to react to what he'd done. It wasn't official yet, wasn't settled, and that was why he'd asked her to come with him today. She gave him a look. "Amy, this is something rather... I just think we need to put this discussion on hold until after we deal with a bigger issue."

She frowned, genuinely confused. "There's something bigger than both of us staying in the same house?"

He nodded as he parked the truck. "Yeah, Amy, there is. Look, I'm going to run into my parents' place for a moment and drop off these oils. I'll be right back."

"Wait, Ty," Amy began. He stopped, holding the door open, and looked at her. "Can I come with you? I mean, if your mom is up to seeing people... I always liked her, and I haven't seen her in years."

He was surprised, but he supposed that he shouldn't have been. Amy was a deeply caring person, and she had been close to his mother. They had really gotten along before Amy left for school. Everything had changed when she went to school, hadn't it? It would be so easy to blame all of it on her decision to leave, even if it wasn't that simple. "I think she might like that, actually. If she's having a good day, that is."

"I thought you said she was doing better."

"The cancer's in remission, but she's having trouble with the depression again," he answered slowly. "My dad's actually been there for her, and that has made a difference this time, but it's still been pretty hard. She was scared, and she almost gave up. I think that was the hardest part, for all of us."

"I'm sorry, Ty. I wish I'd... been there, been able to support you. I should have been your friend, and I wasn't," Amy said, looking guilty.

"We can't change what we did in the past," he told her gently, touching her arm. He couldn't allow her to take all of the blame, either. "You are here now. That's what counts."

She smiled at him, and he led her inside.

Amy had been amazed by the way that Mrs. Baldwin looked. She supposed she had expected a frail woman on her deathbed despite Ty's words. She was doing really well. Today was a good day, they'd said, and her mood was good. She was laughing and cooking in the kitchen when they went in, and Amy was glad to see it. She knew that it had to have been hard for Ty and his family while Lily was sick, and that made her feeling good even more special. Lily had still changed from the woman Amy had met before, the one who had dramatically changed her life when Ty was in the hospital. She hugged Ty with enthusiasm, and as the family talked, Amy saw things had improved between Ty and his father as well.

She found herself on the outside, but she didn't mind being an observer. It was nice to see Ty's family in a fairly candid moment. She ended up excusing herself to use the restroom, figuring that no one would mind if she took a few minutes to herself. She splashed some water on her face, thinking of how much she missed her family. Marion had been dead for years now, Grandpa had died, and Lou had moved away. It was all so different.

She slowly walked back to the front room, not in a rush. She wanted to give Ty some time with his family. She had a feeling that he didn't take much time off to see them. She knew it wasn't because he didn't want to, but he seemed to carry most of the burden of Heartland himself.

"...All I'm saying is that she was a better choice for you than that other one ever was. She might have been into all that horse nonsense, but at least she cared about you. All that wife of yours ever did was take," Brad was saying, and Amy stopped in the hallway. "How much of your money did she steal, anyway? You'd been saving for a house, right? And all of it was gone along with everything you ever owned."

Lily tried to play peacemaker. "Brad, please, what good does bringing this up do?"

"I'm just saying if he's smart, Ty will try and get back with Amy. She inherited that ranch, so at least she won't be taking anything from him."

"It's not like that. Amy and I aren't even friends any more. We're just working on that now," Ty said, and Amy frowned, wondering why Ty didn't just tell them that he inherited Heartland, not her. First he hadn't told anyone at Heartland, and now he wasn't telling his parents. "I'm sorry. I've got a meeting I need to get to, and it's important."

"What's it for?"

"A charity."

"Come on, Ty, don't you need to focus a bit more on the work that pays? You do plenty of charity stuff as it is, and you're going to need to think about finding some place to stay. She's not going to let you live on in that ranch house forever, especially if you're not friends."

"I'm fine, really," Ty insisted. He sounded strained, so Amy finally forced herself to move. She felt guilty. She knew better than to eavesdrop. "Oh, Amy. Are you ready to go?"

She nodded. "Yes, I am. I'm sorry to take so long."

"No worries, dear," Lily said. "Come back any time. I'd like to make it out to Heartland sometime soon, maybe this week."

"So you keep saying."

"This is the week, Ty. I feel it," she said with conviction. Ty didn't look convinced, and neither did his father. He gave his mother a quick kiss on the forehead as he started for the door. Amy gave them a smile as she followed him. She had so many things she wanted to ask him, but she knew that she had to wait. And she knew that she was not going to kick him out of the farm house, not that she could. The house was Ty's now. Still, everything she learned about Ty's wife just made things seem worse for him, and Amy couldn't believe she'd been so blind and selfish. Ty's life had fallen apart, and where had Amy been?

In another country, taking care of a horse. She'd always let the horses take precedence over her relationship with Ty, but it had never been as bad as the last two years. She had been so wrapped up in everything she was doing that she hadn't paid attention to anyone else. No wonder her grandfather thought she'd be happy to be free of Heartland.

She'd made a big mistake. Now she had to fix it. Getting her friendship with Ty back was one step, and she would call Lou later and talk to her, and she would find out if she really belonged at Heartland... or if she needed to let it go.

"Thank you for letting me come," Amy told Ty. "It was good to see your family again."

He looked at her, surprised. "That wasn't awkward for you?"

She shook her head. "No, it was fine. So... where are we going now?"

"To see a lawyer."

"What?"

"Why are we going to see Grandpa's lawyer?" Amy asked, and Ty looked at her, wondering if this was a bad idea. He hoped that she would understand what he was trying to do. It would make things better, protect Heartland from his ex-wife's greed, and hopefully settle the matter of the inheritance. He had given it some thought while he worked with Felicity's disabled students, and he thought this was really the best option for everyone.

"He's actually been quite helpful," Ty admitted, and Amy looked incredulous. She wasn't going to understand until he finally told her what his intention was. He was hoping that the lawyer could explain it, since he was more familiar with the legal issues. Or maybe he should have asked Lou to meet them as well. "There he is. Just... keep an open mind, okay?"

"Okay," she promised reluctantly. She followed him over to the lawyer, who looked surprised to see her with Ty. The way she'd reacted to the news, Ty couldn't blame him.

"Mr. Baldwin. I've been following up on your request, but if this is bad time to discuss it, we can postpone," the lawyer began, glancing at Amy. She fidgeted.

"No, actually, I asked Amy to come with me. I'm hoping this can... settle a few things, or at least, that's what I'm hoping for. I've spoken to Lou about it a little, too, and she came up with most of the business plan."

"Business plan?" Amy repeated. "Ty, would you please just tell me what's going on?"

The lawyer looked at Ty for a moment before answering himself. "Mr. Baldwin is interested in turning your grandfather's ranch into a non-profit organization for rescue animals and education in alternative medicine."

Amy stared at Ty, stunned. "Non-profit? Why?"

Ty sighed, wishing that he could avoid this. He did not want to discuss the problems he was having with everyone. It was private, but his ex-wife didn't keep it that way. "Well, within hours of hearing about... the will, my ex-wife was filing paperwork to sue for part of Heartland. I really wish your grandfather hadn't left it to me. I'm more of a danger to Heartland, regardless of my history there, just because of my..."

"...poor choice in women?" Amy finished with a slight smile.

He shook his head a little. "You know you're including yourself in that statement."

"Yeah, I know," she laughed. They shared a smile, and then the levity of the moment passed. "But is it really better to change Heartland into a non-profit organization than fight your ex-wife in court? I mean, you had no reason to expect Grandpa to change his will. None of us did. Well, except Lou. She seems to have been the only one that knew. My dad was pretty shocked, and no one at Heartland knew. Me, I definitely never thought..."

"I know," Ty agreed. "And Lou's a bit worried about my idea as well. But we discussed it before, at least in theory. It's always been said that Heartland was more about the rescue work than making a profit. Lou was good at coming up with ideas to make money, and I think a few of them are just as applicable for a non-profit as they were before. I don't know, Amy. We'd need to do a lot of work to get it turned over, but the longer we wait, the more chance my ex-wife has of making some kind of case."

"Wouldn't plenty of people be able to testify against her based on her character alone?" Amy asked. She looked at the lawyer. "I suppose this really isn't your field of expertise, is it?"

"Divorce law? No, it isn't. But I could recommend someone if you would rather take that route," the lawyer offered. "The main advantage to Mr. Baldwin's suggestion is the possibility of putting the land and assets in a trust."

"Well... Let me hear the whole plan, but I'm not sure this is something you want to rush into, Ty," Amy said uncertainly. She looked at him with an expression full of compassion, and before he knew what she was doing, she wrapped her arms around him. The hug was unexpected, and more than anything, he found himself thinking about just how good it was to be close to her again. He hugged her back just to touch her again. "I'm so sorry. I should never have—you really do have Heartland's best interests at heart."

He looked down at her. "Of course, Amy. I don't want anything to happen to your mom's dream and your grandpa's land."

She stepped back, but she took Ty's hand instead, not letting go. She looked steadily at the lawyer. "Okay, let me hear this plan and everything we need to know if we're going to do it."

"We?" the lawyer asked, his tone suggestive.

"It's Ty's decision, yes, but I'm assuming he wouldn't want to do anything that the whole of Heartland disagreed with. As long as I'm here, I'm a part of that team, and I'm pretty sure I'm here because Ty wanted my opinion, at least."

Ty nodded. The moment she took his hand, though, it had felt like the old days, when they were partners, working together to cure horses and keep Heartland going. They'd been best friends... and more. He had a bad feeling that if they tried to get their friendship back, they were going to want more than that again.

He wasn't sure he could do it. But maybe his ex-wife was right. Maybe there was a part of him that was still in love with Amy Fleming.

Inheritance of the Heart
Chapter Six
Word Count: 4,771
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Lou/Scott, but mostly, eventually... Ty/Amy.
Warnings: Character death (in chapter one only)
Disclaimer: I'm never going to grow up. That means... I'm not legally responsible for anything, right?
Summary: She went away thinking it would always be there, always be the same. She was wrong.
Author's Note: So I could probably make a story of nothing but Ty and Amy interaction, and people would be happy. It's easy to get caught up in them being together and enjoying each other's company and forget the plot, but I'm trying to keep it balanced so that it's not too rushed. I think it will pay off in the end. :)

Oh, yeah, and I should have known I got Ty's horse's name from somewhere because it was so familiar. It's the name of a ship in a Star Wars book. :P

All Kinds of Pressure

"You've been pretty quiet."

"Me? I was thinking that about you."

Amy looked over at Ty. Her mind had been full of the plans and legal ramifications of Ty's idea to make Heartland a non-profit organization. She wasn't sure that it was the right thing to do. No, Heartland wasn't really a business, and she would be the first to say that, but she had her doubts about it. She did want to talk to Lou, and she would, just as soon as they were back at Heartland. She could have called on her cell phone, but she wasn't ready yet. She was still trying to figure out how she really felt about it. She had so many conflicting emotions right now. She thought she knew what she wanted, but she wasn't convinced, not yet. She thought that she wanted to stay, but she could be thinking that for the wrong reasons. She could see why her grandfather had given Ty Heartland. Still, she might still have a place there. It was hard to think about leaving.

It was hard to think about staying, too. Staying meant deciding who got to live in the farm house, and it should be Ty. It was his house now, and it had been his home for a whole year while she was gone.

"You don't like it, do you? Making Heartland a non-profit organization," Ty began, and she shook her head.

"It's not a bad idea, Ty, really. I'm just not sure yet. You know me. I've never been very good with change. I do want to talk to Lou about it, and I'm thinking that there is a lot to do beforehand... And I know I was wrong. You deserve Heartland."

He shook his head. "Heartland isn't something that is earned. It's a legacy, one your mother and grandfather created, but I can't... work my way into it."

"If you could, though, you would have by now," she told him, and he looked at her. She smiled, and he just laughed. "Really, though, Ty, I should never have said what I did about you not being family. You are. You have been for years."

He smiled a little, taking the turn to Heartland. "We're probably going to get hounded the moment we pull in. If you want, you can go in and talk to Lou before everyone starts asking questions. They'll want to stay for dinner, but if they do... Just remind Liz it's still her rotation."

Amy laughed. "You really can't stand my cooking, can you?"

"It needs work, Doctor Fleming."

She felt herself flush. She wasn't used to being called 'Doctor' yet. That was still too new. She had the degree, but she wasn't really practicing yet. That was something she hadn't thought about very much. She had always thought that she would be at Heartland when she did. Now she didn't know.

"I'm not too comfortable with the doctor part."

"You should be proud of what you've done, Amy," Ty told her gently. He touched her arm briefly as he parked the truck. "I have to check on the horses and make sure my brother did his share of the chores. I'll see you in a little while, okay?"

"Sounds good," she agreed with a smile. She watched him as he headed into the barn. She knew she was going to have to get Venture's story from him. They'd treated a horse named Venture before, but it was not the same horse. That had been a police horse in pain from the storm that had nearly killed Ty. She wondered if it brought up the same memories for him.

She got out of the truck and headed inside. First thing she did, she picked up the phone and dialed Lou's number. After two rings, Lou picked up. "This is Lou."

"Hi, Lou, it's Amy. I wanted to apologize for the other day. I shouldn't have taken things out on you. I was shocked and angry. It wasn't your fault. It wasn't... I do wish you'd told me, but I was wrong. I was wrong about everything."

"It's okay, Amy. I wanted to tell you, but Grandpa asked me not to. He really wanted you to make up your own mind about what you were going to do. He wanted you to feel free, not tied to Heartland, not unless you wanted to be."

"I know, and I think I understand that more now, but... He didn't exactly let me choose, either. He gave Heartland away without asking me."

Lou sighed. "Amy, knowing you, if you were asked, you'd still think you had to go back there. You needed to have the freedom from the responsibility. You took on Mom's dream when you were still young. You kept Heartland going for years, with school and everything else you had to deal with, and it was too much. That was why Grandpa felt he needed to free you from the pressure, let you really find what you wanted."

Amy nodded. "Like I said, Lou, I'm starting to understand. Ty's been very... Well, he was better about it than I deserved, really. I was—I was insensitive, and I can't believe I didn't know about his divorce..."

"Ty really doesn't like to talk about that," Lou said softly. "Grandpa was the only one who really got through to him when it happened. But... it sounds like you two are getting along. That's good."

"Well, we are doing better," Amy agreed. "Can I ask you about Ty's idea? About Heartland?"

"The non-profit organization? I know it's a big step, but it's not a bad idea," Lou began. Amy could hear the doubt in her voice. "It's going to take a lot of work, but it might be best for Heartland in the long run."

"There's more to it, though," Amy said, picking up on the cues in her sister's voice. "What aren't you saying?"

"It's nothing, Amy. Ty's got a good head for business and the heart for working with these horses. He's very intuitive, and that works well for him. I think he does have a good plan that could be great for Heartland," Lou said. "Please, don't worry about it. It's not the business end of it at all. I guess I'm just being nostalgic. I'd rather it stay a family business—and Ty is family."

"Yeah, he is," Amy agreed. She heard a crash and crying and Holly yelling in the background. "Sounds kind of crazy over there."

"I'm going to give you over to Holly for a second while I rescue her brother, okay, Amy?" Lou asked, not giving her a chance to respond before her niece was on the phone.

"Hi, Amy," Holly began. "How are the horses? Have you been working with very many of them?"

"I've been doing a lot with Blizzard, actually," Amy began. She smiled as she thought about the sweet horse she had been helping the past few days.

"I like Blizzard," Holly agreed. "She's very nice. Venture's my favorite, though. Is Uncle Ty around? Can I talk to him? I want to hear about Venture's trip to the school."

Amy blinked. She felt like she'd been rejected. She didn't matter to her niece. She supposed that was her fault. She was a stranger to Holly, wasn't she? Holly would be closer to the people that were there, and Ty had been there. But... Uncle Ty?

The door opening startled her, and she looked over at Ty. She smiled a little as she spoke into the receiver. "He just walked in the door. I'll hand him the phone, okay?"

"Yay! Thanks, Amy," Holly said as Amy passed Ty the phone. He took it with a slight frown, but he was quickly caught up in Holly's nonstop conversation.

She gave him a quick smile and wave as she headed upstairs.

"I was beginning to think they'd never leave," Amy began as the door finally shut behind Liz and Lee, who had invited themselves to dinner like Ty thought they would. He knew Lee was going to be insufferable while they tried to work their friendship out. He had been trying to fix Ty's problems with dates and advice and just general nosiness since the day Ty got home to find his wife had broken their lease and taken everything they had. It wasn't that simple, and it would never be that simple. Things with Amy were even more complicated than a relationship with anyone else might be. They had a lot of history, and not all of it was good. Friends. That was all Ty wanted to be. That was all Amy wanted. That was what was best for both of them.

"Lee isn't very good at keeping track of time," Ty agreed. He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. We didn't get a chance to finish our discussion earlier."

"I still need more time to think about the non-profit idea," Amy began, and Ty nodded. It was a big step. He'd feel better taking it because it would keep Heartland safe, but he knew that it wasn't his decision alone, not even if he owned Heartland. "But... I still want to talk. And we have an important issue to settle. The living arrangements."

"It's fine, Amy. I'll get a bag of my things and—"

"No, Ty, this is your home. I can find somewhere else."

"That's not necessary," he insisted. He knew she felt sorry for him now, and he didn't want that. He didn't need pity. He was capable of taking care of himself. He had a place to stay. "This is Heartland. It's your home, too."

"Okay, then," she began slowly, having a hard time looking at him. "So... we're roommates?"

"Roommates?"

"People live with strangers when they move to a dorm or they find someone to room with from an ad or something. We might not be strangers, and we're not quite friends, not like we were at least, but we could probably manage to live under the same roof without killing each other. I think we should try it, at least, before we agree that we can't do it. This way is fair. And I don't think we'd agree on which one of us should leave, so... both of us stay."

Ty was quiet for a moment. He knew she meant well by her words, and she had a valid point. They had been quick to dismiss the idea of sharing the house as impossible when it probably wouldn't be. It was a large house. She had her room. He had his. It wasn't like they were sleeping in the same room or anything. This would be a big test, but if they were really going to be friends again, they would survive it. "Okay. On a trial basis, we'll both stay here. But we have to agree to be honest and tell the other if it's not working out for any reason."

"Great. It's a deal." She turned away, and he thought this was going to be harder than either of them thought. "I'm still kind of wound up from earlier. How about some tea and... Well, not a movie because I don't think I could take falling asleep on that couch again, but I've been really curious. Will you tell me about Venture? How'd you find him? What have you been treating him for? Does it bother you that he's got the same name as the one we treated, the one from the storm?"

"Can we take that one question at a time?" Ty teased as she got out the herbal tea and put the pot on the stove. She laughed. "To start with, his full name is Errant Venture. He was, of all things, a show jumper. He and his owner took a bad fall in competition, and he was injured so badly they thought he should have been put down."

"So... he came here?" Amy asked as she got a couple cups down and set tea bags in them.

Ty shook his head. "No, he was treated and eventually left out in a pasture as he wasn't supposed to jump again. His owner later died, but he'd been left almost wild for over two years. Then he was sold to an auction house, and you can guess how well he went over with the people who looked at him. None of them realized that he had never fully recovered from the accident. He was still in pain when they tried to look at him, and he reacted the way a horse usually does when in pain. Jack and I happened to be there when they were about to put him down for bad behavior, and he just looked at me... Next thing I know, I've made my way through all the others, started T-touch on him, and decided to buy him. I must have sounded crazy. My wife had just taken everything, and Venture was in really bad shape, but I bought him anyway. I sold the expensive truck my wife had talked me into, got the horse and a cheaper one, and Venture's been here ever since."

Amy smiled at him. She poured hot water into a cup and handed it to Ty. "I'm glad you bought him. He seems like a real sweetheart—when he's with you."

"It really didn't take long for me to figure out that I'd never be able to sell him. We both needed each other, and he's such a sensitive horse. He's very quick to respond to my moods. Physically, he's healed, and he's doing much better emotionally, but he'll never be the show jumper that fell. That doesn't stop him from wanting to jump, though. He was bred to it, and he seems to still love it. He doesn't like it when I try to steer him away from things that have fallen on the trail. He'd much rather jump them."

"He's a beautiful horse, Ty. Apparently, he's Holly's favorite," Amy said. She looked down at her feet. "I've missed so much. My own niece doesn't call me 'Aunt Amy.' But you're Uncle Ty."

"Amy—"

"No, you're family. I am so sorry I said you weren't. You are. I'm the one who hasn't acted much like family. My studies, the horses I could treat, the places I could go, they were all more important to me than everything here," she admitted. "It seems crazy. Heartland was my life."

"Things change, and that's not necessarily a bad thing."

"This was. Sometimes I feel like I made the biggest mistake of my life when I left for college," she said, and her eyes filled with tears. Ty set down his tea and opened his arms to her. He held onto her for a long time, letting her cry. He knew that she needed this. He knew he felt the same way sometimes. He had hated that she left for college, and he used to hate himself for his part in convincing her to go. He knew she'd decided to stay, and he'd let the professor talk her out of it. He thought he'd been doing the right thing for Amy. So many times since, Ty felt that he'd done the wrong thing, especially after they broke up and he watched her slip further and further away from everyone and everything here.

She was back now. She was very close to staying. Maybe this time, Ty would convince her to stay. She belonged here at Heartland. Forever.

Amy lifted her head from her pillow and put it back down with a sigh. She was so embarrassed. She couldn't believe she'd ended up crying on Ty again, like some kind of spoiled child. She was not the teenager who was all mixed up and confused who was always seeking comfort from her boyfriend, not any more. She knew that Ty had been trying to help, but maybe he should just have told her to suck it up and deal with the here and now. She was focusing too much on the past. She had screwed up. She knew that now. She had let go of everything that was important, let her life get sidetracked, but now that she was here, she could start changing that.

She got up, ran a brush through her hair, and selected an outfit suitable for working with the horses. She dressed quickly, knowing that she would have to apologize for last night. That was the first thing she would do. Then she would start making arrangements to set up a vet practice here. She knew she had to try it, to see if that would even work out. It was going to take some time, figuring out if she could really be a part of Heartland again after what she'd done, if she could work with Ty—and live with him.

Ty was in the kitchen when she made her way downstairs. She blushed a little. "I wanted to say I'm sorry about last night."

"Amy, I swear, if you keep apologizing for everything, I'm going to kick you out of the house," Ty began, and she stared at him. He shook his head. "You have nothing to be sorry for. Coffee?"

She laughed a bit nervously. He was just teasing. "You kind of scared me there. I guess I—Well, then we survived our first night as roommates, huh?"

"Well, second, technically, but yes, we did," he agreed with a smile, giving her the travel mug she normally used. "Lee seems to think that because we weren't here for the class yesterday we should do extra work today."

"Oh, right. We missed Tanya's class. How did that go?"

"Very well, except for the ten year old that's now head over heels for my brother and won't stop following him around," Ty answered, amused. "Lee's really unhappy, and I just find it amusing. The kids are here again today. I don't suppose you'd mind talking to them... as a vet?"

"I'm not much of one yet," Amy began, but she remembered her earlier decision, "but I'd like to set up my practice here for a while. So... sure. I wouldn't mind talking to them about what it takes to get started as I do it."

"You... want to start one here? Really?"

Amy nodded. "It was always my intention, and I think it would be good to see if I fit in here now. It can be temporary, Ty, if you're not comfortable with the idea."

"Are you kidding?" Liz asked, coming in the door and heading to the coffee pot. "Ty would love you for the rest of your life if you made that jerk we've been stuck with since Scott left go away. Right, Ty?"

"I think Amy should make her own decision without any outside influence," Ty answered. "And if you wouldn't mind, later, I'm going to take Venture out on the trails. We'll both need it after the kids have been here for a while. You could take Blizzard out. I think she's almost ready to go home."

Amy felt a pang at the idea of Blizzard leaving, but she smiled brightly. "Yeah, sure. I'd like that. If you don't mind, though, Ty, I'm going to go scout out a place to set up a vet office. I won't do anything until I talk to you about it, but I will need somewhere to work when I'm not out with the horses."

"As you wish, Dr. Fleming," Ty agreed, and Amy blushed again. "Whatever you need. Get Lee to help you if you need things moved."

"Thanks, Ty," Amy said, quickly escaping to the yard. She felt like she was about to make a big fool of herself again, and she needed to get away. She was going to focus on finding a place for her practice and try to ignore how mixed up she was right then. She was not sure, not completely, but she thought she and Ty had been... flirting. She liked being with Ty again, a lot. She had missed his friendship, and she had missed him, even if she didn't realize it until now. Now she knew she really needed him, but flirting was going too far, wasn't it? They just needed to be friends. Friends was good. Uncomplicated.

She reached the new barn, the fog in her mind lifting a little as she did. She was not going to think about Ty right now. She was going to set up her office, and that was all that mattered. She looked around. Part of the backroom was cluttered with various supplies, but she was amazed. It looked almost like it had been built for her to use. She'd have to clean it out and reorganize it, but it was perfect.

She set to work, feeling like she had found home again.

"Those kids really seem to like you," Ty observed after Tanya finally managed to wrangle the class out of Amy's office. He was glad she'd found this place, since he and Jack had it put into the plans back when they both believed Amy was coming back to Heartland. He hadn't told her about it because he didn't want her to feel pressured. She'd found it on her own, and that was what he'd hoped for. Though he was convinced that Heartland was the right place for Amy, she had to make that decision on her own. It couldn't be his choice or anyone else's. "You were really good with them."

Amy smiled a little. "Yeah, it looks like I'm good with anyone's kids, just not my sister's."

Ty shook his head. "Being good with kids is all about spending time with them. You haven't had much of a chance with Holly. You just need more time."

"Everything needs more time," Amy muttered. She sighed. "I'm sorry. It's just hard knowing how much I messed up, and I want to fix it all right now. I know that's not possible, but I'm impatient to do it. I don't like having it all hang over me."

"Give it time," he advised, and she made a face. He smiled at her. "I think you could do a lot with Holly in a very short time. Children can be forgiving. They're amazing, like a gift."

Amy studied him for a moment. "Is something wrong?"

Ty winced. He hadn't expected Amy to pick up on that. He sighed. "Part of my ex-wife's plan to get me to do more was... She told me she was pregnant, and that we needed to think about our child's future. That was why we were saving for a house, why it was so important that I finished my GED, why I was killing myself working here and trying to take courses on-line. I had a lot of plans, but she was never pregnant."

"Oh, Ty," Amy began, and he shook his head. He didn't want her pity.

"I can't believe I just told you that. I didn't even tell Jack that part," Ty said, fidgeting. "The pregnancy was going to be a surprise when we told everyone, and then five months later, she was gone, with everything. It's just crazy how that happened."

"You're such a good person, Ty. You didn't deserve that."

"Or, as my brother puts it, I'm nice to the point of fault," Ty corrected. "He thinks I let everyone take advantage of me."

"That's not true," Amy insisted. "You were never afraid to call me on my crap. If it hadn't been for you, I would probably have spent all those years after Mom's death in my room. No, it's not that. You don't let people take advantage of you. You want to see the best in them, even if we don't deserve it."

"You deserve more than you think," he told her. She smiled at him, giving him a hug. He welcomed it. "Now we're even, I guess."

"You didn't cry all over me, but yeah, we're even," she agreed. "Are we still going on that trail ride? I think you really could use it now."

He nodded. "Yeah, but I think I should leave Venture. I'm too tense. It will go right to him."

"You know, that's not something you should avoid dealing with," she said. "If you can't learn to relax while riding him, and he can't learn to cope with your tension, things will never really be fixed for either of you."

Ty laughed. "Okay, Doctor Fleming, we'll do it your way this time."

"Are you always going to call me that?"

"Until it stops embarrassing you," he told her, and she groaned, swatting at him. He dodged, and she grinned at him before she ducked out the door, racing towards the other barn where Venture and Blizzard were stabled. Ty chased after her, and he caught up with her at the door to the barn. Lee looked at them from Benedict's stall, and Ty found he really didn't care if his brother had the wrong idea. Right now, things were going really well for him and Amy. He didn't want to lose that.

"I'll get Blizzard ready," Amy said, heading over to get the mare's tack.

Lee came over to Ty as he started getting Venture ready. "So... she's staying. That will make Dad really happy."

"It's just a trial basis right now," Ty said, briefly wondering what he would do if Amy chose to leave. He wasn't sure he could accept that. He needed her here, and not just for Heartland.

"Uh-huh," Lee muttered. "You want to know what I think, Ty?"

"No."

"You never got over her."

"Go away, Lee."

"You both thought you moved on, but you never did. It's so clear now."

"Lee, I still know where you live, I have a key, and I can murder you in your sleep," Ty told him tightly, not wanting Amy to hear what his brother was saying. "It's not what you think."

"Sure it isn't," Lee shook his head as Amy led Blizzard over to Venture's stall. The mare was looking good right now. Calm. She was doing well for Amy, and Ty would be calling her owner tomorrow to say she was ready to go home, assuming the trail ride went well. "Amy, tell my brother to lighten up. He's too stressed."

"That's what we're working on," Amy concurred, missing Lee's implication completely. Ty was relieved. No matter how much he'd missed Amy or if there was a part of him that was still in love with her, he knew that jumping back into a relationship would be a bad idea for both of them. "Ty?"

"I'm coming. Anything to keep me from hurting my brother." Ty got into Venture's saddle, and the gelding eagerly moved towards the open space. Amy followed with Blizzard. "Sorry, Amy. Lee's just been getting on my nerves lately."

"It's okay. You know Lou and I don't always agree."

Yeah, but Lou doesn't play matchmaker, now does she? Ty thought as they headed out onto the trails. He wasn't sure how this was going to work, being close to Amy without it being... more. He needed to get away from everyone telling him what he felt or that he should get back with Amy. If that happened, it needed to be their decision, not anyone else's.

"Ty?" Amy's voice was hesitant, and he noticed they'd gotten pretty far on the trail. He looked over at her. She bit her lip. "Are you okay?"

"I just have a lot on my mind, that's all."

She nodded. Their eyes met, and Ty thought maybe they were both worried about the same thing. "Yeah, me, too."