A/N: I'll be completely honest. I just barely thought about looking to see if there were WCtH fanfics. I needed a break from a few others I am writing (yay RL getting me off track and giving me writer's block on my older stories). SO, I thought I'd write a bit on something new. Hope you like it. I'm not sure if something has been done like it before, but I haven't read any of the stories on here, YET, so forgive me, if so. This takes place after Elizabeth gets the news, but a bit different than what we all watched in Season 5.

Chapter One:

Elizabeth paced in the back of Abigail's cafe. The past six months had been full of emotional ups and downs. It seemed as if every morning she relived the news, and every night she went to bed hoping for a different outcome. Everyone told her not to give hope, but she could feel their hope fading as well. She put a hand to her stomach and caressed it absent mildly, stirring the tiniest of movements from the baby she carried.

The baby was the single most encouraging person on the days that she didn't want to get out of bed. The town had flocked around her. Rosemary had taught the school children for a month after Elizabeth returned from the city. She'd tearfully met with Jack's superiors and found out everything that they could tell her. She left with more questions than she came with, and she hadn't thought that was possible. The ride back to Hope Valley was long, and she'd cried most of the way, effectively terrifying the couple that was riding in the stage coach as well.

When she got home, she'd went to the row house, closed the door behind her and looked around. She grabbed a glass that was sitting on her writing table, and threw it against the wall, watching as it smashed into pieces. A vase came next, and when she reached for a picture frame to throw, she heard her door open, and all of a sudden there was a pair of arms encircling her. Rosemary squeezed her, pulling her in close and shushing her as she did so.

The two women stayed in that position for several moments. The tears that hadn't came out on the stage coach came out now; Rosemary continued to hold her until she'd cried all the tears she could for the time being. "Elizabeth," she began when the sobs had finally quieted, "You'll get through this. We're all here for you."

The children didn't know how to treat her when she finally went back. She was sure their parents had told them about Mountie Jack, and she could see in their eyes that they had questions. Still, they stayed quiet, and for once she was glad that they weren't asking questions. Elizabeth didn't have answers for them, and she wasn't sure if she ever would. During school hours, she tried her best to set aside her thoughts about Jack. Elizabeth tried to focus on the lesson, but every say she was standing in the schoolhouse that Jack built, and the church that they'd been married in, it was impossible not to think about him.

Two months after she returned from the city, she went to see Carson. She'd been sick and lethargic, and for awhile she was able to write it off as part of her sadness, but it worsened even when she started feeling the slightest bit better. She was sure that he'd tell her that she was fine and that she would feel better eventually, but asking several questions and doing a basic exam, he turned to her with a smile on his face, and rested his hand on top of hers. "Elizabeth," he'd said, "You're going to have a baby."

Elizabeth had never fainted in her life, but in that moment she wouldn't have been surprised if she had. Jack and her had wanted children of course, but having only spent a few days together as husband and wife, she hadn't even considered the possibility. Even in the best of circumstances, she'd have doubted that to be her issue, let alone now, when she was alone. "I… are you sure?"

His smile was kind, "Yes, very sure. You should start feeling better in the next month or so, but if you don't- please come back and see me. In the meantime, make sure you're getting plenty of fresh air and exercise and that you're eating throughout the day. It will help with your stomach upset."

Elizabeth had lost weight since she'd found out about Jack. Food was tasteless to her now, and her body rarely felt hungry. She doubted she'd be able to eat as much as Carson wanted her to, but she would at least try- for the baby. They spoke a little longer, and then Elizabeth had walked to Abigail's in a haze. She spent most of her time alone in the rowhouse, it was hard to be around anyone, but Abigail was still a source of comfort for her. She also knew that she wanted Abigail to know her news first, both because she was one of her dearest friends, but also because selfishly, she knew Abigail would help her process it.

Abigail was standing at the stove in the back of the cafe when Elizabeth entered. She turned at the sound of the door opening and smiled when she saw who'd walked in. "Elizabeth! I'm glad to see you! Did you go to the doctor like I told you?"

"Yes… he… well, he told me what was wrong."

Abigail frowned in concern. She placed the spoon she was holding down and then walked over to Elizabeth. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes, or at least it will be. I think. I'm going to have a baby, Abigail."

Abigail's eyes widened, and then a large smile broke out across her face. "Elizabeth! That's wonderful news." She paused and then continued after watching Elizabeth's reaction. "You're in shock, aren't you?"

"I don't know what to think. Of course I want Jack's baby, but I…"

"You wanted him here with you when you had his baby." Abigail reached out, touching ELizabeth's arm and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Yes. I have no idea what my future is going to be like, or how I'll get through the next few days. I think about Jack constantly. I try to work but I can't focus like I used to. How am I going to do this on my own?"

"You're not alone, Elizabeth. This whole town will help you. We all love you, and Jack."

"Thank you, Abigail. I know you're right, I'm just overwhelmed."

"That's normal. You've had so much on your mind lately, and when you're not working you're busy sending telegrams and reading newspapers that are sent in on the stagecoach."

"I can't give up, Abigail."

"I know, and you don't have too. If it was my Noah I wouldn't have given up, either."

Someone had to know something. It was a topic that Elizabeth and Abigail had talked about at length. When she came back from the city, she was certain of nothing, but she was confident that someone knew something and they either couldn't, or wouldn't, say anything. Jack had volunteered to transport a convict from trial to the prison where he would serve his time. His posting only required that he train the new Mounties, but in true Jack fashion, he'd volunteered to do more than required of him. They'd never arrived at their destination.

Elizabeth had found a bit more of a balance in her life once she'd learned about the baby. The following three months had passed by quicker than the first two. While she was still dedicated to finding answers, she also could focus on the baby. If she were honest, it was a welcome distraction. The constant searching was yielding no answers and it only upset her more. She'd waited until she'd felt better before sending news to her family, and the boxes and boxes of baby things started arriving from her mother and Julie.

The nursery was slow to come together. Elizabeth knew she had a few more months before the baby was due, so she didn't feel rushed. Right now there was only boxes and a crib in the room. If she were completely honest with herself, she didn't want to put the room together. She kept hoping that Jack would come home and they could do it together, like they would have. As the days had turned to weeks, and the weeks into months, she accepted it a little more each day. Unfortunately, the acceptance made her all the more sad and angry at herself.