A/N So this is a bit of a departure from what I usually write. There's not a superhero in sight! But I love When Calls the Heart, especially this past season and the recent Christmas episode. Which means, WARNING: if you are not completely caught up with all of season 4 and the season 5 Christmas episode, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS IN THIS STORY! But no spoilers for the rest of season 5.

First, I want to say, I love Frank (as you'll see by how I write him in this story), but, sorry Abigail/Frank shippers, her interactions with Henry this past season were just so compelling, especially with the redemption arc added to it. Now, of course, there's no telling what will happen this next season, but that's what fanfiction is for! However, upon looking, I couldn't find any Abigail/Henry stories anywhere. So, naturally, I decided to write my own. So, here we go. I hope you guys enjoy it! :)

Broken Arrows

As Henry Gowan stepped off the stagecoach in Hope Valley, all he felt was uncertainty.

Of all the places he could have gone after being paroled, Hope Valley shouldn't have even made the list, let alone been the one place he'd headed straight for.

Why had he come back here? It wasn't like there was anything left for him. He had no job, and everyone hated him. It probably would have been better for him to go somewhere else, somewhere new where no one knew who he was, or, more importantly, who he had been. He could have started over. But no, he'd come back here.

Why? Because he wanted to prove something to the people of this town? To show them he'd changed? Or maybe to atone for everything he'd done to them?

Or maybe it was simply because this was his home and he had nowhere else to go.

And wasn't that a sad, pitiful reason?

He moved to the back of the coach to pull down his own luggage while the coach driver finished unloading the other two passengers' bags. He'd arrived with a young man and woman who had recently been married and were coming to Hope Valley to visit family in town for the week. He hadn't exactly asked for the information, but they had wanted to strike up a conversation, and, where he would have tried to shut them down before, he no longer wished to be known for such rudeness, so had listened politely and returned the conversation in a very vague way to avoid telling them about his recent incarceration. Somehow, he thought that might put a damper on the ride.

With a nod of thanks to the coach driver, Henry moved back around the coach with the intention of heading straight for his house, which he hadn't even seen in nearly a year. It was October now, only a few months shy of a full year since he'd last been in Hope Valley, back when he'd been allowed to return for Christmas. It could have easily been longer, though.

Thanks to Bill speaking on his behalf, turning state's evidence, and good behavior, he'd gotten off fairly light, really. Only a little over a year and a half of prison time. Even so, he was looking forward to settling back into his home again as a free man.

Well, mostly free.

He only made it two steps when he was pulled up short by the sight of Bill and Jack standing on the platform.

"Henry!" Bill called when he saw him. "Welcome back." He stepped forward and offered his hand.

"Thank you, Bill," Henry said with a slight smile as he set down his bags and shook the man's hand. He glanced over Bill's shoulder where Jack was standing and met the Mountie's eyes.

"Henry," Jack greeted with a nod, neither friendly nor unfriendly.

"Jack," Henry nodded in return. "I'm glad to see you back from the Northern Territories."

Something flashed in Jack's eyes. Surprise? Curiosity? Henry wasn't sure.

"Yeah, a couple of months now," he said, almost hesitantly, as if he wasn't sure what to make of Henry showing any kind of interest or concern for another person. Henry supposed that was justified.

"We've been expecting you," Bill said.

Henry furrowed his brow. He hadn't contacted anyone in town. "How-"

"We were notified by Mountie HQ."

Henry's confusion cleared. "Oh, right."

When he was released, he'd had to tell the prison officials where he was planning to go. Of course, they had wired ahead. The conditions of his parole demanded that, since he'd told them he was going to Hope Valley, he had to report to Bill and Jack as the two lawmen in town, and that he stay in Hope Valley for the duration of his six-month parole.

If he hadn't shown up, or if he left now, without informing at least one of them where he was going and gaining their permission, it would violate his parole and he could get sent back to prison.

Henry felt himself deflate slightly, not realizing until just that moment that some small part of him had felt hopeful at Bill and Jack's presence, thinking maybe he wouldn't be a total outcast here. But this wasn't a social call. It was just them doing their jobs. Well, at least they weren't hostile toward him while doing it. And Bill seemed almost friendly. He'd take what he could get, he supposed.

"So, do I need to fill out some kind of paperwork or something? Or does this qualify as reporting to you two?" Henry asked, his voice sounding defeated even to his own ears.

"No, this counts," Bill said. "But we do have to go over all of the rules and terms of your parole at some point."

Henry nodded, really looking forward to that meeting. He sighed. Might as well get it over with as soon as possible.

"Maybe in a few hours?" he suggested. After he'd had a chance to get something to eat, at least?

"That'll be fine," Bill said. "We know you're probably ready to get settled back into your home after the trip so we'll let you get to it."

"Thanks, Bill," he said softly as the two men took their leave.

Then he began the slow, depressing journey to his house, the stares and glares following him as he limped along.

His gait was only a little uneven now, the limp not nearly as pronounced as it had once been, but it would always be with him. While his leg had healed fairly well, his knee would never fully be right again, and every step would always be accompanied by the slightest twinge of pain and weakness. Just another punishing reminder of his transgressions.

He ducked his head slightly, wishing he could hide from the eyes on him. He'd known it was stupid to come back here. He'd known what he would be facing, and yet, he'd done it anyway. He deserved their anger and mistrust. He'd only ever hurt the people of this town for his own gain. They had a right to hate him.

He sighed pathetically. He never should have come back here.

"Henry?"

He stopped in his tracks, his head snapping up.

"Abigail," he said softly.

"Bill told me you had been released and were coming back here, but I didn't know you were arriving today," she said as she approached him with a warm smile. "It's good to see you."

When she reached out and gently squeezed his arm, something in his chest fluttered briefly. Relief maybe? Gratitude? He wasn't sure.

"It's good to see you too, Abigail," he said. "Honestly, it's good to see anyone who isn't glaring at me."

Abigail's smile turned slightly sad. "You're going to have to give them time. There's... a lot of history there."

"You don't have to soften it," Henry said. "I know what I've done, and they all have a right to feel the way they do. I've hurt a lot of people over the years."

"And you've paid for it," she returned. "As far as I'm concerned, it's a clean slate."

"Thank you for that, Abigail. I really appreciate it."

She smiled that kind, almost fond smile that had so rarely been directed at him that it still took him by surprise when he saw it.

"You must be hungry after your trip," she said. "Come by the cafe. Dinner is on the house."

"I can't ask you to do that, Abigail."

"And you didn't. I offered," she said. "It's your first day back. That calls for celebration."

"But-"

"No arguing. It's already decided," she said with a warm smile. "I'll see you in about an hour?"

"That'd be great," Henry agreed, truly touched. "Thank you."

Maybe coming back here wasn't such a bad idea after all.

)()()(

"Did I hear right?" Elizabeth asked as she practically burst through the back door and into the cafe kitchen. "Is Henry Gowan back?"

"That he is," Abigail confirmed. "I saw him, myself, a little while ago."

"Jack told me he was supposed to be coming back..." Elizabeth shook her head. "I just can't believe he actually came back here."

"Well, where else would he go?" Abigail asked.

"I don't know," Elizabeth said sarcastically. "Maybe to a town he didn't steal from."

"Elizabeth Thatcher!" Abigail cried. "I never would have believed this of you."

"Well, after everything he's done-"

"I wasn't aware your Bible said it was okay to hold grudges, because mine says we're supposed to forgive people," Abigail returned, cutting her off.

Elizabeth had the good grace to look a little sheepish. "You're right," she reluctantly admitted.

Abigail sighed and reached out to squeeze her arm. "I know there's a lot of bad blood where he's concerned, but I've seen good in him and he's changed quite a bit since he was arrested. I'm just asking you to give him a chance before you make up your mind about him. I think you'll be surprised."

Elizabeth looked less than convinced but nodded slightly. "Okay. I'll give him a chance."

"Thank you," Abigail said.

)()()(

After making it back to his house and unpacking, Henry had spent about an hour just soaking it all in. He hadn't stepped foot inside his home since before he was first arrested, and it was really nice to be back.

Once he felt more settled and somewhat rested from his trip, he left his house and headed for the cafe as he'd promised Abigail he would.

He hadn't made it far when he, slightly lost in thought, collided with someone.

Stumbling, he reached out and latched on to the boy's arms to keep him from tumbling to the ground.

"Sorry about that, Cody. Are you all right?" Henry asked, letting him go once he was sure the boy had his feet back under him.

Cody nodded. "Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going, Mister Gowan."

Henry chuckled slightly. "Well, neither was I. So you're in good company."

The boy smiled and relaxed a bit. "I didn't know you were back in Hope Valley."

"Got back today," Henry confirmed.

"I heard Sheriff Avery tell Mom last week that you were coming back. Welcome home!"

"Thank you, Cody," Henry said with a smile.

The two of them fell silent and Cody stared at him for a moment, shifting slightly and clearly wanting to say something. Henry waited, feeling slightly uncomfortable under the scrutiny.

As another moment passed by and the silence stretched, Henry finally ventured, "Is something wrong, Cody?"

"Oh, no," the boy said with a shake of his head. "I just..." he shifted again and shrugged slightly. "I just wanted to say thanks again for helping Becky make it home in time for Christmas last year, Mister Gowan."

Henry smiled softly. "You are very welcome Cody, but you can call me Henry."

The boy thought about it for a moment before nodding with a smile. "Okay. Thanks, Mister Henry."

Henry couldn't help the laugh that escaped him. "Are you on your way home?"

"Yeah," Cody sighed. "I have homework."

Henry chuckled. "Well, I was just heading that way myself. Mind if I walk with you?"

"Sure," Cody agreed easily.

"Just think of it this way," Henry said as they began walking. "The sooner you finish your homework, the sooner you can go play with that dog of yours."

Cody cocked his head slightly, his expression awed as if discovering some profound revelation. "I never thought of it like that. Thanks, Mister Henry!"

Henry grinned at the boy and patted him on the back. "You're welcome, Cody."

Several moments of silence passed between them as they walked toward the cafe. "So, how is your sister doing?" Henry asked.

"She's good," Cody replied easily. "She's away at school right now. I really miss her, but she writes a lot."

"Well she should be home on break before too much longer, right?" Henry asked.

Cody looked at him with some surprise that he'd known that. "Yeah, I can't wait!" he said.

As they reached the cafe, Cody headed toward the back door. Henry followed him, and the two of them stepped into the kitchen to see Abigail at the stove and Elizabeth nearby as the two women talked.

"Hey, Miss Thatcher!" Cody greeted.

"Hello, Cody," she returned with an easy smile before her eyes moved to Henry, and her expression became somewhat more tense.

"Welcome back, Mister Gowan," she said, the words stiff but not entirely unfriendly.

"Thank you, Elizabeth," he said with a slight nod as he closed the door behind him. "I appreciate that."

She turned to Abigail. "I have to get going," she said lightly. "I'll see you later."

Abigail shared a heavy look with her that Henry didn't understand the significance of. "Remember what I said."

"I will," Elizabeth agreed with a nod.

Abigail smiled warmly, with a grateful nod. "See you."

As Elizabeth turned toward main cafe area, she paused to look back at him again. "It was nice to see you again, Mister Gowan," she said.

"You too, Elizabeth."

Then she slipped out of the kitchen, and, moments later, disappeared through the front door.

"All right," Abigail declared, looking at her son. "I have it straight from the source that homework was given out today. Now, I don't want to hear any arguing or stalling-"

"Sorry, Mom," Cody cut her off, heading for the stairs, "can't talk. I have to get my homework done."

Abigail gaped at him. "Who are you and what have you done with my son? You never volunteer to do your homework."

The boy paused on the bottom landing of the stairs and turned back to her. "Well that was before I realized that the sooner I finish, the sooner I can play with Dasher."

Abigail scoffed incredulously. "And just how did you arrive at this revelation?"

"Mister Henry," the boy tossed over his shoulder as he bounded up the stairs.

Mouth still hanging open, she turned toward the man in question.

He shifted uncertainly. "We ran into each other on the way here and started talking. He wasn't looking forward to doing his homework so I just said..." his rambling trailed off and he shrugged hesitantly, as if he suddenly wasn't sure that he should have even talked to her son.

Abigail smiled softly at him. He was so different now, so unsure, trying to find his footing again and figure out what the status quo was for him now. She was glad he was changing for the better, but wished it didn't have to be so hard for him along the way.

She shook her head, amused. "I can't tell you how many times I've tried telling him that, but what do I know? I'm just the mom."

Henry chuckled slightly.

"Seriously, though, thank you, Henry," she said.

He looked away shyly. And when had he become so shy? This was not the same arrogant, domineering man this town had known. Not in the slightest.

"I didn't do anything," he protested, sounding almost self-deprecating in the process. "It was just an offhand comment."

He just looked so... pitiful wasn't the right word, because she didn't pity him. She refused to do that to him. But he just looked so... She suddenly just wanted to reach out and hug him.

"You don't know how much help you've been," she said. "At least five minutes of arguing and stalling and moaning just went out the window with just one comment from you. So, thank you."

"You're welcome," he said, seemingly, more for lack of anything better to respond with, than because he thought he deserved the thanks.

Wishing she could say something more to convince him, but knowing it would only make him more uncomfortable and still not persuade him, she decided to change the subject instead.

"Mister Henry?" she asked with a laugh.

Henry shook his head and chuckled, relaxing with the shift in topic. "I asked him to call me Henry. He came up with the 'mister.'"

She laughed. "That sounds like him, all right. Well, why don't you have a seat, Mister Henry," she teased as she nodded toward the far end of the kitchen table.

He pulled off his coat and draped it over the back of his chair before sitting down.

"What'll you have?" Abigail asked.

"Oh, I'm not particular, Abigail," Henry said.

"Come now, Henry. Since when are you not particular?" she said with an eyebrow raised, but amusement shining in her eyes.

He grinned. "With everything else, sure, but never with your cooking."

"Says the man who's been living off prison food."

Henry laughed outright for the first time in... He honestly couldn't remember. But leave it to Abigail to be able to make him feel better than he had in a very long time.

"You got me," he teased back. "Seriously, though, you're offering me a free meal. It's only fair you get to choose it."

Abigail pursed her lips for a moment.

Something deep in his chest reacted to the expression, but it was gone so quickly, he couldn't identify it.

"All right," she agreed. "I'll surprise you then."

"Perfect," Henry agreed easily.

They lapsed into silence as Abigail began moving around the kitchen. He watched her pull out pans and begin cooking meat while preparing different vegetables.

It was mostly comfortable for a time before Henry began to feel the need to say something. As much as it didn't bother him to simply sit there and watch her move confidently around the kitchen, he realized it might seem a bit uncomfortable or, heaven forbid, creepy, to an outside viewer.

"So... how has everything been going for you since I last saw you?" he asked, almost wincing at the borderline prying question. He couldn't think of what else to say.

"It's been really great, actually," she said. "Cody's doing well in school and Becky writes often and comes home when she can. Thankfully, she hasn't gotten trapped at any more depots," she said with a teasing smirk.

He smiled at the reminder. "I'm glad. Somehow, I don't think the detention center would have let me out on a day trip to go get her," he teased in return.

Abigail chuckled. "I'm still grateful to you for that, Henry," she said.

He shook his head, waving her off. "Ah, I was glad to do it."

"Still," she insisted. "You risked a lot to help us. We'll always be grateful."

"So, are you still mayor?"

He really hoped that didn't sound as much like he was asking for personal reasons as he thought it might. He truly had no designs on the mayor's office anymore. He wanted nothing to do with that kind of power. First, running a mining operation, then, the town? That kind of authority over others had corrupted him time and time again. Now that he was finally getting his head back on straight, he wanted to avoid going down that road again.

"I am," Abigail said with a smile. "And I think I've finally found a balance between that and the cafe and being a mom."

"I never doubted you would," Henry said honestly. "This town is very lucky to have you as mayor, Abigail. The kind of mayor it deserves."

Abigail smiled softly. "Thank you, Henry. That really means a lot coming from you."

Henry wasn't so sure about that, but appreciated the sentiment anyway.

The conversation shifted into mostly stilted small talk with long pauses. Why did he always seem to have so much trouble talking to her like a normal human being? It was as if, every time he opened his mouth, what came out wasn't at all what he'd intended to say, and he usually ended up either saying the wrong thing or phrasing it the wrong way, making a complete mess of it all.

He had his moments when he was actually able to say what he meant to, but talking to people felt so awkward to him now. He'd been in the habit of speaking solely by snapping, insulting, and threatening for so long, that he'd forgotten how to converse with anyone on an equal, friendly, person-to-person basis, and it seemed to be even harder with Abigail, for some reason.

He was hoping, now that he was back in Hope Valley, it might start getting easier. Prison wasn't exactly conducive to practicing his people skills.

All of these thoughts, however, were completely derailed as Abigail finished cooking and walked over to him, plates in hand.

As she set the food in front of him, something inside him couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry as filet mignon, mashed and baked potatoes, and corn fritters were arrayed before him.

"And there's a piece of pie for you when you're done with that," Abigail said softly.

Henry looked up at her and something, his heart?, stuttered for the briefest moment at the impossibly gentle smile on her face.

He cleared his throat, valiantly pushing back his emotions before he could embarrass himself by doing something horrifying, like choking up or actually crying.

"Thank you," he said softly, the meal suddenly meaning even more than it already had.

When she reached out to briefly rest her hand on his shoulder in response, his heart actually seemed to leap into his throat for a single beat. Then she was turning away from him, and his heart rate returned to normal.

What was wrong with him, all of a sudden?

Shaking his head slightly at himself, he dug heartily into his food.

He honestly wasn't sure if it was so good because he'd been living off prison food for so long, or if there was another reason entirely why it was the best food he'd ever tasted in his life.

A/N So that's Chapter 1. I'll let you know now, this isn't going to be a short, quick little story. There's quite a bit more to come. Please let me know what you thought of this chapter! And I hope to have the next one up later this week.