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Elizabeth's POV

"I love you Elizabeth." 4 words never meant so much to me. How dearly I missed them and how close I had been to never hearing them again. With a breathless voice, I said, "Oh Jack!" I leaned forward, and without thinking, brought my lips to his. He reached his uninjured arm to my hair, and held on to it, kissing me back with just as much love and passion. We finally broke apart when I heard his small groan of pain. I quickly pulled back, and asked, " Are you okay? Do you need me to get the doctor?"

"I'm fine Elizabeth. I'm just so glad you're here." he replied with a slight smile, flashing his dimples.

I wanted to be selfish and talk to him all night, losing myself in his voice, but I knew that I had to let him rest. He was still recovering, and must be in a lot of pain.

"I have to get Abigail and Bill. They'll be so happy to know that you're awake!" I remembered, feeling foolish for a second that I didn't fetch them the second that Jack had waken up.

"Maybe just get Abigail, and wait until the morning to tell Bill. After all, I'm not going anywhere." Jack said.

"Why not Bill? He was the one who didn't believe that you were dead. He sent out telegrams to all the hospitals where the injured Mounties were being treated, asking all the doctors and nurses to ID the men." I replied, wondering what he was getting at.

"Because he sleeps like a log." Jack said, with a teasing tone in his voice. "You can't wake him up, until he wants to be waken up. And if you do manage to, know that you won't be alive for very long," he ended with a goofy smile on his face.

I smiled at his antics, and felt a surge of happiness. The Jack that I knew and loved was still there, buried under all the bruises, gashes and bandages.

"I'll be right back, I'll go get Abigail and Dr. McKenna. Try to stay awake until we're back, okay?" Although I was joking, my words held a tone of seriousness in them. I was still scared that I was in some kind of dream, afraid that if I he was out of my sight for a moment, the dream would end, and I would be back to the nightmare of reality.

With a smile, and a clumsy salute, Jack replied, "Yes ma'am!," probably sensing some of my worriedness.

At that, I jumped off the bed, and headed towards the door, wondering for a second how I would ever figure out what room Abigail was staying in. The solution to this problem came in the form of a note that was tacked onto the door.

'I'm staying in room 21 at the Grace Inn. Bill's staying in room 23. Please come and get either of us if you need anything or if there's any change in Jack's condition. -Abigail. '

I felt a small smile creep onto my face. Abigail knew me so well. I slid out of the door, and into the main room, while looking quickly back at Jack. He was sitting upright a little bit, still awake, but looking absolutely exhausted. I closed the door quietly behind, and made my way down the corridor, careful not to disturb any of the men. I opened the back door, and breathed in the cool night air. Before stepping off the stairs, I quickly said a prayer, thanking God for all that he had done.

Abigail's POV

I sat awake in my bed, when there was a knock on my door. I quickly went to answer it, bracing myself for the worst. Elizabeth quickly stepped in, and without saying a word, gave me a hug. Although surprised, I responded to it quickly. I stepped back first, worried by what I might see, but was relieved when Elizabeth's face showed nothing but delight and happiness.

"Abigail! He's awake!," Elizabeth blurted out. Smiling from ear to ear at the statement.

"Then what are we doing, just standing here? Let's go!" I responded.

We quickly left the building and stopped at Dr. McKenna's little house beside the hospital, and told him the news. He looked as shocked as we felt, and that was saying a lot. Once we were back in Jack's room, and looking down at his tired face, I finally felt happy, for the first time in days, since this whole fiasco started. Dr. McKenna was checking Jack's vitals, clearly looking surprised and shocked at this new development. I quickly glanced over to Elizabeth and saw the happiness and relief. These last couple of days have taken a real toll on her. Now that she knew that Jack was alive, there was an air of happiness that surrounded her. As if she knew I was staring, she glanced over to me and took my hand, squeezing it, and looking back to Jack with a look of love on her face. Their relationship was special, one of a kind, and one that was supposed to last forever. I thought back to the words I had spoken at their wedding. They were words of teasing and joy, meant to make the newlyweds laugh, but I realized that I had meant them wholeheartedly. There weren't two people on God's good earth meant more for each other than Elizabeth and Jack, and that whatever challenges lay ahead for them in the future, they would take on together.

Elizabeth's POV

Rays of sunlight flitted through the window, and the birds of the air sang their songs, waking up all creation. I blinked to get used to the brightness of the room, and slowly sat up. After Dr. McKenna had went home after the events of last night, and Abigail had went back to the inn, I had once again fallen asleep on Jack's shoulder. I lifted my hand to cup Jack's sleeping face. A small smile spread on his face, and he opened his eyes to meet mine. I vowed then and there that I would never get used to this. To the feeling of pure joy of gazing into the eyes of the one you loved. Even if we lived to be a hundred years old, I would still look into his eyes and never be bored of what I saw.

"Good morning Jack. I hope you had a good sleep," I said, leaning down to kiss him.

"Good morning Elizabeth. I had a lovely sleep with you by my side" he said, after kissing me back.

I blushed at his words, and leaned back, so he could slowly sit up. Dr. McKenna was astounded by the progress that Jack was making since receiving the injuries in the landslide. I still didn't know exactly what happened, that fateful day on the mountain, but I trusted that Jack would tell me once he was ready. He needed time to heal, both physically and mentally.

"Dr. McKenna told me after you had fallen asleep last night, that he saw no reason for you not to be released in a few days. Of course you'll be over the watchful eye of Faith and Carson. " I said, scarcely believing the impact of the words. We would be going home. After this, we would finally be together. For good. No more training missions or fighting. Just the 2 of us, taking on the events of life, one day at a time.

There was a knock at the door, and Jack called out, "the door's open, come in." Bill slipped into the room with a mixed look of amazement and wonder and joy wrapped all in one.

"Don't ever scare me again like that, Jack. I don't think any of us could take it," were the first words out his mouth. He walked to the bed in two steps, and laid his hand on Jack's shoulder, squeezing it.

"I promise Bill. I promise," Jack responded.

I could sense that they needed some time alone, so I left, with the promise that I would bring back some food, after helping Abigail pack up the few belongings that she had packed on the trip. She was heading back today to take over the café from Clara and Rosemary, and returning as mayor after handing over the reigns to Henry for the time being. Of course, I knew that she missed Cody most of all, and she would be thrilled to tell him, and all of Hope Valley of the news that their beloved Mountie would be coming home in a few days, alive and well. Jack, Bill, and I would be heading home in three days and I greatly looked forward to coming home to our little house, and falling back into schedule, with me going back to teach the children every day, and Jack doing his rounds. I missed the children greatly, but I knew that they were in good hands with Rosemary. She had become a good friend over the past few years, and even though she and I disagreed at times, I knew that she would be always be there for me.

I stopped in the middle of the street, and thanked God for the friends that I had. Abigail, Bill, Rosemary, Lee, Clara, Cat, Faith, Carson, Florence, and even Henry. When I first arrived in Coal Valley, I thought that I would have to rely on my own strength, and I never would have thought that I would have friends to support me through life's journey. God certainly worked in unexpected ways, didn't He?

Thank you all for the support that I have been getting. I know this chapter was a bit slow, and I certainly apologize for that fact. The next chapter will focus on Jack, and we'll finally find out how he survived. Sorry for all the grammar mistakes.