Thanksgiving Day, Alberta

Josh was working, so Rachel was helping out at Marian and Candy's home, getting the meal ready for dinner.

Candy was very quiet, the young, happy Candy seemingly lost.

"How's Tommy Spencer?" Rachel asked her in a whisper, hoping to get a smile.

"Fine, I guess." Truth was, she had no idea. The harder truth was, he barely knew she existed. Yes, she had a huge crush on him but the dream of marrying him and having babies was just that, a dream.

"How are you, Candy?" Rachel put her arm around her sister-in-law's shoulders.

"I don't know. Sad. I want Dad back," she said with a sniffle.

Rachel pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry, sweetie."

"Not sure what crying will solve," Candy said, stepping away.

"Sometimes crying helps."

"It won't bring him back."

"No, but keeping your feelings inside won't help either."

"I'm going to get started on the pumpkin pie," she told her, stepping to the cupboards and taking out the ingredients.

"Okay. I'll work on the turkey and get it in the oven," Rachel said quietly.

"I'm glad you're here, Rachel," she said a moment later.

"So am I."

….

Elizabeth smiled at her daughters. Em and Maddie were helping her with food preparations for the Thornton Thanksgiving dinner that evening.

She would see half of her children that evening and would have to be patient for one more month to see the rest.

"Hey, Ma," Charlie said, kissing her cheek.

"Hey, baby. Where's your father?"

"He is still working on Leah and Chris' house. He said to tell you not to worry. He will be home in plenty of time to eat."

"And Lydie?"

"She's working at the café. She said the same thing Dad did."

"Very well."

"Hey everyone," Bradley greeted as he walked in, holding Jade's hand.

For the next while, everyone else showed up and the house was full. Full of love and laughter and family. Just the way Jack and Elizabeth wanted it.

Elizabeth slipped her hand into Jack's and squeezed. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Happy, hon?" he wondered, a gleam in his eye. He knew that she was. Seeing their children and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren together made her extremely happy.

"So happy."

"Me too," he told her.

Jack thought back to their first few months of marriage when it was just he and Elizabeth. It was wonderful and amazing but as soon as Bug came into the picture too, he knew what true happiness was. Their babies were such a huge part of his heart and now most had babies of their own.

"Papa? Are you alright?" Leah asked.

He hadn't even noticed his tears. He had just been reminiscing. "Of course, sweetheart. Just thinking how happy I am that you all are here."

Leah reached over and kissed his cheek. "I love you, Papa."

"Love you too, sweetheart."

James started crying so Bug got up and started walking around, bouncing and singing. Jack offered to hold him while she ate, so she handed him over and Jack snuggled him right in.

"Papa's got you, buddy." Before long, he was asleep and the meal continued.

….

Chris sat quietly, listening and watching as the family enjoyed their meal. It made him very grateful for the blessing of family. He had been alone for years and now, he most definitely wasn't alone.

He leaned over and gave Leah a kiss. "This is wonderful."

"Yeah, it is. And it's all yours now too, sweetie."

"I'm a lucky guy."

He felt himself changing. Before Leah, he was fine being alone. Now, he couldn't imagine it. He needed these people. The fact that Jack and Nate were building them a home went so far in proving what good people they were.

Jack leaned toward her. "Hey, would you mind holding your brother while I eat, Leah?"

"Um…sure." He placed the little guy in her arms. She wasn't comfortable holding babies unless they had four legs and lived outdoors but this was her brother and he was sleeping. She could do it.

"Just relax, hon," Chris told her, slipping his arm around her shoulders. "He's harmless."

"I'm not good at this," she told him, trying to be less stiff. "Will you take him?"

"I think you need to try. We will have our own soon enough and you need to be able to hold them without being uncomfortable."

She knew he was right but it seemed impossible.

She watched James moving his little mouth and it made her smile. He was pretty cute. Looked just like their dad. His little eyes moved as he slept, like he was dreaming.

Chris leaned toward her and kissed her temple. "See, you are doing just fine."

"Wonder what he's dreaming about?" she said quietly.

"His next meal," Chris teased. She elbowed him making him chuckle.

….

While Elizabeth and Maddie cleaned up later, everyone dispersed. Papa Jack took the kids into the living room and turned on the radio while they played games.

Will took advantage of the moment and led Ashley out to barn for a minute.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked, knowing full well what was on his mind.

"Just out to the barn," he told her, opening the door and then closing it behind them. "I thought maybe we could spend some time together." He backed her up against the door, his lips finding hers.

Just as they were getting cozy, they heard a giggle from further inside the barn. "Em?" Will yelled.

"Will?"

"Good grief. What is it with my sisters and this barn?"

Em and Lee came out into the light, Em's cheeks red. "In all fairness, little brother, you are out here too."

"But it's my barn!"

"That's beside the point."

"No! It's not beside the point. It's THE point."

Lee and Em walked past and out the door. "Night, Will. Night Ash," Em said with a laugh.

"Night," they said together.

Will stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Ashley. "Now where were we?"

"I think maybe we should get the kids and head home," she told him, kissing his cheek.

"Right behind you, sweetheart."

…..

Back in Alberta

Rachel didn't understand it but Marian wouldn't even acknowledge her. She had been extra quiet since she had arrived that day to help make dinner. Now, she was washing dishes and she had told Rachel she wanted to do it herself.

So Rachel washed counters and then went into the living room to sit with Josh by the fire. "Hey," he greeted, slipping his arm around her.

"Hi."

"What's wrong?"

"Have you noticed your mom acting different tonight?"

"No, I guess not."

"She won't talk to me, Josh. She doesn't want my help cleaning up or anything. I don't understand. I thought that we were in a good place."

"I'm sorry, hon. Maybe she's just tired."

"Maybe." But Rachel thought it was more than that. She assumed that she was having a hard time without George. People grieved in different ways. Maybe Marion just retreated into herself.

"I think we should maybe get going, Rach."

"I don't know. I think I like sitting here with you."

"We have a fireplace at our house."

"Let me go say goodbye to your sister and your mom. I will be right back."

Josh watched her walk off. He loved the fact that she was trying so hard to get into his mom's heart. He also loved that she had grown closer to Candy. He was so grateful for her he couldn't think how to put it into words.

Rachel walked into the kitchen and stopped. Marian was standing at the window, tears running down her face.

"Marian?"

"I…I need to go upstairs," she stammered and tried to walk away.

"Wait, please." Rachel pulled her into a hug. It took a moment but, eventually, Marian returned the hug, crying into her shoulder. "It's going to be okay. I promise. I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but it will."

"Who have you lost, Rachel?" she asked, stepping back and blowing her nose.

"My Great Grandma Charlotte died not that long ago. I miss her every day."

"Is it hard for you around the holidays?"

"Somewhat. But it's harder on my Papa and Grandma, her son and his wife. They were very close. I've never lost a spouse though, so it's hard for me to imagine what you are going through."

"I hope you don't find out for a very long time, sweetie."

"Me too."

"I'm sorry about tonight. I am struggling without George. He's supposed to be here."

Rachel gave her another hug. "I'm going to come back tomorrow, alright? I can make us breakfast. You, me and Candy."

"You don't need to."

"Of course I do. I need my family nearby too." She kissed her cheek. "See you soon."

….

Hope Valley

Davie walked back into town, hoping to get to the Flynn house to see Ruthie before it was too late. As he walked up, he noticed her sitting on the porch swing, a blanket over her lap.

"Hey there," he said quietly, joining her on the swing.

"Hi. I was hoping you would come by."

"Happy Thanksgiving, Ruthie."

"It is now."

Now they had been dating for about five weeks and he was head over heels. He had thought he was before but nothing compared to the feeling of wanting to be next to her every moment of every day.

"Penny for your thoughts," she said, squeezing his hand.

"I was just thinking."

"About…."

"Us."

Ruthie leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed. "What about us? Are you not happy?"

"Ruthie, of course I am. I can't imagine not having you in my life." The words were out before he could even think.

"I feel the same."

"You do?" He turned his head and looked into her eyes.

"Yes. First it was just because we grew up together and had that connection of both being orphans. But now…it's more, Davie."

"Yeah." He gently pressed his warm lips to her cool forehead, lingering. He very much wanted to really kiss her but her parents were right inside.

"Let's take a walk," she suggested. She really wanted him to finally kiss her and not on her forehead or cheek.

"It's pretty late."

"Not really."

"I really want your dad to trust me, Ruthie. If we sneak off, that won't happen."

"I'll tell them. No sneaking involved."

She stood up and walked into the house before he could stop her. She came back out a moment later with a smile on her face.

"All set?" he asked.

"Yep. Let's go."

As they strolled down the street and out of town, she moved her hand from his elbow to his hand. When they arrived at the pond, they stopped walking and stared at the moon reflecting on the water.

"It's a nice night," he said, stalling. Now he was nervous. As much as he wanted to kiss her, he felt that once he did, there was no turning back. His heart would be completely hers and he would never want it back.

"Yeah. It's a bit chilly though."

He turned toward her and rubbed his hands from her shoulders to her wrists a few times, warming her up. "How's that?" he wondered, a smile on his handsome face as he grabbed her hands.

"Um…better. Thanks."

She was getting lost in his chocolate eyes and before she knew it, his lips were only about an inch from hers. His hands moved to her waist and he stepped even closer, finally brushing his soft, full lips against hers. Once and then again.

When they parted, she stepped back slightly. She could feel her cheeks turning red and her heart was going a mile a minute. That was the perfect moment in her opinion.

"Breakfast tomorrow?" she asked as they started walking back.

"Absolutely." He didn't want to be anywhere else.