The wagon lurched over larger rocks amid pebbles as Jack steered the horses towards Hope Valley, leaving their cozy home on the scenic hill they had dreamed of building their homestead on just over a year ago. She smiled wistfully at the smoke billowing from the stone chimney. All the restless waiting for years had been worth it just gazing at her and Jack's work. They had been married, built and furnished a house in a lovely place, and had been blessed with such a sweet daughter who was as stubborn as the two parents combined.

"What are you thinking about?" Jack gazed at her blue eyes, getting lost in them before realizing she had spoken. He shook his head out of his reverie, and flicked his eyes back to the path before they landed in the ditch. She had that effect on him, and he'd be a fool not to fall under the spell.

"I was just musing about all the changes we've experienced in just over a year."

"Yeah, we got married shortly after that proposal, rebelling against your parent's wishes to have a more traditional wedding. We had a perfect little girl although that happened much sooner than later." Elizabeth laughed at how true things turned out. They seemed to have done everything her parents wished them not to do.

"I'm wondering now where we're going! I cannot hold it in anymore, I'll just explode."

"I'm sure my darling wife won't explode." He chuckled at her pretend pout.

"Jack, you really are a bother sometimes."

"I'm on my best behaviour so I'll just say I've thought the same about you."

"Oh so when we're at home you feel free to say anything you like? That I'm such a nagging wife."

"You're good at nagging in order to get your way."

"I'll just respond in kind so that this doesn't get out of hand." Their jesting turned in a moment to sarcasm. Elizabeth knew by the time she said that with gritted teeth there was no going back to joking.

"Fine," Jack said defiantly. "I was thinking of bringing Tom, Charlotte, and Bill over for dinner this week." He had opened the can of worms.

"Just because my parents were over to stay doesn't mean you can bring invite your family whenever you like. Didn't you think of asking me first before everyone comes barging in?" Elizabeth voice rose as Jack's stared ahead, ready to erupt.

"Didn't your family do that?" He asked shortly.

"They are different. They won't listen to us. You know what it's like to handle them."

"So what's my family then?"

"Jack! All day I care for Hazel, do dishes, chores, cook, clean, and I don't even have time to think of teaching my students. I am worn out from all this stress, and you think it's high time I carry my own load by hosting dinners?"

"I didn't mean it that way-"

"You may think you do the hard work, but believe me, I go through just as much as you do!"

"Elizabeth, I-" She leaned over to pull the reins, and halt the wagon. With a sniff, she jumped down, ignoring his offered hand.

Jack stared after her, sighing at the predicament. Good job, smooth move. He should just put his foot in his mouth at all times lest he explode again like that. He had egged her on, something he never should have done, and definitely not when she was adapting to becoming a mother. She had quit her love of teaching for him and their daughter, and he had to make a sarcastic comment and pile more on her. He'd wait for her, and apologize for his smart move.

Elizabeth ran out of breath a short way from the wagon, and closed her eyes, bending over to rest for a second. She had to get away from everything that begged her attention, and it was becoming too much. Without Abigail at her side everyday her responsibilities seemed like a mountain. She shouldn't have said those horrible words to Jack. And yet they hung in the air. She sighed as she knew she couldn't take them back. She had been inconsiderate, and shook her head realizing she had learned this lesson countless times, and yet she was learning it again the hard way. She would need to apologize to him, and set everything straight.

She picked up her skirts and raised them above the mud as she approached the wagon with Jack sitting there, reins in his hands, his head down, eyes closed. She breathed a prayer that she could set it right again, or at least let him know she was in the wrong. Why was communicating so hard in marriage? After the first year especially every flaw of hers seemed to magnify a thousand times.

Elizabeth wordlessly climbed back in, rubbing a hand on Jack's back. He looked up at her, a sense of wonder and a hint of a smile touched his face.

"I have something to apologize for" the both started, then laughed. "You go first-"

"Since we can't decide, let's kiss and make up in that order."

She giggled, happily complying as he kissed her. She leaned into it, a sigh escaping in the midst of their moment.

A rider cantered past the couple, Jack catching the last of him as he made his way to town. "Elizabeth, I think that was Bill just now, judging from his coat and gelding."

"Mhhm?" She murmured, not wanting their moment to end, especially since their nights were filled with rocking Hazel.

"I wonder what he's up to."

"Probably getting something for our daughter so she'll calm down," Elizabeth said distractedly.

"And he'll have something to say when we arrive back home no doubt about that."

Jack had convinced Elizabeth to continue on their journey to town. She smiled to herself, snuggled against Jack's shoulder, closing her eyes to savour the sweet moment of peace before they headed back to a bustling household.

He pulled the wagon over at the side of the dirt road once again, and hopped down to take her hand, leading her to his favourite spot. The sun in the summertime lasted for hours after dinner, so they could watch the sunset together. Jack pulled out a basket of food, and smiled mischievously at her as she followed him into the dense woods.

"Are you sure you know where we are going?" Elizabeth just had to ask, dodging a branch that had swung her way, stuck behind her husband.

"I'm sorry," he said distractedly, eyes darting, probably making sure he had the right spot. He hooked a thumb around a suspender.

Elizabeth had never seen something so beautiful, so scenic, words failed her. She had seen mountains, creeks, and miles of trees before, but the combination of them in one sight took her breath away. She blinked, trying to take it all in before it disappeared.

"This is where I sometimes like to stop on my way to and from work. I haven't been doing it that long, or else I would've shown you sooner. He wrapped an arm around Elizabeth, who sighed in contentment.

"What do you do, looking over this landscape?"

"I quiet myself, and I pray. Everything becomes clearer when I am alone with my mess of thoughts, doubts, insecurities. Sometimes I sing, and other times I draw. Which leads me to give you this."

Jack pulled out a medium sized oak frame from the picnic basket, the frame stained a deep chestnut. Elizabeth's blue eyes watered up, and Jack whipped out a handkerchief as she sniffled, and pointed towards his drawing.

It was a portrait of her, and their Hazel. She let the tears flow, winding down her face, her lips trembling. "I don't deserve all this."

He hugged her tighter. "On our wedding day, I thought the same thing. And I still to this day have trouble making sense of it all. Especially when I blew it just moments ago." Elizabeth choked out a laugh through her tears.

"We both did."

"Maybe we should just forget about it like we agreed upon." She turned her head to gaze up at him.

"We did?"

"We made up, that's for sure," Jack said, smirking. "But there's one thing that erases memory, and leaves me disoriented to a point where I cannot for the life of me put two words together."

"Let me guess," Elizabeth giggled. "When Hazel is screaming, and nothing seems to do the trick so you stay up a good part of the night attempting to console her to the point when both of you turn cranky on me, and you cannot even answer simple questions."

"Good try," Jack chuckled as they munched on their food Abigail had packed for their trip. That evening they chatted for hours, and acted like an old married couple, laughing until their stomachs hurt, and dreamed about all of their tomorrows they would share together.

*Thanks for everyone who has been following up with this story! I have not watched the new season yet because I need to focus on school so I unfortunately cannot write on the new storylines in season four.

P.S. I usually listen Anne's theme from Anne of Green Gables to get me in the mood to write, and slowly re-watching the 1994-5 Christy series. Comment if you are a team David or Neil, got to say I'm a David fan all the way!