AN: Hello my fellow Hearties! I'm coming at you with another chapter! Here's a brief recap of the last chapter-

Jack is forced to confront an intoxicated Charles, and William stands up for his son-in-law. Jack and Elizabeth then discuss the unwanted kiss.

Julie unexpectedly arrives at the Thatcher house during breakfast, and it is revealed that Viola herself invited Julie for the wedding. William Thatcher wasn't pleased, but upon learning Julie was pregnant, he decided to speak to her in private.

Jack and Elizabeth go for a walk in the garden, and are interrupted by Charles, come to apologize, and even though Elizabeth accepts the apology, she informs him that their friendship cannot continue.

The night before the wedding, all three girls were sitting in Viola's room. Elizabeth was carefully brushing out Viola's long red hair. It had been an extremely busy week, with visitors popping in and out of the Thatcher house, some of them with gifts or well wishes for the bride, and others there to see if the rumours about Elizabeth and Julie were true.

Were both of the younger Thatcher girls really married to a set of brothers?

Had Julie really been allowed to return?

Were they both really pregnant?

But for the most part, all was at peace in the Thatcher household. After Julie and William had come out of the dining room, Julie a crying mess, and William with unshed tears in his eyes, it was almost as if they had gone back to the golden time in Elizabeth's childhood, where all that she could recall was family and love. When she asked Julie what they had spoken about that morning, Julie had merely smiled, and said that it was between her, and her father.

"I'm so excited! I love weddings!" Julie sighed as she sunk down onto Viola's large, comfortable bed. "I'm going to cry when you say your vows Viola, I just know it!" Viola gave her a small as she carefully rubbed a cold creme on her face. "I can't thank you enough for letting me come back Viola."

"You're my sister. What was I supposed to do?" Viola shrugged. "Well, it's late. I need some beauty rest. So, goodnight." She said suddenly. Julie and Elizabeth looked at each other curiously.

"Is everything alright Viola?" Elizabeth asked as she set the brush on the vanity and sat down beside her sister on the oversized plush seat.

"Of course. Everything's wonderful." Viola said.

"Viola, you're getting married tomorrow! You should be excited!" Julie said. She came over to the vanity, and carefully lowered herself to the floor.

"I am excited Julie. Terribly excited." Viola grimaced.

"The night before my wedding, I could hardly sleep- then again, I was on the run...But I was so excited!" Julie said fondly. "But you're as tired and mopey as if it was the night before you had to see the doctor! So tell us Viola, what gives?"

"I am excited, I assure you." She sighed. Elizabeth took her hand, and brushed her hair out of her eyes. "I've said this before, I'm not like the two of you. I'm not particularly brave; I hold my own, of course, but I'm not one to go rushing out into the wilderness, or off across the country with a lover. I'm going to marry Sir Lionel tomorrow."

"Even though you don't love him?" Elizabeth asked.

"Despite what you must think, I do love him, in my own way." She chuckled quietly. "I've accepted that I'm a cautious creature, one that values the finer things in life, so perhaps that makes me vain, or shallow. But I like the life I lead, and Lionel provides me with a way to keep living that life...and I've long since accepted that what I feel for him isn't the same passion the two of you feel for your husbands. But I am happy. Now, if you'd excuse me, I'd like to be alone." Elizabeth and Julie nodded, and each kissed their sister's cheek before leaving the room whispering soft goodnights.

"I just feel so badly for her." Julie whispered as they walked down the hall.

"We shouldn't...She's happy." Elizabeth said. She couldn't help but think that if she hadn't gone to Hope Valley, if she hadn't met Jack, and she would have married Charles, she would have been feeling exactly the same way Viola was feeling now.

"She's settling for a marriage like our mother and father had. Comfortable." She said the word as if it were a curse. "She never got a chance to get out there and live, Beth! She never got to live on her own, or meet a handsome stranger at some low down saloon!"

"Never kissed the leader of a gang, either." Elizabeth said, and Julie gasped, and gently shoved her.

"Now, why bring up the Toliver fellow? We were having a nice conversation!" Julie groaned. "I'd invite you into my room to continue it, but I know you'd rather be off to your own bed, where I'm sure a handsome Mountie is waiting patiently to ravish his wife."

"Julie!" Elizabeth gasped. "Our parents could hear you!"

"Serves you right for bringing up Toliver." Julie hummed as she opened her door. "Good night sister."

"Yeah. Goodnight." Elizabeth huffed as the door closed. She made her way to her own bedroom, and opened the door. "Jack?"

"There you are. I was wondering if you'd ever be coming back." Jack said, setting aside his book. She gave him a half smile, and reached for the buttons on the back of her dress. "Allow me." He said, coming up behind her to assist her.

"Thank you." She said, and smiled as the dress slid from her shoulders. She carefully pushed the cloth over her stomach, and let it pool around her feet. She turned to face him, and put her hands on his bare shoulders. "We've been married Four and a half months, and I don't think I've ever seen you sleep in a shirt. Though, I'm not complaining."

"It's more comfortable that way." He shrugged. She smiled, and trailed her fingers over the muscles of his chest.

"Well, I don't mind." She kissed him, and rested her forehead against his. "I'm so lucky that you love me."

"Where did that come from?" He asked, his fingers twisting a lock of her brown hair.

"It's just...I love you so much, Jack. I love you so much that if I think about being without you, it physically hurts me. I can't do it. And I don't just love you, I want you. And that's something that very few of...my kind of people, can say." She said, letting her fingers play with the hair at the nape of his neck.

"You know I feel the same way about you Elizabeth. I adore you." Jack assured her. "But what's brought this on?"

"I'm not sure exactly. Ever since I've been pregnant, I've been so sentimental...and then Viola was talking about marrying Sir Lionel, and she's just- resigned. She's resigned to it, and I thank God, because I never felt that I had to be resigned to my marriage, never thought "If I don't take this suitor, who knows if I'll get another?". Because I found you, Jack. You changed everything for me." Elizabeth said. "Now, Julie was under the impression that my handsome Mountie husband would be here, waiting to ravish me. I can't help but be a little disappointed she was wrong." She teased, and before she knew it, Jack was sweeping her up in his arms as if she weighed no more than she had on their wedding day, and swiftly carried her to the bed. "Jack!" She gasped, and he grinned.

"Well, I always hate to disappoint a lady." He said, flashing her his best half smile.

…..

"Viola, You're the most beautiful bride I've ever seen!" Julie giggled as one of the maids pinned the veil into her perfectly styled auburn updo. "No offense intended Elizabeth, I didn't see you at your wedding, and I wore my old travel dress to mine, but Viola is so beautiful here and now!"

"No offense taken Julie. She's just gorgeous." Elizabeth smiled, and Viola glowed with the praise. "I can't believe how lovely your dress is. You're like a perfect angel." The long sleeved lace gown was stunning beyond measure, and so totally Viola.

"And the two of you look sublime in your dresses my darlings." Viola said. "I'm very glad I'll have the two of you beside me today." She dismissed the maid with a wave of her hand. "About what I said last night-"

"What did you say? I can't seem to recall." Julie shrugged.

"Something about being excited for the wedding?" Elizabeth suggested, and Viola smiled at them.

"Yes, that's right. Something just like that." She said. She got up, and opened the drawer of her vanity, and pulled out two small boxes. "Now, I've got a little something here for the both of you. Nothing big, mind you." She placed them in her sister's hands, and they each opened them, revealing beautiful pearl earrings.

"Oh, Viola. They're beautiful!" Elizabeth gasped. "We should be the one buying things for you! It's your wedding day!"

"Nonsense. I wanted to get them for you. You're both very special to me, and I so rarely show it." Viola said. Elizabeth's eyes prickled with tears, and she wrapped her sister in a tight embrace "Don't start crying already Beth! The wedding hasn't even started yet!"

"I'm sorry, I'm just so emotional, with the baby, with the wedding, with Julie coming home. I'm so happy." Elizabeth assured her.

"Oh! Now you're making me cry!" Julie huffed, waving her handkerchief at them. "I just love you both so much!"

"And I love all three of you." They jumped at the sound of their mother's voice at the door. "All three of you look so beautiful today. You're all here, and happy, married or getting married. I've never been so happy, so proud of all of you. Now, your father is waiting downstairs. The carriage is there waiting for us."

"Are you ready?" Elizabeth asked, taking her sister's hand.

"As I'll ever be." Viola nodded. She stood, and took Julie's hand. "I'm getting married."

"You're getting married." Julie giggled. Hand in hand the sisters made their way to the carriage.

…..

"It was a beautiful wedding." Elizabeth said as she took a sip of punch.

"It was… But I couldn't stop looking at the matron of honor." Jack said. "She was more lovely than the bride, in my humble opinion, but don't go spreading that around."

"Jack Thornton!" Elizabeth giggled. "I love you."

"And I love you. Come on, let's dance." He said as the musicians prepared to play a waltz.

"Are you sure you want to dance with the fat clumsy oaf?" Elizabeth asked, running her hand over her belly.

"No, but I'd like to dance with my beautiful wife." Jack took her empty glass, and set it aside. He took her hand, and led her to the dance floor. "There's no better dancer out there besides."

"I love you." She smiled as the dance began. She glanced over her shoulder at her sister and her new husband. "I think they're going to do well together. He's so easy going, and she's so focused and determined...Some how, I think they're going to balance eachother out. He's a pleasant man, he really is. I like him."

"So do I. A good brother-in-law." Jack nodded.

"Yes, he certainly is." Elizabeth smiled as the dance ended, and the people on the floor applauded politely. "Would you mind escorting me back to our seats?"

"Of course. Is everything alright?" He asked, giving her his arm.

"Yes, everything is fine, I assure you. The dance had just tired me out." Elizabeth said. He nodded, and escorted her to the seat next to Viola.

"Elizabeth, you and Jack make such a lovely couple out there twirling." Viola said.

"Oh, I'm a little bit clumsy these days." Elizabeth brushed her off.

"Hardly Beth. Hardly!" Viola said. "What do you say darling? Shall we take a twirl?"

"Anything to make my bride happy." Lionel said, helping her from her seat. She smiled at Elizabeth as she walked away. Elizabeth took in the joyous people around her and smiled broadly. She was about to turn to Jack to remark on just how perfect the day was, when she saw Edith coming towards them.

"Elizabeth!" She called, waving at her. Charles was nowhere in sight at the moment, so she cautiously waved back.

"Jack, darling, would you please get me some more punch?" Elizabeth asked.

"Are you sure you want to be here alone?"

"Charles isn't with her, it should be fine." Elizabeth assured him. "And I am quite thirsty."

"I'll be right back." He said, and kissed her forehead.

"Elizabeth!" Edith called.

"Hello Edith, would you like to sit?" She gestured to Jack's empty seat.

"Oh, sure." Edith said, taking it. "Elizabeth, I don't know what happened between you and Charles, but I know that he is absolutely devastated about it."

"Edith, I think it was a long time coming, and it really is for the best." Elizabeth said.

"Elizabeth, I'd ask you to reconsider...I thought that you and I got along so well! I can't bear to be the cause of the end of the oldest friendship he has!" Edith almost begged her.

"Edith, oh! It's not because of you, not at all! I think you're just a dear!"

"I'm glad you said that, because…" As Edith spoke, she tugged on her white glove. "You see, Charles and I are engaged. He proposed to me yesterday afternoon. We didn't want to announce it yet, because of Viola's wedding, but we're engaged." She held out her hand, revealing the same huge diamond ring Charles had presented to Elizabeth all those months ago. Elizabeth almost rolled her eyes, but forced herself to smile.

"Congratulations Edith! I wish you all the best."

"But you won't consider mending the gap between Charles and yourself?" Edith asked forlornly. "It would mean so much to me if you would."

"I'm very sorry Edith, but I don't think it would be wise. There's too much history between Charles and I." Elizabeth said. "I'm afraid it would be impossible."

"What happened between the two of you? As far as I knew you were always as thick as thieves." Elizabeth bit her lip, debating what to say. Charles obviously hadn't admitted to Edith that he had kissed her only nights ago, and she doubted Edith even knew that Charles had once proposed. "I'm sorry to bring this up, but...is it because Charles rejected you last year, because I know-"

"Pardon me, because Charles what?" Elizabeth gasped.

"I know, it's none of my business, but Charles told me what happened when you came to Hamilton to see him-"

"To see him? I came to see my sick mother!" Elizabeth scoffed, suddenly wondering what on earth was taking Jack so long with the punch.

"It's alright to be embarrassed Elizabeth, rejection is difficult to face, especially when it's someone as wonderful as Charles." Edith said sympathetically. "But Jack seems to be nice enough-"

"Nice enough? Jack is not a second choice, Edith. He's my soul mate, the love of my life. We've been together for a while now. Since before I came back to Hamilton to see my mother." Elizabeth explained, but Edith looked dubious.

"That's not quite what Charles told me." By now Elizabeth was fuming. "Honestly Elizabeth, Constable Thornton is a better man than most, a hero, So what if he isn't as successful as Charles? He's-"

"An acceptable alternative?" Elizabeth asked, using the table to rise from her chair. "My family did everything in their power to convince me to marry Charles instead of Jack. But I loved Jack more than anything, More than anyone, so I married him, regardless of his "station" because he is the best of men."

"Now now, Elizabeth, I wasn't looking to start an argument, or create a scene! I only meant to offer you my sympathy, and perhaps help getting over Charles-"

"I'll have you know Edith, for a fact, that I never loved Charles in a romantic way, and it was always him who came after me- and what's more, he came all the way to Hope Valley to propose to me about eight months ago, and I turned him down. And I see he didn't bother to have the ring resized, since your fingers are more slender than mine, and he used the same one to propose to propose to me." She saw at once that her words had hurt Edith, and she regretted them.

"It's true isn't it?"

"Edith, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say those things-"

"But they're true...I'm such a fool. I could always tell that Charles had feelings for you; I just hoped that I was wrong." Edith sighed. "And you ending your friendship just this week, that's because of something he did the other night, isn't it? Has he played me for a fool?"

"Edith, Charles does love you. I can tell from the way he writes about you in his letters." Edith nodded.

"But we have quite a lot to discuss, he and I." Edith said. "Thank you for being honest with me, Elizabeth. I appreciate it greatly."

"Again, I'm sorry." Elizabeth said sincerely. Edith rose from the chair.

"No, no, you've done nothing wrong. These are things I do wish Charles had spoken to me about a long time ago." Edith said, and tugged on her glove before she walked away. "It was a beautiful wedding. You look radiant." Elizabeth sat down and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"I ought to punch him again." Jack said as he came up behind her. Elizabeth sighed, and took the glass of punch. She took a long, slow sip, and set the glass on the table.

"I can't believe he didn't tell her! I can't believe he told her that I was coming after him!"

"I can. He's a coward, Elizabeth...though, I can't say I blame him for not mentioning having once proposed to another woman." Jack said, and Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "I'm not saying that he was right not to mention it, And I know that I should have told you about Rosemary. I'm still sorry that I didn't."

"I forgiven you for that a thousand times over Jack...I just can't believe what Charles said to her. I still can't believe he kissed me. I can't believe this whole week." Elizabeth said, and then yawned. "I can't believe how late it is. I'm exhausted."

"Would you like to head upstairs?" Jack asked.

"Jack, don't you know how that would look? The two of us disappearing at seven thirty? Everyone would think we'd...well…" She blushed.

"Yeah, a real shame if people thought that the two of us were…" He trailed off, and kissed her knuckles. "As if there wasn't evidence of that there in your dress." He laughed, and quickly caressed her stomach.

"Jack Thornton! What is it about the air in Hamilton that has you unable to keep your hands to yourself?" Elizabeth laughed quietly.

"It isn't anything about the air, Elizabeth. You're the most beautiful woman in the world. And you're mine. And sometimes I still can't believe it." Jack said. "How do you feel? Up to another dance?"

"With you, Constable? Anytime."

AN: Another chapter down! What a week they've had in Hamilton, huh?