(07-01-2018) HEY! It's 2 am and I have to be up in a few hours but I HAD. TO. GET. THIS. DONE. FOR. YOU. ALL!

Thank you all for being patient! I'm going to try to get a chapter out every weekend when I AM home. I don't know what time that'll ever be, but it'll be out every weekend! Camp has been fun so far! I've made a ton of friends and it's a good time. I'm gonna try to write during my off time unless I have to do something like... I dunno? Shower.

MAJOR SHOUTOUT TO KAITLIN ( MEMPHISHEARTIE21) FOR HELP WITH DIALOGUE ON THIS! Love ya, girlie!

Okay! Enjoy!

The children all had presentations to give on an animal they picked and they had to research it and present what they found to the class. They each had to pick their own and two of them couldn't have the same animal, but they could choose to work with a partner or on their own. Opal did her research on a bear, Hattie and Emily chose a horse, Cody and Robert picked to present on Bobcats, Anna did hers on pigs, and so on.

Everyone worked very hard on their projects and all ended up with very good grades. I was quite pleased with the effort they put into it.

I made my way home and wasn't paying any mind to anything, in particular, just thinking about Abby's birthday party I'd been planning, going through my mental checklist. It wasn't until I felt her hand on my arm that I knew Abigail was trying to get my attention.

"Elizabeth," she looked concerned. "Are you alright? I was calling you from the start of Main Street." I was almost at the other end of it.

I nodded, "Yes, sorry, Abigail. I was thinking about Abby's party tomorrow. Making sure I have everything."

A smile crossed her face, "Well, there's no need for you to worry about the food or cake, that's all set and taken care of,"

"Perfect!" I said, "I just need to make sure that Abby takes her nap at the right time so that she is awake and happy during the whole thing." We both laughed, "But enough of that," I raised my eyebrows, "Tell me, what has been going on with you and Henry? Should I expect you both to arrive together tomorrow?"

Abigail pressed her lips together in a tight line, but couldn't hide the faint smile, "You should, yes. He is helping me bring everything to the schoolhouse tomorrow."

I smirked, "I take it things between you two are going well?"

"Yes things between us are going well. I don't know how, but we understand each other in a way I'd never think possible. Especially with him." She shook her head and shrugged, "I haven't felt this way since before Noah died."

I looked into her eyes, and I could see that she truly meant it, and just how she felt about the once spikey and mean Henry Gowen. He had changed since I'd first moved to Coal Valley, and only for the better. "I'm so happy for you Abigail."

"Thank you, Elizabeth." she smiled, "Now, the reason I stopped you was actually to ask about the food for tomorrow."

My expression fell, "I thought you said it was all set?"

"No, no, no," She laughed, "It is," I sighed, "I was wondering if you would want me to also make macaroni and cheese in addition to everything else,"

I loved macaroni and cheese, "If it isn't too much trouble,"

"I know you want me to," she raised her eyebrows.

"You know me too well," We laughed again,

"Alright," she said, "I'll go take care of that and leave you to whatever you were doing."

"I was just headed home. Mrs. Mcafee was sick today, so Rosemary watched Abby for Jack and me." I was only hoping she wasn't any trouble.

"That was sweet of Rosemary,"

I nodded, "Mhmm, she loves Abby so much and she offered, not letting us argue about it." I laughed.

"Do them both good," She smiled, "I'll see you later,"

"Thank you again, Abigail," I said.

She smiled over her shoulder as she turned to head back to the cafe and I turned and followed the road down to the row houses. So much had happened in just a year and a half. I was widowed, became a mother, was told that my husband was alive, then reunited with him. Then after that, he regains his memory and here we are now, celebrating our daughter's first birthday with a family we never knew we'd have. Jack was always told that as a Mountie if they were meant to have wives, they'd be issued them. I only wanted to be a school teacher and never really paid mind to being someone's wife. But I couldn't be happier with how my life was than how it was in this moment.

I made it to the Coulter's doorstep in no time and I could hear Rosemary on the other side of the door talking to Abby. I laughed and smiled and knocked on the door. Footsteps came to the door and it opened, revealing Rosemary with Abby on her hip, "Hello, Elizabeth!"

"Hi!" I laughed.

"Mama!" Abby reached for me and Rosemary handed her over.

"Hello, baby girl!" I took her and kissed her cheek, "Were you behaved for Auntie Rosie today?"

"She was an absolute angel, Elizabeth, so much in fact that I have felt better today than I have the past month!" Her eyes lit up.

I smiled, "I'm so glad!"

Rosemary opened the door more and stepped aside, "Come on in, Elizabeth, would you like some tea?" she asked.

"I'd love some, thank you." I smiled and walked in past her. There were toys strewn about the room, "Well, you two seemed to have an entertaining day,"

She closed the door and came up next to me, looking at her living room, "We sure have," she sighed "I just wish we could have had more time." She looked down at the floor seeming upset.

"There's tomorrow at her party," I said, "And the day after, and after that." I laughed, "We live right next door."

Rosemary looked at me, something clearly on her mind that she wanted to ask, "Well, with Jack just recently regaining his memory, I was wondering if you'd like some alone time and I would really enjoy Miss Abby's company tonight," she cooed the last part.

I wasn't expecting that, "I… well… We haven't had any alone time, no, but we've been spending time as a family, the three of us… but it has been a long time…" Maybe this would be a good idea.

"Oh, please, please Elizabeth," she begged.

"I don't want to impose, Rosemary. To leave Abby as your responsibility just so Jack and I can be alone?" I did feel bad, but I also wanted to be alone with Jack… Torn between the two most important people to me. My husband and my daughter.

"Lee and I already discussed keeping her tonight when Abby and I brought him his lunch this afternoon. We would love nothing more than to spend more time with our precious niece."

I could tell by the look in her eyes she really wanted this, and I trusted her… and just couldn't bear to say no to her. "If you're sure about it." I took a breath, "I trust you and Lee. If at any point she gets to be too much, please come and get us."

She smiled from ear to ear, "Thank you so much!" she jumped up and down, and practically knocked me over with a hug. "I'm sure she will be perfect," she smiled.

"She likes for you to think that," I said as Abby grabbed for my earring, "Exhibit A. Honey, no. Don't touch, mommy wants to keep her ears intact, please." I moved her hand away and she just grabbed my hair instead. I heaved a sigh and untangled her fingers from my hair. "You said something about tea before?" I asked Rosemary.

She nodded, "Right. Sit." she said walking to retrieve the kettle, and I obeyed, " So what are you going to do tonight since you will be baby-free?" she smirked.

I ignored her smirk though, "Probably sleep. Go to bed early." I shrugged, Abby still attempting to grab my hair so I twisted it up into a quick bun.

Rosemary turned to me, a hand on her hip and gave me a look, "Elizabeth, really," she glared. " Tell the truth." Now looking at me with both hands on her hips.

I rolled my eyes, "I can't confirm, nor deny anything Rosemary," She still stared daggers into me, "But as you've always said, these walls are paper thin, so you'll be the first to know, won't you?"

Later on, Jack came home while I was cooking dinner for us, not too long after I'd brought some things next door for Rosemary and Lee to have for Abby that night.

He came over and kissed my cheek, "Hey, love." he looked around, "Where's Abby?"

"She is spending the night next door with her Auntie and Uncle," I said.

Jack's eyes widened, "Really?"

I nodded, "Mhmm, Rosemary was practically begging to watch her. Said she wished that she could spend more time with her, and to give us alone time." I put air quotes around alone time

He shrugged, "I'm not opposed to some alone time," he winked at me and I hit him on the arm. He laughed and brushed it off, "But it'll be weird Abby being over there all night." he said.

"I figured you would be alright with her staying there. Afterall, it is Rosemary and Lee." I laughed.

"No, definitely, it isn't like they're strangers off of the street. It's just going to be odd without her here with us… even right now." He looked around us, and he was right, the room seemed empty without her.

We'd discussed how our days had been since Jack walked me to school that morning and I told him small things about what Rosemary had told me that morning. Not the overall huge fact, but how she and Lee were thinking about having children and having Abby around improved her mood. Nothing personal, it wasn't my place to tell anyone, not even Jack.

I was washing our dishes as Jack set the table straight again putting my centerpiece back in its spot. "What do you want to do, since Abby isn't home?" He asked. "Everything is set for tomorrow, and tomorrow is Saturday, so any grading can wait until Sunday."

"Huh?" I thought for a minute, "I don't know?"

He was quiet for a moment, "Nothing at all?" he asked again.

I shook my head, "Nothing really?" I kept washing the dishes, "What are you thinking?"

"I don't know either. That's why I asked you." He said.

I thought for another minute, "What if we read? I'm part of the way through Moby Dick. We can read together." I smiled.

He returned my smile and nodded, "Sounds good to me,"

What answer was he looking for?

Moments later, I felt a hand on my left hip and Jack's chin on my right shoulder, "Can I help you?" I asked.

"I just wanted to rest here for a bit," he sighed.

I laughed, "Right here? Of all places?"

"Mhmm," he snaked his right hand around me and rested it over my stomach and held me tight, "Right here,"

"Jack," I laughed.

"Shh," he said, burying his face in my hair.

"You're so odd," I said shaking my head. He removed his left hand from its resting place and moved my hair aside, exposing my neck. Then I felt his lips just graze my skin, and goosebumps ran up my neck and over my shoulder as i drew in a sharp breath, letting out a small gasp. I felt his smile on me and he put his hand back on my hip, kissing my neck again. I could feel a familiar burning desire in my chest, just at the bottom of my ribcage. "Jack," I said, my heart starting to quicken.

He reached for my left hand with his right, prompting me to put down what I was holding, as I let go of the sponge in my right hand as well. He stood up straight, and had me turn around to face him, "Jack," I said again, looking him in the eye.

He quieted me by leaning down and kissing me gently and slowly, biting my lip as he did so. We both knew what that meant. It was like our own secret code.

He pulled away and leaned his forehead on mine. My heart pounded in my chest harder and faster as he moved away and looked over my face. "Elizabeth, I-"

Before he could say anything, I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him back to me, not as sweetly as he did just moments ago. I was a bit more rough with it, and straight forward.

His armed wrapped around my back and held me closer to him. We fit together like two puzzle pieces as our lips moved in sync together. We'd both waited for this, we were patient and didn't want to rush back into this until we knew we were ready and had the opportunity.

Now here we were, in our kitchen, with our daughter staying with her aunt and uncle/ We were alone. Jack pulled away laughing, "God, I love you,"

"I love you, too." I said as my arms snaked around his neck, "So, so much."

We somehow found our way upstairs and into bed. It was too early for sleep, but more than enough time for us to make love well more than a few times before morning. It was like we had never been apart for a second, and it was bliss.

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