Undercover Defender

Hey guys I hope you had a beautiful week! Sorry this is a day late. I've been busy with everything lately. The Christmas season isn't the slowest time of year. This chapter is a bit shorter. There will be a longer chapter after the holidays. I will be taking a couple weeks off for Christmas. For the holidays are pretty busy for me. Enjoy this new chapter and I will see you again in a couple weeks. Don't forget to leave a review! :)

Chapter 17: We are having a baby

Previously...

William was carrying his luggage and Elizabeth's as well. For he assisted on carrying it for his sister. While Rosemary carried her suitcase which she also assisted on doing. Jack only had his throw over his shoulder bag to carry. It made it easier because Elizabeth was holding onto one of his hands. Once they made it to their seats, they started putting their bags over the seats. Elizabeth immediately sat down with the help from Jack for she was completely worn out. Jack sat next to her and took her left hand in his right hand. As she naturally laid her head on his shoulder.

"I hope this train ride is smoother than the last one" Julie whispered lowly by the window on her side.

"I second that" William spoke softly and in a low tone for not to wake Elizabeth up. Who looked like she was already asleep.

"Me three" Jack mouthed to them as he nodded his head slowly.

"I forgot we were all on the same train last time" Rosemary gave a quizzical look and nodded her head in understanding.

"Yep" William looked beside him to Rosemary.

"So have you two talked about baby names?" Rosemary whispered to Jack.

"We have talked a little about it" Jack smiles remembering last night and how they talked about it a little before bed.

"So you want a baby girl or boy?" William beats Rosemary to the question.

"As long as the baby is healthy either one I will love" Jack told them both having an answer in his mind.

"But which one you want?" Rosemary asked him this time.

"I think having a..."

To be continued...

The train started moving along the railroads tracks as they continued talking.

"I think having a..."

Jack thought to himself before answering the question. He went back and forth but finally decided with saying one.

"I think having a boy would be nice. Someone to carry on the family name" Jack smiled at the two facing across from him.

"What not a girl? I was totally positive he would say a baby girl" Rosemary asked curiously to her life long friend across from her.

"I would love to have a baby girl too. I think having a little girl running around who looked just like her mother with curly brown hair and a stubborn personality would be adorable" Jack chuckled quietly to himself trying not to wake up Elizabeth as he imagined a sight he just spoke of.

After several moments past, Rosemary sensed Jack wasn't going to go on so she asked him to continue with his thought.

"But?" Rosemary asked hoping he will continue to explain.

"But I think with the life that I live it would maybe be better to have a boy who grows up to protect his mother. Someone to be there for her when I can't be while I'm away on Mountie trips" Jack voice sounded bittersweet about the whole thing. He was torn between which one he wanted if he was being honest with himself.

I mean I would love to have a son. But I think having a baby girl would be adorable.Jack thought to himself.

Rosemary saw the sadness in his eyes by mentioning leaving Elizabeth for his work. She knew he would love to have a son or a daughter. It just torn him up inside to leave his family. And she knew he was still tearing himself up inside that Elizabeth almost got hurt this last couple of days.

"I think either if it's a boy or a girl they will be lucky to have you as their father. And Elizabeth as their mother" Rosemary told him looking him in the eyes and giving him a small smile.

William stayed silent during the whole interaction. Sensing it wasn't his place to interrupt this moment between the two close friends.

"Thank you, Rosemary" Jack gave her a small smile back and looked down at Elizabeth to check to see if everything was alright. Elizabeth scooted closer to him somehow sensing he needed it in her sleep. Jack wrapped his right hand around her as she leaned into him. Jack just held her tighter but not to tight to hurt her.

"You know speaking of kids...When are you and Lee planning on having some? I mean you two have been together longer than me and Elizabeth" Jack asked her taking his gaze from Elizabeth to Rosemary.

"I don't know. We haven't really talked about it recently" Rosemary looked out the window imagining herself with a child.

"I think you two would be great with kids" Jack told her while she still looked out the window.

"Could you imagine a little Lee running around with plaid pants?" Rosemary smiled widely out the window and then looked at Jack.

"Or a little you running around the town giving people advice on their chickens" Jack tried to hold in his laughter in an attempt to not wake up Elizabeth.

Rosemary rolled her eyes at the thought and chuckled quietly to herself.

William knowing how this conversation would not involve him chose to close his eyes and lay his head back on the seat.

"I could totally see that" Jack spoke again while noticing how William closed his eyes to rest.

"Yeah" Rosemary said again looking out the window as everything past by so fast.

As silence enveloped them, Rosemary continued to look out the window. Jack just held Elizabeth and rubbed her left hand that held her ring finger. He also noticed how William's breathing even out telling Jack that he was asleep.

"Did you two work everything out? Will she be okay?" Rosemary asked him taking her eyes away from the window and to Jack.

"Yes, we did. And she still has to deal with the whole idea of everything with her parents and brother but she will be okay" Jack told Rosemary without looking up at her. He felt her gaze on him but he continued to look at Elizabeth's hand he gently rubbed with his left hand.

"How are you doing?" Rosemary asked this time seeing how tired and worn out he looked.

"Yeah I'm fine" Jack said almost immediately after she asked the question.

"Yeah okay now that we got that out of the way. How are you actually doing?" Rosemary seeing straight through him with that answer.

"I'm okay" Jack told her still not looking up to look at her.

"Are you actually?" Rosemary kept pushing him to say more. She knew him well. She remembered how he would shut people out when something was troubling him when they were younger. Oh how some things never changeRosemary thought.

"I almost lost her...I almost lost them" Jack's voice broke as he finally looked up at Rosemary not letting go of Elizabeth's hand though.

Rosemary seen the fear in his eyes staring back at her. The fear of almost losing someone you love.

"But you didn't. Elizabeth is fine. And so is that little bundle of joy in there" Rosemary reassured him knowing how he felt about losing everything that he holds close.

This time. Jack told himself not voicing that fear out loud. He slowly looked down at the ground thinking.

Jack went silent while Rosemary patiently waited for him to go on.

"I keep having the same bad dreams about that night" Jack voiced to her out loud. He was so tired but he wanted to at least have this particular thing off his chest. He wanted to tell someone about it and he knew Rosemary wouldn't say anything.

"About what night? The night you got hurt?" Rosemary slightly confused on what he was talking about but wanted him to clarify his meanings.

"You can't tell Elizabeth this" Jack knew what it would do to Elizabeth. She was already dealing with so much. He didn't want her to have to deal with what he been through or anything.

"I won't tell, I promise you" Rosemary told him giving him a head nod.

Jack continued on but with a quieter voice.

"Yeah that night...the man wanted me to tell him some information about something" Jack kept his eyes looking down at the floor. Having the images of him on that night flash before his eyes.

Rosemary didn't completely follow with all the not so detailed story. But she also knew that she couldn't know the details either. A Mountie has their duty to not tell what happens during their work. She saw the battle he was facing in that moment with his thoughts.

Jack continued on.

"I didn't tell him...It's where I got the gun shot wound and bruised ribs. After a while he wouldn't budge. So... he threatened Elizabeth" Jack closed his eyes at the horrible memory of what happened. He didn't mention anything about Theodore mentioning Jack's father but he wasn't ready to speak of that. He took a deep breathe and tried to continued.

"I gave in but he said it was to late..." Jack shook his head back and forth. He opened his eyes looking out the window this time.

"That's why there was a fire at the restaurant" Rosemary putting the pieces together slowly.

Jack looked at her and just nodded his head in affirmation.

"That wasn't your fault though, Jack. You had no control over what happened" Rosemary looked at him as he looked back out the window.

"If Doug and William wasn't there in time to get to..." Jack closed his eyes at the thought of what could have happened.

"I couldn't protect my family. Or my friends. I can't lose my family..." Jack looked at Rosemary as his voice cracked with emotion at the last part.

Rosemary had a tear fall down her face at the look of worry and fear in her friend's face.

"But Doug and William were there. Don't dwell on the past, Jack. And don't think of what ifs. You will be there next time if there is a next time. And you are always there for Elizabeth and the people closest to you" Rosemary told him looking him straight in the eyes. Trying to convince him this wasn't his fault and everything will be okay.

"Thank you for that" Jack gave her a weak smile.

"It's true. I just need you to get it through your stubborn head"

Jack chuckled at that remark before he became serious again.

"And thank you for taking care of Elizabeth" Jack told her with sincerity in his voice.

"I'll always try to take care of you two" Rosemary told him truthfully.

Jack gave her a big smile this time.

"Can you believe we almost got married way back then?" Rosemary asked him trying to give the conversation a lighter tone. She laughed at the thought of how ridiculous it sounded now.

"Feels like another life. We never made a good match. We never really fit well together" Jack chuckled out loud but not to loud to wake up Elizabeth.

"Agreed. Once I found Lee, everything changed. I knew you wouldn't the one for me, once I did found him. It's like my eyes finally opened up" Rosemary smiled at the thought of meeting Lee.

"I know what you mean" Jack said looking at Elizabeth who was in his arms.

"It all worked out" Rosemary spoke up.

"Yes, it did" Jack still looking down at Elizabeth.

"Speaking of Lee. He should be at the train station in cape Fullerton to pick us up with the car. He is going to drive us back to Hope Valley. We both figured it would be a smoother ride for Elizabeth compared to the stagecoach. We talked about it during our telephone call at the thatchers home"

"Good thinking" Jack smiled back at her and then looked down at Elizabeth.

"Get some sleep. You look like you need it" Rosemary could see the sleep deprived eyes looking back at her.

Jack nodded his head to her that he was going to get some rest. He then leaned his head over Elizabeth's head as he drifted off to sleep. Feeling satisfied at the moment to just have her there sitting beside him peacefully sleeping.

Rosemary watched as her friend castle drifted off to sleep and looked out the window. She remembered how excited the couple sitting in front of her were when they found out about being pregnant. She remembers how Elizabeth struggled to tell Jack at first about the news. She had so many ideas of how to tell him the great news. None that actually worked. The way Jack did find out was hilarious considering how it basically describes their relationship perfectly.

Flashback*

Elizabeth wasn't feeling well the last couple days so Jack made Elizabeth go to the infirmary to get checked out. Elizabeth insisted on going by herself for it was probably nothing according to her. After a long argument about the whole matter...

(Rosemary knew they had a argument for the walls weren't that thick)

Jack gave in about not going with her but insisted on Rosemary going instead. For he knew Rosemary would give him the details on the appointment. Before Elizabeth could decide anything on the matter at hand.

Rosemary barged into their row house and told them she would take Elizabeth. After some glares at each other, Jack kissed Elizabeth goodbye for he had rounds to do.

So, that led Rosemary and Elizabeth to the infirmary that very morning.

"I'm what?" Elizabeth asked with shocked eyes after Carson and Faith examined her.

"Pregnant" Carson said again to her.

Elizabeth was shocked but couldn't believe her ears. Rosemary was speechless which almost never happened. Elizabeth recommended to just tell Jack at the office. But Rosemary had other plans on the matter and convinced Elizabeth to do something special for the matter. So the plans on telling Jack started. Rosemary and Elizabeth tried to come up with the best ways for Elizabeth to give him the news.

The first plan didn't work out very well. The plan was to tell Jack by writing "we are having a baby" on the chalkboard at the schoolhouse. Jack was planned to pick Elizabeth up after school that day but instead got called out to one of the farms from one of the local farmers for help with his cow. So, she erased the board and went home disappointed.

The second plan didn't work much better. It was the next day and it was game night. The coulters (Rosemary and Lee), Stantons (Abigail, Cody, and Clara plus Jesse) and Thorntons (Jack and Elizabeth) all had annual Game night every Tuesday. Game night was a big thing for everyone for it gave everyone a time to relax during the week. So, Elizabeth planned on telling him in a game of charades. Everything happened perfectly until Rosemary forgot there was a cake in the oven. Everyone smelt the smoke and something burning during Elizabeth's turn of charades. Long story short by the time the burnt cake came out of the oven everyone decided to make a cake together.

The third time got closer then the other two tries but still didn't get the point across. Elizabeth planned out a whole fancy dinner for Jack and set everything perfectly in order. Once Jack got home, he was exhausted and said he wasn't hungry. He was feeling under the weather and just wanted to go to bed. He headed upstairs to go to bed early without eating. So, instead of sharing the news with him, she sat down at the table crying while eating a piece of pie she made.

When the fourth try came around, Elizabeth knew she needed more people's help. Rosemary suggested that everyone should be in on the plan to make sure it goes out perfectly this time around. So, on Thursday night Abigail closed the cafe early and reserved it for Elizabeth. Lee was in charge of bringing Jack to the cafe that night. And the rest of the crew met at the cafe to get informed on what to do. Once Lee led Jack to the cafe, without him knowing what was happening, they both were met by everyone holding candles outside of the cafe.

"What's going on?" Jack asked them clueless on what's happening.

"Just go instead, Jack" Lee told him patting him on the shoulder.

Jack opened the door and walked inside. Inside was candles on the ground leading a path on the ground back room where a curtain was at blocking the back. Cody was standing at the curtain waiting for him to walk forward towards him.

Jack gave him a puzzled look while Cody opened the curtain and motioned for him to go through the curtains with his arm. Jack found Elizabeth standing in the middle of the room holding a letter. Cody closed the curtain once Jack walked through.

"Elizabeth? What is going on?" Jack asked her walking up to her to stand in front of her.

"Open the letter"

Jack slowly opened the letter and read it to himself.

It read.

"You better get use to someone calling you daddy because someone is coming this fall who will call you that"

Jack looked up from reading the letter with wide eyes. Jack looked at Elizabeth who was not holding a little baby onesie in her hands.

"Surprise" Elizabeth smiled at him.

"We are having a baby?" Jack asked her still shocked.

"We are having a baby" Elizabeth smile got wider and wider.

Jack quickly wrapped Elizabeth in his arms and picked her up off the ground. Jack smile growing bigger and bigger by the minute. Jack then put her back on the ground.

"Are you okay?" Jack put her down on the ground a little worried already.

"Jack you barely lifted me up off the ground" Elizabeth rolled her eyes at his overprotectiveness already.

"I know but your pregnant now...We are going to have a baby" Jack smiled widely.

"Yes, we are"

Jack held her face in both of his hands as he leaned down to kiss her. After they split apart, Elizabeth spoke up.

"You guys can come in now" Elizabeth knowing full that they couldn't wait outside.

They all came rushing in to congratulate the couple. Everyone bursting with excitement for the two.

Back to the train*

Rosemary smiled to herself of the memory so clearly. She wondered if she would be next. Her and Lee didn't talk much on the matter well not since their wedding. She kept replaying memories in her head as she enjoyed the landscape outside passing quickly by. She wondered what the future left for everyone.

And how the closer and closer Elizabeth came to giving birth.

To be continued...

Thank you for reading! Make sure you leave a comment! I love reading feedback. We will actually be in Hope Valley next time I promise. See everyone in a couple weeks :)