A/N Here's some more Jane for you if you didn't get your fill from the last chapter (and obviously some sweet J&E moments) :)

...

Jane wandered into our bedroom just as the sun was beginning to peek through the curtains. She had been in her new room for nearly two weeks, and we finally went through an entire night without having to take her back to her own bed.

"Mama." Her little feet pattered across the floor. "Mo'ning."

"Good morning, Janie." I picked her up, setting her on the bed beside me. She snuggled into me. "Thank you for staying in your bed all night. You're such a big girl."

"I big."

I kissed the top of her head. "Do you want to help me make breakfast for dad?"

She nodded, wrapping her arms around my neck so I could lift her from the bed. I spoke to her quietly as we descended the stairs.

"What do you think your dad wants for breakfast? Some bacon?"

"Mhmm. And pantakes."

"Bacon and pancakes? Okay. We'll make that, then." I set her on the counter, and she swung her feet off the edge. "You stay right there, Janie."

She chattered while I cooked, asking about what I was doing and telling me about her toys. Her vocabulary was growing exponentially, and I loved that I could have actual conversations with her now.

"We were right, Ellie girl. There they are."

I turned to see Jack enter the room, Ellie in his arms. "Good morning."

"Mo'ning, dada!" Jane lit up at the sight of her father.

"Good morning, sweetheart. Are you helping mama make breakfast?"

She nodded and reached for him. He shifted Ellie into one arm and lifted Jane from the counter with the other.

"Did you stay in your big girl bed all night, Janie?"

"Yes! I big."

"Good girl."

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, my lips curling into a smile. He was so good with our girls, and it was clear they adored him. Jane was rubbing her hand against the stubble on his cheek. Ellie giggled as she watched them.

"Eat pantake, dada."

"We're having pancakes for breakfast? Yum! Your mama makes the best pancakes."

"They're decent. I think your pancakes are better than mine."

He walked over and kissed my temple. "We're just going to have to agree to disagree there."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Whatever you say."

...

After breakfast, Jack left to do his rounds, and I set about doing some housework while the girls played. Once Ellie went down for her nap, I noticed that Jane grew quieter. She was half-heartedly playing with some blocks, her movements growing sluggish.

"Mama." She eventually toddled over, looking sad. "Tummy." She patted her belly.

"Does your tummy hurt, sweetheart?"

She nodded and put her arms out. I lifted her from the ground, and she wrapped her little arms around my neck.

"Why don't we get you back in bed?"

She started whimpering on the way up the stairs, and we just barely made it to the washroom before she emptied the contents of her stomach into a bowl.

"Mama," she cried, big tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Oh, sweetheart. I'm sorry you're sick. Let's get you cleaned up." I found a clean rag and wet it with a bit of lukewarm water, then carefully wiped her face. "How about we change you back into your nightgown, and then I'll read you a book?"

She nodded, climbing into my arms again.

After changing her diaper and clothes and letting her choose a toy and a book, I got her settled in my bed. She curled up beside me, and I brushed my fingers through her hair as I read to her. It didn't take long for her to doze off, her head drooping to the side.

As soon as I got her to sleep, Ellie woke and started crying. The moment I lifted her from the cradle, I could tell she had a fever. Heat was radiating off her little body.

"Oh, sweet girl. Are you sick, too?"

I took her downstairs to keep her from waking Jane with her crying. After nursing her back to sleep, I called the infirmary.

Carson was out on another house call, but Faith reassured me that she would give him my message and that he would be by as soon as possible.

...

"Thank you for coming by, Carson." I opened the door wider so he could enter the house.

"Of course. How are they doing?"

I shrugged, leading him up the stairs. "They were fine this morning, but now they both seem pretty miserable. They've spent a lot of the day sleeping."

He followed me into the bedroom, where both girls were lying in the center of the bed. Jane was awake but obviously drowsy, her eyelids heavy.

"Mama." Her voice was rough, weak.

"Hi, sweetheart. Doctor Shepherd is here to see how you're doing and to help you feel better. Okay?" I took a seat on the edge of the bed and helped Jane onto my lap.

"Okay, Miss Jane, let's see if we can figure out why you and your sister aren't feeling well." He pulled a few things from his bag, explaining everything he was doing as he checked her heart rate, her temperature, her ears, and her throat. "Remind me what you said her symptoms are."

"Fatigue and nausea are the main ones I've noticed. It seems like those are the same symptoms Ellie is having, too."

"Any vomiting?"

I nodded. "Both of them have a few times, yes."

"Have they been eating?"

"Ellie's been nursing like normal, but I haven't been able to get Jane to eat since breakfast this morning."

"Try some broth. The biggest concern is dehydration, so you really need to get her to take some liquids."

I nodded, running my fingers through Jane's curls. "I'll make some right away."

"Is it okay if I check on Eleanor now? From what you've said, it sounds like they have the same thing, but I'd like to check just to be certain."

"Of course." I gently placed Jane back on the bed and lifted the baby into my arms. She squirmed as he checked her over, but she stayed quiet. When he finished his exam, I lifted her to my shoulder, where she promptly spit up on me. "Oh, Ellie."

"Here." Carson handed me the cloth that I had set on the nightstand and took Ellie.

"Thank you." I carefully dabbed at the spot. "So, what do you think is wrong?"

"It's probably just a virus. Rest and fluids should do the trick, but don't hesitate to call the infirmary or bring them by if they seem to get worse."

"I will." I took Ellie back from him. "Thank you for coming to check on them."

"Of course." He gathered his things, and I followed him down the stairs.

"Tell Faith and Meg I said hello."

He grinned. "I will. Have a good afternoon."

"You, too."

...

"Elizabeth?" Jack's voice floated up the stairs. "Are you home?"

Not wanting to wake the girls, I stayed quiet. He would eventually wander upstairs, anyway. Jane stretched in her sleep, sighing softly.

"Hey." Jack appeared in the doorway. "What's going on?"

"They're sick."

"Both of them?"

I nodded. "They have fevers and upset stomachs."

"Poor babies." He carefully sat on the other side of the bed.

"I called Carson and had him come by. He said to make sure they stay hydrated and to keep an eye on them."

"Is it bad?"

I shook my head. "He thinks it's just a little virus, and they should get over it in a few days. I do wish Jane would eat a little more, though. All she's had since breakfast are a few spoonfuls of broth."

"Well, that's no good."

"Maybe she'll eat for you." I slipped from the bed, walking around to his side and kissing him softly. "I'll go warm some up. Are you okay here?"

"Here with my girls? Of course." He smiled, reaching out to brush his finger along Ellie's cheek.

"I'll be right back."

By the time I returned with a small bowl of broth, Jane was awake and sitting in Jack's lap.

"Hi, sweetheart. Do you want to try eating again?"

She shook her head, burying her face in Jack's chest.

"Please, Janie?" Jack touched her cheek. "It would make me happy if you ate something."

"Tummy huht."

"I know your tummy hurts, Janie, but maybe you'll feel better if you eat."

With a bit more coaxing, we finally got her to eat almost half the broth in the bowl. Shortly after she finished, she fell asleep again, curled up against Jack's chest.

"You've been watching them all day. Why don't you take a break for a little while?"

I kissed his cheek. "You're the very best, Jack Thornton."

...

Though both girls were feeling better just a few days later, it took nearly a week for everything to go back to normal in our house. Abigail had come by a few times to bring meals and to spend time with the girls, but we kept visitors to a minimum so as to avoid the virus spreading to anyone else.

By Sunday, they were well enough to leave the house, and we spent the morning in church. Jane was thrilled to see Patrick again, so we let them play outside for most of the afternoon after Sunday lunch at our house.

Jack and Lee had taken Hannah and some of the boys in town down to the pond to go fishing. Rosemary and I were seated on the back porch while we watched Jane and Patrick chase each other around the yard.

"It's good to see your girls are feeling better." Rosemary shifted Eleanor in her lap.

"I agree. It was a tough couple of days at our house."

"I can't even imagine. Hannah and Patrick have both been sick before, but never at the same time."

I shook my head. "I don't know what we'll do when we have three of them."

"Three of them? Are you…?" She quickly glanced at my stomach.

"No. No, I'm not. I just…I've been thinking about it lately. A lot. I know Jack wants more children, and now with Julie expecting… I don't know." I shrugged. "Jane and Ellie are both growing so quickly, and sometimes I miss having a newborn in the house. It's just a nice thought."

She reached over and touched my hand. "For what it's worth, if anyone can handle three small children with patience and grace, it's you and Jack."

I smiled. "Thank you, Rosemary."

Jane and Patrick ran up, clambering onto the porch.

"Mama go wash'oom."

"You need to use the washroom?"

She nodded.

"I'll be right back."

Rosemary nodded. "We'll be right here."

"Come on." I held out my hand for Jane and helped her inside and up the stairs.

It had been difficult for us to begin toilet training her with both Jack and I working, but now that it was summer and I was home with her all day, she was making great progress.

I chuckled when I realized it was the first time I was looking forward to her becoming more independent. I missed nursing her and putting her to sleep in the cradle beside our bed, but I wouldn't miss changing her diaper.

"What funny, mama?"

"Nothing, sweetheart. I'm just happy that you're becoming such a big girl."

"I big!"

Patrick jumped up as soon as we returned to the porch, and he tugged Jane back out into the yard.

Rosemary shook her head and chuckled. "Those two really are something, aren't they?"

I smiled. "That they are."

...

"Jane, can you tell your dad what we decided today?"

"No mo diapers."

"Is that right, Janie? No more diapers?" He scooped her up, eliciting a big belly laugh when he blew raspberries on her cheek.

"She's gone three days without having any accidents, so I think she's ready to officially graduate out of diapers during the day. We can still put her in a diaper at night."

"What a big girl, Jane Thornton. I'm proud of you."

"And now, I think it's bedtime for our big girl."

She shook her head. "No seep."

"Jane," I warned, "I told you that bedtime was when your dad got home."

"I not seepy."

"You need to listen to your mama, Janie." Jack kissed her cheek. "And I think you might change your mind after you're all cozy in your bed with a book."

"Horse."

"You want to read Black Beauty? How about I go get it while mama puts you in your nightgown?" Jack passed her to me and brushed his lips against my temple. "I'll be up shortly."

An hour later, both girls were down for the night. It was quiet in our bedroom as I wrote in my journal and Jack did some sketching. As I wrote, my mind was brought back to the conversation I had with Rosemary.

I set my journal on the nightstand and turned toward Jack. "I think I'm ready for number three, Jack."

"Hm? What did you say?" He glanced up from his sketchbook.

"I'm ready for number three."

"Number three?"

"Another baby, Jack. I'm ready for another baby."

"Really?"

I nodded. "I think it's a good time. Jane and Ellie are both getting more independent, but I don't want them to be too much older than the next one."

He grinned, placing his pencil and sketchbook on his nightstand. "You know I'm always ready for more babies with you." He kissed me, softly at first.

"One thing, Jack." I put my hands on his chest, pushing him back, just slightly. "I don't want us to get our hopes up like we did when we were trying for Ellie. I was so disappointed month after month when it wasn't happening. I don't want that again."

"Okay. So no pressure. It will happen when it happens."

"And it will happen in God's time." I pressed my lips to his, lingering.

"I love you, Elizabeth," he whispered.

"I love you, too."