Jack left the office early to make sure he was home when Elizabeth got there. He knew that she had her first session with Catherine that afternoon. Abigail had dropped Logan off after school after Elizabeth asked her to pick up the boys. Most days Elizabeth picked up the boys to give Abigail the afternoon at the Diner. On the days Elizabeth couldn't Abigail would pick up the boys, or Peter if he didn't have a class or an afternoon activity. They had a system that worked like a well-oiled machine. When her car wasn't in the driveway he glanced at the time. He wasn't sure how long her session was and tried not to worry. Logan was setting the table for dinner when she walked through the door. He stopped to greet her with hug.
"Hi Baby, did you have a good day at school?" she asked as she hugged him dropping her lips to his head. Logan nodded and began to tell her about his day. Jack had come downstairs with Annabelle in his arms after changing her. Elizabeth could hear Charlotte in the kitchen.
"Hey Sweetheart," Jack greeted. Elizabeth looked up and smiled at him.
"Hey Jack, hi Lady Bug." Jack kissed her briefly before handing Annabelle over to her waiting arms.
Jack watched Elizabeth closely as they had dinner but she gave nothing away. Elizabeth confided in Charlotte about her appointment so she too was closely watching Elizabeth. When Logan excused himself from the table to go to the bathroom Elizabeth looked from her husband to her mother in love,
"You two need to relax. I'm fine." Elizabeth said -amused,
"Sorry Darling," Charlotte apologised sheepishly. Elizabeth placed a hand over Charlotte's,
"Thank you for loving me that much," she said sincerely as she rose from the table and kissed Charlotte's temple before taking the empty plates. Jack followed her to the kitchen as she knew he would. After placing the empty plates in the sink she turned to find him standing there expectantly.
"Jack, I'm okay. It was a lot and I'm exhausted but that's to be expected. At ease soldier." She teased giving his hand a squeeze before taking the ice cream out of the freezer and handing it to him.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked.
"Not right now, but we will okay?" she promised. Jack nodded and began to dish out dessert in the bowls she handed him. They worked in quiet unison, Elizabeth knew that he was worried but she was unable to provide him with immediate reassurance. She was still processing.
After dinner and putting the kids to bed Elizabeth turned to Jack,
"Will you go for a run with me?" she asked. She knew it wasn't his favourite past time but he did occasionally jog with her knowing how much she enjoyed it. She needed to go for a run and would have gone without him, but she wanted him to know that she wasn't running from him.
"Of course," he replied with a nod.
Jack allowed Elizabeth to set their pace and matched her stride. They ran for a half hour without stopping and when she slowed to a walk, he followed suit. Elizabeth took his hand,
"Shall we walk home?"
"Please," he answered. Elizabeth smiled,
"Thank you for coming for a run with me,"
"I'd go anywhere with you, even if it meant running."
"I know, and I appreciate that. Jack, you need to know that I know you love me. That you would do anything for me, our family. I know that it's killing you to feel that there's a distance between us. I wish I could close that distance because I know how much it hurts you."
"I just want to make this better,"
"I know Jack,"
"I made the appointment for us for Friday afternoon," Jack had confirmed with her earlier that day that she was free.
"Jack, do you want to go on your own first?"
"No. I want you there."
Charlotte had offered to take the kids to the Thatcher Manor on Friday afternoon to give Elizabeth and Jack the weekend to themselves if they needed it. Elizabeth hesitated but in the end accepted. Jack picked Elizabeth up from home before their appointment, she could sense that he was anxious. As he drove in silence she glanced at him and placed a hand on his leg drawing him out of his trance. Jack looked at Elizabeth and covered her hand with his. He brought her hand to his lips and smiled at her in reassurance.
To say their first session was difficult at best would be an understatement. They had both walked in there committed to closing the gap between, committed to full disclosure, committed to each other. They were both honest but respectful to each other. It wasn't about pointing fingers of blame, it was about finding a way to work through a reoccurring obstacle. When they got home Jack and Elizabeth made dinner side by side as they did most nights and kept their conversation light.
When Elizabeth had gotten out of the shower she noticed that Jack had showered in the main bathroom. He had drawn back the covers on their bed and he was in bed reading waiting for her. As she climbed into bed he placed his book down and opened his arms out to her. Elizabeth shuffled into his embrace and lay her head on his chest, her arms draped around his middle and closed her eyes.
So for the weeks that followed they went to counselling together once a week. Some days were harder than others, but they remained committed. Elizabeth watched him work through Emily and the guilt he juggled from Emily to her. Jack listened as Elizabeth admitted her struggles. How she saw their marriage and how they got there. What she endured after she returned to Sydney from Hope Valley. He had never really heard the details of her last days with her mother or the dark days that followed after. He understood why those who loved her were so protective. How lost she had been. She had told him about it, but it was another to relive it with her. He understood why she had been so mad and so scared when she had found out he was sick.
Elizabeth was silent on the drive home as Jack occasionally glanced at her direction worriedly. Her heart had taken a beating as she unpacked it all before him. Whilst it was something she addressed with her own counsellor, she felt a different kind of exposed and it made her uncomfortable even if it was Jack. The car had barely stopped when Elizabeth jumped out of the car needing some air and distance between them. Without going inside or a word to him, she left to go for a walk.
Elizabeth was back before Charlotte and the kids came home from school. Jack was waiting by the door for her. He could see the remnant of tears and trauma she endured in her eyes. Wordlessly he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly.
"I love you," he said softly again and again in her ear. Elizabeth merely tightened the arms that encircled his waist.
Jack was struggling to keep his head up as he felt absolutely miserable with the flu that Logan had been suffering from for a few days. Elizabeth had told him to stay home that morning but he had a meeting he couldn't skip. At 11 there was a knock on the door and he struggled to lift his head.
"Hey Jack, are you okay?" Taylor, their company receptionist asked.
"Getting there, what's up?" Taylor lifted the small basket in her hand,
"Your wife dropped this off for you. She said if you're much too stubborn to listen to your body and take yourself home when you're so sick, as your wife she feels it's her duty to help so she made you chicken soup." Jack laughed,
"Is that all she said?" he asked as he picked up the phone on his desk,
"She said that should you come to your senses and realise you shouldn't be at work, to call her and she'll pick you up." Taylor replied highly amused, she loved Elizabeth and envied the love she and Jack had for each other. She placed the small basket on his desk before leaving him to call his wife.
"You could have come up."
"Hello to you too my love. You sound awful." Elizabeth answered with a chuckle,
"Hi Sweetheart, thank you for my soup. You didn't have to leave it at reception. You could have come up. I'm never opposed to seeing my wife."
"Says the man who insisted on leaving this morning," she teased.
"I couldn't miss the meeting."
"How are you feeling?"
"At the risk of an I told you so, I feel horrendous."
"Shall I come and get you?"
"Yes, please,"
"Good thing I didn't get very far then," she replied leaning against his office door. Jack grinned and hung up the phone. He stood weakly to his feet and walked over to his wife and wrapped his arms around her.
"Baby, you're burning up." Jack merely groaned. Elizabeth picked up his back pack and gave him his jacket to wear home. He slid his hand into hers as they walked out of his office. Elizabeth waved at Taylor as they walked out who assured him she would let the necessary people know that he would be out of action for a few days.
Jack and Logan were quarantined in the spare bedroom. Elizabeth and Charlotte tried to isolate what they touched and who they were in contact with. They had disinfected the whole house to make sure whatever they had couldn't spread to the baby.
Elizabeth was reading to Annabelle as she lay against her chest. Annabelle gurgled happily as Elizabeth adapted a different accent for each character. She was the greatest story teller as far her kids were concerned. Charlotte stood by the door and watched her daughter in love and granddaughter with overwhelming adoration. She had been witness to the journey they had been on how they've navigated it together. She was incredibly proud of them both.
"Hey Grammie, are you here for cuddles?"
"I would never say no to cuddles. I'm going to miss them." Charlotte said sadly. Whilst the invitation to stay was always open, Charlotte knew she couldn't stay forever. Bill was still in Hope Valley and he was getting restless having her so far away.
"Not for long though," Elizabeth replied with an excited smile. Charlotte and Bill had finally decided to make the move to Sydney as both boys were now settled in Sydney. They knew it would only be a matter of time before Tommy proposed to Avery and start a family together.
"Well when you have babies, you don't really give me much choice."
"I'm not really sorry about that." Elizabeth stated unapologetically. Elizabeth regarded her as a mother and loved her in the same vain as she would had she been her own. Charlotte more than appreciated that.
"How are your patients?" Elizabeth banned Charlotte from the sick boys knowing she would be travelling home soon. She also wanted one of them to not be fully exposed for Annabelle.
"Better. Logan is definitely almost on the other side. Jack, is slowly getting there. I am dragging him to his doctor tomorrow." She had taken both Logan and Jack to their family doctor when they both first got sick but due to Jack's history, she wanted him to get checked out completely.
"I'm sure he's jumping for joy on that one."
"Let's say he's not getting a choice." Charlotte chuckled,
"I expect nothing less sweetheart."
Thankfully the doctor had cleared Jack reassuring Elizabeth that the flu would run its course and he would be fine. Jack understood why it meant so much to her and he wasn't going to argue. He too was relieved when he was told that aside from the flu, everything was okay. That it would pass.
It took a few more days before Jack was a hundred percent. By the following weekend everyone was healthy in time for Charlotte's last weekend in Sydney before flying back to Hope Valley. Elizabeth had thrown her a family farewell and thank you dinner at home on the Friday night before she flew on the Saturday afternoon.
Elizabeth was in the kitchen getting dessert ready when Charlotte walked in,
"Thank you for having me these last couple of months," Elizabeth looked up at her mother in love and smiled
"I think I should be the one thanking you Mom. Thank you for being here. For helping with the kids, me, us. I don't think we could have gotten through it without you."
"Yes you would have, but I am glad I was here for you all. I know it hasn't been easy Sweetheart. Thank you for always choosing to love him."
"Oh Mom," Charlotte hugged Elizabeth,
"Those boys, all of them and that little girl are very lucky to have you."
"The feeling is very mutual. I'm so sad to see you go, but I am excited for when you come back for good." Charlotte hugged Elizabeth tightly.
"Me too."
After they had taken Charlotte to the airport the four of them drove home. Jack was in charge of the kids whilst Elizabeth had plans with Auggie. Their catch ups had certainly dwindled to few and far between but they remained close through their daily incessant text messaging.
"Thanks for watching the littles," she said as she got downstairs in time for Jack to be serving up dinner for himself and Logan. Annabelle was contently laying in her bassinet as Logan made faces at her making her laugh. Elizabeth draped an arm over Logan's shoulder, and looked over at her daughter.
"Hi Sweet girl, is your brother the best big brother ever?" Annabelle gurgled happily as though agreeing with the statement. Jack dropped a kiss on her head.
"You're welcome. Is Auggie picking you up or are you meeting somewhere?"
"I am going to meet him."
"Did you want me to drive you? I can pick you up when you're done."
"No, I'll be okay. We won't be out too late." She assured him.
Auggie met Elizabeth at one of their favourite restaurants. One they used to frequent back in the day. She arrived before he did which she expected. She spent the time she was waiting for him reading a book she had started months before that she has never finished.
"Hey Pretty Momma, no husband, no kids, look at you." Auggie greeted as she looked up and laughed. She stood to her feet to hug him hello.
"Hey Auggie,"
"Hey Bea, I've missed you."
"I've missed you too."
They spent the next hours catching up with each other, laughing and having a great time. By the time Elizabeth headed home it was just before midnight which was a lot later than what she had anticipated. She had messaged Jack earlier to let him know she would be home later. She found him asleep on the couch, clearly waiting to make sure she got home safely. She sat by him on the couch caressed his cheek coaxing him out of his slumber.
"Hi Baby, come to bed." Jack opened his eyes and smiled at the sight of her,
"Hi Sweetheart. Did you have a good time?"
"I did. It was really good to see him. He and Antoni are looking at adoption."
"That's amazing. They would be great parents."
"Yeah, I'm so excited for them. I told them they can practice by babysitting our two on one of our date nights." Jack laughed,
"Oh the kids would love that."
"Come to bed Baby," She said taking her hand in his. Jack nodded and stood to his feet and wrapped his arms around her as they headed upstairs.
