Jack found Elizabeth and kids at the park. He had come home early to surprise them all and was greeted by an empty house. The car was in the drive way so it was either they were at the beach or the park. As it was still pretty cold, he took a guess that they would be at the park and was quite impressed with himself when he found them without much searching. As if she sensed him Elizabeth looked up in time to see him walk towards her. She had Annabelle in her arms whilst she watched Cody and Logan run around with a soccer ball. She smiled at her grinning husband. Chances are he had been calling her, but her phone was in her back pocket.

"Hi Baby, were you calling? Hands full and phone is currently not within reach." She reasoned sheepishly looking down at their sleeping lady bug in her arms.

"I was, but I figured it out in the end."

"Great job Detective," Jack dropped his lips on her temple before giving her a kiss.

"Dad,"

"Uncle Jack," Logan and Cody called out in unison as they ran over to greet him hello. Jack gave both boys a hug before joining them with kicking the ball around. Elizabeth secured Annabelle in the crook of her arm as she pulled out her phone to take photos of her boys. After a couple of hours they headed to Abigail's for their weekly dinner with the rest of their extended family.

"Hey Bug," Lee greeted as she walked through the diner door with her boys following close behind as they held the door open for her. Elizabeth smiled,

"Hey Leland, where's my godson?"

"At the back with Rosie feeding. She should be out soon." He replied giving her cheek a kiss as he took Annabelle from her arms,

"Hey there little lady bug. Uncle Lee has missed you."

"It's been two days Leland," Elizabeth said with an amused chuckle,

"You're just as bad when it comes to William," Rosie pointed out as she walked out with her little one. Elizabeth replied by sticking her tongue out at Rosie before taking William in her arms. Everyone greeted each other with hugs and kisses before sending the kids off to wash their hands.

"You too Jack," Elizabeth said pointing towards where the boys had ran to.

"Oh Mom," he said exasperatedly with an eye roll. Elizabeth and the rest of their friends just laughed as they watched him follow the boys to the bathroom.

"Bea, you still good for Saturday?" Elizabeth nodded,

"Yes, what time are we leaving and who's driving?"

"Maybe around 8? I'll drive. That way you guys don't need to remove baby seats," Abigail answered.

The four of them, Elizabeth, Abigail, Rosie and Faith were going for a drive and hike before brunching. It had been awhile since they've been able to do that and they were all looking forward to it. The boys had planned a fun day with the kids. Unbeknownst to Elizabeth and Rosie, they were going to be away overnight so that they could fully appreciate their time away. All four husbands had booked all four wives an afternoon at the Spa at the hotel they were staying at. Jack knew that Elizabeth could use the girl time. She hadn't stopped since before Annabelle was born and despite all that they have been juggling recently, she hadn't slowed down. Jack felt that time away would do her some good. Whilst he knew that she was protective of their matters, he hoped he would bounce off to the girls to lighten her load. They had come leaps and bounds in the last weeks, whilst it hadn't been easy, they remained open to one another. He appreciated that she met him more than half way. He was grateful that she didn't count the cost, nor kept a tally. Elizabeth caught Jack looking at her with a faraway look on his face. She was glad that he would be hanging out with the boys. They had been working so hard at them it was almost as though they had isolated themselves. They still have weekly dinners with their crew, but they knew they were both distracted. Elizabeth understood his fear of losing her, and whilst it was cloudy to her, it wasn't to him, it was her that he loved wholeheartedly. It was her he lived and breathed for each day. She was beginning to understand that.

Jack had dropped off Elizabeth's overnight bag to Abigail on Friday afternoon whilst Elizabeth was at Logan's game where he was meeting them after. He had snuck home to pack a small bag for her making sure he included her travel toiletries bag. He knew that she would need pjs to sleep in, something nice to have dinner on Saturday night and clothes for Sunday. He threw in another lot of gym wear knowing they were all crazy enough to go to the gym on the Sunday morning before they checked out. He also included swimmers knowing there was an indoor pool. As he handed Abigail with what looked like a well packed bag, she was impressed, though not entirely surprised.

"I think I covered all basis."

"If not, it gives us all an excuse to go shopping."

"As if any of you would buy clothes and wear it without washing it first." He answered knowingly making her laugh.

"That is true, but hey I'm sure there's a washer and dryer at the hotel."

"Well, if you can convince my wife to go shopping and spoil herself, you have my complete blessing. She deserves it."

"You're a good man Charlie Brown," Abigail stated placing a hand on his arm.

"Because she makes me want to be the very best person I can be."

"The feeling is mutual. She loves you Jack and she knows you love her. Just keep loving each other like you do, everything else will work itself out. Remember it's been a big year for you both, it's natural to hit bumps along the way. It's part of to have and to hold. Whatever it is, ride it out. You're both in this."

"Thank you Abigail,"

"I asked you to love and take care of my friend. You do that every day. There's no need to thank me. Jack, we're all here for both of you."

"I know, and that means a lot Abigail."

Jack sat beside his wife amused as she yelled and cheered for Logan and Cody. She was the epitome of a soccer Mom, dressed in team colours and all. She baked for the team, made signs, ran fundraisers.

"What?" she asked nudging him with her shoulder as he kissed her hello.

"Nothing, how is my little princess sleeping through all this action, not to mention her mother's yelling." Jack asked taking a peek at his daughter peacefully asleep in her stroller beside Elizabeth.

"She's used to it. It won't be too long until she's screaming and cheering for her big brother and cousin. Isn't that right Sweet Girl." Annabelle remained asleep but did smile as though replying to her mother.

"Pizza for dinner?" he asked as she nodded.

"The boys would love that." Cody was sleeping over that evening, Logan was sleeping over at Abigail's the following night. Lee and Jack we're going to have their own slumber party with the babies at the Thornton home. They figure having more hands would make a night without Mom's easier.

It was Pizza and Ice Friday in the Thornton home. Elizabeth and Jack played 'Spot it' and 'Bananagrams' with the boys before sending them upstairs to get ready for bed. They were allowed to stay up late and watch a movie so Jack had set them up in the second floor landing with his laptop, projector and a bunch of bean bags and blankets. After Elizabeth and Jack put Annabelle down for the night, they checked on the boys who were both glued to the Avengers which was approved by all parents concerned.

"I want them to stay small forever," Elizabeth said wistfully. It had been such a joy to watch them grow up together like brothers.

"I know Sweetheart. What do you say you and I head downstairs and sit in the hammock for a bit and watch the stars."

"Jack Thornton are you trying to woo me?"

"Maybe…" he replied wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Well alright then. Let's take the baby monitor and the turn on the monitor here too." Jack took out the baby monitor from his back pocket,

"Way ahead of you Sweetheart." Elizabeth smiled and slipped her hand into his as they quietly made their way downstairs and outside porch. Jack got in first to stabilize the hammock and stretched his arms out so she could climb in. As she got in she snuggled against him, head resting on his chest as, her leg and arm draped across him.

"Thanks for watching the littles tomorrow."

"You never have to thank me for that. They're my littles too. You girls haven't really done a girl's day in awhile. It'll be good for you all. You all work so hard and you juggle house, kids, work, it'll be fun."

"What do you boys have planned with the kids?"

"We're putting them all to work tomorrow. We're all covering Abigail at the Diner." Elizabeth laughed,

"It takes four grown men to cover for one petite Abigail?"

"Ah yes, she's a machine. A very lady like, amazing machine but a machine all the same. It's the least we can do if Noah has to spend the whole day with the young boys and have to have them at night too. We also figure safety in numbers."

"Good plan."

The following morning Abigail picked up Elizabeth first, then Rosemary and finally Faith. The four of them were laughing from the moment they were in the car. It had been so long that they've had their own time that they were giddy with anticipation. They went on a hike for a couple of hours and triumphantly made it to the top of the mountain.

"My golly how I've missed this." Elizabeth breathed out to know one in particular. Abigail draped an arm over her friend's shoulder.

"You've had quite the year my friend."

"We all have,"

"Yeah, but not in the same way for you."

"I love Jack, Logan, my sweet baby girl, and our life. I just feel like it's been a whirlwind and I needed a moment to catch my breath."

"And that's okay."

"Between the wedding, him potentially relapsing, Logan's grandparents, getting pregnant, giving birth, and those are just the highlights."

"Exactly. Needing a moment isn't a sign of weakness or incapability. If anything it shows your strength because you recognise what you need. That you're listening to your body and what it's telling you it needs."

"I know, I just don't want to give Jack anything more he has to worry about. He's constantly worried."

"Because he loves you."

"I know. But he can't walk on egg shells forever. That's not a life."

"Just because he's in tune with you, your needs and your heart doesn't mean he's walking on egg shells. Are there things he is concerned about that would trigger you, of course, but that comes with the territory. You both just need to cut yourselves some slack. Allow yourselves to ride the waves."

"You're right. As usual. My head knows that, it's just my heart is slow to catch up. But we're getting there."

"Good. Just keep doing what you're doing."

Jack was bouncing his little girl in his arms and telling the boys to stop running around the restaurant, who knew is not allowed, but with all the Mom's gone it seemed all the rules went out the window. Noah was in the kitchen cooking as the chef had come down with the flu. Becky, Peter, and Carson were taking orders, serving up food and cleaning up. Lee was putting William down for a nap and once finished, he was joining Noah in the kitchen whilst Jack would be watching both babies. It was madness. He almost missed the vibrating of his phone in his pocket,

"Logan Thornton and Cody Stanton you so much as walk fast inside this restaurant after I've told you to quit it, you will be seeing nothing but your bedrooms for a month, separately. Do you hear me?" Jack finally bellowed, stilling not only the boys but every patron in the diner. However, it did the trick.

"Hey Sweetheart, are you having fun?" he answered as calmly as possibly trying not to let the fact that he was ready to strangle the boys only seconds before show on his voice.

"Hi Baby, how's things?"

"Great. Like a well oiled machine here." Jack replied earning a smirk from Becky as she walked by.

"Liar, but I'll let it slide. You are all more than capable. A little birdy told me that you boys have concocted a surprise weekend getaway therefore I won't be home tonight."

"Little birdy is correct. Are you having a good time?" he asked.

"Yeah, I am. Thank you. I didn't know how much I needed it."

"I'm glad sweetheart. Listen, can I call you back after we put these monsters to bed. By monsters I mean the boys, because my little princess is perfect. Aren't you lady bug?" Elizabeth laughed,

"Of course. I just wanted to say Thank you and that I love you." Jack smiled,

"I love you too Sweetheart. I'll call you in a bit."

The four of them were sharing a huge room with two king beds. As Rosie and Elizabeth unpacked their overnight bags they were a little impressed at how well they were packed and wondered aloud if Abigail and or Faith had done the packing for their husbands. To which both denied vehemently.

"They asked for parameters, and that's as far as we went. We just needed to make sure you had enough underwear, something to sleep in, outfit for dinner, and clothes to go home in. But it looks like they may have compared notes as they've both added gym clothes and swimmers without prompting. Not to mention spare clothes."

"They're so well trained," Faith teased but it truly came down to how well both Jack and Lee knew their wives.

The four of them had a lovely dinner at a nearby pub. They were all dressed comfortably in their jeans and sweaters looking relaxed from an afternoon at the Spa courtesy of their husbands. As they were on to their third drink a few boys had offered to buy them a round.

"Thank you boys, but I don't think our husbands would appreciate that." Faith answered politely. The boys looked sheepish and apologised before heading back to their table. In that same moment Elizabeth's phone began to ring making her laugh,

"Hey Sweetheart, do you have a radar or something?" Faith, Abigail and Rosie chuckled.

"Why? What are you girls are up to?" he asked teasingly.

"Us? Nothing, we're perfectly well behaved."

"Why does your tone not provide me with any reassurances?"

"Are you picking a fight with me Jack Thornton?" Jack laughed,

"No, I know better than that. Besides, I lose every time."

"Good to know. Did you wrangle the boys to bed before leaving them with Noah?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yeah, it was the least I could do as I was leaving Logan there. Lee and I are back at ours. Will and Belle are having their own slumber party in Belle's cot. It's rather cute, I'll send you a picture as soon as we're off the phone."

"Please do. Give her kisses from Momma."

"I will. Are you guys back at the hotel?"

"Not yet, we're just finishing up our drinks and walking back shortly."

"Will you be okay?"

"Of course. I'll text you when we're back at the hotel so you know we got home safe."

"Call me please,"

"I will baby. Talk later. Love you."

"Love you too." After Elizabeth hung up as promised Jack had sent her a photo of Will and Belle sharing Belle's cot. Elizabeth showed the girls who awwwed in adoration. Whilst Elizabeth was on the phone the rest of them had started messaging their respective husbands and put their phone down when Elizabeth did.

After they got back to the hotel she sent Jack a quick text to let him know that they were going for a late swim and she would call him later in the evening post shower to say goodnight. Jack could tell that Elizabeth was having fun, and he was glad. Their one year anniversary was coming up and he was trying to brainstorm what to do. He wanted to take her away for a weekend somewhere. By then Annabelle would be 3 months old and Elizabeth would be more open to being away from both their kids for a few days.

The girls woke early and took another hike before breakfast and checkout. They enjoyed each other's company immensely and grateful for the time they were able to have. They appreciated how their husbands had banded together and how they defined 'it takes a village'. They knew that by the time they got back to the Diner, their husbands and kids would be there too. They arrived just as the lunch rush had started at the diner. After saying hello to their families and exchanging hugs the girls picked up their aprons that they kept at the back and began to help with the Diner.