Elizabeth had woken up at the crack of dawn. Usually she looked forward to Mondays. It meant teaching and her students. But on this Monday, there would be no school. Elizabeth knew she needed to be Nathan and Ally at the hearing.

Elizabeth finished packing up her breakfast basket. She was going to go over and surprise Nathan and Ally with breakfast. She had made Ally's favorites—fresh blueberry scones, Abigail's recipe, with fresh butter and homemade raspberry jam. There was a special treat of freshly squeezed orange juice as well. It was simple but she knew Ally would love it.

Ally had not been the same since Jesse Walker had come into town. She had been a shell of her usual self. She played half-heartedly with her friends. She disappeared for hours at the fishing hole but she never caught anything. Elizabeth wondered if she even tried or if she just needed a place of escape.

"Hi Mrs. Thornton," Laura knocked and came in the door.

"Hi Laura," Elizabeth smiled, hugging her former student. "Thank you so much for coming early."

Laura set down her books. "I'm happy to!" Laura picked up Little Jack. "We're going to have a lot of fun today!"

Elizabeth quickly took Little Jack from Laura, kissing his cheeks and holding him close. How thankful she was for her son. In this moment, she wasn't thinking about him being her lasting connection to Jack Thornton; rather, she was thinking about how her custody, her parentage, was assured. Never in doubt.

"Laura," Elizabeth handed her son back to Laura with a final kiss. "There are scones and jam for you. Please have some!"

"Oh I definitely well," Laura's face beamed. "Please tell Ally and Constable Grant good luck for me. And let them know that I'm praying."

Elizabeth sighed. "We all are, aren't we?"

Elizabeth knocked on Nathan's door. A few moments passed before the door opened with Ally on the other side.

"Miss Elizabeth!" Ally's eyes brightened. "What are you doing here?"

Elizabeth smiled, holding up her basket. "I couldn't sleep this morning so I made a fresh batch of blueberry scones. I was hoping someone could help me eat them."

Ally smiled. "I think I can help with that."

"Good."

Ally welcomed Elizabeth inside. "Uncle Nathan! Miss Elizabeth is here!"

Nathan came down the stairs, fastening the belt of his red serge "Hi!"

"Hi," Elizabeth met Nathan's eyes.

Ally graciously took the basket from Elizabeth's hands. "I'll get some plates."

Nathan walked up to Elizabeth and squeezed her hand. "Honestly, Elizabeth, you never cease to amaze me. How did you know we both needed you this morning?"

"Because," Elizabeth squeezed Nathan's hand back. "You're in my heart, Nathan Grant."

Nathan managed a smile. "I have no idea how today is going to go. Bill has not told me anything."

"What I do know," Elizabeth walked with Nathan towards Ally, "is that I am here for you. Both of you. I'm not going anywhere."

There was another knock on the door. Ally went to answer and saw Lee and Rosemary on the other side. Rosemary held a basket of her own, filled with freshly cooked bacon and eggs. Lee held a pot of coffee. They looked surprised to see Elizabeth.

"Elizabeth?" Rosemary questioned. 'What are you doing here?"

"I brought breakfast over," Elizabeth responded. "What are you both doing here?"

Lee stepped inside. "Rosie and I both thought Nathan and Ally would be too preoccupied to cook this morning. So we did it."

Nathan walked over to Lee and clapped him on the shoulder. "Thank you Lee."

Ally took Rosemary's basket. "Miss Elizabeth brought scones and jam. So we will have quite the feast for breakfast."

The six of them gathered around the table. Ally did her best to smile.

"I hope…." Ally started to cry.

Rosemary reached over to Ally and touched her hand. "We are not going to think those thoughts, are we, Ally? Mr. Avery knows what he is doing."

"I don't have to be there, do I?"

Nathan had gone back and forth with Bill over Ally's presence in the courtroom. Nathan had been very insistent that Ally not be there until the last possible moment. Bill had met with Judge Andrew Greene and had asked for this request. Surprisingly, it had been granted. Both Nathan and Ally had been relieved when Bill had come by last night to tell them. Ally would only have to come into the courtroom if Judge Greene decided in Jesse Walker's favor.

"No," Nathan said to Ally. "You do not have to be there." He filled Elizabeth in on this detail who seemed just as relieved as he had felt.

"Robert, Opal, and some of the other kids have asked me to go fishing. Then Opal's mom is making us a special picnic lunch." Ally managed a smile. "I'm going to try to have fun."

"And I promise," Nathan looked deep into his niece's eyes. "As soon as I can, I will come find you. And tell you everything."

"Even if I have to leave?"

Nathan's eyes brimmed with tears. "Even then."

Bill Avery kept checking his watch. Of all days that the stage needed to arrive on schedule, today was that day. His Mountie connections had paid off. But Bill had decided against telling Nathan his findings. Because something could still go wrong.

Florence had agreed to keep an eye out for the stagecoach. She had been a huge help the last few days, directing so many calls Bill's way. She had also managed to keep her mouth shut, even to Molly. It only made sense to have her direct the stagecoach occupant his way.

Bill had never felt this much pressure before, even as an inspector. He truly had a soft spot for both Nathan and Ally. Ally had given him such sass and attitude when she arrived in Hope Valley. It had taken Bill by surprise. But he had loved it! And Nathan, well…Bill had been unsure about the new Mountie's arrival, especially when his first encounter with Nathan involved a bar fight. Jack Thornton had left huge shoes to fill. Nathan had filled them albeit in a different way.

Bill thought back to Thanksgiving and seeing Nathan and Ally with Elizabeth and Little Jack. That promise of the Grant Family. Nothing was going to stop that from coming to fruition. Certainly not Jesse Walker.