Tuesday afternoon, Gabriel sat at the desk in Hope Valley's Mounted Police office finishing up a report. The sound of footsteps approaching the door caused him to look up. Expecting Nathan, who had gone to the infirmary to try and get clearance to go back to work, Gabriel was surprise to see an unfamiliar face walk through the door.

"You're not, Nathan," the stranger commented stopping just inside the door with a confused expression.

"No, I'm not," Gabriel replied, putting down his pen and getting to his feet. "I'm Constable Kinslow. I'm filling in for Constable Grant for a few days. And you are?"

"Archie Grant," the man said. "I'm-"

"Nathan's father," Gabriel finished, recognizing the name. "I don't think Nathan was expecting you until tomorrow."

"If at all," Archie supplied, finishing Gabriel's unspoken thought.

Gabriel nodded an acknowledgement to the statement.

"Yeah, I've still got some bridges to mend with my son. I hope keeping my word this time might be a start in that direction. Is he out of town?"

"No," Gabriel told him. "Nathan got a bit banged up in a rescue on Saturday, and I've been filling in," he explained, keeping the story to more recent events. He didn't know how much about the last few weeks Nathan had told his father. The last thing Gabriel wanted to do is volunteer information that might lead to topics Nathan wasn't ready to discuss with his father. "I think Nathan is probably still at the infirmary as he was planning on stopping by here afterwards, if you want to go find him or you could wait here."

"No. I have a feeling Nathan wouldn't want me dropping in on that appointment, nor do I want him to feel like I'm ambushing him here. I'll just go over and see if the saloon has a free room. Can you let him know I'm in town and that's where I'll be?"

"I'll be glad to," Gabriel told him.

"I appreciate it," Archie said, turning to head out the door. Before leaving though he stopped and turned around. "You seem a bit more familiar with my son than accounts for just filling in for a few days. You wouldn't happen to be the Mr. Gabe my granddaughter has referred to in her letters, would you?"

"Guilty as charged," Gabriel replied. "The first name is Gabriel."

Archie nodded. "Ally thinks a lot of you. Thank-you for being there for both of them."

"Nathan's been there for me more times than I can count as well," Gabriel replied.

"It's good to have good friends," Archie said before ducking out the door.

Gabriel stood where he was staring at the door after Archie Grant left. Nathan might be trying to mend his relationship with his father, but Gabriel wasn't sure of the timing.

Gabriel was still standing there, when Nathan walked into the office.

"Is everything okay?"

Nathan's question brought Gabriel out of his thoughts. Realizing he was still standing in the middle of the office, Gabriel looked at his friend with a sheepish look. "Sorry, got lost in thought," he told him.

"In the middle of the office?" Nathan questioned.

"Your father came in looking for you," Gabriel admitted.

"My father is here already?" Nathan asked, even though he had heard Gabriel perfectly fine.

"He came in looking for you. I told him where you were and he asked me to let you know he would be at the saloon getting settled," Gabriel informed him.

Gabriel let the silence sit for awhile. He could tell from Nathan's expression that his friend was sorting through his emotions.

"How much did you tell him?" Nathan finally asked.

"Just that you got a little banged up on a rescue Saturday and that I was filling in for a few days. I figured the rest is for you to tell him if you want to."

"And I think I would rather not," Nathan concluded. "Talking about what happened with you in one thing. I don't feel like opening myself up to my father like that."

"Then don't," Gabriel replied easily. "Making amends isn't always an overnight process. You've started the process. The rest is going to take time. For now, let him and Ally enjoy their time together and let him earn your trust through that."

Nathan nodded.

"So, what did Dr. Shepherd say?"

"He's releasing me for duty though he doesn't want me taking any out of town trips for the next week. He was putting in a call to headquarters when I left. Personally, I think he wants me to be where he can keep an eye on me."

"Smart guy," Gabriel commented. "I think I'll head home tomorrow morning then. If you don't mind, I'll come by early and cook Ally a birthday breakfast before I leave. It'll make the fact that I'm leaving on her birthday a little easier to take."

"That's fine. It means I don't have to cook tomorrow morning."

"That might be a birthday present for Ally all in itself," Gabriel joked earning a swat on the arm from Nathan.

"You okay here for a bit?" Nathan asked.

"I got a report to finish," Gabriel said nodding in the direction of the desk. "So, yeah, I'm good."

"I'm going to go talk to my dad. Can you join the three of us at the café tonight for dinner?" Nathan asked.

"Are you inviting me because its going to be my last night in town or because you want me as a buffer between you and your father?"

"A little of both," Nathan admitted without hesitation.

Gabriel smiled. "I'll be there," he replied. "I'll also break the news to Ally about me leaving the next day then, so you don't need to mention that."

"Okay," Nathan said, turning and leaving the office.

Gabriel moved to the door, and watched as Nathan slowly made his way across the street to The Queen of Hearts. It wasn't until Nathan disappeared inside that Gabriel returned to the desk and the report he had abandoned.

Walking into the Queen of Hearts, Nathan drew the usual curious looks. Once people saw who it was, a lot of them were off their feet to greet their constable. Though he had only been out of sight for a couple of days, his absence had not gone unnoticed by the people of Hope Valley.

By the time he finally reached the bar, Fiona had taken notice of his approach.

"It's good to see the town hero up and about," Fiona commented.

"I'm not a hero, I was just-"

"Doing your job," Fiona finished for him. "I bet they tell you to use that line during Mountie training," she said. " No matter what you say, to that little girl and her family, you will always be a hero no matter what you say."

"You sound sure of that," Nathan commented.

Fiona got a little far away look on her face as she replied. "I am and I speak from experience. When I was a little girl, maybe seven, my family took a day trip to a park. I got to chasing butterflies, and when I finally lost track of the butterflies, I realized I didn't know where I was and my family was nowhere in sight. I was scared and crying. A police officer came along, gave me a hug, asked a few questions and then took my hand and walked with me until we found my family. I don't remember his name but to this day, I think of him as my hero."

Nathan smiled at the memory Fiona had just shared with him. "Be careful while chasing butterflies, then. I wouldn't have to come out looking for you if you got lost," he teased.

"But you know you would," Fiona teased back. She grew more serious as she said, "your father is in room four."

"Thanks," Nathan told her before turning from the bar.

Crossing to the steps, Nathan paused briefly at the bottom of the steps, looking up. The last time he had been standing here, ready to talk to his father, had been when he had invited his father to eat with him and Ally at the barbeque. That was right before he had arrested his father on suspicion of theft. He had told his father then that if he found out he was being lied to about him changing then that was it. Archie had told him he had changed. That he was done with gambling and stealing.

So far, Nathan had no evidence to the contrary. That still didn't solve all their problems or erase the hurt from his childhood.

Realizing that he was going to attract attention if he stood there for too long, Nathan started up the steps. Reaching the second floor, he located room four and before he could change his mind, reached out and knocked.

"Who is it?" his father's voice called out from inside the room.

"It's, Nathan."

Moments later the door was opening and his father was standing in front of him. "Hello, son," Archie greeted him.

"Hi, dad," Nathan managed to reply, stopping himself from referring to his father by his first name. That was still something he was working on.

"How are you, son? That Constable Kinslow fellow said you were hurt during a rescue."

"Just some bumps and bruises. I'm still a little sore, but the doctor has cleared me for duty."

"Glad to hear it," Archie replied. "Come on in, son," he added, motioning Nathan into the room.

Nathan walked into the room. As Archie closed the door behind him, he looked around nervously, wishing that he was anywhere else but here.

"I can't believe Ally is turning twelve already. I practically missed her entire childhood."

"It's not the first time," Nathan commented, the bitter words slipping out before he could stop them. "I'm sorry," he told his father. "I shouldn't have said it."

"No, you're right. I missed a lot of your childhood as well. You and Colleen. I only have myself to blame for it and its one of my biggest regrets," Archie replied. "I am proud of the man you've become even if I can't take credit for it," he added.

"I think you've shaped who I became in more ways than either of us realized," Nathan said, thinking of both the conversation he had with Ally and the more recent one with Bill.

"Perhaps," Archie conceded. "Speaking of Ally, is she excited that I came to visit for her birthday."

Nathan looked down at the hat he held in his hands. "About that," Nathan began.

"You haven't told her I was coming," Archie supplied, guessing where the conversation was going.

Nathan looked up at his dad, ready to explain. Archie however spoke again first.

"It shouldn't surprise me, really. After all the broken promises you endured as a child, I get that you want to protect Ally from that."

"I just couldn't be sure."

Archie nodded. "It's fine. We'll just tell her that I wanted it to be a surprise."

"You don't need to protect me, Dad."

"Maybe not but I want to," Archie told him. "I was a lousy father to you, Nathan. I'm not trying to deny that. However, you are a wonderful father to my granddaughter. I understand your reaction about me coming into her life out of the blue like I did. I shouldn't have tried doing it behind your back and I'm sorry about the trouble it caused between the two of you."

"We sorted it out," Nathan commented.

"You did. However, I don't want to be a source of contention between the two of you again. Let's just call this another surprise visit and let Ally enjoy her birthday. What do you say son?"

Nathan was quiet for a bit thinking it over. He was sure Ally would just be happy to see her grandfather and probably wouldn't even question him showing up. Perhaps it would be for the best not to mention he didn't tell her about her Grandfather coming beforehand because he didn't expect Archie to show up.

"I'll go along with it as long as Ally doesn't question it. I won't lie to her."

"Fair enough," Archie said. "Would it be okay if I come with you to pick her up from school?"

"I'd like that," Nathan said. "I was also thinking we could all have dinner at the Café tonight with Gabriel. He's heading back to Brookfield tomorrow."

"Sounds good," Archie replied.

"I'll stop by for you when I head to pickup Ally," Nathan said, as he turned and reached for the doorhandle.

"Okay," Archie said. "And thanks for the invitation to come, son. It means a lot to me."

Nathan nodded before escaping the room. He was more than ready to escape to the relative safety of the Mounted Police office. At least work related issues he knew how to handle unlike the jumble of emotions he was currently feeling.

"Do you have to leave on my birthday?" Ally asked.

They were standing on the boardwalk outside of the café after a pleasant dinner. Gabriel had chosen to wait until after dinner to break his plans to Ally.

"I do need to get back to Brookfield. I miss the people there and they'll be missing me," Gabriel told her, kneeling down in front of Ally. "I'm going to be at your house bright and early though. I'm going to make you my cinnamon, raisin pancakes for your birthday breakfast. After that, you're going to have school, and your party with your friends and you grandfather is here. You won't even know I'm gone."

"Yes I will," Ally told him. "I get it though. I'd miss Hope Valley if I was gone for awhile too. I'm glad you were here though."

"I enjoyed being here too," Gabriel told her. "Do I get a hug?" he asked, opening his arms.

Ally took a step forward and put her arms around Gabriel.

"So, you're not going to make me wait until my party to open my gift from you then, are you?" Ally asked when she took a step back.

"I don't know," Gabriel replied, as he stood up. "If you open it before school it might be a distraction," he said, glancing over at Nathan with a playful smile.

"Yeah, it might be best if you waited and opened all your presents at the same time," Nathan said, playing along with Gabriel.

"But Mr. Gabe wouldn't get to see my reaction. It wouldn't be a distraction for school. I promise."

Gabriel and Nathan both started laughing.

"You two were just teasing me, weren't you?" Ally said.

"You'll get your present from me at breakfast tomorrow," Gabriel told her, reaching out and giving a gentle tug on the braid her hair was in again.

"Good," Ally said, smiling. The anticipation of an early present overshadowed the teasing from Nathan and Gabriel.

"However, say good night to Gabe and your grandfather for now. You have homework to do before bed," Nathan told her, growing serious.

Ally said her good-byes and while Gabriel and Archie headed for the saloon, Nathan and Ally headed toward the row of houses.