Nathan kissed Elizabeth on the cheek and peered over her shoulder. She was holding Jack's Mountie and using a fine needle to fix his tiny red tunic.

"Poor little guy," Nathan said. "He's no match for Jack, is he?"

Elizabeth smiled up at him. "This is the third time I've fixed him. It's tough being a Mountie in Jack's world."

Nathan nodded. "It's that grip of his." He sat down next to her and put his feet up, frowning at the wooden figure with the red serge sadly drooping on one side and torn on the other. "I think I might look like that too, held in his little fist all the time."

Elizabeth completed a few more stitches. "All in all, probably the most successful gift ever."

Nathan stretched and then rubbed his shin, grimacing slightly.

Elizabeth looked over at him and frowned. "It's hurting?"

Nathan nodded. "Every once in a while when it's really cold out, like now. Carson said it probably would." He turned to her, smiling. "You still gonna love me when I'm an old man?" he said, leaning back against the pillows. "Because it's happening fast."

She laughed and touched his cheek. "I think you might have a few good years left in you. I'll stick around at least that long."

Nathan raised his eyebrow and pulled her close to him. "That's very good to know," he said.

Elizabeth kissed him and combed her fingers through his tousled hair. He'd been out chopping more wood for the stoves and his hands and face were cold, but he was otherwise warm from the exertion.

Looking into his eyes, she said, "Do I say thank you enough? For how well you take care of us?"

He smiled softly at her. "You thank me all the time. Even when you don't say it, you look at me like you're looking at me now, and I feel like the richest man alive."

Nathan kissed her tenderly and she dropped her sewing to put both hands on either side of his face. His skin went from cold to warm under her fingers. For a long moment, they got lost in each other, with the crackling of the wood in the stove the only sound in the sunroom.

It was Saturday. No school, no emergencies, Archie in the barn, Allie at Hattie's, and Jack napping. The weather was beautiful, and as soon as Jack woke, Elizabeth was planning to walk to Rosemary's so that he could play with Violet.

Elizabeth sighed and put her head on Nathan's shoulder. "Have you noticed what a soft spot Jack has for Violet? Did you see them last night at the restaurant? He... protects her."

Nathan looked sideways at her and smiled. "You and Rosemary aren't planning an arranged marriage, are you? Because I don't think those work out very often."

Elizabeth made a face at him. "No-o-o," she said. Then she looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. "Nothing in writing..."

Nathan laughed softly. "Yet." After a pause, he said, "First, we need to make sure Lee and Rosemary can keep her." Nathan sighed. "I'm closer to this case than I think I've ever been in my work, except for Dad and the necklace. It's a lot harder when you know everyone involved, and you care so much about the outcome."

Elizabeth looked out the window. It was very comforting to look across the white meadow and see smoke drifting out of the Coulters' chimney. It had taken them some time to finish the house, but now that it was done, they were moved in and comfortable.

Elizabeth took a deep breath.

"I need to tell you something. But I need to tell you, not Constable Grant." She looked up at him and smiled. "Can you ask the Constable to step out of the room, please?"

Nathan looked at her for a long time, thinking. Finally he spoke, using his Mountie voice. Yes, he has voices too, Elizabeth thought. "Does this involve murder, mayhem, fraud, theft, or some similar manner of heinous activity?"

Elizabeth kept her eyes on him evenly. "No. It involves someone you love and care about wanting to do something that may not be very smart."

"Okay," he said, exhaling, and slightly nervous. "I'm the only one here. For now."

Elizabeth thought she would just jump in with both feet. "Rosemary wants to go to Brookfield and find Frances and Harold and talk to them. She can't stand the idea that Violet's only blood relatives are living in a shack in the snow. She wants to help them. Maybe find them a warm place to stay."

Nathan narrowed his eyes, thinking through what she had just told him. Once Elizabeth saw that it had been assimilated, she added, "And she wants me to go with her."

Nathan turned quickly. "Absolutely not." He stopped himself, taking a breath. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said it that way. But, Elizabeth," he said turning his body to face her on the sofa, "You're not just traveling for one anymore. There are three of you. And all three of you are more precious to me than my own life."

Elizabeth turned to face him as well. "I understand that, and if you weren't a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, I would ask my husband to come with us. But I know you can't do that."

Nathan took a moment to calm himself down. "Okay, let's back up. What does Rosemary hope to accomplish?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "She's not sure. She just says that every time she looks outside and sees the snow on the ground, and she looks at Violet, warm and cozy in their house, she can't stand it."

"And what does Lee say?" Nathan asked.

Elizabeth was silent. She just kept her eyes on Nathan.

Nathan took a deep breath. If there was one thing he knew, his wife had strong opinions. From the early days when they'd sparred on a number of subjects, he'd known that she was not the kind of woman who would simply do what her husband told her to do - and Nathan had no desire to be that type of husband anyway. The few times he'd tried giving Elizabeth orders before they were married had not gone well.

Nathan spoke very softly, still looking her in the eyes. "Tell me how you feel about all this. About doing something potentially dangerous, and about getting in the middle of Rosemary and Lee."

Elizabeth paused. "She's my best friend, and she's asked for my help. Rosemary has always been there when I've needed her. She feels so strongly about this, Nathan."

He took her hand in his. "She has to tell Lee, angel. I would be beside myself if you went off to do something like this without telling me."

"Lee said he wants to trust the law and let the case take its course. As far as he's concerned, they have Violet until March and they should just let things be."

"That's a smart position, Elizabeth. A lot of things can happen between now and March," Nathan said.

"Yes," Elizabeth said, her voice rising. "Frances and Harold could get sick, or freeze to death. Rosemary can't live with that."

Nathan looked at her, his eyes soft. "And neither can you."

Elizabeth frowned. "No." She knew she was repeating herself, but she wanted him to understand. "They are Violet's only relatives."

Nathan looked at her. "I know you, and if you feel strongly about this, you'll want to go." He smiled. "Even if I tell you to stay put. We've had this discussion before, if you recall."

She did, and she smiled too. "But now," she said, putting her hand on her stomach, "It's not just me. You deserve a say in this. I would never go without talking to you about it."

Nathan took a deep breath, thinking. He looked over at Lee and Rosemary's house as if the answer might be found there.

Finally, he spoke. "What if the four of us sit down and discuss this together?" Nathan said. "It's possible we can arrange a meeting with Harold and Frances without crossing any lines. We can all go. Would that work?"

Elizabeth smiled, her eyes twinkling. "Only if I get to see you drive."

"We might be able to arrange that," he said, smiling.

"And after Bernie and Ty make their appearance, maybe you can teach me how to drive, too." Elizabeth said.

Nathan laughed. "I thought you didn't like automobiles?"

"It wouldn't be a bad thing for me to know how," she said. "Just from an academic standpoint."

"It's a deal," he said. "And I'll find a time to talk to Lee today or tomorrow."

Elizabeth leaned up and kissed him. "I love you."

Nathan moved the usual escaped curl behind her ear. "Thank you for telling me about all this. And I love you, too."

They both leaned back on the couch and took a breath.

Nathan picked up the mended Mountie from her lap. "Jack's still napping?" He looked at the clock. "It's later than usual."

"The party last night did him in."

"Me, too." Nathan said. "Way past my bedtime, but it went well, I think. Julie and Lucas were pleased."

"Yes, very," Elizabeth said. "So, I saw you talking to Bill last night." She turned to him. "Do you think it will hurt Abigail's business? I'd hope the town can support three different restaurants, with as fast as it's growing." She snuggled into Nathan's neck. "I must say I'm looking forward to a dinner there, just the two of us."

Nathan raised an eyebrow and looked at her. "Mrs. Grant. Are you asking me out on a date?"

Laughing softly, Elizabeth said, "Why not? I'm a modern woman."

Pulling her closer, Nathan said, "In that case, I accept. Sometime next week? It's great having Dad here, because we don't have to worry about whether Allie is old enough to have Jack on her own. I'm not sure she is quite yet, but she thinks she is."

Elizabeth nodded on his shoulder. "I agree. I'm sure she'd be fine, but I like that he's here, too." Elizabeth was reminded of something and sat up again. "What would you think about inviting Stella and Jessie for Christmas?"

Nathan looked surprised, but he said, "I think that would be great. You wouldn't mind?"

Elizabeth frowned. "Why would I mind?"

"Well, you haven't even met them yet, and I assume we'd be asking them to stay here?"

Smiling, Elizabeth said, "You and Archie have met them. I think I could be satisfied with you as references." She leaned back and looked out at the snow, and beyond to the Coulters' house. "We're so lucky, Nathan, surrounded by so many people who love us. When I think of them alone up there... I just think people should be with people at Christmas. And I think Jessie and Allie would get along, with their love of horses."

"I'll ask Dad what he thinks." Nathan smiled and looked out at the snow-covered trees. "Do you remember when you helped us pick out our tree last Christmas? Allie ran on ahead and you and I walked through the trees talking?"

"I'll never forget it." Elizabeth blushed suddenly and Nathan turned to look at her.

When she tried to hide her face, he lifted her chin with his finger. "Don't close that window, angel. What are you thinking?"

Elizabeth sighed. "I just... I think that was the first time I was truly aware of you as a... man... not Allie's uncle, not Hope Valley's Mountie, but as you." Elizabeth turned and looked at him with soft eyes. "You looked very handsome that day, and there wasn't much room there between the trees. We kept brushing up against each other..." Elizabeth laughed, feeling her cheeks warm again. "I don't remember making much sense. I would look into your eyes and forget what I was saying." Elizabeth laughed and put her face in her hands. "That was such a confusing time for me. So many feelings..."

Nathan nodded, holding her tightly. "For me, too. When I said there was nowhere else I'd rather be, I really meant it. And..." He shook his head, remembering, "I'd already said yes to the Inspector posting. If I'd gone... all this..." Nathan looked around the sunroom and ended by looking at Elizabeth. He sighed.

"But you didn't go."

"No. Thank God." Nathan kissed her, for a moment imagining what his life would have been like in Union City. When he pulled away, he had realized something, and he looked at her intently. "I would have come back, Elizabeth. No matter what I believed about you and Lucas, or whether you were ready to love someone else after Jack... I would have come back. I never would have stopped loving you. Here or in Union City."

He was so earnest that she reached her hand up and held his cheek. Elizabeth tilted her head. "Sometimes I think that no matter what path we took, it would have led us here. All that wondering, week to week about whether we would finally say what we felt. When two people are meant to be together, it doesn't matter how long it takes, does it? It's inevitable. I feel that way about us."

"Oh!" Elizabeth said suddenly, her eyes bright. She took Nathan's hand and put it on her stomach. His eyes never left hers as he breathed deeply, feeling the life that was moving in her.

And just that moment, from down the hall they heard, "Mama. Dad. Aleee. Bumpa."

Nathan stood up, and Elizabeth laughed suddenly. "I know Jack will be a little older in March, but Nathan... three of them? Are we ready for this?"

Nathan leaned down to kiss her, grinning. "Ready or not."