Elizabeth lifted Jack out of his crib. "Happy Birthday my sweet boy!" Elizabeth could hardly believe her son was two. How she remembered the day of his birth like yesterday. How she had felt so unprepared to give birth without Jack. But the women of Hope Valley had rallied around her. Elizabeth had felt able to handle Jack's coming—and sure enough, Abigail and Rosemary had helped her deliver her son into the world.

In those two years, Elizabeth had indeed opened up her heart to love again. She smiled and looked down at the ring on her finger. Nathan Grant had proposed last night and she had accepted. Elizabeth had kept pinching herself; she felt as if she were in a dream.

Elizabeth reflected on the proposal. Nathan had made it so uniquely him, so uniquely them. Elizabeth looked at the plaque that Nathan had carved for her. He had put so much effort and thought into the quote, into the design. Elizabeth knew that she wanted to hang it somewhere prominent and special—for now, it would hang upstairs in her bedroom where she could see it first thing every morning and the last moment at night. It would almost be like Nathan were beside her.

Elizabeth kissed Little Jack's forehead as she sat him in his highchair. Nathan had said he wanted to not only love her but also love her son. He couldn't imagine his life without Little Jack. In a moment where Nathan could have been solely been focused on her, Nathan chose to include the person most important to her. It was just yet another reason why Elizabeth had fallen in love, madly in love, with Nathan Grant. She was so glad he had come to Hope Valley.

"Mama!" Little Jack smiled. "Doggie!"

Elizabeth grabbed his stuffed dog, last year's birthday present, from his crib and handed it to Little Jack. "Here you go sweetheart! Let's make you some special breakfast."

"And where's my godson?!" Bill Avery knocked on the door and let himself in.

"Unca Bill!" Little Jack was immediately excited to see his godfather. So much so that he was making his high chair wobble; he didn't want to stay in it. Bill rushed over and lifted Jack out and into his arms.

"Happy birthday!" Bill smiled. He looked over at Elizabeth. "I know we were doing a dinner tonight, but I just had to come over and see you this morning. It's been a while Elizabeth."

Elizabeth hugged Bill. "It has been, Bill! Would you like some breakfast?"

"I won't say no!" Bill laughed. "Bacon and eggs?"

Elizabeth laughed in return. "How did you know?"

Little Jack toddled over with some blocks to play with. Bill got on the floor with the boy and played yet he remained close enough to have a conversation with Elizabeth.

"Where has the time gone, Elizabeth? It was just yesterday I was trying to find the compass for him?"

Elizabeth looked over. "I know. It has been quite a year. One of change and growth, that is for sure."

Before Bill could reply, the door opened once again. This time it was Ally and Nathan.

"Natan!" Little Jack immediately rushed over to Nathan. Nathan swooped him up into his arms.

"Hey Little Man!"

Ally came over and hugged Elizabeth. "I couldn't sleep last night. I was so excited."

"You know what, Ally," Elizabeth whispered, "I couldn't sleep either."

Nathan greeted Bill with a hearty handshake. "Good morning Bill."

"Good morning," Bill replied. He looked like a cat who had caught a mouse. He could sense there was a new dynamic in the air. "Little Jack likes you so it seems."

"I like him too," Nathan made a goofy face at Jack causing the youngster to giggle uncontrollably.

"And you just wanted to come over for breakfast this morning?" Bill was slipping into investigator mode, albeit playfully. He was making probing statements similar to the day he was inquiring about Elizabeth's mysterious flowers.

"We do breakfasts a lot of mornings with Miss Elizabeth and Little Jack," Ally replied innocently. "And it's Christmas Eve! We made this plan a few days ago."

"So what other plans have you made, Ally?" Bill was having too much fun with this conversation. Especially considering Nathan was trying to look preoccupied with Little Jack and Elizabeth busied herself with breakfast.

"Well, tonight is dinner with you and all the Coulters. And tomorrow morning, we are going to go fishing the four of us and then have a fish fry! Miss Elizabeth and Little Jack are going to join in our tradition this year!" Ally kept bubbling along, oblivious to Bill's probing.

"I also had an idea that I thought would be fun," Ally looked at Elizabeth. "But I haven't talked with Uncle Nathan about it yet."

"Ally?" Nathan looked at Ally questioningly.

"Wouldn't it be fun if we could all wake up on Christmas morning together? Like somehow….I don't know….but we can be together from the start of the day and not have to say goodbye tonight." Ally didn't see the looks, the electricity, the blushing that occurred between Elizabeth and Nathan.

"Ally, I don't think that is a good idea," Nathan shook his head.

"Oh I don't know," Bill added his two cents. "What about if Ally slept upstairs with Elizabeth and you slept downstairs on the couch?" Bill did his best to refrain from laughing.

"That's an idea!" Ally excitedly replied. "What do you think Miss Elizabeth? Dad?"

"I would say that if the town got talking when Elizabeth went to Union City with Lucas, they would really talk if they knew I stayed the night in her own home!" Nathan put Little Jack in his highchair.

"Yeah but you're engaged!" Ally blurted out before realizing her mistake. She immediately covered her mouth.

"When did that happen?" Bill excitedly moved closer to Nathan and Elizabeth.

"Last night." Elizabeth had finally turned away from the stove with a huge smile on her face. It was a mirror of Nathan's face.

"Well congratulations!" Bill gave Elizabeth a hug and did pull Nathan into one as well. "See, I told you that Elizabeth learned to look before she leapt. I couldn't be happier for you, both of you."

"Sorry, Dad, I couldn't keep my mouth shut," Ally whispered. "I was just so excited I guess."

Nathan couldn't even pretend to be mad. "It's alright." Nathan looked over to Bill. "You know Elizabeth and I have been courting? Well, that involves breakfasts together and walking to school. Normal stuff."

Elizabeth turned to Ally. "I do want you to know that I love your Christmas morning idea. It just might not the most appropriate idea in the world."

"Why did you go to Union City then?" Ally wasn't challenging Elizabeth. She was genuinely trying to understand.

Elizabeth chose her words carefully. "It shouldn't have happened. I knew better. But I also felt special and valued in that moment"

"By Lucas?" Ally interrupted. "Because Dad hadn't said anything to you about how he was feeling?"

Elizabeth pondered Ally's comment. "You could say that to a degree. But actions do have consequences. As much as I loved hear Virginia Woolf speak, I had to deal with the hurt my trip gave your Dad. I didn't think of anyone besides myself. It is why when your dad and I went to Union City, he was conscious of having chaperones."

"So," Bill interrupted. "let me be tonight's chaperone." Bill looked at Ally. "I believe someone wanted this to be the best Christmas ever. Let me help. I have slept in worse places than on the floor of a warm house." Bill looked at Nathan. "Seriously."

Nathan looked at Elizabeth. "What do you think?"

"I think," Elizabeth came over to Nathan and gave him a peck on the cheek, "that if Bill is willing to do that, it would be kind of fun."

Ally approached Nathan. "Please?" She pleaded.

Nathan acquiesced. "Alright!" If he were being honest, he didn't need much convincing. Though he would not be sleeping by Elizabeth's side, being under the same roof as his beloved fiancée was a start. "Bill, thank you."

"You owe me," Bill teased.

"In the meantime," Elizabeth encouraged everyone over towards the table. Little Jack was contentedly eating his scrambled eggs, picking them up with his fingers and managing to not get any of them on the floor. "I would say it is breakfast time."

Bill and Ally walked over, leaving Elizabeth and Nathan a moment to themselves.

"I would rather be sleeping with you instead of being downstairs" Nathan whispered sensually into Elizabeth's ear.

Elizabeth blushed. "Nathan!"

"What?" Nathan winked. "Can't a guy be really attracted to his girl, his fiancée?" He kissed Elizabeth and laced his fingers in his own. "I also couldn't sleep last night. Thinking about you saying yes, Little Jack's birthday…"

Elizabeth smiled as Nathan pulled out her chair for her and sat next to her. The day had taken so many twists and turns.

Elizabeth loved every minute of it.