Nathan and Elizabeth had some decisions to make.

On the day after Christmas, they went in to see Carson, as they did every week now. Elizabeth tried to hold her breath while Carson moved the stethoscope slowly and carefully across her abdomen.

"Two very separate heartbeats," he said softly, his head low and listening. "One here, and... here," he said, showing them spots on her left and right side. He looked up, grinning and raising his eyebrows. "Good strong heartbeats." He nodded to Elizabeth. "Whatever you're doing, keep doing it," he said, taking the earpieces out of his ears.

Carson noticed that Nathan visibly relaxed after having been standing stiffly by the examining table. He held Elizabeth's hand in his and squeezed it lightly, exhaling.

She looked up at him and smiled. For a moment they simply looked at each other, and their thoughts blended. What a miracle this is.

Then Elizabeth's smile blossomed and she turned to Carson. "So, what you're saying is that the combination of pickles, marshmallows and sardines isn't doing any harm?"

Nathan snorted and said under his breath, "Only to those who have to watch you eat them..."

Elizabeth's hand squeezed his quite a bit tighter.

"Ouch," Nathan said, grimacing.

Carson laughed softly. "Cravings are entirely normal. Your body is just telling you what it needs. "Pickles help with digestion, sardines have lots of vitamins and calcium, and marshmallows... well... do they make you happy?"

Elizabeth laughed. "Ridiculously."

Carson pulled up the cotton sheet and put away his stethoscope. "Happy is a good state of mind for you at this point."

Looking up at Nathan, Elizabeth wiggled her eyebrows. "Mmmm, marshmallows."

Nathan bent down as he lifted Elizabeth's hand and kissed it. "Whatever you want."

Carson smiled. "Wise words, Nathan." He turned to Elizabeth. "Still having mood swings?"

This time, both Elizabeth and Nathan snorted. "A few, occasionally, every five minutes," Elizabeth said.

Nathan shook his head. "No, not that bad." He looked at her, "You might get a little emotional now and then."

Elizabeth laughed. "Nathan. I found a double-yolk in one of Lucky's eggs and I cried for two hours." She turned to Carson. "Sobbing crying."

Carson shrugged. "I can understand that. Things are... amplified right now for you. Best to just roll with it, and know that it's absolutely normal." He looked up at Nathan. "And it sounds like your husband is supporting you well."

"He deserves the Victoria Cross. For bravery under fire," she said, laughing. "I can have a sharp tongue these days."

Nathan's eyes went soft as she looked up at him. He shook his head slowly and said, "Elizabeth. Your bad day is like most people's good ones."

As they continued to look at each other, Carson smiled. He was used to this little interlude. At some point in these examinations, they would lose themselves in each other. In truth, he loved to see it.

The first moment he'd put two and two together with Nathan and Elizabeth was at baby Jack's christening. He'd watched in wonder as Elizabeth easily handed her greatest treasure over to Nathan so she could answer a question for Rosemary across the room. And not only had Jack put his arms easily and naturally around Nathan's neck, but he'd giggled loudly at the faces Nathan made.

Carson had looked over at Elizabeth and seen how charmed she was. And he, like almost everyone in town, was happy to think she might not have to raise little Jack alone.

It was why Carson had specifically asked them to stand together at Clara and Jesse's wedding. He'd so often seen Elizabeth unsure, and Nathan unable to speak, and both of them were seemingly unaware of the perfect trajectory they were following into each other's hearts. Carson thought they might like to have a photograph of themselves, and maybe they would see what everyone else already knew.

And then, of course, when Nathan injured his leg, Carson saw all he needed to see about how enduring their love was. Elizabeth, without question, had saved Nathan's life. Carson had seen her absolutely distraught, but with pinpoint focus. She would allow for nothing but unconditional success - they would find Nathan and bring him home.

But the moment that no one could forget was right after Carson had jumped down from the transfer wagon. It was never easy for a doctor to feel for a pulse and not find it. Carson had barely processed that moment before he looked over and saw Elizabeth run into Nathan's arms. Bill was standing right next to him, and both of them had gone silent, watching, expecting at any second that Elizabeth would step away and both of them would return to their usual awkwardness with each other.

But she hadn't stepped away, and Nathan hadn't let go. Elizabeth held tight to him. Nathan was clearly upset about the loss of Murdock, but he held tight too, obviously finding comfort, finally, in Elizabeth's arms.

"Well, it's about time," Bill had said softly next to him. "And a good time for it," he added. "Nathan's going to blame himself, and she'll help him through it."

Carson had nodded and looked around. In the midst of a tragedy, there seemed to be this small spot of hope out there in the middle of the street and people were clinging to it as tightly as Elizabeth was holding Nathan.

Nathan had lost his sister. Elizabeth had lost Jack. Carson had also known the heartache of losing someone he loved, and with Faith, he knew the joy of opening up again. So yes, he was always glad to take a moment as they got lost in each other.

He watched now as Elizabeth and Nathan took a simultaneous deep breath, and as they turned to him, he nodded and knew they were ready to hear more.

"So, the good news is that you and the babies are very healthy," he started. He could see the caution come into both of their faces, waiting for the "but" that was surely to come.

Carson softened his voice and looked at Elizabeth. "They're growing fast. And those strong heartbeats mean your babies are strong." Carson looked up at Nathan, whose forehead was beginning to crease in a frown. Then he looked back at Elizabeth. "You're very healthy, but you're fairly small-boned, Elizabeth."

She was hardly breathing. "What are you saying, Carson?"

He took her hand. "I don't see how we do this without a Caesarian section. An operation, with ether. Instead of putting the babies at risk with a possibly difficult labor, we simply lift them out."

Nathan's voice was low and soft. "And in doing that, you put Elizabeth's life at risk."

Carson took a deep breath. "Her life is more at risk if we don't. The babies have their feet down, Nathan. It's possible they can turn, but there's not much room left in there for them to do that." He turned to Elizabeth. "You'll probably have a breech birth."

Nathan inhaled sharply, his voice ominous. "Like Sarah's."

Carson said, softly, "Yes." He put his hand on Nathan's arm. "But Elizabeth will be in a hospital, with the sterile equipment and anesthetic she needs, and the best doctors this country can offer. Sarah didn't have that, Nathan. It's a completely different situation."

Elizabeth's voice was almost a whisper. "Julie was born breech. In the hospital in Hamilton. No complications."

Nathan looked down and saw a tear slip down the side of Elizabeth's face. He bent down quickly, pulling a stool toward him to sit on, and he cupped her face with his hand. "Tell me what you're feeling, angel."

She just blurted it out without thinking. "More protective of them than I am of myself," she said, looking into his eyes.

Nathan used his thumb to wipe a tear from her cheek. He nodded, and Elizabeth could see his eyes were very blue.

"You take care of them, and I'll take care of you," he said, kissing her cheek tenderly.

Nathan stayed there by her head, and Carson could see a change in him. He was still Nathan the father and husband, but now there was another layer. He was the investigator, the protector. The Mountie.

"What do we need to do, Carson?" Nathan asked, his voice sure and even.

"We need to be near the hospital sooner rather than later," Carson said.

"How soon?" Nathan asked.

Carson paused and said, "In the next couple of weeks. Definitely no later than the end of January."

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. "So, they'll be born early." Another tear slipped down her cheek. "Carson. How early is too early?"

"You both need to know that this is not at all uncommon with twins. Half of all twins are born early, up to a month early, which is what we're looking at here." He looked back and forth between them. "Early-onset labor is very common." Now he gazed directly at Elizabeth. "But if the babies haven't turned, labor is not going to be... helpful." He looked up at Nathan. "Which is why we want to be near the hospital."

Nathan was nodding, his mind working. "Bill has said I can leave whenever I need to. Dad is perfectly capable of caring for the farm and Allie."

Elizabeth felt strengthened by Nathan's steadiness. She said, "I didn't think I would need a substitute teacher until March, but since we're taking Jack with us, I'll ask Laura. She's told me she wants to become a teacher. She can shadow me at work until we leave, and Molly and Florence can help if she needs it. The challenge has always been who will watch Jack while she does that."

Nathan nodded. "We can all pull together for a few weeks. Me, Julie, Rosemary, Stella. And Dad, Jessie and Allie can help."

Carson smiled silently at both of them, in some awe. These two were a force of nature. Unstoppable. Given a challenge, they worked it through the same way they did everything else. Piece by piece. And together.

Hickam was trying not to eavesdrop, but in Abigail's, it wasn't easy. The place was just too small and it even echoed a little bit.

When Stella had come in for lunch with Julie, he'd smiled and waved at her. And the best part was that she'd done the same and seemed genuinely glad to see him. He'd already finished his lunch and really should get back to the office, but for some reason, he asked Clara for another cup of coffee. He'd regret that later, but he just couldn't think of another reason to stay.

"I was surprised you wanted to come here," Stella said to Julie, looking over the menu.

Julie smiled. "I try to come here once a week at least," she said, leaning in conspiratorially. "It never hurts to try out the competition, and goodwill can go a long way in a town this small."

"Makes sense," Stella said, nodding. Then, tilting her head, "I think I can learn a lot from you, Julie."

"Just keep your eyes and ears open. And watch Lucas, too. He is so very good at what he does." Julie's eyes got soft, and Stella smiled.

"Everyone in this town is so in love," Stella said, shaking her head. "What's in that water tower anyway?" she said, narrowing her eyes.

Julie giggled. "I don't know. I actually fell for Lucas at the train station in Airdrie. All he had to do was open his mouth. And bow." Julie did a good imitation of Lucas at his charming best. "Lucas Bouchard, at your service..."

Stella laughed. "Well, it's my turn next," she said. And before she even knew she was doing it, she turned sideways and looked at Mike. And to make it worse, he was looking right at her.

They both turned their heads forward quickly. Hickam was alone at the table and Julie was looking at the menu, so for a moment, they both sat, waiting for their breath to return fully.

Well, that was fast, Stella thought, surprised at her reaction to that little glance. She looked at the glass in front of her. Maybe there really is something in the water.

"The chicken pot pie is remarkably good here," Julie said, having missed the interchange between Stella and Hickam completely. "And the rhubarb cobbler is to die for. If I could only steal that recipe from Bill..."

Stella got up the nerve to look over again, but this time, Mike was staring straight forward, looking as if he were made of stone. She smiled, wondering if his heart was beating like hers. She suspected it might be. She knew something had passed between them on Christmas eve.

Stella liked his shyness, and at the same time, the direct way he had of speaking. And of course, he was very good looking, with an absolutely adorable smile...

"Stella." Julie was frowning and she followed Stella's gaze over to Hickam.

"Ah," Julie said, almost in a whisper. Nodding, she said, softly, "He's a catch, no doubt about it. Practically everyone in town wishes he would find someone he cares about."

Stella bit her bottom lip. "And why hasn't he?" she whispered.

Julie shrugged. "Probably a combination of shyness and not finding the right girl, I guess." Julie tilted her head. "Why do you ask?"

Stella's cheeks went pink. She leaned in to be sure he couldn't hear them. "We talked some, at Rosemary and Lee's house the other night. We... connected. I think."

Julie took Stella's hand, sighing. "Love in bloom. There's nothing better is there?"

Stella narrowed her eyes. "I think love might be a little premature, Julie. But I am... interested," she said. Raising her voice back up to a normal level, Stella said, "So, I need to go back up to Spruce Grove to get our things. We don't have much, really, but at least it will give us a start on filling the place."

Julie said, "You're lucky that Rosemary was so set on new furniture for their house. She left a lot of it, and just told Lucas to keep it for the new tenants."

Stella nodded. "And it's so much nicer than anything we have, that's for sure. Now that I've been inside I know exactly what we need. I just have to take the train up to Spruce Grove before school starts for Jessie, to get our things and come back. But Jessie wants to stay here, and I don't blame her. I just might need some help is all..."

"I can help."

Stella turned suddenly and saw what Julie had already watched in action. Mike Hickam had stood from his table and started for the front door until he'd heard Stella say the word "help." At which point, he'd turned and walked straight over to stand behind Stella's chair. On his face was a look of determination that Julie had never seen before.

Taken aback, Stella thought she might not have heard him correctly. "I'm sorry?"

"I can help," he said again. "I have a little... well... about four months actually, of vacation coming to me. And I've never been to Edmonton, but I've always wanted to see it. And then... a wagon to Spruce Grove, and loading onto the train, you... you can't do that by yourself, and all that lifting, and..." Hickam finally took a breath. "If you want, I can help you."

Stella smiled the kind of smile that a man can carry with him for a while, Mike thought. "You wouldn't mind?" she said, looking up at him.

Mike smiled back at her. "No," he said softly. "I wouldn't mind."

Julie just sat there, her mouth in a little O. This was the sweetest exchange she'd witnessed in quite some time. One doesn't often have the privilege of being present at the very beginning, and unless she was sorely mistaken, this was the beginning of Stella and Hickam. Julie smiled. Hickam.

Well, it's about time he finds someone to appreciate him, she thought.