"I haven't heard a rooster in more than a month," Elizabeth mumbled into her pillow. She tried to open one eye, but gave it up, because it was still dark anyway.

Nathan reached up and put his arm around Elizabeth, pulling her gently toward him. She snuggled her head down on his chest, moving closer in the warmth of the feather bed. They spoke softly, hoping not to wake the twins in the crib next to them.

Jack was in with Rebecca for the night. First and foremost, to allow Jack some semblance of a regular sleeping routine; Elizabeth and Nathan had to get up every couple of hours for feedings and changings, but Jack didn't. The second reason was that Rebecca needed the distraction and the comfort of her grandson, who couldn't be completely aware of the grief she was feeling but was still intuitive enough to reach out to someone he loved very much.

Nathan kissed Elizabeth's tousled hair. "You know, a rooster only has one job," he whispered. She could tell he was smiling by the sound of his voice. And she was so used to these talks snuggled in bed with Nathan that she knew it was probably the crooked one.

Elizabeth sighed and wiggled closer. "And you're saying I should just let him do it," she said. Nathan could tell she was pouting.

Now the full smile broke out across his face and Elizabeth could just barely make it out in the soft sunrise coming through the windows. "Can't see as you have much choice in the matter." And just to make his point, another loud crow split the silence of the barn in the distance.

Elizabeth laughed softly. "Always the realist," she said. Then the pout was back. "But you know I'm only asking for a little sympathy," she said.

"Awww," Nathan said, looking down into her eyes. "I'm sorry the rooster woke you up, angel. How about..." he said, moving a wayward curl from her face, "...we see if Becca and Nate will have breakfast together and then I'll take them out to the kitchen. Mom and I can watch them and you can sleep." The golden glow on her face was so beautiful that Nathan couldn't help leaning down to kiss her gently on the forehead.

Elizabeth's eyes widened. "You would do that? You have to be as tired as I am," she said, yawning hugely.

"I'm not having to provide their breakfast," Nathan said. "We need to keep your strength up."

Elizabeth laughed softly. "I must admit I'm feeling like a kindred spirit to Lizzie the cow these days."

Nathan couldn't stifle the full laugh that escaped, and of course, Becca stirred and began to cry.

Still laughing, Nathan planted a full kiss on Elizabeth. "Now you've done it, Lizzie," he said, throwing back the covers.

"It's always such a miracle when we get them both fed at the same time, and can get some real sleep," Nathan said to Rebecca, sipping on his coffee.

Jack was on an early-morning nature walk with Carson, and Nathan and Rebecca sat at the harvest table, each with a twin asleep on their chests – Rebecca with Becca and Nathan with Nate. They would say it was a random choice, but each loved that the child they held shared their name.

"You say that as if I don't know exactly what you're talking about," Rebecca said, raising an eyebrow. "I never could get you and Sarah on the same schedule. I'd feed one of you, and the minute I closed my eyes, the other one would commence wailing."

Nathan laughed softly. "Does it help if I apologize now?"

Rebecca nodded. "It does. And they say that your children never really appreciate what you've done for them until they have children of their own." She looked down at a sleeping Becca. "They're such good babies," Rebecca said softly, kissing Becca on her soft curls. Unlike Jack, who was born a blonde and had stayed that way, Nate and Becca seemed to have inherited their father's dark hair, curls and all.

Nathan had the look that seemed permanently stamped on his face these days; an appealing mix of wonder, unbridled joy and a softness that Rebecca loved. He looked directly at her, his eyebrows raised and eyes wide. "I can't believe they're mine, Mom. I would stand in front of a... a train for them. For Elizabeth, for Allie, for Jack." He shook his head, looking down at Nate. "I didn't know there was this much love in me."

Rebecca laughed, and tears began to form in her eyes. "It's always been there." She reached her free hand out and laid it on her son's hand. "Seeing you like this makes me happier than I can ever remember being." She tilted her head. "And these two remind me so much of you and Sarah. Two little dark curly-headed blue-eyed babies." She looked up at Nathan and smiled. "What a road you have ahead of you. What a wonderful road..." A tear slipped down her cheek, and she brushed it away unselfconsciously.

Nathan put his hand over hers. "We're going to need help, Mom."

When Rebecca looked up, she could see that Nathan's eyes were very blue. She narrowed her own eyes slightly at him. "Don't pity me, Nathan."

Nathan took a breath and nodded. "Okay, no pity. Just practicality. Two newborns, a toddler, an adolescent girl, a Mountie's job, Elizabeth still healing, and a farm to run. How do we manage all that?"

If Nathan knew anything, he knew his mother. She wouldn't respond to his wanting to help her through her grief, but she would respond to him needing her. The two of them stared each other down for a long moment, and finally, Rebecca raised one eyebrow. Nathan could have been looking in a mirror, because he was doing exactly the same thing.

Finally, Rebecca allowed a short laugh to escape. "You're playing me, and that's okay, because you're doing a fine job of it," she said. She nodded and said, "You don't even know how much help you're going to need, and I already promised I'd come do that for a while." She smiled softly at her son. "But I don't get the feeling you're only talking about a while."

Nathan gave her just the hint of a smile back as he contrived to straighten Nate's little gown. "Only until they're... oh... about... twenty?" He looked up and blessed Rebecca with his most charming crooked smile.

Rebecca shook her head, smiling. "I know you're not going to like hearing this, but you've got some of your father in you, boy. That's the look that Archie would give me and I couldn't say no to save my life."

Nathan laughed. "Well, I can hear it a little easier now that I know him so well and I can see he's reformed." He looked seriously at his mother. "He really has, Mom. I know every day that he regrets everything he lost. He's so good with Allie and Jack, and he helps in really important ways with the farm." Nathan sighed and frowned a little. "I've let myself love him again, and..." Nathan closed his eyes and shook his head. "You realize when you allow yourself to love someone, how much energy it took to keep from doing it."

Rebecca smiled and raised her eyebrows. "That is a very wise thing to say, Nathan."

Nathan laughed softly, "Yeah, that's me. Wise. I did everything I could to keep Allie away from Archie, and I almost turned my back on Elizabeth a few times. Sometimes I think I'm just lucky people don't give up on me too easily."

"They don't give up on you because they know you're worth it," Rebecca said softly. "You're a good man. And that's the finest compliment I can give you."

Nathan smiled back at his mother. "Thanks, Mom. That means everything coming from you." Sighing, Nathan said, "You know, I think not being right is one of the hardest lessons for me to learn." Smiling, he said, "Elizabeth has helped me with that. She just asks me, gently, to step off of a position for a minute, to look at it. And if I still think it's right, she'll support me. But most of the time, we come to the right answer together."

Rebecca's eyes softened. "I don't think I've ever seen a better marriage, Nathan." She raised her eyebrows. "Or two people more in love." Looking down, she could see that Becca's eyes were open and she was simply taking in the world around her. She cradled her granddaughter and moved her down off of her chest and into her arms. "And Lord above, you two make spectacular children," she said to Becca, nuzzling the soft folds of her neck.

Rebecca looked up at Nathan and took a deep breath. "Yes. I'll come with you. The hands can run this ranch just fine without me for a time. I'm not promising anything, but I don't look forward to walking around, and eating meals, and watching the fire in the evenings without Charlie. I'll be better off being busy..." she looked down again at Becca, whose bright blue eyes were following her every word, "...and I know these two will keep me plenty busy."

"I love you, Mom," Nathan said, softly.

Rebecca reached out and cupped her hand on his cheek. "No sweeter words a mother can hear," she said. "I love you, too, Nathan."

When Elizabeth finally emerged from the bedroom after three luxurious hours of uninterrupted sleep, she found Nathan and Rebecca lying on the floor on a huge quilt they'd spread out in front of the fireplace. The twins were between them while they talked softly. Nathan's finger was being held tightly by Becca's tiny hand, and she was just now beginning to stretch her neck in the way she did when she was hungry. Nate, who was quickly emerging as the laid-back twin, was looking up into Rebecca's eyes, and curling his fists in her long ponytail.

"Well, that's a picture," Elizabeth said softly. She was cradling her breasts with a slightly pained look on her face. Raising an eyebrow, she said, "I don't know if they're ready to eat, but I'm ready for them to..." She sat down on the sofa and began arranging pillows around her.

Nathan and Rebecca were quick to respond. Rebecca especially. "Oh, I remember that feeling..." she said, laughing softly as she placed Nate on one of the pillows. Nathan looked at his mother and said, "I've been given other frames of reference, and it doesn't sound too comfortable." He settled Becca on the pillow on Elizabeth's other side. Within moments, Elizabeth's face relaxed and she sighed, closing her eyes and leaning back on the sofa. "I promise, I will never make Lizzie wait to be milked again..."

Rebecca laughed out loud. "And to think I worried for about a half a second before I met you that you might be a Hamilton princess." She leaned down and kissed Elizabeth's cheek. "You are a treasure."

Nathan was already heading into the kitchen. "Mom, you still have herb tea?" he asked, although he was pretty sure he knew the answer.

Rebecca tilted her head at her son, heading into the kitchen to help him. "When have I not had fresh dried chamomile flowers in this kitchen, Nathan? And you know how to make the tea," she said, pointing to the kettle with hot water on the back of the stove.

Nathan looked back at her and narrowed his eyes slightly, and she laughed. "You sure you want me to come live with you?"

"Ooh, good! You're coming?" Elizabeth said from the sofa.

"Yes, honey, I'm coming," Rebecca said.

"The house isn't built yet, but Nathan said it shouldn't take long," Elizabeth said, adjusting Nate slightly.

"You're building me a house?" Rebecca said, raising her eyebrows suspiciously at Nathan.

Nathan was suddenly engrossed in pouring the hot water over the chamomile flowers he'd found in a tin on the counter. "Not your house, just a house. For anyone who might need it." He shot Elizabeth a look and she said quickly, "Yes, for anyone. My parents, or... anyone," she said, trailing off a little feebly.

Luckily for Elizabeth and Nathan, Carson chose that moment to come through the door with Jack, who was clutching two bunches of fresh wildflowers, one in each hand.

"Mama," he said proudly, holding one bunch out for her. Elizabeth took them and said, "Awww, my sweet boy. Thank you!" But by then, Jack had moved on from the flowers and was solemnly giving a kiss on the head to Nate and Becca, one right after the other. "Babies," he said softly. Once he was certain they were okay, he turned to Rebecca.

"Gamma, flowers..." he said, reaching the second bunch up to her.

Carson took off his coat and put it on the rack at the door. "The flowers were his idea," he said, grinning. "And there's certainly no shortage of them out there." Carson looked at Rebecca and sighed. "I forgot how beautiful this ranch was."

Rebecca nodded. "It is beautiful." She tilted her head at Carson. "And so is Hope Valley, as I remember."

With a nod, Carson said, "That it is." His eyes went soft, and everyone knew he was thinking of Faith. Everyone also knew that Carson was the one who had given up the most for the side trip to Airdrie. He would be in Faith's arms this minute if they hadn't detoured.

Rebecca took a deep breath. "I can be ready in an hour or two. Nathan, if you can ride out and ask Seth to meet me here as soon as possible, I would appreciate it. I'll give him instructions..." Rebecca muttered, "...as if he needs any. The boy runs this ranch as it is..."

Nathan handed Elizabeth her tea and kissed her softly. Then he bent and kissed Nate and Becca. In truth, he was looking forward to a ride after all the days cooped up in the car. But because he knew that Elizabeth was also deeply missing riding, he just gave a breezy nod to his mother.

"Sure, I can do that," he said casually. He looked down at Elizabeth and she grinned at him.

"Enjoy yourself, my love," she said as he ran out the door, letting him know she knew how anxious he was to take Sunset up to a canter.

Carson, clearly pleased at the way things were progressing, looked around the room. He raised an eyebrow. "We seem to be missing someone," he said.

Elizabeth laughed softly. "Oh, let him sleep up to the very last minute." She looked up at Rebecca. "Thomas has been incredible. He's driven more miles than I can count, without a moment's complaint. That feather bed must feel like heaven to him right now."

Carson nodded. "He deserves it." His eyes brightened. "And I miss Faith so much that I might just drive us all to Hope Valley myself."

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows and looked down at Nate and Becca. "We're going home," she whispered.