The small group of travelers made it to Hope Valley that evening, and the welcome they received was something the likes of which Thomas had never seen in his life.

They'd made good time, and although Carson had offered, Thomas felt like driving after his long, comfortable sleep in the feather bed in Airdrie. It was significantly more crowded in the Pullman with Rebecca and her luggage, but what was also very evident to Thomas was the increased level of energy as they moved ever closer to Hope Valley.

Carson had called Faith the minute they'd arrived at the Post Office in Airdrie to let her know what time they thought they would be there. Not only did he want badly to hear her voice, but Carson also wanted to be sure Faith had everything she needed to put them through her tests out on the main road at the boundary to the town.

What Faith hadn't counted on, and what Thomas could never have dreamed of, was the crowd that began gathering. It started with Florence and Molly and Clara, who simply couldn't wait to get their hands on those babies. Then Julie and Rosemary wandered over with Violet. Lucas, with his usual thoughtfulness, had chairs brought out from the saloon for the ladies' comfort. Allie and Archie, with Jessie, Stella, Laura and most of Elizabeth's classroom were next, and as it began to take on the atmosphere of the Founder's Day Carnival, Bill had Clara and Stella set up some tables with lemonade and popcorn.

The only thing missing was the brass band. Rosemary tried to suggest they get their instruments, but Hickam dawdled, and before they knew it, a dust cloud in the distance let them know the car was nearing the town.

A cheer went up, and for a time it was pure torture for all parties on either side of the town limits as first Carson, and then, one by one, the travelers were cleared. Faith and Carson wanted to hug and kiss each other more than could be expressed, but both set an example by waiting until the standard questions had been asked, "have you had a fever, cold, or aches?" and the thermometer had done its duty. Once Carson had been given the go-ahead, he got his hug and kiss, and then he began helping Faith to screen the others. Before much time had gone by, the large group of townspeople had enveloped the occupants of the Pullman into a sea of Hope Valley love.

Not surprisingly, most popular were Elizabeth holding Nate and Nathan with Becca. Nate slept through the early greetings, noise and all, and Becca simply stared, undaunted, with her perfect mouth set in a perpetual O, her deep blue eyes blinking, looking prettier than a baby should ever hope to look.

Archie and Allie were the first to get hugs, and Allie took Jack's hand as the two of them walked with Jessie. Jack told them all about the trip in their special language, and they told Jack everything that had happened while he was gone.

Archie went right to Rebecca. "I'm so sorry, Beck," Archie said, his face a mask of compassion. "I loved him too."

Rebecca put her arms around him, the tears starting. "I know you did, Arch." She pulled away and took a deep breath. "If he had to go, it was the best way possible. He was with his people."

Archie nodded. "Glad you decided to come. Thought you might have decided to be stubborn and stay on the ranch."

A small smile broke through Rebecca's tears. "And when, Archie Grant, have you ever known me to be stubborn?"

Laughing, Archie looked over at Nathan, surrounded by the group that had already fallen in love with Becca. "Twins," he said simply, his eyebrows raised. He looked back at Rebecca and she smiled back at him. "Twins," she said softly.

Slowly, the group began its walk toward the Queen of Hearts, which is where they all knew they were going. Lucas and Bill had already anticipated the movement and were transferring the chairs and refreshments indoors. It was just coming up on the dinner hour, and the travelers were hungry and tired. Gustav, always aware of any need for sustenance, had anticipated a crowd and had a huge pot of stew ready, with plenty of fresh-baked bread.

Everyone else in the car had imagined some version of this welcome, but Thomas was stunned speechless. He was not only greeted as a member of the traveling party, but everyone was shaking his hand, thanking him for his kindness, vigilance and service. He lost count of the number of times he heard his name spoken by a stranger who was clapping him on the back and telling him how much they appreciated what he'd done.

It would be impossible to relay here every conversation, every embrace, all the tear-filled eyes, and how full-to-bursting Nathan and Elizabeth's hearts were to be home again.

Apart from the townspeople's love for each other, there was so much gratitude in the air; Carson for Faith's steadfast and exhaustive attention to everyone's health, Nathan for Bill's unwavering watchfulness as his replacement in the Mountie office, Elizabeth's appreciation of Laura's caretaking of the children. Everyone was simultaneously happy about Violet's upcoming adoption by the Coulters, and sad for the loss of Frances. The same was true of their joy at seeing Rebecca with her beautiful grandchildren, while still mourning the loss of Charlie, who had managed to work his way into the heart of the town in a very short time.

But there was food, and music, and there were so many stories to tell; about what had happened in Hope Valley while the travelers had been gone, and all that had happened in Hamilton and Airdrie.

And at the center of it all, the newest residents of Hope Valley – Nathan William and Rebecca Julia Grant. They were the stars of the show, and they bore the responsibility with grace and very little fussing. The two babies were passed from loving arms to loving arms, and if they could understand how many times they were called exquisite, stunning, magnificent, and every other adjective possible, they would have known beyond a shadow of a doubt what little miracles they were.

Of course, hunger won't wait, no matter how many compliments you receive, so when they began to need a calm, quiet place, Elizabeth kissed Nathan and told him she was going to the sitting room at Abigail's to feed them. She tapped Rosemary, who brought Violet, and Allie, who brought Jack, and they walked over together.

Inevitably, they were joined by Florence, Molly, Rebecca and Clara, who seemed to be hypnotically pulled to the twins. So except for Jack, Abigail's sitting room was filled with women, and Elizabeth was reminded of a time not too long ago.

As the women chatted and some played with the children on the floor, Elizabeth looked at Florence, Molly and Clara, and they all knew what she was remembering. A time in this very sitting room, when things had been so different. Elizabeth's grief had been so raw right after Jack died and they had sat with her, talking of their own process of moving through the loss of their husbands. They had assured her there was a better time for her on the horizon, and though it had been hard for her to believe at the time, Elizabeth knew now that every word they'd spoken had been true.

She looked at each of them in turn and her eyes filled. The love of these women, all of them, had gotten her through. Having just been in Hamilton, Elizabeth was more aware than ever of how hard life could be in a frontier town. She remembered her first moments in Hope Valley, with Florence and Molly and Abigail, and how they had allowed her to find her way. Then, they, along with Clara, had shown her a path for her grief, and now, without Abigail, they celebrated with her in this glorious happiness.

Time heals. People come and go. And through it all, joy finds a way.

Nathan remembered what it was like to come home to Hope Valley after his time in Airdrie. He remembered every time he'd come home, actually, even from a night away in Brookfield or Buxton. But this was so different.

It had been a long time since Nathan had felt this kind of concept of home, and in a way, he wondered now if he'd ever really understood it.

Airdrie had always been home, but it had so many colors; of his childhood and innocence of the ways of the world, his natural desire for independence and to break away as a young adult, and especially, the loss of Sarah and watching his father go to prison. Airdrie held all of that for him and always would.

But Hope Valley, now inseparably joined with Elizabeth and the children, with its people and its traditions, and with the joy he saw all around him, made him understand something.

They were all threads in this tapestry. Each one a different color, a different texture, each necessary and unique – and when you stood back from it, they comprised a whole, beautiful picture.

Nathan had found a corner of the saloon, as he often did in gatherings like this, where he could observe. He knew it couldn't last long, because very soon someone would find him. But for now, he looked around him.

He knew many of the women were with Elizabeth, drawn like magnets to her and to the twins, so what he saw was heavily weighted to the side of the men. Nathan had lived primarily with women growing up, his father absent and with no brothers. The Mounties were a brotherhood and Nathan knew that in part he was drawn to the profession for that aspect of it, but now he knew his life here in Hope Valley was also filled with the influence of the men around him.

His father, of course, now a part of the tapestry, and the man Nathan always hoped he would be. Bill, who was emerging as a valued mentor and friend, with strong overtones as a supportive, fatherly figure in his life. Lee, solid and steady, with an ability to talk on any subject while still being the best of listeners. Lucas, who couldn't be more different from Nathan, but who was rapidly establishing himself as a person Nathan could trust and who made him laugh, a man he admired for his ability to move through the stereotypes he'd been saddled with in a new town.

Then, as he looked around, he saw Hickam huddled with Stella, both of them obviously in the throes of budding love. Jesse, fully adjusted to married life, and as close to a brother as Lee could have. Ned and Gustav, both solid as rocks and such necessary parts of the weaving of the town. Kevin with Fiona, talking to Carson and Faith, the four of them looking like the natural future of Hope Valley for many years to come.

"You let me know if you want to stay in whatever world you're in right now, and I'll just mosey along..." came a voice behind him.

Nathan turned and Bill was grinning at him. It was a face and a presence Nathan knew he would never want to turn away. He put his arm lightly around Bill and grinned back. "This is quite a town," Nathan said, taking a deep breath.

Bill raised an eyebrow. "You're just figuring that out?"

Nathan chuckled. "It's been dawning on me slowly," he said, looking back out at the celebration.

They both looked for a while in silence. Then Bill took hold of Nathan's shoulder. "They missed you."

Nathan smiled gratefully at Bill. "It's a good thing, because it became pretty clear that I'm not a Hamilton man."

Bill laughed. "Ah, yes. And how did you leave it with your in-laws? It sounded like William started to warm to you?"

Nathan nodded, "They both did, and I warmed to them. They're good people, and they love their daughter. I don't need much more than that." Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Elizabeth's sister Viola never got past the lukewarm stage. I don't really have the right pedigree for her, I'm afraid."

"How much time did you spend out in the stables?" Bill asked, cutting to the chase.

Nathan laughed. "Way too much time, but..." he turned to Bill, "...have you been there?"

"Never had the pleasure," Bill said.

Nathan raised his eyebrows. "It's something. The stablemaster, James, is my age, and..." Nathan nodded to Bill, "...in another life? That would be a place I'd love. Money is no object, and those horses are cared for better than a lot of people I know. They have a Friesian dray horse there, King John, who is this tall..." He put his hand up above his shoulders, "...just a massive head, and such a baby..." Nathan looked at Bill, who was smiling with his eyes narrowed.

Nathan stopped, hearing himself. With anyone else, he would be saying, "What?" right about now. But not with Bill. Nathan smiled back and shrugged, raising his eyebrows.

"I missed you, Nathan," Bill said softly. He looked out to the saloon and all the people in it to cover the tiny wave of self-consciousness he was feeling. "And I don't miss many people." Bill took a breath and said, "You remember the conversation we had at Christmas on your front porch?" Bill asked, still looking at the crowd.

Nathan nodded. He remembered every word. It was when Bill had told him that he was glad Elizabeth had Nathan to watch over her. It felt like a passing of the torch, a way for Bill to let him know that he trusted Nathan with his most prized possessions.

"I seem to recall that I let you know that you had my respect, and that I was glad to see Elizabeth feeling joy in her life again," Bill said. He raised his chin slightly and looked at Nathan. "I want to tell you now..." he paused for a moment, trying to find the right words. "...I guess I want to just say that I'm glad you're my friend. Apart from Jack Thornton, apart from Elizabeth, and apart from little Jack. It stands alone, Nathan. Our friendship."

For a man who generally had trouble speaking his feelings anyway, Nathan was simply unable to form a coherent sentence. How much this meant to him couldn't be understated, and he was horrified to find himself blinking back a trace of tears. Embarrassed, he looked down at his shoes. "And I seem to recall," he said, forcing his voice to cooperate, "you also said I shouldn't go soft on you." Nathan gently nudged the wall molding with his foot, trying to regain his composure. "You're not making that easy, Bill."

Bill looked back out at the large room and gave Nathan time. In truth, he was giving himself a little bit of time too. Finally, Bill spoke.

"So. Nathan William," Bill said casually. "And we're going to let Elizabeth's father think it's for him, but we know who that little boy is really named for, right?"

Nathan grinned, still looking down at his shoes. "Right." Nathan looked over, feeling more in control. "We always want you in his life, Bill."

Snorting, Bill said, "As if you could keep me out of it..."

Nathan laughed and said softly, "As if we could."

Bill finished off his beer and placed it on a nearby table. "Well, Constable Grant," he said, reaching his hand out. "I hereby transfer the duties of Constable of Hope Valley back into your capable hands." He winked. "And good riddance. I'm tired of climbing up that tree for Esther Sutherland's cat."

Laughing, Nathan said, "A Mountie's work is never done, Bill. You should know that."