To Elizabeth's disappointment but not total surprise, Jack only kissed her cheek after their date. But, it had been perfect, especially when he asked if he could bring her lunch on Monday.

By Sunday morning, she was missing him so she texted bright and early.

"Can we sit 2gether at church?" she asked.

"Sure," he texted back. "C u soon."

Jack and the girls showed up just as the opening hymn started playing. Mollie sat on one side of Elizabeth and Jack, with Cassidy in his arms, sniffling, sat on the other side of her.

"Rough morning?" she whispered.

"Yeah."

Cassidy whimpered. "I need to go potty."

Elizabeth took Cassidy from him and carried her to the bathroom. After she came back out of the stall and washed her hands, Elizabeth took a paper towel and cool water and softly washed her face. "Better?"

"Yeah. Thank you."

"Let's go back out there, okay?"

Cassidy nodded but a tear escaped her eye.

"It'll be okay, sweetie."

As they listened to the thirty minute sermon by Pastor Hogan, Cassidy drifted off to sleep back in Jack's arms. Mollie kept busy drawing pictures while she listened.

"So what happened this morning?" Elizabeth asked quietly while she made them lunch a bit later at their house.

"She is missing Tom alot and she asked if we could go visit my parents but I can't leave work right now. Telling her no right before church probably wasn't smart."

Elizabeth was glad then that Charlotte and Tom were planning to visit in a week. However, it was supposed to be a surprise birthday thing for Jack so she couldn't tell him.

"You didn't know how she would react, Jack."

"I guess not. I just want them to be happy and I can't always do everything they want."

"That's the hard part about being a parent, I'd imagine.."

He nodded. "Time for lunch, monkeys."

"No thank you," Cassidy said as she lay on the floor by PB and Jay. She was stroking their fur and Jack was pretty sure if dogs could purr, they'd be doing that.

"She didn't eat breakfast either," he whispered to Elizabeth. "Cass, even if you're not hungry, I'd like you to come to the table and sit with us," he told her.

Cass got up obediently, her arms crossed and sat at her spot, staring at her plate.

"Everybody take hands," Jack said as he started praying.

"Father, we pray to you today, asking for blessings. Please bless Miss Elizabeth and this food that she made for us. Bless Nanna and Grandpa in Hartford. Bless Mollie Bear and Cassidy, Father. Help them to know I am here for them if they need to talk about their Dad. Help them to remember the good, happy times with him so they aren't so sad. We also ask that you bless this day. Through your son's name, Amen."

"Amen," everyone said, tears in their eyes. Cassidy stood up and reached for Jack, begging to be picked up. He of course did so and held her close.

"Hold me tighter, Uncle Jack. Like Daddy. I miss him."

Elizabeth felt herself fall a little deeper for Jack and those lovely girls after his prayer. She didn't know Tommy but she sure felt like she did. Her heart ached for this family.

"Miss Elizabeth?" Mollie asked, wiping her eyes.

"Oh, sweetie." Elizabeth picked her up and rocked back and forth. "What was yours and Cassidy's favorite thing to do with Daddy?"

"We built a snowman when he came home at Christmas. He always made it so tall and put a hat and scarf on him and gave him sticks for arms," Mollie told her.

"He made him talk," Cassidy remembered. "Funny voices like when he read to us."

"That sounds so fun!"

"It was. Will you build a snowman with us, Miss Elizabeth?" Cassidy asked her, a smile back on her face.

"As soon as it snows, of course I will."

After lunch, the girls went down for a nap and Elizabeth readied herself to leave.

"Will you stay?" Jack asked from behind her in the kitchen.

"Why?" she asked, knowing but wanting him to admit it.

"Because, I'd like to spend time with you, Beth. Just you and me."

"Sure." She put the leftovers in his refrigerator and looked in his cupboards.

"Coffee?" he asked, reading her thoughts.

"I'd love some." He reached past her, stepping close, laying his non-reaching hand on her waist.

As they waited for the coffee to brew, she impulsively stepped forward about three inches and wrapped her arms around his waist. He sighed, encompassing her in his strong arms.

"Thank you," he whispered. "For being here. Its so hard to see them hurting."

"How are you, Jack?" She felt him stiffen but she kept her arms around him.

"I was talking about the girls."

"I'm talking about you. He was your best friend. Your brother. I can see the pain in your eyes too." He stepped back and grabbed cream from the fridge so he wouldn't have to look at her. "What did you and Tommy do together for fun?"

"Everything. He was the best," he shrugged, feeling his nose start to burn. Then the tears filled his eyes.

"Fishing?" she asked.

"Yeah. And basketball. And we double dated. He could really kick my butt in chess. That game, I swear. I thought I knew how to play it but not as well as him." Jack shook his head. "I don't have him to talk to anymore. I miss that more than anything. Letters, emails, phone calls, Skype. He was always there."

"Who else do you hang out with? Guys from the station? Cousins or…"

"I don't hang out, Elizabeth. I work. I come home."

"What's that they say? 'All work and no play…'"

"Funny."

"I'd love to be your best friend, Jack. In many ways, you're already that for me."

"But...I want more than that," he whispered.

"Me too but...we have to go slow, remember?"

"Yeah, about that whole slow thing...I changed my mind."

She stepped toward him again, taking a cup of coffee. "I thought it was a woman's prerogative to change her mind."

He impulsively leaned down, kissing her forehead and then, trailing his lips to her temple and cheek. "I really really like you, Elizabeth Thatcher," he whispered.

She put her cup down and stood on her toes, pressing her lips to his and slipping her arms around his neck. It was lovely and soft and he tasted good and neither of them moved fast. It was slow and wonderful.

"You are my best friend," he mumbled against her hair, a long moment later, holding her and never wanting to let go.

But… "Uncle Jack?" Cassidy said, breaking their moment.

"I thought you were in bed, monkey," he said, leaving Elizabeth and kneeling in front of Cassidy.

"I had a bad dream. Will you hold me?"

He picked her up, not hesitating and again, Elizabeth felt her heart fall deeper for this little family.

….

"I'm in deep, Clara," she told her that night. "He said we need to go slow but the minute he said he changed his mind, I jumped. What if he really isn't ready?"

"I think you should go for it. Take his cues and kiss him as much as you want."

"I'm not sure that is helpful."

"What do you want me to say, Beth? This is a terrible idea? Drop him like a rock? He doesn't need you?"

Elizabeth sighed. "I need him as much as he needs me."

"There you go."

"And those girls? I love them already. All I want to do is shield them from enduring any more hurt."

That was the honest truth. To see them smile, which Cass did easier and more often than Mollie, made her feel like they would be okay. They just needed a bit of help.

"Beth? I need to go. Can we talk tomorrow?"

"Sure. Give Canyon a kiss for me."

"I will."

…

The next morning…

Jack was in deep too. He didn't have anyone to talk to about it though. Lee walked by his desk and Jack's mind went to Elizabeth teasing him, "All work and no play…"

"Lee," he blurted.

"Yes, Captain?"

"Just Jack, please."

"Sir, we're at work and I'm a lieutenant…"

"Yes, well...I just...do you play basketball?"

"Sometimes?" he said, confused.

"I thought maybe we could play a little one on one? This week sometime."

"Sure, sir. I can do that."

"Great. Its a plan. Maybe Wednesday night? Island Park?"

"Okay. Good." Lee nodded and left the room.

Jack nodded and grabbed his keys. He was on patrol again but first, he needed coffee.

As he walked past Elizabeth's store, he could see her dusting inside. He glanced at his watch. 9:45. She didn't open for fifteen.

Before he could stop himself, he knocked on her door. She looked up and smiled and then walked over to let him in.

"Hey."

"Hey, Beth."

"Going to get coffee?"

"Yeah. I guess I'm predictable."

"Nothing wrong with that."

"Maybe."

"You seem different today," she mentioned, putting her rag down and walking up to him.

"Different? How?"

"Relaxed maybe?"

He smiled and slipped his arm around her waist. Pulling her closer. "I'm trying to not be so predictable today. For instance…" He bent down and kissed her slowly.

"Nice. What else?"

He kissed her again. "I asked a guy at work if he wanted to play basketball Wednesday after work."

"Good for you, Jack. I'm proud of you. Oh! And I can pick the girls up from Abigail's. We can watch movies and make cookies and do our nails."

He stared into her eyes for a moment, giving her goosebumps. "What?"

"You're amazing."

"Why?" she asked, feeling her cheeks grow hot.

"Everything. I mean, the moment you and your dogs ran past me on the beach….you cared. You shouldn't have, because I was a jerk when I pulled you over. But...you asked me if I wanted to talk and you brought me dinner."

She shrugged and stepped back. "You looked like you needed a friend."

"I did and….the girls. You're awesome with them and they talk about you constantly."

She picked up the duster and started again. "I love them. Its that simple."

"You're gonna be a great mom one day."

"I hope so." She turned and he saw her eyes, wet with tears.

"Hey, why the tears?"

"Its what I want, Jack. I have my store and now….I want what everyone else has. I feel selfish." She wiped her tears. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything." If anything, the conversation was probably going to scare him off. So much for slow.

He walked over and wrapped his arms around her. "You're not selfish, Beth. Wanting a family is normal."

"Before the girls...did you want that?"

"I did way back with Faith. And then not again until I had the girls. Now...I can see it. I even had a daydream of sorts. Two little curly-haired, blue-eyed boys. I don't have blue eyes or curly hair."

She chuckled.

"What?"

"I'm not sure if I should say."

"Tell me."

"I have curly hair and blue eyes."

"Your hair is straight as a board."

"I flat-iron it daily, Jack. Otherwise, tight, dark curls."

Jack felt his heart fall to his stomach. Of course she did.

"Jack, don't freak out. It doesn't mean anything that the little boys in your dream had those things."

"I, uh...I need to get on patrol." He kissed her cheek and stepped back.

"I'll call you later. Okay?"

"Need coffee. Bye."

She did call him that night but he didn't pick up. Then she texted. No response. There could be a hundred reasons why he didn't but her gut told her that they had gone back to just friends.