Thank you for all who have supported this wonderful process. I love improving my writing skills by practicing my new obsession. I am glad I learned how to integrate the chapters to make it easier to read. Also, I don't remember when Jack's birthday was or whether it was ever mentioned on the show. For purposes of this story, we are saying it was in April.

From Elizabeth's Journal

I don't have a lot of time to write anymore. Between raising children, teaching, and sustaining a household there isn't a lot of time in the day. I am lucky having a husband who helps out with the cooking and chores as much as possible. Still and all, I was happy when Rosemary offered to host Easter for the Coulters, the Grants, and all of our friends. Six months pregnant and I feel as though I could deliver tomorrow. Carson keeps saying there is only one heartbeat, but twins can really be the only logical explanation. He wants me to see a doctor in Union City who is a specialist in obstetrics. Nathan and I would have to drive there and spend the night in a hotel or something. I've tried to downplay how frightened I really am about all of this.

Abbey had no sooner recovered when Jack was running on the ice and broke his arm. The boy is such a trooper that he barely even cried! Carson put his arm in a sling and it was so frustrating for Jack because he couldn't play ball or ride his horse for six weeks and he had to do his schoolwork with his left hand. On a positive note, he read a lot of new books!

Abbey insisted on wearing her ruffled Easter dress to Lee and Rosemary's house. Jack on the other hand couldn't wait to get out of the dreaded "church clothes."

Elizabeth had gotten a surprise two weeks earlier when her sister, Julie had called and said she was coming to spend Easter with them. Tom had not accompanied her and she gave no explanation why. She walked ahead of them as they walked to the Coulter house with Jack and Abbey beside her. She couldn't get enough of her niece and nephew and they loved her.

The Coulter's new house had a huge dining room with an expansive oval table. The children, with the exception of Jesse and Clara's infant son sat at a smaller adjacent table. Julie was the only adult who voluntarily sat at the kid's table.

Elizabeth pushed her plate away, unable to eat another bite.

"Rosemary, the ham was delicious. I cannot eat anymore. There's no more room in there."

"So, do you think it's twins?" Julie said

from the children's table. Remember, Great Aunt Edith had twin boys."

Elizabeth and Nathan had not told anyone twins were a possibility. Elizabeth

looked across the table at Carson and Faith and gave them both a pleading look.

" We are not having twins. Carson, please tell everyone it's not conclusive yet."

" Well, you have to admit, you are larger then when you had Abbey," Nathan said.

Elizabeth stood up and gave her husband a lethal look. "With that comment, Nathan Grant you will be sleeping outdoors tonight."

"Nathan I shouldn't have to give you this advise, but you never ever say anything to a pregnant woman regarding her weight", Lucas said.

"I'd second that. Come to think of it, don't say anything to your wife about her weight. Period." Lee added.

"You know, men think they're funny, but trust me, you're not," Elizabeth told them.

"Is she okay?" Lee asked Rosemary.

"She's fine. She pregnant and overly emotional. Elizabeth. Kitchen. Now."

Elizabeth walked behind Rosemary with Julie trailing after them.

"So, what is really bothering you, Elizabeth. You aren't really going to make Nathan sleep in the barn, are you?"

"No, but let's just say our bed may be cold for several nights to come."

"Elizabeth Thatcher Thornton Grant. I know you and I don't believe for one minute that you would do that to your husband. What is really bothering you?"

"Rosemary, I cannot believe you didn't remember. April 1st. It's Jack's birthday."

Rosemary immediately embraced her friend. "Oh, Elizabeth. I am so sorry. I completely forgot. Listen, I will go with you to the cemetery tomorrow..."

"No, Rosemary that's not necessary. I'll go alone or I'll take Jack if he wants to go. Today is Easter. It's a day for renewal and rejoicing. Let's just get on with this. The kids are all looking forward to the egg hunt."

"I put Jack in charge since he's the oldest child," Julie said.

"We'll see how that goes," Elizabeth told her.

The children were gathered in the yard with their baskets, ready to begin searching for eggs. Jack was in the middle of all the action, directing all of the other children. Then he took his own basket and began running off with the others.

Elizabeth stopped him in mid stride. "Jack. You were the one who hid the eggs so you can't very well go looking for them. Right?"

Her son looked at her and then nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I can help Abbey look, though, can't I?"

"Maybe just guide her in the right direction."

Lucas had promised a gold dollar to the child who found the most colored eggs. With Jack's help, Abbey was the one who gathered the most. She was running toward the house with her basket full of eggs when she tripped and fell on the walkway, her eggs spilling to the ground as she burst into tears.

Elizabeth ran to her daughter, wiping away her tears.

"Mommy, I hurted my knee," she wailed

"It's okay, sweetie. Daddy can carry you into the house and Dr Faith and Dr Carson will get you all patched up."

"You can have some of my eggs, Abbey," Joseph Coulter said to her.

"That's very sweet of you, Joseph," Elizabeth said.

"I think my son has a little crush on Abbey, Elizabeth," Rosemary said.

"He's five and she's three, Rosemary. I think we can hold off on the matchmaking for fifteen or twenty years."

Later that night after she'd read to the children and they were both asleep, Elizabeth sat downstairs trying to write in her journal. Jack had said he wanted to come to the cemetery with her tomorrow but she hated subjecting the boy to her sadness. When he was a babe in arms, or when he was one or two or three it had been different. Now he was seven. He was old enough to understand.

Nathan came up behind her and kissed the back of her neck.

"Elizabeth, I'm so sorry about that comment at dinner earlier. I didn't mean anything by it"

"No need to apologize. You were only stating what's quite obvious. If you had called me a beached whale, that would have been accurate."

Nathan actually laughed. "I would never say that. You're carrying our baby or babies. You could never be more beautiful to me, Elizabeth."

"Keep talking. Maybe your side of the bed will be warm tonight after all."

Julie stayed at the house with Abbey the following day while Nathan drove Elizabeth and Jack to the cemetery. He understood that the two of them needed to do this alone and sat in the car and waited for them.

Elizabeth let Jack place lilies on his father's gravestone.

"Happy birthday, Jack Thornton. I have a new life now. Nathan is a good, good man and you would approve of him. He's a wonderful father to Jack and to our daughters. I love him Jack, but there will always be a piece of my heart that will belong to you."

Elizabeth wipes tears away as her son began to speak.

"Hi, Daddy. I'm seven now. I have a horse named Star. My other dad, Nathan is teaching me to ride her. I'm doing second grade work in school because I was so far ahead in my reading."

Elizabeth managed to smile. "Your son is modest too, Jack. We both love you and will never, ever forget you."

One Week Later

Elizabeth came home from her appointment with Carson in stunned disbelief. Not that this wasn't unexpected. It was still overwhelming.

Nathan was in the kitchen making dinner for the kids who were currently chasing one another around the house.

"Hey. How was your appointment? Is something wrong?"

She could barely get the words out. "Two heartbeats. We are definitely having twins."

Authors note: After beginning this story, I fell at work and fractured my shoulder. It's been a week, but the pain is still there. I am muddling through, but writing with one hand is a challenge! FYI my injury occurred after I wrote about Jack's broken arm in this story.