"Wasn't tonight fun, Jack?" Ally looked down at Little Jack, who was holding tight to Ally's hand. "I think the singing went quite well."
Elizabeth also looked down at Jack. It had been a very long day and Jack had to be exhausted. Her little boy was hanging in there. "You all sounded so beautiful up there. You also were a bit happier this year, Ally."
"That's because Dad isn't taking a job in Union City," Ally chuckled, giving Nathan the side eye. "Instead, we are having a practice family Christmas."
"A practice Christmas?" Nathan raised his eyebrows. "In other words, if it goes badly tonight…."
"Dad!" Ally whacked Nathan's arm playfully. "It's not going to go badly tonight. There is no way it could! Judge Avery said he would come over later tonight so we could have time just the four of us."
"It might be just the three of us," Elizabeth looked to Jack once more. His walking had slowed down more and more. Elizabeth scooped him into her arms. "Someone might fall asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow."
"I can take him, Lizabeth," Nathan paused. "I am a Mountie after all."
"Oh yes," Elizabeth smiled, "I forgot babies was a part of your training." Elizabeth paused once more. "Are you sure you want to take him?"
Before Nathan could reply, Jack reached for Nathan. "Na'tan." The little boy mumbled as he wrapped his arms around Nathan's neck. Jack's head rested on Nathan's shoulder and he quickly had shut his eyes. Elizabeth marveled at how peacefully Jack was in Nathan's arms. Nathan was already showing himself to be a father to Jack, a father that he did not have to be. Elizabeth also knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this was Nathan's character. He wasn't trying to impress his fiancée; he was being himself.
"Dad?" Ally questioned Nathan. "Did you like holding me when I was Jack's age?"
Nathan smiled, remembering back to Ally's toddler stage. "Every time I visited you and your mother, I could not get enough of holding you. There were times when you did not want to be held, Ally Girl, and then there were times you wouldn't stop crying for anyone but me."
"How did you get me to stop crying?"
"Hmm…well…you loved Beatrix Potter stories and that well loved copy of yours? Well, that was the one I read to you from." Nathan paused, trying to remember Ally's absolute favorite. "Your favorite was Squirrel Nutkin."
"That story is pretty good," Ally admitted.
"Your mom used to say that she thought it was the sound of my voice you liked," Nathan smiled, remembering Colleen. "If Nutkin didn't work, I would sing to you. I'd make up songs, I'd sing lullabies your grandma sang to your mom and me."
"I didn't know you sang even then!" Ally's eyes grew wide. "Will you sing tonight, Dad?"
"Yes, Nathan," Elizabeth finally spoke after quietly observing the exchange between adopted father and daughter. "Will you sing?"
Nathan smiled. "I think I can make that happen."
Nathan quietly and carefully walked up the stairs of Elizabeth's house. Jack had remained asleep the remainder of the walk home. As if it were second nature, Nathan prepped the little boy for bed. He barely stirred as Nathan took off his jacket, put on some pajamas, and placed Jack in his crib.
Nathan stood there watching him. How sweet and precious Jack was. It meant a lot to him that Jack was already bonding, attaching himself to him. Nathan's eyes caught sight of a photo beside the crib. Constable Jack Thornton. Little Jack's father that he would never know.
"Thank you," Elizabeth's voice spoke silently from behind him. Nathan turned around to see Elizabeth standing in the doorway.
"For what?" Nathan tried to hide the confusion from his face.
"For loving my son." Elizabeth wiped a tear away from her eye. "Not many men would be interested in a woman with a ready made family."
"You realize I also came with a ready made family, right?" Nathan reached out and gently caressed Elizabeth's cheek.
"It is weird, you know," Elizabeth gave a sad smile as her eyes fell on Jack's picture. "Ally has some memories of her mother. But Jack…he never will know his dad." Elizabeth carefully straightened the blanket at Jack's feet. "You will be that to him."
Elizabeth had spoken words that both Nathan and Elizabeth had thought separately but had never shared out loud. Ones they had never shared together. Nathan would indeed be the father Jack would grow up knowing. The one who would help clean his scraps, hold him during nightmares, discipline him when needed. Nathan would be the one who would teach Jack how to fish, how to treat women, and how to be an honorable man.
"I couldn't be more honored," Nathan covered Elizabeth's hand with his, both still looking at the crab, both watching Jack sleep. "I want to adopt him Lizabeth."
Elizabeth turned so she was facing Nathan. "You do?"
Nathan knew he needed to be honest. "I will never replace Jack, Elizabeth. And you know I don't want to. Jack was an incredible man and I want Little Jack to always feel close to the man who helped create him. I also want Jack to feel like he was a father on earth watching over him, just like he has a father in Heaven watching over him. I want Jack to always feel like he is a part of me, even though he doesn't have any Grant blood in his veins. I already love this little boy, is that weird?"
Elizabeth shed some silent tears. "Oh Nathan!" Elizabeth smiled. "It is not weird at all."
Nathan kissed Elizabeth gently. He remained silent, letting Elizabeth's tears fall for a moment. Nathan knew his words were a lot to take in.
"Jack Thornton Grant."
"What?" Nathan questioned Elizabeth, wondering if he had heard correctly.
"Jack's name. He can carry on the Thornton legacy and also bear the name of another incredible man. Would you that be alright with you?"
Nathan struggled to contain his own emotion. "That is more than alright with me."
"What if I told you…" Elizabeth spoke up once more. She decided to phrase her thoughts a different way. "Do you know how Ally feels about me?"
Nathan stifled a chuckle, a little bit surprised at Elizabeth's redirecting of the conversation. "She is absolutely crazy about you. She has been after me to talk to you, then court you, then propose to you. I always said you were Ally's favorite teacher."
"But how do you think she would feel if I adopted her too?"
Now it was Nathan's turn to appear surprised. "You've thought about adopting Ally?"
Elizabeth simply nodded. "Colleen will always be her mother. But I am marrying her uncle, her adoptive dad." Elizabeth broke into a grin. "I'm marrying you! I don't think I will get tired of saying that or hearing it from others."
Nathan's face broke into an equally large smile. "I kind of like it too."
"Anyway," Elizabeth continued, "we are coming together as a family, the four of us. I want Ally to know that beyond a shadow of a doubt, I will always be there for her. I will love and support her just as much as I will Jack. He came from my body, yes, but that does not mean I will love Ally any less. She needs a mom in her life and I would like to be that. If she wants me to."
Nathan smiled. "Honestly, Lizabeth, I think you should ask her."
"Ask me what?"
Ally's whispered voice startled Nathan and Elizabeth. "Ally?"
"You guys have been up here a really long time. Since Judge Avery isn't here yet, I thought I should make sure no funny business was happening." Ally chuckled. "But what did you want to ask me, Miss Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth felt put on the spot. "Tell you what, let's go get in our nightclothes and then meet your uncle downstairs. I'll talk with you as we do, okay?"
Elizabeth finished tying her robe over her long white nightgown. Ally was wearing something similar and undoing the ribbons from her hair.
"Here," Elizabeth said, patting the side of the bed next to her. "Let me help you."
Ally sat down and Elizabeth picked up a brush. With steady strokes, Elizabeth brushed Ally's brown hair. "I always liked when my mom did this for me," Elizabeth remarked.
"I don't remember if my mom did this or not," Ally admitted. "I wish I could remember."
Elizabeth paused for a moment. "Are you alright, Ally?"
Ally sniffed. "Oh yes, I am. It has been an amazing few days. There are just times I wish I had a mom. But if I did, I wouldn't have Uncle Nathan, I mean, Dad."
Elizabeth chose her words carefully. "How do you feel about me marrying your uncle. I mean really feel Ally?"
Ally turned around so she was facing Elizabeth cross legged on the bed. "I am really excited that you'll be my aunt. Aunt Elizabeth has a nice ring to it, I think, although there is one I like better."
"What would that be Ally?"
Ally looked down with a sheepish grin. "Promise you won't laugh." Ally paused when she saw Elizabeth shake her head. "I would like to call you Mom."
Elizabeth's eyes immediately welled up with tears. Upon seeing this, Ally's face blanched. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I shouldn't have said anything."
"Oh no, Ally," Elizabeth put her hands on Ally's shoulders. "That was what I wanted to ask you about. I was talking with your dad about adopting you after we are married. I wasn't sure what you would think."
Now it was Ally's turn to cry, although the girl did not cry—she sobbed. "You would want me as your daughter? Even though we aren't related?"
Elizabeth rocked Ally in her arms. "I would love nothing more than for you to be my daughter, Ally. I won't ever replace the mother who gave birth to you. Colleen was a very special woman it sounds like; I wish I had known her. And every day, I will encourage you to be more like her, to embody her spirit and heart. But I also want you to know that you have me from now until always."
"Miss Elizabeth?" Ally reached for a handkerchief inside her robe pocket. "I do want to call you Mom!" Once again, Ally burst into sobs. This time, they could be heard downstairs and Nathan found himself tapping on the door.
"Is everything alright" Nathan asked.
"You can come in Dad," Ally managed to mumble out.
Nathan's eyes fell upon the two women he loved most in the world. Ally's head was on Elizabeth's shoulder and the two were swaying side to side. "Miss Elizabeth wants to be my mom. My actual mom, just like you became my actual dad."
Nathan grinned. "I thought you might want her to be."
Bill had snuck into the house and unbeknownst to the others had heard the conversation transpiring upstairs. He smiled in happiness. It sounded like he would be needed to draft adoption papers before too long.
He heard footsteps approaching. "Bill!" Elizabeth smiled. "Thank you for coming tonight."
Bill grinned. "I'm prepared for a terrible night sleep."
Nathan laughed. "It's not going to be just you, you know."
"There is only one couch," Bill pointed out. "And I, as guest and the older individual, do claim it."
"Age." Nathan deadpanned. "That's what you are going with."
"Will it get me the couch?"
Silence reigned. Bill had made his point. "I rest my case."
Elizabeth walked over from the kitchen and sat on the floor in front of the fireplace. All sorts of presents were under the tree, ready and waiting for opening tomorrow. "Cinnamon rolls are rising so they will be perfect for tomorrow's breakfast!"
"Excellent!" Bill remarked.
"Dad, will you sing a few carols before I go to bed?" Ally once more approached Nathan with his guitar. It was a similar picture to the one from the day they decorated.
Nathan picked up the guitar, more at ease each time he played. It truly was thanks to Elizabeth that he had been willing to play once more. "I do have one request though."
"What's that," Elizabeth looked into Nathan's eyes. She was overwhelmed with happiness at how wonderful the whole day had been.
"Bill also has to have a turn at the guitar," Nathan extended the instrument to Bill. "I happen to know he plays quite well."
Bill carefully picked up the guitar. "I would be happy to, as long as Ally picks the first song."
The four of them stayed up for hours, softly singing, softly playing. There was tea and leftover Christmas cake. There was laughter and love abounding. Truly, it wasn't a family formed by blood but no one could have doubted its strength.
Allie had fallen asleep in front of the fire. While Nathan had been tempted to leave her there, Elizabeth had insisted on her being carried up to bed. The girl needed a comfortable night sleep, Elizabeth had playfully argued. Nathan had acquiesced and carried her up to Elizabeth's room.
He placed Ally gently on the bed and kissed her forehead. "Merry Christmas my sweet girl."
Elizabeth walked him back out the door. Nathan placed his arms around her; Elizabeth's arms went around his neck. Nathan kissed her slowly, his passion building the longer it went on. Elizabeth was reciprocating but then, after a moment, pulled away.
"You'd better go," Elizabeth whispered.
"Next Christmas," Nathan's lips grazed Elizabeth's forehead. "You and I will checking in on the children, our children, and I won't have to say goodnight to you."
"I like that," Elizabeth blushed.
"Goodnight, my Lizabeth," Nathan kissed her once more. "I love you."
"I love you too, Nathan. I will see you in the morning." Elizabeth whispered in her Mountie's ear. "I love knowing that you will be here when I wake up. I could get used to that."
"You should," Nathan whispered as he walked down the stairs. A terrible night's sleep was worth being together under one roof. The first of many such memories, such moments.
