AN: So this chapter got tweaked a bit after a review from the previous chapter. I hope it satisfies everyone!


As promised, Nathan and Ally stopped by Elizabeth's house on their way into town. Little Jack was spending the evening with Lee and Rosemary. Having already taken her son over to her neighbor's home, Elizabeth was ready and waiting when they arrived. Ally immediately took charge of the conversation, eager to tell Elizabeth about her trip to Brookfield.

Happy to let Ally carry the conversation, Nathan walked quietly with Elizabeth at his side. Though he and Elizabeth had intended to make plans for getting a Christmas tree, Nathan didn't see that happening any time soon. He marveled at Elizabeth's ease at not only listening but involving herself in the conversation Ally was leading. Elizabeth seemed to know instinctively what to say and when to say it.

Reaching the café, the trio made their way to the entrance of the private quarters attached to the business. It was Jesse who greeted them at the door and ushered them inside. Upon hearing that Clara was putting the finishing touches on their dinner, Elizabeth and Ally made their way to the kitchen to see how they could be of help. This left Nathan and Jesse standing in the living area of the home, an awkward silence between them.

"Have a seat," Jesse said nervously, waving a hand at the settee and two easy chairs.

Nathan nodded and moved to one of the easy chairs. Not for the first time in his life, Nathan wished he was good at small talk. Despite being in Hope Valley for over a year now, he'd had limited interactions with Jesse and those that he did have usually involved more people. Nathan often got the feeling that Jesse tended to steer clear of him. He wasn't sure if it was because he was a Mountie in general or the fact that meeting Jesse had been far from a good first impression.

With his guess seated, Jesse sat down on the settee. The young man sat stiffly on the edge while searching for something to say.

"How was your trip from Brookfield?" Jesse finally asked.

"Other than being cold, which is to be expected, it was fine. The warm greeting we received was a nice touch."

"That's good," Jesse said absently.

Silence fell over the room again. Nathan watched Jesse wipe his hands nervously on his pant legs. Nathan found himself wishing that Ally had stayed with them instead of going with Elizabeth. He was sure Ally would have found something to chatter on about.

Laughter drifted in from the kitchen. Jesse looked in that direction. Nathan got the feeling he wasn't the only one that wished the two of them hadn't been left alone.

"Look, Jesse, I know we didn't get off to the best of starts when I came to Hope Valley," Nathan ventured hoping to clear the air between them.

"I really didn't intend to punch you," Jesse told him.

"I know that," Nathan assured him.

"When I found out who you were, I thought for sure I'd be staying in that cell. I don't think I ever thanked you for not pressing charges."

"I don't think jail is for young men who make stupid choices because they're jealous," Nathan told him.

"Guess that's a good thing for me," Jesse commented. "Though unfortunately I can't blame jealously on all the bad choices in my past. Being here in Hope Valley has been a good influence on me though. I like the person I've become, at least most of the time. I've still got a few faults I need to work on."

"Don't we all," Nathan commented, acknowledging that he was far from perfect himself. "And this little town does have a way of changing a person. I'm glad Ally and I found our way here, despite the rocky start we both had in fitting in. I'm happier here and I never realized that I wasn't happy before."

"I know what you mean," Jesse commented, knowing exactly what Nathan meant by that statement. "Clara and this town are the best things that ever happened to me. I'm glad I found my way here."

Before either man had to figure out what to say next, Clara was in the doorway.

"Dinner is ready if the two of you would like to join us," she told them.

Both Nathan and Jesse got to their feet and followed Clara into the diningroom. As he approached the table, Ally pointed to the chair across from her and next to Elizabeth. Without argument, Nathan followed the silent seating instructions as Clara and Jesse took the chairs on either end of the table.

After Clara said grace, the meal began. With the inclusion of the ladies, conversation was no longer a problem and Nathan gratefully followed the topics, making comments when needed but content to listen.


As December continued on, the residents of Hope Valley made their holiday plans. Though no plans were made for a festival this year, Lucas did decide to have a community dinner at the saloon on Christmas Eve so everyone could celebrate together. He asked Bill and Clara to help him, and the two readily agreed. Elizabeth decided to expand the Christmas concert. Along with her little choir singing several songs, she opened it up to other members of the community. She was sure she could get Rosemary and Bill to participate and Ally was hoping to get Nathan to accompany her on the guitar for a solo. It was a plan that Elizabeth intended to encourage. With a few conversations between Elizabeth and Lucas, the two events were coordinated so that the community dinner would be held following the Christmas Eve concert.

In town, wreaths and other decorations went up outside of businesses. Nathan got the wreath Ally had made last year and put it up on the door of the Mounted Police Office. The inside of the office got decorated with some garland made out of pine boughs that Ally, Emily and Opal had created. Nathan had to admit that he liked the festive look the garland gave the office. The fact that it annoyed the robber who spent a night in the jail on his way to Edmonton where he would stand trial didn't hurt either.

Finding Christmas trees turned out to be a group outing. It started with the Coulters asking to join Elizabeth, Nathan and their two kids for the occasion. As Bridget had started to become friends with Ally, all the adults involved thought it would be a fun outing for all involved. Elizabeth then invited Clara and Jesse to join them, knowing that the couple had yet selected their tree for their first Christmas as a married couple yet. Surprisingly, it was Nathan who invited Lucas and Fiona to tag along after overhearing the two discussing getting a tree for both the saloon and a smaller one for Fiona's apartment.

"I appreciate the invitation," Lucas commented after agreeing to join the group. "I wasn't looking forward to wrestling with two pine trees by myself."

"I wasn't either," Nathan replied, struggling to keep a straight face. "After what Ally has told me about your skills with a hammer I figured letting you out in the woods with a saw alone might lead to a medical emergency."

Fiona tried to smother her giggle against the sleeve of her dress, as Lucas attempted to cast an annoyed look at the Mountie's direction. However, Nathan didn't miss the amused smile on Lucas' face as he turned his back with the pretense of taking stock of the alcohol.

With a smile on his own face, Nathan turned and headed out of the Queen of Hearts. Somehow, the good-natured banter was more satisfying than the unspoken competition that the two of them had been occupied in for so long.

So, on a Thursday afternoon after school let out, the group assembled outside the school building. Nathan wasn't sure who was making more commotion, the children or the adults. However, Lee soon had things organized and with Jesse driving the wagon to haul the trees back, and Clara perched beside him, the group of friends set off in hunt of their Christmas trees.

Though still in his uniform, Nathan was more than content not to take the lead. He was just enjoying the outing with Ally, Elizabeth and their friends. Before long, the group reached a grove of trees. Leaving the wagon on the outskirt of the forest, the group entered the snow-covered trees in search of their perfect trees.

"Definitely not as quiet as our tree hunt last year, huh?" Elizabeth asked as she walked arm in arm with Nathan. Both of them kept an eye on Ally and Jack who were walking hand-in-hand near the front of the group. Bridget and Ivy were right beside them.

"Not in the least," Nathan replied.

"Do you mind?"

Nathan paused before answering, as he looked around the little group. Lee and Rosemary were walking arm-in-arm themselves, also watching the children. The couple was clearly content to let Bridget and Ivy choose the tree for their home this year. Clara and Fiona walked together, the two pointing out trees to each other. Occasionally one lady or the other would ask for an opinion from Jesse or Lucas who were brining up the rear of the group. So far, no one had found a tree that suited them yet.

"No," Nathan finally said. "I don't mind this group at all. Though I'm starting to wonder if we'll find all the trees by the time it gets dark."

"Well, you did insist we bring a few lanterns," she commented, holding up the one she was carrying. "So if we don't, we're prepared for the dark."

"It never hurts to be prepared for anything," Nathan replied.

"I suppose that's something they teach you in Mountie training," Elizabeth commented.

"It is," Nathan admitted. "However, I think its good advice for anyone."

"You're probably right," Elizabeth relented.

Despite Nathan's prediction of it being dark before all the trees were found, once one tree was located, the others were chosen in quick succession. It was Clara who located her tree first, falling in love with one that was just about Nathan's height. While Jesse was working on cutting down the tree, Ally pointed out a tree to Fiona. The former phone operator had said she wanted a smaller tree for her apartment, and the one Ally pointed out was just slightly shorter than Fiona herself.

While Lucas and Jesse headed to the wagon with the Flynn's tree, the rest of the group continued their hunt for the perfect tree. Bridget and Ally spotted a tree they both liked at about the same time. Generously, Ally told Bridget that the tree could stand in the Coulter's home and continued looking around. Nathan was proud of his daughter, and told her so right before he set about cutting down the tree Ally had selected a short time later.

While Nathan and Lee were busy cutting down the trees for their home, the women had located a tree for Elizabeth's home. When Elizabeth asked Little Jack, who she was carrying at this point to be sure he stayed out from under foot during the tree cutting, what he thought of the tree, her son pointed at the tree and said "our tree," sealing the deal for Elizabeth.

By the time Lucas and Jesse had rejoined the group, passing Nathan and Lee who were carrying the Coulter's tree toward the wagon, Ivy had located a tall and fat tree that she liked. Bridget and Ally thought it would be perfect for the saloon. All three children happily pointed it out to Lucas as he came into sight. Not about to disappoint the three girls, Lucas promptly pronounced it as just the tree he was looking for.

Though the sun was low on the horizon as the last of the trees was added the wagon, there was still light as the group headed back toward home. As they walked, further plans were made. While the men would set the six trees up in their rightful new homes, The women divided into two groups. Rosemary and Clara would go to Rosemary's to prepare part of a supper for the group while Elizabeth and Fiona headed to Elizabeth's house to prepare the rest of it. When the food was ready, the women and children would then join the men at the café to have supper together. Elizabeth took Jack with her, hoping the toddler would take a nap while she cooked as he was starting to get cranky, while the three girls chose to go to the Coulter's and do their homework together.

Their plans continued to work out smoothly. By the time Lee and Nathan showed up to escort, and help transport things to the café, the food was ready, homework done and Little Jack was waking up from his nap.

Bill ended up joining the group for dinner. The chatter was lively as Bill was informed about the day's events. Having had a trying day of petty court cases, the judge was grateful for the distraction, even when that distraction came from Little Jack deciding he had enough to eat and started tossing peas in Bill's direction.

Elizabeth quickly apologized as the rest of the group laughed. Reaching out, she took away the toddler's ammunition, even as Nathan got up from his seat to take the boy out of the highchair. Explaining to Little Jack that it was not nice to throw food, Nathan settled back down in his chair with Jack in his lap. The little boy soon became occupied with the buttons on Nathan's uniform, which he still hadn't changed out of, allowing the Mountie to finish his dinner.

Giving the time of day, the group dispersed quickly following the meal.

"I enjoyed our tree hunt today," Ally remarked sleepily as she walked by Elizabeth's side later that night as they headed home from the café.

"Me too," Elizabeth remarked, giving the girl's shoulders a gentle squeeze. On her other side, Nathan carried an already sleeping Jack.

Lee and Rosemary walked just ahead of them. Like Jack, Ivy was fast asleep in Lee's arms.

"Can we decorate the trees tomorrow?" Ally asked, looking up expectantly at the two adults.

"It is Friday," Elizabeth commented, glancing over at Nathan. "Which means there would be nothing pressing school related that would get in the way. I'm having choir practice right after school but I'd be free after dinner."

"Please," Ally begged, looking up at Nathan.

Nathan smiled down at Ally's pleading look. It was a look he found hard not to give into.

"Fine," Nathan told her. "Perhaps we should decorate Mrs. Thornton's tree first though, so that Jack can be a part of it. If today was any indication, it's likely to wear him out," he said, looking down at the sleeping child in his arms.

"That's fine," Ally replied.

"Join me for dinner at about five then?" Elizabeth suggested, looking at Nathan.

"We'll be there," Nathan promised her.