AN: Thanks for all the reviews from the last chapter. Appreciate them all. I also thank-you for your patience. Sorry this is taking longer than it had been to get updated.


Coming in from his morning rounds, Nathan hung his hat up on a hook. Walking over to the wall with several wanted posters on it, Nathan removed one of them. Word had come from headquarters that the man had been apprehended. For the time being, it meant one more bad guy was behind bars, where he belonged. Nathan knew that could change after the trial, but he also knew that he had to trust that the justice system would work as intended.

Turning from the wall, Nathan crumpled the paper into a ball. As he walked toward the desk, he tossed the paper ball toward the waste basket. The crumpled paper ended up where it belonged as Nathan moved around his desk and sat down behind his desk.

Nathan had just started working on a report when entering footsteps caught his attention. Looking up, he saw Constable Brian Peterson standing just inside the doorway. The young Mountie stood stiffly and his nervousness was easily visible.

"You're looking better than the last time I saw you, Constable," Nathan commented as he casually got to his feet.

"So I've been told," Brian replied. "Once again though, I have to admit to not recognizing you, sir."

"That's completely understandable giving the situation," Nathan replied. "And drop the sir, please. I'm just officer of the law, just like you. Call me, Nathan," he said holding out his hand.

Brian reached out and grasped the proffered hand. "Brian Peterson, but then apparently you're already aware of that," he added, a bit of color rising in his cheeks. "I was told I'd be working with you once I get clearance from the town doctor. I guess the brass wants to make sure I can handle things before they let me go back to my remote post."

"Standard procedure. Don't take it personally," Nathan replied as he headed toward his desk. He waved to the two chairs positioned in front of his desk. "Have a seat," he told Brian.

Brian sat down in the chair closest to the door, Nathan walked around his desk and sat down again.

"I had another Mountie working with me a few months back, because of an incident during a prison transfer. I was almost shot and another Mountie involved in the transfer was shot and killed. So you're not the first, nor will you be the last Mountie to be evaluated after something happens. Chances are, you'll one day be the guy doing the evaluating."

Brian nodded in acknowledgement.

"Normally, they would have kept you in Union City at headquarters for a while. They made this arrangement so that you can be with your sisters without uprooting them until you decide what you're going to do."

"I'm surprised they took that into consideration," Brian commented.

"Someone may have suggested something to them," Nathan commented. Reaching out he opened the top drawer of the desk and removed a small card with a ribbon attached to it. "You may have noticed the town's Wishing Tree outside."

"I did."

"Well, I found this wish on the tree. I knew of all the people in Hope Valley, I had the best connections to make that one come true," Nathan said, handing the card across the desk to Brian.

Taking the card from Nathan, Brian read it.

We wish our brother could spend Christmas with us in Hope Valley.

"I called and told Superintendent O'Reilly about that wish and asked him to do what he could to make two little girls very happy on Christmas. I can't claim any credit for the decision to post you here after you get clearance, though. That decision was totally with headquarters."

"Thank-you," Brian said softly, trying to keep his voice from breaking. "I can't believe everything that has been done for my sisters, and for me, by the people of this town. You didn't even know us."

"No, but the people of Hope Valley saw a need and did what they could to fulfill it. I've learned over the almost two years that I've been here that doing that is just what this town does."

Brian nodded but remained silent. Nathan allowed him some time with his thoughts and emotions. When the silence was broken, it was Brian that spoke.

"I wish I knew what to do when it came to Bridget and Ivy," Brian admitted. "Having my mother and sisters nearby in case they needed my assistance was one thing. The idea of being solely responsible for Bridget and Ivy is another thing altogether. Not that I don't love those two. I do, but there were times when the job seemed overwhelming as it was without two children to look after. I had only been at Unity for a short time before leaving to help my mother and sisters move. Some days it felt like I made more mistakes than I was helping."

"Was Unity your first posting after your probation period?"

"It was," Brian admitted. "I did my probation period in Edmonton and the officer I was assigned to work with insisted on me calling him sir. While I did learn things, I sometimes don't think working in a city office prepared me for being in a small town."

Nathan smiled. "They are two different experiences. Hopefully you'll leave here feeling more confident in resuming your post in Unity. Have you seen Dr. Shepherd yet?"

Brian nodded. "I stopped by before I came here," he told him. "Dr. Shepherd told me that if things stay the same, he would consider allowing me to come back to light duty next Monday. Not exactly sure how much help that will be, but I guess I need to start somewhere."

"After your extended stay in the hospital, easing back into you duties as a Mountie is exactly what you need to do," Nathan told him. "Fortunately, most days are kind of mundane around here when it comes to work, but I'll find ways to put you to use when that time comes."

"I'll be ready to work when the time comes. Though it'll be nice to spend some time with Bridget and Ivy leading up to Christmas. They are very excited about some of the activities going on in town."

"Yes, Hope Valley loves its Christmas activities. Though, I'm thankful that they chose not to do the festival this year. It was nice, but it brought too many people into town for my taste. I like the streets a little less crowded," Nathan told him. "As for your sisters, don't rush to any decision that you might regret later."

"You mean like giving up custody of them?"

Nathan shook his head. "I'm not trying to judge you. No one here will. Only you can decide if maintaining custody of those two girls is the right thing for all of you. Raising a child alone, especially trying to do so with this job, is not an easy one. It might not even be the right choice for you or for those two girls. However, you need to take your time and sort through everything. Talk to people. Figure out your options. Find out how your sisters are feeling. You'll know the right answer when you find it."

"And just who am I suppose to talk to," Brian said, a bit of bitterness in his voice.

Nathan chose to overlook it when he replied. "There's the town pastor, Pastor Zeke, for starters. It's his job to help people work through their problems. Judge Avery would be able to lay out all the legal options for you. I know Rosemary and Lee would listen if you wanted to talk to them. You can also talk to me. I took custody of my niece when she was four, so I have an idea of what it's like to face the choice you're facing now. Granted, my situation was a bit different. For starters, there was only one child. I also had my mother to help me out at first. Along the way, I've found others willing to help out. I can give you first hand information of what you'll be facing trying to raise children and doing this job. What I can't do, what none of us can do, is to make that choice for you."

Brian nodded but realizing that he wasn't quite ready to discuss the situation didn't say anything.

"Before you start trying to figure all that out, I think there is something else you need to work though for yourself. Are you up for taking a walk with me?" Nathan asked.

"Yes," Brian said. "Where are we going?"

"I'll explain when we get there," Nathan said getting to his feet.

Brian followed suit. As Nathan headed for the door, Brian followed him. Pausing only to take his hat from its hook, Nathan left the Mounted Police office. As he walked through town, their progress was slowed only by the polite greetings of those he passed. Reaching the edge of the cluster of buildings, these thinned out as Nathan led Brian toward Hope Valley's cemetery.

Reaching the cemetery, Nathan led the way through the little gate. Though most of the grave markers were covered with snow, Nathan knew the way to the spot he wanted to go to. He silently led the way to a grave marked with the wooden cross he had made and engraved a little more than a month ago. Kneeling on the snowy ground, Nathan brushed some snow away to reveal the name of Rebecca Peterson.

"As we couldn't find any other family, we chose to bury your mother here," Nathan said, looking up at Brian as we spoke. "I took the dates from your mother's Bible, which I had given to Rosemary for safe keeping."

Brian nodded. "Rosemary gave it to me last night."

"At the time, we weren't sure how your recovery would go but we thought it best to give your sisters some kind of closure we thought it would help their grieving process, so we had a funeral service for your mother."

Nathan got to his feet and faced Brian. Reaching out, he placed a comforting hand on the younger man's shoulders. "Perhaps its time you find your own closure," he told Brian.

Brian nodded.

Letting his hand fall, Nathan stepped around the young man, intending to leave him alone with his thoughts and emotions. Hope Valley's Mountie had only taken a few steps when Brian spoke.

"Constable Grant."

Nathan turned to find Brian looking at him. He didn't need to say anything for as soon as Brian saw that he had the other man's attention he continued.

"Do you know who made the cross? I'd like to thank him."

"I did," Nathan replied simply. "And it was my pleasure."

With that said, Nathan continued his walk to the gate for the little cemetery. Brian needed this time alone in order to find his own closure. Nathan hoped that once the young man accomplished that, the other things might not seem quite so overwhelming.


Later that afternoon, Nathan stood with Brian Peterson and Melissa Weise outside the school house. This had been the children's last full day of school before the break fro the holidays. From what Nathan understood, it was probably the last full day as well, as Elizabeth planned on having a party for the children the next morning before having a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve concert. It was the first day since Bridget and Ivy started school that Rosemary was not waiting for them after school.

After introducing Brian and Melissa, Nathan was more than happy to let the two of them hold the conversation while he followed. They didn't have long to talk though before the children came rushing out of the schoolroom.

"Mom there is going to be a gingerbread house competition," Opal cried excitedly. "It's for family teams of two to four people. Can we do it?"

"I suppose I can find the time, though its last minute. Is this something Mrs. Thornton is hosting?" Melissa asked her daughter.

"Mr. Lucas is hosting it," Ally answered before Opal had a chance to. It was unusual to here Ally use the less formal address for the saloon owner but Nathan found it didn't bother him. What he did notice was that Ally sounded a little less enthusiastic then Opal. "He wants the Gingerbread houses to help decorate the saloon for the Christmas Eve dinner after the concert."

"Will you help us, Brian?" Ivy asked her brother as she stood next to him. Brian had his arm around his sister.

"Yes, please!" Bridget echoed. "I'm sure Miss Rosemary would be willing to help as well. Of course that would leave Mr. Lee out," she added, the older sister sounding worried about that.

"I'm sure Mr. Coulter would understand given the circumstances," Nathan assured her.

"I'd be happy to help out. I'm going to have plenty of free time this week," Brian told his sister.

Nathan turned to his niece. "I suppose you want to enter as well?"

"I guess," Ally said. "Though I'm not really sure how to go about baking gingerbread let alone how to make a house out of it and face it Dad, you are awful at baking."

"True. That doesn't mean we can't try," Nathan told her.

"And if you don't mind another person joining in, I'd be willing to help out," Elizabeth said as she joined the group. She stepped close to Nathan and looped her hand around his waist as he put his arm around her.

"Really?" Ally asked, sounding a bit more enthusiastic. "Would it be allowed?"

"I don't see why not. Mr. Bouchard said family teams. Family comes in many different combinations and your Dad and I are engaged now. That counts as family to me."

"I wholeheartedly agree," Lucas said, having followed Elizabeth out of the schoolhouse.

"This is going to be so much fun," Ally said, throwing her arms around both Nathan and Elizabeth.

"Thank-you," Nathan mouthed to Elizabeth, hoping that she didn't regret volunteering. The smile Elizabeth gave him was response enough for him.