Quick side note, I've been getting a lot of reviews saying that Nathan + Katie wouldn't make a good couple. To be honest I agree, I just felt he needed more part in the story, so I coupled him randomly. I might just write it out. Thx!
P.S. I might also include Lucas in later stories.
Elizabeth's eyes opened slowly as she felt the warm rays of morning sun on her face. She got up and walked over to the crib, making sure yesterday wasn't just a dream. But little Eliza wasn't in her crib. "Jack?"
Elizabeth started towards the kitchen. There he was, cradling his tiny daughter in his arms, Little Jack by his side. Jack was a strong man but in moments like this, she saw him as a little boy, fascinated by the wonderful thing squirming in his arms.
"Good morning." She smiled teasingly at the handsome man in front of her
"Morning, beautiful." He smiled back
"Mommyyy! What about me?" Little Jack begged for a 'good morning' too.
"Good morning to you too, sweetheart." She tickled him under his arms.
"How are you feeling today?" Jack asked, his eyes full of love
"Sore." She answered nonchalantly.
Just then little Eliza let out a loud, piercing cry.
"Boy, this girl has lungs!" Elizabeth exclaimed, "I'd better feed this little one before she gets too grumpy." She walked over to the couch.
"I expect we'll be getting lots of visitors today." Jack stated, just as there was a knock on the door
"I should go upstairs, after all, I'm still in my night clothes." She carried the tiny body close to her chest as she started up the stairs.
"Do you need help?" Jack asked,
"No, I'm ok." Elizabeth sighed contentedly
"I'll get the door then." He opened the front door, "Rosemary! Hi!"
"Oh, Jack! Where's your little one? I must see her." Rosemary enthusiasm made everyone smile.
"Auntie Rosemary!" Little Jack ran to her, she picked him up.
"Hi Little Jack, enjoying your new sister?"
Little Jack nodded, "Yup. She's upstairs with Mommy."
It was only then that Jack noticed Lee standing quietly behind his wife, "Good Morning, Lee." He smiled at his best friend
"Good Morning Jack, congratulations." They shook hands
"Well?" Rosemary persisted, "can I see my new little niece?"
Of course they weren't really related, but they were such good friends, they were more like family.
"I'll go see if Elizabeth is ready for visitors. Jack, can you entertain them?" Jack smiled at his son who was nodding confidently
"Elizabeth?" Jack entered their bedroom, "Rosemary and Lee are here to see you."
"I'll be down in a minute, but I think they're here to see Eliza." She said, "Jack?"
"Yes?" He raised his eyebrows.
"Kiss me." She smiled flirtatiously
He leaned in, their lips touched and they shared a long, passionate kiss.
"I love kissing you." Jack leaned in again, but this time he planted a gentle kiss on her forehead, "I'd better go back down to Lee and Rosemary, I can take Eliza if you'd like, you can get ready."
"That would be nice." She handed her gently to her husband.
She loved to see him hold her. He lifted her to his face, inhaling her warm baby scent, and kissing her tiny, full cheek.
"She's just beautiful," Rosemary exclaimed as Jack handed her to him, though it pained him to give up his daughter to even the closest of friends. He would've liked to hold her forever.
Elizabeth appeared on the staircase, "Hi!"
"Oh, Elizabeth you and Jack do produce beautiful children." Rosemary sighed, her heart yearning for a little one of her own. Lee sensed her pain and set a gentle hand on her shoulder. He knew the feeling all too well, for he wanted nothing more than to be a father.
"Can I hold her?" Lee asked hopefully
"Of course," Jack took her from Rosemary's arms, taking a moment to stare in to her half open eyes before setting her in Lee's outstretched arms.
*knock knock*
"I'll get it," Elizabeth stood up and walked to the door, "Hi, Minnie! Hi Angela!" She smiled at her visitors
"Elizabeth, Congratulations! I came by to see if you need anything, and to see that little girl of yours, of course." Minnie smiled sincerely at her friend.
"That's very kind of you, Thank you. I think we don't need anything right now, Abigail is keeping us very well fed." Elizabeth answered, "but do come inside. Rosemary and Lee are here at the moment."
"I can come back later if now is not a good time," Minnie began
"Nonsense! The more the merrier." She led them into the sitting room.
Lee stood up to make room for the ladies to sit, "would you like to hold her, Angela?" He asked her
"Yes please," Angela sat and held out her arms. She brushed her free hand against the baby's face and fuzzy red hair, she felt her tiny hands and feet. Elizabeth and Jack smiled at each other, watching the heart-warming scene. A tear rolled down Angela's cheek.
"Oh, Angela." Her mother put her arm around her
"I'm not sad, Mama, I'm happy. I love her." Angela smiled grew wider, "Would you like to hold her, Ma?"
"If that's ok with Jack and Elizabeth."
Elizabeth nodded, and Minnie scooped Eliza out of Angela's arms.
"I remember when Angela and Cooper were this size. Oh, they grow up so fast." Minnie stared sappily into the tiny round face.
Throughout the day Jack and Elizabeth's little row house was bustling with visitors. Abigail came to check up on them, A group of Elizabeth's students brought her a card, Jesse and Clara called as well, 'to see what they were in for' as Jesse put it, since Clara was pregnant. Bill came for a visit and Faith came to see how Momma and baby were doing. Even Nathan stopped by to offer his congratulations.
"Congratulations Jack, Elizabeth" Nathan shook Jack's hand and gave him a hug, he hugged Elizabeth, "You guys are like family to me. I brought a small gift for my newest niece. It was my sister's, then Allie's when she was a baby."
Jack opened the little box to reveal a small fairy made of fabric scraps. It was perfectly symmetrical. It looked like it had just come from the toy store window. The initials C.G. and A.P. Were embroidered into the back of the fairy's dress. Below the two, in brand new thread was Eliza's initials, E.T.
"Nathan, this is so cute! Who embroidered her initials on the dress?" Elizabeth asked
"I did," he smiled proudly, "sewing is part of Mountie training."
"Of course," she laughed, remembering when Jack stitched up his own leg, "it's perfect, Nathan, I'm sure it will be well loved."
"Would you like to hold her?" Jack lifted her out of the bassinet
Nathan took off his gloves and reached for her tiny little body.
"Hey little one, I'm Uncle Nathan." She began to fuss, so he stood up and rocked her around gently
"He's going to make a great father one day." Elizabeth whispered to Jack
"He already is. Allie, remember?" Jack whispered back
"Are they whispering about me?" Nathan talked to her, "are they talking about how I'm going to be your favourite uncle?" Eliza stopped fussing and looked right into Nathan's eyes. He continued talking to her and gently bouncing her until she began to cry.
"I think she's hungry." Elizabeth said as he handed her the fussy little girl, "Jack, I'm going upstairs to nurse Eliza, ok?"
"Okay." He smiled at the way his wife walked when she carried her little girl. Her body seemed to dance as her hips swayed fluidly with each step.
"So, your dinner with Katie tonight?" Jack raised his eyebrows
"Oh! Shoot! I forgot about that! I gotta go back to my place to get ready." He grabbed his gloves and his hat off the table and ran towards the door, "Bye Jack!"
"So how was your date with Katie?" Jack asked the next morning at the jail. He was on leave, but needed to pick up some things from his office,
"Terrible." Nathan answered glumly
"Why?" Jack was annoyed that his friend didn't volunteer more information
"We have nothing in common, and she wasn't feeling well, and I didn't know how to help. I don't know if I'll ever find love again." He sighed.
Before he came to Hope Valley, he had just married Joanna, the love of his life, but on the wedding night, he removed her corset only to find she was four months pregnant. He had touched her naked belly, feeling the baby kick inside. How could her resist her perfect, curvy hips, her spine only just showing through her silky soft skin, her breasts so... ugh, everything about her was perfect, and there was nothing he wanted more than to make love with her, but the baby growing within her was another man's. How could he forgive this betrayal.
Hoping for a fresh start, He was assigned to the expanding town of Hope Valley. But on the inside his heart was still aching for the fullness he had felt before. Before he knew.