Hello, everyone! Thanks for the positive reviews and patience! My original plan had been for the "Actually, it's Mrs. Grant, Constable," comment to be said at the end of the story. So that it was circling around. But with where I have ideas of going with them and the other characters that will be a while. Nathan and Elizabeth overruled me, and I put it soon into their marriage instead.

Chapter 24

Christmas

Tip-tap, tip-tap, tip-tap.

Gasp of awe.

TIP-TAP, TIP-TAP, TIP-TAP

Creaaaaakkkk.

"Awwie, Awwie," Jack loudly whispered.

"Mmmm," Allie groaned.

"Come look. Santa came!"

"Mmmm."

Two sets of feet creep by.

"Look, Santa was here," Jack said loudly.

"Told you he wouldn't forget us," Allie whispered.

"Open?" Jack asked.

"We have to wait for Aunt Elizabeth and Dad," Allie said tiredly.

Jack looked at her in confusion.

"Your mama, and my dad," Allie explained.

"Why you call Mama Lizabeth?" Jack asked.

"Because that's her name," Allie said.

"No, Mama's name is Mama," Jack insisted.

"She's your mama. But she's my Aunt Elizabeth," Allie explained again.

"But how? Aren't we brothers?" Jack asked.

"Brother and sister," Allie pointed to Jack first and then herself on the sister.

"But if we brother/sister, we have same Mama and Dad," Jack said as if Allie should be following along.

"Oh, Jack, if only the world were as simple as that," Allie said as she picked him up to carry him back upstairs.

Elizabeth and Nathan had woken up with Jack's movements and were trying not to indicate their own wakefulness, but it was hard with the conversation between Allie and Jack. Allie and Jack walked back to Jack's room, where Allie tucked him back into bed.

"We should wake them up," Jack said decisively and sounding fully awake.

"It's their first Christmas, we should let them sleep," Allie said tiredly. "We should also be asleep. We have a long day with all of our family today, and we both need a good rest."

Jack was pouting at her but she just held him until they both fell back to sleep.

"That's it. Allie gets a horse for her birthday," Nathan whispered into Elizabeth's ear.

Elizabeth couldn't stop the grin and slight chuckle that escaped her with that comment.

"Well, after she so selflessly allowed us a few more hours of rest, we probably shouldn't question it and go back to sleep," Elizabeth said before turning around so that she was curled in front of Nathan.

They enjoyed laying in each other's arms for a bit.

"Are you tired?" Nathan whispered.

Elizabeth just shook her head.

"Up for a challenge?" Nathan teased in a low deep voice.

"Always," Elizabeth said in a flirtatious manner.

They spent the few hours Allie had gifted them by exploring how quiet they could be while in the throes of passion.

Elizabeth lost the quiet game. Twice.

The next time Elizabeth woke up, it was because Nathan was getting up and out of bed. He tiptoed downstairs and lit the stove to make it warmer. Then he started a pot of coffee.

Elizabeth had pulled on her robe over her dressing gown and braided her hair, before checking on Allie and Jack. Both were awake when she knocked and entered.

"Merry Christmas, Mama!" Jack said happily.

"Merry Christmas, Jack!" Elizabeth said as she picked him up and kissed his cheek.

"Santa came!" Jack said.

"Oh did he? I thought he was only supposed to go to good boys and girls," Elizabeth said.

"I am a good boy," Jack said.

"Oh really? Why is Allie in your room?" Elizabeth asked teasingly.

"I woke her up to see if Santa came," Jack admitted.

"What time was that?" Elizabeth asked.

"I can't tell time, Mama," Jack said.

"That's true, but was it dark out?" Elizabeth asked.

Jack and Allie both nodded.

"Then it was way too late or way too early for you to be waking Allie up," Elizabeth explained gently.

"Sorry, Awwie," Jack said with a pout.

"It's alright, Jack. I'm excited about Christmas, too," Allie admitted with a large smile. "I just have been on the receiving end of Dad's lecture about 2 a.m. wake-up calls. I'm passing down the hard earned knowledge I've gained over the years."

Elizabeth couldn't help the chuckle of laughter at Allie's dramatics.

They all walked down to the living room where Nathan was sitting with his cup of coffee and her cup of tea.

Elizabeth looked surprised at him having bothered to make her her tea.

Nathan gave her a look back.

"Just not used to anyone besides Rosemary making me tea," Elizabeth said softly as she took her cup and sipped. Not only was it her favorite to drink, it was exactly how she made it.

"Well it seems selfish to make myself something and ignore your needs completely. I know you don't like coffee. But I can't get through a day without it," Nathan said as he took another sip of his.

Elizabeth gave him a loving look back.

"I know some men who refuse to make anything, including drinks. They expect their wives or staff to do it everyday," Elizabeth admitted softly.

Nathan rolled his eyes at that comment.

"Colleen and Ma disciplined that out of me," Nathan said.

Elizabeth looked at him in surprise.

"If I had tried to demand they make me something, both would have said 'your feet and your hands work, get it yourself,' and they would have told me to make something for them," Nathan said.

"The more I learn about Colleen, the more I think we would have gotten along," Elizabeth smirked.

Nathan nodded in agreement.

"Mama! Nat'an presents!" Jack reminded them impatiently.

Elizabeth and Nathan both focused on their children.

Jack had been worried that because they didn't have a Christmas tree that Santa wouldn't be able to find them. With everything that had happened, putting a tree in the row house seemed an impossible task this year. And they knew that they were going to the saloon not too much longer to spend time with their families and exchange gifts there.

So they had agreed that they would set out one present for each person near the mantle so that there was something to open on Christmas morning.

With Allie's help, Jack quickly distributed the presents. The one for Nathan was heavy and awkward.

"It's actually for both of you," Elizabeth said as she gestured to Nathan and Allie.

They looked at her, then each other before opening.

Inside the box was a plant pot with a cutting from their tree.

Allie and Nathan were both stunned silent. They had thought that they weren't able to continue the tradition this year, since they didn't have a Christmas tree and since the fire at their house.

"I had Lee check and see if any part of your tree was salvageable. This was it. I've said before that I think your traditions are wonderful, and I would like us to continue them," Elizabeth said.

Allie just got up, walked to her, and hugged her hard.

"Thank you," Nathan said, his eyes expressing his gratitude and love more than his words. But Elizabeth had done well.

Jack's present was a toy car.

They eventually got dressed and ready to walk back to the saloon to meet with the rest of their family. They were entering just as Lucas was leaving.

"Gustave and I are going to the Flynn's. You'll need your privacy," Lucas explained at their enquiring looks.

Nathan and Elizabeth both nodded and then escorted Allie and Jack inside.

"Merry Christmas!" Jack said as he ran to the group sitting in the saloon parlor.

"Merry Christmas, Jack," was chorused from around the group.

The Grants all got comfortable.

Ruth had made everyone cinnamon rolls for breakfast and there was a plate with them on it, which had been steadily been eaten down. Elizabeth looked at her family in surprise because each of them had eaten at least half of one, and they had a rule about waiting for everyone to be present before starting a meal.

"We were going to wait," Grace started to explain.

"But they just smelled so good," Julie added before taking another dainty bite.

"I don't blame you," Nathan said as he platted one for each of his family and passed them around. Allie and Jack nodded in agreement, but Elizabeth hadn't tasted much of Ruth's baking. Only what she had tried in Gus' shop in Calgary.

Elizabeth also took a dainty bite with her fork and gently nibbled. Everyone else was watching her as she tried it.

"Well, no wonder Gus doesn't change the recipe. This is quite excellent," Elizabeth complimented.

Ruth gave her a nod of thanks.

"You should try and make similar deals with other bakers. You would be quite successful," Julie added to Ruth.

"It hurts me too much to train them properly. I was more mobile when I made the deal with Gus," Ruth admitted, and she did look like she was in pain from her movements that morning.

Everyone ate their breakfast happily.

Then they gathered around to exchange Christmas presents.

Allie started by handing Nathan hers.

Nathan smiled at her while he looked at the wrapping. He pulled apart the paper carefully and opened a brand new copy of Emerson's poems. He smiled at her in thanks.

"I wasn't aware that you had time to get something like this," Nathan said as he lifted his book.

"I didn't. Gus managed to have what I was looking for," Allie admitted.

Nathan smiled at her.

"We didn't realize that you were such a reader, Nathan," Julie said in reprimand.

"I didn't have the time to read much...and with how much we moved it was silly to have many books. We've always been staunch library inhabitants, though," Nathan admitted as he pointed between himself and Allie.

The Thatchers smiled.

Jack was next and once more had many new toys, books, and clothes between the sets of grandparents alone.

As Jack was happily playing, Allie began opening her presents.

She opened a journal from Julie.

"It's a Thatcher tradition," Julie said as Allie smiled at her. "We always give each other a new journal or a sketchbook. And we were told you are a writer."

Allie looked at Elizabeth, who nodded in confirmation.

Grace and William had bought her the cheapest thing that she had admired in the first store they had gone to while shopping in Calgary.

"We still believe that you should get nice things every now and then," Grace explained when Allie had opened the soft cashmere scarf.

"Thank you," Allie said.

Ruth and Archie got her materials to make a fishing lure.

Elizabeth got her a new book of Allie's favorite series.

When she had two left, Allie was looking around in confusion, because the only person she was expecting to have a gift from was Nathan. She opened the small box first. Inside were three charms for her bracelet. It was simply her initials. A. M. G. Allie smiled and hugged Nathan tightly.

"I'm a Grant," Allie said proudly.

"Yes, you are," Nathan replied.

Allie then focused on her last present.

She unwrapped the box. Inside was a note placed on old, but warm blanket.

She looked at every one, but they all looked like they didn't know who it was from either, and read the note instead.

Dear Allie,

Growing up my parents didn't have much of anything except a lot of dreams and a lot of mouths to feed. I was the only girl in sea of boys. So, I quickly became very knowledgeable about what boys do and don't do, and that has kind of always been my calling card. To be surrounded by boys and men.

My mother, bless her soul, tried to teach me lady-like things, but they were boring, and I was more focused on getting book smart than learning more than I needed to with cooking and mending.

This blanket is the last attempt of me trying to make something, and only begrudgingly. The only reason it didn't fall apart at the seams the minute I picked it up, has everything to do with my mother's skill with a needle and nothing to do with my own skill. But when I left their house, Ma insisted I take it with me. And then she insisted that I keep it to pass on to a daughter when I had one.

But I only had two sons.

To be honest, I never really expected either of my sons to settle down and marry. Jack was committed to the Mounties-like his father-and Tom is a tumbleweed. So when Jack got married, I thought maybe I could dust it off and have it ready for later on.

I almost just tossed it into a donate bin when Jack passed.

But something stopped me.

Now, I think it was Tom and Jack and God telling me that I was going to meet a young girl someday. Much like I don't know why I felt the need to bring it with me when I came to Hope Valley.

But after meeting you, and seeing you in Calgary, They all knew that it was meant for you. You remind me of me when I was a young girl. But you are also a better version of what I was, because you are allowing yourself to learn everything that holds an interest for you. Math, science, writing, cooking, sewing. It may not seem like it, but you're lucky in your family, even if it was so small for so long, because your dad and grandma haven't tried to steer you away from your interests. Being a Grant is what makes you special… and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.

Charlotte Thornton

Allie looked up at Charlotte with tears streaming down her face before she quickly stood and hugged the woman tightly.

"Thanks, Nana Thornton," Allie whispered into her ears.

Charlotte hugged her back tightly, and was seen desperately blinking back tears, but a few fell anyway.