The hand entwined in his own felt like it belonged there. Though she had been quiet since they had left Bill's office that afternoon, Elizabeth had not let go of his hand. Nathan was fine with that. He did not want to let her go either, even if Elizabeth was not ready to admit to why she was clinging to his hand, or why she had been so worried when he was late coming home from work.

Elizabeth loved him. Nathan no longer doubted that. However, like his own heart had been shattered by life events, Elizabeth's heart had shattered when she had lost Jack Sr. Though that shattered heart had found a way to love her son, her fear still held her back from entrusting it with anyone else. She was getting close though. Nathan could see that. Trusting him with her body was the first step to trusting him with her heart.

"I was thinking that we should wait until we get the official adoption certificate until we try to explain the situation to Jack," Nathan said, breaking the silence between them. "That will give Ally some time to think things through without Jack asking questions."

Elizabeth nodded. "That makes sense," she said out loud.

They took a few more steps in silence before she spoke again.

"Oh, if only I had not made such a mess of things," Elizabeth lamented.

Nathan stopped walking. He let Newton's reigns fall, knowing the well-trained horse would not wander far. Even when Dylan had shooed the horse away, Newton had still found his way back to him. Turning to face Elizabeth, he gently pulled her toward him as he reached for her other hand.

"The past is behind us, Elizabeth. There is no changing what has been done. We can only mend the relationships hurt by those actions. You are doing that, even with Ally. Just continue doing what you are doing. Ally longed for a mother for so long. You were the first person that tried to fill that role, so it was only natural that when she felt rejected by you it hurt."

"I didn't even stop to consider her feelings," Elizabeth lamented. "I failed her."

"None of us are perfect," Nathan said, not able to contradict her words but not wanting to rub them in like salt into a wound either. "Just continue being mindful of her feelings now. She's getting there. Asking you to be her teacher again was the first step. I think the next step will be asking to be able to call you Mom."

Elizabeth sucked in her breath. "Do you really think she will?"

Nathan nodded. "I do," he assured her. "Ally has dealt with grief and loss her whole life, but she has never stopped longing for a family. She'll want to claim this family we are making fully. I think she is just trying to convince herself that it will not be taken away from her again."

"I will not do that to her again, Nathan, I promise," Elizabeth said. "Just like I told Bill that I could not take Jack away from you, or you from that little boy. I know you said you would let me go in the future if I fell in love with someone else, but I am committed to you, Nathan. I am committed to our family. If I give another man my love, then it will be you. That I promise."

Nathan felt his heart skip a beat. It wasn't exactly a declaration of love but he felt like Elizabeth had taken another step toward that inevitable outcome. A step just like the second time she had initiated them being intimate with another. Nathan had thought Elizabeth had seemed more relaxed with the whole process. Now, here she was committing herself to the union they had formed.

Each step was another piece of her heart healing.

Though they had been showing more physical affection to one another, kisses on the mouth had been very limited. That kiss in the garden had happened naturally. Since then, kissing the forehead and cheek had seemed to be what was comfortable. Pushing his thoughts aside, Nathan let his heart guide his actions and leaned in to capture Elizabeth's lips in his own. There was no pulling back on Elizabeth's part. In fact, Nathan felt her move closer, increasing the pressure of her lips against his. Closing his eyes, Nathan let himself enjoy the sensation, though he kept the kiss simple. There was no rush. Yes, they had done this backward. They had made the commitment to forever and now were figuring out the emotions of that commitment but they were getting there.

Of that, Nathan had no doubt.

As the New Hope Orphanage came into view, Faith let out a sigh. "As wonderful as our trip was, it feels nice to be coming home," she commented, her head resting on Gabriel's shoulder as they sat in the back of the car Chuck drove.

"You do realize we have a two-day wagon trip to make, don't you?" Gabriel asked gently before placing a kiss on her hair, taking a moment to breathe in the vanilla scent of her shampoo. While he had always liked the scent of vanilla, since being with Faith, the smell had taken on a new meaning for him. He now associated the smell with the love and comfort that Faith brought him.

"Yes," Faith replied. "But even just being back in Brookfield feels familiar and reassuring."

"I know exactly what you mean," Gabriel told her.

"The cottage is ready for you for tonight," Chuck told him. "Grace and I will stay in the guest room in the main house." Grace and Chuck had claimed the cottage for themselves after they had gotten married while Sam and Lillian stayed in the house with the children. "I think Lillian is hoping you will eat dinner with us tonight though."

"We will be happy to," Gabriel replied. "We appreciate you and Grace allowing us to use the cottage."

"Grace and I still remember how it felt when we first got married," Chuck replied.

Gabriel chuckled. Looking down at Faith, he saw her cheeks were a little pink. Choosing not to embarrass her further by bringing attention to the reaction, he kissed her hair again and looked up.

Closer to the big house on the edge of town now, Gabriel noticed a lone figure sitting on the porch steps. It wasn't long before he could tell the person was Vincent.

"Do you think Lillian and Grace told him?" Faith asked, having lifted her head and noticed Vincent herself.

"We will know soon enough," Gabriel replied. He had sent that telegraph yesterday knowing that Lillian and Grace would know best how to break the news to Vincent. If the lad knew already, then he trusted the sisters' choice to tell him ahead of time.

Soon, Chuck was pulling the car to a stop in front of the orphanage. Gabriel got out of the car, and reached a hand out to help Faith climb from the car as well. Chuck had gotten from the car and was retrieving the luggage from the car. If he knew what was going on, Chuck seemed content to let it develop without his interference.

Vincent had stood up and now stood at the bottom of the steps. Gabriel, with Faith standing at his side, took in the boy's expression. There was a mixture of hope and disbelief in the boy's features. Gabriel knew Vincent had been told about their desire to adopt him but it appeared he was not quite ready to believe it.

"Miss Lillian and Miss Grace said you want me to come live with you?" Vincent said in a quiet, shaky voice.

"We do," Faith replied.

"We want to be your parents if you will have us, Vincent?" Gabriel told him, taking a step forward so he could hold his arms open to the boy.

Vincent stepped forward, putting his arms around the man he had looked up to for the last several years. It was the only answer that Gabriel needed, as he enfolded the boy in his arms. He felt Faith's hand on his back as she stepped forward and embraced them both.

"I gave up hoping for a new family," Vincent said, his words muffled against Gabriel's clothes. "But Miss Lillian was right. We should never give up hope."

"Welcome to our family, Vincent," Faith told the boy.

The three embraced for a little longer. Even when they did finally break the hug, Vincent did not move far from Gabriel. The Mountie kept one arm across the boy's shoulders as Vincent stood at his side.

"Can I take your last name, sir?" Vincent asked tentatively as she looked up at Gabriel.

Gabriel felt a lump form in his throat and tears prick at his eyes. Though Faith and he had wanted Vincent to share the Kinslow name, they had both decided to leave that choice up to Vincent. At fifteen, the boy might not want to change his last name. Gabriel had come to terms with that eventuality. Now, to hear Vincent asking to change his name, Gabriel felt overwhelmed by emotion.

The first couple of times Gabriel tried to answer, the words would not come out. Finally though, Gabriel was able to answer though the words were still thick with emotion. "I would be honored," he told the lad. "We'll talk to Judge Avery about the name change when we get to Hope Valley," he promised.

"I want to go tell the other kids now," Vincent said, suddenly letting go of Gabriel and running toward the house. Vincent was shouting his news about having a family even before he was all the way through the front door.

"I think you two just made that boy feel like its Christmas a few months early," Chuck commented, his hands full with suitcases and bags, having paused in his task to see the display. "Not many couples would adopt a teen a few weeks after just getting married."

"Looks who talking," Gabriel countered. "You married a woman who runs an orphanage."

"Sharing someone you love seems like a small price to pay when you see how happy they are," Chuck said.

Faith glanced up at her husband. Gabriel was still beaming with pride and joy over the fact that Vincent wanted to take his last name.

"Yes, it is," Faith said, agreeing to Chuck's words even as she held Gabriel's gaze.

Lowering his head, Gabriel gave her a quick kiss, not caring at all about Chuck or whatever other audience they might have.

"Go on inside," Chuck instructed them, smiling. "I will put these bags in the cottage and be right in myself."

Arms around one another's waist, Gabriel led Faith toward the porch. Dinner was going to be anything but quiet tonight and Gabriel found he was all right with that. He and Faith could enjoy the quiet alone in the cottage tonight. For now, it was time to celebrate.

Two days later, the Kinslows rolled into Hope Valley. Shouts from neighbors and friends welcomed the new couple home and shouted greetings to the boy who looked excitedly around the town that he would now call home. Though the onlookers had questions, for now they held those questions in check. They knew there would be time for answers once Gabriel and Faith had gotten settled in.

Gabriel drove the wagon through town and out to the town house he had been staying in. Their neighbors had promised all would be set for their arrival home. Nathan had a group of men willing to move Faith's belongings out to the house and make sure the rooms needed were furnished. As Nathan had known about their intentions to bring Vincent home with them, Nathan had assured him a room would be ready for Vincent. Elizabeth and some of the women had promised to clean the house as well. The Grants also planned on sharing that first meal with them, Elizabeth promising to cook so they could eat shortly after arrival. As such, it was not a surprise to see Nathan, Ally and Jack outside of the house as Gabriel pulled the wagon to a stop, in front of the house.

"Welcome home!" all three of them shouted.

Gabriel, Faith and Vincent all thanked their welcoming party even as the shouts drew Elizabeth to the door. Securing the reigns, Gabriel climbed down from the wagon seat as Vincent clamored over the side of the wagon bed. Having met Vincent in Brookfield, Ally came forward to welcome the boy to Hope Valley as Gabriel helped Faith down from the wagon.

"Dinner is just about ready," Elizabeth commented.

"Thank you for having dinner ready," Faith said. "It is a relief that Gabriel doesn't have to cook dinner for us after driving all day. I really should probably put some effort into learning how to cook."

"I learned to cook after coming to Hope Valley, so I am sure you could too," Elizabeth told her. "Believe me some of my first attempts were not pretty."

"I know how to cook a few things," Vincent volunteered. "I helped Miss Eleanor in the kitchen a few times."

"See, Vincent and I will turn you into a cook in no time," Gabriel told his wife, getting laughter from everyone.

Gabriel turned to retrieve some of the baggage from the wagon but Nathan reached out and grabbed his arm.

"Just leave the belongings for now," Nathan told his friend. "First, your final wedding gift is waiting for you inside."

"Dad let us all help finish it, Uncle Gabe!" Jack chimed in happily.

"As it is a gift from all of us, it seemed appropriate to have the family chip in," Nathan said. "So, first I need you and Faith to put on blindfolds so you don't ruin the surprise," he said, holding up bandanas.

Faith giggled but seemed game to go along with the plan. Standing next to Faith, Elizabeth promised to guide her friend.

Gabriel wasn't quite so easy going about the plan.

"You know the last time I was blind folded for a trust exercise, my partner let me trip over a tree stump."

"I was not your partner that time," Nathan countered. "Besides, there are no tree stumps in the area."

"But there are steps," Gabriel countered.

"Then put the blindfold on when you are standing on the top step. I already made sure the curtains on the window are pulled."

Gabriel took the blindfold from Nathan. As Ally hurried inside to open the door when they were ready, Elizabeth asked Vincent to keep an eye on Jack for her. Vincent agreed as the four adults positioned themselves on the steps. Nathan stood closest to the door, ready to lead a blindfolded Gabriel into the house first. Gabriel and Faith stood next to each other, while Elizabeth stood on the first step, ready to guide Faith into the house after Gabriel.

"Trust me," Nathan told his friend.

Gabriel sighed. He did trust Nathan. The problem was, his shin was sympathetically aching from the memory of tripping over the tree trunk the last time he had been blindfolded for something. However, he tied the blindfold in place. As he lowered his hand from tying the cloth, he felt Nathan immediately take a hold of his right arm, his friend's fingers grasping his arm just below the elbow. There was a knock on the door and then Nathan was telling him to step forward. Gabriel did so with small, tentative steps.

Nathan talked him through the doorway and immediately Gabriel felt his friend's arm across his back. He knew then that his friend was at his side. Behind him, he could hear Elizabeth guiding Faith into the house.

"All right, you can stop right there," Nathan told him.

Instinctively, Gabriel grasped for a grip on his friend's arm before Nathan could let go of his arm. It was silly he knew. All he had to do was reach up and remove the blindfold after all.

"I am not going anywhere," Nathan told him, his voice supportive, not judgmental. There was a short pause and then Nathan spoke again. "You can remove the blindfolds."

Gabriel reached up and removed the blindfold to find himself standing in front of a rectangular table with six chairs around it. Tables and chairs were stained a dark mahogany. An ivy design ran along the apron of the table. The trumpet legs of the tables had several bulbs along the length. The chairs all had legs that matched the table and the same ivy design etched into their backs.

"It is gorgeous," Faith gasped even as Gabriel reached out and let his hand slide across the smooth surface of the top.

"Ally helped me with the sanding and then Elizabeth and Jack helped us with the staining process," Nathan said.

Gabriel had still not said anything.

"It was no easy feat getting that table in here so please don't tell me you do not like it. I am not sure I can recruit help to get it back out," Nathan said, his voice light with humor as he tried to elicit a response out of his friend.

Still not trusting his voice, Gabriel simply turned and gave his friend a brotherly embrace. He could not imagine a better gift and though the table might seem empty with his little family of three, Gabriel hoped more children would soon join the family. Besides, tonight the table would be filled as they shared their meal with the friends who had put labor and love into creating the lovely gift.