As the main street of Hope Valley came into view, Nathan felt a bittersweet wave of emotion come over him. O'Reilly would be here this afternoon with all the paperwork to sign for his severance from the Mounties. While he was grateful that it would mean some reduction in worry for Elizabeth and Ally, Nathan also knew that a part of him would miss doing this job. He had always taken pride in upholding the law and helping people in need. He supposed the helping people in need probably would not change. He knew he would always lend a helping hand where he saw the need for one.

As he rode down the main street, Nathan noted that it seemed kind of empty. Hope Valley might not be a bustling city but there was usually foot traffic on the main street. Before he could speculate much further, Nathan noticed Mike hurrying up the street toward him.

"Nathan, they require your presence in the Amaryllis," Mike told him, a little out of breath by his brisk walk.

"All right," Nathan said, not bothering wasting his time with questions that Mike might not even be able to answer.

Riding to the Amaryllis, Nathan dismounted. His eyes were already surveying the scene as he listened for any clues about what might be going on inside. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, so Nathan looped the reigns around a post and walked toward the door. No sounds drifted from outside. Bill's comment about a retirement party came to mind. Nathan had assumed that his friend meant after he had actually left the Mounties but if Bill was trying to surprise him . . .

The thought of not going in, crossed Nathan's mind. Looking around for Mike he saw the man leaning against a post looking as if he was trying to catch his breath - or avoiding being asked more questions.

The trouble was, Nathan was on duty. He could not, in good conscience, ignore the request of any citizen no matter what his suspicions was. Ready for anything, including a surprise retirement party, Nathan opened the door and walked inside.

One step inside told him he had been right to be suspicious. Across the room was a banner that said 'Hope Valley Thanks You for Your Years of Service'. Quite a few of the townsfolk had gathered. Spotting Allie, Opal and Vincent, Nathan knew that his wife and Ellen Weise had cut school short for the day.

A hand slipped through his arm. Looking down, he found himself looking in Elizabeth's eyes.

"You deserve this," Elizabeth told him.

Nathan smiled. It was nice to be recognized for all he had done over the years.

"Does this mean I get to call it an early work day?" Nathan asked, looking around the still silent room.

The question broke the ice as it let everyone know he was accepting the party on his behalf. Some people simply let out the breath they were holding, while waiting to see what their Mountie's reaction would be. Others chuckled and started talking to those near them while others moved closer to Nathan to offer personal congratulations.

Nathan half-expected Elizabeth to slip away from the press of people wanting to talk to him. Instead, his wife laid the hand of the arm not lopped through his on his arm, telling him that she was prepared to play the part of a supportive wife. That fact made this whole idea of a retirement party in his honor a little less daunting.

Formal events with the Mounties had always felt awkward for Nathan. He had never been found of crowds. That had always been Colleen's scene. His older sister could charm a room within seconds of walking into it. Dragged to more than one party by her, Nathan had seen it happen first hand. Though he had never realized it then, Nathan had always felt braver with his older sister at his side. More than once, he had longed for her presence at those Mountie functions. No, he had never been the only one by himself. Some Mounties had refused to get involved with anyone out of principle. He was sure even they would not understand his own fear of falling in love - which was not about the dangers the job proposed but that he might fail a family much like his father had done. He envied his fellow Mounties who had a loving, supporting woman at their side. Someone who was there to support them in the same way they would support her. More than once he had wondered what that felt like.

Feeling the hand on his left arm, Nathan knew what that felt like now. Despite her own scars and fears, Elizabeth was here, at his side, supporting him in this moment. Just like he had those times with Colleen at his side, as Nathan accepted congratulations from his neighbors and friends, he felt braver.

Along with the hand shake and congratulations, Nathan exchanged a few words with everyone gathered.

"My presence was required, huh?" Nathan told Mike as he let go of the man's hand.

"Well, it was," Mike said defensively, looking away from Nathan's intense stare. "Bill said I had the most chance of getting you to come and I guess part of me was worried he would throw me in jail if I did not cooperate. I mean, if the man could throw a Mountie in jail for simply doing his job, no one is safe."

Having been approaching with Superintendent O'Reilly by his side, Bill had overheard the last of Mike's comment. Reaching out, Bill rested his hand on the man's shoulder causing Mike to jump even as he looked to see who had come up beside him.

"It would not be the first time this town's mayor had ended up behind bars," Bill told Mike.

Hope Valley's current mayor took a step backwards as he spoke. "I think I am going to go find Gretchen," Mike said, looking sheepish. Mayor or not, he still found a lot of men intimidating, especially Bill Avery.

"Your fiancé was serving punch the last I saw her," Bill supplied.

Gretchen Kent had ended up in Hope Valley when her father had fallen ill on a train that had stopped at Hope Valley. The Kents had intended to go further west, to join Ray Kent's younger brother in the town he had settled with his family. That trip was delayed when Dr. Simmons services had been required. The doctor had been summoned to the train to examine Ray in the compartment, the train stewards had settled the sick man in. Dr. Simmons had diagnosed Ray with a mild stroke and had advised the daughter it was in her father's best interest to recover some in Hope Valley before the pair continued their travels. Gretchen had agreed easily and Ray Kent had been moved to the infirmary while a room had been arranged for Gretchen at the Queen of Hearts. Not that Gretchen had used the room much, as much of her time had been spent at her father's bedside.

Ray Kent had made an almost complete recovery. The only indication of his stoke was a slight droop to the left side of his mouth and a slight slurring of his words. Touched by the compassion the townsfolk had shown him and his daughter during his recovery, Ray had convinced his daughter to stay. The father and daughter had moved into a vacated row house and Gretchen had found people to let her help them with the laundry, do some sewing or help with household tasks as they came up. The odd jobs, and Ray's stipend, allowed the father and daughter to pay for the necessities. As the town council had just recently approved the funds to pay for a part time librarian, Gretchen was offered the position. She had taken it willingly.

Two days later, Mike had walked into the library under the pretense of looking for a book. It was in the course of looking for the book that didn't even exist that Mike had asked Gretchen out to dinner. She had accepted easily, albeit with a nervous laugh of her own. The two had been together ever since. Though engaged now, a wedding date had not been decided upon. Archie and Lee had hired Gretchen as manager of the kitchen staff when they had opened the Amaryllis.

"I will start there," Mike replied. "Enjoy your party, Nathan," he added quickly before slipping into the crowd.

Bill and Nathan chuckled.

"Do you have to give Mike such a hard time?" Elizabeth asked, her gaze focused on Bill but a smile on her face.

"Just think of it as giving him practice for the tough situations," Bill quipped, one corner of his mouth turned up in a small smile.

Beside Bill, Patrick O'Reilly clapped a hand on the judge's shoulder. "Not hard to see how that fellow beat you out for mayor of Hope Valley, Bill. He didn't scare off his voters."

Nathan and Elizabeth chuckled again as Bill glared at the Mountie Superintendent. O'Reilly simply continued to smile as he held Bill's gaze.

"Now gentlemen, I don't want to have to break up a fight at my own retirement party," Nathan interjected after a beat. "I would feel compelled to do so, as technically I haven't signed my severance papers yet."

O'Reilly looked away from the man he had been nettling, and looked to Nathan. He held up a black folder in his left hand. "I can fix that if you would like?" O'Reilly told Nathan. "You can sign them now or we can wait until this afternoon and sign them as planned in the office?"

Nathan felt Elizabeth's grasp on his arm tighten and sensed that she was holding her breath. He knew how much being a Mountie scared her, though since marrying him she had not complained. She had been brave and Nathan knew she would have continued to be so. However, he also knew what a relief to Elizabeth it would be for him to sign those papers. No more fear of being called out to track a criminal. No more worrying that he was not coming home, like Jack, when he did not come home at his usual time.

The answer to O'Reilly's question was simple.

"I will sign them now," Nathan told his superior.

O'Reilly nodded and motioned for Nathan to follow him. The superintendent led them to a nearby table. He opened the folder and went through the papers, pointing out where Nathan needed to sign and signing the spots that he needed to sign himself. It was only when applause broke out when O'Reilly closed the folder that Nathan realized those gathered had been watching the procedure.

"I guess I am on my own now, huh?" Gabriel asked from behind Nathan.

Turning, Nathan found his friend standing there with a teasing smirk on his face. Behind Gabriel, Faith stood with an arm around Vincent. The boy was a little taller than she was but was smiling as well.

"You know whether I am a Mountie or not, I will always have your back," Nathan told his friend, holding out his hand.

"I know," Gabriel replied, grasping Nathan's outstretched hand and then pulling his friend into a hug. With the hand reaching around Nathan, he patted his friend on the back. "You deserve this. Enjoy your family and show the world what you can create out of ordinary wood. Talent like you have, should not be hidden," he told him.

"Thank you," Nathan replied as the two friends stepped back. Seeing Gabriel's red serge reminded Nathan that this would be the last time he would be wearing the uniform. That realization felt strange. Being a Mountie had been a part of his life for so long.

An arm slipped around his left arm again. Looking down, Nathan saw Elizabeth at his side again. Looking around the room, Nathan found Allie and Jack with their grandfather. Archie caught his gaze, and gave Nathan a nod. This was the family he could now spend more time with now that he was not a Mountie. That seemed like a good trade off to Nathan.

Beside him, Superintendent O'Reilly was asking for everyone's attention again. Once he had it, O'Reilly started a speech, highlighting some of the events from Nathan's career. Nathan could feel the heat creeping into his cheeks at the words. At the end, O'Reilly presented him with a compass from the Mounties to commemorate his years of service. There was another round of applause as Nathan shook hands with O'Reilly and accepted the compass. Looking down at the compass he turned it over and saw the Mountie motto, Maintiens le Droit, was engraved on the back. Below that were his years of service to the force.

Perhaps someday, he could pass it down to Jack. Though he knew that Elizabeth would probably want the boy to pursue a career other than the Mounties, the motto was a good guide for life in general. Just like he had chosen to marry Elizabeth to provide for her and Jack after everything that had happened. It had been the right thing to do. Looking to his wife, Nathan felt the hope that he was to be rewarded for doing what was right. The simple fact that she was here for him today was proof that she cared for him in some capacity.

Perhaps being home more would allow those feelings to come to light.


Gabriel used Nathan's retirement party as a rare opportunity to enjoy a midday meal with his new wife and son. After O'Reilly had presented Nathan with the compass as recognition for his years of service, Gabriel had led Faith and Vincent over to the table where the food was laid out. He knew he could not linger long as he had afternoon rounds to do, but even Mounties had to eat.

"Do you think you will get a party like this when you retire, Dad?" Vincent asked as he settled at a table with his parents. All of them had plates of food and drinks with them.

"I sure hope that wherever I might be serving appreciates me enough to give me some kind of recognition," Gabriel replied, pushing aside the little voice trying to remind him that he might not get to retire. He knew the possibility was there but it was something he did not like to dwell on. He had a felling most people felt that way.

"Do you think Constable Grant," Vincent paused for a moment. "Would I still call him Constable Grant now?" the boy asked.

Gabriel smiled. "Technically no, but no one is probably going to bother correcting you any time soon if you do," he told Vincent. "I also do not think you are going to be the only one who has trouble making the switch."

Vincent nodded. "Well do you think Constable Grant would be willing to share his experiences of being a Mountie with me, like you have? It might be nice to hear more than one person's perspective on the job as I was thinking I might join the force when I turn eighteen."

Gabriel had been trying to figure out how to bring up the topic of his future with Vincent and this gave him the perfect opportunity. "I am sure Constable Grant would be willing to talk with you and maybe have some insights into the job that I could not give you. After all, I have just started trying to balance the job with having a kid, and Constable Grant was a single father for years. However, I do not want you thinking becoming a Mountie is the only option open to you, Vincent."

"Did Miss Lillian mention the plans I had?" Vincent asked.

"She did," Gabriel confirmed. "And I think it was very honorable of you to think about not only yourself but about supporting Miss Lillian and Miss Grace's efforts. They are doing a good thing with the orphanage."

"It was the first orphanage where I felt like I was not just another kid to feed and clothe. Miss Lillian and Miss Grace saw us as individuals. It was nice being seen."

Faith reached out and rested a hand on Vincent's arm. "We see you as well," she told him quietly.

"I know that. The fact that you wanted me as part of your family, is proof of that," Vincent told her, giving her a smile. He looked from Faith to Gabriel. "Dad, always tried to make us orphans, feel special."

"I didn't do much," Gabriel replied, trying to dismiss the praise.

"You treated us like normal people right from the start," Vincent replied. "Miss Lillian and Miss Grace tried to hide it, but we knew that the people of Brookfield did not like having us orphans in town at first, which isn't unusual. People think it is orphans' fault we don't have families. Or that we are thieves or carry diseases. You always saw us as just kids. Even when you were asking Christian and me about the fire, you gave us the time to come to you about what happened even after you found our baseball in the wreckage from the fire. Most would have taken the eye witness account and the ball and blamed us for the fire."

"I wanted to find the truth. That baseball told me there was something you were not telling me but I didn't know what. Pushing the issue would have just upset Miss Lillian more and possibly push you and Christian further away. I wanted to give you time to come to me before causing more tension."

"Most would not have. Most probably would not have thought twice if you had just blamed the fire on us but you gave us the same consideration you would have anyone else. You always spoke to us when you came out to the orphanage. You helped us find a tree and played games with us, even after Miss Lillian decided she did not want you courting her. I know I can make the people who matter in my life proud, if you are my example of what to do in life," Vincent told him.

"Being a decent person is not limited to Mounties. Granted, if you don't care about people then it makes an already hard job harder. But you can be homeless and still be a decent person. If being a Mountie is what you want to do, then your Mom and I will support that dream. You have a few years until you need to make that choice. Perhaps you should also ask Nathan about his new job as well as his years with the Mounties. Mr. Coulter runs a very successful business. Maybe you would like to see what your Mom does at work."

"I could never be a doctor," Vincent protested. "Orphans don't grow up to be doctors."

"People use to say the same things about little girls too," Faith said. "There were classmates and even professors while I finished my courses for my medical degree that did not think a woman should be a doctor. I didn't listen to them and you should not either. Use these next few years to figure out how you want to spend the rest of your life and do not let anyone tell you that you cannot do something."

"If after my exploring and asking questions I want to join the Mounties?" Vincent asked, uncertainty in his voice.

"Then I know you will bring honor to the uniform and that you will uphold the motto of the force," Gabriel told him.

Vincent looked thoughtful for a moment before he asked tentatively. "Do you think Mr. Fletcher would let me observe him at work?" the boy asked. He had been with Gabriel when Kevin had been reshoeing Apollo the day before. "I would love to see how something as hard as metal can be shaped like he does."

"I will definitely inquire," Gabriel told him. "Though he may want you to wait a year or two, given the dangers of his job," he cautioned, unsure of how Kevin would feel about having a teenager around the forge fire even though Gabriel was confident that Vincent would listen well enough if he were to observe the process.

Vincent nodded, though he wore a smile now.

The conversation shifted to lighter subjects as the three finished their meal. Gabriel had just finished when O'Reilly appeared at the table. Getting quickly to his feet, Gabriel went to salute his superior officer.

"At ease," O'Reilly said quickly, dismissing the need for protocol in the current situation. "I just wanted to let you know that I was going to be taking my leave. I have business in Raventown tomorrow and if I leave now I should be able to get there before dark."

"I need to head out on rounds, sir. Would you like company part of the way?" Gabriel asked.

"I would, thank you," O'Reilly replied.

The Superintendent waited patiently while Gabriel said a quick good-bye to his wife and son and then the two Mounties headed for the livery for their horses.