A/N:

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. Hope you enjoy this holiday weekend, and find yourself surrounded by friends, family, and precious loved ones.

Enjoy these two long epilogues, as Nathan, Julia, and Allie move into their new house. Let me know what you think about this new chapter of their lives. (=

-Sarno XOXO

Epilogue Three Part I. A House by any Other Name

April 18, 1920

Julia was in the process of sweeping through the empty living room one more time, when out of nowhere, she heard a far-off chorus of horn-honking. She immediately stopped and listened, as the honking got louder and more persistent, indicating that whoever was honking, was doing so while driving down row house lane. Julia leaned on her broom and made eye contact with Allie, who had heard it too and ceased her mopping in the kitchen. And the look they gave each other was both knowing and comical. Plus, now, the sound was coming from just outside their row house door, further evidence that they had both come to the right conclusion: that happy, incessant honking could only belong to one driver: Nathan.

Julia and Allie moved to the open door and discovered their hunch was correct. For there sat Nathan Grant, grinning from ear to ear, behind the wheel of a car. An unfamiliar car. Julia first looked him over, happy and rather proud, then she turned her attention to the car, wondering to whom it belonged.

But Allie beat her to it.

"Dad, whose car…?" Allie looked closer at the happy smile he wore, and realized something. There was just enough satisfaction to tip her off. "Dad, you didn't." He only smiled bigger, so she knew he had. "You bought a car? This car is...yours…ours?"

Nathan didn't answer back. Instead, he stuck one elbow out the window, gave the door two taps, and kept right on smiling. That was all the confirmation they needed.

Julia's mouth fell open as she started down the stairs. But Allie, in her excitement, quickly overtook her, and arrived at his open window first. "This is our car?" She chortled in disbelief.

His nodded deep. "Yes, Allie girl. It's ours!"

Julia smiled at him, had known he was up to something recently. And she had to admit, it was a handsome automobile. She walked around it, allowed her hand to lightly brush over it, as she turned. Then she told him the words he wanted to hear. "It is a very fine car, Nathan." She gave him the approval he'd been hoping for.

Allie chimed in. "Yea, Dad! It's so nice!" She climbed in the back and sat down. She inspected the fine leather of the seats.

Julia opened the front passenger side and climbed in beside her husband. "It's so fancy!" She let her hand brush over the seat, the door, the dashboard. She inspected it all. "You made a mighty fine choice, Lawman." She told him, with that sideways smile.

Allie chuckled happily from the back, checking everything out. "We own a car?" She asked rhetorically, in that typical Allie way. "Wait till the kids at school find out! We own a car!"

Nathan turned and explained over his shoulder. "It will make it easier to get back and forth from town, especially in bad weather."

Julia looked at the roof over their heads. Nathan had very smartly chosen a car with a hard top, which would be useful in spring and winter. Julia locked eyes and told him. "It's perfect, Nathan." And it was. Nathan never purchased anything without analyzing all the angles, so if this was the car he'd chosen, it was the one they needed.

He smiled at her proudly. "It is nice, isn't it?" He looked it over. "It had to be special ordered, and almost didn't arrive in time." Lee had helped him in the decision making.

Julia tilted her head and narrowed her eyes, "Is this what you've been so secretive about? With Jake?" For several weeks now, as the final touches were full-swing up at their house, Nathan and Jake had been whispering among themselves and secretly meeting together. She'd caught them several times, and knew they were up to something.

When Nathan didn't answer, but just began demonstrating different features of the car, Julia couldn't help but wonder. If this wasn't what they were hiding, what else could their be? But soon, she and Allie were caught up in the wave of his enthusiasm, as he demonstrated the window cranks, the modern choke, and of course, the horn. Soon, everything else was forgotten.

When he was all done with this tutorial, he turned and looked at them both, happy as a clam. "What do you think?"

"It's fantastic, Dad." Allie told him, matter of fact.

"Wonderful, Nathan." Julia added. And he looked them over, proud.

He glanced toward the front door of the row house. "Are you all done here?"

Julia replied. "Almost. We just need to finish mopping."

"Okay. Well, let's do it, and then…I'll take you girls up to the house." Nathan told them, with raised eyebrows.

Allie couldn't believe her ears. "Finally!" It came out all high-pitched and excited.

For the last few months, Nathan had been hard at work up at the new house, working after-hours or on weekends. He'd been quite secretive about several of his projects, and for the last three days, he hadn't let either of his girls come up at all. Of course, Julia and Allie knew that only meant one thing: he was preparing something and wanted it to be a surprise. And well, neither wanted to spoil a Nathan surprise.

Julia gave him that smile she always did when she was about to tease him a little bit. "I was starting to wonder where Allie and I were going to sleep tonight." Just about everything had been emptied from the row house this morning.

Nathan got a mischievous look, made it seem like he might change his mind, and joked. "Well. There is the one bed we left for Jake?" Referring to the double bed they'd left upstairs, for her brother, who would move in next week. Originally, Archie had planned to take the row house after them, but he'd relinquished it to Jake when he'd heard about his engagement to Fiona. It had been an easy, natural decision since Archie already lived in a cabin that he was very fond of, on the outskirts of town. He'd only moved in the fall, and had come to appreciate the solitude and the view.

"Dad! You wouldn't!" Allie chided him. She'd been waiting far too long for her Dad's big reveal, and the anticipation was killing her.

But then, he couldn't hold his straight face any longer. The biggest kind of excited smile broke over his features, letting both women know that he would deny them no longer. After all, he was just as excited as they were, about finally showing them their new house.

"What are you girls waiting for? Let's finish here and go!"

While Julia and Allie finished up, Nathan took one more walk around their old row house. Memories came flooding back, and he, naturally, went back to the beginning. He remembered the day they moved in like it was yesterday. He'd dropped Allie at school, then gone to meet their belongings at the train. Despite them getting off on the wrong foot, Bill had still been helpful to arrange several men to deliver everything. Nathan chuckled under his breath remembering how uncomfortable he'd been dealing with Bill, after the man had thrown him in jail.

The first time he'd seen this house, it had been empty, and cold. Allie had yet to arrive and he'd been lonely. The town hadn't been very welcoming, and even though he understood why, that knowledge hadn't made it any easier. And these empty walls had been bleak and dreary, when they should've felt like a blank slate. Oh, but they hadn't been. His arrival had been tainted and made sterile by the knowledge of why he'd moved. And the way the townspeople looked at him, and received him, only drove that blunt-edged realization farther into his heart, until it twisted, like a knife.

It was only after Allie arrived, and their things filled the house, that it started to feel less barren. Of course, though first, she'd given him a scare, when he'd gone to pick her up from school that first day, and she wasn't there. To his humiliation, it had been the teacher who helped him search for her, frantically, all over town. Until Allie had come walking up, without a care in the world, holding a stringer full of fish.

That's how his life in Hope Valley had begun: with a shadow on his conscience, a tarnish with the mayor, and a strike on Allie's school record.

And that life had started in this house. He'd had to clean it all, from top to bottom, before their things could be brought in. And his blank slate, hadn't been so blank after all. His life here had also required a whole lot of humbling and fixing, before anything happy could be written.

But he and Allie had managed; they'd weathered it all, put in the work, and grown a lot in the process. And today, as he looked around at the walls, which wore the additional tarnish of the good years they'd lived here now, he smiled. Because even though they'd started off rough, they'd finished well.

And for all the years they'd lived here, inside of these four walls, there had been love. And happiness, and laughter, and good times, too. And all of those good things had only multiplied, once Julia showed up. And now, these walls were so full, they couldn't possibly hold any more. And so, it was time to move on. As strange as it felt, as sad as it was to say good-bye, their family needed a new place to grow.

And so, Nathan took one more turn about the second floor. Then he descended the stairs, in that clunky way he always did. Then, he and Allie and Julia took one more turn around the downstairs, and said good bye to this old house.

Memories flashed through his mind, of Allie sprawled across the table doing homework, of her flying down the stairs, late for school. Of Julia's soft knock on that old front door, and their first Christmas as a family, when together they'd planted their fourth pine cone in a clay dirt pot.

Julia slid one arm around his waist, and he leaned into her. She smiled up at him in that happy way she did, and his heart melted. Her blue eyes were like an ocean of possibilities, wonderful dreams that they would explore together, in their next chapter. And this time, in the coming chapter, the slate was truly blank, for he'd been the one to paint each and every wall, just to make sure. And there was no limit to the love and happiness those new walls could hold, he'd made sure of that too.

His gaze was fixed on her. "Are you ready?"

"I'm always ready for adventure, with you." She whispered back, with both dimples. An answer that would never, ever get old.

He felt exactly the same.

"Allie?" He glanced and asked.

"I'm ready." Allie answered, as she too, took one last look around. This house had hosted four formidable years: sleep overs, baking lessons, parties, holidays, and many other fun times. Birthdays, and Christmases, and family dinners. So many wonderful memories, made with her father, and then with Julia too.

But she was ready, to relinquish this home and move on. For her Uncle Jake and soon-to-be Aunt Fiona had their own beautiful memories to make, right here.

With the windows down, Nathan drove them out past the church and followed the road on up towards their land. Julia gazed contentedly out through the open window, as the warm, gentle breeze blew in, bringing with it, the smell of spring. And she so loved the smell of spring. It was about this time last year, that she'd first arrived in Hope Valley, and she distinctly remembered that very same fragrance. Since then, one full cycle of seasons had passed. And now, just as it had been back then, the world was in bloom again. Trees, shrubs, and fields were colored in bright green, interrupted only by bursts of vibrant color: whites, yellows, oranges, reds, soft blues and violets, as far as the eye could see.

Nathan, too, enjoyed the ride. He intermittently kept his eye on his wife, who was bathed in sunlight and captivated by the world flying past. As they neared the turn out, the anticipation began to build. He was anxious to show his girls their new home, and she must have felt it too, because as he made that left turn, she smiled over at him and placed her hand softly on his knee.

Once on their property, he pulled the car to a stop just next to a large wooden sign on a makeshift pole. As promised, Julia hadn't so much as peeked in the workshop in nearly two months. So of course, she hadn't seen this yet. "Kevin is working on an iron archway, that will be fixed here." He motioned that it would go up and over the road. "And it will hold that sign."

Julia looked over the hand-crafted wooden plaque with intricate carved lettering.

Aisling II

Although she hadn't seen what he'd been working on in that workshop of his, she should've known. Considering their adventures at the ranch, how much they both loved it, and what it meant to them and Allie, this name made perfect sense.

Julia squeezed that hand on his knee, as she tilted her head, and told him softly. "I love it." Just the words he wanted to hear.

"Dad, it's perfect." Allie chimed in from the back seat.

"You girls think so?" He asked quietly, looking back and forth between them, thoroughly content that they liked his first surprise.

Julia took in the sign one more time. His attention to detail, even on a sign that would hang high above their heads, told her just how important it was to him. "Allie's right, Nathan. It's perfect."

He placed his hand over that one of her's, that rested on his knee, and threaded their fingers together. Allie told him something he knew to be true. "Great-Grandpa Sullivan would definitely be proud."

Nathan smiled over his shoulder. "Yes, I think he would."

Then he told them with a squint of one eye. "The iron archway should be ready in about a week."

He took his hand back to put the car in gear again, and they slowly continued up the lane. The ruts beneath them were well-worn now, thanks to the frequent passage of vehicles and wagons, hauling and delivering items to their new house.

When they arrived at the first meadow, just as he expected, Julia gasped and sat up straighter, taking it all in. The first wildflowers of the season were pushing up through the ground, painting tiny specks of color in a sea of green. It seemed almost a pity that tracks ran through the middle, but it wouldn't be long before mother nature remedied that, and camouflaged even those bare ruts, with color.

Nathan took that slight left turn that brought them around to the second clearing, and into their meadow.

Julia gasped as soon as she saw it. Finished and regal and beautiful, the house sat at the far end of the meadow, and even from this distance, it was impressive. Maybe because it was painted white, marking a stark contrast, against both the blue backdrop of the sky, and the dark green of the trees to the right.

Or perhaps it was just impressive because it was theirs. A simple dream, spoken into the wind, between two lovers, on a blanket, beside a stream; now, that dream had become reality, by brick and mortar. This house put roots on the family they'd built, and those roots went deep into the cold, hard earth of this mountain.

Julia reached for his hand again, as a sob escaped. She pulled his hand into her lap, and interwove her fingers with his. In fact, she held his hand in both of hers, as she tried to control her emotions. Her heart filled with joy, as she looked over every gable, every window, every eave of this beautiful house, as they slowly drove closer.

Only when Nathan parked, and needed his hand back, did she finally relinquish it. His eyes were fixed on her now, and he stifled his own tearful smile, at her emotion. He was hoping she would like it even a fraction as much.

Of course, she'd seen this house a hundred times already. For she'd come up whenever he needed her opinion, to choose this or that, or to discuss a certain change he wanted to make. Or sometimes, it seemed like he'd asked her up for no good reason at all, except to reassure himself, that she would be pleased with the decisions he was making.

And then, there were many times over the last seven months, when he'd been hard at work here, and she'd just ridden up to surprise him. With a muffin or cookies, or coffee, or just a kiss because she missed him. Once they'd even built a fire and stayed late on a blanket in front of the fireplace. That day, he'd been much too handsome with his sleeves rolled up, and she'd been a little too flirtatious. Neither had meant for it to go there, but then, neither had been disappointed when it did.

Julia finally glanced over at her husband and realized he was already looking at her. And as the heat rose to her cheeks, she wondered, by that sparkle in his eye, if he could read her mind? Did he know what she'd just been thinking about?

"Welcome home." He whispered quietly. Though she'd been home for about a year already, ever since he rode into her life. "Ready to see your new house, Mrs. Grant?"

Even though she'd already seen most of it, this time…felt different. Now, their swing hung on the porch. Now, their things filled the rooms. Now, they would live here. And they would write the next chapter of their life, together, within these beautiful walls.

Allie was already out of the car, though neither had noticed. She'd walked straight up to the big wrap-around porch, climbed the stairs, and now, was sitting on the swing. She gave it a little push and let it go, pleased by the lightness she felt as her feet dangled in the air.

"I'm ready." Julia answered softly. But Nathan didn't get out of the car quite yet. Instead, he leaned over and placed a single, featherlight kiss on her lips. He held it there, for a brief moment, before pulling back just enough to look down at her. He smiled into her happy eyes, and only then, after the butterflies were making a crazy frenzy in her belly, did he turn and get out.

Julia climbed out, too, though she watched him all the way. Captivated now, by his tenderness, she met him in front of the car, and took his hand back. He threaded their fingers together as he led her up toward the front door.

He stopped short and turned to Allie, happily swinging on that big front porch. "Should we start in the house or the barn?"

"House!" Allie sang, without missing a beat. She was just as excited as Julia to discover everything, maybe even more so, because she hadn't been up in more than a week.

Allie stood and took her Father's other arm, and he led his two girls up to those big front doors. The curvy, fancy G carved into the wood was even prettier than Julia had imagined in her day dream. Nathan had pulled out all the stops in crafting that one letter, which was now a symbol, a handsome marker, for all three of them.

Allie let go of his arm long enough for him to turn the brass knob of the door. Nathan inched it open, and they all three stepped inside.

The hall that served as entrance to the house, was impressive. Nathan had scaled down Sully's design at Aisling, to fit his own vision, and he'd done a marvelous job. It gave the feeling of a grand hall, yet felt more familiar, and humble. Unpretentious. Family-like and modest. Like Nathan.

A staircase made its way up to the second floor, to a landing, that eventually led to the bedrooms. The railings all the way up and across were wooden, handcrafted, ornate but not gaudy, elegant but not lavish, just simply beautiful.

The floors throughout the house were wooden too, and had been stained a perfect natural maple, inviting all the light the entered, from the large windows, to stay. And the white walls and ceiling only amplified the effect, reflecting the light around each room, creating a dance of light from floor to wall to ceiling, and back again. The end result: this was a house where light lived. And Julia adored that.

For the first stop on his tour, Nathan turned them to the left and brought them into the library. Both girls had already seen this room, but not finished, and not with all of their books on the shelves. And, it made for a lot of books. As both Allie and Julia took it all in, Nathan told them quietly. "Dad and Jimmy are still working on the ladder." He raised his long arm up to something already fixed to the wall of shelves. "This is the track it will slide on." A simple invention that he and Archie had concocted, together with Jimmy, who he'd learned, was pretty nifty at such things.

Julia smiled up at him, knew he had wanted this little feature. Only she had a sneaking suspicion that he had wanted it simply for the challenge of figuring out how to construct it.

Allie answered. "That's so cool, Dad!" She couldn't wait to show her friends.

Two reading chairs were perfectly positioned in front of a large window on the south-facing wall. Light would enter there all day long, and the lamp that sat between, would only be needed in the evenings. The plaid curtains that hung on each side of the window were a gift from Archie, the Irish tartan of the province from which his family hailed. On the right-most wall, a small couch sat against the wall. And above it, a large picture hung, one Julia hadn't seen it yet. Her mouth fell open as she stepped over closer.

"Nathan." Her emotional tone captured Allie's attention, and she came to inspect it, too. Both girls stood frozen, as they looked over another one of Nathan's surprises.

"Do you like it?" Nathan asked them both coyly, smiling and thoroughly enjoying their reaction.

There before them on the wall, hung the first ever portrait of the newly composed Grant family. It had been taken at Allie's adoption ceremony. And in the photograph, Nathan stood tall and proud in the back, Julia angled slightly toward him, and Allie was smack dab in the middle, wearing the biggest smile Julia had ever seen. In fact, all three were wearing smiles that were quite large and remarkably happy.

Julia tore her eyes away long enough to bring them to her sweet husband. "I love it." Was all she could say, a little broken and full of emotion.

He looked at her, then glanced at Allie, too. "That was a good day, wasn't it?"

Allie, unable to take her eyes off the portrait, drawled out long. "Best day ever."

Julia placed her arm around Allie, who leaned in and rested her head on her mother's shoulder. "You looked so beautiful, Allie girl."

Allie replied softly. "So did you." Finally, she managed to tear her eyes from that family portrait, long enough to meet her mother's gaze. They shared an emotional smile.

Witnessing this sweet scene, Nathan took a step forward, came up just behind them. Towering over, he spread his arms, like wings, and placed one hand on each of their shoulders. Julia leaned back against him, and whispered. "Thank you, Nathan. It's just perfect."

He nodded slowly, first taking in the emotion written on his wife's face, then Allie's. His heart was full of gratefulness for this family he'd been granted. "Shall we…see the rest of the house?"

Julia glanced at Allie, tucked into her side. And they both nodded in unison. "Yes. Let's." Allie happily said, finding her father's eyes as she did.

And he led them back out into the hall. They passed the stairs and continued across through an archway that led to their big, open family room. A huge stone fireplace took up a large part of the eastern wall, and it was flanked by two tall windows, one on each side. Hung above the mantle was Julia's painting of the sunrise at the overlook, the one they saw on that first ride together, after Joseph had been hurt. She'd given it to him for his birthday and titled it The Dawn, for it represented the new beginning they were both given, when they found each other. But to Nathan, it represented the sunrise that had occurred in his heart, when he began to live again.

Just under the painting, on the mantle, sat Julia's dried wedding bouquet and Nathan's carving of the lighthouse. A few frame photographs were interspersed: one of Nathan and Julia dancing at the Founder's Day festival, the one of Julia and Allie after painting the Founder's Day booths, and an older photograph of Nathan and Allie, when she was young.

On the southern wall, in between two more large windows hung Julia's father's painting of the lighthouse, as well as Colleen's painting of her stream. And opposite, Nathan had hung a pretty hand-made wooden frame, encasing one of their own wedding portraits.

Julia took his hand and squeezed it lovingly. "Wow. Nathan. It all came together so beautifully."

He agreed. Everything had come together perfectly.

Allie piped in. "It's so nice, but still…cozy." The two settees and coffee table they'd brought from the row house made it feel warm.

The big open floor plan Nathan designed meant the room was all open, and connected to the kitchen and dining room. They passed through to the dining room next, where the large windows that went all the way around gave the impression of being outside. Between those windows hung Allie's gift for Father's Day, the painting of her and Nathan, and Julia's painting of Grandpa Sully and Grandma Rose's rosebush. Another wedding photograph hung on the wall towards the kitchen, this one of the newly married Grants and their entire extended family, including Rebecca, Archie, Jake, and Elle.

In the middle of the room sat a brand-new dining table, handcrafted, of course, by Nathan and his father. Julia knew he had built a new, larger table, but she had no idea how beautiful. The wood was breathtaking, and the light streaming in from the windows only accentuated the natural beauty of the grain. Even the normal imperfections were stunning. And the eight high-back chairs he'd made to go with the table, were stunning too.

"Dad, the table is incredible." Allie told him. She knew he and Archie had spent a lot time working and sanding and staining and then sanding again, until it was just right and just perfect.

Julia thread her arm around his waist and leaned just slightly into his strength. The table filled the room, and made a commanding centerpiece. "It really is amazing, Nathan." She told him as she looked it over.

"I can make more chairs, if you…think we need more chairs." He told her with a shy smile. The table was quite large, and could easily accommodate more chairs.

But for now, they were only three people. "Are you planning to host huge dinner parties, my love?" She asked him with a cute sideways smile.

That won her a chuckle from Nathan. Not something he would normally agree to, but somehow, here in this house, with her, it wasn't out of the question. "Well we might. At Christmas? Or when family is in town?"

Julia smiled. She could very easily picture hosting with this big, beautiful table. In fact, something about this entire room, made her eager to cook.

That made her eyes go over toward the kitchen, which was finished now. The last time she'd seen it, Jimmy and Archie had been hard at work on the Hoosier cabinet, but weren't done. They'd apparently also built her a large free-standing cupboard, just next to the stove.

Nathan noticed where her eyes had gone, so he took her hand, and led her over. He stopped just in front of the small table he'd built in the middle of the kitchen, for working. The large wash basin sat against the wall, under a window, and had several shelves underneath.

Julia looked everything over, and smiled. This kitchen had character, just like the one at Aisling. She couldn't hide her contentment. This would be a wonderful place to cook, and she couldn't wait to spend time here, preparing warm meals to welcome her husband home. It just felt like a place for family, made you want to pull up a chair and stay a while.

"And the pantry?" She asked him with a playful smile.

He motioned to a door on the west wall. "As you requested, my lady." Another thing she'd asked for, after seeing the pantry at Aisling.

Though, Julia stopped cold when they got close. She noticed something, right there, in the doorframe. Allie's growth chart. The one that had been etched into the molding by the front door of their row house. Allie spotted it too, and came over.

Julia let her hand trace over the notches. "You brought it." She whispered. How had he done it? Had he removed the entire piece of molding?

Allie looked up at her father, and piped in. "I can't believe you brought it."

Nathan smiled at both of them. "Of course I did." How could he leave behind something as important as Allie's growth chart? Milestones that had been notched in, year after year?

He looked at the top of Allie's head then, and tilted his chin. "Though, it might be time to add another notch." He teased.

"Not now…" Allie drawled out long and slow.

Nathan chuckled and continued his tour. "The pantry, dry goods closet." All three stepped inside. The floor to ceiling shelving on the far wall was all done now. And on the left, sat various sized bins that held flour, sugar, and potatoes; several more were empty, ready to hold whatever sundries Julia chose.

He walked on through, to the back door entryway. A touch he'd added after seeing how Julia appreciated the one at Aisling. "And here's where we take off our boots and coats, before coming into the house." He motioned to where his high brown Strathconas were polished and standing at attention. His bright red serge hung on one of the hooks, just above. Next to it, hung his Sam Browne belt and holster, and his campaign hat.

He put his hand on the knob. "This door leads out back, to the garden, and then, the barn. Eventually, we'll park the car back there, too." He told them with a coy smile. By that smile, Julia knew there was another surprise out there. That smile just gave it away.

"Can we go out there now?" Allie asked.

Nathan squinted one eye. "I have one more thing down here to show you girls. And then I'd like to take you upstairs."

Julia nodded her agreement. She liked Nathan's tour. She was here for every minute.

He took her hand and led her back through to the salon, to something that sat on the small middle wall, that she had completely missed. It had been completely behind her the first time she'd walked through. And whatever it was, it was large and covered by a blanket. She titled her head and looked puzzled. "What is it?" She asked Nathan curiously.

Nathan glanced at Allie, then back at her, and rocked back a little on his heels. "This is what Jake and I have been keeping from you."

She looked down at the blanket now, more curious than ever. What could it be? Nathan slowly and very carefully lifted one side of the blanket, pulled it over and across, revealing what was underneath.

Julia gasped and covered her mouth. Allie too, just by association, was stunned, and looked back and forth between the two. Speechless, Julia looked from Nathan, to the piano that sat against the wall, then back up at him. When the tears began, Allie realized this wasn't just any piano.

Julia tried to form words. "How did you? When did you?" She pulled out the stool and sat. She opened the cover, and wiped her eyes, willing them to focus on the ever-familiar keys.

"Jake arranged to have it sent from your parents house. It made the long train ride west, and we picked it up just a week ago. A man came from Benson Hills just yesterday to tune it." He told her.

She tried out a few keys, and then played a scale or two. The notes resonated in that big house, carried all the way up the stairs, and sounded just wonderful. Julia couldn't believe Nathan had brought her mother's piano. Yes, she had missed playing, but more than that, she had missed this dear and familiar instrument. Here, on these keys, her fingers were at home. They fit perfectly and knew just how to dance.

How on earth had he thought of doing something so wonderful? Julia's fingers waltzed across the keys, and frolicked playfully, as she played Liebestraum, or Dream of Love. This was the song she had played at Allie's surprise party, while Nathan observed her closely. He'd made her so nervous that day, but now, the Dream of Love that she'd held onto, had come true.

When the song finally ended, Julia stood, and moved to Nathan. She wrapped her arms around him, and buried her face in his chest. She went right into that place where she fit so perfectly, and held on tight as she processed exactly what he'd done. For her.

Once again, he had rendered her speechless by his thoughtfulness and incredible love. Though she didn't let go, she finally looked up, and attempted to find her voice. "Thank you, Lawman." She whispered with emotion.

"You're welcome." He choked back, matching her affection.

"That's your mother's piano?" Allie asked, registering what her father had done.

Julia wiped her eyes and replied to Allie. "Yes. Yes it is." She looked it over once again, hardly able to believe it was here.

Allie sat on the stool and tapped out a few notes. Angela had tried to teach her, but without a way to practice regularly, she'd been able to get very far.

Julia would know that look anywhere, recognized that desire to learn, written on her daughter's face. "I can teach you…if you'd like." Julia offered.

Allie looked up at her. "Really? You would teach me?"

Julia smiled down at Allie, and looked over the piano again. "Of course. I would love to."

Nathan removed the blanket a little farther, to reveal a crate of old books. Piano books. As soon as Julia saw them, she rushed over and crouched down. "You even brought the books!" She reported happily. She pulled one out, old and worn, and began to flip the pages, excited now. "This was my favorite instructional book. I think you will have it mastered in no time." Julia told Allie, as she set it up before her.

Allie tried to read a few notes, and tapped out what she could, but to no avail. "Maybe this one will need a bit more work."

Julia chuckled low. "Yes, maybe. But, you'll pick it up in no time. You'll see." How wonderful it would be to teach Allie, and on her mother's piano, no less.

Julia thread her arm behind Nathan's back, once again. She stepped in close to his side, and leaned against his solidness. "Thank you." She whispered again softly, as she gazed at her mother's piano, sitting in their living room.

Nathan cleared his throat. "There's more to see and discover…on my little tour."

Allie carefully closed the piano, before standing and turning towards them. "Okay then, Dad. Lead on." She told him with that Allie smile.

"Shall we go upstairs next?" He suggested. Both girls nodded, and followed, as he led them back through to the big hall.

As they climbed the stairs, Julia let her hand trace over the detailed, wooden railing, that her Nathan had built.

When they arrived at the top, he turned them to the right.

First, he showed the three empty bedrooms, one of which was planned for a guest room. Nathan was already working on the furnishings for it. Though, as he opened the third door, Julia realized something. "Wait a minute. Three bedrooms here?" She asked him with a raised eyebrow. She looked around behind her. "Where's Allie's room?"

He pointed a finger to the next door in the hallway, the one just past them. Julia turned around again, confused now. She knew their bedroom was at the other end of the hall. He'd brought her up weeks ago to ask her about the paint color. "So, you made four bedrooms, plus ours?" For some reason she thought he'd originally planned only three bedrooms, and theirs.

Nathan made that cute sort of shy, half smile. "Yes."

Julia laughed. "Four bedrooms?" She loved his optimism. "Are we going to be able to fill them?" She looked into the third one, which was still completely empty.

Nathan shrugged his shoulders and tilted his head at her playfully. "You're the one who asked me to dream, and then agreed, to those five children in our future. Remember?"

Julia laughed out loud, and Nathan joined her. "You made an extra bedroom, just because of our conversation on your front porch?"

"No. I did it because I like our dreams, and your vision for our family." Nathan told her confidently.

Allie just smiled and looked amusedly back and forth between them. She'd always prayed for siblings. "Five siblings? Really?" She asked excitedly.

Julia tried to slow Allie's momentum, before she ran away with the idea. "Or...as many as God blesses us with, Allie." She made sure to look her square in the eye as she said that. "I'm not sure how many...or how easy…" She added, as a safety net, thinking of Rosemary and Lee. After all, it had been seven months since she and Nathan had married, and as far as she knew, nothing had happened yet.

Nathan took her hand, and smiled, understanding her hesitation. "Well, we have all these rooms, regardless. We can turn them into...whatever you want. An abundance of guest rooms, if you like." Look who was being optimistic now.

Allie chuckled at these two. The love between them was so evident, they were bound to have as many babies as they wanted. "I'm sure it will all work out just right."

Nathan liked that, and he looked at Julia in agreement. "That's a good way to put it, Allie." He raised his eyebrows and smiled at his wife. "Everything will work out just right."

Julia smiled back at him, thankful for his faith, that always seemed to pick up the slack, whenever her's faltered. They didn't need a safety net, they three had each other. "I do like that, Allie. Thank you for reminding me."

Oh, Allie. She was a deep well of wisdom, for her age. Perhaps it was the way Nathan had raised her, explaining and reasoning through things with her, without ever talking down to her. Maybe it was her life experience and the hardship she'd faced. But, either way, Allie had been there, more than once, to offer sound advice, at just the right moment.

"Ready to see your room, Allie girl?" Nathan smiled excited, hand on the knob.

Allie looked back and forth between the two of them, realized there was an air of conspiring between them. What exactly had they done in her room? "Yes." She answered softly.

Nathan opened the door with a big smile.

As soon as Allie saw her new room, she gasped. "Dad! No way!" She said happily, as her eyes went over the canopy bed she had asked for. It was even prettier than she'd imagined.

On one wall was the dresser from her old room, and a bookshelf curiously like the one they'd snuck in and delivered to Julia, as a gift. "You made me another one?" Allie asked him.

"I sure did, just as I promised." Nathan replied, matter of fact.

On the perpendicular wall was a brand new dressing table, slightly smaller than the one he'd made for Julia, but similar. "Dad!" She gasped again, as she pulled out the stool and sat down.

She looked at herself in the mirror, and he came to stand behind her. "You're getting older now, Allie. And, well, every woman needs a proper dressing table." He explained light and airy.

Allie looked over the casing of the mirror. She knew Julia's had been carved with roses, but her's had been beautifully crafted with another flower. One of her favorites. "Daisies." She told him, as she eyed them admiringly.

Julia stood just behind her, in the mirror. "Daisies signify innocence and purity."

"And true love." Nathan added. For Allie would always be his original true love, even if a different kind of love. For the love between a father and a daughter was truly special and unique.

She sat back and eyed them both in the mirror. Conspiring, indeed. What other surprise had they up their sleeves? She let her eyes go round the room, and that's when she noticed.

On one wall was her mother's painting, the exact one that had been in her room at the row house. Just next to it was another adoption photo, but this time, it was a little more fun: not a staged portrait, but a candid photograph taken of the three of them at the reception. Nathan had just told Allie and Julia one of his typical jokes, and Fiona had called out to them, and snapped the camera, before they could pose. The end result was natural, but beautiful: all three wore genuine smiles, with Nathan sweetly focused on Allie.

Allie stopped just in front of it. "I love this photograph!" She told them, with a sideways glance. "Dad, you are so handsome."

Nathan smiled over at his wife. "Julia picked that one."

Allie looked at Julia and then, back at the picture. "I can see why she picked it. It's perfect!"

From there she noticed another painting on the opposite wall. Allie's jaw dropped, as she walked towards it. "Mom." She whispered.

Allie knew just who had painted this one. It was the perfect rendition of her overlook. When had Julia done it? And how had she kept it a secret?

Julia stood just next to her. "Do you like it?"

"It's so…wonderful." Allie couldn't take her eyes off of it. "When did you? How did you?"

"I painted this one back in my apartment." Julia replied. "Before the wedding."

Nathan stood just behind them, and admired the painting, too. It was lovely. Julia had perfectly captured the highlights and lowlights, and all the colors in between.

Allie slid her arms around Julia's waist, and hugged her from the side. "Thank you, Mom. I love it."

Nathan teased from just over their shoulders. "So, does your room meet your approval, Allie girl?"

She kept ahold of Julia but turned slightly toward him. "Are you kidding? It more than meets my approval." Allie told him with that typical Allie smile. "It's amazing!"

Then, Allie walked around a little, exploring and discovering her room.

"Shall we leave you here?" Nathan asked playfully, referring to his tour.

Allie looked around, wanted to stay right here, in her cool new room, for a little while. "Yes, please."

Nathan took Julia's hand, and led her toward the door. He couldn't wait to show her their room. "Allie. Make sure you check out the barn, okay?"

Allie smiled at him and nodded. "I sure will."

And Nathan led Julia out.

"Where are you taking me next, Lawman?" Julia looked up at him and wondered.

He tucked her hand over his elbow. "Your room, my lady." He smiled sideways. "If you'd like to see it."

He'd been rather secretive recently, working in there, so she was quite curious. "Of course I would love to see it." He'd asked her advice on the paint color less than three weeks ago.

Nathan stopped just outside the door. "If there is anything you want to change, I will change it." He just had to let her know.

He opened the door, and led her inside.

The very light gray wall color Julia had chosen was beautiful against the white trim. The colors of gray and white, paired together with the white of the ceiling, gave the room a light and airy feel. The big bed Nathan had made, with Jimmy and Archie, sat strong against the wall. The wood headboard contrasted just right with the other colors in the room. And just above the bed, he'd hung her painting of their dock. The colors of the canvas fit perfectly too, and drew in the eye, made for a wonderful focal point.

The large stone fireplace on the north-facing wall was quite impressive. Nathan had framed it in white, to match the rest of the trim in the room, but most of the stones he'd chosen were in various hues of gray, to match her paint. And above the fireplace, he'd already hung a few of their wedding photographs.

He'd placed two reading chairs just in front of the fireplace, with a lamp in between. And against the walls sat her dressing table and his dresser.

"Nathan. It's so beautiful." She told him as she turned a slow circle around the room. Everything was fresh and new, and had come out even better than she'd anticipated. Even the colors of the quilt from their engagement party fit perfectly.

"I'm glad you like it. But, really, if there's anything…" Nathan told her softly.

Julia took a step toward him, and watched as that playful smile lit up his face. One more step and she stopped right in front of him. "I wouldn't change a thing." She said, just above a whisper.

He took the last step to close the space that separated them. "Me either." He caught her around the waist and pulled her into his body. Then Nathan slowly leaned down, and brought his lips to hers. And he took his sweet time getting there, allowing the anticipation to build, along the way.

Nathan kissed her with tenderness, and she kissed him back with devotion. For he had built them a home, and a very beautiful one. He had shown his love, with the sweat of his brow. He had demonstrated his devotion, by the work of his hands. And she wanted to show him her own deep love and devotion. He must have realized what she was doing, for he pulled her in even more, and she pressed in closer, too.

When he slowly pulled back, he rested his forehead on her's. She told him breathlessly. "Thank you, Mr. Grant."

He smiled, seemed to understand. "You're welcome, Mrs. Grant." Nathan pulled back just slightly and raised an eyebrow. "There's more, you know."

"More?" She asked curiously, and she stepped back a little, too.

Nathan nodded, and intertwined his hand with her's.

Julia looked to the right and noticed a few other paintings leaned against the wall, not yet hung. Some were Colleen's, and a few, her father's. A few crates sat there, besides. Nathan noticed where her eyes had gone and spoke up. "I wanted your opinion on where those should go."

Julia smiled at him and nodded. "I would be happy to help with that, Lawman."

After Julia had taken one more good look around the room, Nathan led her back down the stairs, turned left, and doubled back just under them. "There's one more room I can't wait to show you." He told her, with another raised eyebrow. Julia got the distinct impression that he was enjoying this even more than she was.

But the way he said that, made Julia watch him intently, as he continued through the simple door. Wasn't this the room that he'd marked Workshop on his house plans? So why did he look so excited to show her? What business did she have in there?

As soon as they came through the door, she realized. This room was not a workshop at all, no sir. It was an art studio. Julia gasped, made eye contact with Nathan, then, continued to take it all in.

The northern and eastern walls made an L in the corner, and were made up of nearly all windows. The view out of them was absolutely breathtaking - straight ahead, one mountain gave way to another, as far as the eye could see. And just slightly to the left, the valley went on forever, with Hope Valley tucked in close to the hillside.

Julia looked back at him, flabbergasted. And Nathan tried to explain. "I thought…well, that perhaps…" as he spoke, he pushed his hands in his pockets, looked down at his feet and back up at her, "…inspiration might come easily, if I put your studio right here."

"Nathan." He would never get tired of the way his name rolled off her tongue. "I don't know what to say."

She looked around the room, speechless. To the right, her bookshelf, the one he'd snuck in her apartment and gifted her, sat against the wall. But now, its shelves were full of art books, materials, and supplies, some she hadn't even had space to unpack in her tiny apartment. But now, she had an entire room.

Of course, she knew already, that she would share this room with Allie.

"Nathan. It's too much…" She tried to tell him. "An entire room…I couldn't possibly. You can't be serious." Two easels were already set up in front of the windows, empty canvases leaned against the wall. A small table sat between the easels and brushes sat in empty jars on the table. Fresh paint tubes were lined up in a neat row on the table.

To the left, on the opposite wall, sat another table, which held Julia's paintbox. Another small shelf held sketchpads and drawing pencils, which reminded her of the ones she'd given Nathan on their honeymoon.

"You should have...a place, Jules." He told her, with both hands extended, palms up, in explanation.

She heard his heart, but could never keep such a place all to herself. All three members of this family were artistic, after all.

"On one condition."

He raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What's that?"

"We share it." She told him. "You, Allie, me." Nothing would make her happier, than an art studio, for all three of them. Her heart leapt as she imagined working together, alongside Nathan and Allie, in such a room, which had quite possibly the very best view, in the entire house.

"You inspired this room." Nathan confessed. "It should be yours."

Julia turned toward him and gazed up into his eyes, as blue as the sky that stretched out before them. "But you inspire me, Nathan. So, it should be yours also. For sketching."

He smiled shyly down at her. "Allie would definitely love working in here, with you."

"And I would love working with her, too." She smiled. "And you." Julia kept ahold of his hand and held it to her heart.

He bent slightly and found her lips again, where he placed the gentlest of kisses. "Agreed." He said just above a whisper, referring to her one condition.

"It's wonderful, Nathan." She glanced around then, took it all in a second time. "Absolutely wonderful."

He told her. "Whatever else you need, to make it a proper studio…"

He had thought of just about everything. More paintings leaned against the wall behind him - one of her father's, one was Colleen's, and a few were half-finished projects she'd abandoned after her father had passed. "I'm sure it will be just fine." She told him shyly.

"Shall we continue our tour?" Julia's eyes came quickly. Continue? What more could there possibly be, to see, on this tour of his? More surprises? He seemed to read the question in her eyes, so he answered. "Next, we go outside."