IT'S WHEN CALLS DAY!

I cannot believe that finally, finally, after so many months of waiting, the day is here! I love this show with all my heart, and I cannot wait to see what's in store for us in Season 9, especially since I could write a million words and still never match up to the beauty we'll get on screen.

Thank you all for reading, whether you've been with me since the beginning (way back in the midst of season eight), or are just starting now. This fic (and this little community) has provided me an outlet for creative endeavors and truly inspired me to pick up writing again, and I'll never be able to thank you all enough for that. This isn't the end, not by a long shot, but I hope you've enjoyed this little "Week Before When Calls" series and all the shorts that have come before.

And in the spirit of today's theme, I think it's time for a bit of rest myself. I'll be back soon with a new short, but for now, I'm afraid I'm all out of words.

Sundays were for rest.

And, it seemed, that on this particular day, that's exactly what they'd be doing.

They'd lucked out, really, with their wedding reception ending just before the first flakes began to fall, but now blankets of snow covered all of Hope Valley. It was already well into spring, so the storm was unexpected, but thankfully they weren't scheduled to leave for their honeymoon for another couple of days. It would hopefully leave plenty of time for them to find their way to a stagecoach, but from the view out her window, Elizabeth could already tell that no one was going anywhere for at least a few hours.

The wedding had been beautiful, just their closest friends and family, with Little Jack standing next to Lucas not as ring bearer, but as his miniature best man. Henry had been close by holding the little boy's hand throughout the ceremony, and if she hadn't already had tears in her eyes as her son walked down the aisle before her, they had come in full force the second she laid her eyes on Lucas.

The past four and a half years had been filled with loss and love alike, but it was her second chance that stood at the end of the aisle. A chance that she had once thought she'd never be given, and yet there he was. The remainder of the day had been a whirlwind that Elizabeth recalled as she stood in her living room, watching the snow gently fall outside.

"What are you thinking about?" Lucas asked as he snuck up behind her, arms quick to pull her back against him. His lips found her cheek, and then quickly moved to her neck, causing her to laugh lightly.

"Oh nothing. Just some schoolwork I assigned last week that still needs to be graded," she joked, hands settling over his on her stomach as she let her head fall to the side, granting him easier access to her neck.

His movements took him back to her cheek, and then her forehead, where he pressed a lingering kiss against her temple. "I'm fairly certain that's not what any groom hopes to hear from his bride the morning after their wedding."

Elizabeth turned in his arms, but remained close. She'd left him upstairs, in their bed, sound asleep. It seemed that the previous day's, and the previous night's, activities had left him more than a little bit exhausted, but she felt wired, even now.

And it seemed that her new husband now felt the same.

"Then, perhaps, you should remind me of what I should be thinking about, Mr. Bouchard," she suggested with a coy smile. She pressed ever closer to him, her gaze falling to his lips and then landing again on his eyes.

He wasted no time in closing the gap between them, his lips finally on hers. They'd gone through so many challenges to get here, but now, in his embrace, it was all worth it, and Elizabeth poured that emotion into the kiss.

"I think," Lucas breathed out before diving back in for another kiss, "that I should," he kissed her again, "show you instead." He kissed her once more before quickly moving to pick her up, arms underneath her knees and against her back. Her arms fell around his shoulders, and she leaned in so her lips were brushing against his ear.

"I think that sounds like a wonderful idea."

A grin grew on his face, and as he carried her up the stairs, back to their bed, she was certain of two things.

She loved this man more than life itself, and neither of them would be resting anytime soon.