Hey all…sorry for the brief hiatus. It has just been one thing after another. So, hope you have all read and liked the previous chapters and I sincerely hope you like this one too. I was inspired to continue with this chapter due to the return of Abigail in the spin off When Hope Calls and the fact that she and Henry have been keeping in touch. I cannot wait for their reunion…till then, let's live that moment through this imagination. Enjoy.

I do not own the characters in this story…only my imagination 😊

Abigail tried to open her eyes but simply couldn't. Her eyelids felt heavy and the light outside seemed bright, leading her to give up on her idea of opening her eyes. She tried to move her fingers. She wasn't quite sure if she did but she felt that she was in a state of paralysis and that it would take all her strength and will to move a single muscle in her body. She exerted as much strength as she could but all she managed was a small sigh. She was too tired to move her body, she gave up.

Henry observed quietly. Abigail was lying on the bed, all pale. They were at the local dispensary in Ancaster. Every so often, Henry would get up from his chair and pace around, his mind unsettled. He just needed Abigail to wake up. He walked over to her again and he swore that he had seen her eyes move and he was also sure that she moved her fingers, but again, he hadn't slept the whole evening and he was exhausted. While he was tired, every time he tried to close his eyes to get a little rest, he would wake up with a start. The scene at Mrs. Brightley's house unfolded in his head and all the images stopped at Engerfield's man pointing a gun at Abigail. That was enough to make him jump out of his temporary state of sleep.

"Henry…" Bill called. Henry did not see him come in.

"Bill." Henry acknowledged and walked towards him. Bill handed him a cup of tea and Henry nodded gratefully. "Thank you…for everything." Henry said gently and Bill smiled at him. Bill had arrived later last evening in Ancaster after having tipped Noland about a possible hostage situation at Mrs. Brightley's house. He had also been at the dispensary waiting for Abigail to wake up. The doctor had said that she seemed to be in shock and that is why she had been unconscious and that it is good that she has been resting it out. Despite Bill's insistence that Henry go to a nearby motel and rest for the evening, Henry stayed put. All he wanted was for Abigail to be fine.

"I just talked to the doctor…" Bill said as Henry sipped his tea. "He says that Abigail should wake up soon and there is nothing to worry about." Henry nodded thoughtfully. "You may want to go and rest a little."

"I will wait for her to wake up." Henry said and Bill sighed. Bill knew that he was fighting a losing battle.

"Sheriff Noland is here. He said he would like to speak to you if you are in a position to." Bill said and Henry looked at him.

"Sure, I can do that." Henry said. Bill escorted Henry outside the room and there was Noland.

"How are you feeling, Mr. Gowen?" Noland asked politely. Henry nodded politely, signaling that he was better. "I apologise for having to do this right now but we will require more information to facilitate the arrest of the cartel."

"No, of course. They all need to be arrested." Henry said and narrated the whole incident right from the wedding to the shooting at Mrs. Brightley's house. After further questions, Noland excused himself and left from there.

Bill and Henry returned back to Abigail's room. Bill later excused himself as he had a few people he wanted to meet urgently.

It seemed like eternity that Henry was there in the room. Abigail had not woken up yet and Henry's eyes could not remain open anymore. He nodded off while sitting on a chair next to her bed, his head resting next to her hand. After what seemed to be a few minutes, he jolted yet again from his sleep due to the nightmare. He looked closely at Abigail. She did not move and he assumed she hadn't. He got up and midway, he felt a hand holding his, stopping him from going. He looked back and saw Abigail's hand on his. He looked up at her face and surely, her eyes were opened.

"Abigail…" he said gently and quickly sat again on the chair, now his hands encircling her hand.

"You are alright…" Abigail stated. She was clearly disoriented. "Where am I?"

"We are at a local dispensary here in Ancaster. Everyone is fine. How are you feeling?" He asked, almost whispering.

"I don't know. I feel…weak, I think." Abigail said in between breaths, not quite sure of what she was feeling anyway.

"You will be fine. You just need a little rest." Henry said soothingly to her, whilst stroking her hand with his thumb.

Her eyes suddenly with tears. "I thought I lost you." She said slowly. Henry shook his head.

"You won't lose me. Ever." He said and smiled at her reassuringly. He wiped off a tear that threatened to trickle down her eyes. "You do not need to worry about anything except getting better." He said and squeezed her hand.

"Mrs. Brightley? How is she?" Abigail said, suddenly panic in her voice.

"She is fine too. A little shaken up, but fine." He said again reassuringly. "Elizabeth and Cody and Rebecca should be on their way here." He said and Abigail's face broke into a small smile. "Bill is here too and has been very helpful. In fact, he is the reason the sheriff and his men got there on time." Henry finished.

"Where is he?" Abigail asked.

"He had to meet a few people in town, so he left a few minutes ago. He too has been waiting for you to wake up." Henry said.

"And you?" Abigail asked gently.

"I couldn't leave knowing you're still unconscious." He said. Abigail looked at him with gentle eyes.

"We do need to talk." Abigail said.

"What about?" Henry asked, genuinely concerned.

"You and I. US." She said as she breathed in deep and now it was her turn to squeeze his hand. He leaned in close to her face.

"This is not the place and time to, I feel." He said gently and kissed her forehead. Abigail closed her eyes as he did so, his lips lingered on slightly longer on her forehead and her eyes remined close slightly longer. He came up from his kiss but did not move further away from her face. She looked him in his eyes as he gently caressed her cheek with his thumb. His proximity to her made her shiver slightly. She felt giddy and she did not like that effect. It was rather unlike her to feel that way.

"Pardon me?" the doctor called out and entered the room. That startled both Abigail and Henry. Abigail thanked the doctor inwardly for that interruption. "I see you have woken up." He said and came in with his stethoscope. "May I?" he asked Henry.

"Yes of course!" Henry said as he retreated. The doctor felt her heartbeats, checked her eyes and her pulse.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

"Better for the most part." She said. "I feel tired."

"Hmmm." The doctor said. "Do you remember your name and where you are from?" the doctor asked.

"I do. I am Abigail Stanton from Hope Valley." Abigail said.

"And the gentleman here?" Pointing at Henry.

"Henry Gowen." Abigail replied.

"And do you recall the events leading to your losing consciousness and what caused it?" The doctor asked.

"I do, doctor." Abigail said.

"Do you remember your family and friends?"

"Yes, I do."

"Good, doesn't seem like a lapse in memory. You lost consciousness from the trauma of what you witnessed. Nothing else wrong with you and you will be perfectly fine. I can release you from the dispensary as soon as you are strong enough to walk by yourself." The doctor said with a smile.

"Thank you." Both Abigail and Henry said together as the doctor walked out of the room and just as he did, Cody, Rebecca and Elizabeth came in. Cody and Rebecca ran to Abigail to hug her. Abigail was elated to see them. Cody had many questions for Abigail as to what happened while Rebecca tried to calm him down. Elizabeth quickly hugged Abigail tightly and made her way to Henry, leaving the children to be with Abigail.

"Henry...it is so good to see you!" Elizabeth said kindly and gave Henry a peck.

"Hello." Henry said brightly.

"You look tired. Are you alright?" Elizabeth said, watching Henry closely. Henry turned to look at Abigail.

"I am now." He said meaningfully. Elizabeth too turned to look at Abigail who was also looking at Henry. Elizabeth smiled ever so slightly at that.

"I am glad you BOTH ..." Elizabeth said, leaning towards Henry "…are alright." She finished. Henry seemed to have blushed at that statement and Elizabeth was rather amused. She knew how both Abigail and Henry felt about each other but she could not understand why they were not together only. The only people who were oblivious of how desperately they needed to be together were Henry and Abigail themselves and they have been toying around with their emotions for a long time.

After a few hours, the doctor returned to examine Abigail and released her from the dispensary. They all moved in to a hotel nearby for the night, after which Abigail would give her statement to Sheriff Noland and then leave for Hope Valley with Elizabeth and the children the next day. Henry was planning to return to Hamilton. Abigail and Elizabeth shared a room with Rebecca while Cody was put up with Henry in his room. Henry did not seem to mind. He needed that distraction.

Later that evening, in the room, Abigail and Elizabeth were chatting about what happened at the wedding and what transpired thereafter. The children were with Henry in his room.

"I am so sorry about what happened, Abigail. I hate to imagine the sight of the tragic events that unfolded there. Poor Sylvia to have lost her uncle and her husband in all this." Elizabeth said emotionally as Abigail nodded tearfully. "And Henry…what a relief that he was at the wedding." Elizabeth finished.

"Yes I do not know if I would have made it alive if he had not been there." Abigail acknowledged.

"What will you do now?" Elizabeth asked Abigail.

"What about?" Abigail asked.

"Henry, Abigail." Elizabeth replied. "I recognize the look you gave each other too well. I know you have feelings for him." Elizabeth said and Abigail sighed deeply. She walked towards the window to their room and looked out at the street below.

"I am the mayor of Hope Valley, Elizabeth. When Henry was the mayor, he committed a lot of fraud and…" she said turning to look at Elizabeth and continued "…I am unsure of how the people will feel about that."

"Abigail…" Elizabeth said softly as she walked over to her "…the people of Hope Valley know Henry has repented for whatever wrong he has committed."

"It still brings up ethical and moral questions…how would they trust or accept the mayor of Hope Valley who is in a relationship with a former mayor who defrauded them and supposedly caused a mining incident in which they lost their husbands and children?"

"Abigail…" Elizabeth said gently and took Abigail by her shoulders and sat her on the bed. "Firstly, how do you feel about Henry? Do you love him?" Abigail thought for a second.

"I believe I do." She said quietly.

"And does he feel the same way about you?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes, he does, very much so." Abigail replied emotionally, tears forming in her eyes.

"Well, half of the battle is won with that realization. Now, tell me something…if you were not the mayor of Hope Valley, would you have hesitated being with Henry?"

"No. I have wanted to be together with him every day even before he left Hope Valley."

"Abigail, if there is anything that Hope Valley stands for, it is love and forgiveness. Why won't you give them that chance?" Elizabeth said. Just then, there was a knock on the door. In came Cody, Rebecca and Henry. "Uhhh…Abigail, I overheard some people downstairs saying that the hot chocolate and biscuits at the café down the road is unmatchable! Why don't I take the children to the café while you and Henry take some rest?" Elizabeth said intentionally.

"Hot chocolate and biscuits? Oh, may we mum? Please? We promise we will be good." Cody asked and Rebecca nodded. Abigail looked at Elizabeth with a sideways glance, knowing very well what Elizabeth was looking to do.

"Yes you can." Abigail said in defeat as Henry frowned at their sudden enthusiasm.

"Alright children, grab your coats…hurry up before the biscuits are finished!" Elizabeth said as both Cody and Rebecca scurried to take their respective coats. Elizabeth then whispered to Abigail. "You both love each other. That is all that should matter." She said and walked out with the children. Henry watched them leave in amusement.

"How are you feeling, Abigail?" he asked as he walked to the middle of the room. Abigail looked up at him and suddenly got up and hurriedly walked towards him. Before Henry could understand what was happening, he felt her warm lips on his. Both her hands made their way up his chest and rested on his cheeks. He felt some blood rush up to his cheeks as he struggled to make his next move. He then kissed her back softly, gently putting his arms around her waist. She tiptoed for better angle. At that moment, everything else seemed to be a blur around the two of them. It seemed like nothing mattered more than the kiss. The kiss was beautiful, almost respectful. His one hand moved over to caress her cheek. After what seemed like eternity, Abigail moved her head back and stepped down from her tiptoe, both she and Henry trying to catch their breath. Her hands moved to his shoulders and on to his chest. He looked down at her, her eyes were filled with tears.

"I have wanted to do this for a very long time…" she half laughed and cried.

"Abigail…" he whispered as he brought both his hands to wipe the tears. His heart broke whenever he saw her cry.

"I love you Henry…" She said firmly, her voice only cracking slightly. More tears flowed.

"Shhhh…" Henry said as he enveloped her into one of his engulfing hugs. His arms wrapped tightly round her, almost significant of the fact that he would always protect her. He blinked back his tears as he gently rested his chin on the crown of her head. She held on to him like her dear life depended on it. After a few moments, she moved her head and on cue, Henry moved his chin from over her head. She looked up at him and he, into her eyes. She continued to hold him by his waist and he hers. He kissed her forehead and that seemed to overwhelm her even more as she went in for a tighter hug, sobbing lightly, her sobs growing with time. "Abigail…" he said as he pulled himself from her gently and led her to sit on the bed, he sitting next to her. "Are you alright?" he asked genuinely, his eyes shining through to hers.

"I just…" she said and broke down again. Henry hugged her again and held her tight before pulling her away gently. "I saw the image flashing through my head... I thought they shot you, Henry. At that moment, there was nothing… nothing else that mattered to me more than you and the thought of a life without you was unthinkable." She said and cried more.

"Abigail…" Henry said as he cupped her face in his hands. "Nothing happened to me. I am very much alright. I wouldn't just leave you…never." He said and she looked him in his eyes. At that moment, he felt this need to kiss her. He moved his face to kiss her but hesitated slightly. Again, he did not want to overstep. Abigail noticed that and leaned in herself to kiss him again. Soft, gentle pecks and light kisses.

"I love you Henry." She said again as she moved her lips away from his.

"And I love you too. Always have and always will." He said and finally moved in to kiss her ever so lightly, respectfully, tenderly. She reciprocated gladly, her eyes closed as she felt every emotion and sensation from that kiss. She felt that this was the moment she had waited for. She hugged him yet again. They both felt they couldn't spend that moment without holding each other in their arms. After what seemed to be a long time, Henry pulled away lightly and looked at her. "What next from here, Abigail?" he asked.

"Come back with me to Hope Valley…" she pleaded with him.

"You know that at this moment, I would love nothing more than that. However, I need to go back to Hamilton for now. Mr. Andrews is no more and his niece also lost her husband. I can only imagine the state of his company. I will need to go back there." He said, sadly.

"I…understand." Abigail said sadly, more for the tragedy that struck Mr. Andrews' family. "I…uhhh…I can't help but feel…responsible for what happened…" Abigail finished, fresh tears falling as her voice drifted off.

"Awww Abigail…" Henry said and engulfed her into yet another hug. "None of this was your fault." He said. He was overwhelmed at how vulnerable she was at that moment. She shook her head in disagreement to his statement. He pulled away and looked into her eyes. "Engerfield had no right to kill those people. Whatever he did was on him, not on you." He said and kissed her forehead again. She then moved ahead and leaned on his chest as he put a protective arm around her. They stayed that way for a couple of minutes and then they talked about Hope Valley. They decided that Henry would return to Hamilton to handle the business while Abigail would go back to Hope Valley and test the waters on how a possible Henry and Abigail relationship would pan out with the people of Hope Valley. "Oh, I don't think I've done this right." Henry said suddenly and Abigail looked up at him.

"What?" she asked, genuinely curious.

Henry held both her hands in his and Abigail squeezed them.

"I have not done this much…actually, I do not remember having done this before…so forgive me if I am not good at this…" he said and breathed in deep and then looked at her. "Abigail Stanton…would you make me…the happiest man…in the world…" he began nervously and Abigail knew instantly. She smiled at him lovingly. "…by courting me?" he asked and searched her face for her reaction. All he saw was a warm smile that was Abigail's signature smile and a twinkle in her eyes.

"What do you think, Henry?" Abigail asked playfully. He seemed taken aback by that.

"Uhmmmm…it really is your decision to make Abigail…" he said nervously as he tried to move his hand away from hers. Abigail held on to them tightly, stopping him from moving away.

"Oh Henry…I just expressed my love for you and kissed you and that kiss…was the most beautiful feeling I have felt in a long time." She said gently to him. "Of course I will be more than happy to court you." She said and smiled. His eyes lit up instantly and he hugged her tightly.

"You…Abigail…have made me the happiest I have been…ever. I do not remember last when I felt this elated…" he said as he drifted off, then coming back and looking at Abigail's loving, affectionate smile. "Thank you…" he whispered as he and Abigail touched foreheads.

"And thank you…" Abigail said as she broke contact with him and looked into his beautiful twinkling eyes. "For loving me like you have…" she said and he smiled. "…and for saving my life and putting your life in danger for me. I would've been dead had you not been there." She said gravely.

"I could not and I will not let any harm befall you. Your life is the most precious to me and had anything happened to you on that day…I would have probably died too." He said emotionally.

"Oh Henry…" Abigail said gently peering into his eyes. "You are a remarkable man, you do not seize to amaze me with your words and with your actions." She said. "I feel like a young giddy teenager in love…my heart is fluttering…" she said laughing nervously as she put her hand on her chest.

"If you had an insight in my heart right now, you'd know I'm worse than a teenager in love…" he said and they both laughed at that. They kissed again, short and brief and gentle.

"I regret how long it took us to get here." She said.

"So do I…" he replied. "But what matters now is that we are together now and we need not look back at what we have left behind." Abigail nodded at that. Just then, they heard a knock on the door. Abigail and Henry immediately got up from the bed, wiping their tears.

"Come on in!" Abigail said. Two excited children leapt in with a happy Elizabeth behind them.

"Mom, they have the best biscuits and croissants!" Cody exclaimed.

"And the hot chocolate was divine!" Rebecca added excitedly as Elizabeth laughed happily.

"Well, I am glad you enjoyed. Did you thank Mrs. Thatcher for the treat?" Abigail asked.

"Oh yes they did, I think ten times since we left the café!" Elizabeth chimed in happily.

"Well, I think it is time to go to bed now. It is past your bedtime." Abigail said, especially to Cody. Both the children agreed and Cody made his way out of Abigail's room after wishing everyone a good night and thanking Elizabeth yet again, to which Elizabeth shook her head and laughed.

"I think I should head to my room too. It is late and we do have an early morning tomorrow." Henry said and walked to the middle of the room.

"Goodnight Elizabeth…" he said and Elizabeth responded.

"Abigail…have a good night." He said gently. She smiled back at him.

"You too…Henry." She said slowly.

Elizabeth did not miss those smiles exchanged. She looked at Abigail and Abigail looked away shyly. Elizabeth smiled wider. She knew some progress had been made, she couldn't wait to speak to Abigail about it.

THE NEXT MORNING

Abigail and Henry went to Sheriff Noland's offices and recorded Abigail's statement. Bill was also there. He was relieved to see Abigail and thanked Henry for protecting Abigail. Bill was set to escort Abigail, Elizabeth, Cody and Rebecca to Hope Valley on his horse.

After recording her statement, Abigail and Henry returned to the hotel to gather their belongings. The children and Elizabeth were waiting in her room. Abigail waited for Henry to join them there. Before long, he came to her room. Abigail cleared her throat.

"Sorry…May I please have a moment alone with Mr. Gowen?" Abigail asked confidently.

"Sure…" Elizabeth said understandingly. She ushered the children out of the room and closed the door behind her. As soon as the door was closed, Abigail walked towards Henry. She stepped close to him, their bodies just an inch away from each other. Henry looked down at her, a small smile on his lips. She held his one hand with hers and rested her other hand on his chest.

"This is really difficult for me." She said, managing to hold her emotions in place.

"It is for me too." He said gently as he placed his idle hand on her hip. That seemed to be his favourite resting place for his hand. "We will write…" he started.

"And wire too…" she said and he nodded his head.

"It is just a matter of time. We will be together soon." He said, reassuringly.

She smiled at him warmly and said "I cannot wait for that." He returned her smile.

"Me either. Take good care of yourself, Abigail." He said lovingly.

"You too." She replied.

She seemed a lot more composed than she had been the previous night. In as much as Henry thought her vulnerability to be just as beautiful, he loved seeing the confident Abigail, the one who took the world by her bare hands. She tiptoed and planted a gentle kiss on his lips. He reciprocated. A whirl of emotions surrounded that kiss…bittersweet emotions…surrounded by the sweetness of their newfound love and the bitter of the separation, mixed with the sweet again, for the hope and wishes of their togetherness.

"I will miss you dearly, Henry Gowen." She said at last, still tiptoeing. He held her by her waist tightly.

"God knows I will too." He said, giving her a peck on her cheek. She sighed as she slowly went down on her feet again. Their fingers were intertwined as they spent the last few seconds in each other's presence. They hesitatingly made their way out of the room, still holding hands. They only stopped holding hands after they exited the hotel.

A carriage was waiting for them downstairs and so was Bill on his horse. Everyone else said their goodbyes to Henry. The children got into the carriage as well as Elizabeth. Abigail confidently and gracefully got into the carriage. The sight of her strong moves and her confidence and her grace reminded Henry of what about her he loved the most among other things. She sat down gracefully on the seat and looked back at Henry.

"Madam mayor…" he said as he tipped his hat at her and gave her his best smile, a smile she knew she wanted to hold on as a memory while she was away from him. She smiled lovingly and waved at him ever so slightly. Bill looked on. She held his gaze until the carriage disappeared into the corner on the street.

His heart immediately fell at the sight of her leaving but his soul was filled with warmth…a little more than usual.