Gracie wandered downstairs at the cottage Christmas morning, expecting to find her Mom making coffee and breakfast. Instead she found a note by the coffee maker. "Breakfast at the Inn. Merry Christmas!"

Gracie smiled, grabbed her coat and shoes and headed over to the Inn. She walked in, taking a big breath in of the delicious aroma of coffee, bacon and cinnamon rolls. Her mouth watered.

She walked into the kitchen and found a cozy scene. Elizabeth leaning back on the counter, sipping coffee, a happy, peaceful grin on her face as she listened to Nathan and Kingston bantering. It was great to see her so happy. This move had been good for her.

"Merry Christmas," Gracie said with a smile.

"Merry Christmas, Gracie!" Elizabeth returned, putting her cup down and holding her arms out.

"Hi, Mom."

"Hi, baby. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes. You?"

"I did."

"Morning," Gracie said to Nathan and Kingston.

"Gracie, I hung a stocking for you," Kingston told her.

"You did? Thank you!"

"And we hung one for Jake and Tara and Jude too."

"That's very kind. Before we open them, I need to head back to the cottage. I have presents too."

"Morning," Jude said from the doorway.

Gracie felt butterflies in her stomach, a feeling she got every time she saw Jude, or thought about seeing him. She hoped he would always have that effect on her.

She walked over and hugged him, whispering, "Merry Christmas, babe," in his ear.

"Hi." He pulled back and touched her cheek with his fingertip before softly pressing his lips to hers. Just briefly, very aware that they weren't alone.

Ever since their visit to the lighthouse where he had been so very close to blurting out a proposal, that's all he'd thought about.

That and babies and sharing a life with her and Kylie and...so many wonderful, amazing things.

Instead of pulling back, Gracie nuzzled his neck and held on to him, enjoying being in his arms.

Elizabeth looked away, making eye contact with Nathan, who winked at her, a sparkle in his eye.

Across the yard, back at the cottage, Tara was just waking up. She opened her eyes and smiled. Jake was smiling at her. "Morning, babe."

"Morning, love. Have you been lying there just watching me sleep?"

"Its my favorite thing to do."

"I love you, Jake."

"I love you too." He brushed his full, warm lips across her forehead, then the tip of her nose. Then he found her lips, slowly waking her up fully. "I have a present for you."

"Oh yeah?"

"Mm."

He held up a small box that looked suspiciously like a ring box to her. "Jake!"

He opened it and pulled out the most gorgeous emerald cut diamond eternity band she had ever seen.

"Oh gosh," she whispered, her eyes filling with tears.

"Tara Renee Flynn, you fill my heart with joy and laughter and love. I cannot imagine my life without you in it."

"Oh, honey," she mumbled, kissing him before he could finish.

"I'm not done," he laughed.

"Yes."

"But I didn't…"

"I know. But yes. Of course I will."

"Tara, I need you to know that I will always be there for you and our little boy. I may not always be good at it but I will try so hard to be what you need."

"You are what I need, Jake. What we need. I don't expect you to be perfect."

He nodded, slipping the ring on her finger. "Will you be my wife, Tara?"

"Yes."

Later, Jude and Gracie went off to spend the day together alone and Kingston went out in the backyard.

Nathan led Elizabeth by the hand to the living room and they sat together in their corner of the couch.

"So, then there were two…" he smiled, putting his arm around her shoulders.

"I like when it's just us," she admitted, her cheeks turning rosy.

"Why's that?" he asked, teasing.

"Because I love being with you. It feels….right."

He touched her cheek softly with his free hand, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I got you something."

He pulled out a little black box, making her gasp.

"Its not what you're thinking but...I hope you like it."

She bit her bottom lip like he adored and slowly opened the lid. A gorgeous diamond solitaire necklace stared back at her. "Nathan," she breathed.

"I just thought….since you don't wear that other necklace anymore, you could use a new one."

She smiled and gave him a sweet kiss. "And the real reason…."

"I love you."

"I love you more." She turned and held her hair up for him to fasten the clasp. "How does it look?"

"Unbelievably sexy," he told her.

"Stop," she scoffed.

"Stop what?"

"I'm not...that word. I haven't been for a long time."

He lifted his index finger slowly, tracing the line of her perfect oval face, from temple to chin and then down to her collarbone. "You're absolutely...that word, Elizabeth."

"I'm...I appreciate you saying that, but...I'm old. I'm going to be a grandmother. I'm not a twenty five year old newlywed anymore."

She stood and faced the window, her arms wrapped around her waist.

"You being a grandmother doesn't change the fact that I am a very blessed man to have you in my life." He stepped up behind her and held her close. "In my heart."

She turned her head and looked up into his eyes. "I'm the blessed one. Who would have thought I'd have a second chance to love someone again?"

He slowly leaned down and kissed her, the kind of kiss that took away any doubt of how he felt. The kind of kiss that made them both feel light-headed.

Then… "Um, guys?"

Nathan pulled back abruptly and looked at his son. "Your timing, King. Impeccable."

"Thanks. Um, so Maverick sort of ran off. I can't find him. I even walked down to the water."

"That dog needs obedience training," Nathan mumbled. He kissed Elizabeth again. "I'm going to go help him find the dog."

"I'm going to put away leftovers and start on dinner."

As King and Nathan walked down the street, King brought up what he had been thinking about.

"Dad, when are you going to ask her?"

"I don't know, son. I need to make sure she's ready."

"You both sure kiss a lot for not being ready."

Nathan nudged his son, his face feeling hot. "You weren't supposed to see that."

"Its not a big deal. I just...I'd like to know what it's like to have a mum. Kids at school talk about their mums and I don't remember mine so…"

"Yeah. That's probably hard."

"Just awkward. And I wouldn't mind a brother or two either."

That he had been thinking about a lot. Ever since Elizabeth had brought up adoption months before, he'd been researching it. Maybe he should get started on the application.

As Gracie and Jude walked back from the lighthouse, they heard a bark and then saw a familiar black and brown dog trotting up to them. "Isn't that Nathan's dog?" Gracie asked.

"Maverick, right?"

"Hi, Maverick!" Gracie said, giving him a good pet. "What are you doing out here all alone?"

He let out an excited bark and walked along with them.

As they strolled, Gracie leaned into Jude's shoulder. "I can't believe you have to leave tomorrow already."

"I wish I could stay."

"I know and I know you have to go...I'm really going to miss you though."

He kissed her temple and wrapped his arm around her waist. "I'll miss you too."

"There he is!" King yelled when he saw Gracie and Jude with Maverick.

Maverick barked hello and ran back to King and Nathan.

As the four of them and the dog headed back to the Inn, Nathan asked, "So what time is your flight tomorrow, Jude?"

"8 am."

"So we should leave here before sun-up."

"You're taking him?" Gracie asked.

"You can come too," Nathan shrugged. "King is staying here with Elizabeth so there's room in the car."

"Mr. Kendrick from London is checking in, right, Dad?"

"Yeah."

Elizabeth and King were going to check him in and get him settled, feeding him breakfast. By the time Nathan returned, he'd have time to get some work done and then spend the rest of the day with his two favorite people.

"You want him in room 4 and he doesn't enjoy eggs," King recited from memory.

"Yep."

"We got this, Dad."

"I know you do. Maybe one day you'll run this place for me."

"Maybe," King shrugged. King didn't really know what he wanted to do when he grew up, except maybe cook. He only knew for sure that in the near future, he wanted Elizabeth to be his mum. He wanted to cook with her everyday and laugh with her. She made him and his Dad happy and that's what mattered.

As they wandered in the Inn, Gracie heard Tara and Jake chatting in the kitchen with her mom.

"We are going to head to London tomorrow and see the sights," Jake mentioned, Tara on his lap at the table.

"That sounds wonderful," Elizabeth told them.

"And romantic," Gracie said. Too bad Jude couldn't take her to London. "Mom, I'm still here for another week. Maybe you and I could go sometime?"

"I'd love that, baby. Really, but I have to cook here during the week."

"You should go for a few days," Nathan suggested. "King and I can handle the cooking."

"Yeah right, Dad."

"Okay, King can handle it. Either way, you should spend time with your family while they are here."

"If you're sure."

"Of course I am, Elizabeth."

"Alright, then. London, here we come."

Gracie smiled and hugged her Mom. She couldn't wait.

Gracie's eye caught on something shiny coming from Tara's finger. "Um, guys? Anything you want to tell us?"

Tara looked up at her and back to Jake. He nodded. "Jake asked me to marry him this morning."

"She said yes."

The joy and laughter that flowed through the Inn that day was perfect. Nathan again felt a part of something wonderful. One day, he hoped these people would be his family too.

Elizabeth once again felt complete. Her kids were with her in the place she loved and she was falling in deeper love for the Innkeeper and his son.

Nathan wrapped his arm around her and smiled, kissing her softly. "Merry Christmas, Bess," he whispered, using a nickname he had just come up with, his term of absolute endearment for the strong, independent woman next to him.

"Merry Christmas, Nate."

The next morning, Gracie headed to the Inn early to ride to the airport with Jude and Nathan.

She missed Jude already. "Hey," he said quietly, walking out of the Inn toward her.

"Hi."

He sighed and wrapped her in his arms. "I miss you, Gracie."

"Me too," she admitted, squeezing tighter. "I love you so much."

"I love you too."

"Sorry to interrupt, but we should get going," Nathan told them.

Gracie climbed in the back and Jude joined her, putting his bag in the front seat.

Essentially they had said goodbye the night before and again earlier so once at the airport, she made him promise to tell his parents and Kylie hello for her and they both vowed to keep connected for the next week.

Then, it was just Nathan and Gracie left as they drove the 90 minutes back to Beesands.

"Nathan?"

"Yep?"

"I'm glad you're here for Mom. I was worried that she'd be really lonely here."

"I'm happy to keep her company."

Gracie laughed. "I bet."

"Are you really okay with her and my relationship? I know it hasn't been all that long since you lost your dad."

"I'm good with it. You love her. She loves you. Who am I to stand in the way?"

"After all, you know a bit of what she's feeling, don't you?"

"Yeah. I do."

"I'll take care of her, Gracie. I promise you that."

"I know you will." Gracie smiled at him. "Any suggestions for what to see in London?"