Bill grumbled under his breath about the uselessness of the Mountie brass as he hung up the phone. Logically, he knew they were making the choices that were beneficial to the most people, but when those choices were not necessarily beneficial to someone you care about then logic be damned. He had just been informed that the Mounties were suspending the active man hunt for Dylan Parks. Any sightings brought to their attention would be thoroughly investigated. Increased patrols by regional Mounties would continue around Hope Valley and Constable Sean Mackenzie would remain posted in Hope Valley for the foreseeable future.

It was not enough for Bill, who still felt Dylan Parks posed a threat to Nathan and Ally. That did not set well with Bill. Unfortunately, all of his arguments had seemed to fall on deaf ears.

"Is this a bad time?"

The quiet question from a familiar voice caused Bill's head to jerk up. Despite having heard her voice, it still came as a surprise to see Elizabeth standing just inside his office. She had a bundled up Jack in her arms.

"You look like you want to murder that phone," Elizabeth ventured when Bill just stared at her silently.

The comment brought Bill out of his surprise. "It is not the phone's fault that I do not like the decisions made by the Mountie brass in Union City," he commented. "Though I doubt that going to Union City and roughing up some decision makers would work out well for me. I got lucky with that method once."

"Nathan and Ally need you here and not behind bars," Elizabeth stated. "Jack and I need you here," she added. "I know it hasn't seemed like it these last few months, but you are important to me, Bill. The fact that a relationship with someone seemed to push me further away from your guidance and support should have been a sign that it was wrong." Even in the poor light of the Office of the Judge, Bill could see tears glistening in Elizabeth's eyes. "Can you forgive me?"

Bill was on his feet before the question was even completely out of Elizabeth's mouth. Mindful of the child she held in her arms, Bill wrapped the woman who was like a daughter in a warm embrace.

"There is nothing to forgive, Elizabeth," Bill informed her, as he rested his chin on the top of her head as he held her close. "You need to live your own life and make your own choices, whether I approve or not. I stayed clear because I did not want my obvious disapproval to put further distance between us. I would have always been there for you no matter what."

"That is such a relief to hear," Elizabeth told him. "I do not know what I would have done without your support all these years."

"You would have found a way to survive, Elizabeth. You are stronger than I think you even realize at times."

"I haven't felt very strong lately," Elizabeth confessed, one arm still around Bill as she rested against him. How often had she longed for his fatherly embrace over the last few months? "I have been looking for the easy paths, scared to take on life's challenges again."

"And where did that leave you?" Bill asked, sagely.

"Alone and unhappy," Elizabeth replied.

Bill pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "That is because the best things in life are the things that we need to work at and work for. There are no free rides in this life. However, no matter how far we stray, the people who are most important in our lives will always be there when we finally find our way back."

Elizabeth did not reply to the fatherly advice as she stayed within his sheltering embrace. Bill did not rush her, glad to hold her close for however long she needed. He had promised Jack when he had gone off to the Northwest Territories that he would look over Elizabeth. Though he might not have reissued that promise when Jack had left for Fort Clay, as far as Bill was concerned, the first promise was still in force. Even if she had married Bouchard, Bill would have looked out for her and her family, including Bouchard. Frankly though, Bill had been grateful to hear that both Elizabeth and Bouchard had come to the realization that so many others had already seen - they were not meant for one another. There was no chemistry. The two had simply been going through the motions without the passion being there.

"Hungry, mama," Jack commented after quite a few minutes had passed.

Elizabeth laughed as she finally lifted her head and took a step back from Bill. "I did tell you we were going to eat at the café, didn't I, Jack," she commented as she looked to her son.

Jack nodded in reply.

"Could you join us, Bill?" Elizabeth asked, unable to remember the last time she had invited Bill to eat with her. It use to be that no more than a week would pass between such dinners, wether they were at her house, the café or at Bill's place.

Bill smiled. "That invitation is a balm to my heart," he told Elizabeth.

Bill retrieved his coat. Donning it, his hat, and gloves, Bill turned back to Elizabeth and held his hands out for his godson. Elizabeth surrendered him easily.

"That boy is getting heavy," Elizabeth said as she shook her arms.

"Are you getting heavy, Jack?" Bill asked the little boy looking down at him as he settled the toddler next to him. Bill was having a hard time wrapping his head around the fact that the boy would soon be three years old. At times, it did not seem like Jack Sr. had been gone that long.

The boy held his arms up as he shrugged his shoulders causing both Bill and Elizabeth to laugh. Elizabeth's laughter did not last long though, as she stopped, a sad look on her face.

"Should we be laughing, considering Ally's condition?" Elizabeth asked quietly. She remembered after losing Jack wondering how those around her could go back to laughing when her world still seemed in shambles. She could not even recall had long it had been before she could laugh again herself.

Making sure Jack was secure in one arm, Bill reached out for Elizabeth's hand with the other. "We need laughter around here more than ever this Christmas," Bill told her. "Ally is doing well and laughter and joy will help keep her spirits up. That is the best thing we can do for that girl right now. As for Nathan, if he sees his girl happy that will make him happy."

Elizabeth nodded, understanding that sentiment as well.

Letting go of Elizabeth's hand, Bill offered her his arm. Elizabeth looped her arm through the offered arm and the trio left the office of the judge. Stepping outside, they found soft snowflakes drifting down from the sky.

"If it stays light, I am okay with a fresh coating of snow," Elizabeth commented as Bill led her toward the café.

"I haven't had any reports of heavy snowfall so I think we should be okay," Bill said, glancing up at the sky. The clouds didn't look all that threatening in the failing evening light.

"I am sorry for the late notice but I plan on having Jack's birthday party at two on the afternoon of the twenty fourth. I hope you can make it," Elizabeth ventured.

"Truth be told, Lee already informed me of the time. I was planning on crashing it if I did not get an invitation," Bill told her. "It is not every day your god son turns three."

Elizabeth laughed. It was the easy carefree laughter that use to follow her around everywhere but had not been present much since Jack's death. A genuine laughter that little Jack, her students and Nathan had been the only ones that had been able to bring about as of late. A laughter that had been absence these last few months, replaced by the silly, superficial giggle that Lucas seemed to bring fourth. A giggle that had reminded Bill more of Julie than Elizabeth.

Perhaps the real Elizabeth was finally coming back.

Faith walked from the café to the infirmary realizing that she felt lighter than she had in quite awhile. Despite Ally's accident, things were starting to feel more like Christmas in their little town. Perhaps it was simply the approach of the holiday. Or perhaps it was simply all in her head. However, things seemed to be turning around. Things that had been wrong were right again. Faith had seen Elizabeth and Bill enjoying a meal with Jack. Carson was not only back for a visit but to stay. She had heard Lucas humming a Christmas song while walking back from the mercantile with his mail this afternoon. It had been the first time that Lucas had really seemed in the Christmas spirit this year. Nathan had shared with her that Gabriel and a few of Ally's friends were decorating the Grant house this evening to get it ready for Ally's homecoming.

The girl's recovery was one of the brightest spots of late. She was making good progress even despite the lack of feeling in her legs. Her strength was returning, she had eaten three full meals today and they had been able to stave off infection. As long as nothing changed between now and Monday evening, Ally would be going home. She would still need rest and care but when Faith recalled how the girl had looked less than a week ago, seeing her now felt like a miracle of sorts.

Stepping into the infirmary, Faith found both of its occupants asleep. Ally had already been drifting off when she had left to return the dishes to the café. Nathan, having changed out of his uniform earlier, had fallen asleep in the chair next to Ally's bedside. Part of her did not want to disturb him, knowing that he had not been getting enough sleep this week. However, she also knew that if she let him sleep where he was, Nathan would wake up with a sore neck or when he fell out of the chair.

Walking over to him, Faith gently touched his shoulder. "Nathan," she said leaning close so that he could hear her but she would not disturb the sleeping girl.

"Hmmm," Nathan said, coming out of his light slumber and looking around, his gaze almost instantly finding Ally.

"She is fine. Sleeping peacefully, which seems like something you need too, but perhaps not in the chair," Faith told him, as she moved behind Nathan and started massage his neck and shoulders. She could feel the tension in them.

"I am fine," Nathan said almost automatically, though he leaned back into Faith's ministrations instead of trying to put a stop to it.

"That all depends on how you want to define the word fine," Faith replied easily. "You are managing to hold things together, be strong for Ally and give people of this little town a sense of normalcy by going out in your serge but at what cost to yourself?"

Nathan did not answer Faith's question. Not that Faith had been looking for one. She had simply wanted to give her friend something to consider.

"Even Mounties are only human," Faith added after a few moments of silence.

"It often feels like people expect us to be more," Nathan said quietly as Faith continued massaging his neck.

"That is because a lot of times, when people are at their lowest point, it is that red serge that gives us a beacon of hope," Faith told him.

Nathan looked down at his sleeping girl, a white bandage still wrapped around her head. "When we are at our lowest point, who is our beacon of hope?"

"The people of the town you serve, who have come to care about you and Ally," Faith told him. "You are not alone, Nathan."

"Sometimes I feel alone, Faith," Nathan admitted. "I feel horrible for saying that, when I am well aware that I would not have gotten through this past week without all the prayers and small gestures of everyone. I am very grateful for everything. But eventually, everyone will go back to their lives. I will take Ally home, and whether or not she is fully recovered or not, it will eventually just be her and me at times. I already have a hard time sleeping at night. I worry that Ally might need something and I won't hear her in my sleep. Right now you or Carson are nearby but when I take her home, Faith, what then?"

"For as long as you need us, Nathan, someone will be at your house to help you. Carson, Bill, and I have already talked about it. The three of us will rotate nights with you. Ellen, Minnie, and Molly have agreed to help out during the day when you need to be at work or just need some time out of the house."

"I don't want-"

"We will not take no for an answer Nathan. It is why we didn't ask you if you needed help in the first place. We all knew you would say no."

Nathan closed his eyes. Reaching up, he laid a hand on top of one of Faith's hands, finally bringing a stop to the kneading motion. "Thank you," he said simply.

Faith leaned down, and placed a quick kiss on her friend's cheek.

"Now, why don't you go lay down in the other bed," Faith told him. "I think you need the sleep as much as Ally does, and you will not even have to worry about hearing her if she needs something. I will be right here by her bedside if she does."

Nathan nodded. Getting to his feet, he walked over to the other bed. Lying on his back, Nathan folded his hands on his stomach even as he glanced over at Ally.

Faith sat down in the chair that Nathan had just vacated. She was hoping that her presence by Ally's side would allow Nathan to relax enough for sleep to claim him. Whether it worked, or if Nathan was just so tired that he could not fight off sleep, his eyes closed and his breathing soon evened out.

Quietly, Faith got to her feet. Retrieving a blanket from the cabinet, Faith went over to the bed Nathan occupied and draped the blanket over him. She then retrieved the chair and placed it in between the two beds, being careful not to block Nathan's view of Ally when he woke up. Sitting down in the chair, she began a quiet vigil of her friend and his daughter.