After Mike had brought her home, after assuring Clara and Jesse she was fine, she went upstairs to check on Cody and Robert. As Jesse and Clara had decided to head home, the two having moved into a row house that had been vacated to give Abigail and Cody the rooms above the café, Abigail did not rush leaving the boys who were unsurprisingly trying to scare each other with ghost stories. She sat on Cody's bed and listened to two stories. If either boy was bothered by Abigail's presence, they did not let on.

After the second story, Abigail decided to give the boy's some privacy. She headed downstairs, where a fire still burned in the stove. Abigail filled a kettle with water and put it on a burner. She was hoping some chamomile tea would help calm her still rattled nerves.

Abigail had faced a lot of bad situations in her lifetime. Situations where she had been worried about the outcome. Situations, like the day of the mine accident, when she had not been sure how she would find the strength to go on.

Tonight had been another one of those times, but it had not only been herself she had been worried about. She had been worried about Ally, who had already been through so much heartache in her short life. She had been worried about Elizabeth, who Abigail felt was finally starting to find her way out of the darkness that Jack's death had plunged her into.

Sitting down in a chair at the table, Abigail waited for the water to boil. Part of her just wanted to fall apart but she was aware of the two boys upstairs. Two boys who were as of yet unaware of what had transpired not far away. Two boys who need her strength so that they could remain strong themselves.

The kettle whistled and Abigail got to her feet. Going to the stove, Abigail moved the water from the heat. Retrieving a tea cup, she went through the familiar process of making tea. There was something soothing about the everyday process. She stood near the stove and inhaled the aroma of the tea. The familiar sent was not quite as calming as she would have liked, though the feel of the warm cup in her hands felt nice.

Abigail took a sip of the tea as there was a knock on the door. Figuring that it was probably somebody checking to see how she was doing, Abigail put her cup down and got to her feet. She did not want to worry anyone by not answering the door.

Reaching the door, she pushed aside the curtain to peer out the window. The familiar face that peered back at her surprised her, especially as he technically could have walked in without knocking.

"Bill!" Abigail said, opening the door. "Is everything all right?"

Bill nodded as he entered. "As well as it could be, under the circumstances. Parks did not make it."

Abigail felt a shutter go up her spine as she shut the door behind Bill, remembering the words the man had said. He was clearly a man who only cared about himself. A man who could use a child, his own or anyone else's, as leverage for money did not deserve much sympathy in her books.

"I cannot say I am sorry," Abigail replied, as she turned to face Bill.

"I know what you mean," Bill said.

"Is everyone else, all right?"

"Yes," Bill told her. "Nathan has some bruising on his back. He'll probably be sore for a few days but he'll be fine. I walked him home. I think he and Ally needed a little time alone right now, though Faith will be out there to spend the night in an hour or so. I plan on checking in on them in the morning. I walked Elizabeth home and then stopped by to talk to Joseph. Nathan wants to do a small memorial service for Parks. He hopes it will give him and Ally some closure."

"I am not sure I would bother in Nathan's place, but I hope it helps them," Abigail said. "Those two have been through enough as of late."

Bill nodded. "I agree. However, perhaps things will finally start falling in place for them both. How are you doing?"

"I am fine," Abigail said, crossing her arms in front of her and rubbing her upper arms with her hands.

Bill leveled her with a stare. "Abigail, this is me, you are talking to. I know you are a strong person. Life made you that way. However, even the strongest people need to lean on someone from time to time."

Bill's words managed to break through the wall that Abigail had put up to keep her emotions at bay. For the first time, Abigail admitted out loud what had gone through her head when she had heard the gunshot.

"Oh, Bill, when I heard that gunshot, my first thought was that he had shot Nathan and that I was the one that had tied Nathan's hands."

Bill reached out and pulled Abigail close to him. Abigail went willingly, grateful for the comforting strength of Bill's embrace.

"If Nathan had been shot, it would have been my fault. And poor Ally. He is the only family that girl has," Abigail said, her hands resting on Bill's shoulders as she leaned her head against his chest. "When I lost Noah and Peter, I felt so alone. My mother was the only family left and she was so far away. I would not wish that feeling on anyone."

"You did nothing wrong tonight, Abigail. You did what you had to do to keep yourself safe for Cody's sake. Nathan understands that," Bill told her gently, rubbing one hand in gentle circles on her back. "Parks is the one responsible for what happened tonight and he got his justice. Nathan is fine and at home with Ally."

"We were just walking and chatting casually and then the next thing I knew, Nathan was on the ground. I went to ask him if he was okay, and before I could, someone had grabbed my arm. Bill, I was so scared. So scared, that he was going to shoot me and I would never see Cody again. That I would leave that boy alone in the world again. Scared that I would do the wrong thing and he would shoot Nathan and then Ally would be all alone. I know what that feeling is like and it is hard enough to keep going when you're an adult. I did not want to be responsible for making a child face that prospect of having to face life alone."

"None of which you would have been responsible," Bill told her.

"Easy for you to say," Abigail muttered.

Bill closed his eyes. "I know," he said knowingly. "Logic does not always mean anything in high emotional situations."

Bill continued to hold Abigail close to him, pausing briefly before he spoke again.

"Responsibility is not important. What is important is that Nathan is home with Ally and Parks will not longer be a threat to them. You are home here with Cody. The only one hurt was the bad guy."

"How did things go from everyone being so happy and carefree to this? Carson and Faith had just announced their engagement before Nathan and I left. They barely got to celebrate it."

"I had not heard about that," Bill commented. "I am sure there will be time to celebrate it in the near future. I think that the fact everyone was celebrating tonight is exactly why Parks chose tonight. People were distracted. Perhaps I should have been with Nathan instead of Ally, though I doubt Nathan would have left the house without me there with her. At least he and Ally can enjoy the holiday without the constant worry of Parks showing up."

Abigail started to pull away. "I should probably let you go. I am sure you have other things to do."

Bill held onto her as he looked down into her eyes. He could see the reluctance in her eyes. Despite her words, Abigail did not seem anxious to let him go, nor did he want to leave her. "I will stay here as long as you want me to, Abigail," he told her softly.

Abigail's response was to lay her head on his chest. She felt safe in Bill's arms and she was not ready to let go of that feeling. As she leaned against him, drawing comfort from his presence, Abigail found herself wondering what might have been if Bill's relationship with his now ex-wife had been more finalized. She had truly loved Bill when he first came to Hope Valley. However, his less than honest answers about his strained relationship with Nora had made her wonder if she could trust him. Abigail had known love without trust would never work in the long run.

Things were different now. Bill's marriage to Nora was truly over. The former Mountie was not quite the mystery he once was. He had formed true relationships with the people in Hope Valley and had opened up to people, herself included. She had learned to trust Bill over the years of being his business partner and his friend.

What would Bill's reaction be if she told him she was still in love with him? Would he want to give them a second chance?

The way he was holding her gave Abigail the feeling that she meant more to him than just a business partner or a friend. As she felt a kiss be pressed against the top of her head that feeling increased. She had admitted to Elizabeth that she still loved Bill. Maybe she should take the chance and admit that love to Bill himself.

Though tonight was not the right moment to make that confession. Tonight, after what she had gone through, Abigail was satisfied just to feel safe in his arms without trying to redefine their relationship.

Nathan sat on the edge of Ally's bed, watching his little girl sleep. Though the adoption had already become official, tonight had somehow made the fact that Ally was his, even more final. Both of her parents were gone now, though Nathan had often wondered if Dylan had any right to claim the title of parent. The man had been abusive to Colleen. He now had Dylan's admission that it was the abusive behavior that led to the injuries that Colleen had died from.

How many of the bruises he had seen on Colleen over the years had been sustained in an effort to protect Ally from Dylan. There had never been any suspicious bruises on Ally when she was young. The arguments for Ally's safety had been the only thing that had seemed to even get Colleen to consider leaving Dylan.

Perhaps if he had tried harder, Colleen would still be alive? It was a question Nathan had lived with since her death. A question that would probably haunt him for the rest of his life.

Dylan had only ever cared about himself, though the man had somehow tricked Colleen into thinking otherwise. The fact that the only time he was ever interested in Ally was when he could use his daughter as leverage to get what he wanted was proof of that. No true father would do that. Even Nathan's own father had never done that?

Archie Grant had made bad choices in his life? His gambling problems had caused financial issues. Pawning his wife's jewelry had caused her emotional pain. The man was responsible for inflicting emotional pain on his children. However, Archie had never involved them in his criminal activities. Though he had hated his father and the choices he had made, Nathan had never been afraid of his father.

Though he had tried to ignore that feeling, Nathan knew he had always loved his father despite the hurt and hatred. That was why Archie's actions had hurt so much.

Perhaps if Dylan had tried to be a husband and a father, then perhaps Ally would have felt some remorse at his death tonight. Instead, the girl just felt relief that Nathan was safe and that she no longer had to live in fear of her father hurting him or herself.

"Nathan."

The soft voice calling his name brought Nathan out of his thoughts. Looking from the sleeping girl to the bedroom door, he spotted Faith standing in the doorway.

"I knocked a few times, but did not get an answer. The door was unlocked, so I let myself in," Faith told him when she saw she had his attention.

"I was so lost in my thoughts that I did not hear your knock," Nathan explained.

Faith nodded as Nathan looked back toward Ally. The girl was sleeping peacefully. Leaning over, he placed a kiss on her forehead again. He did not want to leave her. If Faith was not there, Nathan had a feeling that he wouldn't, despite being sore and tired.

Nathan got slowly to his feet. His back was already starting to ache. He had a feeling he would feel it even more in the morning.

"I brought ice for your back," Faith said as he walked toward her.

Nathan shook his head. "I am fine. Besides, you are here to make sure Ally does not need anything during the night, not to look after me."

"I can do both," Faith replied. "You should ice your back tonight and then we can apply heat in the morning."

Nathan shook his head. "I am fine."

"Should I have sent Carson?" Faith asked. "Would you have listened to him?"

"Faith it is not that," Nathan protested, looking at her. It did not take him long to realize she had not been completely serious as she wore a small smile.

"I know," Faith told him. "It is just that stubborn male pride talking," she continued, getting a small smile from Nathan. "However, as your doctor, I want to do what I can to help the healing process despite that male pride. You might not feel that sore right now but trust me, you will feel the bruising in the morning. The ice and the heat will both help with that."

"All right, Dr. Carter. I will follow your treatment suggestion," Nathan said as they both stood in the hallway.

"Good," Faith told him. "My back up plan was getting Carson so we could both gang up on you."

"That will not be necessary," Nathan assured. "Congratulations on your engagement and I am sorry to end the celebration. I am sure that dealing with a gunshot wound was not how you wanted to spend the evening after getting engaged."

"It definitely was not how I imagined the celebrating of my engagement going," Faith admitted. "However, I am thankful that it was not you or Abigail that Carson and I had to work on and there will be plenty of time to celebrate my engagement to Carson. I think I want to get him to commit to a quick wedding date. Things seem to keep coming up to take us in different directions, and I would like for us to say I do before the next obstacle comes up."

"If you want to avoid the next obstacle, pick a date quickly. Life's obstacles have a way of appearing just when you think things are starting to look up," Nathan said, looking toward the outline of the girl sleeping in the nearby room.

Faith reached out for Nathan's hand. Giving it a reassuring squeeze, she looked up at him.

"We have shared our heartaches with one another these last few months. Carson coming back to Hope Valley has turned out to be a balm to my heartache. That does not mean you do not still have my support. I also think that things will start looking up for you too soon, though I am not sure what that might look like."

"I hope so, Faith," Nathan said quietly not feeling any of the optimism which Faith was trying to convey. "I do not know how much more I can take."

Faith let go of his hand, and gently she wrapped her arms around Nathan. Though Faith was clearly being mindful of his bruised back, Nathan had to admit that the gentle hug was a great comfort after the night he'd had.