"Dinner is probably ready by now," Elizabeth murmured, the words sending a soft puff of air across his neck as her head was resting against his shoulder after breaking from another kiss.

Before Nathan could speak, his stomach grumbled, making a comment for him. Both he and Elizabeth chuckled. Elizabeth slowly pulled away and Nathan reluctantly released her, his arms feeling empty without her there. There was a part of him that was wondering if this was all just a dream.

"Let me go check on dinner," Elizabeth said. She motioned to the table she had been standing next to. "Have a seat," she told him.

Nathan stood for a moment watching Elizabeth head toward the kitchen area of the café. There was a lightness to her step that had not been present for a while. The grace and ease with which she walked set his own mind at ease.

This was a decision that Elizabeth was at peace with. The prospect of a wedding the next day did not have her a flurry of nervous activity. Instead, she was simply going about with the evening that she had planned for them. Nathan knew that there would be melancholy spells ahead of them. There would be times when Elizabeth would miss her late husband keenly. He knew because there were still moments when the loss of his sister still felt like a knife in his hearts. Moments that he wished Colleen were there to share with them. Times when he could not hold back the tears that missing her caused. That was all a natural part of life after losing someone that you loved deeply.

Placing his hands in his pants pocket, Nathan took a step toward the table. It was all the further he got though as his hand touched the cool metal of Elizabeth's gift. Pulling the pocket watch out, he looked down at it. It did not matter that his old pocket watch was still working just fine. Nathan knew he would be carrying this one around with him from now on. Feeling a texture on the back, Nathan flipped the watch over to find writing.

Love Is Always Worth Fighting For.

Yes it was, Nathan thought as he looked at the etched words. Giving the road they had taken to get here, it was an appropriate sentiment for them.

Looking up from the watch, Nathan saw Elizabeth hugging Abigail. She had clearly shared their news. Watching her, Nathan felt like all the heartache had been worth it. Their love had been tested by fire and it had survived. Surely, that meant that they would be better equipped to deal with the challenges ahead of them.

Elizabeth turned and looked to the table. Not seeing him there, she looked quickly around, her gaze finding his.

"You are not thinking about still leaving, are you?" Elizabeth asked. Nathan heard a bit of worry in her amused tone.

"No," Nathan told her, as he started toward the table. He held up the watch. "I did finally see the inscription on the back, though. Glad to see you finally living what you said you believed."

The color rose in Elizabeth's cheeks as the both reached the table. "I have discovered that giving advice is so much easier than actually living that advice," she said, looking up at him.

Nathan immediately got lost in her gaze. The thought of taking her in his arms and kissing her again crossed his mind. Before he could put the thought to action though, another voice spoke up.

"If you two would like to kiss some more, we can put these plates in the oven to keep them warm."

The amusement was clear in Bill's voice. Nathan shot his friend a look even as Abigail swatted his arm playfully. Elizabeth's blush grew deeper though she did not move her gaze away from Nathan.

"You can place the plates on the table, please," Nathan told him.

Slipping the pocket watch into his pocket again, Nathan moved to Elizabeth. Gently, he guided her to the chair she was closest to and helped her be seated at the table. Elizabeth murmured a thank-you as Nathan moved around to the other side of the table. Abigail had placed the plates of food in front of them and Bill was pouring wine into the wine glasses.

"The two of you enjoy your dinner and each other's company," Bill commented as he poured the wine. "You should have one proper date before getting married. You two had at least better know each other's favorite color before tomorrow or I will not conduct the ceremony tomorrow," he teased.

Nathan and Elizabeth laughed at the comment though, Nathan realized Bill made a good point. Though he knew quite a bit about Elizabeth there were so many little things that he didn't know that most couples knew about one another. Not that it mattered in the long run. They knew the important things about one another. Nathan had shared with Elizabeth things he had never revealed to anyone else, though now others here knew them as well. His connection with Jack was out in the open and Nathan knew that secret would have been a huge wall between them.

"Seriously though, enjoy the dinner," Bill told them bringing Nathan from his thoughts. The teasing was gone from Bill's voice. "Afterwards, Nathan can get Ally and I will go get Lee, Rosemary, Jesse and Clara and we can all sit down and figure out how to make a wedding happen in less than twenty-four hours."

"You all do not need to go over any trouble. All I need is for you to lead us through the vows with those closest to us there, Bill," Elizabeth told him.

"The fewer people to witness me stumbling over words the better," Nathan said lightly.

Bill smiled. "It may not be extravagant, Elizabeth, but we can do better than that for the two of you. Rosemary is going to insist on it. Of course she is also going to freak when she hears when the wedding is."

Elizabeth laughed.

"Can we elope before we tell anyone?" Nathan asked, only half joking. Rosemary was one of those women, like Elizabeth's sister Julie, that could overwhelm him at times.

Bill clapped him on the back. "You are a Mountie. You will be fine."

Elizabeth reached across the table and took his hand. "I will be right beside you the whole time," she told him, smiling sympathetically at him.

Bill smiled.

"You two enjoy your meal," Abigail told them before taking Bill's arm and leading him away from the table.

Looking across the table at Elizabeth, Nathan planned to do just that.

About an hour later, Nathan walked toward the row of houses still feeling like he was walking on air. It seemed as though he had gotten one last Christmas present tonight. However, now he had to break the news to Ally.

Talking to Elizabeth, he had tried to sound confident that Ally would take this development in stride. Alone now, Nathan could not help but wonder if that would truly be the case. The girl had been through so much lately. Could she handle such another upheaval in her world?

Nathan knew if Ally rebelled against the idea he would need to take a step back from their plans. Without Ally's blessing, he would not marry Elizabeth. He could not do that in good conscience. He could only hope that Elizabeth would understand in that case.

However, Ally's relationship with Elizabeth with Ally had healed over the last few weeks. She had found it in her heart to forgive Elizabeth. She had accepted her teacher's presence in her life once more.

Reaching the house he shared with Ally, Nathan paused at the foot of the steps and stared at the door. A huge wreath still hung on the door. One that Ally, Opal and Byrony had put together a few days before Christmas.

Nathan looked up at the stars in the dark sky above. "Colleen, am I doing the right thing?" Nathan asked quietly of the older sister he had lost.

A bright streak flashed briefly across the night sky. A falling star! Was that Colleen's answer to his question? How many times had he wished that he could find a way to convince Elizabeth that they were meant to be together. A wish that had finally come true tonight.

Looking from the stars above, Nathan made his way up the steps and through the front door. Ally and Opal were on a bed of blankets before the Christmas tree that was still standing. Next to Ally's blankets was her wheelchair. Both girls had notepads in front of them but looked up at the sound of Nathan's entrance.

"Hello, Mountie Nathan!" Opal greeted.

"Hello, Dad!" Ally echoed. "How was dinner?"

"It was good," Nathan told her. He let his gaze drift from Ally to Opal. "Opal, do you mind going upstairs for a moment while I talk to Ally alone."

"Yes, sir," Opal replied immediately, abandoning her notepad and heading for the stairs and presumably Ally's room.

Ally had pushed herself into a sitting position. She was looking up at Nathan, a concerned look on her face.

In the past, Nathan probably would have invited Ally to sit with him on the settee. Tonight though, he made his way toward the bed of blankets. Being careful not to get his wet boots on any of the blankets, he sat down near Ally.

"Did something happen, Uncle Nathan?" Ally asked, concern clear on her face.

It was not often these days that Ally called him Uncle Nathan anymore. At first it had been a mixture of Uncle Nathan and Dad. Eventually though, Ally started calling him just dad. However, when she was upset or worried the old, familiar title came out.

"Yes," Nathan replied. "Something that I think is a very good thing and I am hoping you feel that way too."

"Did another promotion come in? Are we leaving Hope Valley? I know I said I wanted to but things have changed! Even if Mrs. Thornton cannot be my mother, I have enjoyed having her in my life as my teacher again. Please tell me we are not leaving!"

There was a desperation in the last sentence and Nathan was happy that he could give her the answer she wanted. He was also glad he had waited to put in for a transfer. "We are not leaving Hope Valley," Nathan assured her. Reaching out, he placed one of his hand's over top of Ally's that rested on the blanket-covered floor. "However, how would you feel if Mrs. Thornton could be your mother after all?" he asked, watching Ally's face for her reaction.

"What are you trying to say?" Ally asked, her face a mixture of confusion and hope.

"Remember how I told you that our emotions can change over time due to our life experiences," Nathan told her.

Ally nodded. "You told me that when I said I could never forgive Mrs. Thornton for not loving you and hurting us." Ally's expression got a little sheepish. "Guess I have proved that wrong."

Nathan smiled. "You have and I am very proud of you for finding that forgiveness. It is not an easy emotion to convey when we have been hurt. But we were not the only ones hurting. Mrs. Thornton was still hurting as well. In some ways, you never really get over losing someone Ally and when that becomes real, the fear of letting someone close enough to feel that pain again is frightening. I hope that when you find the person you choose to spend your life with that you have a long and happy marriage but that is no guarantee. When you have loss someone that special to you, it is only natural that you want to protect yourself from that pain again."

"What are you trying to tell me?" Ally asked, though her expression told Nathan that Ally was figuring out where this conversation was going on her own.

"Mrs. Thornton was waiting at the café for me tonight. She went through Bill so that she could talk to me without you getting hurt again, Ally. She told me that she loved me and wanted me to propose to her."

"Did you?" Ally asked, excitedly, pulling her hand out from underneath Nathan's as she clasped them together.

Ally's excitement lifted a weight from Nathan's shoulders. He had a feeling the timing might still be a surprise but at least she was excited about the prospect.

"I did," Nathan told her.

Ally leaned forward and put her arms around him, her head leaning on his shoulder. "When is the wedding?"

"Tomorrow," Nathan replied.

Ally drew back. "Are you trying to be funny? If you are, that is officially the worst joke ever."

Nathan shook his head. "I am not joking. I have wanted this for so long, Ally. I know this is what I want. When Mrs. Thornton asked me when I wanted to get married, I told her. I did not think that she would agree but she did."

Ally hugged him again. "I am so happy for you," she told him. "Plus, this way I do not need to worry about something happening to change the plans again."

"I am so glad you are happy about this, Ally," Nathan told her, reaching up to place a hand on her back.

Father and daughter sat there for a few moments, just enjoying each other's company. Finally Nathan spoke again. "We are making plans at the café. Do you and Opal want to stay here or come be a part of the planning?"

"Be a part of the planning," Ally stated.

Nathan smiled. "I thought that is what you would say," he replied, as Ally sat back. He nodded to the nearby shoes. "Put your shoes on while I go get Opal," Nathan told her.

Getting to his feet, Nathan headed upstairs. On his way back to the café, he planned on stopping by the Weisse's and letting Melissa and Walter know what was going on. Not only did he want them to know where to find Opal, but he wanted to extend an invitation to them.

After telling Clara and Jesse and then Lee and Rosemary about the impromptu wedding planning session, Bill headed to his apartment. There was something he needed to do before going back to the café.

Reaching his apartment, he went to his bedroom. Digging through the things on the top shelf of the armoire, Bill found a wooden box. In that box were a few things that had a huge importance in his life. Pieces of his past that had shaped who he was. A valentine that he had been given by a girl when he was still in school. A broken compass that his training officer had given him when he had first joined the Mounties. A horse had stepped on it, rendering it unfixable, but he had still kept it. There was one of Abigail's handkerchiefs that had come into his possession after the fiasco about his marriage to Nora. It had been lying around the parlor of the café, and Bill had pocketed it, wanting some memory of Abigail despite the mess he had made of things. There were the pins from his Mountie uniform as well as the sheriff badge of the man who had inspired him to be a lawman in the first place.

Bill sifted through those things and found what he was looking for. A small velvet drawstring bag. Slipping it into his coat pocket, Bill closed the box and the memories it contained, and put it back on the shelf.

Mission complete, he left his apartment and headed for the café. He had a feeling sleep was going to be in short order tonight but given the reason, he did not mind at all.