AN: So, to finish the story, I thought you might like a bit of a peak at the future. Besides, there was another proposal that took place in the story. *wink*. Than you to all of you who took this journey with me!

"Nathan!"

The toddler's call broke through the haze of two parents who were trying to get a few more minutes of rest before starting their day. Little Jack was usually the first one in the household awake. So far, the boy had not taken to wandering out of his room but Nathan had already built a gate for the top of the stairs to make sure Jack would not fall down the steps if he did.

"I guess Jack is saying it is my morning to come for him," Nathan murmured as he moved the blankets aside. It was something the boy had only started last week, and Nathan was actually touched by it knowing that it meant Jack was getting more accustomed to him being around all the time.

"I can get him if you want," Elizabeth replied sleepily, though she did not bother opening her eyes.

Propped up on one elbow, Nathan leaned over and gave his wife a quick kiss, one that she returned with eyes still closed.

"I can get him," Nathan assured her. "Enjoy your couple of extra minutes," he told her, knowing that Elizabeth would be up starting the day soon anyway. It was Friday, which meant that she had to get up and get ready to teach.

Nathan slipped his feet into his house slippers, grabbed his robe and headed for the door as Jack called his name again.

"Coming, Jack," Nathan called back.

Stepping out of the master bedroom, Nathan crossed the hall to his son's room. Pushing the cracked door open carefully, not sure where the toddler would be, Nathan stepped into the room. Jack had climbed from his bed and was sitting on one of the big pillows Elizabeth kept by the low bed.

"Morning!" Jack exclaimed happily when he saw Nathan. He immediately held his arms up in the air.

"Morning, Little Man," Nathan greeted him with a smile as he walked toward him.

Nathan picked the boy up and settled him against him. "Let's get you some clothes and then get you cleaned up and dressed, all right."

Jack nodded seriously even if he did not understand everything word for word.

Nathan carried the boy over to the dresser. He opened the top drawer and started searching for an outfit for Jack. The boy however had caught sight of the picture of Jack Sr. that sat on his dresser.

"Daddy!" Jack said happily, pointing to the picture.

"Yes, Jack. That is your Daddy. Your Daddy was a very brave man. You can be proud of him," Nathan told him.

Jack contemplated the picture in silence for a bit. Nathan let the boy do so without interruption. A little bit later Jack pointed to the picture again.

"Daddy," the boy said clearly before turning his head to look up at Nathan. Little Jack pointed to him and said, "Dad?" There was an uncertainty in the one word question.

Nathan felt his breath catch even as he nodded his head. "Yes, Jack. I would be proud to have you call me Dad," he told the boy.

There had been a time when Nathan had never expected to be a Dad. He knew the disappointment of being let down by a father. Part of him had lived in fear that he would be that kind of father himself. He did not want to be responsible for causing a child that kind of hurt. Then, he ended up with Ally. Yes, he had made mistakes, especially in the early days, but he had tried his best. He had done what his mother had told him and simply started by always loving her.

Last month, Ally had asked to call him Dad. That had made his heart swell with joy and pride. To think that his little girl had chosen to bestow that special title on him had been the best feeling in the world. It told him that despite everything he had done something right. Now, Jack had thought him special enough to call him Dad as well.

Little Jack smiled and wrapped his arms around Nathan's neck. Nathan wrapped the boy in a hug with his free hand. It was turning out to be a very good start to the morning.

Being called 'dad', by Jack, had Nathan walking on air the rest of the morning. After they had eaten together, and Laura had arrived to watch Jack, Nathan walked his wife and daughter to the schoolhouse. Ally was walking without the aid of crutches finally, though she still lacked the stamina to run. Carson assured her she would get there soon.

Reaching the schoolyard, Ally found her friends. Opal, Byrony, Cody and Emily were all standing in a rough circle, tossing the ball to one another. The children happily included Ally in their game as Nathan walked Elizabeth into the schoolhouse.

"What time are you expecting your father?" Elizabeth asked.

Archie was coming to Hope Valley for a visit. As it was the weekend of Faith and Carson's wedding, Nathan had asked the couple if they would mind another guess. Faith and Carson assured Nathan that his father would be welcomed.

"He said he would be here around noon. He asked to have lunch with me. Says there is something he wants to discuss with me before he sees you and the kids."

"You sound worried," Elizabeth said, removing her winter garments as Nathan placed her basket, that he was carrying, on her desk.

Nathan sighed. "I guess I am anticipating it not being good news, like perhaps he loss his job or something. I know it isn't fair but . . ."

Nathan let the thought trail off but it didn't matter. Elizabeth knew him very well.

"Expecting bad news is easier than hoping for something good just to be let down by him again," Elizabeth finished for him.

Nathan nodded.

Putting her coat on the back of her chair, Elizabeth walked back around the desk to face her husband. "Try not worry," she told him before giving him a short kiss good-bye. She did not want any of the kids to walk in and see anything more intimate.

"I will try," Nathan promised her. "I will see you this afternoon, Mrs. Grant," he told her.

"I'll be looking forward to it, Constable Grant," Elizabeth told him.

Nathan left the schoolhouse then. He had walked into town and tacked up Newton. For the rest of the morning, Nathan tried to let his work distract him from his Dad's looming visit. He was sitting at the desk in his office around noon reading through some messages from headquarters when there was a knock at the door. Looking up from the paper he was reading, Nathan spotted his father standing just inside the door.

"Hello, Nathan," Archie said, seeing that he had his son's attention.

"Hello, Ar-" Nathan began but stopped. Remembering the feeling of Jack calling him Dad that morning, Nathan refrained from using his father's first name. "Dad," Nathan finished. No, he would not nominate his father for father of the year, but that man had finally seemed to change. He had been doing things right since getting out of jail this last time. His father was trying and that had to count for something.

Archie smiled. "Are you ready for lunch?" he asked. "My treat."

Nathan put the paper in his hand down. Paperwork was not going anywhere. Besides, he was curious as to what his father wanted to talk to him about. Though he supposed if his father was offering to buy him lunch he was not here asking for money.

"I am ready," Nathan told him, getting to his feet.

"We eating at the saloon or the café?" Archie asked, as Nathan grabbed his campaign hat.

"I would prefer the café," Nathan replied, thinking of Lucas' unsolicited advice about his father that last time Archie was in town. Things were getting less awkward between him and Lucas but Nathan would prefer not to give the saloon owner something to speculate about.

"Café it is," Archie said.

Father and son walked to the café in silence, neither bothered trying to make small talk. At the café, Nathan led them to a table with no other diners currently nearby. Abigail was soon there to serve them. She poured both of them coffee and took their orders. As she walked away, Archie finally spoke.

"I know you prefer to be direct about things, so let me tell you why I wanted to come to Hope Valley to talk to you personally," Archie said, looking Nathan in the eye as he spoke. "The thing is, I have been offered a promotion in my job but I wanted your permission before I accepted the position."

"My permission?" Nathan asked, confused. "Why does it matter what I think?"

"Because Nathan, the job would be here in Hope Valley. My boss wants to put a shipping office here by the train station and he asked me if I wanted to run it. I would like to. I would like to be closer to you and Ally, perhaps get to know your wife and son better as well. However, I do not want to make you uncomfortable, Nathan. I was a horrible father while you were growing up. I am well aware of that. However, I really am trying this time Nathan."

"I know you are, Dad," Nathan replied.

"Look, I am not asking to stay with your family. The shipping office will have living quarters for the manager. I will stay at the saloon while the building is being built as taking the position means overseeing the construction of the office. However, if you prefer having more distance between me and Ally, I will turn it down. I do not want to make trouble for you, son."

Nathan hesitated. Jail time seemed to have finally gotten through with his father. Archie was doing well. He knew Ally would love having her grandfather close by. Perhaps it would even be good for his father to be near family. The fact that his boss would trust him with a manager position told Nathan that he was doing well in his job as well.

"If you want to take the job, Dad, then take it. Ally will love having you nearby."

"And what about you?" Archie asked, looking across the table at him.

"I love you, Dad. I always have, even through the pain. However, I won't lie. I am still struggling with the trust part. Perhaps everybody deserves a second chance." Nathan paused. Archie had already had a second chance and that had not gone well. Still, he had been innocent of the theft this last time. He had finally seemed to have turned his life around. "Or a third," he added, with a small smile.

"I appreciate that, Nathan. It will be nice to be near family again. I will not deny I have been lonely."

Nathan nodded. "I am glad you came to visit, Dad," he managed.

Archie changed the conversation to Ally after that, for which Nathan was thankful. Ally and Jack were one subject that he always felt comfortable with.

On Saturday, most of the town gathered at the church for Carson and Faith's wedding. Hope Valley's two doctors had touched almost everyone's lives at some point and the town was more than happy to celebrate the couple's happiness.

With the guests, and the groom's side of the wedding party already inside the church with the pastor, Nathan stood in his dress uniform at the foot of the steps. Two cars were approaching bringing the bride and her attendants from the café. Fiona was Faith's maid of honor, while Elizabeth and Clara were also part of the wedding party.

The cars pulled to a stop in front of the church. Nathan, Lee and Henry helped Elizabeth, Fiona and Clara from the vehicles first. Once the three attendants were inside the church, Nathan returned to the car that Faith was waiting in. He helped the bride from the car and then safely up the steps.

Once inside, Abigail made sure that everything was just right with Faith's dress and hair. She then went to tell everyone they were ready to proceed. Nathan offered his arm to a nervous looking bride.

"Thank you for agreeing to walk me down the aisle, Nathan," Faith said as she slipped an arm through his. "Without my father here, I did not know who else to ask."

"I am honored that you asked, me Faith," Nathan told her. "It gives me some practice before I inevitably have to walk Ally down the aisle. I know that time will come far sooner than I would like."

Faith smiled up at him. "Is it me, or does this feel like deja vu?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" Nathan asked.

"Less than two months ago, you offered me your arm as we walked from the infirmary. Then we were both dealing with wounded hearts that were missing the ones we love. Soon, we will both be married to those people."

Nathan smiled. "Was it less than two months ago? That night and the pain I felt, seem so far away."

"It does for me, too," Faith said. "Thank you for being there when I needed a friend, Nathan."

"You are welcome," Nathan told her. "And thank you for the same thing, Faith."

"You are welcome," Faith replied.

"Are we ready?" Abigail asked quietly.

Faith nodded.

As Rosemary began playing 'Here Comes the Bride,' Nathan stepped forward with Faith at his side. They had helped each other through their heart aches. Now, they had both found the love of their lives.

Love wasn't just about the feelings. Love was also about the right timing. Like he and Elizabeth had, Carson and Faith had finally found the right timing and that was the greatest miracle of all.