Elizabeth smiled at the sight before her. Nathan had brought the rocking chair from the sitting room into the bedroom and placed it parallel to the fireplace. From her spot in the bed, she could see Nathan's profile as he sat rocking with Jack beside him and Gabriella in his arms. He was signing softly and though Elizabeth could not make out the words, she could make out the tune. Listening to him was kind of soothing and she found herself drifting off.

A knock on the front door disturbed the moment.

"Door, Dad," Jack said, looking up at Nathan.

"Want to come with me to see who it is?" Nathan asked the boy.

Jack nodded and with Nathan's help got down from the rocking chair. Nathan stood up, Gabriella asleep as he held her with one arm.

"Should I put her in the basinet or do you want her?" Nathan asked, looking at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth laughed. "Lay her down. As much as she has been held today I will never be able to lay her down if she does not spend some time there."

"You hear that, Gabby," Nathan whispered to the sleeping infant. The look on his face as he looked at his daughter told Elizabeth that if there had been any disappointment of not getting a son it was already long forgotten. "Your Mama thinks I am already spoiling you."

Elizabeth laughed again as she shook her head. She had not had her name for even twelve hours yet and her daughter had two abbreviations of it.

"I sure hope that if a nickname sticks for that little girl it's Lee's nickname and not yours," Elizabeth scolded her husband gently as he placed the infant in her basinet. "I think I know how Gabriel's mother feels now. There is something about Gabe and Gabby that makes such beautiful names sound commonplace."

The Coulters had come over when Nathan had gone for Jack. All four of them had held the baby, Bridget and Ivy while sitting in the rocking chair. Elizabeth had seen the wistful look on Rosemary's face as she looked down at the infant. The fact that soon Rosemary could be holding her own baby had filled Elizabeth with joy and she said a prayer that all would go well with the pregnancy. After allowing his wife to hold Gabriella for a while, Lee had held out his hands and said, "hand me little Ella." Rosemary had surrendered the infant and came over to sit with Elizabeth, the nickname not being commented on.

"That is fine," Nathan told her, as he straightened up. Gabriella slept on. "Gabby can be Daddy's pet name for her," he told Elizabeth as the knock sounded again. Nathan looked down at Jack who was still standing near the rocking chair. "Just like LJ is," Nathan commented, mentioned the nickname that never quite took hold for the boy, though Nathan did use it on occasion.

"Let's go see who is at the door, LJ," Nathan said.

The boy beamed and then nodding hurried toward the open bedroom door, giggling. Nathan followed him. Not for the first time, Elizabeth wondered how she was ever going to care for an infant a three year old, and teach. Not that she wanted to give any of them up.

"You will not being doing it alone," Elizabeth told herself, speaking the words out loud.

Soon she heard Nathan greeting Faith and Carson at the door. From the sounds that reached her, Elizabeth had a feeling that Carson had picked up Jack. Part of her wished she could be out their welcoming their guests, and the rest of her was more than content to stay right where she was. She was more sore and more tired than she remembered having been after Jack had been born.

It was not long before Faith was in the doorway. She knocked softly on the open door though Elizabeth was already looking in her direction.

"Carson and I thought you might appreciate a woman doctor for this examination," Faith told her as she stepped into the room.

"I would accept either of you," Elizabeth said. "However, I am kind of relieved it is you, Faith. I have felt my cheeks grow warm every time I have seen Gabriel today. I hope no one else has noticed. I doubt Gabriel has. All he has had eyes for since we named her is his namesake," Elizabeth said, nodding toward the basinet where little Gabriella slept peacefully.

Faith looked toward the sleeping infant. "I cannot say I blame him," she said softly. "She is beautiful. Sorry, we were not here, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth shook her head. "No need for you or Carson to apologize. You two had a doctor in town to cover your trip. It is not your fault that the doctor decided to drink on the night I went into labor. Gabriel was calm and had everything under control. I just hope I did not call him any names."

Faith laughed. As the baby was sleeping peacefully, Faith figured she would start with an examination of Elizabeth. "If you did, chances are he did not even notice," she told her friend. "Carson told me that he learned quickly not to mind what his patients said when they were in pain. I have a feeling Mounties learn that trick fairly quick as well."

"I hope so," Elizabeth replied, a glint of gold catching her eye. As Faith was now standing next to the bed, Elizabeth reached out for the doctor's left hand. "Apparently you have news as well," she commented, looking up from the gold band to her friend's face. Faith was beaming now.

"Carson and I got married yesterday. As neither of us have family that could come celebrate with us, we decided we just wanted to do it quietly. Just the two of us. We asked one of the Mounties in Union City to serve as a witness."

"Now I really feel bad about bringing you home."

Faith shook her head. "There is no reason too. Carson and I had a lovely day together yesterday. We were coming home today anyway. You only brought us home a few hours early," she assured Elizabeth as she sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Well, congratulations," Elizabeth told her. "Though now we have two Dr. Shepherds."

"Carson and I have realized that as well," Faith replied. "As he has been Dr. Shepherd longer, I think I may just have my patients refer to me as Dr. Faith. It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

Elizabeth smiled. "It does," she assured the beaming newly wed.

Out in the sitting room, Carson had settled in an armchair with Jack on his lap. He was chatting with the boy while Nathan went into the kitchen to get to cups of coffee. By the time Nathan came back into the sitting room with the mugs, Jack had climbed down from Carson's lap and was playing with his farm animals.

"So, how are you doing, Nathan?" Carson asked as he accepted the mug that Nathan handed him. "This is your first time caring for a new born, right?"

"Yes, it is. I mean, I held Ally when she was an infant but I was only ever around for a visit here or there," Nathan said as he sat down on the settee. "It did not prepare me for the emotion that came over me when I first held that little girl in my arms. I love Ally and Jack, but it was different knowing that I helped create the life that I held in my arms."

Carson smiled. "Love comes in all forms and it does not mean that any one form is any more important than the other. I plan on seeing the new arrival before I leave but Faith and I agreed there was no need to overwhelm Elizabeth with two doctors."

"Elizabeth will be happy to see you as her friend rather than her doctor," Nathan assured him. "Speaking of friendship, is there something you would like to tell me, my friend?" Nathan asked casually as he took a sip of the coffee.

Despite the cryptic question from Nathan, Carson's gaze naturally drifted to the gold band on his left hand. He should have known Nathan would not miss the addition. Being observant was a key skill in Nathan's profession.

"Faith and I got married yesterday," Carson admitted, a smile naturally coming to his face. "We both decided we wanted to do it without any fuss as our family could not be here."

"Congratulations," Nathan told him, genuinely happy for his friend. "You do realize that when people find out they are going to want to throw the two of you some kind of reception right?"

Carson nodded. "I do," the doctor admitted. "Faith and I do want to celebrate with all of our friends. However, we wanted the actual ceremony to be just ours. Does that sound selfish?"

Nathan shook his head. "Not at all," he said. "You and Faith are entitled to whatever kind of ceremony you wanted. Though I find it ironic that so many couples have left Hope Valley to get married, and Lillian and Gabriel end up coming here for their wedding."

"Well, we have your daughter to thank for that," Carson said with a laugh. "Which reminds me, does that little girl have a name yet?"

Nathan chuckled. Never again would he only pick names for one sex. If he and Elizabeth had another child a name for a girl and a name for a boy would be settled on long before that child's due date. "She does. We let Ally pick her first name and Ally chose Gabriella to name her after her god father. I suggested the middle name of Joy because that is what she has brought us, so her name is Gabriella Joy."

"That is beautiful."

"Elizabeth is already giving me a hard time because I called her Gabby."

Carson laughed. "Dad's are supposed to give their daughters nicknames," he said.

"Thank you for the support," Nathan replied before asking Carson about details of his wedding day.

Listening to the talk around him, Gabriel looked down at the boy who had settled down on the floor next him. The Coulters had invited him and Lillian to supper with them and their guests. As it gave him and Lillian a chance to catch Grace, Chuck and Eleanor up with the plans that had been made, they had accepted. Both Billy and Ally had come with them, giving Nathan and Elizabeth an evening home with their two little ones. At first, Billy had seemed fine with the other children despite the crowd in the Coulters home. However it was not long after the adults had retreated to the sitting room that Billy had come to sit next to him despite the laughter coming from the children in the dining room.

Taking advantage of a lull in the conversation, Gabriel looked up at Lillian who was sitting on the settee he was leaning against. Rosemary and Grace were sitting next to her on the piece of furniture.

"I think I am going to walk Billy back to the Grant's," Gabriel told Lillian.

"You do not have to," Billy answered quickly. "I am fine."

Gabriel gave the boy's shoulder a gentle squeeze. There were times that Gabriel forgot that the boy had not been with him long. He was quickly forgetting what life without Billy was like. Moments like this reminded him that Billy was still making adjustments. That the boy was still afraid of losing what he had found. Afraid of doing anything wrong or getting anyone in his sphere of trust upset with him. Gabriel knew Billy never would have complained about the current situation but he could tell the boy was stressed out by the number of people in the home.

"It is okay," Gabriel assured him. "This is a new place and a lot of people. Things that you are not use to." Gabriel looked up at Lillian. "Would you like me to come back for you later?"

Lillian opened her mouth to speak but Chuck spoke up first.

"I can walk her over when she is ready," Chuck offered from the chair he had brought in from the dinning room. "No reason to cut the ladies' planning session short."

"I would appreciate that, thank you," Lillian said. She looked down at Gabriel. "I will not stay too late."

"Stay as late as you want," Gabriel told her.

"What about Ally?" Lillian said. "If you think it would be okay, she can stay and play with the other children until I come back?"

"I don't think Nathan and Elizabeth will mind," Gabriel told her. "I will go see what she wants to do."

Billy got to his feet so that Gabriel could get up. Going to the dinning room, Gabriel spoke briefly to Ally and then returned to the sitting room. Billy was standing next to Lillian, having not moved.

"Ally wants to come home when you come, Lillian."

"That is fine."

"I'll let Nathan and Elizabeth know," Gabriel told her.

"All right," Lillian replied. "Eleanor wanted to walk with you. I think she is tired from the trip. Chuck is helping her find her bag among the others he brought in."

Gabriel nodded. "I'll help her get settled," he promised as he leaned in to give Lillian a kiss.

It was not long before Gabriel, Billy and Eleanor had bundled up and were making their way along the tramp down snow that formed the path between the Grants and the Coulters.

"So, I hear you are going to escort Miss Lillian down the aisle, young man," Eleanor commented as they made their trek.

Walking close to Gabriel's side, Billy nodded.

"I think that is a lovely idea," Eleanor commented, unfazed by the nonverbal reply to her comment.

"I do too," Gabriel said. "It is appropriate to have Billy involved in the ceremony. It will make it all that more special."

The trio walked silently for a little while. Eventually it was Billy that broke the silence.

"Gabe, do you think your family is going like me?" Billy asked. "My father's family did not want anything to do with me."

Gabriel reached out with the hand not carrying Eleanor's bag and rested it on the boy's shoulder. "Your father's family had issues with your father's choices. You had no control over their actions and none of that is a reflection on you, Billy."

"But I have heard you say that your parents do not like you being a Mountie just like my dad's parents."

"That is true," Gabriel said. "My mother has always thought it too dangerous, and my father had other dreams for me. However, both of them have always been there for me when I needed them. They may not like my choices but they love me. That is why they are coming to the wedding and both of them are going to like you simply because you are a part of the family now."

"Should I call you Gabriel like Miss Lillian? I heard your mother doesn't like the nickname?"

Though he tried not to, a small chuckle escaped.

"You can stick to Gabe, Billy," Gabriel told the boy. "No, my mother is not fond of the nickname, Gabe. She says it makes my name sound too commonplace. However, she is use to both Nathan and Ally calling me that. She will accept you using it and on the off chance that she does make a comment to you about it, just let me know. I will have a talk with her. I do not think it will be an issue though."

Billy nodded.

"Any other worries you want to bring up?" Gabriel asked. "Lillian told me you had been worried about not being able to stay with me after the wedding. I promise you that is not going to change."

"That is what Miss Lillian said."

"We are all looking forward to having you and Gabriel as part of our home, Billy," Eleanor told him, trying to sound reassuring.

"I like being with you, Gabe. I like being in Brookfield and I am sure living out with Miss Lillian and the rest will be fine, but I am also afraid that things are going too well for me. I keep waiting for it to come to an end."

"The only way it will come to an end, Billy is if you run off. I want you here with me. Lillian wants you with us. I have made arrangements for you should the worse happen, Billy. You are no longer alone but any time you need assurance of that, Lillian or I will be happy to provide that for you."

Billy reached up and wrapped his arm around Gabriel's.

"It is nice not being alone anymore," Billy told him.

"Amen to that," Eleanor chimed in, as they continued their walk across the yard.