When the Kinslows started out for Brookfield on Tuesday, Bill had all the necessary papers to file to make Billy's adoption official. It was just a matter of waiting for the paperwork to go through. That paperwork included a name change. Though Billy was maintaining his father's first and middle names, the boy had asked to take on Gabriel's last name. The request had once again brought tears to Gabriel's eyes, but they were again tears of joy.

Along with Grace, Chuck, Eleanor and the children, Joe, Maggie, Pearl, Minnie, Sophia, and Hank were at the orphanage to welcome home the newlyweds. After a round of hugs and congratulations, Gabriel told the group about Billy's pending adoption. Another round of hugs and congratulations followed. Billy even shook hands with Chuck, Joe and Hank.

Knowing that Lillian, Gabriel and Billy would be tired after their trip, Joe and the others did not linger long. They did however inform the newlyweds that a reception in their honor was scheduled for Friday evening at the Royal Brookfield. Sophia also informed them that the lumber for the new addition would begin arriving that week and as soon as the last of the snow melted, construction would begin.

Later that evening, Lillian stood in front of the mirror on top of her dresser, undoing her braid. In the reflection behind her Lillian caught sight of the red serge of Gabriel's uniforms as Chuck and Joe had moved Gabriel's things from the rooms behind the Mounted Police office to the orphanage. The rocking chair was downstairs in the sitting room, but the rest of the things had been brought up to the master bedroom that Lillian occupied.

Letting her hair fall around her shoulders without brushing it, Lillian turned from the mirror. Going over to the arm chair that Gabriel's uniforms had been draped over, Lillian picked them up. Holding them close to her, she felt both fear and pride. Despite his recent doubts, Lillian knew that being a Mountie was Gabriel's calling. As long as it was what he wanted to be doing, then she knew that it was what she wanted him to do. She had married a Mountie, and she was ready to face the challenges that came with that.

Uniforms in hand, Lillian moved to the closet. Pushing her things closer together, Lillian made room and hung up the uniforms. Gabriel did not plan on returning to work until Monday, deciding that he was going to take a few days just to settle in. Lillian knew without a doubt that her husband would find his way into town to have a talk with Constable Davor more than once during that time but she was okay with that. Gabriel was changing his life more than she was, with their marriage and she would let him make those adjustments any way he saw fit.

Turning from the closet, Lillian found the dress uniform he had brought home with them today. She hung it in the closet making a mental note to iron out the wrinkles at some point tomorrow. As she let go of the hangar, two arms circled around her waist and pulled her close.

"Thanks for making room for me in your life and your home, Lillian," Gabriel said softly in her ear.

"It is our home," Lillian reminded him as she let herself lean back against him, feeling his strength. The strength that she would be able to draw on and lean on in the years to come.

"I like the sound of that," Gabriel told her as he placed his head next to Lillian's.

Lillian could feel his breath on her bare skin. Shifting her head so she was looking up at him, their faces were close together. Gabriel lowered his head, and their lips found one another. For the next few moments her surroundings melted away as Lillian lost herself in the sensation.

As Gabriel pulled away, Lillian took a few quick breaths as she remembered where she was and what Gabriel had been doing before he came into the room.

"Did you get the boys to sleep?" Lillian asked, still resting against Gabriel.

"I did, after about two chapters of Treasure Island," Gabriel told her. "I do not have the talent for making up stories that two lovely ladies seem to have, though they seem to enjoy me reading to them."

Lilian laughed. "Those boys have needed a male role model. I doubt you could do much wrong in their eyes."

"That is kind of daunting actually," Gabriel told her. "Because I am far from perfect."

Lillian lifted a hand from where they rested on his which were on her stomach. Reaching up, she placed it on the side of his face.

"Just be who you are. These boys don't need perfection. They just need someone who is honest, moral and modest. I think you will do just fine."

"Oh, there is that m word again," Gabriel replied lightly. "Watch using modest to describe me, Lillian. People might start thinking you are crazy."

Lillian laughed. "Or they just might think I am in love, which is exactly how I feel," she informed him, as she moved her hand from his cheek to the back of his head and guided his lips down to hers again. Her hand remained there as the kiss deepened and her heart beat faster. She finally dropped her hand from his head when she broke for a breath of air. As she leaned against Gabriel, she could sense his increased heart rate and rapid breathing.

"You know exactly how to make me feel light headed and weak kneed," he whispered in her ear, his breath tickling her skin.

"Really? I can make a brave Mountie weak at the knees?" Lillian asked playfully.

"You can make this Mountie turn to putty, Lillian," he told her, his forehead resting against her head as both of them caught their breath.

Lillian laughed, feeling quite a bit like putty herself right then. It was a feeling that she totally enjoyed and wondered why she had fought falling in love with Gabriel for so long. This moment, and others like it, was worth the fear and uncertainty that would come when Gabriel was away doing his job.

Elizabeth had advised her to cherish the moments that she and Gabriel had together and she intended to do just that.

Fiona stirred, only really half awake. She was aware of the warm presence of her husband beside her. As she tried to find a more comfortable position, she snuggled closer to Lucas, draping her arm across his chest in the process. Lucas immediately tightened his hold on her with the arm she was currently using for her pillow. The action made Fiona realize that she was not the only one awake.

"Did I disturb you?" Fiona asked, sleepily.

"I had not fallen asleep yet," Lucas told her, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"What is wrong?" Fiona asked, her concern starting to wake her up further.

"Nothing is wrong," Lucas assured her. "I was just thinking."

"About what?" Fiona asked, shifting her head to look up at her husband. As the room was dark, she could make out only silhouettes and not his expression.

"Mary Louise," Lucas replied. "She has been on my mind a lot since Friday."

"She has a sad story," Fiona said. "Though I suppose all the orphans have sad stories," she commented. "I often felt frustrated with my parents growing up. However, when I see kids who have lost their parents, I realize just how lucky I was. Lillian and Grace are doing a wonderful thing by caring for those children."

"I traveled a lot when I was younger as my parents enjoyed seeing different places. Even though I was often with a nanny, the fact that they wanted me with them on those travels was important, even if I did not realize it then."

"So why has Mary Louise been on your mind specifically?" Fiona asked.

Lucas chuckled. "I liked her spunk. She was very straightforward with her opinions, just like someone else I know and love," he commented.

"My mother use to tell me that being so opinionated was going to chase away every man I met. I was starting to think she was right and then you happened along."

"I am a man who appreciates a keen mind. I enjoy having an intellectual conversation and not just having someone who agrees with everything I say," Lucas told her. "I was thinking about what Lillian said though, about how when people come along looking to adopt, that same spunky spirit turns them off."

"I guess it will take a special kind of couple to want to give Mary Louise a home."

"What about us?"

Fiona felt her heart skip a beat at the question. The hesitation had nothing to do with Mary Louise specifically. She liked the girl. Mary Louise actually reminded her of herself in a lot of ways. However, Fiona was not quite sure she was ready to change her life in the ways that would be necessary to become a mother. Not to mention, Lucas had said that though he was not against kids altogether, that he did not feel quite ready to be a father at this point in his life either.

"I thought we decided that we were going to wait for now. That neither one of us was ready to try for a baby."

"We did," Lucas agreed. "Honestly, I still do not think I am ready for a newborn in my life. However, Mary Louise is older. I know how to interact with a child her age. Yes, it would mean making changes in our lives, but that does not seem like a big sacrifice to make to give a child a home."

Fiona did not respond right away. She wanted to say she was surprised but in a way she wasn't. It had been clear to her that Ally had won a special place in Lucas' heart, even if she had family that loved her. Like Mary Louise, Ally had a bit of spunk. She often seemed older than her years.

It did not really surprise her that Mary Louise had sparked much the same feeling in Lucas that Ally had. What did surprise her was the talk about adoption.

"Perhaps learning to be parents to Mary Louise might make having a child of our own, a little less of a shock," Lucas said when Fiona did not respond. It was clear that he was trying to convince her of the idea.

"Perhaps," Fiona conceded. "Could I have a little time to consider it?" Fiona asked. "We have never even discussed the idea of adoption. I honestly am not sure how I feel about it. The middle of the night, is not a good time for me to think about it."

"I did kind of spring it on you," Lucas conceded. "I do not need an answer tonight," he assured. He kissed the top of her head. "Get some sleep, darling. Muse the idea over in the light of day and let me know when you are ready to discuss it."

"I just need a little time to think it through," Fiona said. "Can we discuss it more at super tonight?"

"That sounds like a good plan. Now, go back to sleep," Lucas told her.

"Good night," Fiona replied, settling against him once again. As she closed her eyes, an image of Mary Louise came to mind. The idea of having her in their lives did not seem so far fetched. Fiona had a feeling the girl would fit in well with them.

As sleep claimed her once again, Fiona had a feeling that she and Lucas would be taking a little trip in the very near future.

"What are you doing?"

The question came from the direction of the bedroom off the kitchen. It was one that Gabriel had expected. Flipping the pancake in the pan in front of him, Gabriel simply replied, "cooking breakfast."

"And you don't think I am perfectly capable of cooking breakfast because there are two more mouths to feed?" Eleanor asked.

Gabriel turned from the pan. He got his first look at the orphanage's housekeeper, who stood just in the kitchen, apron in place and hands on her hips.

Putting his most charming smile on, Gabriel crossed over to her. "It is not that I think you are incapable of it. However, even house keepers deserve a morning off from time to time. As I am currently still on leave, I thought I would give you that morning off so that when I do go back to work and come home at nine o'clock at night and want something warm to eat, you may be persuaded to cook me something," he said, before placing a quick kiss on her cheek.

Eleanor smiled, Gabriel's innocent charm working on even her tough love exterior.

"Well, when you put it that way, I guess I would not mind reading a few more Psalms this morning," Eleanor said with an easy smile. Her attention caught on the light out in the sitting room. "Who else is up?"

Gabriel glanced in the direction of the sitting room briefly as he headed back to the stove to rescue the pancake from the pan. "Hopefully no one quite yet," Gabriel replied. "It has been a long night for some of us. The third time Billy woke up, it was because of nightmares. I have not been aware of him having a nightmare since he came to stay with me. Trouble sleeping, yes, but usually not nightmares. Figuring Lillian did not need to be kept up as well, I brought him down here. That was about three. He fell asleep around four and instead of disturbing him I let him sleep on the settee. He was still sleeping when I came in to start breakfast."

"So you have been up since three?" Eleanor asked.

"I may have dozed off here and there," Gabriel commented as he continued making pancakes. Sausages were sizzling in a second pan and footsteps overhead indicated that others in the household were beginning to rouse.

"Perhaps you need to take a nap after the children are at school," Eleanor suggested.

"That actually sounds like a very good suggestion," Gabriel replied, even as he reached for his nearby mug which he had already filled with coffee.

Eleanor retreated back to her room and presumably her bible. Gabriel returned to making enough pancakes for everyone as the house came to life. Gabriel smiled as he listened while cooking. It reminded him of when he was young. With five kids and his parents, the house was seldom quiet except when everyone was asleep. He heard Lillian come downstairs and gently wake Billy. As the boy headed upstairs, Lillian came into the kitchen.

"Eleanor let you cook breakfast alone," Lillian commented as she came into the kitchen and headed for the cupboard.

"I did not give her much of a choice," Gabriel replied, causing Lillian to laugh. Her laugh, the voices drifting around, and the sound of footsteps brought a smile to Gabriel's face. He had missed this during the quiet years of being a Mountie.

Running footsteps on the stairs indicated that the children were on their way down.

"Do not run in the house," Grace called after them.

The footsteps slowed down a bit in response.

"Are you having second thoughts yet?" Lillian asked as she headed toward the dining room with a stack of plates and silverware.

"I am going to go milk, Virginia," Mary Louise said, still buttoning her coat as she headed for the kitchen door.

"All right," Lillian replied as she continued to the table with the dishes.

Unfazed by the interruption of the girl going about her morning chore, Gabriel answered Lillian's question.

"Not for a second," Gabriel assured her as Lillian disappeared from sight. Right about then, he felt like one of the luckiest men alive.