Dinner at the Coulters the next night was a joyous affair. Rosemary was radiant, Elizabeth was glowing, and their husbands couldn't stop smiling. Jack and Allie were still in the dark about their mother's pregnancy, but Nathan and Elizabeth planned on telling them tonight. The two children thought this dinner was a celebration for their Uncle Lee and Auntie Rosemary's new baby. Which it was. They just didn't know the full reason for the celebration.

Elizabeth had a feeling they were going to be thrilled.

"So, Auntie Rosemary, when is the baby coming?" Allie asked as she helped set the table.

"February," Rosemary answered.

"Are you having a boy or a girl?"

"We don't know yet, honey," Rosemary said. "We won't know until the baby is born."

Allie glanced at Nathan and Elizabeth out of the corner of her eye. "Jack and I want a baby sister," she announced. "But Mom and Dad said we have to wait. But I'm very happy for you and Uncle Lee. At least there will be one baby around here."

Rosemary smothered a smile while Elizabeth chuckled. Nathan smiled as he picked up little Jack to settle him on his lap. Elizabeth put a hand on Allie's shoulder. "Allie, what if I told you there were going to be two babies in February?"

Allie's eyes widened. "Is Auntie Rosemary having twins?"

"No, Allie," Elizabeth said. "But there's someone else having a baby too."

"Mrs. Flynn?" Allie asked, jumping to the next logical person.

Elizabeth shook her head. "No, not Mrs. Flynn."

Brow furrowing, Allie tilted her head. "Who then?"

"Me," Elizabeth said simply. "Auntie Rosemary and I are due at the same time."

Allie wore a look of disbelief for about three seconds, and then she hollered her excitement so loudly, Elizabeth was sure the entire line of rowhouses could hear it.

"We're having a baby! We're having a baby!" she screeched, jumping up and down and clapping her hands. She threw her arms around Elizabeth. "I'm so excited!" She took Jack from Nathan, holding him tightly. "Did you hear that, Jack? We're getting a baby!"

Jack looked at Elizabeth, then at Allie, a grin on his little face. Elizabeth wondered just how much he understood.

"Baby!" he pronounced clearly, pointing at Elizabeth and then Rosemary. Allie set him on his feet, and he toddled over to Elizabeth. She had sat on one of the chairs, and Jack looked up at her. "Where baby?"

Elizabeth pointed to her tummy. "The baby's right here inside of me," she told him. "And he or she will be growing there for a while."

Jack leaned forward, placing a sweet toddler kiss on Elizabeth's stomach. "Hi, Kafween," he said, patting the spot Elizabeth had pointed to. "Come out soon."

Nathan leaned toward Jack, taking his hand. "You know Mommy might be having a brother, right?"

Jack shook his head emphatically. "Sister!" he pronounced. "Sister wike A'wee!"

Allie nodded. "Definitely a sister," she said assuredly. Elizabeth smiled, loving how invested her children were in the gender of the baby but hoping they wouldn't be too disappointed if it ended up being a boy.

Lee clapped Nathan on the back. "In about seven months, we're both going to know what it's like to care for a tiny baby," he said, grinning. "I can't wait."

"Neither can I," Nathan said. He locked eyes with Elizabeth, the two of them sharing a smile that spoke volumes. She was excited to share this journey with Nathan. Come what may, she knew that with him by her side, they could handle anything.

"Alright, time to eat!" Lee announced. Dinner was a big roasted chicken, with baked potatoes and a large salad on the side. Elizabeth's appetite had increased over the past several weeks, and everything tasted wonderful.

"Lee, this is delicious!" she said. "You did a wonderful job."

"Thank you, Elizabeth," he said, winking at Rosemary. "I told Rosie I had everything under control tonight."

Rosemary harumphed. "He wouldn't let me do anything besides dessert," she said. "He seems to think I suddenly became an invalid." Suddenly noticing that her son was aiming a potato skin at Allie, Rosemary quickly placed a hand on his arm. "Fred, dear, we don't throw food, especially at our guests."

"Okay, Mama," Fred said with a resigned sigh. He eyed Allie, mischief clearly on his mind. She stared back at him, almost daring him to try something. Elizabeth hid a laugh behind her napkin. The two children had a playful rivalry going on to see who could surprise the other the most. Last week, Allie had found a frog in her shoe after she'd left them outside to dry from a day by the creek. Elizabeth knew her daughter was plotting something in return, and she was sure it had to do with some kind of critter.

The conversation continued, centered on the adults' thoughts about welcoming a baby. They were all parents already; Nathan and Elizabeth both had experience raising children, and Lee and Rosemary had been settling into raising a child. But they were all about to experience what it was like to have a baby in the house and to raise that baby together.

When it was time for dessert, Lee insisted on getting the cake and plates, telling Rosemary to stay seated. Nathan rose to help him, and Elizabeth grinned at Rosemary. "I don't think Nathan is the only protective one around here," she teased. "Lee seems to be pretty good at it too.'

Rosemary looked indignant for a few seconds, but then her eyes softened and a smile lit her face. "He is, isn't he? And I know it comes from a good place." She giggled. "Maybe I should let him. It could be nice to be pampered for a while."

"Anything for you, sweetheart," Lee said, kissing her cheek and presenting her with a large slice of the chocolate cake. He and Nathan passed out the dessert to everyone before finding their seats once again. Compliments abounded for Rosemary on her culinary abilities as everyone ate. Elizabeth savored the chocolatey goodness, every bite a little piece of heaven.

When dinner was over, Nathan and Allie helped Lee with the dishes while Rosemary and Elizabeth chatted.

"I don't think there's anything that could make us happier," Rosemary said with a sigh. "I'm so excited that we get to share our pregnancy experiences together. Somehow, that's the icing on the cake."

"I agree," Elizabeth said. "I'm so glad we have each other to lean on." She smiled wryly. "Fair warning: pregnancy hormones can be wild and crazy. You'll be sad one minute and happy the next, with no logical explanation for the change."

Rosemary laughed with abandon. "Oh, Elizabeth. That's me all the time!" Her eyes twinkled. "Maybe my pregnancy will be me having balanced emotions at all times for once."

Elizabeth laughed with her friend. "Maybe so."

"Nathan!" Bill said, running to catch up to him. "I just heard the news. Congratulations!" He slapped Nathan's back in a friendly manner. "Lunch is on me. Come on." He pulled Nathan toward the saloon.

"Thanks, Bill, but that's really not necessary," Nathan said.

"Oh yes, it is," Bill said, flashing him a smile. "You're going to be a father, and I can't wait to see how this plays out."

"I'm already a father," Nathan protested. "Allie and Jack, remember?"

Bill paused, looking at him seriously. "I know that, Nathan. And you're right, that does make you a father, and a very good one at that. But this will be a little different. You're going to experience emotions you've never felt before throughout Elizabeth's pregnancy, when your child is born, and as he or she is growing up. And that's worth celebrating."

Nathan smiled, touched by Bill's words and excitement for him. He allowed himself to be led into the saloon, where they found a seat and placed their order. Within seconds, Lucas spotted them and made his way to the table.

"Congratulations, Nathan!" he said, shaking his hand vigorously. "A little Grant to join your family. You and Elizabeth must be thrilled."

"We are," Nathan said, feeling a grin split his face. That had been happening a lot lately whenever he thought about the fact that they were having a baby. "Thanks, Lucas."

Bill waved at an empty seat. "Why don't you join us?"

"Happy to," Lucas said, pulling out the chair next to Nathan. He grinned at his friend. "So, how are you feeling about becoming a father?"

Nathan raised a brow, and Lucas held up his hands. "I know, I know. You're already a dad. But you know what I mean."

Laughing, Nathan nodded. "I did. And I'm more excited than I've ever been in my life. But also a little nervous."

Bill chuckled. "Nerves are part of the package, my friend. I remember when Martin was born, I didn't know what to do with myself. I was so afraid of dropping him or holding him wrong. But I can promise you will learn the ropes quickly." He grinned at Nathan. "And since you already have experience as a dad, you will probably learn faster than the rest of us could."

Gustav brought a round of beers to the table before disappearing back into the kitchen. Lucas raised his glass in Nathan's direction. "Here's to you, Elizabeth, and your newest family member. We're looking forward to meeting this child."

"Here, here!" Bill said as the three of them clinked their glasses together.

Lucas leaned forward. "You know we're here for you, right?" he asked, looking directly at Nathan. "I'm sure you're going to need support too throughout Elizabeth's pregnancy, especially if you're going to be fussing over her the way I expect you will be."

Bill laughed and nodded. "Oh, he's going to be a mess," he agreed with a chuckle. His tone sobered just as quickly, and he turned earnest eyes on Nathan. "But Lucas is right. We're here for you in whatever way you need. You just let us know what that is, okay?"

Nathan felt a surge of gratitude for his friends. "Thanks, guys. I'm so glad to have friends like you in my life." He grinned. "Rocky beginnings notwithstanding."

"Here, let me get that for you," Nathan said, taking a pile of books from Elizabeth's arms. "Where do you want these?"

"On the bookshelf," Elizabeth replied, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Honestly, Nathan! I can carry books. We've discussed that I'm not going to break just because I'm pregnant."

"Mmhmm," he said, studiously placing the books on the shelves. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop helping you with things like this."

Elizabeth laughed. Over the past week, Nathan had insisted on helping her with practically everything. As they finished preparations at their new home, Nathan had taken on most of the work. He wouldn't let Elizabeth near any paint, saying the fumes would be bad for the baby, and he moved most items into the house with the help of their friends. He refused to let her carry anything into the house as they moved. Elizabeth had taken to doing all the organizing, making sure things were placed where she wanted them to be. Now, as Nathan neatly shelves books onto their large bookcase, she smiled. She knew she could push the issue and insist on carrying things herself, but it was kind of nice having Nathan fuss over her. Walking up to him, she wrapped her arms around him from behind, giving him a tight hug. Nathan glanced over his shoulder with a smile. "What's that for?"

"Simply because I love you," she said, resting her head on his back. "And it's sweet of you to be so concerned for my health and the baby's safety."

Nathan turned so that they were face to face, sliding his arms around her back. "You are the most important person in my life, Elizabeth," he said. "You and Allie and Jack and the baby. The four of you are my world." He leaned down to kiss her gently, almost reverently. "I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

She placed a hand on his cheek, feeling the day's worth of stubble that had grown. "I know, Nathan. And I'm so thankful for you."

Nathan gave her another kiss, then turned his attention back to the bookshelves. "I think we just have one more crate of books to bring in. I'll go get them." He headed for the car they had borrowed from Lee. Elizabeth headed for the kitchen, wanting to get their pots, pans, and dishes in the correct cupboards. She moved around the kitchen putting things in their places. She could hear Nathan coming in and out of the house, grunting slightly as he moved a couple heavy crates into the living room.

Once all her kitchen items were in place, Elizabeth looked around. The kitchen was done. She felt a sense of accomplishment. Now the only rooms that were left to organize were the living room and the baby's room. Everything else was done. She felt excitement building. Tonight would be their first night in their new home. She and Nathan were going to pick up Allie and Jack from the Coulters once they finished up, and then the four of them would start a new chapter of their lives in a new home. Allie had already asked if they could have a picnic dinner by the pond, and Elizabeth and Nathan had readily agreed.

Several hours later, the two of them stood together in the living room, arms around each other, looking around the room with satisfied smiles. "We did it!" Nathan said, excitement on his face. "Our house is now ready to be a home!" He grinned down at her before pressing a sound kiss to her lips. "Welcome home, Mrs. Grant!"

Elizabeth giggled, feeling happiness wash over her. "Our own home," she said in wonder. "And it all came together so well. We are blessed."

Nathan nodded. "We sure are. I'm thinking we should have a potluck up here in the next week or two, to thank our friends for building this house and for helping us get it ready for move in."

"I love that idea," Elizabeth said. "How about next Saturday?"

"Perfect." They walked out onto the porch, standing quietly with each other just watching the ripples moving gently across the pond. Elizabeth leaned her head against Nathan's shoulder, and he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. His other hand splayed against her stomach, resting against their unborn child. They stood like that for a long time, drinking in the beauty of their surroundings and just being together.

Elizabeth gave a tiny sigh, burrowing closer to Nathan. She felt like it would be impossible to imagine a more perfect moment than this one, and she was as happy as she could ever remember being. Life might not be perfect, but this felt as close as it could be.