Genevieve tied her apron and went to open the cafe doors for their first customers of the day. Mike Hickam was sitting on the bench outside, and he looked up as she opened the door. "Hi, Miss Genevieve," he said, standing and giving her a heart-melting smile.

"Hello, Mike," she said softly, used to him being the first one there. "Let's get you seated." She sat him at his usual table, then took his order. She didn't even have to write it down. Mike ordered the same thing every morning: scrambled eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns with a strong cup of coffee. "Anything else?" she asked softly, briefly getting lost in his blue-grey eyes.

"Yes, actually," Mike said, looking uncharacteristically nervous. "I was wondering if...maybe...you would like to have dinner with me this evening."

"Dinner?" Genevieve asked, her heart kicking into overdrive. Was he asking her out? "Together?"

Mike smiled. "Yes, together," he said. "At the saloon. Unless you'd rather eat here. It is nicer, but I know you're here all the time and thought maybe you'd like a change in scenery…"

He was rambling, and Genevieve stopped him by placing a hand gently on his shoulder. "Yes," she said. "I would love to have dinner with you tonight."

Mike's smile lit his entire face. "Really?"

She nodded, her own smile breaking free. "Really."

He looked down, the shy, happy smile still there. "It's a date then."

"I guess it is," she replied. "And you can just call me Genevieve, Mike. You can drop the 'Miss' in front of my name."

"Okay...Genevieve," he said, his ears turning red. "I'll pick you up at six. Will that work?"

She nodded. "That will work." She smiled. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Me too," Mike said, his eyes meeting hers. Genevieve tore herself away and went to the kitchen to prepare his food as more customers entered the cafe. She was almost giddy at the thought of going on a date with Mike. She bit her lip, wondering which dress to wear, then smiled. He had mentioned a few weeks ago that he really liked how she looked in the green dress. She gave a little nod. Green it was.

At exactly six o'clock that evening, Mike knocked at her door. Genevieve answered it, butterflies in her stomach. Mike had dressed in a nice navy suit, and he grinned at her. "Wow. You look amazing," he said as he took in her green dress and braided updo. Fiona had insisted on doing her hair, and Genevieve was thankful for her assistance.

"Thanks," she said softly, a light blush dusting her cheeks.

He held out his arm, and together they walked to the saloon. Their dinner was delicious and their conversation engaging. Neither one noticed the time until Lucas came up to them with an apologetic smile. "We're closing down for the night," he said, gesturing to the empty saloon.

Genevieve's mouth dropped. "Where did everyone go?" she asked, blinking.

Lucas's smile became wider. "While you two were lost in your own little world, everyone else decided to call it a night. I actually let you stay a half hour longer than usual," he said with a chuckle. "But I need to close up."

"Sorry, Lucas," Mike said, standing and helping Genevieve with her wrap.

"Don't worry about it," Lucas said, clapping him on the shoulder with a wink. "You just make sure the young lady gets home safely."

"Of course," Mike said, smiling at Genevieve. "That was the plan all along."

Genevieve blushed, but she took Mike's arm and bid Lucas goodnight. They walked back to her apartment, and at the door, Genevieve turned to him. "Thank you for a wonderful evening, Mike," she said. "It's the best one I can ever remember."

Mike smiled, flushing at her praise. "It was my pleasure, Genevieve," he said. He made no move to leave, and she looked up at him in curiosity. "I...umm...I'm not good at words," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I feel things with you that I've never felt before, and I'd very much like to court you, if that's something you would be okay with."

"Yes," Genevieve said, surprised at how quickly the word left her lips. Men had always frightened her, but something about Mike made her feel safe. "I would like that."

He let out a relieved laugh. "Good...that's good," he said, unable to wipe the smile from his face. He took a step closer to her, framing her face in his hands. "One more thing," he whispered.

Butterflies were hammering against the walls of Genevieve's stomach. "Yes?" she whispered back.

"I'd really like to kiss you. But only if you'd be comfortable with it." Mike's eyes were trained on hers, and she fell into their depths with a joy and confidence she'd never felt before.

"Yes," she answered, drawing closer to him.

Mike smiled and then kissed her with a gentleness that took her breath away. It felt like he was giving rather than taking, and Genevieve let herself sink into his arms and return his kiss. When he pulled away, they both smiled shyly, realizing that their feelings were completely out in the open.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Mike said, giving her a goodbye hug.

"See you tomorrow," she echoed. Mike descended the stairs, then turned to look at her with a grin and a wave before he disappeared from sight. Genevieve put a hand on her heart, leaning against the door.

So this was what it felt like to be cherished and respected.

The next few weeks passed quickly, too quickly for Elizabeth. Allie and Jack's trip to Hamilton was coming up fast, and Elizabeth wasn't sure she was ready to say goodbye to her children for more than two weeks. William was coming to pick them up in his car, and they would drive back to Hamilton for their time with their grandparents. To add to the children's excitement, Eva had called to say she was coming for a visit in February, a week or so before the baby's due date. They were ecstatic that they would be able to see all three grandparents. The only thing that could have made it better was if Archie could come for a visit soon, but he had been very busy with his job and wasn't sure when he could get away. Nathan and Elizabeth understood completely, and they told him to come visit whenever he could.

"November first," Elizabeth said, shaking her head at the calendar. "Where is time going?"

"Right through our fingers," Nathan teased, coming up behind her and placing his arms around her stomach. His hands rested on her pronounced baby bump. She was a week away from being six months along, and the baby was starting to feel heavy.

Elizabeth smiled at him over her shoulder. "You realize in three months we'll finally get to meet our little one?"

Nathan chuckled, kissing her cheek. "I'm counting down the days," he said. "I'm ready for her to officially meet her mommy, daddy, brother, and sister."

"Me too," Elizabeth said, placing her hands over Nathan's. The baby kicked, and Nathan moved closer to Elizabeth, pressing his hands more firmly against her stomach. The baby rewarded him with another kick, and Nathan smiled, his cheek against Elizabeth's. "She's moving," he said, awe in his voice. "I can feel her foot."

Elizabeth smiled. "She started kicking this morning and hasn't stopped," she said. "I think she's letting us know she's going to be an active little one."

"How does that feel inside?" Nathan asked. "The kicking?"

"A little uncomfortable at times," Elizabeth admitted. "But mostly it feels like she's making her presence known. It's comforting, to tell the truth. I know she's active and doing the things she's supposed to be doing."

Nathan nodded, keeping his hands on her stomach as the baby continued kicking. "This is never going to get old," he said, his chin resting on her shoulder as he looked down at her bump.

Elizabeth chuckled. "You try saying that after you carry a baby who won't stop kicking your insides," she teased, turning in his arms and linking her hands behind his neck. The baby bump automatically put more space between them than there normally would be, but Elizabeth pressed as close to Nathan as she could and laid her head against his chest. "Are you ready for this?" she whispered.

"For the baby?" Nathan asked. "Absolutely. I'm a little nervous, to be honest, but mostly I'm excited."

Elizabeth smiled. "Actually, I meant about Allie and Jack going to Hamilton."

"Oh," Nathan said, and Elizabeth could hear the surprise in his voice. She laughed softly. "Sorry, that was a random change of subject."

His laugh rumbled under her cheek. "It was, but that's okay. And to answer your question, not really. I'm glad they get to experience time in Hamilton with your parents, but I'm really going to miss them while they're gone." He pulled her closer. "I really hope the next weeks go slowly."

They didn't. The next three weeks passed faster than the previous few had, and before they knew it, William Thatcher was back in Hope Valley, ready to pick up his grandchildren. He stayed overnight, and the following day they prepared for their trip. Allie and Jack were over the moon with excitement, both of them talking a mile a minute as Nathan helped William load the car with their suitcases and belongings. When they were all packed up, Elizabeth pulled Jack into her arms, hugging him tightly. The longest she'd been away from him was overnight, and she wasn't sure she was ready to let him go.

Jack wiggled in her arms. "Mama, go wit' Gwandpa!" he said loudly, pushing back and trying to get down. Elizabeth's heart ached a bit at how grown up her little boy was becoming.

"Give Mama a kiss first," she said, presenting her cheek. Jack gave her a sweet kiss, then hugged her around the neck. "Bye, Mama!" he said as she placed him on the ground. Tears welled in Elizabeth's eyes, but she tried to hide them from her son. William noticed and put his arms around her. "I promise we'll take excellent care of him and Allie," he said, holding her close. "You have nothing to worry about."

"I know," Elizabeth said with a sniffle as Jack gave Nathan a goodbye hug and kiss. "It's just hard to let go."

"I know, sweetheart," William said. A small smile tugged at his lips. "Maybe now you understand how your mother and I felt when you decided to move all the way across the country to a little town called Coal Valley?"

Elizabeth laughed through her tears. "Yes, Father, I think I might have an idea now," she said, shaking her head. "And I sympathize."

Allie hugged Elizabeth next. "I'll miss you, Mom," she said, keeping her arms around Elizabeth a few beats longer than she normally did.

"I'll miss you too, Allie girl," Elizabeth said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Be a good girl for Grandma Grace and Grandpa William, okay? I love you."

"I love you too," Allie said, repeating the process with Nathan. Finally, they were ready to go, and Elizabeth felt tears streaming down her face as her father drove away with her children. Nathan handed her a handkerchief, and she noticed a few tears on his cheeks as well.

"Aren't we a pair?" she said, laughing despite the tears. "Our kids are off on an adventure, and we can't help crying."

Nathan pulled her close to his side. "It's bittersweet, to be sure," he said. "Though I am certainly excited to spend some time with you. You realize we've never been alone since we got married? From day one, it was us and the kids. We never had a honeymoon."

"Do you regret that?" Elizabeth asked, looking up at him with wide eyes. "I know it wasn't conventional…"

Nathan placed a finger over her lips, gently shushing her. "I don't regret a thing," he said softly. "We would still be planning our wedding right now if we hadn't gotten married back in May. Our lives together as a family wouldn't have started yet." He shook his head. "I have no regrets. I'm happy things turned out the way they did."

"We wouldn't be married yet," Elizabeth repeated, shaking her head. "I can't even wrap my mind around that." She placed a hand on her stomach. "And this sweet child never would have come into existence." She looked up at Nathan. "I wouldn't trade everything that happened over the last year for anything. You are my life now. You and our children. I'm glad we're married. I'm glad we're expecting our first baby together. And I'm glad that we have time alone for a couple of weeks."

Nathan kissed her cheek. "Me too. This is going to be a memorable two weeks," he said with a wink, making Elizabeth laugh.

"I think you're right."

Nathan opened his eyes and huddled deeper under the covers. Since it was nearing the end of November, the weather was changing to show that winter was coming. Elizabeth moved closer to him in her sleep, seeking his warmth. Nathan held her for a few minutes, a smile on his face. For the first time in their marriage, they didn't have to get up and do anything. It was Saturday, which meant they had the whole weekend together before they had to worry about work on Monday. He would have to do his rounds at some point in the day, but other than that his time was Elizabeth's.

He slid quietly from their bed, shivering as his bare feet hit the floor. He quickly put on his house slippers, then padded to the living room to build a roaring fire in the fireplace. Once it was burning cheerily, he went to the kitchen and started making coffee. By the time he was done, he could hear Elizabeth moving around in their room. He brought two mugs full of the steaming coffee to the living room and set them on the table.

"Good morning," Elizabeth said, giving him a sleepy smile that said she wasn't all the way awake yet. She sat on the settee, patting the spot next to her. Nathan sat beside her, handing her one of the mugs.

"Mmm," Elizabeth said, snuggling next to him and sipping her coffee. "This is perfect."

"Almost perfect," Nathan said, reaching behind him and grabbing the blanket that lay over the top of the settee. Arranging it around them and tucking it in, he grinned. "Now it's perfect."

Elizabeth leaned her head on his shoulder, and they both stared into the flames flickering gently in the fireplace. "This is wonderful," Elizabeth said after a while. "Alone time." She laughed softly. "What a concept."

Nathan pressed a kiss to her head, smiling into her hair. "Whatever will we do with ourselves?" he asked, chuckling.

Elizabeth looked up at him, grinning. "Why don't we go fishing?"

Nathan blinked. "I'm sorry, what did you say? I could have sworn you just said we should go fishing."

Elizabeth swatted his shoulder, laughing. "I did, silly. But I suddenly really want to go fishing with you." She looked down at her stomach. "I think the baby is craving a good fish dinner." She smiled up at him, batting her eyes. "And you make the best fish in Hope Valley."

Grinning, Nathan shook his head. "I would love to go fishing together. I seem to remember the second time we did that with the kids, you managed to convince me to hold you…"

Elizabeth chuckled. "It worked, didn't it?"

"It certainly did," Nathan replied, smiling at the sweet memory. "So, we're going fishing?"

Elizabeth nodded. "Can we go right after breakfast? I know I said fish dinner, but I'm thinking a fish lunch might be better."

"Of course," Nathan said with a laugh. "You'll get no argument from me. Fishing is one of my favorite pass times. And to be able to fish with you just makes it even better."

They finished their coffee, made breakfast, and got ready for the day, bundling up against the late autumn chill. Nathan got the fishing gear, and together they made their way to the lake. The sky was covered in grey clouds that were threatening snow, and Nathan wondered if the first snow of the season would come this weekend.

When they reached the pond, Elizabeth proved to have a good memory. She baited the line and cast it as if she had done it a hundred times. Nathan raised a brow. "Have you been fishing without me?" he asked, his voice teasing. "That was an expert cast."

Elizabeth smiled sweetly. "When I do something, I do it right," she said sassily, winking at him.

The seconds turned into minutes, and the minutes turned into an hour before Elizabeth started hopping up and down in excitement. "I think I caught something!" she said, reeling in her line. A good-sized fish hung from the end of it, and Nathan grinned, helping her unhook it and put the fish in the basket. "First one to you," he said, inclining his head and chuckling. "You're getting good at this, sweetheart."

At that moment, his line wiggled, and he expertly reeled in a large fish. "And that's two in a short minute!" he exclaimed, repeating the process.

Elizabeth giggled, and they settled back into quiet. Within half an hour, they had caught three more fish between them, and they decided to head back home.

"Can we drop three of these fish off at Lee and Rosemary's?" Elizabeth asked. "I know Rosemary has been craving fish lately too."

"Of course," Nathan said. The Coulters weren't at home, so Elizabeth let herself in and placed the fish in their icebox, with a note on the table to let them know it was there. She and Nathan then resumed their trip home. Once there, Nathan shooed Elizabeth into the living room to read while he prepped and fried the fish. The smell permeated the house, one of Nathan's favorite scents. He knew not everyone liked it, but the smell of frying fish reminded him of all the good times he and Allie had together fishing for their dinner. And now the memories had expanded to include Elizabeth and Jack. He felt fortunate to have them all in his life.

"Lunch is ready!" he called, stirring some baked beans he had reheated on the stove. He plated the beans and the fish, bringing them to the table. Elizabeth came in, rubbing her stomach and sniffing the air. "Smells heavenly," she said with a sigh, sitting slowly in a chair.

Nathan eyed her. "Are you alright, sweetheart?" he asked, noticing the way she winced slightly after she sat.

She nodded. "I think so. The baby was calm while we were fishing, but now that I've been sitting for a while, she seems to think it's time to play again. She's been kicking again."

Nathan lifted Elizabeth's hand to his lips. "Thank you for carrying our baby," he said, his eyes tender. "I'm so glad she has a safe place to grow and develop." He smiled. "Even if it's uncomfortable sometimes."

Elizabeth pulled him to her, tugging him down for a kiss. "Thank you," she whispered when they parted. "That means a lot."

Nathan knelt beside her and kissed her again, letting himself go deeper with their kiss. Elizabeth's arms wrapped around him, and he lost track of time. When they finally pulled apart, breathless and flushed, Nathan smiled. He tucked a piece of Elizabeth's hair behind her ear, getting to his feet. "The food is going to get cold," he said, taking the seat next to her.

She smiled, looking at him through eyes hazy with desire. "Then let's eat," she said, picking up her fork. "And then I want to cuddle."

Nathan lifted a brow. "Cuddle?"

She nodded, grinning at him. "At least to start."

Nathan felt his stomach flip, and he laughed. "Cuddling it is."