Nathan arrived home from work to the delicious smell of vegetable beef stew simmering on the stove. He followed his nose to the kitchen and found Elizabeth tying on her apron. Her face lit up when she saw him. "You're home early," she commented, looking pleased. She gave him a hello kiss, then walked to a pile of apples on the counter. "I was just getting ready to make a pie."

"Apple pie?" Nathan asked, his mouth watering. "That's my favorite."

Elizabeth smiled at him. "I know." She started peeling the apples, the skin coming off in long, red curls.

Nathan watched for a moment, then took off his red serge and rolled up his sleeves. "Can I help?"

Elizabeth looked at him in surprise. "You want to help make a pie?"

Nathan nodded. "I've never tried to make one before. Allie always shooed me out of the kitchen when she was baking. But I'd love to learn from the best apple pie maker in Hope Valley."

Elizabeth blinked, then a slow smile filled her face and she handed him the peeler. "You peel, I'll slice," she said. As they worked together side by side, Elizabeth glanced up at him. "Anything interesting happen at work today?"

"Nope," Nathan said, shaking his head. "It was a very quiet day. No phone calls, no disturbances, nothing. It was kind of boring, to be honest. I almost wished something would happen."

Elizabeth focused on thinly slicing the apples. "I like your boring days," she said softly. "It means you're safe."

Nathan paused, placing the apple and the peeler on the counter before taking Elizabeth into his arms. "You know I will always do whatever it takes to come home to you, right? Always."

She let out a breath and rested her head against his chest, holding him tightly. "I know. But sometimes I still worry."

Nathan knew he couldn't promise to always stay safe, and he wasn't going to try to convince her that nothing bad would happen to him. He knew better than that. Instead, he just held her until he felt her breathing calm. They pulled back, and he gently kissed her lips. "Thank you for being strong, Elizabeth. For taking a chance on me when you didn't have to."

She wiped a tear from her eye with a little laugh. "You made it easy, Nathan." They shared another kiss, and she smiled up at him. "I love you so much. You being a Mountie would never have come between us." She wrinkled her nose. "Though the dangerous part does scare me at times."

"I know," Nathan said, pressing her head against his chest once more. "I wish I could promise you that I will always be safe, but…"

"But you can't," Elizabeth finished. Her hands were pressed flat against his back, reminding Nathan of the day she'd run to him in the street and embraced him in front of the whole town. "You couldn't promise that even if you weren't a Mountie. Lee almost died in a windstorm, Lucas almost died from gunshot wounds. There are no guarantees in life. And that's okay." She looked up at him, and Nathan got lost in the blue depths of her eyes. "We just need to cherish the time we have with each other. We never know when our last day on this earth will be." She shrugged lightly. "For all we know, I could die in childbirth. That's just how life goes."

A shot of fear passed through Nathan at her words, and he gripped her closer. "Don't say that," he whispered.

She traced a line down his cheek. "It's not likely, Nathan. I was just pointing out that life can be fragile." She smiled at him. "For the record, I fully intend to live through the birthing process. I did it before in a little cabin with no doctor present. I think I'll be fine this time with both Carson and Faith around to help."

Nathan relaxed slightly, drawing in a deep breath. "You're right. It'll be fine."

Elizabeth released him, turning back to the apples. "My goodness, that went deep quickly," she said, swiping at her eyes once more. "Such a serious moment."

Nathan chuckled and finished peeling the apples. "Are you saying we need something a little more lighthearted?"

She grinned at him. "Maybe."

"Maybe," he repeated, lifting his brow. He caught sight of the flour sitting on the counter, and an impish impulse filled him. "You mean...like this?" He quickly dipped his hand in the flour before flinging it at her. Elizabeth squealed as the flour hit her, leaving a white streak across her neck. Her mouth dropped and she stared at him.

"You didn't!"

Nathan laughed, tapping her nose with his finger and leaving a white streak there too. "Call it payback for the cupcake frosting at Allie's first sleepover," he said with a wink.

A gleam came into Elizabeth's eyes, and she slowly and deliberately placed her hand in the flour jar. "Two can play this game, you know," she said, raising a brow at him. Before Nathan could move, she threw some flour at him, coating the front of his shirt. A flour fight broke out, and it ended with Elizabeth in Nathan's arms as he tickled her, both of them laughing so hard they were gasping for breath.

"Truce, truce!" Elizabeth said between laughs, holding up her arms in surrender and giggling uncontrollably.

Nathan stopped tickling her and simply held her in his arms as they both caught their breath. "Truce," he agreed with a grin.

Elizabeth surveyed the kitchen. "This is a mess," she proclaimed, taking in the flour that was all over the counters and the floor. And all over them. She tried to wipe the flour off her clothes to little avail. She chuckled. "Well, I guess this is going to be quite the clean up. But it was totally worth it."

Nathan nodded. "I'll say. Now, how much flour do we need for the pie crust?"

Elizabeth showed him how to measure everything out, and soon they were rolling the dough together, her hands over his as she helped him roll it out into two equal circles. They mixed together cinnamon and sugar, bathing the apples in the mixture. Elizabeth carefully laid the dough into a pie pan, then Nathan poured the apple mixture in. Together they placed more dough over the top, and Elizabeth cut four slits in the unbaked crust. She set it in the oven with a smile at Nathan. "And now we wait."

"And clean," Nathan said. He set to work wiping the counters while Elizabeth swept the floor. Within ten minutes they had the kitchen clean again, though the flour still clung to them.

"Why don't you take a bath?" Nathan suggested. "I'll draw the water, and you can have a good soak for a bit."

Elizabeth smiled. "That sounds lovely." She rubbed her stomach. "This one has been very active today. Maybe the hot water will help calm her a bit."

Nathan got the bath ready while Elizabeth checked on the stew. She came into the bathroom smiling. "Dinner will be ready by the time our bath is over," she said.

Raising a brow, Nathan looked over his shoulder at her while he checked the water temperature. "Our bath?" he asked.

A shy look came into Elizabeth's eyes, and she nodded slowly. "I thought it might be nice to bathe together," she said, vulnerability shining on her face. "We haven't done that before."

Nathan smiled, surprised at her suggestion but not opposed to it. "I'd like that," he said. He let Elizabeth climb into the water first before joining her, sighing as the hot water covered his skin. Until that moment, he hadn't realized just how tired he was from the week. He tucked Elizabeth against his chest, reaching around her to rest his hands on her stomach. Their baby was indeed active; Nathan could feel her little feet kicking firmly against his hands. He chuckled. "She seems to have strong legs," he said. "She'll dominate at kickball."

Elizabeth laughed. "She's strong alright. She hasn't stopped kicking since I woke up this morning." She looked down, speaking to the baby. "You go to sleep, little one. Mama needs a break from all this movement." As if she had simply been waiting for Elizabeth's words, the kicking stopped and Elizabeth sighed in relief. "I think the heat is working," she said, letting her body relax into Nathan. He could see her eyes starting to droop, and within a minute she had fallen asleep on him.

He smiled to himself. "Looks like Kathleen isn't the only one who needed a nap," he said quietly. Reaching behind him, he got the sponge and dipped it into the water. He wrung it out with one hand, holding his wife up with the other, and gently began running it over Elizabeth's sink, washing away the traces of flour that were clinging to her. She didn't stir even as he cleaned her face. Nathan repeated the process on his own body, then put the sponge back in its spot and leaned back against the tub, holding Elizabeth close. The warm water was making him sleepy as well, but he fought the urge to close his eyes. Instead, he thought of the fact that Jack and Allie would be coming home in a few days. He missed them and couldn't wait to hear all about their trip, but he would also miss the alone time he and Elizabeth had shared over the past couple weeks. He was thankful to William and Grace for offering to have the kids visit. He and Elizabeth had simply accepted the fact that as a couple with a blended family, they would not have the luxury of sustained time alone like most couples had to start their marriage. But with his in-laws' offer, they had been given two wonderful weeks together, and they had made the most of them. It truly had felt like a honeymoon, even with both of them working and Elizabeth feeling tired a lot of the time from her pregnancy.

After a while, as the water started to cool, Nathan kissed Elizabeth's cheek and whispered her name, hoping to gently wake her. Her eyes slowly opened and she looked up at him sleepily. She blinked several times, orienting herself. "Did I fall asleep?" she asked, her voice slightly groggy.

"You did," Nathan said, pressing another kiss to her damp cheek before helping her stand. "Steady, sweetheart," he cautioned, holding onto her as she swayed a little on her feet.

She smiled sheepishly. "Sorry. I seem to have a hard time balancing when I'm this pregnant. The same thing happened when I was about this far along with Jack."

Nathan smiled, wrapping a towel around her shoulders and rubbing lightly to dry her. "There's nothing to apologize for, Elizabeth."

Once they were dry, they walked to the closet. Elizabeth looked from her dresses to the clock. "It's only five, but I want to put on my nightgown," she said.

Nathan laughed, pulling it out and handing it to her. "Then wear your nightgown," he said. "We don't have anywhere to be."

Elizabeth grinned, putting on her pajamas and then tying her winter robe around her body securely. "I see you're going to do the same," she teased as Nathan pulled on his pajamas.

He grinned back. "Why not? We can have a cozy dinner together, and then play games by the fire."

"Oh, that sounds lovely," Elizabeth sighed, standing on tiptoe to press a kiss to his cheek. "I'd better go get that pie out of the oven."

Within five minutes they were sitting down to dinner, warm and happy. They enjoyed the stew and then each had a large slice of the apple pie. While Elizabeth washed the few dishes, Nathan built a fire in the living room. Elizabeth joined him with steaming mugs of cider, and they sat at the small coffee table. "What should we play?" Nathan asked, looking at their selection of games.

"Will you teach me chess?" Elizabeth asked.

"Of course," Nathan replied, pulling the game from under the table and placing it in front of them. After a thorough explanation of the rules, the two of them started the game. Elizabeth beat him handily, and Nathan looked at her suspiciously. "Have you played before?"

She blinked back at him innocently. "Not recently."

He narrowed his eyes at her playfully. "How 'recently' did you last play?"

She shrugged. "I might have played with my classmates as I was finishing my education. So...less than ten years ago?"

"Ten years!" Nathan exclaimed. "And you are this good?"

She grinned at him. "I always did have a mind for strategic games," she said. "Want to try again?"

They played again, and this time Nathan won. "Tie breaker?" he asked.

She nodded, and the third game was the closest of the three. In the end, Elizabeth managed to win. Nathan chuckled. "Good job, Elizabeth. I'm impressed with your skills at the game." He stoked the fire, then joined his wife on the settee. They snuggled together, watching the flames and enjoying the warmth emanating from the fireplace.

"These last two weeks have been wonderful," Elizabeth murmured as her head rested on his shoulder. "I'm so glad we got to spend them together."

"Me too," Nathan said, pressing a kiss to her head. "It has been such a gift."

She nodded. "I am ready to have the kids back, though."

Nathan chuckled. "So am I. I miss them. It's strange waking up to a quiet house every morning. I'm so used to their laughter and chatter."

Elizabeth smiled. "And soon we'll have another little voice added to theirs." She looked up at him. "Are you ready for lots of sleepless nights?"

Nathan laughed wryly. "I'm getting myself used to the idea. We still have two and a half months before we need to worry about that."

"True," Elizabeth said, her voice heavy. Nathan looked down to see her nodding off once more. He smiled and carefully rested her against the settee as he got up to put out the fire. Once that was done, he lifted Elizabeth into his arms. She gave him a sleepy smile and rested her head against his shoulder as he carried her to their room. He tucked her in, then lay next to her, making sure the covers were completely covering them both. Elizabeth snuggled close to him, the chill of the November night making her seek the warmth of his body. He wrapped his arms around her, and she quickly fell asleep, her breathing deep and even.

Nathan watched her sleep for a time, her sense of contentment and peace reflecting on her face. She looked beautiful, even in sleep. Nathan kissed her forehead, brushing a lock of hair from her shoulder. "Goodnight, sweetheart," he whispered, before he too fell into a deep sleep.

"Opal, wasn't you mother going to pick you up today?" Elizabeth asked, glancing down the lane leading to town from the school. There was no sign of Mrs. Weise.

Opal was buttoning her coat. "She was supposed to, but Miss Miller came by at recess to tell me that my mom had to go visit her sister in Buxton."

"Oh. Will you be alright to walk home alone?"

Opal gave her a look that reminded Elizabeth she wasn't a little girl anymore. "Of course, Mrs. Grant," she said cheerfully. "Anna and I are going to get ice cream at the mercantile! She said she would meet me there since she had to drop off a package at the dress shop first."

Elizabeth looked at the snow that was falling heavily outside. "Ice cream?" she asked, lifting a brow. "Isn't it too cold for ice cream?"

Opal laughed. "It's never too cold for ice cream!"

Elizabeth smiled. "Good point," she said, chuckling. "Can I walk with you into town? I'm going to the Mountie office to see Mountie Nathan."

Opal nodded, slipping her hand into Elizabeth's. "I'd like that. Thank you, Mrs. Grant." They started walking, and Opal put a hand on Elizabeth's stomach. "When is the baby coming?"

"Early February," Elizabeth replied. "We'll meet the baby in about two and a half months."

"I can't wait to meet the baby!" Opal said, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. "Allie said she can't wait to have a little sister." She looked up at Elizabeth with curious eyes. "Is the baby for sure a girl?"

Elizabeth laughed. "No. The baby could be a boy."

"Oh," Opal said, her eyes thoughtful. "Allie said her name is Kathleen. What will you name her if she's a boy?"

"Then his name will be Nathan, after his daddy," Elizabeth said. "But we would call him Nate."

"I like that name," Opal said. "I hope you have another boy."

Elizabeth chuckled. "Don't tell Allie that," she warned.

Opal grinned. "I already have. She just laughed." She hugged her books closer to her chest. "When will Allie be back? I miss her."

"She comes home Monday," Elizabeth said. "Only three days from now."

"Good," Opal said. "We have so much to talk about!" They reached the boardwalk, and Opal waved at Elizabeth. "Bye, Mrs. Grant!"

"Have a good weekend, Opal," Elizabeth said. "Be careful crossing the street! There's some ice under the snow."

Opal nodded and started picking her way across the street after looking both ways. Elizabeth watched her for a moment before turning to head for Nathan's office. They were going to have an early dinner at the saloon with Lucas and Fiona before heading home for the evening.

The skidding of car tires sounded, and Elizabeth turned sharply to see a car sliding wildly out of control. The driver looked panicked, unable to stop because of the ice. Elizabeth saw that Opal was standing in the middle of the street, frozen to the spot as the car swung toward her.

"Opal!" Elizabeth screamed, terror filling her. Without thinking, she bolted toward the small girl. She reached her right before the car did, and she shoved Opal out of the car's path with all her might. Opal gave a cry as she fell to the ground, the car missing her by inches. Elizabeth barely had time to let out an involuntary sigh of relief before she felt the car clip her. It wasn't a hard clip, but combined with the momentum of her running and the car's speed, she went flying, landing flat on her stomach. She lay still, the breath knocked out of her and her stomach protesting the hard fall.

"Elizabeth!" She heard Carson's voice from somewhere above her, then heard Nathan's voice calling her name as well. She rolled over slowly, taking in Carson's concerned face and seeing her husband racing toward them. She tried to sit up as Nathan fell to his knees beside her, but Carson's hands pushed her back gently, keeping her on the ground. "Don't move," he said. Nathan took Eilzabeth's hand in his as Carson began checking her for injuries. Opal stood to one side, weeping. Nathan wrapped an arm around the girl, pulling her close. Opal buried her face in his shoulder, and Elizabeth's heart went out to her student. The poor girl must have been terrified.

"Are you hurt, Opal?" she asked gently as Carson's hands prodded her stomach. She winced, the pressure sending waves of pain through her abdomen. Carson looked worried, but Elizabeth's attention was focused on Opal.

"N...no," Opal said between sobs. "Are you hurt?"

"No injuries that I can see," Carson said, trying to reassure the child. He looked at Elizabeth. "But I don't like that you fell that hard on your stomach," he said. "And you flinched when I pressed against the baby."

"The baby…" Nathan said, his eyes wide with fear.

Elizabeth waved away their concerns. "I feel fine," she said. "It was a hard fall, but it just knocked the wind out of me." She looked at Carson. "Can you help me stand?"

He nodded, lifting her carefully to her feet. Elizabeth tested her legs, taking a few steps. She looked back at the men, smiling. "You see? I'm fine."

"You're bleeding," Nathan said.

Elizabeth reached up, feeling the sticky blood on her forehead. Carson took her arm once more. "You're coming with me to the infirmary," he said. He looked at Opal. "And so are you. I need to bandage both of you with all these scrapes."

Carson and Faith worked together to get Elizabeth and Opal cleaned and bandaged, while Nathan stood by and paced. Elizabeth smiled at him, reaching out to take his hand and stop the pacing. "It's okay, sweetheart. We're fine."

Carson glanced between them. "Nathan mentioned you have dinner plans at the saloon?" he asked.

Elizabeth nodded. "Good," Carson said. "That should take an hour or two. I want you to stop by here on the way back to your house. I want to make sure everything is still okay with you and the baby." He rested his stethoscope on her stomach, his brow wrinkling. "The baby's heartbeat is faster than it should be. I'm worried that this could have been traumatic for your child."

Elizabeth felt a wave of fear. "You think she could be hurt?"

Carson glanced at Opal, who was occupied by Faith. He lowered his voice. "I don't know, Elizabeth," he said. "That's why I want to check on you again before you go home. If the baby's heart rate is back to normal after your dinner, I'll feel a lot better."

Biting her lip, Elizabeth nodded. "Okay."

Carson patted her back gently. "Try not to worry," he said. "It's probably nothing."

"Okay," Elizabeth repeated, letting Nathan help her off the examining table.

Faith smiled brightly and took Opal's hand. Elizabeth had seen the concern in Faith's eyes too, but she was keeping a cheerful front to help Opal feel better. "I'm going to make sure Opal gets home safely and that her father knows what happened," she said. The two of them disappeared out the door, and Carson looked between Nathan and Elizabeth. "Really, there's probably nothing to worry about," he said, and Elizabeth wondered if he was trying to reassure them or his own fears. "Just remember to come see me after your dinner."

"We will," Nathan said, nodding firmly. He led Elizabeth out the door, studying her anxiously. "Are you sure you're alright, sweetheart? That was a very hard fall."

"I'm fine, Nathan," she said. Her legs felt wobbly, and she motioned to the bench outside the infirmary. "But can we sit for a moment?"

Nathan nodded, helping her sit on the bench. Elizabeth took several long, deep breaths, the cold air filling her lungs and helping her feel a little more steady. After five minutes, Elizabeth smiled at her husband. Her heart swelled with love for him, and she put a hand on his cheek. He looked so concerned, so worried. "It's okay, love. I'm ready."

"If you're sure," Nathan said, pulling her up and tucking her hand in the crook of his arm.

"I'm sure...oh!" she cried, doubling over as a strong contraction gripped her, leaving her breathless and in pain.

"Elizabeth?" Nathan said, the panic returning to his face. "Carson!" he yelled, putting an arm around Elizabeth and helping her sit again.

Carson appeared in the doorway. He took one look at Elizabeth hunched over and sat next to her. "Elizabeth?"

"Carson!" she said in a raspy voice as the pain subsided, her own panic rising. "That felt like a contraction…" She cried out as another one seized her, clutching her stomach. "No!" she whispered through the pain. "This can't be happening!"

"Help me, Nathan," Carson said, urgency in his voice. "We need to get her inside, and we need to see if we can get these contractions to stop."

"What's happening?" Nathan asked, his eyes wide and scared as he helped Carson lift Elizabeth and take her into the infirmary. Elizabeth was gasping for breath, but she knew what Carson was going to say. She felt fear grip her as cold reality hit.

Carson's mouth was set in a grim line. "I'm afraid that fall might have brought on premature labor."