Two weeks later, mid February

Elizabeth packed her small overnight back with the essentials. Her new lingerie, a peach satin and lace camisole and shorts set, a burgundy lace dress and strappy sandals she bought for going out to dinner, and other items she would need.

"Whatcha doin?" Jack asked, flopping on the bed and smirking at her.

"Packing, which is what you should be doing, husband."

"I don't plan on needing clothes this weekend."

"We are going out to dinner, babe. We never go out and I mentioned I bought a new dress. You need to pack your gray suit, black tie, and white button down."

"Fine. I guess I kinda want to go out to dinner too. I did make reservations."

"Oooh. Where?" she asked, a smile on her face.

"Five Fifty Five."

She squealed and clapped her hands. "Clara said that restaurant is amazing. I can't wait to go."

He pulled out a garment bag and packed what she suggested. Then he took his own overnight bag and added his electric razor, his aftershave, deodorant, and his socks and boxers.

"Nana Grace….here!" Autumn yelled from downstairs.

Elizabeth walked out of the room and headed downstairs. "Hey, Mom," she said, hugging her.

"Hello, dear."

"Thank you so much for doing this."

"You're welcome. Now, Autumn, are you ready?"

"Yup."

"And is Annie ready?"

"Yup."

"Okay then. Give Mommy and Daddy hugs and kisses."

Elizabeth knelt down and gave her a hug. "I love you, doodle bug."

"Love you, Mommy."

Jack walked over then, with their bags in tow.

"Bye, Daddy."

He picked her up and hugged her tight. "Bye, pumpkin. You be good and listen to Nana."

"I listen good."

"Yeah. I guess you do."

"Love you, Daddy."

"I love you more."

Once they headed out, Jack and Elizabeth did too. They hopped on the interstate and made the thirty minute drive to the Inn where he had booked a suite.

"Oh, honey. This is gorgeous," she gushed once they entered the suite.

"I'm glad you like it."

"This bed. I love four poster beds. These wood floors…they have to be originals."

"I think they are."

"Look at this table by the windows. Perfect for eating breakfast."

He smiled as she continued pointing out different things including the large jacuzzi tub in the bathroom. That was something he absolutely wanted to enjoy this weekend.

"We have a few hours of daylight left. Let's take a walk in the square. I think there are a few shops we can check out."

"Okay."

They walked hand in hand, wandering in and out of shops, thoroughly enjoying their alone time. Even though that was true, they missed Autumn and missed the twins a lot.

As they strolled past another store, Elizabeth stopped and gazed in the window.

"What do you see?"

"A doll. For Autumn. Look, Jack. It has a pink dress and blonde hair. It even has pink glasses."

"I guess her birthday is coming up," he told her.

She gave him a quick kiss and pulled him into the shop. Ten minutes later they walked out, a pink gift wrapped box in their hands.

"I can't believe you bought her a doll and three outfits."

"Oh, come on. You know she will love it!"

"Yeah, she will. You know what I would love?"

"What's that?"

"A candlelit bubble bath with my wife."

"Yeah. That sounds good."

"And then maybe a little baby making after that?"

"Jack, we are in public."

"I meant in our room, babe," he teased.

She turned bright red and sighed. "You're a silly man, Jack Thornton."

He slipped his arm around her waist and kissed her. "That's why you love me."

"One of many reasons, yes."

….

Back in Riverton

Grace and Autumn watched the movie Annie before bedtime. Autumn was quieter than usual and it concerned Grace a bit.

"Autumn, sweetie. Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah."

"Are you sure? Nothing hurts?"

"No. I miss…babies. A lot."

"Oh, sweetie. I miss them too."

"Daddy…say babies need….live with.…family. I was sister. Why they go away?"

Grace picked her up and cradled her in her arms. "When your Mommy and Daddy got married, they decided they wanted to be a family for children who didn't have anyone to take care of them. Some kids don't have parents at all and some have parents that are sick and can't take care of them. You, my beautiful Autumn, didn't have a Mommy or a Daddy so Jack and Elizabeth adopted you. Does that make sense?"

"Yeah."

"And then Mercy. She had a Mommy who needed help to get better so she could have Mercy back again. When Mercy's Mommy asked her sister to take care of her, Mercy went to live with her."

"I love Mercy."

"Me too. And then with Addy and Aiden, it was the same. Their Mommy needed time to get better so your Mommy and Daddy gave them love and a home with all of you until she was." Autumn nodded and snuggled closer to Grace's chest and closed her eyes. "I love you Autumn Thornton. So so much."

"Love you, Nana."

….

Later, The Inn

Jack lay on his side and stared at his beautiful wife who lay there staring back at him. "I love you, babe," he told her, kissing the tip of her nose.

"I love you too."

"I'm so grateful that you married me and wanted to take this crazy journey with me. I couldn't do it without you, you know?"

"It has been crazy. Autumn is so amazing and the blessings of Mercy and Aiden and Addy. I'd do it all again just to help them enjoy their life and feel loved."

"I think having this time together, just us, and then time with just Autumn is a blessing in itself. We can get stronger. We can enjoy ourselves and be newlyweds again and just be Autumn's parents."

"I miss them though."

"Me too."

"Its funny to think that maybe we will have our own baby just a year from now."

"I'm ready," he whispered. "I'm so ready."

…..

The next morning, Elizabeth woke up to the smell of sausage and waffles. She sat up and smiled as she watched Jack in just his boxers adjusting the plates and food on the small table by the windows.

"Morning, honey."

"Good morning, my love. Did you sleep well?"

"I did," she said, slipping her peach satin and lace robe on before joining him in the nook.

"That's good. Breakfast is served."

"It smells delicious."

He leaned down and kissed her. "Happy Valentine's Day."

"Thank you. You too."

He handed her a small black box. "Just a little something for you."

She smiled and took the lid off the box. "Oh, Jack. Its perfect." She fingered the silver charm. It had two handprints with the names Aiden and Addy engraved on it.

She held out her wrist for him to unlatch her bracelet. He did and slipped the charm on and then refastened it.

"Thank you," she told him, tears in her eyes.

"You're welcome."

She walked into the bedroom and returned with a flat box and handed it to him. "For you."

He opened it. He pulled out twelve envelopes, each with a different month of the year written on it.

"Those are for our date nights. One for each month. Sometimes it involves staying in. Sometimes going out. But we need to make sure we do it no matter what."

"Wow. You really put a lot of thought into this."

"You're important to me. We are important. I don't want us to go through life and suddenly years from now we realize we lost each other along the way. Autumn needs strong parents. Our future children need strong parents."

He leaned forward and kissed her. "I married a wise woman." He picked up the March envelope. "Can hardly wait to read this one."

"You can open it. That way we can plan it."

He smiled and opened the envelope, reading the card. "Camping out in the living room by the fire."

"So I thought we could get out our sleeping bags, build a fire, toast s'mores, talk."

"Have a glass of wine, make babies."

"I can see you have a one track mind these days," she said, her cheeks turning pink.

"I can't help it," he said with a grin. "So, when should we plan this little camping date of ours?"

"It will involve Autumn staying with Mom again so whenever she's available."

"Great. After we get dressed, let's FaceTime Pumpkin. I miss her."

"What if I'm not ready to get dressed yet?"

"Now who has a one track mind?"

…..

A bit later….

"Hi, pumpkin!"

"Hi, Daddy! Hi, Mommy!"

"Hi, baby. Are you having fun with Nana Grace?"

"Yeah. When…come home?"

"Tomorrow, sweetie. We will be there for breakfast before we take you to school."

"Daddy make….pancakes?"

"Of course I will. With chocolate chips!"

"Yay!"

"Hey, pumpkin. A certain little girl that I love is having her birthday in a couple weeks."

"I do. I will be…six!"

"Yes you will. I was thinking that we could go somewhere special."

"Where, Daddy?"

"Well, I still need to clear it with Mommy but I was thinking Disney World."

"I see…Princess Belle?"

"Yeah. Would you like that?"

"Yes! I want see Princess Belle….Please, Mommy?"

"Sure, Autumn. We will go see Princess Belle."

"Yay!"

"Pumpkin, what do you say to Mommy?" Jack prompted.

"Thank you…Mommy."

"You are welcome, sweetie. I love you."

"I love you too."

After they hung up, Elizabeth smirked at Jack. "What?"

"I need to watch you. Disney is expensive, Jack."

"Yeah, but Autumn is our daughter and she'll only have one sixth birthday."

"How are you gonna beat it next year?"

"I don't know. But I will think of something."

…..

Jack let out a low whistle when Elizabeth came out of the bathroom in her lacy dress and strappy sandals.

"Wow. You look….wow."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I'm pretty sure they won't miss us at the restaurant…"

"Oh no…we are going to dinner. Its Valentine's Day."

"Come on. We can stay here, build a fire, take another jacuzzi bath, drink some wine…"

"Nope. We can do all that when we get back. I want to try Five Fifty Five and I want us to go together."

Jack gave in and he wasn't sorry. He was so proud to have the most beautiful woman in the world on his arm.

The rest of the evening was both romantic and perfect. They took full advantage of every moment they had alone.

The next morning, they drove to Grace's house. Using the key Grace had given them, they walked in and started the chocolate chip pancakes and bacon. Elizabeth started coffee and set the table.

Before long, they heard Autumn running toward them. "Mommy!"

"Hi, baby," she said, bending down to pick her up. "I missed you."

"Missed you, Mommy."

They ate breakfast together with Grace and chatted about all the fun things they would do in Disney world. Jack even offered to take Grace along too so that she could help celebrate Autumn's birthday. Then Elizabeth suggested taking Charlotte and Tom too to make it a family affair.

"We could make it a yearly thing," he whispered to her.

"We could. You never know what will have changed a year from now though. Let's just see what happens."