Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. All rights go to the actors, writers and creators of the show "When Calls The Heart".

Notes: Thank you so much to all the reviewers. I hope I don't disappoint you :)

CHAPTER 2

Jack's mind was reeling. He couldn't make sense of anything.

"My wife? No, that's impossible. I'm engaged to Rosie."

"I'm sorry, honey. This is going to take a bit of time to get used to." Charlotte said, patting his arm.

Jack was quiet. Ten years of his life was gone. That was a lot of time to try and catch up on. His mind felt stretched already with the few things he had just found out.

"I need time to process all of this. I think I'm just going to have a rest now."

"Of course, son. I will leave you alone." Charlotte stood and made her way to the door. "I will be back in a little bit."

"Thanks, Ma."

"And Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't stress if you can't remember. It will come back to you."

"How do you know that, Ma? What if it's all gone for good?"

"You couldn't forget Elizabeth forever. She's not an easy person to forget." Charlotte left.

Elizabeth. It meant nothing too him. It seemed to be a foreign word. Jack didn't associate anything with the name. Would I know her when I see her? What if she turns out to be a person that I don't even like? Thoughts flew through his mind, jumbling around inside his head. He fell back to sleep.

Charlotte pulled out her phone sending Elizabeth a text.

Call me as soon as you get here. Need to talk.

As she sent the text, she looked up to see the elevator doors at the end of the corridor open and Tom walked out, heading towards her.

"Ma!" Tom called out. Her two sons were like chalk and cheese in many ways. Jack had dark hair, dark brown eyes and was tall while Tom had blonde hair, blue eyes and was much stockier. When they were growing up no one could ever tell they were brothers.

"Tom!" Charlotte reached for him, giving him a big hug. "So glad to see you, Tom!"

They were interrupted as Rosemary and Lee found them as well. Rosemary was always the life of any party and bounded up to Charlotte, giving her a big hug, a broad smile plastered on her face.

"Thanks for coming Rosie. You too, Lee."

Lee stood back a little from the other two, not wanting to intrude.

"No problems" Lee said. "Is Elizabeth here yet?"

"No, she should be here any moment."

"So your text said that there was a big problem. How bad are his injuries?" Rosie was always quick to the point, no fussing around when she was in the room.

"Physically he seems fine. A broken arm is the worst of it."

"So …" Tom said trying to figure out what his mother was getting at.

"The problem is Jack's memory has been affected."

"Okay …" Tom was still prompting his mother.

Charlotte figured there was no point wasting time. They may as well find out now.

"He's forgotten the last ten years."

Charlotte watched as all three of their faces registered in shock. Tom and Lee's mouths both dropped open, but Rosie let out a small squeal before her hand clasped over her mouth.

"Oh no! You can't be serious Charlotte!" Rosemary squeaked at her.

"Unfortunately, I am. He thinks you're still his fiancé Rosie."

"Well that is a bit of a problem" Rosie said, motioning a hand between her and Lee.

"But that means … " Lee started but didn't want to finish off what he was thinking. He shook his head as if to clear the thought from his mind.

"Yes, Lee. He doesn't remember Elizabeth."

The full affect of the situation hit them now.

"No, no, no, no, no! This is not happening!" Rosie said loudly.

Lee fell backwards into a chair, still trying to process the news.

"Are you absolutely certain?" Rosie asked her.

"It was the first time he had woken up and yes. He thought it was 2008, you were his fiancé and he was living with Doug."

"Doug? When did he pass away? Was it 2009?" Tom asked.

"I'm not sure but maybe. I think he and Elizabeth had been dating for a little while by then." Charlotte tried to remember when her son's best friend had passed away but she had blocked that period from her mind. Seeing Jack that upset had been devastating for everyone around him.

"Have you told Elizabeth?" Lee asked gently.

"No, I wasn't about to do it while she was driving. She should be here any moment. I thought it would be best if we were all here for her."

"She's going to be devastated."

"Hi everyone. How's Jack?" a voice sung out behind them. Elizabeth appeared walking along the corridor behind them. She was dressed casually in a summer sundress and sandals, her hair falling loose down her back.

Charlotte watched as her happy expression faltered upon seeing all of theirs.

"What's happened?" she stopped in front of them, anxiety written into her expression.

No one spoke. Tom and Rosie looked to Charlotte.

"Hi Lizzy, honey. Why don't you sit down next to Lee here for a minute?"

"Why? I really want to see Jack. You said he was okay and he was awake? What changed?" Elizabeth stood there unmoving.

"Beth. Come here and sit down." Lee motioned for her to come toward him.

Elizabeth and Lee were cousins and had grown up closely. Elizabeth looked at his expression and she knew that something wasn't right. Elizabeth took a seat next to him and he took her hand in his.

"Beth, it seems Jack's memory has been affected. He has forgotten a lot of details over the past few years."

"How many details?"

"We're not sure yet but possibly some big details. But we have to be optimistic and maybe seeing all of us will prompt his memory. You see, Beth, he didn't remember that he was married."

"No! Really?" Elizabeth pulled away from him and looked toward Charlotte and Rosie. "He doesn't remember getting married or anything after that?"

"It's a bit more than that, dear" Charlotte said softly, coming to sit on her other side. "It seems he might not remember you either."

Elizabeth sat there looking down at the floor. Then in one swift movement she stood up and before they could do anything, she walked straight into Jack's room without looking back.

Elizabeth had left home early that morning. She was feeling the happiest she had in the last week since they had first received news about her husband, Jack's, injuries. She was finally going to see him today and hopefully he would be coming home by the end of the week. They had just endured six months apart and although the news of his injuries had been hard to take, she was glad that this meant that his deployment would end a good two months early.

When she had arrived at the hospital though, her happiness had faded quickly upon seeing those three sad faces outside of Jack's room. Even though they had told her his memories were affected, she didn't want to believe it. She was seeing Jack for the first time in six months and she couldn't wait to feel his arms wrap around her and to breathe him in again. That was all she could think of. As soon as they finished talking, she quickly stood up, pushed open the door and walked into his room.

Jack was laying on his bed, eyes closed. His left arm was in a cast, but apart from that he looked like same old Jack. Her Jack.

Elizabeth went alongside his bed, just as Charlotte came in behind her. Jack's mother stayed at the side of the room, not saying anything. Elizabeth leant over and brushed the hair out of Jack's face. It had grown long while he was away, but it was just the length that she liked. His jaw was covered in what was more than a few days growth but she thought he looked more handsome than ever. Elizabeth put her hand into his uninjured one.

Jack moved under her fingers and she watched as he blinked and woke up. Jack glanced up at her. Normally she would have leant in and kissed his lips straight away but the conversation in the corridor was playing fresh in her mind.

"Hey" she whispered.

"Hey" he replied.

He stared at her without saying anything else.

"Do you remember my name, Jack?" Elizabeth asked gently.

"No." Jack spoke softly and Elizabeth knew his expression. He looked puzzled. He didn't recognise her. "I'm sorry."

Elizabeth just nodded, she could feel the tears welling in her eyes. She pulled her hand back and after looking at him one more time she fled the room before the tears began to fall.

Jack felt a warmth in his hand before he began to wake. His opened to see a beautiful woman hovering over him. Her deep blue eyes were full of concern as she stood close to the side of his bed. She spoke as though she knew him but Jack was sure he had never seen her before. He would have remembered her.

"Do you remember my name, Jack?" she asked.

Jack racked his brain but he couldn't remember a thing. The only woman he remembered was Rosie. He felt like he had only seen her a few days ago.

"No. I'm sorry." Jack really was sorry that he did not know this woman.

Cut it out Jack. Ma said your married. Jack lectured himself but as he watched the woman in front of him, her deep blue eyes moments ago turning into the blue grey colour of a stormy ocean, he realised who she must have been. She disappeared out of his room before he could respond.

"Elizabeth" Jack said, but only his mother heard. "That's her isn't it?"

Charlotte nodded and came closer to his bed.

"Do you remember her at all?"

"No. She is beautiful though."

"That she is."

"Ma, what am I going to do? I made her cry. I don't know how I can fix this if I can't remember anything."

"Tom and Rosie are here. Hang on a minute."

Charlotte went to the door and came back with his brother.

"Bro! How you feeling?"

"Tommy! Look at you! You look so different!"

"Yeah well we've all aged in ten years. Even you! Have you looked in the mirror yet? You might get a surprise with all that grey hair on your head."

Jack's hand automatically went to his hair, running through it. At least that felt the same.

"This is not the time to play tricks on him, Tom" Charlotte cut in giving his brother a stern look. "Jack your hair is fine. No gray – yet."

"I don't know how with all those girls!" Tommy said laughing.

Jack looked at him puzzled and he noticed Charlotte stare daggers at him.

"How about I go get Rosie too?"

Charlotte brought Rosie in and Jack was surprised at her appearance as well. Rosie had always been quite slender with long blonde hair. Now her hair was cut in a short bob and she was not quite as slim as Jack thought she was. It was all sinking in. Tom and Rosie looked quite different and now as he looked at his mother again, he finally noticed she too had aged quite a bit.

"Hi Jack. Your mother tells me you were in a bit of an accident." Rosie came over and patted his arm. Normally she would have kissed him and hugged him, but she hung back by his arm awkwardly.

"Yeah, I seem to have forgotten a few things."

"Yes, well I'm sure your mother told you, I'm married now. My husband is a close friend of yours. He's waiting outside too."

"Ma says you have a couple of kids?"

"Yes! Two boys and they are quite the handful!" Rosie spoke enthusiastically before growing a bit more sombre. "You don't remember Lee and the boys?"

"No. Sorry. I don't remember anything. Did I come to your wedding?"

"Oh yes! You were Lee's best man and Elizabeth was my maid of honour … although she only just made it through that night!" Rosie laughed, turning to Charlotte. "Do you remember that? The poor thing."

Charlotte smiled but Jack could tell there was more to this story.

"Why did she only just make it?" Jack asked.

"Well just because of her condition …" Rosie began but was silenced by Charlotte shaking her head.

Jack watched the two exchange a look.

"I think I best go wait outside." Rosie turned and walked out immediately.

"Ma, what is going on? What condition was she talking about? Why didn't you want her telling me?"

Charlotte looked at Tom who was standing on the other side of the bed.

"Jack you have missed a lot in the last ten years. The doctor told me we had to be careful not to shock you."

"What else could shock me? I already have a wife I don't remember. How much more can there be?"

Jack could see his mother hesitate.

"Tom, grab Elizabeth. I think she should be here for this."

Tom came back in holding Elizabeth's hand. Her eyes were bright red and puffy from crying. Elizabeth went to Charlotte's side, sliding into the chair next to her, but didn't say anything.

Charlotte continued.

"Jack, you have been married to Elizabeth for nine years. Rosie and Lee were married eight years ago. Elizabeth was nine months pregnant at their wedding. She only just made it through the ceremony because she went into labour that night."

Jack looked at the woman sitting next to his mother. He couldn't believe he was married to her. This was all so strange. Jack heard the rest of what his mother was saying.

"Wait … we have a child?" Jack asked, looking at Charlotte but his gaze fixing on Elizabeth.

"Yes, Halley is eight." Elizabeth answered, her voice broken and croaky.

"Really? I'm a father? How come I don't remember this? What does she look like?" Jack's questions came fast.

Elizabeth pulled her phone out of her pocket and Jack could see her scrolling. Elizabeth handed him the phone.

"Here she is."

Jack could feel the tears in his eyes as he looked at the little girl in the photo. She had dark hair like him and beautiful blue eyes like her mother. She had a big dimpled smile in the photo and a tooth or two missing.

"Halley" Jack said as he gazed at his daughter. He could see the similarity to him. He knew this was his daughter.

Jack handed the phone back. Elizabeth took it and scrolled again before handing it to him again.

"This is Gracie, she's six."

Jack looked at her surprised but looked down at the phone and saw a different little girl smiling back at him. She looked much more like her mother. Curly auburn hair ringed her face. She had bright blue eyes like her mother and sister and a cheeky smile.

Jack couldn't believe it. Two daughters and a wife that I couldn't remember. How is this happening?

Elizabeth had her phone back and scrolled again before handing it back.

"Here is Eve, she's three and a half."

Jack remembered his mother mentioning Eve yesterday. That's how she had known something wasn't right. He looked down at the photo of a little girl with light brown ringlets. She looked like a blend of both him and Elizabeth. Her eyes were green and she had Jack's dimples.

Jack sat there stunned, not sure what to say or do. Here was this beautiful woman beside his bed, the mother of his three daughters, and yet his mind was blank. He couldn't remember any of them.

As Elizabeth took her phone back, Jack was immediately worried that they had more than three children. As his wife handed the phone back to him, he saw a photo of the five of them together. The three girls were standing at the front, hand-in-hand, while Jack and Elizabeth stood behind them. Jack had his arms wrapped firmly around Elizabeth's waist as she leant back into him. They all looked so happy. Jack looked at himself. He looked older and different but there was something else about it. He had never seen himself look that happy either.