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".

To the Readers: Thank you for the reviews! Love them! This chapter is a little slow because I had to fill some details in. Hope its not too boring :)

CHAPTER 4

Jack left the hospital with Charlotte the following day. When she drove up the drive of their old family home, Jack felt like it was only yesterday when he was last there. There were a few things different around the place, but it was essentially the same.

Charlotte showed him inside and led him to his old room. As Jack got settled in, he began to feel lost. He watched a bit of television and floated around the house, but he felt aimless. Charlotte noticed his restlessness and found some photo albums she had lying around. There were wedding photos and an album each for Halley and Grace. Photos from their birth all the way through to a few years ago.

"I never got around to doing the ones of Eve. I will do it one day but this is a start for you."

Charlotte went out for a walk while Jack flicked through the photos trying to take in all of the details. He thought it would make himself feel better, more apart of their lives. Instead it just made him miss Elizabeth. He wanted to talk to her.

Charlotte's phone rang and Jack got up to see who it was.

He saw Elizabeth's name flashing on the screen. Jack answered.

"Hello."

"Grandma?" a voice asked.

"She's busy right now. Who's this?"

"It's Halley …. Is that you Daddy?"

Jack panicked. He wasn't sure what Elizabeth had told them yet.

"Um no. Its Uncle Tom. Is your Mommy there?"

"Yes, hang on."

Jack listened as he heard Halley call out for Elizabeth. He heard Halley tell her it was Uncle Tom.

"Tom, is he okay?"

"Elizabeth, it's me Jack. I thought it was you calling so I picked up. I didn't even think that one of the girls would call Ma. I'm really sorry."

"Oh, no, it's fine. I spoke to them this afternoon about their Daddy." Jack could tell that Halley must have still been within earshot. "They are really looking forward to Saturday."

"So am I" Jack admitted.

"I was thinking of coming to see you tomorrow afternoon."

"Great. Looking forward to it."

"Bye."

"Bye Elizabeth."

Elizabeth hung up the phone. Halley had been waiting right next to her listening to her conversation.

"That didn't sound like Uncle Tom" Halley said to her mother. Halley was wise beyond her years. Part of that was because she was the eldest but part of it was because Elizabeth tended to rely on her when Jack was gone. Elizabeth had always worried that Halley had to grow up quicker than the other two, but she expected her older sister, Viola, had been in exactly the same position.

Rather than answer Halley's comment, Elizabeth just changed the subject.

"After school tomorrow, I'm going to drop you and Gracie off at Aunt Vi's house so I can go see Grandma Charlotte. I will pick you all up after dinner."

"Okay. Is Daddy still coming home on Saturday?"

"Yes."

"I can't wait to see him. Wait until he sees how big I am now."

"He will be surprised, alright. But remember what I told you. Daddy has forgotten a few things so you might have to remind him if he doesn't do things right or can't remember things that have happened. We have to be kind to him and help him to remember."

"Yes, I know."

Elizabeth walked upstairs with Halley trailing her as they talked.

"Did you clean up your room like I asked you? Daddy will be excited to see it. You will have to show him where it is again, okay?"

"Okay."

Elizabeth passed Gracie's room and saw her playing on the floor. Out of all of her girls, Gracie was the one that always entertained herself. Halley usually followed Elizabeth around while Eve picked which one of them was the most fun.

"Where's Eve?" Elizabeth asked Gracie.

"I don't know, Mom." Gracie barely looked up from the Frozen lego she was playing with.

"Have you seen her Halley?"

"She was watching tv, I think."

Elizabeth swung her head over the staircase and saw Eve's feet sticking out from their lounge room.

Elizabeth continued into the guest room down the end of the hall. She moved some of the clutter from the bed and took it back to her room for the time being. Halley traipsed behind her helping.

She grabbed a tub and emptied out the chest of drawers and began moving some of Jack's clothes from her room into it.

"What are you doing with Daddy's clothes?" Halley asked as she helped.

"We're just putting them in the spare room. He will sleep in here when he comes home."

"Why?"

"I told you, Halley. He doesn't remember everything. He will be more comfortable sleeping in here."

"Why wouldn't he sleep in his spot next to you?"

"Halley, come here sweetie." Elizabeth sat down on the bed. "Daddy doesn't remember me properly. He doesn't remember sharing a bedroom with me. We just want to be kind to him and give him some time to remember everything again."

"Okay."

"Come on, we will bring his pillow in too."

Elizabeth had thought this was the best arrangement for her and Jack but now she worried about the girls. It wasn't going to be perfect for all of them. She just hoped Jack would be happy with it.

The following afternoon couldn't have come around fast enough. Jack was excited to see Elizabeth. It had only been two days since he saw her but he couldn't get her out of his mind. He didn't know if it was because she was his wife or that he was attracted to her, but either way, two days was too long.

Jack was sitting in the front room watching the drive when he saw a car pull up and Elizabeth emerge. She took his breath away.

He went straight to the front door and opened it.

"Hi" he said, holding the door open with his one hand.

"Hi Jack" she said, walking through. She reached up and kissed him on the cheek as she passed him. "Where's your Ma?"

"In the kitchen." Elizabeth walked ahead of him. "Hi Charlotte."

"Hi Lizzy. How are the girls?"

"All good. Last day of school tomorrow. Halley is so excited while Gracie is a little bit more reluctant."

"Oh, she's a bookworm like her mother. You will have to take her to the library and get her some more books. How is Eve going?"

"She makes me laugh so hard sometimes. Yesterday I came back downstairs to find her asleep on the floor of the lounge room with her tutu on. I don't even know how she managed to get it on!" Elizabeth was laughing.

Jack stood there watching his mother and Elizabeth, listening to their conversation. He felt like such an outsider, but hearing little things about his girls made him want to meet them even more.

"What did you both get up to today?" Elizabeth asked turning back toward Jack.

"Not much. Jack has been spending a lot of time looking through the photo albums."

Elizabeth smiled at him but he didn't say anything.

"Why don't you two have a seat on the lounge and I will bring you some drinks in a second?"

"Good idea." Elizabeth said, leading the way back to the lounge. Jack followed awkwardly. How am I ever going to live in the same house as her? She makes me so nervous!

Elizabeth sat down, Jack sat next to her. She reached for his hand and they sat there quietly for a few minutes.

"The girls are really excited for Saturday. Do you think you will be ready to leave here or would you prefer to stay here a bit longer?"

"Whatever is best for you and the girls" Jack said looking sideways at her.

Elizabeth smiled.

"You haven't changed in that way, have you? Always putting everyone else first."

"Well we are talking about my wife and daughters. They should always come first" Jack said, feeling himself blush.

"I guess, you're right. Honestly, it would probably be easier to explain if you stayed with us but going from being a single bachelor to a family man with three daughters might take a bit of getting used to. I have set up the guest room for you, so you will have your own space if you have to get away." Jack saw her cheeks turn pink when she quickly added the last sentence.

Thank goodness Elizabeth has already thought of that. Although would I really be complaining if I had to sleep in the bed next to her … definitely not.

"That's settled then. I will come home on Saturday."

After sharing a drink, Charlotte served the food that she had bought for dinner that day. Thankfully she hadn't insisted on cooking again. Jack loved his mother but her cooking skills were appalling. He had been glad to stop eating hospital food but after one of his mother's meals, he wanted to go back to hospital. Tonight's dinner was simple but at least it tasted great.

"Nice dinner, Ma. Thank you."

"Yes, Charlotte. That was delicious."

"Now Jack, you are lucky that Elizabeth here is a much better cook that me. That was one of the reasons that you knew she was the one for you. I think she won you over with a chocolate cake or two."

"That is good to know. I don't really remember how to cook at all, so I might need some practice myself."

"You are quite the whizz on the grill. You will have to learn quickly, it being summer and all." Elizabeth said smiling.

Elizabeth cleared and washed the plates and Jack dried the dishes. Jack felt at ease for the first time all night, the two of them working seamlessly side by side.

They all went and sat back down in the lounge room and Charlotte and Elizabeth began reminiscing about the photos of Halley and Grace as babies. Jack watched as Elizabeth's face lit up at the mention of each of her daughters.

Charlotte, ever the early riser, excused herself and left them alone. Elizabeth and Jack still sat next to one another, her hand in his.

"Rosie told me how we met at her show. Can you tell me what happened after that?"

"Sure. I probably don't have the story telling flair like Rosie but I will do my best."

Ten years before …

After Rosie's show, the four of them went to a pub down the road. They managed to get a booth and Rosie and Elizabeth sat down while Lee and Jack went and got some drinks. The place wasn't too busy yet, but the band was just getting set up. Once Lee and Jack came back with the drinks, they only got to speak together for a few minutes before the band started playing and they couldn't hear across the table.

Jack leaned in to Elizabeth's ear.

"What do you do for work Elizabeth?"

"I'm a teacher. You?"

"Army."

Elizabeth was surprised. He didn't look like he was in the army. His hair seemed too long and the suit made him look more like a businessman.

"I just got back from training, actually."

"Do you get sent away much?"

"Not yet. I still have another month left and then I will be fully qualified."

Elizabeth nodded. She really liked Jack but hearing that he was in the military made her pull back a bit.

"Are you working at the moment?" he asked her.

"Yes, in a little town on the outskirts of the city. Really pretty place."

"You don't like the city?"

"Not if I can avoid it."

"I'm the same" he smiled at her, his dimples appearing for the first time. Elizabeth couldn't help but be swept away when he smiled at her like that. They were leaning in toward each other, trying to hear. She was looking straight into his dark brown eyes and she could feel his breath warm near her ear. Their conversation flowed easily enough considering the noise and Elizabeth felt really comfortable with him.

Elizabeth looked up to see Rosie and Lee lip locked on the other side of the table. She wasn't surprised exactly, but Lee wouldn't normally kiss anyone in public. He was a very private person. Elizabeth smirked at them. She felt Jack's hand on her lower back and she brought her attention back to him. She had a sip of her drink as Jack leaned into her ear.

"I think she might swallow him."

Elizabeth spat her drink all over the table. She heard a howl of laughter next to her. Elizabeth was wiping down the table with a napkin as she looked sideways at Jack who was still trying to stop laughing.

"You should be taught a lesson for that one, Jack."

Jack's laughter had subsided but his eyes still twinkled at her.

"What are you going to do?"

"Come dance with me." As he tried to object, Elizabeth dragged him out onto the crowded dance floor with her.

"I don't really dance" he yelled over the music.

"Too bad. You should have thought about that before."

They began dancing, Jack keeping some distance from her. Elizabeth knew he was being polite. She was not normally so bold but she liked this guy in front of her. She pulled him closer and leant into his ear.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" she yelled so that he could hear her.

He smiled a dimpled grin. He shook his head no. "What about you?"

She smiled and shook her head no.

"Good" he yelled, moving closer to her, his hand wrapping around her waist.

Elizabeth would have normally felt uncomfortable the way he did that, but it was quite the opposite. She felt at ease and safe more than she ever had before.

As the night began to wind down, Rosie and Lee were still inseparable, and Jack offered Elizabeth a ride. He drove her home, opened the car door for her and walked her to her apartment. Elizabeth had never met any man quite like him.

When they said goodnight, Jack put his arms around Elizabeth's waist, giving her a hug. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she didn't want to let go. He held her tight, waiting for her to release him. As she finally pulled back up and went to kiss his cheek, he moved and their lips touched by accident.

Elizabeth pulled away quickly, blushing and embarrassed by the slip up. Jack didn't care. Instead he placed his hand on the side of her face and holding her steady he kissed her embarrassment away.

"You mean I kissed you for the first time and we hadn't even had a date yet? That sounds unlike me."

"Yes, well I had never done that before either."

"The sparks must have really been flying."

"That they were."

"That explains it all then."

Jack thought about how he had missed Elizabeth like crazy over the past two days and the more he thought about it, the more he wanted to kiss her. Now Elizabeth had told him how they had met and had kissed her on the very first day. He thought he was being silly but he knew he was feeling the exact same way now, ten years later.

"Explains what?" Elizabeth asked.

"Oh nothing."

Elizabeth stood up.

"I better get back. I have to pick up the girls."

"Okay."

Jack walked her to the door. Elizabeth must have still been thinking about things because she turned back to him as he was about to open the front door.

"What did you mean by 'that explains it all then'?"

"Um … its just … I …" Jack could feel the heat rising in his neck.

"Jack, just tell me. We don't have secrets, you and I. I know you don't really know me but you can trust me."

"I've been missing you the last few days" he blurted out.

Elizabeth nodded with a small smile. She put her hand to the side of his face and kissed him gently on the cheek.

"I always miss you, Jack" she whispered in his ear. "You know that, right?"

"Yes, but there's something else" he added nervously.

Her hand still stayed where it was on his face, the other holding on to his arm. Jack knew what he wanted to say but he was worried how she would react. She's my wife. How upset is she really going to be?

"You just told me that we kissed for the first time on the day that we met."

"Mmm hmm" she nodded at him, curiosity in her expression.

"I'm a few days late this time around."

Before she could respond, his free arm had moved around her lower back and he had leant down to kiss her soft, pink lips. He didn't remember kissing her before, but it felt so right. His lips moved with hers and he felt Elizabeth kissing him back, but suddenly she froze. With that she pushed him away from her and without saying anything and avoiding eye contact, left the house, got in her car and drove away leaving Jack standing there motionless.