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".

(14/07/2018)

CHAPTER 6

Saturday finally came around and Jack was pulling his hair out. He was finally going to meet his girls today. Jack had been flicking through their photos again that morning and was looking forward to learning more about their personalities. Charlotte had filled him in on a lot of it but he wanted to see it all first hand.

Jack was nervous, especially with what happened when he and Elizabeth last saw each other, but he was also so excited. Just act normal, like nothing happened. If she was scared, then its best to just give her space. You can do this. He took a deep breath and went downstairs for breakfast.

Charlotte was supposed to drop Jack off just before lunch but after seeing how anxious he was at breakfast, she called Elizabeth to see if she could bring him earlier. Apparently the girls had been up since 5 am, behaving like it was Christmas, so she was more than happy for him to come soon.

"Okay Jack, we're leaving in 5. You ready?"

"Yeah."

"You're nervous?"

"A bit."

"You will be fine. You've always been a natural with kids. Just don't be shy – they are your kids. You can't do anything wrong."

"Okay, thanks Ma."

Charlotte and Jack drove in silence. She could see him clenching his hands together. She knew how nervous he was. It was about an hour from Charlotte's to Jack and Elizabeth's house. As they approached the military town, Charlotte began to veer away from where all the military housing was.

Jack looked up.

"Where are we going?"

"To your house."

"But the military housing is over that way."

"You don't live there."

"Where do we live?"

"In the housing estate just down the road. We're almost there."

Charlotte pulled the car over next to a café.

"Come on. Let's get some coffee."

"Ma, I'm already anxious. How is coffee going to help?"

"It's for Elizabeth. She's been up since 5 with three rowdy kids. She is going to love you for it."

"But you thought of it, not me."

"Yes, but you need to start thinking of these things."

Charlotte walked into the café.

"Charlotte! How are you?" Charlotte looked up to see Abigail coming out from behind the counter.

"Hi Abigail. Remember, Jack?"

Charlotte motioned behind her. Abigail stepped forward, cautiously. She placed a hand on Jack's arm.

"Of course. Jack, how are you? Elizabeth mentioned you were in an accident."

Charlotte knew Abigail would have liked to wrap her surrogate son-in-law into a big hug but she kept her distance.

"I'm fine, thank you. Abigail was it?"

"Yes."

Charlotte could see Abigail struggling, just as everyone else did that cared for Jack.

"We're just here for three coffees. I'm dropping Jack off. He's going home today."

"Yes, that is exciting. Halley was in here yesterday and she was going on and on about it. She's so excited, they all are."

Jack nodded at her, trying his best to smile.

"Okay, I will just grab those coffees. I have forgotten how you have it Charlotte?"

"Plain espresso for me."

Abigail nodded and went back behind the counter. In a few minutes, she put the coffees up on the counter in a takeaway tray with a brown paper bag next to it.

Charlotte went to pay.

"Don't worry about it. Its on the house. Welcome home, Jack. It was good to see you."

"Thank you, Abigail" Jack said and helped Charlotte carry the drinks to the car.

"She seems nice. Do I know her well?"

"Yes. She's one of Elizabeth's best friends."

"Right. That makes sense I suppose."

Charlotte started the car again and pulled away as Jack balanced the coffee tray on his lap. She drove off and turned down another street and the houses began to get bigger. As they moved through the newer estate, Jack looked out the side windows in amazement. These houses were all much bigger than the house he had grown up in as a child.

"How can we afford to live here?"

"Elizabeth's parents bought it for you."

"What?" Jack asked in surprise turning to her.

"Elizabeth's dad is a multi-millionaire and he insisted. You were very stubborn about it for a long time but when Elizabeth became pregnant with Eve, you relented. You've been here about four years."

Jack stared outside in amazement. The street was beautiful with young trees bordering the road. There were big wide sidewalks and large manicured gardens leading to each of the houses. Most of them had large sweeping driveways that led up to big double and even triple car garages. Jack's eyes scanned over the large balconies, floor to ceiling windows, large double front doors and stonework. He even saw one home with a fountain.

"These houses are huge. Why would we need a house this big?"

Charlotte just shrugged. She passed another few houses before she pulled up in front of Jack and Elizabeth's place.

Jack stared up at it. It wasn't quite as over the top as some of the other's but it still looked massive.

"I live here?"

"Yep. Welcome home son."

Jack took a deep breath and stepped out of the car.

Elizabeth had been up since before the sun. She was beginning to get a bit cranky from the early wake up call. It had consisted of her lying fast asleep in her bed and then having three girls come running in and jumping on her excitedly yelling some variation of "Daddy is home today!" She couldn't be annoyed at them for long, their faces were full of pure joy.

Elizabeth got up and made them pancakes as a special treat. Halley and Grace got dressed themselves and had parked themselves in front of the windows that overlooked the driveway at 7 am.

Charlotte had called to see if she could bring Jack over earlier and Elizabeth had almost felt herself pleading Charlotte to hurry up. She managed to coax the three girls away from the window for another 40 minutes before she just decided to leave them to it while she raced around the house tidying up.

Elizabeth thought that she would have been more nervous about seeing Jack, but truthfully she just wanted things to go back to some degree of normal. This felt like the next logical step.

Suddenly she heard squealing coming from the front room.

"Daddy's here. Daddy's here. Mama!" Eve was squealing like crazy.

Elizabeth walked through to the front of the house and already saw Halley opening the door and running outside. Gracie was hot on her heels. Poor Eve was struggling with her little legs to catch up but she was out the door just as Elizabeth got there.

Elizabeth watched down the drive as Charlotte and Jack had been walking toward the house. Jack had been carrying coffee but when he saw the girls racing towards him, he quickly handed it to Charlotte, before leaning down just in time to catch Halley and Gracie as they flew into him. They clung to him tightly and Elizabeth could see that Jack was hugging them back just as tight.

Little Eve managed to finally make it. Elizabeth could still hear her squealing "Daddy". Jack managed to make room for her, despite only having one arm, and the four of them clung together on the driveway. Watching the scene in front of her pulled at Elizabeth's heartstrings. The tears had filled her eyes and Elizabeth was walking towards them, her feet knowing what to do. She knew where she belonged.

Jack looked up at her as she got closer. He managed to stand up, Eve still held tight in his arm, her chubby hands around his neck. Elizabeth knew the other night that she had run away scared. This was the reunion she had been waiting for. She wasn't about to miss it. Elizabeth put her arms around Eve and Jack and leant straight in and kissed him gently on the lips.

"Welcome home, Jack."

"Thanks" he grinned at her.

"Come on. Let's get you inside."

Elizabeth took Halley and Gracie's hands and led them all back into the house.

When Jack had first got out of the car he was awestruck with the house. He hadn't even seen the three little faces watching from the front window. He noticed the front door open and a little girl come running out. The excitement on her face was evident. She had long dark hair that streamed out behind her as she ran toward him. He was certain that this was Halley. Sure enough another little girl was behind her who was slightly shorter and had hair like Elizabeth's. Gracie.

He was worried that he wouldn't know what to do. Seeing his two little girls come running toward him, everything just felt natural. He knelt down and caught them with his arms. He was overwhelmed by the force when they both collided with his chest.

"Daddy!" they were both saying as their hands went around him tight.

"Halley. Gracie. I missed you both."

"We missed you too, Daddy."

He could feel both of their heads pressed up against his shoulders and he had never felt anything quite like it. He had worried he would feel really awkward around them, but this felt so right.

Jack could hear a smaller voice approaching him and he looked up to see his youngest daughter trying to catch up. Her legs were going as fast as they could carry her and her light brown ringlets bobbed around on top of her head. Jack couldn't remember seeing anything so adorable.

"Eve! Hey baby! Look at you!"

Jack managed to hold out his good arm to her and she slid straight into his side. All three of his girls were here in his arms. Things couldn't get much better than this.

He glanced up to see Elizabeth walking straight toward him. Jack could see that she had an odd expression on her face. One that he did not recognise. His mind went back to the other night and he cringed. He stood back up, still holding onto Eve who was clinging to his neck.

Jack was about to apologise when Elizabeth did the unthinkable. She closed the distance between them and kissed him softly on the lips. Okay, I was not expecting that. I didn't think things could get much better, but I was wrong. Really wrong.

Elizabeth smiled at him and led everyone back inside. Jack followed with a big grin on his face.

Elizabeth led Jack, Charlotte and the girls back inside to the kitchen. Charlotte put the coffee down and handed Elizabeth a cup.

"Oh thank you. You have made my day!" Elizabeth said as she took a big sip.

Charlotte handed Jack a cup, which he took while still holding onto Eve. She had nestled her head into his neck and appeared as though she would not be moving anytime soon.

Elizabeth had been worried how Eve would take Jack's return, being the youngest. Often when Halley or Grace had been reminiscing about different things that Jack had done with them, Eve couldn't remember. Seeing her now so comfortable in Jack's arms made her worries lessen.

"Jack, if you want to put her down … " Elizabeth began.

"She's fine" Jack smiled back as he sipped his coffee.

"Daddy! Can I show you my room? We painted it while you were away. You're going to love it." Halley bounced up and down next to him.

"Sure. I would love to see it." Jack put his coffee down and followed Halley and Grace through the house.

"He fits right back in, doesn't he?" Charlotte said. She had remained quiet up until then.

"Yes, he does."

Jack was led through the house by his daughters. He was amazed at how large and spacious it was. Upstairs were the bedrooms and a huge bathroom. Hallie pulled him into her room which was a nice shade of purple. It was a big room with a single bed and shelves covered in all things pink and fluffy.

"That is really pretty, Halley. Did Mommy let you help paint?"

"Not really. She let me pick the colour though" she said proudly.

"You picked a nice colour, sweetie."

"My room is next, Daddy. Come on." Gracie had taken his hand and pulled him down the hall to the next room. It was similar to Halley's but plain white.

"What a beautiful room, Gracie."

"Mommy said we could paint it when you got home. Can we do it today?" she looked up at him eagerly.

"Maybe not today, but soon. I will have to talk to Mommy first, okay?"

"Okay" she nodded, not really too fussed.

Jack thought he may as well figure out where everything was while he was up here.

"What about Eve's room? Are we going to look at that too?"

Gracie was still holding his hand and led him to the door opposite her own. Eve was still curled up against him and hadn't moved in the last twenty minutes.

"Eve, baby? Are you going to show me your room?"

He felt her nudge her head slightly and her hand lifted up pointing to the room.

He walked in and sat on the edge of her bed. Gracie came and sat next to him.

"It's a nice room too. Are we going to paint yours as well?"

Eve nodded into his shoulder before tucking her hand back between them.

"Daddy, Mommy said you don't remember where everything is" Halley was standing in front of him looking at him curiously.

"Yes, sweetie. I have just forgotten a few things. I hit my head pretty hard and I can't remember everything."

"Do you remember us?"

Jack didn't know what to say. He didn't want to lie but he didn't want to crush his daughter. He wasn't sure how to explain it but he remembered what Lee had said the night before.

"I remember you in here" Jack said pointing to his chest. "Halley, I love you and your sisters very much. You know that don't you?"

"Yes."

"It might just take a bit of time to remember all the little things that we used to do together. Like … what is your favourite book?"

"That's easy. Harry Potter! Mommy and I just started reading it together."

"Mine's my princess book" Gracie added.

"Right, well its little things like that you will have to tell me about again. What fun things do we do together?"

Gracie jumped up from the bed. "Go to the park!"

"And the lake!" Halley said excitedly.

"Well that's a good start. Maybe we can go to the park later today. That will help me remember."

The girls both nodded eagerly at him.

"Come on, Daddy. I will show you your room. Mommy and I cleaned it the other day."

Jack was led down the hall to a large room that almost looked like a master. Halley then proceeded to show him Elizabeth's room, which was the largest bedroom that he had ever seen.

"This is where you normally sleep" she said innocently pointing to his side of the bed.

Jack didn't know what to say so he just nodded his head.

"When are you going to sleep back in here?"

"Once I remember a little more."

"Don't you love Mommy anymore?"

"Um, its not that. I love your Mommy. I just don't remember lots of little things. Do you understand?"

Halley shook her head. Jack sighed, not sure what to say.

"Halley, do you remember what I told you?" Elizabeth asked from the doorway.

Halley turned to her mother and looked a little guilty. Jack was puzzled.

"Daddy needs time" Halley said back as if she had been reciting it.

"Right. Why don't you and Gracie head downstairs? Grandma is about to leave. She wants to talk to you before she goes."

"Okay." They both ran off down the hall.

"Sorry Jack. I knew she would ask lots of questions."

"Its fine. I wouldn't expect anything less. It's a strange situation to be in."

Jack looked down at Eve who seemed to have fallen asleep. Elizabeth slid Eve out of his arms and carried her toward her room. Jack followed behind and watched as Elizabeth eased their daughter into her bed.

"All that excitement was too much for her" Elizabeth said as she pulled up the covers.

She turned back to Jack as they walked out of the room.

"Are you feeling okay? Not too overwhelmed."

"No, its okay. I'm just frustrated. I really hoped that after seeing our girls and the house things might start coming back to me but my head just feels empty."

As Jack spoke, Elizabeth reached her hand up, resting it on the top of his shoulder, close to his neck.

"Hey, you're doing really well with everything so far. We have to be patient. We will get through this … together. Okay?"

Jack looked over at her. Something had changed since he last saw here. She was calmer.

Jack nodded. "But are you okay? Are you sure you want me staying here? I'm sorry about the other night, I …"

"Jack, you're my husband and you have every right to kiss me. I was just overthinking things and I panicked. After seeing you today with our daughters, I know deep down you still love us."

She kissed him again this time taking a bit more time since they were alone. He kissed her back.

"And we love you. You belong here with us, okay?"

Jack nodded and kissed her on the cheek. He took her hand in his. "Come on. Let's go find the girls."