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 all the reviews! I stuffed up something in the last chapter. You would be surprised how much time I spend trying to get the timeline right. Anyway, Ch18 I mentioned that it would be J&E's ten year wedding anniversary but its only their ninth. Whoops.

Btw, this is a looong chapter. Enjoy!

(1/8/2018)

CHAPTER 19

Jack's eyes opened slowly. At first he still thought Elizabeth was mad at him but as he felt her leaning against his chest, her soft breathing tickling his skin, he remembered last night. They had spent a good amount of time kissing on the lounge before they had collapsed onto their bed tired from the last few days of arguments, the relief of making up causing Jack to drift off to sleep quickly.

He moved his arm so that he could hold Elizabeth a bit closer. She shifted in her sleep, moving closer into his side. He smiled down at her. He was not going to let her push him away again. This was where he belonged.

Elizabeth began to wake up, her eyes drifting to his. He kissed her on the forehead which she immediately countered by stretching up to meet his lips.

"Morning" she said.

"Good morning, sleepy head."

A smile graced her face. "Yeah well you were the one that woke me up last night to drag me downstairs."

"Are you regretting that I did that?"

She kissed him again. "What do you think?"

He rolled onto her and kissed her deeply. He pulled back, cupping her face to look down into her eyes. The stormy blue was gone and was replaced by a bright blue, like the sky after a storm. Only then did he realise that Eve was curled up on the other side of her.

"Sorry" he said as he pulled away quickly, hoping he hadn't woken her.

"It's okay. I think I'm going to have to start carrying her back to bed in the middle of the night. I'm usually too sleepy to realise that she's in here."

Jack just nodded.

"Hey" she added. "It's fine, Jack" she said as she pulled up and pressed herself down over him, kissing him firmly.

He looked up at her, his hand going back to her face to brush away a loose strand of hair.

"Beth, I remembered dancing with you at our wedding the other day."

"Yeah I saw that picture downstairs" she said as she crossed her arms over his chest and rested her chin on them. "Is that all you remember?"

"Yes."

"That's a shame. It was a truly magical day. One of my favourite."

Jack waited for her to continue. She slid off his chest and laid back on his arm and raised her hand up over her head. She ran her fingers over the wedding band.

Nine years before … (July 2009)

After Viola's wedding, Jack and Elizabeth had decided on a simple ceremony near where they both lived. William and Grace, Elizabeth's parents, wanted something more sophisticated but Elizabeth was adamant. She just wanted to marry Jack.

Jack and Elizabeth had come up with a guest list of ten people – their immediate family as well as Lee and Rosie. Once they started inviting friends, it was a rapid increase up to fifty people, so they drew the line at ten. They decided not to have a bridal party and just booked a private room in a restaurant nearby that would have enough room for a small dance floor. Elizabeth ordered a small cake and asked a local florist to do a bouquet. Rosie was picking both up on the morning of the wedding and delivering the cake to the restaurant. Elizabeth asked Lionel to do the photos for them. That was everything organised.

The most difficult part of the wedding planning was finding a dress. Elizabeth knew she wasn't fussy but none of the dresses were quite right. They were either too fancy for her small wedding or too plain. Rosie patiently dragged her from shop after shop but they couldn't find it. Two weeks before the wedding and still nothing. They sat in Elizabeth's apartment flicking through magazines.

"But what do you want?"

"I have no idea. Nice but not too simple and not too over the top."

"What does Jack like?"

"I'm pretty sure Jack will be happy with whatever I pick."

"Or nothing at all …" Rosie hinted.

Elizabeth laughed loudly. "Yes, you're right. I'm not sure our guests would appreciate that look somehow!"

"It must be here somewhere." Rosie put the magazine down and pulled her laptop out and continued searching.

"Vera's on Crown has a closing down sale. We could try there on Monday since we're both off work. It's ex-display dresses but that would be fine. We still have time to get a dress dry cleaned before the wedding."

"Ok. Let's give that a go."

Monday was twelve days before the wedding. It was cutting it close but Elizabeth woke up with a good feeling that day. Everything seemed to be going smoothly. They drove into the city and managed to not get stuck in traffic; they got a carpark right out the front; and they walked into the store to find no one else there.

The sales woman was happy to help Elizabeth and after Rosie explained their predicament the woman raced off and brought back three dresses. The first two were beautiful but the third was the one. It had a tight fitting ivory satin bodice with a lace overlay that provided a V-shaped neckline. It hugged Elizabeth's figure perfectly.

"Oh Beth. You look stunning. That's the one. Isn't it?"

"Yeah" Elizabeth said staring at her reflection.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm really getting married, Rosie" she said with tears in her eyes.

"I know. Jack is a lucky man, Beth."

"Thanks, Rosie." She thought for another minute. "Do you think we're rushing into this?"

Rosie's mouth fell open in surprise.

"No, of course not. You two were made for each other!"

"I know. When Jack is with me I know it's the right decision, but when he's not here I start to worry that maybe I'm making a mistake."

"It's just a bit of cold feet. Just keep thinking about how Jack makes you feel. Come on, take the dress off and let's pay for it now before someone sees you in it and wants it for themselves."

As soon as Elizabeth was out of the dress, Rosie took it straight to the counter. Elizabeth came up beside her. "Are you …" Elizabeth began but Rosie already had her hand out waiting for Elizabeth to hand over her credit card.

They walked out of the shop with the dress in hand before Elizabeth could object.

Elizabeth was still worried and it was as if every day that the wedding got closer, her nerves seemed to double in magnitude. Part of the reason why things had gotten so bad was that Jack had been running a training session at base. For the two weeks before the wedding Jack had hardly seen Elizabeth. The last time Elizabeth had really spent any time with Jack was at her bachelorette party when Lee, Tom and Jack crashed it. Not that she minded.

The day before the wedding came and Elizabeth was a wreck. She was almost at the point of cancelling the entire wedding. Rosie and Viola came to take her out for the day and were surprised to find her still in bed, her nerves shot.

"What's going on Beth?" Viola said after she let her and Rosie in with her spare key.

"I can't do it" she mumbled, her head underneath the pillow.

"What?"

"Get married."

"Beth, what's going on? You love Jack." Rosie said coming around her bed.

Elizabeth pulled the pillow back to reveal her red, puffy eyes.

"I've barely seen him in two weeks. Is this what married life is going to be like? Being on my own all the time."

"No, honey. You know he is doing training. If you were married you would be seeing him every morning and every night. You know that." Rosie said, patting her shoulder gently.

"What about when he's deployed. I don't want to be left here all alone, worrying about him."

"You knew that was a part of marrying an army officer. Come on Beth, pull yourself together. Get up and go for a shower. We're supposed to be having a girls day out!" Viola said.

Elizabeth pulled the pillow back over her head and groaned. She was not going to budge any time soon.

Rosie had left the room and immediately pulled out her phone. She thought it would just go to voicemail when she dialled the number but surprisingly Jack picked up.

"What's up Rosie?"

"Are you working today?"

"Kind of. Why?"

"We are having a bit of a crisis here."

"Who's we?"

"Elizabeth."

His tone immediately changed to one of concern. "What's wrong?"

"She's got cold feet Jack … actually frozen feet is more like it. She wants to call the wedding off."

"WHAT?!"

"Yeah, you need to try and get over here today. We're doing our best, but she needs you Jack."

"I'm on my way."

Jack was there in ten minutes. Rosie and Viola told him where she was and left to give them some space.

Elizabeth was still in bed, holding the pillow tight over her head, blocking out all light and sound. She lay there in a ball, her knees up close to her chest. She suddenly felt a warmth around her, encapsulating her body. His chest pressed up against her back and his arms wrapped around hers. Jack held her tight. He didn't say anything, he just held her. Elizabeth could feel her heart rate slowing, the nerves flowing away with his presence. Slowly, she let go of the pillow and he pulled it off her head.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered.

"A little bird told me to come" he whispered into her ear, holding her tighter against him.

"Rosie?"

"Yeah."

"Don't you have to work today?"

"Some things are more important."

"I've barely seen you in two weeks."

"I'm sorry. I was trying to get everything done before the wedding so we can spend more time together afterwards. I should have checked with you."

"I've missed you."

"I know. I've missed you too. Why are you so worried about tomorrow? I thought that was the whole idea of having a small wedding."

"Are we rushing things, Jack?"

"No. Why do you think that?"

"We've known each other for nine months and you were away for over three."

"Yes, and those three made me realise that I want to go to sleep next to you each night and wake up next to you every morning. You don't feel the same way?"

She turned into him to see his dark brown eyes staring into hers. "Of course I do."

"Then what's the problem?"

"What about the times when you're away? The times that I have to exist on my own without you?"

"You're a strong woman, Beth. Stronger than you realise. You will be okay. The thought of being back together will get us through it. It is better than the alternative of not being with each other at all isn't it?"

"Yes" she admitted.

"So Elizabeth Thatcher, will you marry me tomorrow?" he grinned at her. That adorable dimpled grin that she could never resist.

"Yeah."

Jack had to go back to work for the rest of the day but he returned late and they curled up on the couch until close to midnight, when Rosie came out of the spare bedroom in her dressing gown and shooed him out the door. Jack barely got to say goodbye, let alone give Elizabeth a kiss, before Rosie closed the door in between them.

"Lucky I was here otherwise who knows what would have happened" Rosie said dramatically as she went back to bed.

On her wedding day, all of Elizabeth's wedding nerves were gone. She was excited to get everything underway. Her parents joined her and Rosie for breakfast and then Viola whisked her away for her hair and makeup while Rosie took care of the venue.

They came back to Elizabeth's apartment where William and Grace were getting ready. Viola helped her slip into her gown and they were all set. William was in charge of driving Grace, Elizabeth and Viola to the park. William had his doubts about his daughter getting married in a park but when he saw it, he realised it was perfect. Elizabeth and Rosie had planned to have some simple white chairs for their guests and an arch had been hired that was decorated in all kinds of colourful flowers. It stood next to the tree that Jack and Elizabeth had their proposal picnic next to. It looked magical.

Elizabeth looked out the car window to see Jack was already waiting, wearing a navy blue suit. He took her breath away, he was so handsome. Viola and Grace walked down to their seats, before William helped her out of the car. She stood straight and with her bouquet in one hand and leaning heavily on her father's arm for fear of tripping, she made her way down the grass to Jack. He stared at her with such joy and admiration, she wished she could capture that moment forever.

She didn't remember much of the ceremony. All she could remember was holding on to Jack's hands so tight as he stared into her eyes, the rest of the world had slipped away. When it came time for their kiss, Jack pulled her to him and gently kissed her, his hand resting on her lower back pulling her body close. As he pulled back, she quickly kissed him again, amidst the cheers and laughter of their family and close friends.

The reception was fun but intimate. They could spend time talking and laughing with everyone. The small dance floor was enough to allow Jack and Elizabeth to share their first dance before everyone else joined them. It had been perfect.

"That sounds like a nice wedding."

"It was a beautiful day" Elizabeth said staring off as she remembered all the little details.

Jack watched her, seeing the joy in her eyes.

"I remembered dancing with you. You looked absolutely beautiful."

She smiled at him. "You were quite handsome yourself."

"What was the wedding song?"

"You and Me by Lifehouse."

"That's what I heard on the radio the other day. That must have been why I remembered it."

"Are you still just remembering snapshots?"

"Yeah but I'm starting to remember how I felt at the time as well."

"That's good. That's progress, right?"

Elizabeth looked at him with such hope in her eyes.

"Definitely."

She beamed at him.

Saturday was finally the day when Jack was allowed to get his cast off. Jack could not wait. He would be so happy to get rid of carrying the extra bulk around not to mention what he could do without it.

That morning he had pulled out the girls' textas and let them go crazy drawing and colouring rainbows and flowers and fairies all over it. He had helped Eve draw some things and she coloured them in.

Elizabeth drove Jack to the medical centre. The girls went into the room with him to see the cast cut off. Eve was scared that his entire arm was going to be removed but ten minutes later she carried the cast back out to Elizabeth.

"Mommy, look!"

"Wow Beth! Where's Daddy's arm?"

"It's there. It didn't get cut off."

"Good to know."

Eve handed her the cast and Elizabeth turned to Jack. "Is it okay? Feels alright?"

"Yeah, feels a bit weird but really light in comparison." The muscles in his arm were definitely a lot smaller and he could see tan marks from where the cast began and ended. "It's going to take a bit to get it strong again."

"You still have a few weeks before you need to go back to work. That will be plenty of time" she said patting his arm gently.

Elizabeth was in the kitchen cooking an early dinner for the girls. Jack came up behind her wrapping both of his arms around her waist. It felt so good holding her without his cast in the way. He leant in and kissed her on the cheek.

"What do you want me to do?"

"I'm all set, Jack. Can you get the girls to the table? I'll go start getting ready."

Jack set them all up and put their bowls of pasta in front of them and covered an extra bowl for his mother.

Once they were eating Jack went upstairs to get ready as well.

Charlotte arrived early to look after the girls. Jack came downstairs to see her playing board games on the dinner table.

"I was wondering why they were so quiet."

"Yes, I thought you could use the help while you get ready."

"Thanks, Ma."

She stood up and came closer to him while the girls kept playing.

"Are things going a bit better, son?" she whispered.

"Yeah, we sorted some things out last night."

"That's good. Glad to hear it."

She went to the fridge and poured herself a soda before returning to the girls' game.

Jack stood at the doorway to the kitchen waiting until he heard heels on the tiles approach. He turned around to see a very glamorous Elizabeth approach. She wore a tight black mini dress with a plunging neckline. My mother is a genius. Why did I not think of this?

"Elizabeth. You look stunning."

"Thanks Jack" she smiled with pleasure as she walked past.

"Goodnight girls. You all be good for Grandma." She went around and kissed them all on the cheek and Jack followed behind her. Eve stood on her chair and gave him a big hug.

"You look so handsome Daddy."

"Thanks baby. You be good, won't you?"

"Yes, Daddy" she said as she sat back down. She is the cutest thing. I wish I could remember what Halley and Gracie were like at the same age.

They left the kitchen and Jack took Elizabeth's hand and led her to his new truck. He opened the door for her and helped her in before going to the driver's seat.

"Where are we going, Jack?"

"Luigi's. You will need to direct me how to get there though."

"No problem."

They pulled into the carpark and Jack took her hand and led her into the restaurant. They were taken to a nice, private table. Elizabeth had a glass of wine and Jack had a beer. They sat there nervously, neither knowing where to begin.

"Is your arm sore at all, Jack?"

"No. It's a bit stiff. That's all. Perfect timing getting it off today though. I would've just had to wear a short-sleeved shirt again."

"It doesn't matter, Jack. You look good in anything."

Jack wiggled his eyebrows at her, making her laugh. Jack loved her laugh. Hearing it made him at ease.

"Any new drawings today?"

"Not yet, but there is still time." He paused. "Can you tell me about that one where you were sad? I don't remember what was on the letter but I remember you crying. I know it might not be the happiest memory, but I want to know."

Elizabeth nodded slowly.

Eight years and ten months before … (September 2009)

Jack and Elizabeth had been married for just over a month. They had spent two weeks on their honeymoon but Jack had been back to work for a few weeks, while Elizabeth was yet to return to go back to school. Married life could not have been much better. Both of them longed for the time when Jack returned home from his days at work and they could spend time together.

That was until the deployment letter had arrived. Jack had been at the base when he was called to Sergeant Major Gowan's office. He had been called in and given his briefing along with his deployment letter. It was to leave in only two days' time. Normally they were given two weeks notice to organise their affairs, but the problem was that Jack was filling a spot from an injured officer. He was required immediately. He had the following day off to organise himself.

He knew Elizabeth wasn't going to take this well. They had stayed up talking into the night on more than one occasion about their future and what would happen when he was deployed. Understandably, Elizabeth was worried that when they ended up having children he might miss out on a lot more. The deployment was going to be difficult because they had only been married for five weeks but Jack thought that at least if he went now, maybe he would be around more later.

When Jack walked through the door, Elizabeth could immediately sense a problem.

"Jack, where have you been? I expected you an hour ago. Your dinner is cold."

"That's fine."

He went through to the kitchen and put his plate in the microwave. He heated it up and then sat down at the table and ate slowly, dragging out the inevitable.

"What's going on, Jack?" she asked as soon as he finished.

He stood up from the table and took her hand to lead her to the couch.

"Jack, you're worrying me."

He pulled the letter out of his pocket and handed it to her.

She unfolded it hastily and read.

"No, Jack" she whispered before dropping the letter on the coffee table. "Two days?" she asked, the tears already in her eyes.

"I am so sorry."

"Jack, how long will you be gone for?"

"Three months."

"Three months? Jack that's forever!"

"It might be less."

The tears were streaming down her face now. He turned to her.

"Beth, it will be okay. I will be back before you know it."

She just nodded, her hands covering her face as she began to sob.

"Beth …" he said wrapping his arms around her. "Sweetie, you will be okay."

"It's not me that I'm worried about" she said through the sobs.

Jack held her tight, not knowing what else to do.

All Elizabeth could think was that she was finally so happy and now everything was going to be snatched from underneath her. She was scared for Jack. She knew she would cope but she knew she would worry about Jack every single day.

The next day, Jack did not have to go to work. They barely left the bedroom, let alone the apartment. Elizabeth stayed curled up in Jack's arms, both trying to remember every detail about the other.

Elizabeth drove him to the base the next morning. He had kissed her goodbye at home, both hoping to have an easier goodbye at the base. Jack dropped his bag off at the truck that was escorting the small group to their flight. He came back to Elizabeth to say one last goodbye.

"Beth, I will write as often as I can."

She clung to him, her hands pressed against his shoulders.

"I have to go."

"I know" she whispered back to him. With one last look he went to walk away.

"Jack?" she said, he turned back and she could see how much this was hurting him too.

He walked straight back to her and kissed her deeply. He pulled back, their foreheads still resting together. He held up her hand and gently kissed her rings. He leant back in to her, his hand gripping her face and kissed her one last time before pulling away. She got back into her car quickly and left.

"That was probably the hardest goodbye, I think. What happened to Doug was fresh in our minds. For some reason, I felt like you weren't going to come back."

"But I did" Jack said, now holding her hand across the dinner table.

Jack wrote to Elizabeth almost every day. He sent emails whenever he could or he had paper letters that he wrote and kept in his rucksack.

Jack got to phone her a few times but they were always short calls. Hearing his voice actually made it harder for Elizabeth. He was on the other side of the world, existing without her. She could pretend it was all a bad dream, but the sound of his voice made the bad dream real.

At first Elizabeth thought she was doing okay with Jack's departure but about three weeks after he left, Elizabeth felt rotten. She was barely sleeping and could hardly eat a thing. She knew she had to pull herself out from this hole that she had fallen into but wasn't sure how. Rosie came on the weekend and dragged her along to a day spa. They got massages and facials and Elizabeth could admit she was finally feeling better.

At lunch however, Elizabeth still couldn't eat. As soon as her meal arrived in front of her she just stared at it.

"Beth, what's wrong?"

"My appetite has gone again."

"Again?"

"Yeah every day this week. Mornings start out okay but by the afternoon I can't look at anything without feeling ill."

"Elizabeth you are very pale. Maybe you should get your iron levels checked?"

Elizabeth nodded.

Elizabeth was back at work now. She sat at work one afternoon and pulled out her calendar to add in important dates for the school term when something caught her attention. She had been so distracted by Jack's absence that she hadn't realised it was already four weeks since he left. Four weeks of which something else had been absent. The realisation dawned on her. She sat at her desk in surprise for another ten minutes before she shook her head out of it and hurriedly left work.

She stopped at the drugstore on the way home and armed with three different types of pregnancy tests, lined them up on her bathroom counter. All three came out positive. She sat down on the floor in shock. This was not supposed to happen so soon. They had been careful but clearly not careful enough. She didn't know what to do. Jack still had up to eight more weeks of his deployment. She had to tell him.

Elizabeth decided that she wasn't going to tell him in an email and the phone calls were too short and interrupted. Each time she had tried to bring it up, he was gone again so quickly she never had the chance. She battled with the mild nausea and loss of appetite on her own and had managed to avoid mentioning it in her emails.

One morning, she opened up her email when she got into the classroom and laughed. In gigantic font across the page, Jack had written: COMING HOME. BE THERE BY NEXT WEEK :) She couldn't wait. He was coming home early!

Two days before Jack was to arrive home, her family decided to have a dinner since Julie and Billy were in town. Elizabeth drove to the dinner, her nausea overwhelming on that particular day. She sat down between her mother and Viola and midway through the entrees Julie and Billy made an announcement. They were expecting. She was eight weeks along.

Her father was furious and her mother sat there stunned. Elizabeth had sat there not knowing what to do. She couldn't believe her sister would be that stupid. William pulled Billy outside, and Julie filled up the silence with chatter about how nauseated she had been over the last two weeks. Elizabeth excused herself and got to the restroom just in time before her stomach emptied its contents. She sat there shaking, the whole situation totally overwhelming her. She wanted Jack with her so badly at that moment. She felt all alone.

Viola came looking for her.

"Beth, honey? Are you okay?" she called out, trying to find her.

"Yeah."

"Come on out."

Elizabeth stood up and wiped her mouth before she left the cubicle. She knew she must have looked a sight. Pale and sickly.

Viola wrapped her arms around her.

"Oh Beth. How far along are you?"

"What?"

"I can tell, Beth. You went positively green when Julie was talking."

"Eleven weeks."

Viola smiled and hugged her tightly.

"Oh Beth congratulations! What did Jack say?"

"I haven't told him yet. I haven't told anyone" she said quietly.

"Your secret is safe with me. You should have told me though. I could have been helping you."

"I'm okay."

The rest of the dinner was silent. No one really ate their food so Elizabeth's lack of appetite went unnoticed. Julie continued to chatter about her pregnancy and how happy her parents should be that they would have their first grandchild soon. William and Grace appeared as removed from happy as could be. Elizabeth watched as Viola tried to hide her delight that Elizabeth would in fact be having her first niece or nephew.

On the day Jack was coming home, Elizabeth got dressed in his favourite red dress with a thick coat. She checked in the mirror and made sure that her side profile didn't give anything away to him before she drove to the airfield.

Elizabeth gathered with all of the other families and waited. The hangar finally opened and there were officers and people everywhere. Elizabeth looked frantically for Jack but she couldn't see him. She moved through the crowd desperately searching and then she saw him at the same moment that his searching eyes found hers. He dropped his bag and she flew straight into his arms. He held her so tight, he was almost crushing her rib cage but she didn't care. She was home.

When he finally kissed her, it took all of her self-control not to tell him about the baby immediately. She already had a plan.

She led him to the car all the while his lips kept finding hers. When they finally got into the car he was reaching for her desperately.

"Jack, we need to get home first. Then I'm all yours."

"Okay, fine" as he took her hand and kissed it.

"We have to make one stop on the way."

He groaned at her, but she just laughed.

"You won't regret it, I promise."

She pulled up at the lake and jumped out of the car. She came around to his door and he looked at her puzzled.

"What are we doing here?"

"Just give me five minutes then we can go home" she said as she pulled him out of the car.

"Okay."

He followed her down the hill toward their tree.

"Stand right here."

"Was this where we said our vows?"

"Uh huh."

"So why are we back here? I haven't forgotten my vows you know" he said smirking.

"I know that" she said rolling her eyes at him. "I have to tell you something and I wanted it to be in some place special."

"Okay …"

"Jack, I'm pregnant."

His eyes went wide. "What? How?"

"Um, you know how." Elizabeth laughed.

He still looked so serious.

"You're serious? We're having a baby?" He held her by the waist.

"Yeah."

His face lit up, the big dimpled grin that she had missed so much. Then he was kissing her. "Wow … I can't … wow" he said in between kisses. "But you must be at least two months along?"

"Almost three" Elizabeth nodded.

"You couldn't tell me before now?!" his face all of a sudden going stern.

"I wanted to tell you in person, Jack."

"But you've been going through everything on your own. Have you been sick?"

"Yes, but …"

"Elizabeth! You should have told me!"

"Believe me, you didn't miss anything. There's only so many descriptions of vomiting I could have explained in an email" she said sarcastically, but immediately regretted it.

"Elizabeth!"

"Jack!" she mimicked him, putting her hand on her hips.

He stared at her sternly but ended up bursting out laughing because of her expression.

"What you do to me!" he said kissing her again, pulling her in close.

They stood there for a moment.

"Who would've thought six months ago that we would be standing in this exact same spot talking about a baby!" he said.

"Let's go home Jack."

"That sounds like an eventful few months then" Jack said.

They had just finished their meals and he was holding her hand again.

"Yes, an eventful year really. You were deployed, then we got engaged, married, you were re-deployed and we were expecting a baby. It was crazy."

"But we made it through all of that."

"Yeah" Elizabeth said smiling.

"Do you want to get out of here? Go for walk before he head back?"

"Mmm hmm" she nodded.

He paid the bill and then taking her hand, led her outside. She pulled him towards a track and they walked hand-in-hand just enjoying each other's company.

Jack looked out across the lake and realised why they were always drawn to this place. It was so beautiful in the night light.

"That, right there, is where you proposed to me" Elizabeth said pointing.

"So where is this tree then?"

She grinned. "Come on" she pulled his hand as they left the track and began walking up the grass. They came around a few trees and then he saw it. He knew exactly which one it was.

"It's that one isn't it" he said pointing.

Her eyes sparkled at him as she nodded.

He remembered this tree. He knew he had been here before. He could feel it deep within him.

As he approached it, he put his hands out to touch the bark.

Elizabeth stood next to him quietly.

"I remember being here before. I can't explain it."

Elizabeth saw the puzzled expression in his eyes. She knew he recognised this place but he couldn't understand how. He put his arm out to Elizabeth and pulled her gently toward him. Both arms wrapped around her and she felt truly at home now. He pulled back slowly.

"Thank you for everything, Elizabeth."

"I haven't done anything."

"Yes, you have. You're my wife and the mother of my daughters. You're such a strong woman. You have supported me over the last ten years …"

"Except for this week" she added, still feeling guilty about everything. Her eyes darted away from his.

"We were both to blame for that. But we found our way back to one another. That's the important thing."

She nodded, still looking down at the water.

"Beth, look at me."

She looked back at him.

"My memory is coming back. It's getting better every day."

"I know. It's a slow process. But I will be here waiting" she said as she smiled up at him.