A/N: Hello #Hearties, thanks again for all of your lovely reviews. I know everyone says this but they really do make my day. Keep 'em coming! I've just finished my first year of college so I should be able to update more often. And now, without further ado, here's Chapter 3.
"Wake up sweetheart." Jack nudged Elizabeth.
"Why?" Elizabeth mumbled, trying to will herself back to sleep.
"Because it's your birthday, silly." Jack said, laughing.
"You know what I really want for my birthday?" Elizabeth finally turned to face him. Jack shook his head no. "Some more sleep." And with that, she turned back over and closed her eyes. Jack chuckled and got out of bed.
"Well then I guess I can take what I got you back to the mercantile and have Mr. Yost send it back." Jack smirked. At this, Elizabeth's eyes shot open.
"You bought me something?" She asked, turning once again to face him.
"Of course I bought you something." He walked over to her and gave her a kiss. "It's not everyday my beautiful wife turns 26." Elizabeth slowly got out of bed and took Jack's outstretched hand. He led her downstairs. When they had reached the last stair, Jack covered her eyes. She instinctively put her hands on her burgeoning belly. She was just over 7 months pregnant. Usually, she would be at school but Rosemary had taken over for her the previous week and would teach until Elizabeth was ready to return to the classroom. She smiled, remembering how excited her students had gotten when she told them she was expecting. She ended up letting the students go home early because she couldn't get them to settle down. They kept asking her questions about the baby. Is it a boy or a girl? What will you name it? And her personal favorite: How did it get in there?
"Just a few more steps." Jack guided Elizabeth over to her present. "Alright." He removed his hands from in front of her eyes. "Open."
"Oh my goodness." She gasped. "Jack," her eyes started to water. "You shouldn't have." She walked over to where Jack had put her gift. On the dining room table, there laid the most beautiful jewelry set, a pair of pearl earrings and and a matching necklace. "They're magnificent." She threw her arms around Jack's neck.
"So I take it you like it then." Jack laughed. She kissed him deeply.
"Does that answer your question?" She smirked at him.
"I think I might need a bit more convincing." He said, retaking her hand and leading her back upstairs.
Later, Jack rode out to where his and Elizabeth's house was near completion. It warmed his heart to see members of his community doing this for him and Elizabeth. The town thought the world of the Thorntons. They had both done so much for Hope Valley and they figured the least they could do was help them build their home. Jack slid off Sergeant and walked over to where Mike was putting the finishing touches on the walls.
"How's it coming, Mike? What can I do?" Jack asked.
"Actually, I think we're just about done with everything." Mike replied, removing his gloves and setting the paintbrush on its tray. "I'd say you and Elizabeth should be able to move in once all the paint dries, maybe 3-4 days." Jack's face lit up.
"Really?" Jack asked, getting more excited by the minute. Mike nodded. Jack gave him a hug and once the place had been tidied up, everyone that had been helping headed over to Abigail's café.
"Hey Abigail?" Jack called. "Whatever they order, it's on me." Abigail nodded. "Also, can I talk to you for a minute?" Abigail nodded again and led him to the back. "I need a favor on Thursday."
"What is it?" She asked.
"I need you to distract Elizabeth for a few hours. Our house is finally finished and I want to surprise her by moving all of our stuff in. So that way she doesn't have to worry about any of it." Jack explained.
"Jack that's so sweet, but that's not a favor." She chuckled. "I love spending time with Elizabeth. Me and some of the other ladies were actually planning to surprise Elizabeth too. Thursday works out perfectly." She said.
"Excellent." Jack smiled. "I'll just bring her by around 11." Jack told her. "I would bring her earlier but she's not a morning person anymore."
"Oh trust me, I know how that goes." Abigail laughed.
"Alright, thanks Abigail." Jack said, heading back home.
Thursday arrived. Jack woke Elizabeth around half past 10 and they got ready to head to Abigail's for brunch. Once they had arrived, Abigail served them. After Jack and Elizabeth had eaten, he kissed her cheek and got up to leave.
"Where are you going?" Elizabeth asked.
"I've just got a bit of work to do." Jack quickly answered. "I'll be back in an hour or two."
"Elizabeth, can you come to the back with me?" Abigail asked. "The ladies and I have prepared something for you." Elizabeth was intrigued. She followed Abigail to the back of the café only to find Clara, Molly, and Florence holding what appeared to be a quilt of some kind.
"What is this?" Elizabeth asked, smiling. The three ladies stood up and drew the quilt out to its full width and length to show Elizabeth. It was beautiful, designed with several red hearts spread all over it.
"We all did a section." Clara said.
"We wanted you, Jack, and your little baby to know that you all are always wrapped up in love." Elizabeth's eyes watered. She hugged all four of them and sat down, holding her new quilt. The ladies talked for the next hour and a half until Jack wandered through, looking for his wife.
"Hi Jack." The ladies greeted him.
"Hello ladies." Jack replied. "Elizabeth, are you about ready to head home or should I come back later?"
"No, I'm ready. Or at least this little one is." Elizabeth patted her stomach lightly, accepting Jack's outstretched hand. "Thank you ladies for a wonderful afternoon." Jack helped his wife stand and together, they headed out the door.
Jack led her in the opposite direction of the row houses.
"Jack, I thought we were going home." Elizabeth said, confused.
"We are." Jack smirked, not saying anything else. Elizabeth figured he knew what he was talking about and let him lead the way. Soon enough, she knew where they were headed and smiled. She hadn't seen the house in a good three months and her mouth dropped when she saw it in its entirety.
"Welcome home, Elizabeth." Jack kissed her head as she teared up for the second time that day. The two of them went into their home and Elizabeth gasped when she saw that all of their belongings had been moved in.
"Is this the 'bit of work' you had to do?" Elizabeth asked him, taking it all in and sitting on the sofa. Jack nodded as he joined her and she kissed him. "You are the most wonderful man I've ever met." She said, kissing him again. "Jack?" She whispered after a while.
"Yes?" Jack whispered back.
"Won't you show me the bedroom?" She smiled.
"I'd love to." Jack grabbed her hand and led her upstairs. Before he took her to their bedroom, he brought her into the room directly across the hall.
"Jack, this is lovely." Elizabeth said gazing around their baby's room. It was a light blue color with clouds painted at the top and grass at the bottom. There was a bookshelf filled with children's books in the corner and a beautifully carved rocking chair next to the handmade crib. After admiring Jack's work, Elizabeth pulled him by the collar into their room and showed him just how thankful she was for all he did for her.