The ballroom was absolutely the most elegant room he had ever walked into. The Christmas decorations were typical, but the green garland accented by pops of gold. Candles were strategically placed on tables and music was playing not too loudly so you could still carry on a conversation.

"Wow," he whispered, grabbing her hand. "This is.."

"Right? It's my favorite party every year. Wait until you try the roast turkey with cranberry walnut stuffing."

His mouth watered just thinking about it. He noticed couples dancing, which made him nervous but not as much as if he and Beth hadn't been practicing every day. He thought he was passable now. He could even hold her correctly.

They sat down at the table where their names were on little placards. Even the champagne glasses and plates were outlined in gold.

Jack slipped his arm around the back of Beth's chair, his fingertips just grazing her bare shoulder. "You're so beautiful," he whispered in her ear, giving her goosebumps.

"Thank you." He looked way too sexy in his tux. She wanted to find a quiet spot and….

"Beth! Did you see the tree?" Julie asked, interrupting her thoughts and, sitting down in the chair next to her.

"Yes, it's hard to miss."

"True."

"I wish we were at home in front of a fire right now," he whispered again, kissing her temple.

"Yours or mine?"

"No preference. Just really want to kiss you."

"Hey, no secrets," Julie said, feeling left out.

Jack moved back and Beth immediately missed his close proximity. He smelled so yummy.

At that moment, her parents joined the table so they needed to behave like adults.

"So, Jack. How is your criminal justice degree coming along?" William asked.

….

After dinner, Jack and Beth danced to a few slow songs and then decided to check out the balcony at the far end of the ballroom.

Her jacket had been checked in the coat room so Jack took off his tux jacket and slipped it over her shoulders so she wouldn't get chilly.

"Thank you."

Jack put his hand in his pocket and smiled. It seemed like a good time.

He pulled her closer out on the balcony, claiming they needed to stay warm but really he had wanted to be as close as possible.

"I have your Christmas present, Beth."

"Now?"

"Yeah, I thought this could be a new tradition. We open a gift on Christmas eve."

"I don't have yours though."

"That's ok. I'd really like to give you yours anyway."

She nodded and then gasped when she saw the little black box in his hand "Jack," she whispered, tears filling her eyes.

"These last few months have been so hard being away from you. I never knew how much I could miss someone."

"I know."

He kissed her forehead. "I love you so much and I wanted to get you something that will remind you of that and also that I am committed to you. You are the one for me, Beth. Always."

He opened the box and she smiled. "A promise ring?"

"Yes. I promise you that one day, I will make you my wife and I will love you forever."

He slid the ring on her right ring finger and then hugged her tight. "Its beautiful." She looked at the silver double heart ring with a small diamond in each heart. "Our hearts are connected."

"Yes. But they're intertwined, they won't separate."

"I love that thought."

"Me too."

She reached up and kissed him softly. "Thank you."

"Merry Christmas."

Charles watched the whole scene from his seat in the ballroom. Who was this guy? Why was Beth accepting a ring and kissing him?

Charles stood and met them as they walked into the ballroom from the balcony. Their faces showed joy and happiness. Hers changed as soon as she noticed him walking toward them.

"Charles," she said with a nod.

"Beth. You look lovely this evening." Charles could see the tension in his face.

"Thank you. Charles, this is my boyfriend, Jack Thornton. Jack, Charles Kensington, an old acquaintance."

Jack let go of her hand and offered it to Charles. "Nice to meet you, Charles." Charles nodded, his eyes still glued to Beth. "Are you enjoying the party?" Jack asked, trying to take Charles' attention off of Beth.

"Same as every year, I suppose, but this is the first time I've seen you here, Jack."

"Yes, well things change," Jack mentioned, slipping his arm around Beth's shoulders.

"They must. I can't imagine this is something you're used to. You know, fancy parties, ballrooms."

"Charles, don't be a jerk," Beth told him, fire in her eyes.

"No offense intended, I assure you. Just an observation."

"You know, you're right, Charles," Jack told him. "This isn't my thing but spending the evening with a special woman that I love makes it something I enjoy." Jack kissed her temple and then smiled. "See you around."

….

The rest of their winter break was just as perfect as the evening at the ballroom had been. Beth gifted him a nice watch, nicer than any he had ever had. They spent any free time they had together.

When January 2nd came and Elizabeth needed to leave for college again, it was even harder than before.

"Spring break is next," Jack told her. "End of March."

"Faith mentioned going to San Diego and I was thinking of asking Julie. Would you want to go?"

"Yeah, that would be fun. Maybe I could talk Tom into going and he and Julie could hang out."

"Ok. Then, we will make plans." He tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "This just gets harder, doesn't it?"

"Yeah." He wrapped his arms around her and she, around him, just holding each other for a few minutes.

"I better go. I have a three hour drive ahead of me."

He leaned down and kissed her. "I love you."

"I love you too. I'll text you when I get there."

"Ok."

…..

Both of them used the next three months to concentrate on getting the best grades they could and earning a little spending money for their trip. Jack worked as a bus boy at the local restaurant, earning tips and such. Beth worked evenings at the local coffee shop as a barista.

When the time came for their trip, they, along with Faith, Tom, and Julie flew down to San Diego using William's endless frequent flyer miles. They stayed in two suites at the beachside Catamaran Resort Hotel. It had a private beach and a spa which was perfect. Beth had talked her dad into paying for the hotel so all they spent money on was if they decided to go out for dinner or to a party or something.

The first night they were there, they decided to explore the beach of Sail Bay. Beth slipped her sundress over her new bikini and slipped her feet into her flip flops.

Then she tied her hair back in a messy ponytail and smiled at her reflection before heading out to see Faith and Julie.

"Ready, ladies?"

"Yep, let's go!" Julie said, super excited to be included in the trip.

Twenty minutes later, they were seated in an outdoor restaurant enjoying the sun setting on the ocean. Beth couldn't think of a better place to be then right there, holding Jack's hand.

The seafood was amazing and the ambiance beat anything they had experienced before.

"Tom, Faith, and I are heading up to the hotel to watch a movie. You two wanna come?" Julie asked.

Jack looked at Beth for a moment. "We could take a walk."

She nodded. "You three go ahead. We will join you later."

As they walked along the water a few moments later, Beth amended her previous thought. This, right now, was the only place she wanted to be.

"You're quiet tonight," Jack told her.

"Am I? I guess I'm just enjoying myself."

Jack slipped his arm around her waist. "I'm glad. This has been a great night."
They walked for a few minutes and then he stopped and faced her. "That night at the Christmas party?"

"Yeah."

"I saw something in your eyes when I pulled that ring box out of my pocket."

"Yeah." There was something there.

"What were thinking then?"

"That you were proposing."

"That's what I thought. What if I had? Would you have said yes?"

"Yes." She didn't hesitate. She knew that the adorable man with his pant legs rolled up and sandals in his hand standing in front of her, was going to be her husband one day. She was certain. She knew they would have babies and be happy for many years.

"Good to know," he told her. He slipped his arm around her shoulders again and they continued walking.

"Why didn't you ask me, Jack?"

They stopped again. "Because we are just starting college and I don't have a job or a place to live. It's not time yet, Beth. As much as I want to take you to the County Clerk and get a license and then find a judge, we can't. Your dad trusts me to do this right. Plus…"

"What?"

"I told him I would ask him first."

"You already told him you were going to marry me?"

"Yes. Full disclosure, babe. It was necessary to get him on my side, our side."

She reached up and cupped his face. "I love it when you call me that."

"Babe," he whispered with a grin.

She kissed him and then took his hand. "You know, just because you ask me and I say yes, doesn't mean we have to run and get married. It would just mean we are engaged. That we are going to get married, at some point."

"True, but I'm still going to ask your dad. He expects it."

…..

The next day, the group went to Sea World. Jack had never been so it was a good thing to experience while on vacation.

Beth and Faith got to swim with the dolphins and beluga whales. Then they all decided to ride a few roller coasters and eat lunch.

They left after enjoying a killer whale show and headed back to the suites to eat Chinese food from the takeout place nearby.

"Let's see what movies are on," Julie suggested, flopping down next to Tom on the loveseat.

Faith had a headache so she went to the girls suite and took a jacuzzi bath and fell asleep.

Jack and Beth ate their dinner on the outside patio as the tide started coming in.

"I'm thinking about getting an apartment in the fall," Beth told him.

"By yourself?"

"No, with Faith. It's more of a townhouse that we can rent. But, I'm going to keep my barista job to pay for my half of the rent." Jack nodded, thinking. "Its going to have three bedrooms so maybe you can come visit when you have time."

"Yeah. Maybe."

"Try not to sound so excited."

"Sorry. I guess I'm a bit jealous."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I'm still living at home, with Tom and my parents. Going to community college. You're not."

"I didn't realize you felt that way."

"Me either until now but I'm happy for you."

"But…?"

"I just wish it was me too, experiencing things, out on my own."

"You will."

"When? After I graduate and head to Police academy? That's eighteen months away, at least."

"That's not that long from now. Then it will be me, wishing I was starting my job and you will be living what you worked so hard for." Beth stood and moved over to his lap. "Will you come visit, Jack?"

"Nothing could stop me." He looked into her eyes, her blue depths drawing him in. He sighed as she touched his cheek, her thumb grazing his lips.

She leaned down and kissed him softly and then deepened the kiss when he slipped his arms around her back, pulling her closer. "Um, we should probably go inside," Beth stuttered a moment later. All their kisses to this point had been relatively chaste, due to the boundaries they agreed on. This one….this one had been different and she didn't want to lose control. If she hadn't stopped…

She walked into the bedroom and sat on the bed, her hand on her chest, trying to slow her heart down.

"Beth? Can I come in?"

"Yeah."

"Hey, what's going on?" Jack sat next to her on the bed.

"That kiss….Jack, we need to be careful."

"It was pretty amazing."

"Jack…full disclosure?"

"Yes, of course."

"I'm not ready for more than kisses. I'm not ready for the responsibility that comes with more. That kiss, it made me want more and…I think we need to be married first."

"I agree with you. I think waiting is best too."

"You do?"

"Of course. Listen, my heart says, let's go get married. My brain knows that this can't happen yet. I agree, we need to be more careful."

"Ok. Good. I'm glad we are on the same page."

"Me too."

"Let's go watch a movie."

….

That night…

"Beth?" Julie rolled toward the bed Beth was in.

"Yeah?"

"You ok?"

"Yeah."

"I saw you and Jack. That kiss…"

"I know."

"Have you and he….you know…"

"What? Had sex?"

"Yeah."

"No and we made a promise to each other that we are going to wait until we get married."

"But that kiss."

"I know. Listen, it was a great kiss but it made me feel like we were moving too fast. Then we talked about it and we are going to be more careful."

"You're old enough though. I mean, you're nineteen."

"Yes, but age doesn't matter when I don't want what comes with sex. I don't want to always be worried month after month if I'm pregnant. When we are married, a baby will be welcomed. Now, we don't have jobs and we are still in school. It's not time."

"Ok."

"Promise me, Julie. You and Richie or you and Tom…who ever it is that you choose to date….please be careful."

"You don't need to worry."

"Ok. Goodnight."

"Thanks, Beth."

"You're welcome."

…..

A week later, they arrived back in Hope Valley. They had gone to Knott's Berry Farms, San Diego Zoo, and Legoland to finish out their week.

It had been very enjoyable. Jack could tell his and Beth's relationship had changed, but for the better. They had more respect and trust for each other now and that was a good feeling.

Now it was time for her to go again. "I feel like we are always saying goodbye."

"Yeah. Next time though, it will be summer."

"Another perfect summer. I can't wait." He kissed her forehead and hugged her tight against his chest. "I love you, Beth." She tipped her chin up and met his lips with hers.

"I love you too."