Julie rode with Tom and his parents to the Academy for Jack's graduation. She felt uncomfortable going with her own parents and Tom offered so she said yes.

She pressed gently on her belly where she felt him kick, smiling when he kicked again.

"Is he kicking?" Tom asked, watching her closely.

"Yeah." She grabbed his hand and held it in the same place. "Feel it? The tapping?"

She watched his face quite literally light up with emotion, tears filling his eyes. "That's amazing," he whispered.

Tom knew it then, the moment he felt those little movements, he was completely in love with both Julie and this tiny boy that was kicking his hand. He slowly moved his hand away but she held on, weaving her fingers through his.

Julie held onto his hand for the short trip to the ceremony. He was good with that. He wanted that connection with her.

When they parked in the lot, Tom walked around and opened her door, offering his hand to help her out of the back seat. "Thank you," she said quietly.

"Of course."

…..

Beth sat with Julie on one side and her father on her other side. There were so many people in the audience she wondered if she'd be able to see Jack in his group.

As the ceremony started, everyone stood as the recruits entered the room, marching in, one by one. Then she saw him. Strong, proud, exceedingly handsome in his dark blue uniform, dark hat, and white gloves. Tears filled her eyes as she watched him stand in formation with his classmates.

As the ceremony went on for the next hour, eventually the recruits were seated and the mayor gave a speech regarding safety and the unfortunate shootings that had been taking place recently in the city.

After a couple other speakers took the podium it was time for presentations of the diplomas and badges. Those in attendance were informed that each recruit would receive their badge and then either spouses, significant others, or family members would pin the badge on the graduate.

Beth assumed it would be Jack's parents with the honor, his father being a former California state trooper.

However when it was his turn, she was surprised. "Jack Thomas Thornton." Jack walked up, received his diploma, and took a picture with the Chief. Then he moved further along the stage. "Elizabeth Thatcher, Charlotte Thornton, and Thomas Thornton, please join Jack on stage for the presentation of the badge."

Beth stood and followed her soon-to-be in-laws up the aisle to the stage, her nerves making her stomach flutter. When she stood next to Charlotte, she and Tom both gestured for her to do it. She looked at them for a moment to make sure and then she walked over to stand in front of Jack.

"Hey," he said, a slight smile on his lips.

"Hey yourself." He held out his left hand, palm up, offering his badge. "I'm so proud of you," she told him, barely keeping her emotions in check. His presence was almost overwhelming, in a "boy, is my fiancé sexy" kind of way.

"Thank you." She reached up and pinned it, careful not to stick him in the chest and then gave him a quick hug. Then she moved aside so he could hug his parents before they left the stage.

The presentation of the class awards was last and then it was done. The recruits made their way into the crowd to find their families.

….

"Beth, I want you to meet Carson," Jack told her, gently moving through the crowd, her hand firmly in his.

"Thornton," Carson said with a slap on his back and a huge grin. "This must be the famous Beth."

"Yes, this is Beth. Beth, this is Carson Shepherd."

"Nice to meet you, finally. Jack has told me a lot about you."

"Likewise. Say are you guys headed home for dinner or do you want to go out with me?"

"Well, we are headed to Sotto's. I promised Beth Italian. You should come too, Carson."

"Nah, I don't want to intrude. I'll just grab a pizza and head home."

"Nonsense, come with us. I insist," Beth told him. "Come meet our parents." She hooked her free hand in his elbow and walked between the two handsome officers to their group.

After introductions, they all insisted he join them at the restaurant so he finally agreed.

Beth expected a romantic atmosphere, quiet, Italian dinner. What she got was the opposite. Apparently, every recruit in the class decided it would be a good idea to eat Italian that night. Jack started out sitting next to her, but then a lot of his buddies wanted him to meet their parents so he ended up across the room visiting more than talking to her.

She tried to ignore the jealousy that hit her but it was hard.

"Beth?" Charlotte said, patting her hand.

"Yes?"

"Its good to see him, don't you think?"

"Of course, yes. If I was actually next to him, it would be better."

"He's made friends for life, brothers in blue, I've heard Tom say."

She watched him laughing with Carson and the others. "Is it going to be like this, Charlotte? Fighting for his attention?"

"Pardon me for saying so but you're not doing much fighting. Why don't you go over there with him? Some of his friends have spouses or girlfriends with them."

"He didn't seem as if he wanted me there. He just walked off. I need some air. Excuse me."

Beth stepped through the doors into the cool December air, taking a deep breath to calm her thoughts. She knew, had heard, that the relationships between police officers were very important. They worked together to keep others safe and needed to have a strong trust between them. The trust was built through spending time together, just like any relationship. Because she knew that, it hurt that she was reacting the way she was. Why couldn't she just accept it? Why couldn't she be happy and allow him to do what was needed?

"Beth?"

She wiped her cheeks and prepared to fake her happiness by plastering a smile on her face. She faked it but badly.

"Why are you out here?"

"Who told you I was?" She folded her arms in front of her.

"I looked over at the table and you were gone. So I asked Mom." She nodded.

"I think I'm going to get a cab and head home."

"You can't leave. This is an important night for me, for us."

"Jack, do you realize that the whole hour we've been in there, you sat next to me for ten minutes? This night isn't about us, at all. I expected it to be, but this is not."

"I don't know what to say."

"You don't need to say anything. I understand that this is what I have to look forward to. Watching you with your friends while I eat alone. I just have to wrap my mind around it." And her heart. It was killing her. "I'm going home. You enjoy your night." She kissed his cheek lightly and flagged down a cab within about ten seconds.

….

He went in to tell his family and Carson that he was headed home to talk to Beth and then he hopped in a cab too.

The fifteen minute ride to the condo took forever but finally he arrived.

He walked in the lobby, over to the elevator and took it up to the 8th floor. Then he stopped outside their door, saying a quick prayer for guidance.

He unlocked the door and shut it behind himself, taking in the darkened living room. He heard footsteps down the hall. "Beth?"

"Why aren't you at your party?" He watched her walk past him and into the kitchen. She looked in the freezer for a split second before choosing mint chocolate chip ice cream. She grabbed a spoon from the drawer and flopped down in the corner of the couch, knees up, effectively stopping him from getting close. "So? Why did you leave your own party?" she asked again.

"Why did you leave my party?"

"I told you already."

"Beth."

"Jack. I wanted to be with you. You. Not you and thirty four other recruits that I don't know. I didn't want to sit at a table and eat my ravioli while you have fun across the room."

She got up, not wanting ice cream anymore. She put it in the freezer, fighting her tears. She absolutely did not want to be mad at him. He didn't do anything wrong. She was treating him like he did though.

He touched her shoulders as she faced the freezer, leaving his hands there for a moment. "Honey, I'm sorry."

"No, Jack. You don't have anything to be sorry about. I don't know what's wrong with me."

He slipped his hands down her arms and wrapped her up against his chest. "This has been so hard on you. The last six months."

"Yeah. Sometimes, I didn't know how I would make it." She turned and gripped his arms, pulling him close. She could smell his aftershave and cologne and it was playing with her emotions. "Making major decisions about our life without you was so difficult. I didn't like it." She tipped her chin up and kissed him deeply, letting a sigh escape as they gave in for a moment. "I needed you. I needed you with me after being without you for so long and you were across the room."

"I'm here now."

"I'm so sorry, Jack. I was selfish and jealous."

"I forgive you and I understand. I wish you had stayed but I understand." He kissed her forehead and cheeks and then found her lips. She tasted so good and he couldn't get enough but he needed to stop himself. "I love you and I don't want you to feel the way you did tonight, but we need to talk about what my job is going to be like. I'm going to change first though, ok?"

"Yeah."

She made them each a cup of coffee, his with milk and her's with peppermint creamer, and waited on the couch.

Her phone buzzed as he walked in. "Hello?"

"Hi, Beth. Uh, dinner is done. Are we ok to come back or are you two still fighting?"

"We weren't fighting, Julie. Of course you can come back."

Jack sighed. Twelve days and she was all his. He could stay in their home and sleep in their bed and not have to drive all the way back to Hope Valley.

"Jack, are you tired?"

"Yeah, I guess." He moved closer to her and stared at the flames in the fireplace. "We really need to talk but I don't want to be interrupted in fifteen minutes."

"We could go in our room."

He stood and helped her up, grabbing his cup of coffee and led her into their room.

They sat on the bed, facing each other, sipping their coffee. "Ok, so you mentioned how I was with my friends from the Academy."

"Yes."

He grabbed her hand and squeezed it, rubbing his thumb over her knuckle.

"Those men are my friends but we relied on each other in training. We needed to work as a team, trusting that we had each other's back. That we would defend each other when the opportunity arises. There will be times when I need to spend time with them when I'm not working."

"Without your spouses?"

"Sometimes yes, but I promise I will try to include you when I can."

"Ok."

"Also, this may be hard for us. Our marriage will be brand new when I start my job. According to my commanding officer, he has to switch to allow himself to feel things with his family. But to do that, he needs time to decompress when he gets home. He says that he goes and runs a few miles on the treadmill while playing music really loud to drown out whatever happened at work. I'm not sure what will work for me, but I don't want you to take it personally if I need time alone before I can spend time with you. Nothing will ever change how much I love you." He touched her cheek and smiled. "I need you to be strong for me, ok?"

"Yeah. I'll be strong."

They heard a knock on the bedroom door. "Come in," Jack said.

"We are headed out," William told them.

Beth turned and got up and then walked over to him. "Night, Dad."

"Night, Beth. You ok?"

"I am. I'm sorry I left earlier."

"As long as you're ok now."

"I am. Thanks to Jack." She kissed her Dad's cheek. "I love you."

"Love you too." He walked over and shook Jack's hand. "I'm proud of you, son. Good job today."

"Thank you, sir."

William nodded. "Why don't you both come say goodbye to Grace and Julie?"

After they left, Tom and Charlotte and Tom Jr. assured them they didn't need to leave right away so they could talk as long as they needed.

…..

"You're quiet tonight, Gracie," William said, taking her hand as they lay in bed three hours later.

"I have a lot on my mind."

"Like what?"

"Something Beth asked me this afternoon." She didn't know how he would react so she hesitated.

"Go ahead."

"I told her I was proud of her and Jack and she asked if I'm proud of Julie. She said that Julie had grown up in the last five months and made good decisions for her and her son."

"What did you say?"

"What could I say, Will? I brushed it off. I told her that its between us and Julie."

"Ok then."

"No, it's not ok." Grace sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the bed and put her slippers on.

"Where are you going?"

"I need tea. I'd like it if you'd join me." She looked at him and then left the room.

Grace pulled down two tea cups from the cupboard and then put a tea bag in each one. Then she put a teapot of water on the stove to boil.

"Gracie."

She turned and crossed her arms. "I'm proud of Julie, Will."

"Ok."

"Is it? I feel like these last few months I've been expected to alienate her just because you are. That's not fair to expect that of me."

"I never told you to do that and I'm not alienating her."

"Yes you are! When did you last give her a hug, Will? Or kiss the top of her head and I say, "I love you, Jellybean?"

"Grace."

"You don't say more than two words to her and because I am your wife and am expected to support you, I have been doing the same." She poured the hot water over their tea bags. "I'm done, Will. I am proud of her and I want to feel that baby kick and buy them gifts and spoil him because he's my grandson. I want to take her to the doctor and hold her hand when she starts contracting."

"I won't stop you."

"Good. I want you to think about how your "jellybean" has aced her first semester of school and worked full time all while being pregnant. I want you to remember how she fits perfectly under your chin when you hug her. It's time to forgive her for making a decision that you don't agree with. It's time to show her you support her."