It was Saturday night and Jack actually had the night off so he lit some candles and ordered Chinese and turned the lights down.

He was excited to actually have an evening with Beth.

When she got home about four, everything was ready.

"Hey, babe," he said with a smile.

"Hey. What's going on?"

"I have the night off so this," he said with a gesture to the table, "is date night."

"Oh, honey. That's great but I have plans."

"Plans?"

"Yeah. Hanna and I are going bowling. I told you about it last week."

"Bowling?" He thought back to the conversations they had had. He stood and nodded, blowing out the candles.

"Jack, I'm sorry. You have evening shifts more often than not so I made that commitment."

"'It's ok." He put the food away, having lost his appetite.

"Why don't you come too?"

"To your ladies bowling thing? No, that's fine. You have fun."

"Jack, please come. I want you with me."

"Are you sure Hanna won't mind?"

"Of course she won't. She wants to meet you. This way she will see that I didn't make up how wonderful you are." She winked and walked into the bedroom to change.

"You have been talking to her about me?" he asked as he followed her.

"Yeah."

"Like what?"

"I told her about how we grew up together."

"Ok."

"And I told her how much I love you and how much I miss you. She's really helping me not be lonely."

He hated that she felt lonely. He wanted to be with her, it was just hard with their schedules. "Tonight, babe. Even though we won't be alone, we will be together and that's what I've wanted."

"You have?"

"Of course. I don't like being away from you, Beth."

She slipped a navy t-shirt over her jeans and stuck her hair in a messy ponytail.

"Nice shirt."

"You like it?"

The navy shirt had "LAPD LADIES" on the back. "Yeah."

"I'm proud to be your wife, Jack. I just want you to know that."

He sat on the bed and let that sink in. She had said it before but now she was proud to be with him? "Why?"

"Why? Oh, babe, so many reasons." She sat down next to him and took his hands.
"I'd be proud of you no matter what you chose to do, but you go out there every day, not knowing how dangerous the situations will be and you bravely face them. You are supporting our family and you don't complain, you just do what is asked of you. You do your best."

"I do this for you and our family that we will have one day. I want to protect you and keep you safe. I want to do that for others too."

She kissed him gently. "I'm proud of you for that too."

"I don't feel like I deserve that but I'm so grateful for it."

He stood up and took off his shirt to put on a looser LAPD t-shirt and then knelt down to take out his smaller gun that could be hidden in his waistband. He loaded it and then slipped it in the holster he put on behind his back.

"You think you'll need that in a bowling alley?"

"Yes. You never know. I'm always an officer, Beth, and that means carrying. It's not an option to be without it."

She nodded. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah."

….

They pulled into the parking lot of West LA Bowl and Grill. Half the building was a Bar and Grill and then the other half, a bowling alley.

The smells of steak and burgers made their mouths water. "Maybe we can get something to eat later?" he asked.

"We were going to get something during the game, but I can wait." He offered his hand as they walked in, surprising her a bit. "You sure?"

"Of course." She grabbed on and smiled.

When they walked in they headed to the table where Hanna and two other officer's wives were. "Hey everyone."

"Beth! Oh and I'm guessing you're Jack."

"Yes, ma'am. Hanna?"

"That's me. Its nice to meet you finally."

"You too. I hope you don't mind me tagging along."

"Of course not. Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't blow me off, Beth. You get a night off with your new husband and come bowling?"

"I made plans. I like to keep plans if possible."

"That's a good thing but come on. I would have understood. Why don't you both go home? Enjoy your evening."

Beth looked up at Jack and shrugged, leaving it to him. "Why don't we get our own lane, since we're already here? Then we can go to the restaurant later."

"Are you sure, Jack?"

"Yes. I want to be with you. It doesn't matter where."

"Ok. Let's get a lane." They walked to the counter and paid for the last lane available, the one by the LAPD LADIES.

They got their shoes and headed over to get started. He stepped up to the computer and inputted a name for player 1.

She giggled when she saw he had typed "Babe."

She walked up and bumped his hip with hers. "My turn to type." She typed "Honey" in the computer and saved it. "There. Perfect."

He kissed her lips, surprising her yet again. "A kiss for luck."

"Hon, you know we are in public, right?"

"Yeah. I don't care. Tonight I'm just "Honey.""

"With an LAPD t-shirt on."

"Yeah. Found it in my closet." He winked at her and put on his bowling shoes. So she did the same.

The first frame, they were tied, but then things changed. She pulled ahead. "Are you letting me win?" she put her hands on her hips and waited for his admission.

"Of course not."

"Jack Thornton, we have bowled hundreds of times and you always beat me. I'm 50 points ahead of you."

He shrugged and picked up his ball. "Must have been that good luck kiss."

"Mmhmm. Jack Thornton and his magical kisses."

He grinned and got a strike. "Want to just get a pizza from next door? They'll deliver."

"Sure. Extra pepperoni."

"On half."

"Please don't put onions and anchovies on your half, Jack. I can taste it on mine."

"Fine. I'll get ham and pineapple."

"Oh! Can I have a piece?"

"Beth, you always do that. Order your own and beg a piece of mine."

She smiled, kissed him, and shrugged. "Not if its onions and anchovies."

He shook his head and smiled and walked off to the bar to order.

Beth sat and sighed, a smile on her face.

"So, Beth?"

"Yeah, Hanna."

"You seem happy."

"I am. He's here. My Jack. He left his alter ego mostly at home and my fun, handsome, hunky husband is here."

"You guys are adorable."

"Thanks. Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Does Ricky carry a gun, even off duty?"

"He's never off duty."

"That's what Jack said."

"Personally it makes me feel safer when he's with me. He's doing it to make sure I'm safe. It's a loving thing in my opinion."

"Yeah."

"Hey, Beth! I got us some soda."

"Coming, honey." She flashed Hanna a smile and went back to her husband.

….

Down in Hope Valley

Tom lifted his arm and put it around Julie's shoulder as she started the movie. He honestly didn't know what they were going to watch. He was just enjoying having a "date night," even if it was in her parent's living room.

Julie was about nine weeks from her due date and had just told Ned she was going to need to cut back on her hours, doctor's orders. Her blood pressure had been slightly elevated and because she stood most of the day, her ankles were swollen most of the time.

Ned had been very understanding and even told her that she could take multiple breaks to put her feet up. So the next day, she had the day off and she was going to sit in a recliner and watch him paint the nursery.

He looked forward to doing something for the little guy and the woman he loved.

"Tom?"

He turned and smiled at her. "Yeah?"

"I asked if you wanted popcorn. I'm going to make some."

"Oh, sorry. I was daydreaming, I guess. I'll make it. You sit tight."

"I can do it."

"I know. You are very capable, but I like taking care of you."

"I appreciate that."

He kissed her forehead and got up to make the snack. He watched her from the kitchen, leaning her head against the back of the couch. He wanted to be that couch. Then he shook his head at himself. He was being silly. He would be there in just a couple.

He turned and watched the turntable turning in the microwave and completely missed that she was standing next to him.

"Tom?"

"Oh!" he yelped.

"You're jumpy and distracted tonight," she giggled, touching his arm.

"Yeah well, you're distracting," he teased, but serious at the same time.

"Me? What did I do?"

"Nothing. You're just so beautiful and pregnant and I love you."

"Oh." She smiled, her cheeks blushing deep. "I love you too."

He pushed the door button on the microwave with one hand and slipped his other hand around her waist to pull her close.

He really really wanted to marry this woman and be Lane's dad. So badly he could see it in his mind. He saw their simple wedding with just their immediate families. He saw her walking down the aisle toward him, a beautiful white dress flowing around her ankles. He saw Lane, held by Tom's mom Charlotte, a proud Nana. He knew, however, that it would need to wait. He only had a part time job and that wasn't enough to support a family. The other issue was he didn't know if he could wait a year and a half until school was over.

"Tom?"

He had drifted off again. "Yeah?"

"What's going on?"

"Nothing."

"You're somewhere else tonight."

"No. I promise I'm here. I'm only thinking about you."

She leaned up slightly and kissed him. "Let's go watch the movie."

….

Back in LA…

For Jack and Beth, date night, while not exactly what Jack envisioned, turned out very well. They finished their games of bowling and then went home to relax. They took a jacuzzi bath by candle light and then had a glass of wine before going to bed.

Jack lay awake while Beth slept, draped across his chest. He loved that they were there, in bed, at the same time. It rarely happened with their conflicting schedules.

He sighed and pulled her even closer, kissing her forehead and stroking her soft back with his fingertips. "I love you, Beth Thornton," he whispered. "Thank you for loving me."

She kissed his chin. "You're welcome."

"I thought you were asleep."

"Only halfway."

"Beth?"

"Hmm?"

"What if we had a baby?"

Her eyes popped open and she lifted herself off his chest, looking right in his eyes. "I thought you wanted to wait."

"Yeah."

"Hon, I think we should wait," she admitted. "We are still trying to get our marriage figured out. And I still have a year and a half before I graduate."

"Ok."

"Jack, are you really okay with it?"

"Yes."

"If you want to expand our family, we could maybe get a cat."

"A cat." Jack's reason for suggesting a baby was mostly because Beth was lonely. He thought mostly with his heart and not his brain. After hearing what she wanted, he agreed with her. "Yeah, a cat is good. Just promise you won't name it Fifi or something super girly."

"My strong, sexy cop husband doesn't want a cat named Fifi?" she laughed. "Ok, not Fifi."

"Thanks."

"How about Princess?"

"Uh no. How is that better than Fifi?"

"Bambi? Cookie? Oh! I got the perfect one, Jack. Our new furbaby will be named…Cupcake."

He laughed as she giggled, barely able to contain herself. It felt good to laugh with her. It felt like he was back where he belonged.

….

The next day was Sunday so Beth waited until Monday after her early class to run to the pet store and buy kitten supplies, including a huge cat tree. Then she drove to the Humane Society.

"Good afternoon, welcome to Tuttle Hills. What can I help you with?"

"Well, I was interested in a kitten."

"You are in luck. I'm Clara, by the way."

"Beth."

"Beth, as I was saying, you are in luck. Today is "buy an adult cat, get a kitten for free" day."

"Really?"

"Yes. We even have a mother and baby combo."

"Can I see them?"

"Of course."

….

An hour later, Beth opened the pet carrier she had purchased and set it in the dining room by the food and water bowls. Jazz, the mama, a beautiful tortoiseshell, and her baby, Mozart, a dark brown four month old were now home.

"Welcome home," she said quietly. She had fallen in love with them the moment she met them and now they were hers. And Jack's of course.