FOUR MONTHS LATER, MID DECEMBER

"Uh, babe. Can you help me up, please?" she called. Jack was in the bathroom and she had been trying unsuccessfully to get her very pregnant body out of bed.

"One second, babe."

"I really need to pee, so half a second would be great, if we want to prevent flooding the room." As her due date got closer, her patience with everything lessened.

"Ok, coming." Jack walked out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist. Ordinarily, the sight of his bare chest with drips of water from his hair would have excited her but, currently, it annoyed her.

"Do you need to walk around here looking so perfect when I look like I do?"

Jack bit his tongue to keep from voicing his opinion. Telling her she was beautiful at this point would have gotten an entirely different reaction than it had months before.

"There you go, sweetie." He walked with her to the bathroom so he could finish getting dressed but she thought he was trying to help her.

"I can pee on my own. Been doing it since I was three."

He took his clothes and left the room because apparently his presence was annoying her.

"Where are you going?"

"Just giving you privacy."

"I wouldn't want to look at me either."

He popped back in. "Ok, stop! Stop saying those things, Elizabeth. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on, especially now. You are carrying my child and if I could take away how miserable you seem to be, I would. Instead, I'm just trying to help you get through this."

"I'm sorry." A tear ran down her cheek. She really was miserable.

"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

"You have every right to say something. I have been awful to you." She sighed and then looked up. "Jack, I'm stuck. Can you help me up?" He couldn't help it. He laughed. The thought of her stuck on the toilet made him happy. "Jack? Are you done laughing? This really is quite embarrassing."

He continued to chuckle as he helped her up. "Sorry I laughed, but you have to admit…"

Once standing, she noticed he was still without clothing except for his towel. He was right in front of her. She touched his chest, her fingertips grazing his muscles. "You are a beautiful man, Jack Thornton."

He hesitated to kiss her, regardless of the look in her eyes. It had been awhile since he allowed himself to entertain those feelings because she seemed uninterested. Now, she was definitely interested.

She reached up and touched his cheek. She wanted to kiss him, really kiss him, but his lips somehow seemed further away.

His phone rang in the other room. "I should get that."

"Ok." Moment over. Back to reality.

"Babe, your parents plane will be landing in an hour. You want to come with me to pick them up?"

"Sure. If we can stop at The Bean." She brushed her teeth and tied her unruly curls into a messy ponytail while Jack got dressed.

"Yep, but we need to go very soon. I'll go start the car."

She sighed and went to get dressed. She pulled on his Hunter Creek Emergency Services t-shirt and her maternity yoga pants and called it good enough. She walked to the top of the stairs and waited for Jack. She could no longer see her feet so she didn't feel comfortable walking down the stairs on her own.

"Ready, babe?"

"Yeah, can you help me?"

"You need socks, hon. I'll get them. You stay put, please."

He returned a few seconds later and knelt down. "Give me your foot, please." She held on to his shoulder as he put her socks on her feet and then stood up.

"Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you really think I'm beautiful?" She certainly felt far from it.

He gently leaned her back against the wall and kissed her deeply, slipping his hands around her back to pull her closer.

"Oh, I can't breathe," she laughed. "Baby…takes up lung…space."

"We should go if you want coffee."

"I want to stay here…my parents can rent a car."

He laughed, kissed her again, and then helped her down the stairs and into her boots.

….

They got coffee and breakfast with her parents instead of stopping beforehand.

Jack helped her out of the car and held her hand as they walked inside. "Jack, can you get me a bacon and egg croissant and a frozen mocha? I need to pee."

"Sure."

"Mom, will you go with me?"

"Yes, dear."

"Doing ok, son?" William asked. "You seem stressed."

"Lets just say, I'll be happy when she isn't pregnant anymore."

William laughed. "Moody?"

"Among other things. I find that biting my tongue keeps me out of trouble."

"You are doing fine, it seems. It won't be long now."

"Yeah. I'm relieved you and Grace are here. Maybe it will help take some pressure off me. I do need to work tonight."

"Do what you need to do. Grace and I are here for a reason."

William's phone rang. He stepped out of line to answer it and came back a few moments later. "That was Mike Hickam."

"Oh?" Jack tried to sound innocent but he knew what Mike had planned.

"Yes. He wants to meet me for lunch today."

"That sounds nice."

"Are he and Julie that serious?"

"From what I can see, they are." He saw William's expression and was instantly grateful he wasn't in Mike's position anymore. "Sir, Mike is my best friend and he treats Julie very well. I couldn't think of a better man for her."

"Good to know."

"Good morning, cowboy," Clara greeted.

"Good morning, Clara."

…..

Mike adjusted his tie once more and then decided to take it off. He wanted to make a good impression but he wasn't going to put on a show. A tie didn't make him comfortable and if the fact he didn't wear one made William Thatcher dislike him, they had another problem. He was going to be himself. That was Jack's advice. Jack knew what he was talking about too. He'd been through it before.

"Well, here we go," he said to himself as he grabbed his keys and headed over to Jack and Elizabeth's to pick him up.

The twenty minute drive took forever. When he finally pulled up to the house he had to take a few deep breaths to calm himself.

William walked out. Mike jumped out to shake his hand. "Hello, sir. Merry Christmas."

"You too, Mike. Where are we headed?"

"Well, if you like Chinese, there's a great restaurant in town, but if not, we can drive to Billings and there's a good steakhouse."

"Well, Chinese is good. Let's stay close."

"Very good."

"This is a nice truck, Mike."

"Thank you. I just bought it a few months back."

The small talk continued the short drive into town. Once they were seated and had placed their orders, Mike became serious.

"I'm sure you've guessed why I wanted to meet with you."

"I have some thoughts, yes."

"Sir, about eighteen months ago, I lost my wife Renee to cancer."

"I'm so sorry. I can't imagine."

"Thank you. It was something I didn't think I would survive. When I met Julie, I was struggling. It had only been nine months at that point and Julie was still in a relationship but we became friends. I needed her, sir."

William nodded.

"My wife wrote me a letter and told me that she didn't want me to be alone. She wanted me to find someone and have the family she and I couldn't have."

William looked at the man in front of him. He had lost a spouse and William could not imagine how difficult it must have been for him. He seemed kind and gentle and honest.

"Mike, I can see you love my daughter."

"I do, sir. Very much. She's helped me find love again but more than that, she gave me back my hope. I had lost it along with everything else."

William looked up as the waitress brought their food.

"Sir, I want to marry her. I need her in my life like I need to breathe. I would love it if I could have your blessing."

….

Elizabeth sat on the bed in her and Jack's room, folding laundry. Her Mom was keeping her company. "So what is this grandchild of mine going to be named?"

Elizabeth had decided that Grace as a middle name went better with Finlea than Charlotte did. She talked to Jack and he agreed. "Well, if it's a girl we like the name Finlea Grace."

"Oh! Sweetheart, that is a lovely name." Her eyes teared as she thought about her first grandchild having her name. "If it's a boy?"

"Jack's father's name was Thomas Joseph so we are going with Joseph Thomas."

Grace stood up and hugged her daughter. "I love you, Beth, so much. I cannot wait to meet this baby." Elizabeth watched her mother bend down and kiss her tummy. Grace Thatcher had never been a very affectionate person but seeing her loving her grandchild before it was even born showed a different side.

"I love you too, Mom."

Elizabeth took her hand and placed it on her tummy where the baby was kicking. Grace's smile when she felt the kick was priceless.

…..

About an hour later, Julie showed up at the house with Clara, Zane, and Abigail. Then a few moments after that, Charlotte and a few of Elizabeth's teacher friends from school walked in.

"Its so good to see all of you." She glanced at the bags in their hands.

"We thought you could use a baby shower," Julie told her.

"Oh, thank you. This is wonderful."

Jack and Pete walked in with a large package and some food. Then Bill walked in with a platter of chocolate croissants.

They insisted Elizabeth sit down while they did everything for her. Clara brought her a plate of fruit and salad. Jack brought a bottle of water and a croissant. Then after they all ate, Julie handed her gifts.

"We all got together and bought one big gift in addition to the individual ones," Julie told her.

As this was going on, William and Mike walked in. Grace walked over and whispered something to William and he disappeared.

Elizabeth and Jack opened the large gift. "Oh, my," Elizabeth whispered. It was a jogging stroller. She knew it was mostly something Jack would use because he was the runner, but it would be good to have to walk around town with. "Thank you so much."

Jack loved seeing her happy. He knew that she didn't feel good and she felt less than beautiful so seeing her laughing and smiling made him happy too.

He got up and left the room for his gift. He came back with a bouquet of pink roses and a small box.

Everyone quieted down as he knelt on the floor in front of her. "Elizabeth, I love you so much, sweetheart. Seeing what you've gone through in the last nine months only made me love and respect you more. There are fifteen roses here, one for each month I've known you and loved you."

"Oh, babe," she whispered. "I love you too." She leaned forward to hug him and pulled him closer, her tummy keeping them further apart then she wanted.

"What's in the box?" Julie yelled from across the room. She had wandered over to Mike and wrapped her arms around his waist, watching the romantic moment in front of them.

Elizabeth laughed and opened the box. "Jack, sweetie? It's beautiful." She held up a delicate silver necklace with three interlocking rings. He fastened it around her neck and was rewarded with a gentle kiss. "I don't deserve you," she told him, overwhelmed by everything.

"Lets open more gifts so we can get out of your hair," Abigail told them.

Jack took a turn opening gifts that included sleepers, onesie's, a breast pump, diapers, and a cool contraption to keep all their bottles and baby items organized on the counter.

….

Jack sat on the bed by her feet, massaging them as she relaxed against the pillows. "Babe, how are you feeling?"

"Good, why?"

"Well, your feet are a little swollen. Just wondering if you had a headache or if your stomach is upset?"

"No, I'm just tired. Are you worried?"

"I guess a bit. We see Dr. Brocker tomorrow so he'll let us know if there's anything to worry about."

"Oww, baby!" She rubbed her rib. "Be nice to me. It's time for bed now." Jack smiled at her. "What?"

"I love you."

"Because I got kicked?"

"Because you told our unborn baby that it's time for bed."

"Well, it is. In fact, I think it's time for us to go to bed too, cowboy. How about you help me get up so I can get changed and pee for the hundredth time today?"

"Your wish is my command, beautiful."

A few moments later, she stood in front of the sink brushing her teeth. The baby was kneeing her. "Jack, look at this." She moved her t-shirt up so he could see her tummy. "Pretty sure this is the baby's knee." He felt the bump sticking out of her side.

"Good grief. Does that hurt?"

"Kind of. It's uncomfortable." She shook her head and laughed. "Ow." She rubbed her back where she felt a twinge of pain. It wasn't abnormal for her to feel that pain. It happened frequently so she didn't think much of it and they went to bed like normal.

However, she didn't sleep. She paid attention to the pains for the next few hours. When she got up around one o'clock to use the bathroom again, she was still experiencing them. "Jack?"

"Hm?"

"I need you to be awake, please." He opened his eyes and looked at her.

"I'm awake." He got out of bed and went around to her side of the bed. "What's going on?"