Christmas Eve

Mike sat at the dinner table at Jack and Elizabeth's, his arm around Julie as she held Finlea. His imagination was working overtime, thinking of how much he wanted it to be his and Julie's baby she held.

She looked up at him and smiled. "Hey," she said before kissing him.

"Hi." She didn't know it, but before the evening was over, he was going to propose. After dinner, he would have her over for dessert and a glass of wine and then pop the question. Her ring was in his pocket as it had been for the last few months, even before he had asked William for her hand.

"Jules?"

"Yeah?"

"I made us dessert for later. Want to come over?"

"Sure."

"Julie, I need to feed her so I'll be able to eat with everyone else."

Julie looked up at Elizabeth and nodded. "I'll come with you."

Once seated on Jack and Elizabeth's bed, Julie sighed. "What's on your mind?"

"I want what you have, Beth."

"You mean a baby?"

"A baby, a husband who loves me. I want to know that my future is going to be with him and no one else."

"Julie, Mike does love you."

"I know…it's just been a few weeks since he ate lunch with Dad and I figured by now he would have proposed. I guess I shouldn't assume that that was what their lunch was about but…I guess I'm just being impatient again."

"Julie, Mike loves you so much. I can see it in his eyes. You have nothing to worry about. I agree though, you need to be patient."

"Yeah." Julie leaned against Elizabeth's shoulder and watched her niece eating. "She's beautiful."

"I know. I can't believe she's mine." She kissed Julie's head. "You'll have a baby too, Jules. I know you will."

…..

Julie tried to ignore her impatience and be grateful Mike was with her and loved her. She also reminded herself that he had lost so much when Renee passed that it was probably difficult to think of marrying anyone else.

She watched him through dinner. He laughed and joked with Jack and Bill. He spoke respectfully to her parents all the while his hand rested on her thigh holding her hand. She squeezed gently to get his attention.

He turned his head and winked and then went back to chatting with the others. Jack got up once to change Fin's diaper after hearing her squeak in her nursery through the baby monitor.

Everything was wonderful and Julie realized that it was just the way she wanted it. She didn't need to worry.

….

"Hi, Finny. You need a clean diaper?" Jack picked her up from her crib and laid her on the changing table. "I love you, baby girl." He kissed her tiny cheek and then unsnapped her sleeper so he could remove her dirty diaper. Once she was all clean, he sat down on the bed and gazed at her. She gazed right back. "I wish I knew what you were thinking." He touched her cheek with his fingertip and smiled.

Elizabeth listened on the baby monitor to Jack as he had a chat with his now ten day old daughter. It tugged at her heart and made her love him even more than she thought possible.

After a moment, everyone stopped talking to listen to him sing. He loved that Tim McGraw song.

Gotta hold on easy as I let you go

Going to tell you how much I love you

Though you think you already know

I remember I thought you looked like an angel

Wrapped in pink, so soft and warm

You've had me wrapped around your finger

Since the day you were born

Partway through the song, she walked upstairs to see them, needing to see them.

You're beautiful baby, from the outside in

Chase your dreams but always know

The road that will lead you home again

Go on, take on this old world but to me

You know you'll always be my little girl

She stopped in the doorway and then walked in, setting the baby monitor on the dresser.

"Babe?"

"Jack." She walked over and wrapped her arms around him, settling her head between his neck and shoulder.

"What's wrong?"

She shook her head and held tighter. "I love you so much."

He broke from her for a moment to set Fin in her crib and then turned back to Elizabeth. "Nothing's wrong? You're crying, honey."

"I'm just…stupid hormones. Just hold me, ok?"

He looked at the baby monitor on the dresser as he gathered her in his arms. "You heard me singing?"

"Yeah. I've never loved you more."

"Which means everyone heard me singing," he said with a groan.

"Jack, it was the sweetest thing."

"I didn't realize they could hear." He picked his daughter up again and settled her in his arm. "Its amazing how much I love her, you know? I mean, I didn't carry her for nine months or feel her kick me and I've only known her for ten days, but she's got all of my heart." He felt a tear slip free. "Both of you do."

Elizabeth nodded, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I know."

….

After dinner, Mike and Julie drove back to his home for dessert. They walked inside and Mike immediately went to light the fireplace, casting a warm glow on the living room.

"Have a seat. I'll be right back."

She nodded and curled up under a blanket on the couch, watching the flames dance in the fireplace.

Mike cut two slices of German chocolate cake and poured two glasses of wine. "Hey, sweetie? Can you help?" She walked into the kitchen. "I don't have enough hands. Can you grab the wine?"

"Sure." She took their two glasses and followed him to the living room again.

Once they were settled, she spread the blanket over his lap too and took a bite. "Michael Hickam, who knew you could make German chocolate cake like this?"

"I have a sweet tooth. It helps to cook my own things."

"It's delicious." She reached up and kissed him. "Mmm. So are you."

"You looked good holding the baby today," he told her, pulling her closer. She looked back in his eyes and saw his love. She didn't know why she had doubted it. "Julie, I love you so much. I want us to be a family and have babies." He kissed her slowly and deeply, conveying his need. When he pulled away, he pulled a black box out of his pocket and opened it. "I never thought I would find someone to love again after Renee. I honestly didn't think it was possible. But shortly after I met you, I realized that I need you with me, sweetie. I'm so very grateful for you and your patience, but I'm ready to start our lives together. Will you marry me?"

"Yes," she said nodding. "Yes, I would be honored to be your wife." She put her cake down and turned, gasping at the ring he slid on her finger. "Oh, it's perfect." She shook her head at herself.

"What?"

"I'm not as patient as you think."

"What do you mean?"

"I knew you went to lunch with my father and I assumed the reason, so I've been impatiently waiting for this. I know now how silly that was."

"It wasn't silly but it doesn't matter now."

"No, I suppose it doesn't." She turned and leaned back against his chest. "When should we get married, babe?"

…

The next few weeks went by fast for Julie as she made plans for her wedding. They had chosen May 10th as the date. As much as her parents wanted to make it fancy, she and Mike agreed to be married at the Thatcher estate in Madison but the wedding would be simple. No lavish dinner, just hors d'oeuvres and dancing. She would have Clara make her dress to save money and her flowers were going to be just pink roses. She did talk Mike into allowing William to pay for their honeymoon to Hawaii.

Those same weeks also flew for Elizabeth. She loved staying at home with Finlea. She loved it so much she almost didn't miss teaching. Almost. Regardless, she was grateful she wouldn't have to go back to work until September when Fin was older.

Elizabeth dressed Finlea and herself, started the car, and shot Jack a text. He was on call this week.

"Hey, babe."

"Hi!" she received about five seconds later.

"Want to meet me for coffee at The Bean?"

"Yes! I miss you both!"

She laughed at his exclamations. "Ok, see u in 30?"

"I'll be in our booth. Love u!"

"Love u back."

She put a little makeup on and tied her hair back. Then she made sure she had the diaper bag and the baby sling and headed out to the car.

About halfway to town, Fin started crying. "Aww, sweetheart. It's ok. We are almost there."

She drove for a few more minutes until she found a good place to stop in a parking lot. The poor baby was still upset so she hopped out and went around to the back door.

She checked her diaper and it was fine so she assumed she was hungry. It had only been an hour but she didn't know what else it could be.

She took her back up front and got in the driver's side, grateful for parking lots. Once she was eating she pushed the call button on the dash. "Call Jack."

"Hey," Jack answered.

"Hi, babe. Your daughter was hungry, so I'm going to be a few minutes late."

"Ok. Where are you?"

"The parking lot where the old convenience store used to be."

"That's not the best side of town, babe."

"Well, Fin had already been crying for ten minutes. I checked her diaper and it turned out she was hungry. I had to stay and feed her."

"Of course you did. I'm sorry, hon. I'm just being protective I guess."

"Thank you for that."

About ten minutes later, she was asleep and Elizabeth was on her way again.

When they pulled up in front, Jack walked out and met her at the car. "Hi."

"Hi." She stepped out of the car and right in to Jack's arms. "I missed you." It was half way through his week on call and it was so hard to sleep apart. He smiled and kissed her hello, and then retrieved the car seat from the back.

The coffee date was far from the flirty romantic date she wanted. Not only did everyone that passed by want to see the baby and ask a hundred questions, but Jack got called to an emergency half way through. So she finished her decaf coffee alone and headed to the lake house to see Charlotte.

"Mom, you here?" Elizabeth called as she stepped in the house minutes later.

"Be right out, sweetie." Elizabeth sat on the couch and stared down at Fin, sleeping soundly. "Hi, Elizabeth. It's good to see you."

"Hi. We just thought we'd come for a visit."

"I'm glad you did. I've been missing both of you." Elizabeth handed the baby to Charlotte and settled back on the couch. "Something on your mind?"

"I'm ok."

"Let's see, Jack's on call this week so I'm guessing you're missing him."

"I am."

"Have you guys gone out since Fin was born?"

"No. I can't leave her, Mom. She needs to nurse."

"Elizabeth, if I recall, Clara bought you a breast pump and bottles. I'm pretty sure that would make it possible for you to have more freedom than you're taking right now."

"I've just been concentrating on feeding her myself. I want to wait until she's older to start her on bottles."

"Well, what about date night in?"

"I guess that would work. I could plan something."

"I think it's a good idea. Being a newlywed myself, I understand the need to connect with my spouse."

Elizabeth did feel a bit disconnected from Jack. Fin was almost six weeks old and they hadn't had much time to even have an uninterrupted conversation, let alone a date.

"Date night in," Elizabeth mumbled. "Yeah. Good idea."

….

"Jack?"

"Yeah, bro?" Jack looked up from his book to look at Mike across the room. They were on call together and it was late. They both should have been asleep but both were thinking of their Thatcher women, or in Jack's case, former Thatcher.

"Will you be my best man?"

"Of course, I'd love to, Mike."

"Good. Thank you."

"You getting nervous?"

"No. I mean we have three months."

"You've been married before, but for me, that last few weeks felt like forever."

"It does seem to be going slow." Mike's phone rang and he smiled down at it. "Hi, sweetie." He took his phone and left the room leaving Jack alone.

So, he took out his own phone, wanting to talk to Elizabeth but he figured she was asleep since it was around midnight. So, instead, he flipped through pictures Elizabeth had sent him over the last five days. "I miss you, Finny," he whispered, touching her cheek on his screen. His heart ached to be with them.

He looked down as his phone chimed. "U awake?"

"Yes. Call me," he told her.

A few seconds later she did just that. "Hey, babe."

"I miss you, Elizabeth. I wish I was there."

"I wish you were too."

"Where are you?"

"At home."

"I know, but where? I want to imagine you."

Elizabeth giggled. "Uh, I'm in bed, snuggling with your pillow."

"My pillow?"

"Yeah, it smells like you. Honestly it's keeping me from going crazy missing you."

Jack was silent for a moment. "Elizabeth, this sleeping apart thing is not what I want."

"I know, only two more nights, though."

"Yeah."

"I need to sleep but, I'll send you something to keep you company."

"Ok, I love you, Elizabeth. Kiss Finny for me."

"I will. I love you too."

A few moments after they hung up, his phone chimed. He opened the attachment she sent. He smiled, loving her so much for it. She had slipped into her angel tank top and shorts and posed for him. "Two more nights," he sighed, closing his eyes.