Hi Hearties,

Just a short chapter here to finish off Christmas. I'd just like to say thank you to Elisabeth Pierce for reviewing this chapter. I chopped and changed parts of this chapter a lot and I am thankful to have someone to bounce ideas off. The chapter has ended up shorter than intended but I think it's made it short and sweet rather than longer and not entirely what I wanted Christmas to quite be.

I hope you enjoy it. Please leave a review if you have time

Chapter 6

Christmas Evening

"You almost ready?" Jack called out to Elizabeth who was upstairs getting ready to go out to Abigail's for Christmas dinner.

"Almost." She called back as Jack straightened his tie once more while patiently waiting.

"You look amazing." Jack said as he watched Elizabeth make her way down the stairs in a very elegant dress.

"Thank you." She said as she took Jack's hand that he had offered out to her.

Elizabeth smoothed her hand down the front of Jack's coat to straighten it before she looked back up at him and leaned in and gave him a kiss.

"Shall we go?" He asked giving her a smile.

Elizabeth nodded and they headed for the door.

Jack placed her coat over her shoulders as she slipped her arms into the sleeves. He then buttoned up the front of her coat and she waited while giving him a smile.

He then opened the door allowing her to exit before following close behind.

Elizabeth reached for Jack's hand and they walked briskly through the cold night air over to Abigail's.

At Abigail's Café…

"I'm so glad you both came." Abigail said warmly welcoming Jack and Elizabeth into the café.

Abigail had moved out most of the tables and now had one long table down the centre of the room. The entire café was decked out with Christmas decorations and candles which gave the room a warm glow.

"It looks like you've been busy, this is lovely Abigail." Elizabeth said as she was welcomed with a warm hug from Abigail.

"Well you two, come in and make yourselves comfortable. I just have to head back into the kitchen to check on the stove, I won't be long."

"Let me know if you need some help." Elizabeth offered.

"I wouldn't dare." She said giving Elizabeth a smile. "I wouldn't take you away from your husband. You've only been married three days, you're still honeymooners." She said giving Jack's arm a pat before heading off into the kitchen.

Jack and Elizabeth made their way over to the table but didn't make it far before Rosemary came over to greet them.

"Oh, it's so good to see you. Christmas wouldn't be the same without the both of you here."

"Thank you Rosemary." Elizabeth replied.

"Look at you, you look like you're glowing." Rosemary exclaimed.

"I do...?" Elizabeth asked surprised. She had only been married three days, surely people wouldn't be implying she's pregnant already.

"Yes, look at the two of you. You both certainly light up the room up. Being married certainly agrees with you" Rosemary exclaimed and Elizabeth sighed with relief realising the conversation with Rosemary wasn't going to get awkward.

"It certainly does Rosie." Jack said wrapping his arm around Elizabeth.

"Well I informed Abigail that I would help her out in the kitchen. Why don't you two mingle and I'll see you soon." Rosemary said and she headed off to the kitchen.

Jack and Elizabeth headed over to the table and Jack pulled out a seat for Elizabeth before seating himself.

About 20 minutes later…

Abigail noticed Jack mingling with the men and she made her way over to Elizabeth.

"Elizabeth" Abigail said quietly to Elizabeth. "Rosemary's outside by herself, I suspect she needs a woman to woman talk. I was wondering if you wanted to come out with me?"

"I'd be more than happy to." Elizabeth stated and the two women headed out the front door of the café.

Abigail and Elizabeth found Rosemary sitting out on the front porch of the café quietly watching the snow fall.

"Rosemary are you alright? You've been somewhat quiet tonight and you don't quite seem yourself." Abigail inquired.

"I just came out to get some air. This pregnancy is leaving me rather fatigued lately." Rosemary exclaimed as she placed her hands over her stomach.

"But it's not really that is it?" Abigail said encouragin her to continue.

"Oh dear. I'm not so sure about it all this." She replied looking down at her stomach. "I mean I want this baby but I'm not so sure about being a Mother."

"Rosemary, do you remember when you got cold feet when you realised Lee's interest in courting you started to get quite serious?" Abigail stated and Rosemary nodded. "Well think of it like that, you were cautious about the idea but look at you now."

Rosemary pondered on the thought for a moment but didn't appear to look too consoled at the idea.

"You know me, I love children but I don't know what to do with the sticky little things. I even get them to sleep during school hours because I'm so lost at what to do with them!" She worriedly exclaimed.

"Rosemary, the most important thing you just said is that you love children." Abigail stated and Rosemary nodded as she started thinking about all the children in Hope Valley she cared about.

"Think about how much you love Lee. Isn't the idea of being the woman who gets to be the Mother of his child seem pretty special?" Elizabeth suggested while thoughts of having children with Jack ran through the back of her mind.

"Yes, it does." Rosemary said smiling.

"Then as long as you love this child, and I know you will, being a Mother will come naturally to you. Trust me, when you hold that baby in your arms you will start to realise." Abigail gently informed her.

Rosemary quietly nodded and both Abigail and Elizabeth gave her a hug.

"Maybe you need to discuss some of these things with Lee?" Abigail suggested and Rosemary quietly nodded her head.

"I think I'll go in and talk to him now."

Rosemary slowly got up out of her chair and headed back inside to find Lee.

"I think we should head inside ourselves. It's chilly out here." Abigail suggested and the two women went back into the café.

"I think someone's looking for you." Abigail said noticing Jack scan then room before his eyes stopped on Elizabeth. Elizabeth followed Abigail's gaze until she noticed Jack looking over at her. "And that is my cue to leave." Abigail said noticing the looks between Jack and Elizabeth.

"Oh, Abigail don't feel you have to."

"It's alright. I understand." She said giving Elizabeth a small smile and she headed off into the kitchen.

"Hi." Jack said as he reached her side. "I missed you."

"I've been right here the whole time." Elizabeth said grinning.

"Yes, but you seemed so far away." Jack said and Elizabeth leant in and kissed him.

"Is that better?" She asked.

"A little."

"Well I think it's the best I can do here." She said looking around noticing they weren't alone. "You'll have to wait till we get home." She whispered in his ear and he raised an eyebrow and gave her a smile.

Jack and Elizabeth noticed a commotion across the room.

Lee swung Rosemary around in his arms before gently placing her down and kissing her on her lips.

"I wonder what that's about."

"I have an inkling it has something to do with Rosemary's impending baby." Elizabeth said smiling.

"How is Rosie handling it?"

"She seems to be warming to the idea."

"Seems to be?" Jack queried.

"You know Rosemary, always so melodramatic and worrying about things she really doesn't need to."

Jack nodded.

"So, would you be worried about having a baby?" Jack inquired.

Elizabeth shook her head.

"I could never worry about the idea of having your baby."

"Good, because the idea somewhat excites me."

"Really?" Elizabeth asks interested.

"Of course. You carrying our child would make me happier than you could imagine."

"I don't know, I could imagine I'd be pretty happy myself."

Jack then took Elizabeth's hand and guided her over towards the kitchen to somewhere more private.

She stood with her back to the wall and gave Jack a smile before pulling at his shirt collar. Jack placed his arms around her waist and he leaned in and kissed her. It was gentle at first but then became more passionate.

"Oh, sorry." Abigail said starting to back out of the kitchen and Jack and Elizabeth quickly broke apart. "I'll leave you two alone." She said giving them a knowing grin. "Don't be too long though, I'm about to serve dinner."

Elizabeth blushed and once Abigail left the room they both laughed.

"Come on, we'll save that for later." Jack stated slyly and Elizabeth gave him a grin.

They took each other's hand and headed back out to the dining room.

"If everyone would like to take a seat. I think we'll begin." Abigail announced.

"I would really like to thank you all for coming tonight. I thought before we start dinner we could all share a little about what we're thankful for this year. Frank, maybe you would like to start and we'll go around the table." Abigail said smiling and Frank nodded.

"I'm thankful that the Lord has brought us all together tonight. We have a special community of people here in Hope Valley and it's a true blessing to see the fruits of your labours on a day to day basis. Each one of you has important talents in which you bring to enrich this town, it's a real blessing to witness and be a part of this community."

"Cody." Abigail nodded at him, encouraging him to go next.

"I am thankful that Miss Abigail is now my Mum." He said grinning at Abigail and she gave him a proud smile in return. "And I'm also thankful for Miss That… Mrs Thornton." He said correcting himself. "She's the best teacher in the world." Cody said giving Elizabeth a small smile and she smiled in return.

Cody gave Becky a small nudge encouraging her to go next.

"I'm glad to be back home with Cody and Mum in Hope Valley for the holidays." She said smiling at her brother and Abigail. "It's a blessing to have somewhere to return that I can call home."

"I'm thankful to have all of you as new friends." Faith started. "You've been so kind to me since I arrived in Hope Valley and I feel so blessed that you welcomed me to share Christmas with you all."

Faith then looked over at Carson.

"I'm thankful that although my arrival in Hope Valley began with a shaky start, you placed your trust in me and have welcomed me into your community."

"I'm just glad Jack's back so I can soon relinquish my duties as Sheriff." Bill said and everyone had a laugh.

"I am thankful that Rosemary is with child and we will be expecting baby Coulter to be here in a few weeks now." Lee said smiling at his wife.

"I'm thankful for a good husband and good friends who ground me when need be." Rosemary started as she looked from Abigail to Elizabeth and back to Lee. "And for the blessing of having a baby on the way."

Rosemary then nodded at Elizabeth for her to go next.

"I am glad that Jack asked me to be his wife, and also that he returned home in time for Christmas" Elizabeth said and then looked over at Jack and gave him a small smile and he placed a kiss on her cheek.

"I am pleased she said yes." Jack started and everyone shared a small laugh. "And that I was able to return home and make her my wife before Christmas. She is the best Christmas present I could have ever asked for." He said smiling at Elizabeth and she wrapped her arm around his and pulled him a little closer while smiling back at him.

"I'm thankful that I got to see two of my best friends finally get married." Abigail started while looking over at the happy couple. "I'm also thankful to have Becky and Cody, it is a blessing to have children in my home again. I'm also pleased you all came here tonight so we could celebrate this special holiday in which we are brought together to remember the birth of Christ. That is something to be truly thankful for every day. I'm also thankful for each one of you here tonight, it's a blessing to have just one good friend but I have many." Abigail said smiling. "And without further ado, please help yourselves before the food gets cold."

Later that evening back at the row house…

"I'm really glad we went now Jack."

"You considered not going?"

"We did weigh up whether we should go or not, and well we did only just return from our honeymoon."

"So you thought of reasons as to why we may not have gone?" He questioned her suggestively while pulling her closer and giving her a grin.

"Maybe." She stated modestly.

"So are you going to tell me?"

"Maybe I could just show you…"

Elizabeth said while wrapping her arms around Jack's neck and placing a kiss on his lips…

To be continued…