Hi Hearties,

I'm sure you're all excited about HFR3 starting soon! I thought I'd try get this up before our social media gets crazy over the weekend.

I had a bit of a break this week and decided to read some fic rather than write. I did manage to write this New Year's Day chapter though and I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 9

Elizabeth woke to Jack's arm resting over her waist and his warm breath on her neck. She opened her eyes and smiled as she watched him sleep.

She didn't want to wake him so she quietly relaxed and thought over the past week's events. A lot had certainly happened. Jack had surprised her by returning from the Northern Territories and was home indefinitely, they'd married a few days later and then gone out to the cabin in the forest for their honeymoon before arriving home the day before Christmas. They'd spent a wonderful time adjusting to married life together over the Christmas period and she couldn't have been happier.

Elizabeth's mind wandered as she remembered how Billy Hamilton had shown up in town and had tried to pursue her. She was grateful Jack had intervened and 'taken care' of Billy and escorted him to Cape Fullerton before arriving home on New Year's Eve.

Elizabeth let her mind linger on the events from the previous night, New Year's Eve had been wonderful. She recalled the time they spent out in the row boat and how Jack lost an oar in the pond. She smiled to herself as she thought about how Lee had to come out and save them. They then rang in the New Year at the bon fire by the pond.

The past twelve days had certainly been busy and was full of blessings.

Elizabeth gazed over at the curtains and noticed the bright light streaming in. It appeared to be getting late but she still thought it best to let Jack sleep, he would be returning back to work in a few days.

It was then however she noticed something small crawling up the edge of the bedpost.

"Jack!" She called out as she quickly jumped up on her feet. She pulled the bed sheets with her and her other hand grabbed for Jack's as she tried to pull him up and away from the offending insect.

"What? What's wrong?" He asked quickly sitting up in the bed.

Elizabeth pointed towards the bedpost and his eyes followed the direction of her hand.

"A little spider?" He said trying to stifle a laugh.

"Yes! Jack, get rid of it!" She said exasperated and moved further down the end of the bed.

Jack took the spider in his hand, got out of bed and then headed down stairs. When he returned to the bedroom he laughed as he found Elizabeth still standing on the bed, tangled up in the bed sheet.

"What? You know I don't like spiders!" She exclaimed and Jack walked up to the side of the bed and looked up at her.

"I know I'm sorry, but you're just so cute." He said grinning and he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down from the bed before giving her a quick kiss.

Her mood settled as she heard his words and felt his warm lips on hers. She gave him a small smile and her fear of the spider and frustration at Jack laughing at her were lost.

Jack noticing her relax, leaned in again and kissed her gently on the lips and she responded just as affectionately.

"So, what would you like to do today?" He asked.

"You promised me a walk out to our land this week."

"I did but I wasn't expecting it to be this cold."

"I'll be fine. I've been waiting days to go Jack."

"Yes, but you know I have reservations about taking you out in this weather again after what happened Christmas Day."

"We were out on the pond and it was really cold, I'll be fine this time. You wouldn't deny me a walk with my handsome husband, would you?"

Jack smiled hearing her words but a look of concern was still apparent on his face.

"Please?" She said pleading with him and she reached her hand up and rested it on his jawline. She wrapped her other arm around his waist and the sheet which was wrapped around her dropped to the floor.

"Elizabeth…" He said, his voice trailing off. "You are somewhat convincing."

"Only somewhat?"

"Maybe if you convinced me a little more." He said, his voice now rugged and he knew he was already past the point of being able to say no to her.

Without any further encouragement Elizabeth took his hand and she pulled him down on to the bed with her.

A couple of hours later

Jack and Elizabeth walked hand in hand as they made their way up a rise on the land and they stopped.

"You didn't tell me you'd already started building Jack!" She said as she noticed foundations had been laid on top of the rise.

"Well technically I haven't started but I did inform Lee to get a start on it as soon as possible."

Elizabeth grinned and tightened her hold on Jack's arm and pulled him closer. Jack noticed she was clearly excited and as she came closer he placed a kiss on her temple.

"We're going to have a beautiful view up here." She said looking out over the land.

"I already have a beautiful view right here." He said looking over the features on her face and she turned to look at him before giving him a small smile.

Elizabeth kissed him gently on the cheek and wrapped her arm around his before looking back over at the foundations and the view.

"So, you want me to show you where everything is going to be?" Jack asked.

"I would." She said excitedly and they headed closer to the foundations that would soon hold their house.

"This is where the kitchen will be, and over here will be the parlour." Jack said while motioning with his hand to where things would be.

"A parlour?" Elizabeth grinned and Jack nodded.

"Down here will be the bathroom."

"An indoor bathroom?" She asked sounding surprised.

"I thought you'd appreciate it in the winter."

"I will. A warm bath sounds heavenly right now." She said while shivering.

"Maybe I should take you home." He said remembering how cold she can easily get. He had spent so many months out in the cold with the other Mounties that he'd gotten used to the cold himself.

"We're here now Jack, just a little longer. I want to hear all about the house."

"Alright. So, here is where the stairway will be." He said continuing.

"The stairway? There's going to be an upstairs? This house is going to be huge Jack."

"Well it's not going to be much in comparison to what you're used to in Hamilton but it's certainly going to be much larger and more comfortable than the row house."

"Jack, you could have built me a little cabin and I would have been happy, as long as you are with me."

"I honestly know you would have been Elizabeth, but I really want to give you this house. It may be somewhat extravagant for Hope Valley but I'm putting the work in myself and Lee's giving us a great deal on the timber so I wanted to do this for you."

"Thank you. It's more than what I dreamed it would be." Elizabeth exclaimed in awe.

"Well I haven't even finished yet."

"So, what will be up the stairs?" She enquired, encouraging Jack to continue.

"Well up there will be our room, and off to the side I plan to build you a large wardrobe for all your dresses."

"All my dresses?" Elizabeth queried.

"You have a lot of clothes. I thought you'd appreciate somewhere to store them."

"You think I have a lot of clothes?" She asked and Jack nodded.

"And you always look so beautiful in them. I thought you'd like a space for them rather than storing them in the trunks like you do at the row house." Jack suggested as he started to wonder where this conversation was heading.

"You think I have too many clothes like I'm some sort of princess?"

"What? I never said that." Jack said defensively.

"Well that's certainly the impression I'm getting."

"Elizabeth, don't you think you're being slightly irrational?"

"So now I'm irrational!?"

"What is going on here?" Jack asked puzzled. "I just told you I'm going to build you a beautiful wardrobe. I thought you'd appreciate it."

"This isn't about the wardrobe." She said now feeling frustrated and defensive.

"Im guessing not, and I certainly have no idea what this is about."

"I want to go home." Elizabeth stated and turned around and headed back towards the row house.

Jack ran his hands through his hair and wondered what was going on.

"Elizabeth, wait!" He called out as he hurried off after her.

They both walked in silence the entire way home. Jack rushed to open the front door for her and she hurried inside, but then she instantly turned back to face the door.

"I need to get some air." She said heading back out the front door.

"We just came in. Please just stay and talk to me." Jack pleaded.

"I can't talk right now Jack, I'll be back later."

"Elizabeth…" Jack asked now befuddled but she ignored him and made her way out the door.

He stood in the door way watching her. His heart ached watching her leave. He wanted to call out and pull her into his arms but he knew she needed time before she would come back to him.

Once she was out of sight Jack took a seat on the porch. He held his head in his hands as his mind raced through the conversation that had brought them to this. He wasn't sure right now what he could say to make things right with Elizabeth, all he knew was that he was determined to make things right before the end of the day.

At Abigail's Café

Abigail looked up, somewhat shocked as she saw Elizabeth enter through the back door.

"It's freezing out there, what are you doing here?" Abigail asked surprised.

"I'm not sure." Elizabeth said. Tears started to well up in her eyes and fall down her cheeks.

"Come sit down Elizabeth." Abigail said offering her friend a seat and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Why are you here and not at home with Jack?"

"We just had our first fight." Elizabeth said trying to hold back tears and Abigail handed her a handkerchief to wipe her eyes.

"Oh Elizabeth, I'm sure it's not as bad as it seems right now. Tell me what happened." Abigail said trying to console her.

"We went out to the land and Jack showed me the foundations of the land. He told me he's putting in a parlour, an indoor bathroom and even building me a large wardrobe to fit in the bedroom."

"Well that sounds wonderful, so what is the problem?"

"He wants to build me a wardrobe because I have too many clothes and he thinks I'm some sort of princess." Elizabeth said wiping her eyes.

"Jack said that?" Abigail asked surprised.

"Well he didn't quite put it that way… He implied I had too many clothes and he told me I was being irrational."

"Implied? So, he's offered to build you a beautiful wardrobe which is making you consider he's thinking you have too many clothes?"

"Oh Abigail, I am being irrational, aren't I?"

"Well I wouldn't like to say irrational but it does seem you've misconstrued Jack's intentions. It seems he's been most honourable in thinking of your needs when offering to build you a wardrobe for the new house."

"You're right Abigail. I don't know what I was thinking, I need to go home and talk to Jack." Elizabeth said standing up and heading for the door.

"Elizabeth it's freezing out, at least take an extra coat." Abigail said realising she wasn't going to be able to stop Elizabeth from going home. Even if it meant trying to keep her safe from the elements outside.

Abigail took her coat off the peg near the door and hung it over Elizabeth's shoulders.

"Thank you." Elizabeth said looking at Abigail. "I'm sorry for all this."

"No need to apologize. Just promise me you'll hurry home to that husband of yours and get out of the cold. I'm sure he's worried to death about you."

Elizabeth nodded and quickly made her way down the main streemain road. Abigail stood in the door way and watched Elizabeth as she headed off. She shook her head and smiled at the thought of Elizabeth's emotional outburst. "She will be fine." Abigail thought to herself before heading back into the kitchen and closing the door behind her.

Elizabeth briskly walked through the cold air and headed towards the row houses. Once turning off the main road she looked up at the row houses and saw Jack standing out the front on their porch. She noticed him make his way off the porch and hurry towards her. She quickened her pace until she finally met up with him.

"I'm so sorry Jack. I was irrational and I know you had the best of intentions, I'm not sure what got into me."

Elizabeth noticed the pained look on Jack's face and her heart sank. She placed her hand on the side of his face and noticed his eyes well up. She ran her thumb over his cheek and he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. She leaned in and placed her lips on his, it was full of emotion as she tried to show him how sorry she felt.

"I'm so so sorry." She whispered in between kisses and she felt his forgiveness in the way he pressed his lips against hers.

Both their bodies relaxed against each other as they became aware of their reconciliation and Elizabeth looked up till her eyes met Jack's.

"I think I understand." He said quietly.

"You do?" Elizabeth asked.

"This house I'm building, it's not like Hamilton."

"No, but I don't want it to be Jack."

"I know that, but please just let me finish." He said and she nodded. "This house isn't going to be like a home in Hamilton and I know neither of us even want it to be. It may be more extravagant then most of the other dwellings here in Hope Valley but that is because I want to work hard to give this to you. That said however, Hamilton is still always going to be somewhat of a thorn in our side." Elizabeth looks at him puzzled and lets him continue. "You have to remember that I don't think you're a 'princess from Hamilton' every time I want to give you something that appears somewhat extravagant."

"I know that, and I'm sorry, I jumped to conclusions. Your intentions are always honourable Jack, I shouldn't have made a judgement on how you saw me." She said with all the honesty and forgiveness she could muster and Jack quietly gave her a nod.

Jack took her hand in his and she looked down at their entwined fingers.

"But I will say, you are my princess."

Elizabeth looked up at him, somewhat wondering what he was implying.

"Elizabeth, you really are my beautiful princess. I'm always going to love you, even when your insecurities cause you to be irrational." He said giving her a smile. "Remember, love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preseveres. Love never fails…"

"1 Corinthians 13" Elizabeth said remembering. "You're being too kind Jack, I was pretty unreasonable back there."

"Maybe, but I love you. Love is kind. It protects, it trusts, it hopes, it perseveres and never fails."

Elizabeth nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you too Jack Thornton."

Elizabeth leant up and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. The kiss lingered before they pulled apart and then rested there for heads on each other's.

"So, if I'm your princess then you must be my prince." She said looking into his eyes and giving him a smile.

"I'd rather like to think I'm your Mountie."

"You are, but best of all you're my husband. My husband who is always honourable, always protecting me and always knows the right thing to say to make me feel better."

Jack smiled and placed a kiss on her cheek.

"I think I should get you out of the cold." He says as he notices her shivering and she takes his hand and follows his lead as they head towards the row house.

"You never got to tell me about the rest of the house."

"You still want to know?" Jack asks.

"Of course."

"Well I have also planned to build a library."

"A library?" Elizabeth asked excitedly and Jack nodded.

"I thought you'd like a space for your books and somewhere to write."

"I would." Elizabeth nodded and grinned.

"I'm hoping you'd also let me use an area in the library where I could draw and paint sometimes."

"Of course, I'd love to have a special room in the house to share with you."

"I thought that's what our bedroom was for." Jack said giving her a grin.

"Well it is, but you know what I mean." She said giving him a smile.

He took a firmer grasp of her hand and playfully pulled her along as they continued on their way to the row house.

"There will also be two extra bedrooms." He continued.

"There will? I can't imagine what we would do with them." She said coyly.

"I'm sure we'll find a way to fill the rooms." He said wrapping his arm around her waist as he noticed her shivering again.

"You think so do you?" She asked and Jack nodded. "I'm looking forward to having children with you Jack."

"You're going to make an amazing Mother. I know it every time I see you with your students."

"Yes, but having my own child will be somewhat different."

"You're right, it will be different. You'll be having our child, and that will be so much more special."

"Carrying your child, creating something that is a part of both of us, that will be special. I can't wait Jack, I know you're going to make an amazing Father to our children."

Jack smiled as they headed up the porch of their row house. He went to open the door but she momentarily stopped him. She pulled his arm back till he turned around and looked at her questioningly.

"You're the best husband in the world Jack Thornton." She said pulling him in for a passionate kiss.

He ran his hands through the long strands of her hair and down her back and he noticed her shiver.

"I better get you inside, you're cold."

"That's not why I was shivering this time." She said giving him a shy smile.

"Oh. Well, that's still a good reason to get you inside." Jack said grinning and he opened the door allowing Elizabeth to enter before following her inside.

To be continued…

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review if you have the time.

Hope all you Hearties have fun at HFR or at least have fun watching it all over social media as I will be :)