Chapter 34

Elizabeth left Tilly napping at the Café with Abigail, and made the long walk home.

She entered the house and sighed, relieved to finally be home. She headed up the stairs, grabbed a bag from out of the wardrobe and started to pack some things to stay the night at Abigail's.

As she went through the drawers in her cupboard, she noticed Jack's clothing. She lingered as she ran her fingers over his shirt as she thought about him. He had been gone almost a month now, and still wasn't sure exactly when he'd be returning. She shut the drawer and tried to compose herself before going over to her dressing table and collecting a few other personal items she thought she would need.

Feeling exhausted and a little faint, Elizabeth decided to lay down on the bed and have a brief rest. She lay her head down on Jack's pillow, and felt comfort as she instantly recognised his familiar scent. She had been trying for so long to be brave in front of her daughter, and now she was alone she let it all out. She closed her eyes and started to cry. She sobbed into Jack's pillow as she realised how desperately she missed him, and how worried she was about him being involved in the dangerous work up at Cape Fullerton. Her tears ran down her cheeks and into Jack's pillow but at this point, that was the last thing on her mind.

"Elizabeth?" A familiar voice whispered.

She opened her eyes as she felt a familiar intimate touch on her cheek, and she saw him.

"Jack?" She asked softly in amazement.

"I have missed you so much." He said resting his hand on her cheek, and he lay down on the bed next to her.

"Prove I'm not dreaming."

Jack leaned in a placed his lips on Elizabeth's and he heard her sigh with satisfaction.

"I missed that." Jack said, pulling back with a grin on his face.

"What?"

"Those small sounds you make when you kiss me."

"I make sounds?" She asked surprised, as she got up and leaned on her elbow.

"Yes, even the very first time we kissed."

"I did? Why have you never told me this before."

"I just assumed you knew."

"This is news to me. You know, this may now distract me when I'm kissing you." Elizabeth threatened jokingly.

"No, it won't Bella."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know how totally and utterly distracted you are when we kiss. So much so that you don't even realise you're making little noises. Thinking about that will be the last thing on your mind."

"Prove it to me then." She said, daring him to kiss her.

"That you won't be too distracted?" Jack asked, and she nodded.

Jack wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her down to him and he kissed her.

He heard her give a sigh of satisfaction, and then felt her smile as she giggled against his lips.

"Okay, well I was partly right, you did sigh." Jack laughed.

"And I was right in that it did distract me." She said smiling at him.

Elizabeth noticed his gaze becoming more serious again, and she slowly ran her hand through his hair.

"Bella, I need you to show me you love me." He said softly as he looked in her eyes while playing with a tendril of hair that hung down the side of her face.

Elizabeth more than anything desired to answer his request, and knew it was what she wanted from him too. She leaned in and kissed him, and he placed his hand on her cheek. Jack's other hand pulled her closer and they got lost in each other's kisses.

"Jack wait." Elizabeth said pulling back.

"What?" He asked surprised, as he breathed heavily.

"I have to tell you something."

"Now?" He exclaimed.

"Sorry but yes, now." Elizabeth said, as she made herself comfortable and prepared herself for what she had to tell him.

"What is it?" He asked eagerly.

"We're going to have another baby..." Elizabeth said smiling.

"We are?!" Jack said feeling elated, and she nodded enthusiastically.

"You have no idea how happy you make me Elizabeth Thornton."

"I don't know about that sweetheart, I certainly have an idea of how happy you make me."

Jack placed his hand gently on Elizabeth's stomach and they both smiled at each other.

"I love you Bella."

"I love you too."

Jack then leaned in to kiss her again, and they both showed each other how much they loved each other.

Half an hour later…

Jack and Elizabeth silently lay in each other's arms in their bed.

"I missed you so much Jack." Elizabeth whispered.

"I missed you too Bella."

"I'm so glad you're home." She said, and Jack placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"Tilly!" Elizabeth exclaimed sitting up in the bed.

"She's not still napping?" Jack asked, noticing he hadn't heard from their daughter since he got home.

"She's at Abigail's!" Elizabeth said getting up from the bed and pulling Jack's arm to encourage him to do the same.

"I thought she was napping in the nursery."

"No, I came home to pick up some things to stay the night at Abigail's, Tilly fell asleep there before I left." Elizabeth said rushing to get her clothes back on.

"Hey, slow down." Jack said, gently taking her arm and trying to calm her.

Elizabeth stopped what she was doing and looked up at him.

"She will be fine with Abigail." Jack said.

"I know she will, but Abigail is going to wonder what we were doing!" Elizabeth exclaimed as she started to blush. She gently thrust Jack's shirt into his chest and he took hold of it.

Jack noticed her cheeks start to colour and he grinned.

"I think it's a bit late to start hurrying, Abigail's going to know what we were doing."

"Jack Thornton!" She said through her teeth, and she continued to get dressed.

"What? We have a toddler, I'm guessing she knows your pregnant, and I've been away for a month. I think it's pretty obvious."

"It is, but the fact that we've taken so long, makes it look worse." She said as she started to button up her blouse.

"Elizabeth… we're married, we love each other, and Abigail is the last person in the world who is going to be bothered by this. She'll probably even be pleased we took our time before we picked up Tilly."

"I know you're right…"

"But you're still embarrassed?" Jack asked, and she nodded. "You're adorable."

She gave him a puzzled look.

"You're so cute when you get embarrassed." He said leaning over and placing a kiss on her cheek. "Now come on, get dressed so we can go pick up our daughter. I miss her."

Elizabeth gave him a smile and they got dressed and headed into town.

Abigail's Café

Elizabeth entered the Café through the kitchen door.

"Oh Elizabeth, I'm glad you're here, I was starting to wonder where you were" Abigail said, her voice sounding concerned.

"Sorry Abigail…" Elizabeth started, as Jack entered the kitchen.

"Oh my goodness. Jack, you're here!" Abigail exclaimed, and she went over and gave him a hug.

Jack accepted the welcoming hug and gave Abigail a smile.

"I am here. It's good to be home." He said, as Abigail stood back and gave both Jack and Elizabeth a smile.

"Well no wonder you took your time." Abigail said suggestively.

Elizabeth blushed and Jack took her hand and gave it a supportive squeeze.

"And do not worry Elizabeth." Abigail said as she noticed Elizabeth's cheeks colouring. "Because I'm not."

"So where's my baby girl?" Jack asked, changing the subject for Elizabeth's sake, but also eager to see his daughter.

Elizabeth lead Jack further into the kitchen. He followed Elizabeth's gaze and saw Tilly sitting down with her toys on the rug in front of the settee.

"I know it's only been a month, but she's changed." He said in amazement. "She's not a baby anymore, she's a little girl, and she looks even more like you than I remember." Jack said looking at Elizabeth standing by his side.

Elizabeth noticed the tears in Jack's eyes, and she gave his hand a squeeze.

"Why don't you go see her?" Elizabeth said encouraging him.

Jack headed over towards Tilly, and Elizabeth followed him.

"Tilly?" He said quietly, feeling somewhat nervous about how his daughter would react. After all she was only fifteen months old, and he had been gone for a month.

As soon as Tilly saw her Father, she hurried to her feet and rushed towards him, wrapping her little arms around his legs. Jack stooped down to her level and she wrapped her arms around his neck and he held onto her tightly.

Elizabeth smiled as she watched the two of them.

Tears well up in Jack's eyes but he ignored them as he brushed his daughter's soft auburn curls with his hand, as she clung to him.

"Da Da." Tilly said, pulling back to look at him, and she had a big grin on her face.

"Yes, it's me." He said, taking her back into his arms as he stood up. "I missed you so much, my gorgeous girl." He said placing a kiss on her cheek.

Tilly ran her hands over Jack's unshaven face and he placed a kiss on her hands.

He looked at his daughter and noticed how much she had grown in the short time, he noticed her big blue eyes and auburn curls, both so much like Elizabeth's, and her rosy red cheeks that held dimples when she smiled up at him.

"She remembered me." Jack said looking over at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth nodded and smiled, thankful for this precious reunion that resulted in what they were both hoping for.

Elizabeth noticed the tears in Jack's eyes and she wrapped an arm around him and rest her head on his upper arm as she watched him interact with their daughter.

"You ready to go home?" Jack asked after a few moments.

"I am." Elizabeth replied.

Jack and Elizabeth then realised that Abigail had made herself scarce, and left the little family alone to enjoy their moment together.

Jack put Tilly down and went to take her hand.

"Up, up." She insisted as she raised her hands up towards Jack and he picked her up again.

Jack gave Tilly as kiss on the cheek before taking Elizabeth's hand and placing a kiss on her cheek also.

"It's so good to be back home with my girls."

"We're so glad to have you back sweetheart."

Later that evening

Once back at home, Jack realised Tilly wasn't going to leave his side even for a moment.

"As much as I don't want to let you out of my sight myself, why don't you go spend some time with Tilly while I make supper." Elizabeth suggested.

"Thank you." He said, giving Elizabeth a kiss on the cheek before making his way over to the parlour with his daughter in his arms.

Jack thought about how he'd spent a perfectly intimate afternoon with Elizabeth, and now he had all the time to spend with his daughter.

Jack sat down on the settee and Tilly lay her head on his chest and yawned.

"You tired sweet pea?"

Tilly looked up at him and shook her head, insisting that she wasn't ready to sleep. She then lay her head back down on his chest, and quietly lay there. Jack played with her soft curls and eventually noticed that she had fallen asleep. Once she seemed quite settled, he picked her up and headed back into the kitchen to find Elizabeth.

Elizabeth smiled as she saw the two of them.

"She's asleep." Jack whispered. "I'll put her in to bed."

Elizabeth nodded, and Jack made his way upstairs and into the nursery with Tilly.

Jack kissed the top of Tilly's head and placed her down in the crib carefully so as not to disturb her. He stood by the crib and watched her for a few moments, thinking about how blessed he was that Elizabeth had given him this child. He then quietly walked out of the nursery and headed down stairs.

"What are you making? It smells good." Jack said as he stood behind Elizabeth who was at the stove. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rest his head on her shoulder. "Although, you smell amazing yourself." He said, noticing the smell of the soap in her hair.

"I'm just making Shepherd's Pie, and thank you." She said looking at him, and he stole a quick kiss.

He noticed her do her cute little nose scrunch and smile at him as she often did, and he grinned.

"Well I love your Shepherd's Pie. My Mother's, not so much." He said, and Elizabeth smiled.

An hour later

Elizabeth walked into the bedroom and noticed Jack getting ready for bed. She walked over and stood in front of him, as she started to help him unbutton his shirt.

"What are you doing?" He asked, as she placed her hands under his suspenders and pulled them down till they hung down the sides of his legs.

"I think you know what I'm doing."

"Not that I'm complaining, but again?"

"I missed you Jack."

"And I missed you. Come here." He said pulling her into his arms and kissing her.

Elizabeth woke up suddenly as she felt her daughter climb over her in the bed. She then noticed Tilly squeeze her way in between herself and Jack, and make herself comfortable.

"What are you doing here Miss Tilly." She whispered, trying not to wake Jack.

"Da Da."

"You missed your Daddy huh. Well I know what that's like, you can stay here but you must go back to sleep alright." She said placing a kiss on top of her daughter's head.

"Yes Ma Ma." Tilly said, and Elizabeth heard her yawn.

Elizabeth noticed Tilly quickly fall back to sleep, and Elizabeth went back to sleep herself.

The following morning

Elizabeth opened her eyes and she noticed Jack watching over her, and he gave her a smile.

"Morning Bella." He whispered as Tilly still slept in between the two of them. "How did Tilly get in here?"

"She came in by herself, she must have climbed out of the crib. She wanted to see her Daddy" Elizabeth said, while carefully reaching over Tilly and taking Jack's hand and giving it a squeeze.

"It's nice to have her here but isn't that dangerous?" Jack said, somewhat concerned.

"Possibly, she only seems to climb out when she's desperate to get to us. Like when we left her with Julie in Hamilton. Though we could move her into a little bed, after all we are going to need a crib for another arrival soon." Elizabeth said suggestively, and Jack smiled.

Tilly then started to stir, and Jack and Elizabeth broke their gaze from one another and looked down at her.

Tilly smiled and kicked her legs as she saw her parents watching over at her.

"Miss Tilly, how you have so much energy so soon after waking, I will never understand." Elizabeth said with a small laugh.

"She certainly doesn't take after you when it comes to that" Jack said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're not exactly a morning person Elizabeth. You're such a sleepy head."

Elizabeth went to give him a gentle push but he grabbed hold of her hand.

"But you're my beautiful sleepy head." He said, his voice soft, and he placed a kiss on the back of her hand.

Elizabeth instantly calmed and settled upon hearing his words.

"Well, I can't argue with that." She said giving him a smile.

"So, what should we do today?" Jack asked, as Tilly sat up on the bed and started to climb over him and he grinned.

"You don't have to work today?" Elizabeth asked surprised.

"Not until tomorrow."

"Well then, I'd be happy just to stay in bed all day and just do this." Elizabeth said watching Jack play with Tilly who was still climbing over him.

"I would too. But I don't think little Miss here would be all too pleased with that."

"She seems alright for now. Maybe we could just stay here a little longer before we head out."

"Sounds good to me." Jack said, and he leaned over and kissed Elizabeth.

Tilly climbed off Jack's side and squeezed herself in between her parents, trying to break them apart, as she vied for their attention.

Jack and Elizabeth laughed as they pulled away from the kiss and looked down at their daughter, and enjoyed the time they had together as a family.

A/N I hope you're all pleased Jack is back home :) I know I sure am, although I did enjoy writing a bit of drama for a change.

So which did you like best, the Jack and Elizabeth scenes or the family scenes with Tilly? Personally I like both :) Either way I hope you enjoyed reading.