Sorry it's taken me so long to get this chapter up. I've had a lot of ideas for this chapter, but I was reeling from the wedding, so I was unable to write! I also apologise that this one is so short, but I promise to have another chapter up sometime over the weekend.

Later that evening after Jack had put the girls to bed, he joined Elizabeth in the parlour. He found her resting on the settee, her injured leg raised up on a cushion.

"How is your leg?" Jack asked as he sat down on the settee beside her.

"A little sore, but I'll be fine."

Jack gave her a look, requesting permission to inspect her leg. She gave a small nod and he lifted the hem of her night gown and looked over her knee. He gently placed his fingers on the swollen area and she flinched.

"I'm sorry." He said with a pained apologetic look on his face as he removed his hand from the offending area. "You want a cold compress for the swelling? Or some medication?" He rambled, trying think of all the ways to try and help her feel better.

"Maybe if you kissed me I might feel better." She said suggestively.

"I could try, but you sure you don't need something else first?"

"After last night I don't want any medication, I want to make sure I'm in control of all of my senses when you kiss me." Elizabeth said, taking his hand as she tried to pull him down closer to her side.

Jack grinned as he lay down beside her, remembering the previous nights events when Carson had administered her Nitrous Oxide.

"You think it's funny?" Elizabeth asked, noticing the playful grin on his face.

"I'm not sure how much you remember, but yes it was."

"I recall expressing my feelings towards you in front of Carson but not much else."

"You certainly did that, and you made some other suggestions you usually only allow my ears to hear." Jack said, not entirely minding what she had said in front of Carson.

Elizabeth feeling extremely embarrassed, buried her face into Jack's chest.

"Bella, don't worry." Jack said, trying to console her as a smile played out on his lips as he found her embarrassment adorable.

"Bella?!" She said, now recalling more of the conversation that happened in front of Carson.

"So, you remember that little conversation huh?" He said, placing a finger under her chin and encouraging her to look up at him.

"Why didn't you stop me?" She said, lifting her head from his chest and finding his hazel eyes.

"How was I supposed to do that? Carson had to watch over you."

She sighed, relaxing back into his embrace, knowing that nothing could have been done then or now.

"I thought it was cute." He admitted.

"Cute?" She asked surprised.

"Yes… I mean you did embarrass me, but you were kinda cute."

"So only kinda cute now?"

"You were very cute." He said, placing a kiss on her cheek.

"I don't see how."

"What guy doesn't want the woman he loves expressing how she feels in front of good looking man."

"You think Carson's a good-looking man?" Elizabeth asked.

"You know he is, but that isn't my point."

"He is, but he's certainly got nothing on you." She said, giving her honest opinion while giving him a smile. He grinned as he ran his hand over her cheek affectionately as he continued to listen. "I'm not sure I entirely understand your point though."

"My point is that in your inebriated state you were very cute, and I loved it that you let Carson know how you felt about me."

"Ok I'll accept the cute part, and that you liked it that I let Carson know how much I love you, but inebriated state?!"

"Well you were medicated Elizabeth."

She looked at him and shook her head before a smile broke out on her lips.

"I think you better kiss me Constable before you get yourself into anymore trouble."

"Maybe if I had kissed you when you first asked it would have saved us this conversation." Jack said, thinking out loud.

"Jack?"

"Hmm?" He asked as he looked down at her.

"Are you really going to make me ask a third time?"

"I don't know how I even waited till you asked the first." He said, and he quickly leaned down and kissed her.

Elizabeth kissed him back and ran her hand through his already tousled hair, trying to encourage him to deepen the kiss. As their kisses intensified she felt his leg brush against her sore knee and she jumped in his embrace. Jack noticing her reaction quickly pulled away and looked down at her.

"I'm so sorry." He apologised, instantly realising what had happened.

"It's alright." She said, wrapping her arms around him, trying to pull him back down towards her.

"Did I tell you about how sorry I am about yesterday?" He asked as he settled back down by her side while wrapping his arm around her waist.

"I thought we came to a realisation."

"We did, but I don't think I really apologised." He said, looking into her eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't understand the difficulties you were having with my Mother, and I'm sorry that it led to the need for you to need your space away from me."

"I'm sorry it led to that too. I didn't know what else to do at the time."

"I understand why you had to walk away, and I also understand how difficult things have been for you and the girls with Ma. I spoke with her last night after I put you to bed." He said placing a kiss on her temple. "She's promised me she'll stay out of the kitchen and keep things quiet when she's up early in the mornings."

"Thank you Jack, you didn't need to speak to her, but I am thankful. All I really wanted was for you to understand how difficult it had been for me and the girls."

"I get that now Elizabeth, I'm sorry I didn't realise sooner." He said, brushing back a stray tendril of hair from her face. "I thought we could always come together to resolve our problems, but yesterday didn't pan out that way, I'm sorry."

"In the end we did come together to resolve it, I think we both just needed a little time to process before we came together."

"I think you're right. How did I get so lucky to find such a beautiful, intelligent and understanding wife?" He said while twirling one of her long curls around his finger.

"I think I'm the lucky one." She said and leaned over to gently kiss him.

She felt Jack pull her closer as their kisses deepened, but they pulled apart as they suddenly heard a noise in the room that disrupted them.

"Sorry, I just wanted to say goodnight." Charlotte said, as they spotted her standing in the entrance of the parlour.

Elizabeth blushed while Jack was momentarily speechless as he tried to compose himself.

"Good night Ma." He said, his voice breaking.

Charlotte noticed the change in Jack's voice and tried not to grin. She appreciated the affection her son and daughter-in-law shared and that they were so in love, but she did realise she had been invading their privacy in staying in their home.

"I know it's your anniversary in two weeks." Charlotte suggested. "Why don't the two of you go do something special together? I can take care of the girls."

Jack looked at Elizabeth, realising that it had been three years since he'd married the amazing woman now in his arms, and he gave her a smile.

"I'll get back to you on that Ma." He said, his eyes still on Elizabeth as he'd notice a smile play out on her lips.

"Alright… well good night." Charlotte said, realising her son and daughter-in-law had seemed to forget she was in the room.

Eventually Jack's attention returned to his Mother, but he noticed she had left, so turned back to look at Elizabeth.

"You've really been my wife for three years." He stated softly.

"In some ways it seems like it was only yesterday."

"It does." He said, placing a brief kiss on her lips. "I did want to plan a surprise but I'm not so sure you'd be comfortable with it, so I thought I'd ask you first."

"I'm sure I'll love it, I love all of your surprises Jack."

"I know but this one is different. We have the girls to think about now."

"Oh." Elizabeth said, now wondering what he was going to say.

"I need to head into Buxton the day before our wedding anniversary." He started, and he noticed the disappointed look on her face. "I'd really like it if you came with me, that's if you want to."

"Of course I want to Jack." She exclaimed, her frown now turning into a smile. "Buxton isn't far, so we wouldn't be gone long from the girls."

"We wouldn't, but I'll be spending a few hours working at Headquarters there. I don't want it to seem like I'm tagging you along on a Mountie business trip."

"I understand Jack, but I'd still rather be with you than stay at home, and we could enjoy the ride together there and back."

"We would, but I was also wondering if you'd want to stay over-night?"

"Oh." She said sounding surprised as she had initially thought they would return the same day.

"We could leave late morning and then be back by lunch time the next day. Ma could look after the girls for us, Abby will take a bottle now and you could leave enough milk for her for twenty-four hours." He said, thinking of all the possibilities that he knew were also running through Elizabeth's mind. "I'll miss the girls too, but I think we need this. After what happened yesterday it's made me realise how much."

"You're right."

"I am?" Jack asked, surprised at her answer, he had been half expecting her to find a legitimate reason not to go.

"You are, and although we'll miss the girls, I know they'll be safe and happy with Mum. I think we should go."

"Really?" He asked, thrilled over the idea that she'd agree to go away with him.

"Really." She said, giving him a smile as she realised how pleased he was.

Amongst his excitement, Jack placed kisses on her cheeks before finding her lips. He felt the smile on her lips as he kissed her, which pleased him to know that she was happy.

Two weeks later

Jack sat on the bed with his youngest daughter laying on his lap. He looked down at her tiny frame as she wriggled upon waking from her morning nap.

"She has your hazel eyes." Elizabeth pointed out as she noticed Jack intently looking over their daughter while she continued to pack their case for their trip to Buxton.

"I noticed they'd changed." He said as Abby looked up at him and he noticed her smile as she recognised him. "She still has the Thatcher hair though like you and Tilly." He said as he ran his hand through her soft auburn curls.

"I know you love that Tilly looks so much like me, and I do love that, but I really like it that Abby is so much like the both of us."

"I do too." He said, looking up at Elizabeth and giving her a smile.

Just then Tilly entered the room and smiled as she saw her parents.

"And I love that this little sweet pea has your dimples." Elizabeth said as she picked Tilly up and placed kisses on both dimples that had appeared on her daughters cheeks.

Tilly grinned at the attention from her Mother and placed a hand on Elizabeth's cheek.

"No dimples from me, they're all Daddy's." Elizabeth informed Tilly.

Tilly kissed her Mother on the cheek and then squirmed to be put down. Elizabeth released her back down to the ground and watched her make her way over to Jack.

"You should be resting your knee." Jack reminded her.

"I'm almost done here." She said while trying to finish the last of the packing.

Elizabeth smiled and stopped what she was doing as she noticed Tilly place a kiss on Abby's cheek.

"You're going to look after your little sister while Mummy and I are gone, aren't you?" Jack told Tilly.

A frown appeared on Tilly's face and her bottom lip started to quiver.

"You haven't told her?" Jack asked, sounding worried as he looked over at Elizabeth.

"I was going to soon." She replied as she made her way over to the bed and sat down. She pulled Tilly up onto the bed, wanting to pull her into her arms but her injured knee prevented it.

"Grandma is going to look after you tonight Tilly, Daddy and I will be back at lunch time tomorrow." Elizabeth said, hoping that giving her further information would console her.

Jack handed Abby over to Elizabeth before pulling Tilly up into his arms.

Jack and Elizabeth shared a look as their eldest daughter cried. The only time they'd ever left her over night was when they had gotten snowed in at the Church, and that had cause Tilly great distress for weeks to come.

"Mummy Daddy no go." Tilly said, her voice muffled as she buried her face into Jack's chest.

"Sweetie." Elizabeth started as she felt guilt set in. She had been hoping for the past two weeks that Tilly wouldn't become too upset about them going away. "Grandma is going to look after you tonight. Daddy and I will be back tomorrow."

Tilly clung to the sleeve of Jacks shirt and Elizabeth felt pained as she saw the tears run down her daughter's cheeks.

"I promise you we will be back by lunch time." Elizabeth said trying to console her as she ran her thumb over Tilly's cheek to wipe away the tears.

She then noticed Abby squirming in her lap as Tilly's cries were disturbing her.

"Tilly, how about you and I go for a little walk?" Jack suggested, realising Abby was getting upset from all the noise.

Tilly nodded her head and continued to cry. Elizabeth and Jack shared a look of understanding and then Elizabeth leaned over and placed a kiss on the top of Tilly's head before Jack headed off with her for a walk.

Jack walked through the house with Tilly in his arms and took her out through the back door. She continued to cry but settled to a whimper as her senses became preoccupied with the outdoor surroundings.

"Tilly, tomorrow is a very special day for Mummy and me. It's the day we remember when we first got married." Jack started, hoping his daughter would understand. "You know how you and I like to take special walks?"

Tilly nodded as Jack headed towards the big oak tree not too far from the house.

"Well I need to take Mummy on a very special walk. It's going to be a big walk, but I promise we'll be back tomorrow." He told her as he stopped at the swing that hung under the tree. He sat on the swing and rested her on his lap, so she could still face him.

"On our walk we're going to find you something extra special. Mummy and I know you're going to be our big brave girl, and that you'll help Grandma look after your little sister while we're away."

Tilly's eyes brightened as she listened to her Father.

"You think you can be Grandma's special helper and take care of Abby?"

She eagerly nodded her head and a smile formed on her lips.

Jack smiled, and he placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"How about we go back inside and see Mummy, I know she's going to miss you while we're away."

Tilly squirmed off her Fathers lap, her little feet taking off as soon as they hit the ground.

Jack got up from the swing while watching her tiny legs eagerly make their way towards the house. He quickly caught up to her and she reached out for his hand. He felt her little hand holding tightly to his own and he smiled as they walked back into the house to find Elizabeth.