A/N So I'm guessing you've forgotten a lot of this fic as it's been so long since I last wrote. Last two chapters though were about Elizabeth holding a charity picnic auction on their property where Jack and Kevin (the blacksmith who now seems to be returning for S6 :O) had a bidding war on Elizabeth's basket, but all turned out well. Then in the last chapter there was a storm and they lost Abby as she chased after Rip as he went into the Mine.

Before you start to read I'll just remind you that Tilly and Abby are almost 5 and 3 years old now (also Elizabeth is due to have another baby soon.)

Chapter 56

Jack hurried out of the barn, his arms fully loaded with belongings that he threw into the nearby wagon. He hitched up Sergeant while watching his daughters Matilda and Abigail play with the baby goats he had brought home just yesterday. He heard the goats bleating as the girls playfully chased them outside the barn, but his full attention went to the girls as he heard a cry. He knew straight away it was Abby, and he ran over to her. Jack picked up his youngest daughter and her cries slowly went from sobs to whimpers as she buried her face into his shoulder. He didn't need to ask what had happened, as soon as he saw her sitting in the dirt he knew the baby goat had knocked her over. Jack kissed Abby on top of the head and continued to try soothe her while watching Tilly continue to play with the goats and tell them they were naughty for hurting her little sister.

He then noticed Elizabeth coming out the back door of their homestead and making her way towards them. She was about to ask something of Jack but first noticed Abby's red and tear stained cheeks.

"What's wrong baby girl?" Elizabeth asked as she looked at Abby and then up to Jack.

"Mummy." Abby cried, reaching her little arms out and Jack handed her over to Elizabeth.

"The little goats are already getting a little rough for her." Jack informed her.

Abby pouted as she thought of the goats and Elizabeth placed a kiss on her cheek. The little girls face instantly gained a smile once receiving the affection from her Mother. Elizabeth noticed and smiled back at her daughter.

"So, are we almost packed?" Elizabeth asked, looking back at Jack now as Abby wriggled her way out of her arms and back down onto the ground.

They had organised another camping trip for the school children since it had been a few years since the last one. Lee and Rosemary had also agreed to come to help since they knew they would need extra hands due to now having their own young children that would need to come along.

"Almost. I can't find the fourth tent, which actually doesn't matter as Lee and Rosemary have their own, and this time you'll be sharing with me." Jack said with a grin on his face as he looked at her.

"I'm looking forward to it." She said with a smile. "I'll bring the food out so we can go soon."

"Ok."

Elizabeth made her way back into the house and Jack continued to finish loading the wagon while watching the girls play.

An hour later

As they arrived at the camp site, Jack brought Sergeant to a halt and then proceeded to help Elizabeth and the girls off the wagon. Tilly and Abby started to wander and Jack chased after them quickly.

"While we're here you need to stay close to an adult. We don't want you getting lost."

"Yes Daddy." Tilly and Abby chorused in reply.

The girls then sat down on the ground and picked some wildflowers they found growing nearby. Jack and Elizabeth then worked on pitching the tents together while the girls continued to play nearby.

"I think we're done." Jack said as Elizabeth watched him bang the last tent peg into the ground. He then stood up and looked at Elizabeth as he noticed her watching him.

"What?"

"I'm just thinking about how this reminds me of our last camping trip."

"How when I told the boys ghost stories and they all ended up in my tent?" Jack joked.

"Well I certainly hope that doesn't happen this time."

"I won't be telling any ghost stories, after all, I don't want to be sleeping in a tent full of boys rather than with you." He said while smiling at her and wrapping his arm around her waist. "It was hard enough to walk away from you that night by the fire last time. I'd hate to have to go back to doing that again, even for just one night."

"You know we will have our 3-year-old with us, Tilly may sleep with the older girls though."

"Not as romantic as I was hoping, but at least I can still sleep with you in my arms this time."

"We may not have been married last time, but from what I recall it was still a very romantic evening." Elizabeth informed him.

"It was." He said before leaning in and giving her a kiss.

They then quickly broke away from each other when they heard Lee, Rosemary, and all the children turn up at the campsite.

Once the adults had organised all the children into their allocated tents they started to work on dinner. Jack and Lee had been down by the river with the boys, where they'd caught a few trout. Tilly and Abby had insisted on going with Jack which encouraged little Lizzy Coulter to want to go along with them also.

Elizabeth had the rest of the girls helping to set up the campfire just as Jack and Lee returned with their daughters and all the boys.

"I'm impressed." Jack said as he watched Elizabeth light the well-prepared fire.

"I had matches this time." She said looking up at him with a smile.

"I see, but it still takes knowledge to know how to get a fire going in the first place."

"You think I have issues with starting a fire?" Elizabeth asked slyly.

"Definitely not." He said, as he squatted down by the fire so he was at her level.

He leant over and gave her a quick kiss in hopes that no one would see them.

"I'm pleased you're good at starting both kinds of fire." He told her before standing up again as he heard Lee calling out and Rosemary's shrill voice echoing through the forest. Elizabeth stood as well and their attention was turned towards their friends.

"Why on earth did you bring that for?" Lee exclaimed as he pointed to the pistol in Rosemary's hand.

"I thought I'd use it to get us dinner. I'm a good shot you know."

"I know you are, in more ways than one! But there's children everywhere, you can't have that lying around or use it anywhere near here."

"Oh Lee, I'm not silly. I'll be careful."

"I still think this is a bad idea. Plus, Jack and I caught a heap of trout, so you won't need it."

Rosemary scowled and reluctantly relented upon realising the need to go out and find something for dinner was not necessary.

Lee gave her a quick kiss and hurried off before she decided to continue the conversation or change her mind.

Jack and Elizabeth drew their attention back to each other and shared a smile while trying not to laugh. Their moment was interrupted as Abby came and grasped onto Jack's trousers and he pulled her up into her arms. She rest her head down on his shoulder and she yawned.

"Someone seems like they're ready for their nap." Elizabeth said.

Abby was too tired to protest and Jack took her into their tent and lay her down amongst the blankets they had set up for her to sleep in.

"Call out for me or Mummy when you wake up and we'll come get you ok? We'll be nearby." Jack told her before placing a kiss on her forehead. She was so sleepy that she didn't even respond and was fast asleep by the time Jack settled the blankets over her little body. He then watched her for a moment before exiting the tent.

As he left he nearly ran into Tilly who was playing a game of chasey with Opal and Emily. He smiled as he watched them, but also felt saddened over the fact that his little girl was growing up as she played with the school children now.

As the sun started to set and evening drew on, the children stayed closer to the camp, most of them too scared to venture far from the fire. Dinner had been eaten and Jack was cleaning up the last of the mess when he noticed Elizabeth sitting by the campfire looking somewhat uncomfortable.

"Are you alright?" Jack asked, concern apparent in his voice.

"Yes, just a little uncomfortable." She said, and he understood why as she was now six months pregnant.

He sat down on the log next to her and then pulled her up onto his lap.

"Jack…" She said somewhat surprised at his public display of affection.

"I'm just making you more comfortable." He said as he wrapped his arm around her and then lay a protective hand gently over her stomach where she now had an obvious baby bump.

"I'm sure that's not the only reason…" She said suggestively as she looked down into his eyes.

"It certainly does have other benefits." He told her and she playfully shook her head at him.

Abby then came over and climbed up next to Jack and then onto Elizabeth's lap.

"Someone misses Mommy today huh?" Jack said and Abby nodded her head.

"Sorry, I've been busy with all the big kids today." Elizabeth told her as Abby lay her head on her Mother's chest as she gazed into the fire. "How would you like to sing some songs?"

"Yes Mama." Abby said eagerly while a look of excitement appeared on her face.

Elizabeth gained all the children's attention and they gathered around the fire. Jack got out his guitar and they sang a few songs until all the children started to get sleepy.

Elizabeth and Rosemary then put the girls to bed while Jack and Lee dealt with the boys. Once all the children were settled, the adults all met back at the fire. Rosemary had little Lizzy asleep in her arms while Abby was dozing on Elizabeth's lap as she was too scared to fall asleep in the tent by herself in the dark. Tilly however had decided she wanted to sleep in the girls tent so she went off to bed with them.

"Tilly asked you to sing tonight?" Jack asked.

"You could hear me?" Elizabeth asked as she recalled singing to the girls in the tent while putting them to bed.

Jack nodded in reply while giving her a smile.

"I guess it couldn't have been too bad. Opal told me she liked it better than the crickets this time."

Jack laughed remembering what Elizabeth had told him from their last camping trip.

"A lot of things have certainly changed since we last came here." Jack said quietly.

"They have." Elizabeth whispered as she recalled past memories.

"They never asked me to sing." Rosemary said piping up, as she clearly felt a tad disappointed.

"Well Elizabeth is their favourite, and you can't discredit her for that Rosie." Lee informed her.

"You're right, you were their favourite teacher. They really do miss you." Rosemary said wistfully, her caring side coming out as she complimented Elizabeth.

"I do miss them so. Hopefully once our children grow up a little more I'll return to teaching." Elizabeth said while looking down at Abby who was now sleeping in her arms.

Rosemary nodded understandingly.

"You caught a lot of fish today Lee." Jack said, trying to cheer up the topic of conversation, knowing too well Elizabeth's struggle of loving both staying home with her children and also teaching.

"You did?" Rosemary asked, her ears perking up and Lee nodded. "I don't recall you being a very good fisherman."

"Well I caught you didn't I Rosie?"

Rosemary's mouth gaped and for once she was speechless. Shocked that Lee would say such a thing while they had company.

"Jack didn't catch you, so I must have done something right." Lee said continuing to joke, which earned him a nudge in the side from Rosemary's elbow. He then glanced over at Jack and they shared an understanding look before everyone laughed.

"Well it was a good thing, because I'm pleased with the fish I did catch. She's perfect for me." Jack said, looking over at Elizabeth and she gave him a smile.

"Always the romantic Jack. You make me look bad." Lee said jokingly as Rosie wrapped her arm around her husband's elbow and leant into him.

Jack shared a small laugh with Lee and then they let the conversation become more serious. The four of them talked till late in the night, turning in just before midnight. Lee and Rosemary headed into their tent, Jack went to check on the boy's tent, and Elizabeth checked on the girls. Finding them all asleep they headed into their own tent with Abby. Elizabeth placed Abby down amongst the mound of blankets they were using for her as a makeshift bed and she placed a kiss on her cheek. Jack did the same and then they changed into their night clothes before getting into their bed.

"It's even colder out here than I thought it would be." Elizabeth said, quickly pulling the blankets up around her neck.

"I'll keep you warm." Jack said as he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her body closer.

Elizabeth buried her face into Jack's chest as he held her close. As she felt the warmth radiating off him and into her own body she started to relax and sleep came quickly, as it did to Jack also.

The following morning the children were up early as expected. Jack woke to find Abby squeezed in between himself and Elizabeth. He smiled as he realised she must have gotten cold during the night, that, or she just wanted to snuggle and sleep with them as she often did in the very early hours of the morning.

Jack then heard a cry and knew it was Tilly. He quickly got up and hurried over to the girl's tent. Not wanting to go inside he called out for her. Tilly peaked her head out through the flaps of the tent and once seeing Jack she hurried out and ran up to him. Jack scooped her up into his arms and he carried her back to his and Elizabeth's tent.

"What's wrong?" Jack asked, his voice gentle as he noticed tears in her eyes.

"I was too scared to come find you and Mummy."

"Oh, well we weren't far away. Come see Mummy, you must be quiet though, her and Abby are still sleeping."

Jack carried Tilly into the tent and sat her down on the blankets. Elizabeth and Abby were awake now but were still tucked under blankets as they tried to keep warm. Tilly found her way under the blankets and snuggled up to her Mother and little sister.

"I'll go light the fire while you girls keep warm."

"I'll be up in a minute. I'm sure the other girls are wondering where I am already." Elizabeth told him.

"No Mummy. Stay here with us." Tilly pleaded as she wrapped her arm tighter around Elizabeth.

Tilly had noticed her mother had been a lot busier with the school children since they'd arrived at the campsite and she was craving her Mother's attention.

"I will, for a little while longer." whispered Elizabeth.

Jack headed out of the tent and started up the fire again as the children started to gather around to wait for the fire to warm them.

"Mountie Jack can I help start the fire?" Phillip asked.

"Sorry buddy, you know Mrs Thornton said no kids are to get close to the fire."

Phillip crossed his arms and sighed in disappointment.

The fire started to blaze and the rest of the children came to gather around the fire. Abby walked over, still in her nightgown. She made herself comfortable on Jack's lap and he wrapped his arms around her to keep her warm as she snuggled into his embrace.

After a few minutes Jack stood up and carried Abby with him.

"Come on pumpkin, you need to get dressed." Jack said as he carried her back to the tent to find Elizabeth.

"I'm cold Daddy." She said kicking her dirty little feet that were also pink from the cold.

"I'm not surprised. Let's get you dressed and warmed up." Jack said as he went into the tent. "I have one little princess here whose shivering from the cold. What can I dress her in?" Jack asked Elizabeth.

Elizabeth handed him some of Abby's clothes and he helped dress her.

"So, where's our other little princess? She's not dressed yet either." Elizabeth asked Jack.

"I thought she was here in the tent with you…"

"No… She went out to go find you by the fire. I haven't seen her for at least twenty minutes." Elizabeth said as she started to become concerned.

"She must be back in the girl's tent." Jack suggested and Elizabeth got up and hurried over to the girls tent and looked inside. "She's not here!" She called out to Jack after she'd inspected the tent.

Jack ran over to the boy's tent but it was empty.

"She can't be far." Jack said, trying not to worry Elizabeth.

Lee rushed over to Jack's side as he realised something was going on.

"Someone's missing?" Lee asked Jack.

"Tilly, we can't find her. Elizabeth last saw her about twenty minutes ago."

"Let's organise the kids into groups and we'll go search." Lee suggested.

Abby started crying now as she realised her sister was missing.

"It's ok baby. We'll find your sister." Jack said and he kissed her cheek before finding Elizabeth and handing Abby over to her. "Elizabeth, I need you to go back into town and find Hickam and Ned, get them to round up as many people as they can to come out here and join the search."

"But Jack…" Elizabeth said starting to protest but Jack interrupted.

"I know you want to help here but Abby's too upset and needs taking care of. You're also starting to panic so I think you'd be better heading into town and keeping busy. If you really have to, come back here afterwards."

Elizabeth nodded, knowing he was right.

Jack quickly kissed Elizabeth and Abby before they hurried off back to town.

Jack then gathered a group of the children with him and went off in search of his daughter.

Another twenty minutes later a group of men came riding into the camp grounds and dismounted their horses. Rosemary was still there waiting with Lizzy, in hopes that Tilly might turn up. Rosemary told the men where everyone else was searching and they all took off in opposite directions.

Jack was starting to really worry now, it had been thirty minutes since they'd started the search and he knew Tilly would be scared and cold since she was still in her night dress. He yelled out her name in desperation for at least the hundredth time that morning. His throat now sore and his voice sounding hoarse but the thought of it stopping him didn't even cross his mind. Jack was used to being stoic and unemotional when needed. He'd been trained to be that way at the Academy after all. It had all come so easy to him back then, but ever since Elizabeth came into his life it was much more of a struggle to achieve. As he stopped and allowed himself to think about his daughter he felt his emotions take over and he leaned his back against a nearby tree. He felt hot tears start to build up in his eyes and he tried his best not to let the fall. Through the blur of tears and amongst the trees he spotted his wife. She was looking around in desperation much like himself, until she spotted him.

Elizabeth only recognised the man against the tree by the familiar Stetson hat that sat upon his head. His body language appeared unfamiliar as he leant against the tree, but as she saw him lift his head she got a glimpse of the familiar face of her husband. She knew instantly that something was wrong, not just the fact that their daughter was missing, but that Jack wasn't being the Mountie he usually was when situations like this arose. Usually he'd take charge, give direction, and be guided as to what to do by that brave heart of his. But when Elizabeth looked at him she saw a man that seemed lost and broken. Elizabeth hurried to him as quickly as she could. Earlier she had been the one to break down but now she knew it was her turn to be brave, to be strong for him and their daughter.

"Jack?" She whispered, and he broke out of his trance like state and his arms quickly wrapped around her. "We're going to find her." Elizabeth insisted and she felt his head nod in agreement against her cheek. "Come on."

Elizabeth took Jack's hand and she noticed how firm his grasp was. She looked up into his face again, noticing tears that were about to fall but also saw some clarity in his face, as if in some way he'd gained some strength and determination from her. She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze and then they hurried back through the forest in search for their daughter.

A/N

Sorry to leave it on a cliff hanger. I do promise to update the next chapter soon.

Please let me know what you think. I really do need some motivation as I've been finding it so hard to write since the finale. I always love to hear what you all have to say.