"Walk you home?" Jack asked appearing at the school house steps as Elizabeth rang the bell.
"Let me get my books." She smiled going back inside as Jack followed her.
"I won't be able to be by for dinner tonight. I'm helping Mr Mcguire put up his fence after my rounds this evening. In return he's helping raise the walls of the house." Jack said.
"Sounds like a fair enough deal to me." Elizabeth smile.
"Can I work at Abigail this afternoon?" Kate asked gathering her own things.
"Work?" Jack asked.
"Since I'm fourteen now Abigail pays me for helping out. And Clara started working in the dress shop full time so Abigail needs the help." Kate told him.
"Yes, just don't be late for dinner! And be mindful of that paper due tomorrow!" Elizabeth called after her as Kate hurried out.
"Long day?" Jack asked seeing how tired Elizabeth's eyes were as she gathered her books.
"Rosemary was over half the night measuring and this and that for the dress. I have to go over Thursday for a final fitting. Kate was up at the crack of dawn trying to make me breakfast which I know if very sweet of her but makes me rather nervous. And Cody got hit with the baseball at recess and got a black eye." Elizabeth sighed as they started down the steps on the way home.
"Is he alright?"
"Faith said he will be fine, I sent him home for the afternoon for Abigail to care for him. I think if anything he was proud of it." Elizabeth said making Jack chuckle.
"Boy's first shiner is always a life moment." Jack nodded.
"How was your day?" Elizabeth asked.
"More paperwork from up north, I couldn't sleep last night and I think I might had drooled on one important one when I dozed off." Jack smirked a little.
"Well I know I'm not sleeping because I have Rosemary flitting around my house at all hours, but why can't you?" Elizabeth asked turning to him looking concerned.
"Oh just a lot on my mind I suppose, plus it's hard to get used to sleeping in a bed again." Jack shrugged giving her a smile.
"A lot on your mind from the war?"
"It doesn't matter now, that's all behind us." Jack said firmly.
"You don't talk about what it was like there. Whenever I bring it up, you just say it's behind us." Elizabeth said softly as she and Jack walked hand and hand down the little path near the row houses.
"There's nothing to talk about really." Jack shrugged.
"Well there much be lots to talk about, you were there a long time." Elizabeth pressed him a little more.
"Well I can tell you I missed you a lot." Jack said giving her a smile turning to her. She didn't return the smile as she was searching his eyes trying to really understand him.
"Look Elizabeth, it happened, it's in the past, and I am ready to move forward with our lives." Jack told her.
"It might be the past but it's still a part of you and I don't understand why you won't talk about it." Elizabeth sighed.
"Because I don't understand why you want to. Now I have to go so let's walk you home." Jack said.
"I am perfectly capable of walking myself home." Elizabeth said firmly getting frustrated with him and sensing his frustration with her.
"Alright, I should get to my rounds anyway. I will see you tomorrow then." Jack said.
"Good night."
"Good night" Jack said giving her a nod as he turned heading back to town.
"It is odd that your grooms ex-fiancé is going to be in your wedding?" Kate asked watching Rosemary and Elizabeth string paper flowers to decorate the saloon for the reception while she measured the length of what felt like the hundredth piece of string. Elizabeth and Rosemary looked at each other surprised as if the thought had not crossed their minds.
"I suppose it is a little strange." Rosemary frowned a little.
"Nonsense, you are one of my closest friends and I would not have it any other way." Elizabeth told her firmly.
"Well thank you, it means a lot to me too." Rosemary smiled. Elizabeth returned it before yawning a little hiding it with her hand.
"You should get some sleep, we can't have a bride with those bags under her eyes." Rosemary said. Kate shook her head smiling to herself.
"I'm alright, we have a lot to get done." Elizabeth said.
"I'm surprised Jack isn't here tonight, I can't remember a night he wasn't here since he came home." Rosemary said.
"He was helping someone put up his fence tonight." Elizabeth said a tone in her voice making Kate and Rosemary frown
"Trouble in paradise?" Rosemary asked softly.
"We had a bit of a disagreement today." Elizabeth sighed.
"Oh, I'm sorry, those can be unsettling." Rosemary said softly.
"It was, we were both tired and rather short with each other."
"Well it's a stressful time. I can imagine these past few days have been a lot with him coming back and trying to adjust and plan this wedding." Rosemary said sympathetically.
"It's not that. I know what happened up north bothers him. He mentioned he wasn't sleeping well. I tried to get him to talk to me about it but he won't. Elizabeth sighed.
"Well if I know Jack, and as Kate pointed out I do." Rosemary nodded at Kate making them all smile through the serious moment.
"We have heard war is awful. Knowing Jack he's not talking about it, not because it wants to keep it from you or even because he is stubborn, which we all know he is… It's because he want's to protect you from it." Rosemary said.
"That sounds about right." Kate nodded
"Your right, and I was so short with him." Elizabeth sighed.
"Now I'm not saying your wrong, the man needs to learn to talk about things and you might be right to push him. But don't mistake his frustration for anything other then trying to protect you." Rosemary said. Kate smiled, this is why Rosemary was so dear to them.
"Thank you Rosemary" Elizabeth smiled.
"And I will let you in on a little secret, the best part about fighting is making up after." Rosemary winked at Elizabeth making her laugh as Kate wrinkled her nose.
"Now I should go, you ladies need your rest."
"Thank you for all your help Rosemary" Elizabeth smiled.
"What else is a bridesmaid for" Rosemary waved her off letting herself out of the row house.
"Hi" Jack said softly walking into the school house making Elizabeth look up from what she was distractedly reading.
"Hi" Elizabeth whispered relieved to see him.
"I'll see you at home" Kate said gathering up her books quickly to give them some space. She left the school house closing the doors behind her so they would be sure to be left alone. Elizabeth stood up going around her desk to lean on the front of it as Jack made his way down the rows of desks to her.
"I'm sorry." He said quickly before he had even come to a stop in front of her. Elizabeth let out a sigh, she had been tense and on edge since their fight and suddenly felt herself relax as he took her hands in his squeezing them lovingly.
"It's not your fault. I was pushing you, you were clear about not wanting to talk…"
"I was frustrated and I lost my temper to quickly. I was short with you, and I should never be like that." Jack cut her off.
"Can we call it a misunderstanding on both our parts and put it behind us?" Elizabeth asked.
"I would love nothing more." Jack sighed pulling her into him and wrapping his arms around her tightly holding her close.
"I do wish you would talk about it though Jack. I know it must bother you, I just want to help you." Elizabeth said softly when he let her, go looking up at him tentatively.
"I came back home hoping to put that war behind me, to just move on and make a wonderful life with you. But your right, it is hard to just leave it behind. Sometimes I think I feel better that you don't know. Because, you are my whole life Elizabeth, and being without you want the hardest thing I had to do. But it doesn't feel real because you weren't there, it feels like a separate part of me. I don't want to drag you into the part." Jack said sitting down in the front row of desks.
"Oh Jack" Elizabeth whispered sinking down next to him.
"But you were right, it is a part of me, I think I'm having a harder time with it then I thought." Jack sighed. Elizabeth reached over rubbing his arm gently trying to offer him some comfort.
"What can I do for you?" Elizabeth asked softly.
"Just being with you makes me feel better. You and Kate, You remind me of the good in the world. It gets better, just some time I think." Jack told her.
"Well, being with you always makes me feel better too." Elizabeth smiled leaning into his side as he wrapped his arm around her tightly.
"I love you, I'm so glad your home." Elizabeth whispered.
"I love you too sweetheart, no where else I would rather be." Jack smiled.
"Kate" Elizabeth called as she and Jack walked down the school house steps a few minutes later. Kate waved bye to her friends falling into step with them.
"How about a ride over to the land, I think Lee's men were planing out the house today." Jack said.
"Yes!" Kate cried.
"Come on let's see if we can get you girls some horses." Jack smiled leading the way to the livery. Jack saddled Sergeant quickly as Kate hoped onto the back of the gray horse she usually borrowed but Elizabeth's black horse wasn't there.
"Hop on then" Jack smiled holding out his hand. Elizabeth smiled as he pulled her up behind him.
"Hold on tight" Jack said turning so his face was only a few inches from her's.
"I'll never let go." Elizabeth smiled as Jack kicked Sergeant into a trot making her laugh as her arms tightened around his waist.
"Hey Jack I'll race you" Kate teased pulling her horse to fall into step next to them.
"Oh no!" Elizabeth cried.
"Last one there does dishes for a week" Jack narrowed his eyes at Kate as they both ignored Elizabeth.
"Deal" Kate nodded.
"No! Don't you dare!" Elizabeth cried tightening her hold on Jack.
"On your mark, get set, go!" Jack cried.
"Jack Thornton!" Elizabeth squealed gripping him tightly and leaning into his back as they raced through the field Kate hot on their tail as they all laughed.
"What's it like having Jack back?" Laura asked as she and Kate walked home.
"Wonderful, the wedding is coming up so soon, it's busy but fun. And we went to go see the land for the new house yesterday. It's going to be big, I can't wait to move in." Kate smiled.
"Miss Thatcher seems different." Laura nodded.
"She is, she seems lighter, happier, she laughs more." Kate grinned.
"My Ma said something about a prewedding glow." Laura giggled.
"I guess it might be that too, whatever it is, I'm glad for it." Kate shrugged.
"Can I come see the new house when you move in?"
"Of course! Elizabeth said we can have a dinner party too.
"Sounds so grown up" Laura giggled.
"I should go it's getting late" Jack said sitting back in his chair that night.
"Don't like being beat Jack?" Kate teased putting her cards down on the table from where Jack was teaching her to play Rummy.
"Beginners luck." Jack winked at her.
"You should go to bed to Kate, we have a busy few days coming up." Elizabeth.
"Ok, good night."
"Good night, see you tomorrow." Jack smiled.
"Good night, don't stay up reading, I need you at your best tomorrow." Elizabeth said as Kate gave her a hug before climbing the stairs.
"I hate leaving you at night." Jack sighed as Elizabeth went to him wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Two most days, and we will be married. Day after tomorrow, you won't ever have to go home at night again." Elizabeth said softly looking up at him.
"I can't wait" Jack sighed leaning down to meet her lips. She welcomed him putting her hand on the back of his neck pulling him closer to her. Since he came back they had been different, closer, Jack felt himself forcing to control himself when he kissed her, which were often deeper and boarding what he always imagined were saved just for marriage.
"You are my favorite thing in this whole world." Jack whispered when he forced himself to pull away.
"Two more days, then a whole week away just us." Elizabeth smiled and Jack fought the urge to kiss her again feeling like he would never leave if he did.
"I love you" He grinned.
"I love you too" Elizabeth smile.
"I'll come back for breakfast tomorrow?"
"Actually we are helping Abigail all day, meet us there for breakfast?"
"See you then." Jack smiled.
For anyone worried -Yes they are going on a honeymoon, but Jack will live, happy ending people! don't stress!
