Their first few days back from the honeymoon were a learning curve for Jack. Though he had spent many hours at the Thatcher house, he had never lived there, he would always leave at a respectable hour in the evenings and he was never here in the early mornings. The first biggest thing he learned was that the Thatcher girls were slow to wake up in the morning. This was not a big surprise to Jack who was always up at dawn but he found it did change his own habits. The first Monday back from the honeymoon he woke up with Elizabeth asleep on his chest, his arm tucked around her. Every inch of him didn't want to move, but he also knew he was due back at work today after almost two weeks off. Elizabeth was beautiful in her sleep. Well she was always beautiful, but when she was sleeping she was peaceful beautiful. Her hair curled around her face, her lips were parted just so, her hand rested just under her cheek above his heart. Jack could watch her forever, but it was not so today. He slithered out from under her, waking her in the process. She cracked an eye open looking at the still almost pitch black sky. She grumbled rolling a bit burying her face in his pillow and seemed to instantly fall back to sleep. Jack chuckled to himself and pulled on his socks getting ready to make his way to the outhouse. He glanced at the closed door remembering Kate was on the other side and put on a shirt with his pajama pants before creaking the door open and slipping out. Across the hall Kate was curled up in her bed only the top of her head peaking out still fast asleep. Jack shook his head going downstairs. He used the outhouse quickly and fed Rip his breakfast going back inside. He washed up in the basin and shaved his face which was getting stubble from letting it go while they were away. Elizabeth had let it slip she found the slight stubble a bit more to her liking and he had become more laid back about his usually clean shaven face. Jack went back upstairs getting dressed realizing that both girls seemed to be pretty heavy sleepers as he moved back downstairs sitting down at the table. Rip sat at his feet watching him.
"I don't know boy, what do we do now?" Jack asked. Rip tilted his head at him.
"There are two of them and one of me. It's only right I conform to their routine. It's only fair to Kate besides." Jack said. He glanced out the window again as the sky was now light, the sun making it's way above the hill. He went back upstairs standing at the top of them looking back and forth. It was like a mirror image, on either side of the doorway a Thatcher sister lay on their back, long light brown hair fanning the pillow with an arm thrown over their eyes to block out the light. Jack held back a laugh as he walked into his room his feet making the floor boards creak. Elizabeth stretched and turned putting her arm out into his space. She opened her eyes sitting up when she realized he wasn't there.
"Good morning" Jack smiled sitting on the edge of the bed and giving her a kiss.
"Mmmm morning, your up early." Elizabeth said returning the kiss and giving him a smile.
"You girls sleep late, and did you know you sleep exactly the same." Jack asked.
"Jack! Don't be ridiculous." Elizabeth laughed throwing her legs over the side of the bed and standing up.
"You do!" Jack cried as Elizabeth put her finger to her lips.
"Well now what do you do? Can I start breakfast?" Jack asked.
"Oh darling thank you for offering but I am just not feeling the burnt bacon this morning." Elizabeth teased closing the door to their bedroom and pulling off her night gown starting to get dressed.
"Well I want to do something to contribute to the mornings." Jack offered.
"Rip would probably appreciate your breakfasts"
"I already fed him."
"Wow you do get up early"
"I get up at dawn, I always have" Jack said.
"Well maybe we can find you something to occupy your time with."
Elizabeth smiled at him, now fully dressed as Jack followed her down the stairs.
"I like to get up before the sun." Jack said.
"But then it's night, and night is for sleeping" Elizabeth said washing her face in the washbasin.
"Well I don't want to step on your toes but I do want to help." Jack sighed.
"Why don't you light the stove." Elizabeth offered slipping out the back door. Jack lit the stove and put the pan on the burner to make it hot as Elizabeth came back in.
"Katie, time to get up" Elizabeth called up the stairs as Jack sat down at the table. Elizabeth cracked some eggs into the pan and put some ham on the pan next to them.
"Kate I don't hear you!" Elizabeth called up the stairs again. Jack heard a growl and some muttering before the were footsteps in the room above their heads.
"It take her a minute." Elizabeth smiled at Jack making him laugh. Kate came down a minute later.
"Morning" Elizabeth gave her a smile.
"Morning, smells good." Kate said dressed for the day sitting down in a chair.
"Jack gets up before the sun" Elizabeth said picking up a hairbrush and running in through Kate's hair.
"Whatever for?" Kate asked in horror as Elizabeth fingers quickly started tying the front of it back. Kate had recently given up her child like long braid to leave her longs curls hanging and pulled back from her face.
"I like it! I enjoy getting up early and not having to rush in the morning." Jack said.
"We don't rush"
"No we have a routine" Elizabeth nodded in agreement tying the ribbon and smoothing it into place. She went to the mirror by the wall running the brush through her own hair as Kate went to the stove plating the now cooked ham and eggs.
"You certainly do" Jack said watching as Elizabeth tired up the front of her hair and Kate put three plates of food on the table and they both sat down at the same time.
"It's essential for not having to get up before the sun in the morning." Elizabeth nodded picking up her fork.
"I happen to like getting up before the sun." Jack smiled.
"Besides when we get our new house there will be a garden to water, animals to feed…" Jack started.
"Then we best soak in our sleep now." Kate said as Elizabeth nodded in agreement.
"How about from now on when I wake up before you two I will get our lunches ready." Jack offered.
"Oh no!"
"The lunch!" Kate and Elizabeth cried as the looked at each other. They abandoned their breakfast plates to start making sandwiches and putting things into their lunch tin.
"Oh yes, you two have a routine alright, what happens on the days you forget lunch?" Jack chuckled watching them.
"Well that's what Abigail is for." Elizabeth smiled.
"Lunches are my job then" Jack laughed.
"Welcome back Mrs Thornton." Laura called as the students began to file into the school room.
"Thank you, it's good to see you all! I am glad to be back." Elizabeth smiled as everyone settled into their seats.
"We missed you." Emily said.
"Mrs Coulter made us do singing and dancing." Opal frowned. Elizabeth held back her laugh.
"Mrs Coulter may have a way of teaching your not used to, but I have no doubt you were in good hands."
"Does Mountie Jack live at your house now?" Miles asked.
"Yes he does."
"And gets up at an ungodly hour" Kate muttered just loud enough for Laura to hear making her laugh.
"I heard Mr Coulter is putting a lot of mis men on the new house, how does it look?" Laura asked softly as Elizabeth turned her attention to the little students.
"Jack won't let us see it until it's done. I know it will have a barn though."
"Barn means lots of chores."
"It's just Sergeant, Jack will take care of him. And he want's a few apple trees too, he said it was always his dream to have apple trees." Kate smiled.
"Apple pie, apple dumpling.. you better get Mrs Stanton to write down the recipes for Elizabeth." Laura licked her lips making Kate laugh.
"Already done!"
"Does this mean you get a pet?"
"Well we do have Rip, he lives at our house now. And I think Jack said something about a barn cat." Kate smiled.
"Your still holding your breath Elizabeth will let you get a horse aren't you?" Laura smirked.
"If we already have the barn why not just get another!" Kate sighed making Laura laugh.
"Alright everyone lets get to our lessons before we fall even more behind." Elizabeth called as the class quieted down and she started their day.
Elizabeth sighed in her sleep rolling over in the hot summer night. It was July and the night air didn't cool off like it did a few weeks ago. This was her least favorite time of year, when even the dark didn't being any relief to the heat that made sleeping with anything but a light sheet unbearable. She reached out her arm looking for Jack and was surprised when she found the end of the bed before she found his body. Elizabeth sat up as her eyes adjusted to the dark room, luckily the moon was almost full and shown through the window enough to give off some light.
"Jack?" Elizabeth called softly as she stood up finding the room empty, she crossed the hall glancing into Kate's room seeing her sister sprawled out on her own bed sound asleep.
"Jack" Elizabeth called again at the bottom of the stairs surprised to find the downstairs empty. Rip sat by the back door, he glanced her letting out a whine and scratched at the door with his paw.
"Where's Jack, Rip?" Elizabeth asked going to the back window she saw Jack sitting in the dark on the back steps. Elizabeth hesitated for a minute wondering if she should put on a regular dress, but the only people who could see into the yard were Rosemary and Lee and she couldn't be bothered if they saw her night gown. Elizabeth opened the door slowly noticing how Jack jumped when it creaked and turned to see her coming out. She silently closed the door behind her before settling onto the steps next to Jack. His eyes were tired and his face was drawn as he glanced at her.
"I didn't hear you get up." Elizabeth whispered. She knew from the look of him something was wrong.
"I didn't want to wake you, I just couldn't sleep." Jack shook his head not meeting her eye. Elizabeth reached up cupping his cheek, it was clammy, a cold sweat covered his body.
"Are you sick?" She asked softly trying to check him for signs of a fever or any other symptoms.
"No, I'm fine." Jack moved away from her reach.
"Jack, don't do this, don't shut me out." Elizabeth whispered. Jack sighed, defeated. It worried her that she could wear him down so easily, she had expected more of a fight from him.
"I.. I just had a dream, I thought I was back in the fighting. I couldn't shake it off, I thought maybe some air…" Jack trailed off looking out into the yard. Their laundry blowing in the summer breeze, Elizabeth closed her eyes welcoming the changing air.
"I'm sorry Jack, you should have woken me…"
"No, no it's fine. It's not the first time… sometimes I can fall right back to sleep, others… it takes a little more time." Jack shook his head.
"Well do you know anyone else.. who feels like this? Maybe you can talk to them…"
"It's not exactly something you discuss with people Elizabeth" Jack sighed.
"I'm sorry." He whispered when she was silent for a second and he realized he had been short with her.
"I'm just trying to help Jack. I want to help you get past this."
"I know, you do help, believe me, just by being you, you make me feel better." Jack turned to her finally meeting her eye now offering her a little smile.
"But I don't know what you went through. Maybe if you talk to Bill, of Frank. You know they won't judge you and maybe they know a way to make it easier." Elizabeth offered.
"Your right, as always." Jack nodded putting an arm around her waist and pulling her into his side.
"They have a word for it you know, it's called trauma. It can effect even the very bravest of men." Elizabeth whispered.
"Trauma." Jack repeated softly.
"Promise me you will talk to Bill or Frank?"
"I will" Jack nodded.
"And me? You can always talk to me. Jack I want to help you with this I just don't know how." Elizabeth sighed.
"How about, we go back up to bed. I bet I can think of a way how" Jack whispered and his warm breath in her ear made her shiver despite the warm night. Elizabeth couldn't help but smile, there was her Jack back.
"Oh really? Sleeping? Changing sheets? Dusting headboards?" Elizabeth teased as Jack stood and reached down pulling her up with him.
"All perfectly good bedroom activities, but I had something else in mind." Jack grinned.
"So the walls of the first floor are set. I know you said you wanted to do the painting so I will leave that for you. The second floor walls are going up tomorrow." Lee said as he and Jack circled around the house.
"Lee this looks amazing, I can't believe how fast you guys are working." Jack grinned knocking on the door frame.
"Well we want to get this done for you. Once the second floor walls are up we will start working on the indoor stuff. If you order what you need from the mercantile now I can have my men start moving stuff in as it comes." Lee said as Jack stepped into the house.
"Thanks, Elizabeth and I will go by one afternoon this week." Jack nodded.
"The barn should only take a few days, you still want four stalls?"
"Yes, one for Sergeant, maybe a cow, Elizabeth spoke of goats once, we would need a one to keep them in the winter." Jack nodded.
"And the forth?"
"Little birthday surprise for Kate, I have been working on. Don't you dare tell Elizabeth if she asks." Jack smiled. Lee just chuckled holding up his hands in surrender.
"This is Kate's room, I was going to let her pick the color." Jack said looking around.
"It's a good size, bigger then the row house bedrooms that's for sure." Lee nodded.
"Hey Lee, you ever have a nightmare?" Jack asked turning to him suddenly.
"Sure, everyone has." Lee nodded, Jack was relieved to see Lee wasn't teasing him about it. Not that he expected that sort of thing from his friend anyway.
"I mean like every night, the same thing over and over?" Jack asked.
"When my brother died, I had nightmares every night for months." Lee nodded.
"Right"
"Jack, what does Elizabeth say?" Lee asked as Jack leaned against the doorframe rubbing his face with his hand.
"She says I should talk to Bill or Frank, someone who went through that kind of thing." Jack shrugged.
"She's probably right."
"It's just not the kind of thing you talk about." Jack sighed.
"Well why not? Jack you are looking more and more tired since you and Elizabeth got back. You have to do something about it. If not for you do it for your wife. This is no way to start a married life." Lee said.
"I now, your right." Jack nodded.
"What do you say we head back to town and get a coffee at Abigail's before going back to work?" Lee smiled clapping Jack on the back making him chuckle.
"Sounds good." Jack smiled.
Kate, dinner" Elizabeth said putting the pot on the table.
"I got a visit from Gabe today." Jack said as the three of them sat down.
"Emily said he wanted to be a mountie." Kate said.
"He came by to ask some questions." Jack nodded.
"What did you tell him?" Elizabeth asked.
"I told him it was something he should think seriously about, but if he thought it was for him to come back in a few days and I will give him all the information he will need."
"He would make a good Mountie." Kate nodded.
"He would, he was always responsible and willing to help." Elizabeth agreed.
"He want's to get a job quick, so Cat doesn't have to work so hard to support all three of the kids."
"She has definitely had it hard since the mine accident." Elizabeth nodded softly.
"Do you think he would work here with you Jack?" Kate asked.
"I don't think so, he would have to go through training first. But I doubt Hope Valley called for more then one mountie."
"Well hopefully he can make the choice that is right for him and his family." Elizabeth said.
"Did you go see the house today Jack?" Kate asked.
"Lee and I were there yesterday. The walls of the first floor are up. Start thinking about what color you want to paint you room and I'll get started on it next weekend." Jack smiled
"How wonderful!" Elizabeth smiled.
Elizabeth woke up when the room was still dark. She closed her eyes hoping to fall back to sleep quickly as she rolled over curling into Jack's side. She had quickly come to think of it as her spot. Her head fit perfectly oh his chest right over his heart, his chin resting on the top of her head. His arm always came around to pull her closer and hold her, no matter how deep in sleep he was. This time she put her head down and her arm around his waist wiggling a little into place and was surprised when his arm didn't instantly come around her. Under her ear his heart was racing and Elizabeth immediately sat up looking down at him. Jack's face was pinched into a frown and his breathing irregular as he seemed to struggle in his sleep.
"Jack" Elizabeth whispered softly. She ran her hand through his hair and down his cheek. He shook his head still fighting something in his sleep.
"Jack, Jack wake up your ok." Elizabeth said a little louder shaking him gently. Jack woke up with a sudden jolt looking up at her as if trying to catch his breath.
"Hey." Elizabeth whispered
"Hi" Jack sighed putting his head back down on his pillow.
"You were having a nightmare."
"Yeah, I'm ok now"
"Did you want to talk about it?"
"No, I just want to try to go back to sleep."
"Did you talk to Bill or Frank?"
"I talked to Frank, he says stuff like this just takes time. It is getting better, this is the first one this week." Jack said reaching up to run his fingers down Elizabeth's braid trying to calm her.
"What can I do for you? Do you want some water?"
"Nope, I just want you right here, you help keep them away." Jack whispered pulling her back down onto him and she settled back into her spot, happy to heart his heart beating regularly.
"It's going to be ok." Jack said softly.
"I know." Elizabeth whispered.
