A/N: Thank you for the kind reviews. I just wanted to give you an insight into my crazy mind - I had my direction for the Thatcher response all wrapped up, and then got a totally different idea this morning. And I liked it :) So, I'm going with it. It might just delightfully surprise you. The truth is, I'm a romantic at heart and just want things to always work out in the end. So...I hope you enjoy.

"William!" Mrs Thatcher, came in the wrong talking loudly. "When did this letter arrive?"

"Don't be dramatic, Grace. It came a few days ago."

"And you didn't think it was important enough to share this with me?"

"I didn't want to worry you. I have handled it. You shouldn't get upset..."

"William Thatcher don't tell me not to worry when I receive a letter that my daughter is married and pregnant. And you think I didn't need to know this."

"I told you, darling," William tried to calm her, touching her arm softly. "I have handled it."

"Handled it? William what have you done?"

"I told Elizabeth and Julie to come home."

"Come home? Come home, William?" Mrs Thatcher's voice grew louder with each word. "Elizabeth has clearly found a new home and a new life on the frontier. Of course, I'm not happy about it, but she is home, William. And they way you tried to control her life sent Julie running off, as well. And now married and expecting a baby. Our girls have made decisions that we don't agree with, but they are their decisions. We have to accept them."

"I will not accept daughters that I raised marrying beneath their station and living as vagrants out in the open wilderness somewhere. They were raised better than that, Grace."

"Tell me, William, if you have ever had the courage to do something that everyone around you has told you was impossible. To do so difficult a task that everyone else seems to think can't be done."

"You know I have. I've done it my whole career. That is what built all this," Mr Thatcher gestured around the room.

"And that's exactly what you raised our daughters to do," she said matter-of-factly, silencing William from further comment. Mrs Thatcher turned to leave the room.

"Where are you going, Grace?"

She turned around faced her husband.

"To tell my daughters that I don't feel the same way as their father, and that I will be there for them no matter what decisions they make.

...

Nearly a week had passed since Elizabeth received this disheartening telegram from her father. She had broken the news to Julie and Tom that same day. Tom wasn't surprised, but Elizabeth and Julie were very shaken by their father's words.

flashback

"It's fine, Julie. We don't need your parents' support or money," he told his wife.

"Of course we do, Tom. How are we going to take care of this baby? We can't stay with Elizabeth forever. Plus, she might be caring for a family of her own soon," Julie cried.

Quickly Elizabeth shifted the conversation away from that topic, "Julie you know we will all support you however we can. You can stay here as long as you need. We will find a way to make this work."

"Thank you, Elizabeth, but..."

Not letting her sister continue, Elizabeth quickly added, "And Tom, I think Julie is just upset that our parents aren't more supportive of their daughters and our life decisions. Please try to understand how upsetting that it is to us. Julie knows how much we all love and support you two. It's just hard to hear such harsh words from our parents."

"You're right, Elizabeth," Tom replied, feeling a little chided by his sister-in-law, but quickly understanding that she was right. "I should have been more understanding of your feelings. I'm sorry."

"Oh, Tom, I'm just glad I have you," Julie smiled, her sobs easing into sniffles. "And you, too, Elizabeth. I'm going to go splash my face and dry up these tears."

"Good idea," Elizabeth smiled.

As soon as Julie left she rubbed her temples with her hand.

"Thank you, Elizabeth. I didn't mean to make things worse. I guess I should have realized how upset you both would be at your father's harsh words. I'm sorry I didn't consider your feelings."

"It's alright, Tom. I know how poorly my father treated you - and Jack - before. I'm sure you didn't have a very high opinion of him to begin with, but he is our father..."

"And no matter what you still love him," Tom finished. "I can understand and respect that. I'd love to be able to be angry at my father..."

He looked down, momentarily lost in thought.

"But, nonetheless, thanks. I'm so used to Julie being this strong, tough woman I sometimes forget how fragile she is."

Elizabeth chuckled.

"The way you describe my sister, it's as if you're talking about another person," she smiled.

"Perhaps she changed, Elizabeth. She always talks about how brave and strong you are. You really inspired her to go on an adventure - to take a chance at a different life."

"So, I'm to blame for all this mess," Elizabeth teased.

Tom grinned.

"Well, I suppose you are," he replied.

"What's so funny?" Julie asked as she came down the stairs.

Elizabeth answered, "Life, my dear sister. Life."

end of flashback

...

"Good morning, Julie. How are you?"

"I'm alright, Abigail," Julie replied, unconvincingly.

"Well, I'm convinced," Abigail joked.

Julie shrugged.

"Look, I know you're still upset. It's perfectly understandable. Just give your parents time to process the news. Maybe they'll come around eventually."

"Oh, who cares," Julie resigned. "It's their loss. Tom is a wonderful man and he's worked very hard to care for me and our baby. If they can't accept him, well, who needs them? We'll do just fine on our own."

Julie crossed her arms in defiance and Abigail couldn't suppress a giggle.

"Well, mostly on our own," Julie continued. "With help from our friends..."

"Of course, Julie. I hope you think of me as family. You know, when I lost Noah and Peter I thought I'd never know what it meant to have a family again. Then Elizabeth came into my life, and she was a dear friend, but she also became my family. Then Clara...and Cody and Becky...It made me realize that blood isn't the only thing that makes a family, Julie. Whether your parents accept your decisions in life or not, just know that you will always have family who loves you."

"Oh, Abigail, don't make me get all teary-eyed. I have to serve breakfast in a few minutes," Julie smiled, hugging Abigail quickly. "You know how these baby emotions just make me so weepy."

Abigail smiled.

"I remember vaguely," she replied.

Just then, Elizabeth came rushing through the door smiling.

"Well, you certainly seem to be in brighter spirits this morning," Abigail commented.

"This telegram just came from Jack. They are heading out today. Hopefully, they will be back in Hope Valley by the end of the week."

"Oh, that's wonderful, Elizabeth," Julie squealed. "And they will be here for the Christmas pageant. That's excellent news."

"It is," Elizabeth said excitedly. "Finally, a bright spot."

As the ladies celebrated Elizabeth's good news, Tom came rushing in with news of his own.

"Goodness, Tom. What's the emergency?" Abigail asked, startled, as Tom rushed in, breathless.

"I...got a...job!" he exclaimed between breaths.

"Oh, Tom, that's wonderful!" Julie clapped her hands and grabbed Tom in a hug. He spun her around and sat her back down on the floor.

"Mr Coulter hired me up on the spot. I didn't even have to ask. He told me he needed me right away. In fact," he said turning to Elizabeth, "I have to go with some men to Buxton for a couple of days to pick up a big load of supplies for the mill expansion. Is it okay if I leave Julie in your hands until I get back? Sorry for the short notice, but we're leaving shortly. I just ran to tell Julie and go home and grab my pack for the trip."

"Of course it is, Tom. She'll be fine without you a few days."

"Oh, I'm going to miss you," Julie pouted.

"We haven't been separated overnight since we got married," Tom explained.

"Well, then, it will do you good," Abigail laughed. "Sometimes absence makes the heart grow fonder."

"Well, I'm fond enough," Julie replied, continuing her pout. "I don't need an absence. But I'm glad you'll be working, Tom, so I suppose I will just have to get over it."

"Come on, Abigail. Let's give these two a moment. I'll help you start the breakfast service," Elizabeth offered, turning her back on Julie and Tom with a smile.