AN: Hello my fellow Hearties! Your kind words in your reviews are so wonderful, they make my heart feel full! So here's another chapter for you wonderful, wonderful readers!

Elizabeth smiled as she carried the thermos full of warm coffee to her fiance. The December weather was bitterly cold, but she still felt warm, just knowing that she was going to see him. She had missed him all day long, but she knew that the work he was doing on their future home was very important.

"Jack!" She called out when she was near enough that he would hear. He turned from the wall he was painting, set down his things, and walked over to meet her. "I brought you some coffee. I thought you might like that...and perhaps a bit of company."

"I always like your company." Jack grinned, and kissed her cheek. HIs nose was freezing, and his lips weren't much better.

"Jack, you're like ice! How long have you been out here?" Elizabeth scolded.

"Just since this morning. There was work to be done." Jack shrugged, and took a long drink of the warm coffee. "It's getting so close, Elizabeth. I couldn't stay away."

"Not even on Christmas eve?" Elizabeth sighed.

"Not when our wedding is in forty days." Jack laughed.

"Still. It's freezing out here, and you've been out in it for hours. You're going to get sick." Elizabeth said.

"Elizabeth, I'm a mountie. I'm pretty tough." Jack said with a smile, and went back over to where his supplies were. Elizabeth sighed, and walked over to join him, picking up a second brush. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to stay here with you until you agree to come back to town to thaw out, So I might as well get some work done." Elizabeth said. "Though I don't see why you couldn't wait for warmer weather to finish the outside work."

"Because they say it's going to be a rainy January, Elizabeth. Rain is good weather for finishing walls inside the house, and finishing floors, but I want these walls protected from the elements." Jack explained. "And I doubt if there will be any warmer weather between today and February third."

"Well, that's fine then. But I'm not leaving you out here alone, Constable Thornton." Elizabeth said with a half smile as she began imitating his work.

"If you get too cold, you'll go back to the cafe to warm up?" Jack asked.

"I'll leave when you do." Elizabeth said firmly.

"Elizabeth-"

"I'm going to be a mountie's wife. I'm pretty tough." Elizabeth said, and raised an eyebrow at him. Truth be told she could already feel the cold creep into her bones, but she wouldn't admit that to him.

"Well...Two sets of hands are better than one." Jack said, though he looked at her with concern. Even with her coat, and scarf, she must have been bitterly cold.

"I put in an order at the mercantile today." Elizabeth said.

"What for?" Jack asked.

"Bedding." Elizabeth said, and her icy cheeks felt warm. "Among other things." She followed quickly. "I went ahead and bought curtains, since my first two attempts were…"

"Disasters?" Jack asked, and Elizabeth frowned at him. True, the first ones had been...unpleasant to look upon, fabric that was once neatly yellow and white plaid had been reduced to awful, wrinkled messes. But the second ones were...marginally better.

"Unsuccessful." Elizabeth corrected. "I basically ordered anything that you or I couldn't make ourselves."

"Will it all be here in time for the wedding?" Jack asked.

"Mr. Yost seems to think so." Elizabeth nodded. "But will everything you're setting out to build be finished in time for the wedding? Ah, I'm not doubting your abilities as a craftsman ,Jack, I'm afraid you're going to wear yourself too thin. You've got rounds every morning, afternoon, and evening, you're here every spare minute, and any second that you've got leftover you spend with me. I don't want you to run yourself ragged, Jack."

"Elizabeth, I'll be fine." Jack shook his head with a smile.

"Alright. But if you work until you collapse with exhaustion, don't expect me to feel sorry for you." Elizabeth huffed, a cloud forming from her lips.

"I think you would." Jack said. Elizabeth frowned at him briefly, but could not maintain her facade and quickly began to smile. "But don't worry, I won't. I promise."

"That's all I ask." Elizabeth said quietly. She was beginning to shiver now, and Jack noticed.

"Elizabeth, you're cold." Jack said, and put his hand on her shoulder. "Maybe you should head back to town."

"Only when you do." Elizabeth said through mildly chattering teeth. Jack sighed.

"You know that's not fair, Elizabeth. You know that I can't keep you out here, not when you're shaking like that."

"I'm fine, Constable Thornton." Elizabeth assured him. "No need to worry about me."

"Alright, you win. Let's go back to the cafe."

"That easy?" Elizabeth asked in amazement.

"You're shivering, Elizabeth. You're teeth are chattering. What kind of fiance would I be if I ignored that?" Jack laughed, and went about securing all of the materials they had been using. "Though, I think I could probably find a way to warm you up right here." Jack said, coming in to kiss her. Elizabeth smiled around his lips, and rested her hands on his shoulders. Oh, how she loved this man. And she had for much longer than she had realized. "I love you."

"I love you. More than anything." Elizabeth whispered in his ear, and ran her chilled fingers over the nape of his neck. "Mmm. I think I want to marry you."

"That's good. Because I booked the church for forty days from now." Jack smiled.

"Too bad it wasn't for today. Married on Christmas Eve. That would have been romantic. And then you'd never have forgotten our anniversary" Elizabeth grinned.

"I don't think it's likely that I'll forget now." Jack laughed. "February third, Elizabeth." He wrapped his hand around hers, and pulled her towards town.

"Jack…" Elizabeth trailed off. She wanted to broach the topic of their siblings, but found that she was unable to do so. "I've been thinking, about Julie, and Tom." Jack frowned and he looked down at their feet. "We have to invite them to the wedding don't we? They're our siblings."

"I don't know Elizabeth. After what they did to our families?" Jack sighed. "You know how your father feels about inviting them." Elizabeth frowned, stopped walking, and embraced her fiancé as she thought. Julie had caused quite a number of problems by running off. And she ran directly to Tom. Tom who had resisted her at first, but had eventually been swayed to her way of thinking. By the time Jack and Mr. Thatcher had located them, it was too late- they had eloped, and consummated the marriage.

Needless to say that Jack had been angry and betrayed, and had felt himself a bit responsible, and her father had hastily disowned her younger sister, and refused to reconsider. Julie wrote to Elizabeth often, begging for her sister's forgiveness. Forgiveness that Elizabeth hadn't felt it was in her power to grant. But now, with Christmas, and the wedding coming up… She found that she longed to hear her younger sisters jubilant chatter, even have her younger sister with her on her wedding day.

"I know. But even though they made choices we don't approve of, I feel that we can't...shut them out. Tom is your brother, your only family left, Jack. I don't believe that you want to never speak to him again." Elizabeth said, finally pulling out of his embrace. She saw the look of sadness in his eyes, and kissed his cheek very softly. "And it isn't your fault Jack. You've got to know that you aren't responsible for their choices."

"Maybe we can visit them after the wedding." Jack suggested. "It's not ideal, but it would appease your family, and allow us to see them."

"It's not ideal. But it'll have to do." Elizabeth agreed. "Julie doesn't see what she's done wrong. She's compared her situation to ours."

"That's ridiculous! The two situations are nothing alike!" Jack huffed. "Well...except for the fact that there's one Thornton and one Thatcher in each of them."

"We aren't responsible just because we introduced them, Jack." Elizabeth sighed, and they resumed their walk. "They're adults. They should have thought more before they acted."

"I just hope they can handle whatever life throws at them." Jack sighed. "Especially since your father adamantly refuses to see Julie ever again. Do you find it a bit odd that he didn't disown you, but he disowned her? Didn't he say he didn't think he could disown his own child?"

"Yes. But I think Julie broke his heart a little bit. She ran away from home, and got married without so much as a word to any of us. He missed his youngest daughter's wedding, simply because he wasn't given the chance to attend. That's not something I can imagine a father would take lightly." Elizabeth said.

"I guess you're right. If we ever had a daughter who did something like that…." Jack swallowed, and glanced at Elizabeth. "It would be heartbreaking."

"We'll raise our children as well as we can, Jack." Elizabeth said with a soft smile. "And hope and pray that they turn out to be good, intelligent people."

"With you for a mother, I don't see how a child could be anything but good, intelligent, beautiful…"

"I didn't say anything about beauty." Elizabeth said.

"No. But I did." Jack half smiled at her, and raised the hand that was joined with his to his lips. When they made it to the cafe, Jack kissed her softly, and told her that he had a few things to take care of before the evening service, Not that she minded. She had a few things she needed to do. Like finish the socks she had painstakingly been knitting him for a Christmas gift.

….

"Wow." Was all Jack could say when Elizabeth came down the steps in the cafe. She looked simply amazing with her hair pinned away from her face, and cascading down her back. She wore a green dress, with simple pearl buttons that matched the one in the center of the ring he had given to her. She was entirely breathtaking. "Elizabeth. You're so beautiful."

"Thank you, Jack." Elizabeth said with a small smile. "You don't look so bad yourself… And we match." She giggled, referring to his green suit. He stepped forward,took the cape she was holding out of her arms, and held it up for her.

"Where's Abigail?"

"Oh, she and Clara went to the church early, something about helping pastor Frank with setting up." Elizabeth said and Jack came around to button the cream colored cape. "Thank you."

"All in the line of duty, Miss Thatcher." Jack smiled, and offered her his arm, which she took with a broad smile. As the entered the street, there were many people milling about, slowly heading in the direction of the church.

"Miss Thatcher, Miss Thatcher!" Emily called, and ran over to her teacher, dragging her mother along with her. "Tomorrow is Christmas Miss Thatcher!"

"Yes, it is! Have you been very good this year?" Elizabeth asked seriously. Emily looked to her mother who smiled softly at the girl.

"She's been an angel." Cat said. Emily grinned, flung her arms around her teacher and then skipped off towards Rosaleen. "My, don't the two of you make a handsome pair."

"Oh, thank you." Elizabeth blushed.

"We're all so looking forward to your wedding! Especially Emily- she can't believe that she gets to be a flower girl! Thank you again for asking, Elizabeth. I think you've made her whole year." Cat grinned. "And your house is coming along so nicely! Gabe asked if he would be allowed to go help Mountie Jack, but I wasn't so sure…He's still young yet, I don't know-"

"I'd love to have Gabe help, Mrs. Montgomery." Jack said. "And I'd keep an eye on him, if it'd make you feel better."

"It would." Cat nodded. "He'll be very glad to hear that. He's trying to prove how grown up he is...truth be told, he wants to start courting a girl from school...Cassandra." Cat whispered, and then chuckled lightly. "I still see him as that little boy who used to run around the house without his shirt on and pretend he was a wild cowboy. It's amazing how time flies. I'll see you both at the church." Cat said kindly, and then walked over to where Emily was.

"Time does fly. Except when you want it to." Elizabeth sighed as they resumed their walk. "I wish that the next forty days would fly by, So I could be married to you."

"They will. And then I hope time slows down, so I can enjoy each and every day with you." Jack grinned. Elizabeth smiled, and lifted her other hand to place on his forearm.

"It's almost strange to think that next Christmas, you won't have to pick me up at the cafe. Next Christmas we'll be in our own house. We'll be married." Elizabeth said jubilantly. Another thought struck her that she didn't say out loud. Perhaps next Christmas, it wouldn't only be the two of them. Perhaps next Christmas, there would be a new little Thornton. The thought made her feel warm all over.

"What are you thinking about?" Jack asked.

"Hm? Oh, Nothing."

"Nothing? Nothing doesn't make your face turn that shade of pink." Jack laughed. "What is it?"

"I was just thinking about you...and me...and...babies." Elizabeth finally managed. Jack looked at her, and seemed to be about to respond, when Rosemary appeared, as she often did, from out of nowhere.

"Jack! Elizabeth! How's Hope Valley's most talked about couple? Well, second most talked about." Rosemary said, and winked at Lee.

"Hi, Rosemary." Jack said.

"Oh, just look at you two. Such a handsome couple!" Rosemary sighed. "Look at all of us. All happy, all in love, oh isn't it wonderful?"

"In love?" Lee asked, looking sharply at Rosemary.

"Oh- well- er...Yes. In love." Rosemary said, after she found her voice again. "I...love you, Lee."

"It's a Christmas miracle!" Lee laughed, and wrapped his arms around her.

"Lee!"

"I love you too, Rosemary." He added.

"That's more like it." She grinned at him, and kissed him. After a moment, Jack cleared his throat, and they broke apart, looking stunned.

"Sorry." Rosemary chirped, not sounding sorry in the least.

"Oh, it's fine. We should all head to the church now, hm?" Elizabeth said.

"Yes, I think you're right." Jack nodded.

"You two go on ahead, Lee and I will see you there!" Rosemary laughed, and went back to kissing Lee before he could get in a word. Jack and Elizabeth shared a look, and quickly went around the two.

"So, you, and me, and babies?" Jack asked after a minute of silence. Elizabeth felt her earlier blush creep back into her cheeks, and she nodded.

"I know that we haven't talked much about children." Elizabeth said. She took a shaky breath before continuing. "Do you- do you want to have children, with me?"

"Elizabeth, of course I do." Jack said without hesitating. Elizabeth sighed in relief. "I thought you would have realized that earlier, or I would've said something specifically. Haven't we talked about raising children?"

"Yes, I suppose we have. But it's still good to hear the words." Elizabeth explained. She was glad that there was a soft, cool breeze blowing to cool her skin that felt red hot. "I know that being a mountie, you might have to be away sometimes, and it would be hard to leave behind a wife, and children. I know that getting married is already something that is a bit of a strain for you."

"Getting married isn't a strain, Elizabeth. Not getting married to you." Jack shook his head, almost in disbelief. "Elizabeth, I love you. And you are one of the strongest women- scratch that. One of the strongest people I've ever met. If I have to go away, and I hope I don't, I know that you would be alright, with whatever children we might have. And knowing that you'd be waiting for me...well, coming home to you would be a lot sweeter than just coming home to Rip."

"I love you, Constable Thornton."

"Just Jack, tonight, actually."

"Well then, I love you, Just Jack."

AN: So, Christmas is there! And then we have Gabe and Cassandra, which I think is super sweet! I know that the TV show never expressly says who Gabe kisses when he says he'd kissed a girl in coal valley, and some of my friends think it was Rachel, some think it was Cassandra, So I just went with Cassandra. And then there is the news of Julie and Tom's elopement, which was a bit glossed over in this chapter, but I promise we'll be seeing more of the two of them in chapters to come! Thanks for reading! XO