Elizabeth smiled as she watched Michael play with the wooden construction logs Lee had made for his fourth birthday. It always amazed her at how quickly his mind had developed. He was extremely intelligent, and his pronunciation was even more astounding. At the moment he was building a tiny replica of the constabulary. Finished with his building he grabbed the raggedy effigy of his father that Abigail had made not long after the accident. It was a companion the the cowboy that he now produced, with a red handkerchief draped around the dolls shoulder like a cape.

"Come on Jack", Michael said in a deep voice, "we have bad guys to bring to justice".

"I'm coming Nathan".

Elizabeth smiled sadly and wiped her eyes. Michael had been very reserved for the entirety of his short life, but since the first day he had met Jack he had come out of his shell in a sudden turn of character for the young child, and had attached himself to the Mountie.

"Alright Michael, time to put the ponies in the corral, Constable Thornton is going to be here soon".

With a jubilant shout Michael quickly shoved his construction logs into their metal tin and gently placed his dolls on the top, closing the lid on them. He tried to run up the stairs but tripped, scraping his knee on the edge of a step. Hearing the fall Elizabeth quickly made her way to the stairs.

"Are you okay sweetie"?

"Yes mommy".

She could hear the pain in his voice, but she also knew that her strong willed son would not give in to being coddled. He was too much like his father.

To say the least, Jack Thornton was nervous. He had no idea what Elizabeth would want to talk to him about, let alone the fact that what he had to tell hear could potentially doom any sort of relationship that they might have. He was under no delusion that a romance would blossom, but he was worried about the friendship that was blooming between them. Nevertheless he needed to tell her.

The knock on the door resounded through the small house, bringing Michael running downstairs, minding the stairs this time. Elizabeth was she saw what had made him rush upstairs several minutes before. Michael was wearing his little Mountie outfit, another gift from Abigail for his birthday, and hanging loosely on his head was his father's campaign hat. Though much too big for his little head, he wore the hat as proudly as any Mountie.

Elizabeth wrung her hands nervous as Michael opened the front door. Backlit with the glow of the setting sun, and his hair reflecting the porch lamp in a halo Elizabeth found herself remembering how he looked when she first saw him, and how he reminded her of the heroes in her childhood stories.

She couldn't help but smile as she watched as Michael, dressed in a smaller version of the red surge and pants that Jack filled out perfectly, gave Jack a smart salute that Jack returned, smiling at the boy.

"What are my orders, commander", Jack said, smiling at Elizabeth who wiped her eyes.

"It's dinner time Mister Mountie", Michael said, his voice annoyed, like Jack should have known why he was in his home. Stepping into the house he unbuckled his gun belt and red surge and hung up both on the coat stand by the door, resting his hat on a hat hook at the top.

"Why are you getting undressed", Michael asked, oblivious to the snicker that came from his mother.

"If I eat in my surge I might get it dirty", Jack said. Nodding in agreement Michael unbuttoned his coat and let Jack help him out of it. Free of the warm coat Michael hurried to his place at the table.

"I hope you don't mind roast, it's all I know how to make without burning".

"Roast is fine ma'am".

Elizabeth was relieved, she wasn't very proficient in the kitchen, and thankfully Abigail always had an open table for her favorite people.

Dinner went smoothly, Jack and Elizabeth chatting idly about their days, with Michael throwing in his own unique perspective. It was a pleasant conversation until Michael, out of the blue, looked at Jack and asked, "do you like mommy, Mister Mountie"?

Jack nearly spewed out the ice tea he was drinking. He looked at Elizabeth, her eyes just as wide as his.

"O-Of course I do, your mother is a very good friend".

"So you two will get married"?

"Michael", Elizabeth said, stepping in to try to wrangle her son's questions in, "where is all of this coming from"?

"Auntie Abigail was talking to Mrs. Blakely, and Mrs. Blakely said a woman like you has urges that need met and"..

"Well remind me to have a talk with Mrs. Blakely", Elizabeth said, stopping her son from saying anymore, "now I think that's enough after dinner conversation, it's time for you to go to bed young man, say goodnight to Constable Thornton".

Michael reluctantly slid down from his chair, hugged Jack and his mother goodnight, and made his way upstairs.

"I am so sorry Jack", Elizabeth said, hanging her head in shame, "I had no idea he was going to say that".

"Just be glad he has no idea what Mrs. Blakely was talking about".

Elizabeth groaned and rolled her eyes.

"I am not ready for that talk".

Jack nodded then, looking at Elizabeth, began to speak.

"Elizabeth, thank you for dinner, it was wonderful, but I must confess that I had an ulterior motive for accepting your invitation".

Sensing the severity of the topic Elizabeth nodded.

"Let me make sure Michael gets to bed, then we can take a walk".

The night was cold and crisp as Elizabeth and Jack walked side by side down the path that led to the old bridge across Pine River. Jack was beside himself with worry, but he didn't let that stop him.

"Elizabeth, what I need to say requires me to ask you to listen to me until I'm finished".

Elizabeth was scared, it must be really severe indeed.

"Okay".

"A year and a half ago.. I was at Ft. Clay. I was put on disciplinary leave for a physical altercation with a fellow Mountie over, the stupidest of reasons. Because of my leave another Mountie was assigned to lead the training mission I was supposed to".

With each word of Jack's confession Elizabeth felt her world grow smaller and smaller. Finally, having reached the bridge, Elizabeth collapsed and began to sob bitterly. She felt Jack's comforting hand on hers. She wanted to pull her hand away, to hit him, to make her feel how she did.. but deep down, even in her deepest grief, with that old wound reopened and stinging in the biting breeze, she melted into his embrace.

"I'm sorry, I know it doesn't change things, but I'm so sorry".

Elizabeth trembled as her sobs quieted down and her body quakes with the last tremor of emotion.

"Thank you for telling me Jack. Thank you for coming".

"Elizabeth, I'll understand if you're angry with me".

"What good would that do? You made a mistake and Nathan did his duty. He never would have done less".

Jack walked Elizabeth back home, wished her a good night, and walked away smiling as she parted ways with him, leaving him a kiss on the cheek.

Oh My Goodness.. a kiss so soon. Is Michael adorable or what?