The emotional meltdown of the evening before seemed to be a thing of the past by morning, though it was clear that Jack was looking forward to getting home. All of his chatter was Hope Valley related - the people and the places. Nathan definitely preferred the chatter to the crying. Sitting in the dining car for breakfast, Nathan had a feeling their fellow passengers did too.

After breakfast, they returned to their compartment. Jack immediately climbed into the seat near the window to look outside. While the boy was occupied, Nathan made sure that all their belongings were packed away, knowing that Jack would be anxious to leave the train when they reached their stop. When he was done, he asked Jack if he wanted him to read to him. Jack shook his head and went back to watching the passing scenery. Having a feeling the scenery wasn't going to hold Jack's attention for the hours that they had left on their journey, Nathan placed the book Grace had bought for the two of them to read together on the way home on the seat beside him. Leaning his head back, Nathan closed his eyes just listening to the things around him.

Jack wasn't the only one looking forward to getting home. Though his in-laws had been most welcoming, he was still not comfortable in a city, just like when he had been in Calgary while caring for his mother. He had needed to be there for that period of time, but he had longed to be back in Hope Valley - even with the heartbreak that had happened.

Now, he didn't even have the heartbreak to turn him off of the quaint, welcoming town. He and Elizabeth were forming the family he had always dreamed of. Nathan knew that she loved him even if the closest she had come to saying so was, "you matter to me." He found himself smiling at the memory of when he had said those words to her after the windstorm.

If he had said "I love you" then instead of "you matter to me," would Elizabeth have accepted it better or would she still have gone fleeing to what Lucas had to offer her?

Though he couldn't be sure, Nathan thought her reaction may have been different as the O'Rourke prisoner transfer would not yet have spooked her. Not that it mattered. One couldn't change the past and now things seemed to be as they should. He had a son traveling with him and a wife and daughter at home as anxious to them as they were to see them.

Nathan wasn't sure how things could get any better.

A small arm, slipping through his, told Nathan that the passing scenery had lost its appeal for now. Opening his eyes, Nathan looked down to find Jack sitting next to him on the bench seat. The boy looked up at him with sad eyes.

"Nothing looks familiar to me," Jack lamented.

Fearing another meltdown like the night before Nathan reached over with his free hand to smooth a hand over the small boy's head. "That is because we are many miles from what you are familiar with, but I assure you, we are getting closer. Would you like me to read to you to pass the time?"

Jack nodded.

To make himself more comfortable, Nathan placed a pillow against the sidewall of the compartment before picking up both Jack and the book. Leaning back against the pillow, Nathan stretched his legs out along the bench seat and settled Jack in his lap. With his arms around his son, Nathan opened the book to where they had last left off and began to read. The sad look Jack had worn soon changed to wonder and curiosity, as he listened to the story. When the boy interrupted with a question, Nathan patiently answered the best he could before resuming the story.

Nathan had gotten through about two chapters before Jack drifted off to sleep. Knowing the time would seem to pass quicker for the boy in dreamland, Nathan let Jack sleep. With any luck, they would be close to or pulling into Hope Valley before the boy even woke up.

At some point, Nathan must have drifted off too, as he awoke to a knock on the compartment door. "Come in," Nathan called, pushing aside the groggy effects of the nap as he looked toward the door. Unsurprisingly, it was the conductor who appeared in the doorway of the open door of their compartment.

"Hope Valley is our next stop, sir," the conductor said.

"Thank you," Nathan replied.

"We're almost home!" Jack exclaimed, now fully awake and scrambling for the window.

Nathan noted the conductor left the doorway with a smile on his face. He had a smile on his own face as he watched Jack looking out the window, seeing sights that were finally a little familiar to him.

"Yes, Jack, we are home," Nathan replied, sitting up. He tucked the book back into one of the bags.

Before they knew it, the train was pulling into the train station. Jack was still in the window, now searching for familiar faces as the train came to a stop in the station.

"There are Mama and Ally!" Jack exclaimed before scrambling down from the seat and heading for the compartment door.

Nathan reached out and caught one of Jack's suspenders as he ran past. "Whoa there, buddy," he told the boy gently. "You need to wait for me. I don't want you getting lost or hurt."

Jack turned and held out his arms to Nathan. Picking the boy up, he settled Jack on his right hip. With his left hand he opened the compartment door, stuck a foot out to open it and reached for their two bags. There were already a few other passengers in the corridor and Nathan followed behind them to the exit of the train.

"I am going to see, Mama," Jack exclaimed excitedly.

Nathan heard a few chuckles around him, even as he smiled at his son. "Yes, Jack. Just a few minutes now," he told the boy.

"Let me take the bags while you go down the steps, sir," the porter at the doorway said.

Nathan handed the bags over to him and proceeded down the stairs.

"Hi, Mama! Hi Ally!" Jack called out waving a hand.

Nathan was glad he was carrying Jack, sure the boy would go darting off if his feet were on the ground. Down the steps, Nathan handed a tip to the porter, took his bags and turned ready to ask Jack where their family was. He never got the question out before he felt the soft thud of someone making contact with him, as arms wrapped around him.

"I love you! I am so sorry I fought it for so long!"

The breathless, desperate words came from his wife who had thrown her arms around him. She was clinging to him just as desperately as the words had sounded. Dropping the bags, Nathan wrapped his left arm around her, and held her close as his heart soared with joy. She had finally stopped fighting her feelings and embraced them with her whole being. The love he had known was there, was finally his freely.

"I love you and missed you too, Beth," he told her, placing a kiss to the top of her head.

"What about me, Mama?"

Elizabeth laughed as she looked at her son. As her arms were still wrapped around Nathan, she settled for placing a kiss on her son's cheek. "I love you too, Jack," she assured him.

Jack leaned in, and put his arms around her neck. Nathan was sure they made quite a sight to those around them. Not wanting to be left out, Ally had joined them and wrapped both Nathan and Elizabeth in a hug.

"Welcome home, Dad, Jack," the teen said.

"It is good to be home," Nathan said, making no immediate move to extricate himself from his family's embrace.

When Elizabeth did finally release her hold on him, she took Jack into her own arms. Nathan went to pick up the bags to find that Lee already had.

"You, my friend, are going to have your hands full," Lee told him.

"Thank you," Nathan said.

"My car is just outside," Lee told him. "I will drive you over to the Amaryllis for lunch. Your wagon is parked over there and Cosmo is in the livery so you can take your time with lunch."

"That sounds like a good plan," Nathan said, one arm around Elizabeth's waist, holding her close to his side. His other arm was draped across Ally's shoulders. "I would like to just sit somewhere that is not rocking for a little while."

Lee led the way, with the Grants following them, still holding on to one another.

"I am sorry about that display. Flying at you and blurting it out was not how I intended to say those words to you the first time," Elizabeth told Nathan apologetically, looking up at him.

Nathan gazed down at her.

"I had it all planned out. The moment was supposed to be special."

"It was special," Nathan told her. "Unplanned means it came from the heart. Besides, I kind of liked being 'flown at' by my wife."

Elizabeth's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "At least it happened in Hope Valley and not in Hamilton," she said quietly.

"Those who did see the display and know you, are probably thinking like me," Lee piped up, casting a quick glance over his shoulder. "It is about time."

His words got chuckles from everyone but Jack.

"What is so funny?" the boy asked, looking around at everyone.

"You will understand when you are older," Allie chimed in. She paused a moment. "I can't believe I just said that. I hated that explanation when adults used it on me." Looking up at her father she asked, "does that mean I am an adult now?" There was a sly gleam in her eyes.

"Not quite yet," Nathan told her. "We'll discuss you being an adult when you finish school. Even then I might make you wait longer to recognize you as an adult."

"Sorry to say Ally, in some ways your father will always think of you as his little girl," Elizabeth told. "There can be something comforting about it, just as long as he doesn't try to be too smothering."

"Guess it will be up to my wife to let me know if I take it that far," Nathan replied. "Though we have a few years before it becomes an issue," he added, pulling Allie close to him. "Until then, I plan to keep you close by and keep any boys that show any interest on their toes."

"Daaaaaddd," Allie complained, accompanying the drawn out word with an eye roll. She didn't, however, try to pull away from him.

Reaching the car, Lee put the luggage in the trunk while the Grants got into the car. Instead of going for the front seat, Allie climbed in the back, effectively sandwiching her father between her and Elizabeth with Jack in his lap.

"That looks nice and cozy," Lee commented as he got behind the wheel.

"It is good to be home," Nathan replied.

The ride from the train sation to the Amaryllis was filled by Allie asking questions about Nathan's trip. Jack, who had abandoned Nathan's lap for his mother's, happily provided some of his own answers along with his father's more informative answers. Elizabeth's head was nestled on his shoulder and she seemed content to just enjoy being with Nathan and Jack and listen to the talk around her.

Despite the close quarters, Nathan found the drive to the Amaryllis too short, having been content with his family. However, they soon reached Hope Valley's hotel and all four of them climbed from the car. Archie was there to meet them.

"Welcome home, Son," Archie greeted, giving his son a quick hug. "You and your family are in the private dinning room and you can have it for as long as you want."

"You are joining us for lunch, aren't you?" Nathan asked.

Archie glanced at Elizabeth who nodded. "I would love to have lunch with you," he replied.

"And Jack, you and Allie are going to spend the evening and overnight with Grandpa."

"But I want time with you and I want to see Nate," the boy protested. Nathan was sure the boy was going to break down into tears.

Elizabeth smoothed a hand over her son's head. "You and I are going to spend time together right now. I even brought a few of your favorite books. After we eat, I will happily read you a story or two or we could play a game of Hide and Seek."

"As for Nate, your duck is already in his crate, in my apartment. He will be spending the night with us as well," Archie told him.

"And Grandpa has marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate for a treat tonight and he said we could build a tent in his living room to sleep in. It'll be like an indoor camp out," Allie added. "Mama and Dad want a little time alone and we should be nice and give it to them."

Jack, who had looked at Archie and then Allie, looked back to his mother. "Will you read me two stories before Allie and I go with Grandpa?"

"If you want two stories, I will read you two stories," Elizabeth told him.

"All right," Jack said, wrapping his arms around his mother's neck.

Nathan let out a sigh of relief. He had been sure there would be another bout of tears giving last night and this morning.

"Your bags are in the private diningroom, Nathan," Lee said, coming out of the hotel. "You all have a good day."

Both Nathan and Elizabeth expressed their thanks. As Lee got back in his car, Archie ushered his family into the hotel. Though he had been invited to join them for lunch, Archie insisted that they all make themselves comfortable as he went to make sure everything was in order.

Jack had still not let his mother put him down, so Nathan escorted Elizabeth to the small rectangular table. Once she was seated, he moved one of the chairs right next to hers and helped to persuade the boy to sit in it. After a little coaxing, Jack did so. Nathan then settled himself in a chair at the end of the table while Allie selected the chair across from Elizabeth, while Jack told his mother all about his train trip. He spent a lot of time talking about Ralph, telling Nathan just how much of an impression the older gentleman had made on Jack.

When Archie returned, he carried a tray of waters for them while Mary, one of the waitress, followed with glasses of ice tea for the adults and lemonade for the children. As Archie was taking the evening off, Gretchen was coming in later than usual to manage for the night.

Mary took their orders as Archie passed out the drinks before sitting down next to Allie. The older man told the waitress to feel free to come get him if they needed him for anything. Mary assured him that she would, but she was sure they would be fine.

Nathan looked around the table at his family. None of them had traveled an easy road to get to this point, but in this moment, they all wore expressions of happiness. The hardships they had faced had led them to this point. Though he had already known he was blessed to have his wife and their two kids in his life, Nathan felt doubly blessed now. His wife had finally been able to express her love to him not just in deed, but in words as well.

Leaning over, Nathan pressed a quick kiss to her temple, causing Elizabeth to look from Jack to him.

"What was that for?" Elizabeth asked.

Nathan shrugged his shoulders. "Do I need a reason to kiss my wife, Mrs. Grant?" he asked her lightly.

"No, Mr. Grant, you do not," Elizabeth replied, her voice teasing as well.

Though he would make the most of this time for them to be together, Nathan would not deny he was looking forward to a night alone with his wife.