The room was in the soft grey of early morning when Elizabeth awoke on Monday. Her new surroundings didn't surprise her this morning like they had over the weekend. She had become accustomed to the new room and arrangement of their things. She had even convinced herself that Jack was just fine sleeping upstairs and would find them if he needed them. Granted, the fact that her mother and Julie had arrived on Saturday and were sleeping upstairs had helped. The fact that her mother had reported not a peep from the boy made Elizabeth realize that she was worrying about the new arrangement more than Jack.

Turning her head, she looked upon the peaceful expression on Nathan's face. Though he had been with them to meet the train when Grace and Julie arrived as well as ate supper with them, Nathan, and a lot of other Hope Valley men, had spent a lot of time working on the Kinslow house. They had even worked after church yesterday despite it being Sunday. Frank had even come to lend a hand after making sure Edward had the boys squared away back at the youth home. Hope Valley's pastor declared that God understood that sometimes exceptions had to be made to do what was best for the people. Trying to get the Kinslows in their new home before the baby so Faith and the new family member weren't stressed afterwards was one of those times. Now that he knew about the efforts, Gabriel was there as much as the others would allow him to, reminding him that Faith still needed him at home as well. As for the Mountie duties, Harold and Tom were covering most of it, making sure that Gabriel was giving daily reports.

Nathan almost hadn't gone to help out with the building project yesterday though. Remembering what had happened a year ago, Nathan had told her that being there for her was the most important thing. Though memory of her half-hearted suicide attempt was on her mind, Elizabeth assured him she would be okay. She had spent some time talking with Frank the day before and felt grounded if not at peace. It was during that discussion that she had realized that even in her hopelessness that day, she had not really wanted to go through with it. If she had been determined, then she would have swallowed multiple pills at one time instead of a single one.

"I have Mother and Julie here with me and Rosemary and Dahlia are both coming by when Lee and Carson join the work crews. I will have plenty of support during the day and your love and support at night. Things seem much brighter to me than they did a year ago," Elizabeth had assured him yesterday morning as they lay in bed before starting their day.

While yesterday had been the year anniversary of the darkest day of her life, darker than even when she had lost Jack, today was the celebration of the beginning of her ascent from that darkness. Reaching out, she placed a gentle hand on Nathan's cheek. This man had loved her through so much, including pain that she had caused him. Though he had accepted her choice, he had never forsaken her. Whenever she had needed him, he had been right there.

A year ago, she had said "I do" to him out of desperation. She didn't know how to go on alone and he was her lifeline. Today, when she said her vows, it would be with heart full of love that she was no longer afraid to acknowledge.

Nathan's eyes fluttered and he looked at her sleepily.

"Is it time to get up?" he asked.

"Not quiet. Sorry to wake you," Elizabeth told him, her hand still caressing his cheek.

"I don't mind waking up to your beautiful face," Nathan replied, his arms reaching out to pull her closer to him.

Elizabeth snuggled against her husband, even as the life within her let their presence be known. As hard as it was to sleep sometimes now due to finding a comfortable spot, she knew sleep would be even harder to come by in a couple of months. The one thing she was not looking forward to dealing with was a screaming newborn at night. Though like with Jack, she knew that phase would pass.

"Are you truly okay with my mother staying with us until after the baby comes?" Elizabeth asked.

"I am," Nathan told her. "You didn't have anyone around you during your first two pregnancies. I am glad you are not alone this time around and as soon as Gabe and Faith's house is ready, I plan on taking your mother up on the offer to watch the kids for a few nights and get us a room at the Amaryllis. I know it isn't far, but it'll be nice to have some time with you without the interruptions. I got a taste of how nice that is in Hamilton."

"That was nice, wasn't it," Elizabeth murmured. "I'm looking forward to saying our vows again today. The first time is a bit hazy for me."

"Given all that you were going through, that is perfectly understandable," Nathan assured her, his fingers brushing her hair gently. Elizabeth found the motion soothing. "I am just grateful that I was there for you when you needed me the most.. The life we have made is better than I could have ever imagined."

"Jack's wish for me in the last letter he wrote was to open my heart to love again," Elizabeth said, relieved that she didn't need to fear sharing things about her first husband any longer. "It took me a long time to be able to do that but if Jack is watching us from above, I think he would be happy about the choices I've made this past year. I also think you are the type of man he would want raising his son, as he can't do it himself."

"I strive to do so. That little boy claimed my heart the moment I first held him."

"And made silly faces at him," Elizabeth chimed in, giggling at the memory. "I think that site was the first time you made my heart skip a beat. I wish I had talked to someone about my feelings back then instead of bottling them up. Perhaps I wouldn't have gotten so confused and let fear rule my actions for so long."

"Nobody is perfect," Nathan told her. "And we are most often hardest on ourselves. Sometimes forgiving ourselves is harder than seeking forgiveness from others. I am grateful to have you in my life now, no matter how we got here."

"I am grateful for you too," Elizabeth told him, shifting her head to look up at him. Nathan lifted his head toward her and pressed his lips against hers.

It was a shorter kiss than either of them planned as the cracked door opened further catching their attention.

"Mama, Dad is it time for the ce'bration yet?" Jack asked as he came into the room.

"Told you he would find the room if he needed us," Nathan whispered.

Not wanting her son to think she was laughing at him, Elizabeth stifled her laughter and instead answered Jack's question. "Not until eleven," Elizabeth replied. "We still have a few hours."

"Can I help with the animals this morning Dad?" Jack asked changing topics as he approached the bed.

"You can, but how about you crawl up here with us and we give the horses and the cow more time to sleep," Nathan told him.

Nathan had followed through with getting a cow for milk and Elizabeth had been learning how to use the cream, make buttermilk and churn butter. She was thankful these culinary experiments had gone better than some of her earlier ones.

"Okay," Jack replied, climbing up onto the bed.

Soon, Jack was settled between his parents.

This is a nice way to spend the early hours of the morning, Elizabeth thought even as Jack started babbling about Nate and Rosie. Though Rosemary wasn't overly thrilled at a duck being named after her, when Jack had explained he wanted to name the duck after the aunt who was always there when he needed her, even she was flattered. Smiling as she listened to the story, Elizabeth said a quiet prayer of thanks for the family she now had.

Carson smoothed his suit jacket even thought it didn't really need it, as he stood at the front the little white church. He wasn't nervous, but he was excited. Though he had happily said his vows with Dahlia with little fanfare, he couldn't deny he was thrilled to be able to share this moment with his friends now. It wouldn't be long before they started the vow renewal. Once the guests were settled, Rosemary would begin playing the music. That would be the signal for Allie and Abigail, serving as the maid and matron of honor, would start their walk down the aisle. Following them would be Bill with a bride on each arm.

"Does Elizabeth know you won't be wearing a tie?" Carson asked, taking his eyes off the gathering guests and glancing at his fellow groom.

"She does. She told me to dress how I was most comfortable. Allie is the one who was having an issue with the idea of no tie. The fully buttoned shirt was a compromise for her."

Carson chuckled.

"Wish I could get away with no tie," Cody, who had finished his Mountie training and was on leave before his posting chimed in. When he had found out that Cody would be in town, Carson had asked the young man to stand up with him. After all, Cody had been the patient that had gotten him back in practicing medicine. If he hadn't been needed then, Carson never would have stayed in Hope Valley. He would have ran, continuing to do odd jobs for who knows how long. If he hadn't returned to being a doctor, he wouldn't have worked so closely with Faith, who had showed him how to open his heart to love again nor would he have gotten the fellowship in Baltimore where he had met Dahlia. It felt right to have Cody be the one standing at his side today.

"You're going to love the collars of the serge then," Nathan said lightly.

"Don't remind me," Cody said, even as Gabriel, having seated Faith in the second row next to Charlotte, joined them.

"Remind you of what?" Gabriel asked.

"How tight the serge collars can be," Nathan said. "Faith let you out of the house without the tie I see," he commented to his friend.

"She said if Elizabeth wasn't going to fuss over you not wearing a tie, then she could hardly expect me to wear one," Gabriel replied.

Carson clapped a hand down on Cody's shoulders. "You'll be fine with the tie through the ceremony. During the luncheon, you are welcome to ditch it."

"Thanks," Cody replied.

"Are the two grooms ready?" Frank asked as he joined them in the middle of the platform, the pulpit having been moved against the wall.

Carson and Nathan both responded in the affirmative.

"I think you two are the calmest grooms I have ever dealt with."

"Well, they have both had practice at this," Gabriel replied. "Nathan wasn't nearly this calm a year ago. The bride was dressed before him."

Carson joined Frank and Cody in laughter as Nathan shot his friend a look. "Thanks a lot buddy."

Gabriel shrugged nonchalantly at the remark.

Frank ran through the ceremony with both men once again. When Tom stepped into the back of the church and said they were ready to start, the pastor nodded to Rosemary.

"Not fair. I'm being left out again," came a upset voice from the pews. Glancing in that direction, Carson spotted Jack, arms crossed, sitting next to Lee. When Lee tired to put the arm he wasn't holding Aster with across the boy's shoulders, Jack pulled away.

Movement beside him, drew Carson's attention. Though Allie had already started down the aisle, Nathan was going down to his son. Kneeling at the end of the pew, Nathan addressed the boy. Though he didn't hear what was said, Carson saw the pout turn to a smile as Jack slid off the pew seat and made his way to Nathan. Taking the boy by the hand, Nathan returned to his place on the platform as Abigail began her walk. When the matron of honor was halfway down the aisle, Rosemary switched the music. Those in the pews rose and looked toward the doorway.

Bill appeared, with Elizabeth on his right arm and Dahlia on his left. Though both women wore lovely white dresses, Elizabeth's loose-fitting dress tied with a sash at the waist to accomodate her condition, Carson's gaze focused on his wife.

"She just gets more beautiful every time I see her," Nathan said from beside him.

"I couldn't have said it better myself," Carson replied. Though he knew they were both talking about the other woman, the sentiment was the same for both of them.

Carson had thought he had been happy on the day he exchanged vows with Dahlia. Somehow though, today seemed to be even better and Carson knew it was because others were sharing in their happiness. He could only hope Dahlia was enjoying it herself, and from the smile on his bride's face, Carson knew that she was.