The day of Eileen Grant's funeral dawned gray and cold. Nathan thought it was a good reflection of the way he felt right now. There was not much bright in his life right now. If it were not for Ally, Nathan knew he probably would have shut himself into his bedroom and not come out. However, like he'd had to be strong for his mother when Colleen had passed, he knew Ally needed him to be strong. His little girl needed him to be an example of how to hold your head high and continue living even when your heart was breaking. It was not a matter of wanting to go on but a matter of needing to go on for the others in your life.

Even so, Nathan found the idea of going to the church that his mother had worshiped at for so many years and put his grief on display for people that he barely knew very daunting. He was considering telling his dad that he could not go when there was a knock at the door. Nathan instinctively responded to that sound without thinking about it.

Opening the door, Nathan found himself staring at two very familiar faces. Despite the somber look on Bill and Gabriel's faces, Nathan felt bolstered somehow. Suddenly the tasks that were expected of him did not seem so daunting.

With his two friends silent support, Nathan got through the rituals of the day. He gave the eulogy to the people who had come to honor his mother's life. He had helped carry her coffin from the church to the grave site. He had stood with Ally as a final prayer was spoken and the coffin lowered into the ground. He had even managed to speak the necessary words to those offering him condolences at the wake.

It was only after leaving Ally's room, his daughter having cried herself to sleep in his arms, that Nathan let himself feel the weariness from the day's events. Coming back down to the sitting room, Nathan found Bill and Gabriel waiting for him. Gabriel handed Nathan a glass of whiskey as he sank into one of the empty armchairs.

"So have you thought about what you are going to do now?" Gabriel asked, before taking a sip from his own glass.

"Please tell me you are going to come back to Hope Valley," Bill said. "As if Spurlock and his factory are not enough to deal with, Riggins has not made any friends in your absence Nathan. I think the man goes searching for petty things to get people in trouble for just to make my life miserable."

"Ally wants to go back to Hope Valley," Nathan said. "She misses Opal and her other friends."

"Thank God," Bill muttered.

"Do not rejoice too much though, Bill," Nathan added. "You will be getting another new Mountie at the end of the summer. My current contract is up at the end of August. I do not plan on extending my service with the Mounties."

Both men were surprised by the choice though neither tried to talk Nathan out of it.

"Have you told the brass that yet?" Gabriel asked.

Nathan nodded. "They gave me the choice of either finishing out the contract here in Calgary or resuming my post in Hope Valley for the time being. When I told him I would return to Hope Valley they said something about having at least a few months of quiet."

Both Gabriel and Nathan looked at Bill. The older man looked unapologetic.

"What can I say? I do not tend to take things quietly," Bill stated. "They give you any indication of who they would send to replace you."

"No," Nathan replied. "Part of me wonders if they hope I may change my mind by then."

"But you won't, will you?" Gabriel stated. "You have thought this choice through."

Nathan nodded. "I have. Ally has been through enough. I may not be able to protect her from everything but I can control her not having to worry about me getting hurt on the job or missing some important event because I am away on an assignment."

"What are you going to do?" Bill asked.

"Well, with the regular hours of the office job here in Calgary, I have had time to do some carving even with caring for my mother. The plaques and other trinkets I have done have been a hit at several shops here in the city. I have been talking to Lee. He is going to help me get my own shop started when the time is right."

"The plaque you made in the library draws quite a few questions of interest," Bill told him. "I think you will have no trouble finding customers for your pieces."

"Lee has mentioned that. He said he could also probably work out deals with shops in surrounding towns to carry some of the pieces."

"With Lee as your partner and your talent, I think you will do just fine, Nathan," Bill said. "Of course don't be surprised if I mutter a few curses around you if the force sends another Mountie like Riggins to Hope Valley."

"Would not be any worse than you throwing me in jail my first night in town for doing my job," Nathan told him.

"I would give almost anything to be given a reason to throw Riggins in a jail cell," Bill commented, drawing a laugh from both Mounties.

Despite everything going on, Nathan had to admit that it felt good to know there were some things that could still make him laugh. He knew it would be what his mother would want.

Bill and Gabriel left Calgary the next day. Bill told Nathan to let him know when to expect him and Ally so he could help them get settled in Hope Valley once again. Nathan promised his friend he would.

The following week, Nathan and Ally rode into Hope Valley, their belongings in a wagon. Archie had remained in Calgary to handle the sale of the house and furniture that was being left behind. Once that was done, Archie planned on moving to Hope Valley himself, Lee having offered to find the man a job with his company if he wanted to be near his remaining family.

Nathan was surprised by the greetings he got from the townsfolk as he made his way through town. People were glad he and Ally were back. Quite a few asked Nathan if he would be returning to duty soon. When He told him that he planned to be back on the job the following day, most rejoiced at the thought of Riggins leaving. Apparently Bill was not the only person unhappy with his replacement.

Pulling the wagon to a stop in front of the Office of the Judge, Nathan helped Ally down from the wagon seat. Feeling eyes on him, Nathan turned to spot Spurlock not far away. The man immediately turned away when he saw Nathan looking his way. Nathan had hoped Spurlock would have moved on now that the factory was firmly established in the area. Apparently he hadn't. Despite his long absence from town, Nathan could not help but wonder what the man was still doing hanging around Hope Valley. The fact that he had turned away so quickly made Nathan wondered if the man had something to hide.

A tug on his hand pulled Nathan's attention from Spurlock. Looking down, he looked down at Ally.

"Aren't we going to go see if Judge Avery found us a place to live?" Ally asked. Nathan had let the rowhouse he had been renting go to another family when his absence had turned into an indefinite one. Bill had promised to find a place to store what had been left behind until further arrangements could be made. Though some things had made it to Calgary and were now in the back of his wagon, the furniture was still stored wherever Bill had arranged for it to be kept. "I would prefer to sleep under a roof tonight, even if it is still on the floor."

Nathan smiled. Ally had been a trooper about camping out during their ride from Calgary. He had a feeling the novelty of sleeping under the stars was starting to wear thin.

"Let's go," Nathan told her.

Father and daughter made their way into the office of the judge. Looking up from the papers scattered across his desk, Bill's frown turned to a smile as he spotted Nathan and Ally.

"Welcome, home," Bill told them, getting to his feet.

Coming around the desk, Bill hugged both Nathan and Ally as Nathan thanked him for the welcoming.

"Please tell me you arranged a place for Dad to rent," Ally said as Bill took a step back after hugging the girl. "Though if you haven't, maybe I can have a sleep over with Opal and just Dad can sleep under the stars."

Bill chuckled as he smiled at the girl. "Don't worry. I have a lovely three bedroom house for the two of you to rent. I happen to know your Dad loves the location, as he almost bought the land from me."

"Bill, what are you talking about? There was no house on the land I was thinking about buying from you," Nathan said.

"There wasn't then but there is now. After you decided not to purchase the land and did some serious thinking, and chose not to sell to the other buyer. Given what became of the land that was bought up, I am glad I didn't. Last fall, I decided to build a house and small barn on the land, figuring I could rent the house out and make some money off the land instead of it just sitting there. I never did find a renter. Perhaps I was just holding out hope that you and Ally would return to Hope Valley. After you told me you intended to come home, I got a few volunteers to help me move your furniture from Ned's storeroom out to the home," Bill informed him. He glanced at Ally. "If you do not like the room I picked for you, I will not be offended if your things get moved to the other bedroom."

"I am sure it will be fine especially if it means I get to sleep in my own bed tonight," Ally told him.

"That is exactly what it means," Bill told the girl. "All that needs to happen is for us to decide on the rent and for your Dad to sign the papers."

"Sign them, Dad!" Ally exclaimed.

Nathan still did not say anything.

"I am a reasonable landlord," Bill told him. "Besides, I do not think there is much currently open to rent, unless you want Bouchard as your landlord. I think he still has a place open."

"I appreciate the gesture, Bill," Nathan said, having a feeling that even last fall Bill might have been hoping he and Ally would eventually return to Hope Valley.

It did not take long for Nathan and Bill to settled on a fair rent and sign the paperwork. Bill told him that along with the furniture being put in the house, his neighbors had seen to making sure the kitchen was stocked with some essential items to get them through the first few days in their new home. As Bill walked Nathan and Ally out to their wagon Bill told them one last detail about the place they were renting.

"I forgot to mention that there is going to be some construction going on out there for the next few weeks. A crew started work on a wood shop a few days ago."

"Bill . . . "

Nathan let the words trail off as the older man held up a hand. "I want to encourage new businesses in the area, especially ones not owned by the factory or Bouchard," Bill told him. "You can get things started in your new business venture in your free time while you finish out your contract."

"I don't know how to thank you," Nathan told him.

"Be successful," Bill told him. "Oh, and a new chair for the office might be nice. That one in there seems a little shaky lately."

Nathan smiled. "I will see what I can do," he told his friend, glad that he had come back to Hope Valley. He knew he would be hard press to find better friends than Bill and Lee.

Ally threw her arms around Bill. "Thank you, Judge Avery," the girl told him.

Bill hugged her back. "You are welcome," he told her.

Bill stood on the porch outside his office as Nathan and Ally went to their waiting wagon.

"I suppose now we are off to the new school to get me registered," Ally commented as she climbed up on the wagon seat.

"We'll take care of that tomorrow," Nathan surprised her by saying. He settled himself on the wagon seat beside her and reached for the reigns. "This afternoon, I say we go to our new home, unload the wagon and then go see if we can catch dinner. There is a lovely spot on the nearby river up there that looked like a great fishing place."

Ally smiled. "I like that plan much better," she informed him, as Nathan gave Cosmo the signal for the reigns and moved away from the Office of the Judge. Tied to the back of the wagon, Newton walked behind patiently. Nathan had a feeling both horses would be just as happy to have a stall to sleep in tonight as Ally was to have a proper bed.

Elizabeth listened to the gentle gurgle of the river near by as she and Jack walked through the woods. She had a feeling that the leisurely pace was not the type of exercise her husband had once again hinted that she needed but Elizabeth did not care. Yes, she was gaining weight but that was because of the baby growing within her. She knew she could not put off telling Lucas about the baby much longer. Rosemary had already guessed she was pregnant and Elizabeth knew it would not be long before her husband finally figured it out as well.

Perhaps tonight she would tell Lucas. Maybe she was worrying over nothing. Perhaps Lucas would be pleased to hear he would be a father in about five months.

Elizabeth's gaze fell on Jack as the boy lifted a rock to watch the critters hiding underneath it move.

Technically, Lucas already was a father, though he did not seem to want that responsibility. Would Lucas take to having a child of his own better than he had to having Jack? If he did, how would that affect her first born?

Elizabeth's hand went to her stomach. The style of her dress did much to hide the slight baby bump though she knew that would only last for another week or so. Soon, there would be no way to hide the pregnancy.

Losing interest with the critters in the dirt, Jack dropped the rock and continued on his way. Elizabeth followed, delighting in the child's curiosity as he explored his world. Laughter pulled her attention away from her son. Looking in its direction, Elizabeth was surprised to see Nathan and Ally sitting on the river bank, fishing poles in hand. She had not been aware that they were back in town.

Elizabeth was about to take her son's hand and try to guide him quietly away, when Ally reeled in a decent size fish.

"Fishy!" Jack exclaimed, starting toward the duo on the river bank. His cry gained both Nathan and Ally's attention.

"Hello, Mrs. Bouchard," Ally replied politely. "Dad and I are trying to catch dinner for tonight."

"I see that," Elizabeth commented, a small smile on her lips. "I did not realize were back in town," she added.

"We just got in today," Nathan replied.

"Dad said he would register me in school tomorrow," Ally said. "At least I did not sneak off to go fishing this time."

Elizabeth nodded, recalling her first meeting with Ally. Nathan had been so worried when he found out his niece had skipped school.

"Thanks for the reminder," Nathan told her as Ally put the fish she had taken off the hook, on a string with another one. "I will make sure I walk in with you tomorrow."

"Me and my big mouth," Ally muttered.

"Me fish," Jack insisted, walking up to Nathan and reaching a hand to the pole.

Elizabeth was going to call for her son, but stopped when she watched as Nathan guided the boy in front of him and let Jack hold the pole.

"Am I fishing?" Jack asked looking up at Nathan.

"Yes, Jack, you are fishing," Nathan told the boy, smiling down at him.

"Would you like to try with my pole, Mrs. Bouchard?" Ally asked, having put the two fish in the water to keep fresh until they left and put another worm on the hook.

Elizabeth shook her head. "I will let the three of you fish," she said, as she found a log to lower herself down on. "Thank you for the offer, though."

"You are welcome," Ally replied before turning and casting her line into the river.

Elizabeth sat on the log and watched the trio on the river bank. Just like the serene sound of the water, it was a peaceful scene to watch. Nathan was busy explaining all about fishing to Jack and though Elizabeth doubted the boy understood everything, Jack watched Nathan with a rapt expression on his face.

Then the tip of the pole bent and Nathan excitedly told Jack to start reeling in the line, helping him to do so.

"I caught a fish?" Jack asked, even as the little boy turned the reel handle with Nathan's help.

"Well, the fish in on the line. We need to get the fish onshore before we can say we caught it," Nathan told him.

Elizabeth watched as a fish just slightly smaller than Ally's was brought in. There was not much joy in her life theses days, but watching her son 'catch' his first fish was a joyful memory Elizabeth did not plan on forgetting any time soon.