Nathan wasn't sure how long he sat holding Elizabeth after she had said she would marry him. When Bill started sweeping the pills off of the coffee table, another thought crossed his mind. Elizabeth seemed fine other than the despair but was there reason for them to consult Dr. Simmons.

Lifting his chin from her head, Nathan looked down at her. "Elizabeth, did you take any of those pills?"

Elizabeth met his gaze. "Just one," she confessed. "And just a one sip of the whiskey."

Nathan felt a wave of relief. One pill and one sip of alcohol were not enough to be concerned about.

"That stuff is awful."

Despite the situation, Nathan couldn't stop the soft laughter that escaped after Elizabeth's declaration. "Then just stick with your occasional glass of wine," he told her before placing a kiss on the top of her head.

"How do you know I drink wine?" Elizabeth asked.

"I am a Mountie, Elizabeth. I notice things," Nathan told her gently.

"Which is a lucky thing for me," she murmured.

Nathan gave her a few more minutes, before asking her if she was ready to head back to the Coulters for dinner. After going to the kitchen to splash some water on her face, the trio did just that. Bill walked with them, leading Hero. Bill walked on one side of Elizabeth with Nathan on the other side. Elizabeth had her right arm looped around Nathan's waist as he walked with his left arm protectively around her.

They were about half way to the Coulter's when Bill broke the silence.

"I suppose the two of you want me to perform the ceremony?" Bill asked, his tone contemplative.

"Will you?" Elizabeth asked, fearfully. "I know you didn't come to my last wedding because you didn't approve. If you say you won't that tells me you don't approve of this idea either."

Bill reached out a hand to smooth Elizabeth's hair soothingly as they walked. "I may wish this had come about differently but I have nothing against this union no matter the reasons. I have faith that you will both treat each other with respect."

Elizabeth's sigh of relief was audible as Bill continued.

"I do ask that you both seriously consider this choice you are making tonight. If you can both tell me tomorrow that you are willing to enter into this union, I will perform the ceremony with my full blessing," Bill told him.

"When do you want to do this, Elizabeth?" Nathan asked, knowing the choice needed to be hers. He did not want her to feel rushed but he also did not want her to have reason to wonder if he would back out.

Elizabeth looked over at him. "Could we do it tomorrow?" she asked, clearly uncertain. "Lee and Rosemary have been wonderful but I feel like I am taking advantage of their hospitality. Besides, after all Jack has been through, I think getting him into a stable environment quickly is important. I would prefer if we do not make much of a fuss over it. Perhaps just do it at Lee and Rosemary's with them as witnesses. Is there anyone else that you would want there?"

"Just Gabriel," Nathan replied. "Tomorrow will work fine for me. Bill would you be able to do tomorrow?" he asked looking over at the older man.

"Yes," Bill replied. "If Lee, Rosemary and Gabriel can all make it, we can all meet at four and then have dinner together. I'll give you a hand getting Jack's things and whatever Elizabeth needs right away over to you house tonight, Nathan. Lee and I will also make plans to add onto the house. Perhaps a sunroom with another bedroom over top," he suggested.

"You're a good friend, Bill," Nathan said.

"I am, aren't I," Bill replied, causing soft laughter. Even Elizabeth was able to join in briefly.

Knowing that delaying telling Ally would accomplish nothing, Nathan went outside with his daughter as soon as they reached the Coulter's home. Going out the back door, Nathan sat with next to Ally on the back steps leaving Elizabeth and Bill the task of telling the others.

"Is everything all right, Dad?" Ally asked, looking over at him as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Things will be with time," Nathan replied.

"Jack kept asking where you and Mrs. . . . and his mama were," Ally said, clearly not sure what she should refer to Elizabeth at this point. "He started crying at one point. Did I cry a lot when Mom passed away?" she asked.

It was clear to Nathan that losing her mother was the closest thing she could relate to what Jack was going through right now.

"You did," Nathan told her, seeing this as a good segue into the topic he wanted to discuss. "But you got through that because you had me and your grandmother to show you love. You still miss your mother, and a part of you always will. I still miss my sister at times. However, you healed enough to enjoy life again and so will Elizabeth and Jack with help from you and me and others who care about them."

"What are you trying to say?" Ally asked, clearly picking up on Nathan singling him and herself out.

"Ally, Elizabeth is feeling very vulnerable right now. She needs someone to lean on. You understand that concept, don't you?"

Ally nodded.

"Well, I am going to marry her so that I can be that person without causing too much of a scandal. It is referred to as a marriage of convenience, where two adults get married because of a benefit to one or both of them," Nathan said, knowing that there were still some who would talk about Elizabeth marrying him so soon after divorcing Lucas. "Elizabeth and Jack will move in with us, though Elizabeth and I will not share a bedroom like a typical husband and wife would."

"Our house only has three bedrooms," Ally pointed out practically.

Nathan smiled. "I know. Until we can expand the house, Elizabeth and Jack will share a bedroom. However, Elizabeth will still be a guardian to you, just like I will be to Jack. I will expect you to respect her authority just like you would mine. Hopefully, once your relationship with her has time to heal, I hope she will even be someone for you to confide in."

"So we will be living in the same house but not really a family?" Ally asked, still trying to wrap her mind around the situation.

"We won't be a traditional family, but we still will be a family, Ally. Even you and I have never been a traditional family, but that doesn't change our love for one another. Family is what you make of it and just like all relationships, things could change over time."

"I can see the benefit for Mrs . . . what am I suppose to call her?" Ally asked.

Nathan smiled. "You and Elizabeth need to work that out," he told her softly. "Go on though."

"Well I can see the benefit for Jack and his mama. I can even see a benefit for me. I love you, Dad but some conversations are getting embarrassing if you know what I mean."

"I do." Nathan assured her.

"But what do you get from this. I know she broke your heart and I know you still love her. I don't want you to relive that pain daily."

Nathan swallowed hard, touched by his daughter's compassion.

"I won't be," Nathan assured her, hugging her close. "I know what I am getting into Ally. I know that all Elizabeth may ever feel for me is friendship, and I am okay with that because I will get the benefit of knowing that she and Jack are safe and cared for. One day, I will even get pleasure from the fact that Elizabeth and Jack are truly happy again and knowing that I helped them get there."

"Well, when you put it that way, that does sound like a good benefit," Ally said.

"I know this will be an adjustment for all of us. I know there will be some bumps along the way, all I expect from you is to do your best to make this work."

"So if I throw a temper tantrum the first time Jack gets into the stuff in my room, and I know he will. Robert says his little sister always gets into his things, you will forgive me?"

"An occasional temper tantrum will be excused," Nathan told her, chuckling. He placed a kiss on the top of her head. "I love you, Ally."

"I love you, too," she told him as she gave him a hug.

Bill stayed at Nathan's late that night. The spare bedroom had one single bed in it, but with Bill and Gabriel's help Nathan had moved Jack's low bed, dresser and rocking chair into the third bedroom at his house. They had packed up Jack's entire room. Even with the boy's toys down in the living room due to the lack of space, the new bedroom was crowded. Until the addition could be completed, it would have to suffice.

Nathan paused in making the bed. "Perhaps I should give Elizabeth and Jack the master bedroom," he commented.

"It might only add to the guilt she is feeling," Bill replied practically as he placed the pictures of Jack Senior that had been stored at his place on the dressers. Having the photographs back was going to be a surprise for Elizabeth. "Besides, I am not moving furniture again. I have my limits."

Nathan chuckled at the man's last comment. Changing rooms now would mean a whole lot more work. Nathan returned to making the bed.

"Nathan, are you sure about this?" Bill asked, a few moments later. He felt confident he knew what Nathan's response would be. Nor did he have any illusions of being able to talk Nathan out of the path he had chosen. However, he felt he would be remiss if he didn't at least pose the question.

"I am," Nathan said, without hesitation. "Jack needs his mother and you saw Elizabeth tonight, Bill. She is drowning and I will not stand by and just watch."

Bill nodded as he placed Elizabeth and Jack's wedding picture on the dresser. Pictures of Jack were one thing but perhaps it would be better if the wedding picture was not on display. It was not inconceivable that Nathan might come in here because of Little Jack.

"Even that one, Bill."

Bill jumped at Nathan's comment though he looked back over his shoulder. Nathan had finished making the beds and was looking in his direction.

"You know Nathan, no one expects you to be a saint about all of this. You are allowed to be human and as humans we get angry. We feel jealousy. It would be perfectly normal for you not to want this picture out as it could remind you that your marriage to Elizabeth may never be a typical marriage."

"I am well aware of that, Bill," Nathan said, closing the distance between him and Bill. He took the photograph from Bill's hand. "With or without the reminder," he added. "This was a happy day for Elizabeth. She needs to remember those days more than ever right now," he said having placed the photograph on the dresser. He turned to Bill. "I notice you said may."

Bill smiled. "Well, it is clear to me that you still love her. As for Elizabeth, I still maintain that she has feelings for you but you being a Mountie scared her. Could be when she starts to heal, then she'll start to face that fear without a convenient distraction? The fact that the both of you will be living together might help."

"All I want is Elizabeth's happiness, Bill."

Bill reached out and clapped his shoulder. "I know. Just don't deny your own feelings through this process, Nathan. Anytime you need to talk, come find me. You can say whatever you need to say without judgement from me."

"Thank you," Nathan said. He looked around the room. It looked as if what could be done to prepare for Elizabeth and Jack's arrival had been done. "Thank you for helping me set this up."

"Any time. Elizabeth and Jack are important to me as well," Bill told him as the two headed out of the room.

The next morning Elizabeth found that getting out of the bed seemed easier than it had been of late. Since coming to stay with Lee and Rosemary, she had simply been waiting for Jack to coax her out of bed, not wanting to face the day. However, today life didn't seem quite so daunting. There was still a lot of uncertainty in her future but Nathan had promised she would not have to face them alone. That was enough of a certainty for the moment.

Getting out of bed, Elizabeth brushed her hair and then got dressed. Slipping into the hallway she could hear Rosemary's soft voice coming from the nursery. Elizabeth figured her friend was already awake with her daughter. Slipping across the hallway, Elizabeth went quietly into the room her son was sleeping in. She had been up at two a.m. when a nightmare had woken them both, but Jack was now sleeping peacefully.

Watching Jack sleep, a shiver passed through Elizabeth's body as she recalled what she had been about to do. Nathan was right. She might not have been the best mother as of late, but her son still needed her. Besides, she could be a better mother. She knew she could.

A better mother to Jack and to Ally. Elizabeth had been hoping to have a chance to talk to Ally alone the night before but she had never found the time. She knew she would need to find an opportunity at some point today. Elizabeth knew she owed the girl an apology.

Slipping from the room, Elizabeth went downstairs. She went about starting breakfast. She found eggs, bacon and oatmeal. She went about preparing the foods.

"Mama cooking!"

Jack's happy exclamation caused Elizabeth to turn around and find her son and Lee standing in the doorway of the kitchen. Her son was already dressed which told her that Lee had helped him as Jack would happily stay in his nightshirt over getting dressed in the morning.

"Good morning, Jack," Elizabeth said. She looked up to Lee. "I am sorry. I didn't realize he was awake."

Lee waved a hand. "You're giving me a break with cooking so helping Jack get ready was not a problem. Is there anything you need help with?"

"I have this under control," Elizabeth told him, keeping the thought that breakfast might be the only thing she had under control these days to herself.

"Jack and I will set the table then," Lee replied.

Elizabeth went back to the food, while Lee went about setting the table with Jack. Soon, Rosemary was joining them downstairs, though she did not have Aster. Apparently the little girl had chosen to go back to sleep after getting her own breakfast.

As they sat down to breakfast, Rosemary started telling Elizabeth some plans she had for not only how to style Elizabeth's hair for the ceremony but some flower decorations to brighten up her home. Despite Elizabeth's protests, Rosemary insisted that they needed to do at least a few little things to make the occasion special even if it was not a traditional marriage. Knowing that she was fighting a losing battle, Elizabeth gave in with the flowers as long as her friend left the decorating to the flower arrangements. With a fake pout, Rosemary agreed, right before lamenting how she was going to get some cleaning done and go into town for the flowers. Seeing an opportunity to do something with Ally, Elizabeth suggested that Rosemary stay home while she went into town to select some flowers.

After breakfast, Lee drove Elizabeth to the Grant's home before heading into town. Though Nathan had already headed into town to put in a morning of work, Ally was still home. Elizabeth invited her to join her to pick out flowers for the afternoon ceremony. Ally agreed and after leaving a note for Nathan about her plans in case he showed up at the house without them crossing paths, she joined Elizabeth and Lee in the car for a drive into town.

In town, Elizabeth and Ally met up with Opal. The other girl was invited to join them and Elizabeth and the two girls soon had a basketful of flowers to take back to Rosemary. Elizabeth also invited Opal to join them that afternoon, thinking that Ally might enjoy sharing the occasion with a friend instead of being surrounded by adults.

It wasn't until she was walking back to the Coulters alone with Ally that Elizabeth broached the subject she wanted to.

"Ally, I owe you a long overdue apology," Elizabeth said, the basket of flowers looped over one arm as she walked.

"It is all right," Ally told her. "Dad explained things to me. He said that just because we feel one way about someone that they might not feel that same way, even if they care about us. He also said that just because things did not work out the way I wanted them to that it did not change the times we spent together before."

Elizabeth nodded. "Your Dad is a very wise man," she told Ally. "However, even if I could not give you what you wanted back then Ally, I should have handled it better. I should have taken your feelings into consideration and tried to explain things, instead of just rejecting your dinner invitation."

"I was silly to think I could get you and Dad together," Ally lamented, kicking a stone on the road.

"There is nothing silly about longing for someone to fill the role of a mother in your life," Elizabeth told her. "I failed to see things from your point of view, Ally. I know I hurt you and I am sorry. We have a chance now to repair our relationship and I hope you are willing."

"I don't think I want to call you, Mom," Ally told her, looking at the ground in front of her as they walked. "At least not right now."

"You don't have to. I do hope you know that you can come to me with any issues though Ally. I have my own problems I need to sort through, but that doesn't mean I can't be there for you as well."

Ally nodded, finally looking up at Elizabeth. "What do I call you?"

"Well, I have a feeling Jack will call your Dad, Nathan for a while. You could just call me Elizabeth."

"That seems like a mouthful," Ally confessed. "Could I shorten it to Beth?"

With the arm not holding the basket, Elizabeth reached out a hand to drape it across Ally's shoulders. "I would be honored if you called me Beth," she told the girl. "My father actually used that nickname for me while growing up. At least when my mother wouldn't overhear. She insisted I use my full name when I was a child. I kind of miss hearing Beth."

"I kind of like that I will be using a nickname that your Dad used for you," Ally confessed.

"I do too," Elizabeth told her. "Are you sure you are all right with this arrangement, Ally?" Elizabeth asked.

Ally nodded. "Dad explained how it benefits all of us in some way. I will admit, part of me wishes that you loved my Dad like he loves you, but traditional or not, I am getting more family like I have wanted all my life."

"Yes, you are," Elizabeth said. "I hope someday you will get to meet my parents as well as my sisters. They'll be a part of your family as well."

"Do you think they would like me?"

"I do," Elizabeth said. "You are a very special girl, Ally. I still believe that."

For the first time that day, Ally wore a smile at the compliment. Elizabeth was glad that she let Rosemary have her decorations and not because the flowers would look pretty. It was because picking out the flowers had provided her with an opportunity to take the first step in mending her relationship with Ally.