AN: It has been a week. Between the estate stuff I have had to deal with and Allergies deciding they want to make me miserable, I haven't done much writing this week. So, shorter chapter than intended is what you get this week. I do hope you like the arrival in Hamilton. You will see Nathan and Elizabeth to open the chapter next week!

Thanks Katie for you last minute grammar check! And as I have assured her, I will offer this to my other readers - the bit about the advertising the Royal Cannaught as a "fire-proof" hotel came from the Wikipedia article about the hotel. Apparently that was a real advertisement point. I do not plan on testing out that claim in my story!

Nathan was relieved that Elizabeth's nausea seemed to pass as the day wore on. She was even able to join them in the dining car for supper. She did request that he and his father not order coffee during the meal. They both acquiesced to her request but gratefully took her up on the offer for her to take the kids back to their car while the two men enjoyed a cup together. A cup of coffee in the dining car in the morning and in the evening became a routine for the trip, and Nathan enjoyed those quiet moments to just sit and talk with his father.

Though not as bad as the first day, Elizabeth's nausea returned each morning. Every morning, Nathan fussed over her, suggesting that they wire ahead at the next stop for her parents to arrange a doctor's appointment as soon as they arrived. Elizabeth simply gave him a smile, patted his cheek, and told him not to worry so much.

Nathan tried, but that worry was always in the back of his mind. As they approached Hamilton, he even suggested they skip the hotel stay and go right to her parents' house. When his wife told him that spending time alone with him was sure to make her feel better, Nathan let that particular idea go. After their evening alone last month, Nathan had been waiting for a chance to repeat the experience. However, he also wanted what was best for Elizabeth's health. If she was saying she was fine and looking forward to the honeymoon herself, then he needed to accept that. After all, she knew her body better than he did. Perhaps train travel had always been unsettling for her?

As the train pulled into the station, both Ally and Jack had their faces close to the window, scanning those gathered on the platform.

"There's Grandma and Grandpa!" Jack exclaimed, waving his hand frantically. Nathan doubted William and Grace Thatcher would be able to see the gesture, but he didn't try to put a stop to it. Let the boy have his fun.

As the train came to a stop, Nathan made a final check of the car. He and his father had been gathering things for the last half hour and making sure they were in the carry-on bags, but one more check never hurt.

Eventually, the Grant family was making their way off the train with other passengers. As he had when traveling alone with Jack, Nathan had picked the boy up to exit the train. As Archie and Ally had most of the bags, Elizabeth was carrying Jack's lighter one insisting she wasn't an invalid, Nathan at least had one hand free this time as he followed the rest of his family off the train. As they all headed in the direction of the Thatchers, Jack again called out for his grandparents. Despite the din of other patrons, William and Grace heard and recognized their grandson's call, immediately looking in his direction. Behind William and Grace was their chauffeur, Harold with a luggage cart.

The meeting was a flurry of activity as greetings were exchanged. Harold immediately collected bags from those carrying them. Hugs and handshakes were exchanged, and Jack passed from Nathan's arms to William's. Noticing his father on the edge of all the activity, Nathan reached out to put a gentle hand behind his dad's elbow and drew him into the group as he introduced Archie to the Thatchers.

"I made reservations for all of us to eat at the Royal Cannaught," William announced after the introduction was made. "I thought us all having a meal together will allow Archie to get to know us better before we whisk him and the children off to our home."

"Are we dressed accordingly?" Elizabeth asked, knowing that some of Hamilton's establishments had a dress code for their dining rooms. Even as she asked the question though, she noted that her father was dressed in his everyday work clothes, which though fancier than what people wore in Hope Valley were not considered 'black tie' appropriate.

William gave his daughter a supportive smile. "I did check with the hotel about dress code, knowing you would be coming off the train. They assured me that breakfast and dinner are informal though supper does require a suit and tie. A few of their suppers are black tie, but none of those events would occur while you and Nathan will be there."

Having packed both his suits for his stay with the Thatchers, this news did not alarm Nathan. Though dressing up was not his favorite thing to do, he would do so for Elizabeth. Still, giving how Elizabeth had felt on the train he was still having doubts about whether the two of them should check into a hotel at all. Looking over at his wife, he found her already watching him.

"I am fine," Elizabeth told him softly, reaching out to pat his arm reassuringly.

Nathan nodded his acknowledgment of the exchange and tuned back into William's suggestions, which was for Harold to take the carry on luggage and escort the women and children to the waiting cars while the rest of them gathered the rest of the luggage.

The luggage was gathered and the two waiting automobiles loaded. With William behind the wheel of one of the cars, and Harold the other, the group made their way to the Royal Cannaught Hotel. As Grace had elected to ride with Harold, Archie and Jack, Ally had been given the front seat next to her grandfather, while Elizabeth and Nathan sat in the backseat. With Elizabeth tucked in close to his side, Nathan smiled at the exclamations and wonder of his daughter as she took in the sites of the city. If Ally's endless commentary bothered William, he didn't let it show, instead, inserting a fact here or there about this or that as he drove.

Ally wasn't the only one exclaiming in wonder as the automobile pulled up to the thirteen-story hotel. Only William wasn't looking at it in wonder, having gotten used to it being a part of his city by this time.

"They billed it as Hamilton's new fireproof hotel," William informed them as he brought the car to a stop in front of the valet stand. "I do hope there is never cause to test out that claim."

As the group got out of the car, William spoke briefly with the valet even as Harold pulled the second car to a stop behind them. Ally turned to her mother and father.

"Oh, please tell me you will let me come up and at least see the room you are staying in? It is probably grand!"

Nathan chuckled. "Yes, you can come up and explore the room before you go home with your Grandfather and Grandmother Thatcher."

"Yes!" Ally exclaimed.

Offering his wife his arm, William led the group into the hotel. As both children grabbed one of Archie's hands, Nathan offered his arm to his wife, confident the children were safe.

Even after living in Calgary a good portion of his life, Archie found Hamilton to be opulent. Yes, it had some wondrous sites to see, but overall it felt too showy for him. Fortunately the Thatchers were proving to be welcoming and kind people. At least they were making him feel welcomed, even if he doubted he would ever feel as if he belonged to this world. Still, it was just for a few weeks and he had to admit finally spending Christmas with family again after all these years of being alone would be worth it.

Feeling self-conscious in the dining room, Archie found himself watching the Thatchers for how to act. The menu had more choices than he was used to and it felt dizzying. In the end, he ordered what his son ordered.

As the meal went on, Archie found himself relaxing. William and Grace talked about their home and staff in a matter-of-fact manner. He could tell it wasn't a matter of boasting but instead simply informing him about what to expect so that he might feel more at ease in their home. They mentioned a few outings that they had planned for the children that they hoped he would accompany them on. Even if Archie had wanted to say no, his grandchildren were not going to let him.

When William turned the conversation to him, Archie knew that he couldn't lie about his past. Chances were that William had already had a background check done on him anyway. So instead, he owned up to his mistakes emphasizing that he was committed to his new life and Nathan and his family.

"I firmly believe in giving people a second chance," William said. "Especially, when I didn't know the person as they were before. It takes courage to own up to one's mistakes and I can respect that."

"Grandpa Archie runs a hotel now," Jack announced.

"Does he now?" William said, clearly interested.

"I am a minority owner in the operation," Archie said quickly. "And the establishment is much simpler than any of the hotels here."

"I have a feeling that if you tried to put something like this hotel in Hope Valley that it would fail. People there seem to prefer something more simple and genuine. I found the little town delightful with its own charms and am happy to hear I will have a place when we come to visit next time, though the Coulters were wonderful hosts," William said.

"You plan on visiting again?" Elizabeth asked, the surprise in her voice evident.

"We do, dear," Grace replied for herself and her husband. "I suppose we felt if we didn't visit then you would come home to us. Your father and I believed you belonged back in Hamilton. We were wrong and I apologize for that. After all you have gone through, the fact that you never ran home to us is proof that Hope Valley is your home now. It is time we accept that and make sure that visiting occurs both ways." Grace paused and looked at Ally and Jack, the latter having abandoned his own chair and was sitting in Nathan's lap. "Besides, we have at least two grandchildren to come see and perhaps there will be more."

Archie noticed Elizabeth's blush at the comment, which further strengthened his suspicions. He remembered Eileen's behaviors when she was pregnant with first Colleen and then Nathan. Though coffee had never bothered her, his wife had trouble cooking fish during her pregnancy. He remembered the morning sickness and with both pregnancies, riding in the wagon could induce nausea for the first few months. Despite his solicitous behavior toward his wife, Nathan hadn't connected any dots yet. It didn't surprise him really. His son hadn't lived with any pregnant women that he was aware of.

For now, Archie planned on keeping his thoughts to himself. It wasn't his place to put that thought in Nathan's head and Elizabeth should be allowed to share the news when she was ready. Archie did hope his suspicions were correct though. He had no doubt that Nathan loved Ally and Jack as if they were his own, but he wanted his son to know the joy and awe of holding a small life that he helped create.

When the meal was over, William paid the bill and having already checked Nathan and Elizabeth into their suite on the tenth floor, the group headed up to the room. Walking through the ornate dining room and to the elevator, Archie stuffed his hands in his pocket. He didn't want to accidentally break anything.

After Jack tried to pick up several objects in the lobby, Nathan had scooped the little boy up. Though he pouted for a bit, Archie noted that Jack was soon back to joining Ally with exclaiming over his surroundings.

Stepping into the room, Archie felt that even his Sunday best that he had put on to meet the Thatchers was shabby. The room had a plush, burgundy rug. The furniture was stained a color that matched the rug. The walls were painted a cream color, which helped brighten the room. Heavy, velvet curtains that matched the rug were pulled back to allow light through the room's one window. There were also sheer curtains that matched the walls.

"Oh, this bed is so soft," Ally exclaimed from where she had sprawled out on her back at the foot of the bed. "Come try it, Grandpa."

Archie glanced toward Nathan and Elizabeth. It was their hotel room after all.

"Go ahead, Dad," Nathan told him. "Might be a once in a lifetime opportunity?"

Archie chuckled and then moved to the foot of the bed. Sitting down on the end next to Ally, he then leaned back. He could feel himself sink into the softness of the mattress. Definitely the softest he had ever experienced, though after years of the hard mattress provided in prison if wasn't hard for something to feel soft to him.

"You may need to help me up, Nathan," Archie told his son, closing his eyes and enjoying the experience.

Nathan chuckled. "I can do that."

"Me try bed, Dad!" Jack, still in Nathan's arms, demanded.

Nathan obliged by moving to the top of the bed and tossing the boy lightly onto the bed, causing Jack to dissolve into giggles. Getting over his giggles, Jack started crawling toward Archie as Ally hoped up off the bed.

"I want to check out the water closet!" Ally exclaimed.

As his granddaughter hurried off, Jack peered at him upside down. "Hi Grandpa!" the boy said.

"Hi, Jack. Do you like the bed?"

"Yes," he replied.

Jack moved and settled next to the bed beside his grandfather as Ally came back in to gush about the water closet. When Ally was done with that tale, Nathan and Elizabeth said good-bye to the children. Grace told them that she had the hotel staff leave gifts from her and William in the closet.

"The one in the box is just from me, my dear," Grace told her daughter as she gave Elizabeth a final hug.

"Thank you, Mother," Elizabeth told her.

"Harold will be on call for the two of you, should you want to show Nathan any of the sights of the city, Elizabeth. He is in room 102. Simply let the front desk know if you have need of his services."

"I appreciate that, Father," Elizabeth replied, giving the man a final hug.

Picking up Jack, Archie then followed the Thatchers and Ally out of the room. The group went downstairs and had the valet bring the car. On the way from the hotel to the Thatchers' residence, Archie sat in the back of the automobile, a grandchild on either side.

"There it is!" Jack said, pointing out the window.

Craning his neck, Archie looked at the building they were approaching. He had never seen a house that large. I am going to need a map to find my way around, Archie thought.

"That place is huge. What if I get lost?" Ally asked beside him.

"If you get turned around any of the staff will be happy to direct you, Sweetheart," Grace assured her.

"I know my way around now!" Jack announced. "I keep you from getting lost."

"Thanks, Jack."

As the car came to a stop in front of the house, two of the mentioned staff stepped from the house. William introduced his butler, Mr. Dean Price, and head maid, Sarah Greene, to Archie.

"Dean and Miss Greene will get the three of you settled in your rooms and show you around the ask. If there is anything you need, let them or Grace or myself know," William instructed them. "Supper is served at six."

"Mrs. Cooks will make you a snack if asked nicely," Jack interjected, getting chuckles from the others.

"Yes, Mrs. Cokesbury is our cook. She is most accommodating to requests as long as her efforts are appreciated," Grace said. She has been with us since right after Viola was born. Her late husband served as our Butler for many years until his death. Jack is already a favorite of hers, so she'll do just about anything for him."

"I might need to make a list of names," Archie commented.

William chuckled. "You'll settle in soon enough," he assured Archie before nodding to Dean who with Miss Greene's help had picked up the small trunk with the rest of the children's belongings. Archie and Ally had the other bags.

"This way, please," Dean said before heading into the house with the trunk.

Motioning the kids in front of him, Archie followed. Entering the house, he was sure he looked just as wide-eyed as his granddaughter as the two of them looked around the mansion. In Archie's view, the Thatcher residence was just as impressive as the hotel was even though there was something more homier about the mansion over the hotel. As the place was a home, he supposed it was only fitting.

Still, he was glad his hands were occupied with the bags or Archie would be afraid of accidentally breaking something. Chances were, he wouldn't be able to afford to fix or replace it if he did.