Chapter 144- Heart of a Family

"Charlie."

Charlotte stirred, feeling the lightest of touches skim across the edge of her cheek.

"Sweetheart."

"Mmmm…" She barely cracked an eye open. Her lashes and the lingering sleepy haze blurred her surroundings.

"Are you warm enough?"

She merely nodded her head. Charlotte could faintly make out Nathan crouching beside her. He shifted her blankets some, tucking them in tightly around her.

"Allie?" Her voice was groggy, but Nathan noted the hint of worry in its depths.

"She's fine. She's still fast asleep over there by the fire. I don't think she's stirred all night."

Charlotte opened her eyes a little further and settled them on her daughter. Peacefully resting on the floor of the trapper's cabin they had returned to after finding her. Last night, Nathan had started a fire, settled their horses outside, and went to find more firewood. Meanwhile Charlotte tended to Allie. Getting her out of her wet clothing, and filling her up with a quick, hot soup she was able to pull together from their packed supplies.

"When I came back inside last night, you were both sound asleep on the floor there. Allie was settled, but you were still soaked. I carried you over here to the cot, removed your wet things, and tucked you under these blankets."

"I guess that's one way to get me out of my clothes, Sarge."

Her forward teasing caused Nathan to choke and sputter on the sip of coffee he had just taken from his mug. His eyes were big, and his cheeks flushed, as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and tried to dab at the splatters of coffee that now dotted the front of his flannel shirt.

Her feminine chuckle bounced off the small confines of the cabin. "Where did you end up sleeping last night anyway?" She questioned, suddenly noticing the size of the bed she was laying on. "I thought the cot in the jail was small, but this…"

Nathan grinned. "I slept right here beside you, like I always do. Except this time, I was on the floor."

"And you can still move this morning?"

"Hardly." He smiled. "But I'll be alright. I was just thankful after a couple restless nights; I was finally able to get some sleep."

"It must have been because you had both of your girls back under the same roof."

"That's exactly what it was." He leaned over and kissed her, the love showing in his eyes, but a worried look remained.

Charlotte cupped the side of his face, her thumb lightly tracing his brow, as if trying to erase its furrow. "What are we going to do?"

"I'm not quite sure."

"I can't let her go again. Not after we know what type of people Dylan has been working with. Knowing they are somehow connected to Beck."

"We won't. I promise."

Charlotte studied him intently. She wanted to question him further. To understand his plan, but at the moment, she was too weary. Too tired of always being worried about what could happen instead of what was. She was here, with the two people who mattered most to her in this world. They were safe. And together.

She was putting everything else into God's hands. Putting her faith and trust in him to see them through.

Nathan seemed to be doing the same thing as he decided to change the subject. "Are you hungry?"

"Starving." It wasn't a lie. Charlotte realized she barely had anything to eat in over a day.

"I thought you may say that," Nathan moved to the fire and poured a mug full of coffee and ladled some very lumpy looking oatmeal into a bowl. Charlotte sat up when he returned to her side, handing the food and brew to her. "It's hot and hopefully filling, but I know it's not pancakes…" He wiggled his brow suggestively at her and let the warmth of his wife's laughter fill his heart completely.

"I thought you said coffee looked like dirty sock water." Nathan teased, as he watched Allie from across the room.

It was around mid-morning, and Allie had finally stirred awake. She dressed in her now dry clothes and didn't even bother with her unruly hair that stuck up this way and that before she shuffled heavily to pour a cup of coffee from the pot that sat by the fire.

She rolled her eyes and groaned in her moody teenage way. No words formed.

Nathan chuckled to himself. He remembered those days too as a teenager. When the last people you wanted to talk to first thing in the morning were your parents. Especially if they seemed overly perky.

"Has she ever even had coffee before?" Charlotte asked in a hushed tone.

"Not that I know of."

They both intently watched their daughter's facial expressions as she drank the black liquid. Seeing Allie's initial reaction of uncertainty, before taking another sip. And then another. The warmth and caffeine, seemingly pouring life back into her.

"Now, I think I understand why you two have a cup of this every morning." Allie quipped.

Laughter filled the cabin again and Nathan grasped Charlotte's hand. She returned the reassuring squeeze in measure. They had missed this. Allie's humor, and her ability to complete their family and home. Wherever that may be.

Suddenly, they all turned towards the front of the cabin as they heard several heavy boot steps approaching the door a moment before it blew open without a knock. The figure filled the entryway completely with their broad shoulders and height. The light streaming in from outside blinded the Grants and made the stranger's features unrecognizable until he took another step into the cabin.

"Warren!"

Allie set her mug of coffee on the floor and ran to Tremblay. Throwing her arms around him as he lifted her in a warm embrace. Charlotte and Nathan exchanged a momentary glance between them.

"You, okay?" Warren set Allie gently on her feet and took a step back. "You're not hurt, or anything are you?"

"No. I'm fine." Allie's cheeks flushed under his inspection, and she turned slightly away to smooth her hair.

"When Bill and I came to the river and saw it had flooded. My mind raced, worrying that something may have happened…" Warren's eyes moved from Allie's to Nathan and Charlotte standing to the side. "To you all."

"We're fine." Nathan confirmed. Coming to shake Warren's hand in greeting. "It's good to see you, Tremblay."

"Sure, leave me to take care of the horses, why don't ya," Bill grumbled to Warren, as he joined them in the cabin.

"Sorry, Judge Avery," said Tremblay sincerely. "I just needed to see if it really was the Grants here and that they were alright."

Bill followed Warren's gaze around the room, also noting that Nathan, Charlotte, and Allie were all accounted for and seemed no worse for wear.

"Can I get you both a cup of coffee?" Allie offered, already scurrying to the fireside.

Warren and Bill graciously accepted her offer and were soon presented with steaming mugs.

"How did you both get back here so quickly?" Nathan asked, as he pondered the timing of things.

"I was already on my way to Peace River," Warren said. "One of the locals in my territory had been down there the day before last when the landslide happened through Pat's Creek. I decided I would lend a hand with the search and clean up until I met Bill just outside of Three Creeks on the road from St. Isidore."

"When I told him about Allie, we changed plans and came back west towards the river," Bill further explained. "And followed it as best we could with the flooding, until we saw this cabin and the two horses you and Charlotte were riding yesterday, tied up out back."

They stayed a while longer in the cabin. Allie sharing with them all her tale of escape from Edmonton and the journey North. She explained her plan to find Warren and have him help hide her away from Dylan until she was old to make her own decisions in the eyes of the law. She told of the shed in town and this cabin she had sheltered in and then the experience of the flash flood.

"What are you going to do?" Warren asked when she was done, his vague question directed at Nathan not Allie.

Nathan knew what he wanted to know. What are you going to do about Allie now that you've found her? Tremblay understood the battle that was waging between duty and family. Nathan straightened and hoped he looked confident for what he was about to say. "We are going to go back."

"Back?!" Allie stood abruptly from her chair. "What do you mean back? I can't go back to Dylan, Dad. I can't. I won't! I'll… I'll stay here. In this cabin. I can make it by myself. Warren can check in occasionally on me. Go back and tell Dylan and Judge Cameron that I died in the flood."

"But you didn't, Allie." Nathan's voice was somber. "You didn't. We can't lie and we can't hide, and we can't run. If we did, we would be just living part of a life. And living part of a life isn't living. It's existing. We are going to stand our ground and fight for this family"

"Even if hiding is the only way we can still be together?"

Nathan noted the tears that clung precariously to the corners of Allie's eyes. Threatening to let go and tumble down her cheeks.

"We will find a way. We will. But we are not going to find the answer here. Hiding away from our problems. I'm tired of playing defense in this game and just trying to field everything that is being hit our way. I'm ready to start taking swings of my own."

Nathan looked over at Charlotte. He wished he would have had a chance to discuss this all with her first. To see if she felt the same way he did. He studied her and let out a sigh of relief when she took his hand. Her eyes shining with pride. "So, what's the starting lineup, Sarge?"

They said their goodbyes to Warren late that afternoon at the train station in Peace River. As he had in Calgary, his last farewell was to Allie. They lingered a little further down the tracks away from everyone else. Nathan tried to give them this moment, but as a father and a Mountie he couldn't help keeping a discrete eye trained on things. Watching as Warren pulled a small trinket from his pocket and handed it to Allie. They exchanged some words and then a familial hug before he helped her and her bag into the awaiting train car.

The ride back to Edmonton was uneventful as the night sky soon engulfed the passing landscape into darkness and the Grants and Bill were able to get another night's sleep. When they had returned to Peace River from the cabin, they had phoned first to Hope Valley and Gabe to let him know that Allie had been found safe and sound. The next call was placed to Constable Rogers in Edmonton. He was to inform Lee and Dylan that they were all, including Allie, on their way out of the North, and would be arriving the next morning at the station.

No matter how much Nathan had replayed in his head what he planned to say to Dylan, the moment he saw his brother-in-law on the platform at the depot when their train pulled into Edmonton, his heart dropped and the speech he had prepared became a jumbled mess. Just like he always used to around Elizabeth.

"Cat got your tongue?" She had teased on the boardwalk outside his office.

"Yeah, maybe. Or my better judgment."

"Well, let me know when you figure it out."

It was then in the replaying of his memories, Nathan felt Charlotte's hand slip into his. He looked to his side, and there she was. She knew what he was feeling without even needing a single word to be spoken between them. He thought of the lines in Nan's letter…

She'll love, protect, and appreciate you. A woman who not only supports your dreams, but a woman who wants to see you do well, more than you do. She'll be a love that fights for you. Someone who will always be in your corner. Someone who will always choose you and the relationship you share. She will do anything to be with you. She will heal you and show you that you didn't deserve what happened to you in the past. Hand in hand, you will be able to mend together everything that seemed broken, piece by piece.

Nathan knew he may not have everything in his life figured out, but with Charlotte, it didn't matter. She was his constant. She was his truth. She was his lifetime. All the rest, the things that jumbled in his mind and heart, they would find a way to work themselves out.

The moment they stepped off the train, Lee moved towards them and enveloped Allie into a tight hug. "Al! I'm so glad you're okay." He said, squeezing her so tight, Nathan was concerned his daughter couldn't breathe properly.

"Thanks, Uncle Lee," she groaned into his chest as he squeezed her tighter. "I've missed you too." She patted his back lightly, as if signaling for mercy.

"Oh, sorry," he said. Understanding her cue, he loosened his hold and backed up slightly.

"Allie."

Everyone turned to look at Dylan as he took a hesitant step or two forward.

Nathan also took a step closer to Allie, wrapping an arm around her shoulders in support. "Dylan, I don't think…"

"Nathan, please. Let me do this," he interrupted.

Nathan's gaze moved to Allie. She nodded her head.

She would hear what he had to say.

"Allie, when I met your mom, I was a poor nobody, who could barely take care of myself, let alone her and a family. I didn't know how to be the father you deserved. I know I could blame it on the fact I had a piss poor- excuse the language- I had a poor example of a father myself. But I know that isn't an excuse for how I treated her or how I've treated you. I know that because there are others, who had fathers very similar to what I did growing up…" Dylan's eye rose to Nathan's. "But those men still knew how to be a father, any child…" His gaze scanned to Charlotte's. "A father, any child would be lucky to have raise them."

Dylan's attention returned to Allie's. "I'm sorry, Allie. I truly am sorry for any pain, doubts, fears, or anything else you have experienced through the years because of my abandonment and now coming back into your life. There is nothing I can do to make up for what I've done. For what I put you… and your family… through. I hope one day you will be able to find it in your heart to forgive me. Because I'm sorry about it all, except one thing. I'm not sorry that I've gotten to know you, at least a little bit more over these past few months. Yes, there were times, when you'd say something or do something and I'd be instantly reminded about Colleen and it hurt, but as someone once told me…" Again, Dylan looked back to Nathan. "That at some point, these memories of Colleen, they wouldn't haunt me anymore. They would become like a warm blanket that brought me comfort and in some way, show that she was still here."

Dylan let out a long slow breath. "I will never understand why your mom agreed to marry me. I like to sometimes think she saw something good in me I was never able to see in myself. And I want to show her, and you, that she wasn't completely wrong." He pulled a stack of folded papers from his breast pocket and handed them to Allie. "It's all there."

"What is this?" Allie questioned, slowly opening the pages.

"Your revised adoption papers. Mr. Coulter and Constable Rogers helped get me in touch with a judge they knew in town. They helped me get everything put together for you all. It's the formal and voluntary termination of my parental rights. Probate records, birth certificate, amended birth certificate, and court petitions. I've personally signed anywhere I needed to, and they are notarized by the judge, Constable Rogers, and Lee. There can be no questions of its finality this time around. Like I said. It's all there."

"Are you serious?"

"Mmmhmmm…"

"I can go back to Hope Valley? I can go home with Dad and Mom?"

"Yes. I'm not going to stand in the way of your happiness anymore, Allie. You were right what you said to me the other night. I was being selfish and only thinking of myself. It's time I start acting a bit more like a father and put your needs and wants before my own."

Allie squealed and wrapped Dylan in a hug. The look of utter shock on his face slowly dissipated into a content smile as he hugged his daughter in return.

As those going back to Hope Valley began loading onto the train, Nathan pulled Dylan aside on the platform. "Did you mean everything earlier? That Allie's adoption papers are all official and above board?"

"As long as you and Charlotte sign where you need to and Bill gets it all filed with the county, yes."

"And the people that you've been working with?"

"They don't need to know."

"I don't think you understand how this works Dylan. This group that you've aligned yourself with, they aren't going to take too kindly to you just handing Allie back to us. They will find out about it sooner or later."

"Maybe." He shrugged. "I can't say I haven't thought about it."

"And… you're still willing to do this? To give her up?"

"She was never mine to have, Nathan. I think deep down I always knew that. She belongs with you and Charlotte as a family. Lee told me about the picture I gave Allie and how it connected things for you all with Colleen. I can't come between that. No matter what that means for me. You told me once it takes courage to be a parent and that it's sheer bravery to love a child." Dylan looked down the platform to where Allie was with Charlotte. "Nathan, whatever I can do to help you. To figure out who is at the root of all this. I'll do it."

"Really? But why?"

"For Allie. She needs you. And Charlotte. She needs the chance at a real family. Without outside forces trying to take that away from her."

A long whistle signaled that the train to Hope Valley was preparing to pull out of the station. Allie waved for Nathan to join them as she and Charlotte climbed up the stairs into the awaiting car.

"Take care of our little girl, Nathan" Dylan extended his hand.

Nathan tugged on Dylan's outstretched hand bringing him into an affectionate embrace. "I will. Brother."

As Nathan neared the barn, he could hear the faint sound of Charlotte's humming. He knew it was a habit of hers that she didn't even realize she did. It wasn't all the time, but a soft melody seemed to stir within her whenever she felt as though her heart was completely happy and full.

And it was full. Allie had been back home with them, where she belonged, for a little over a week now. School had started again, and Charlotte and Allie's days were back in the classroom with students and friends whom they both loved.

Charlotte had called in a favor to an old friend, George Lane. He and Pat Burns, given their high social standing, were able to pick up the government timber leases that had been taken away from Lee and his mill. Lane and Burns made a contract with the Coulters, that they would sublease the timber tracts to them, if Lee would provide the lumber they needed for their other business ventures back in Calgary. The partnership made it possible for the mill to keep running at capacity and Hope Valley to stay the prospering town that Mayor Coulter hoped it always would be.

Righting the wrong surrounding New Hope proved to be more difficult. Lillian and Grace had run up against the deadline and were to the point that the children were to be sent away to their new orphanages. That was until Tess Stewart came riding up as the first child was getting packed into an awaiting car. She had, unbeknownst to anyone else, been working at getting her own license with the children's bureau to open her home up to the orphans. She had finally been approved to take all the children who had been in Brookfield and move them to the Stewart Ranch until the records could be cleared for New Hope, Lillian, and Grace.

With Dylan's adoption paperwork, along with Nathan and Charlotte's signatures, Bill delivered Allie's official records to the county himself, along with what seemed half of Hope Valley who came as witnesses to the filing and legality of the process.

There would be no doubts this time around that Allie was officially a Grant.

And this time, they truly had a reason to celebrate.

Charlotte reminded Nathan of their promise to one another at Allie's custody hearing in Union City. That when this whole nightmare was behind them, and Allie was home where she belongs, they would redo her adoption ceremony. Inviting everyone and anyone to witness the love and pride they had for their daughter.

The ceremony was to be that night. Out at the ranch.

At their home.

To celebrate the ceremony, they had decided to start a new family tradition, an annual fall round-up party like Charlotte had growing up. They cleared the barn, turning the horses out into the pastures to make room for the music, dancing, and tables of food and drinks.

Nathan watched now from the doorway as Charlotte floated about. Hanging decorations, fussing with the tables, making sure everything was perfect for the night.

"Looking pretty good there, Charlie," he said, causing her to startle as she hadn't realized he'd been watching.

Charlotte glanced over her shoulder as he approached. "You're talking about the decorations, right?"

"Oh," Nathan's eyes sparkled with mischief as his gaze took in the rest of the space. "Yes, I suppose those look good too."

She grinned and rolled her eyes, a glowing flush affixed to her cheeks at his flattery. "Stop distracting me, Sarge. I need to finish up these few things and then get changed. Our guests will be showing up any minute."

Nathan warmly chuckled and planted a kiss on his wife's lips. "I hope I'm a good distraction at least." He teased.

"Only the best."

The ceremony had been perfect. Everything the Grants had hoped it would be.

Family and friends gathered round from Hope Valley and Brookfield. Supporting and loving this couple and their daughter who had come to mean so much to them.

It held elements of Allie's first adoption ceremony, but this time instead of only Nathan promising to never leave Allie. He and Charlotte were able to make that promise to their daughter together.

They also included parts from Fred's adoption ceremony that had taken place last summer. With Joseph providing a prayer and the following words- "We are assembled here today to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter. Gathered her are people who share a common bond of love for a very special young woman. God is also here. Blessing this occasion and all the people gathered today. Nathan and Charlotte. As this child is placed into your care, it is done with the confidence that God will give you His grace to sustain and inspire you. Trusting that you will provide a home for Allie in which she will grow in love, health, and peace."

The ceremony concluded with Allie asking Charlotte to read aloud her letter she had given Allie on her and Nathan's wedding day. Her personal vows as a mother and her promises to not only love Allie unconditionally, but Nathan too.

Now as the party was winding down, and the final few songs were being played, Charlotte made her way to where Nathan stood in the darkened corner of the barn.

"You planning on eating that all by yourself, Sarge?" Charlotte questioned, seeing Nathan pick up the last slice of chocolate cake from the dessert table.

He chuckled, remembering back to their first Christmas together, when his wife had caught him in a similar position. He quickly grabbed a second fork from the table and handed it to her. "I'm more than happy to share."

And so, they did. Nathan holding the plate between them as they gently took turns with their forks, until the cake had disappeared while they talked about the evening and how special it was.

When Rosemary announced that the next song would be the final of the night, Charlotte took Nathan's hand and pulled him out onto the dance floor. "May I have this dance?"

As the opening violin notes played 'Ashokan Farewell', Nathan pulled his wife close, and they swayed easily with each other in a comfortable intimacy. The dance seemed like both an ending, yet a beginning. With a day celebrating Allie's adoption at a close, but the true and official beginning of them as a family just getting started.

Nathan had meant what he told Allie in Calgary that winter. If he didn't have her, he wouldn't have Charlotte. Allie was the first person Charlotte had opened herself up to loving after her attack. That love was what opened Charlotte's heart to being able to receive Nathan's love as well. Without Allie, none of this would exist. Their daughter truly was the heart of their family.

"It was the perfect day," Charlotte said to Nathan as they finished preparing for bed. "Although I think I ate too much, I really shouldn't have had that second piece of chocolate cake with you."

"Second piece?!" Nathan's voice rose mockingly as he crawled beneath the covers with her. "You mean you had one earlier?"

A sheepish grin spread across Charlotte's face. "Maybe?"

Nathan laughed and kissed his wife's nose. "You want to know what Allie told me tonight?"

"What's that?"

"That she's finally decided what she wants to go to college for in a few years."

"Oh, so now you're at least entertaining the idea that you'll let her go away to college," Charlotte teased.

"Still highly doubtful. How am I supposed to scare off all her suitors if she's not under my roof?"

"I suspect she will do just fine guarding her own heart, Sarge. That and having a Mountie as a father is sure to narrow down those willing to risk life and limb for your favor."

Again, Nathan laughed.

"Anyway," Charlotte continued. "What did Allie say she wants to study at college?"

"Law. She wants to one day be a lawyer or a judge like Bill and help other families and children or orphans navigate the legal system. She wants to be their advocate, so that no kid has to go through what she has over the past few months."

"Nathan, you should really be proud."

"I am proud of her. She's…"

"I don't mean just proud of Allie."

Nathan propped his head on his hand and turned onto his side to look at Charlotte, trying to understand what she was saying.

"I mean… You should be proud of yourself too, Nate. You are an incredible man. What you've made of your life. The way you so selflessly serve this community and give to your family. You are so patient and kind. Supportive and loving. With your guiding light and the example you've set for Allie, you should be proud of yourself for raising such an amazing girl."

"Charlie," Nathan cupped the side of her face. "We- should be proud of raising such an amazing woman."

Charlotte's eyes filled with tears as she moved her hand over his that still rested on her cheek. She turned and placed a gentle kiss to the inside of his wrist before her eyes returned to his. The grey color that shone in their depths was unlike anything he had ever seen before.

A small, timid smile built on Charlotte's face as she took Nathan's hand from her cheek and guided it down to rest upon her stomach, gently rubbing her fingers over the backs of his. "And I can't wait to see what we do with this next one."

Charlotte waited silently for the news to sink deeper.

Nathan froze, staring at her. "Do you mean?"

She nodded and Nathan's focus shifted quickly between his wife's face to where she had his hand pressed against her stomach. It was then he noticed the small, barely there, swell in her abdomen and his heart seemed to stop beating and leap for joy all at the same time.

"Nathan Grant, you are going to be a father again, to some very lucky little girl or boy." Charlotte moved her hands now to cup the sides of his face, turning his focus back to her. She needed to make sure he was understanding what she was telling him. "We are going to have a baby, Sarge."

"A baby?"

"Yes," She giggled. "A baby."

"Are you sure? Because…"

"I'm quite sure." Her thumb stroked reassuringly along his jawline. "With everything going on with Allie and the custody and adoption, well… we both had other things on our mind, and I missed the signs for a long time. It wasn't until we were on the train to the North that I realized I haven't had my monthly for a while and that I was awfully tired lately. For so long I explained it as being worried about Allie, but I went to see Faith this week after school, and she confirmed my suspicions. From her calculations, it seems that meadow of ours is a little more magical than we first realized."

"A baby." Nathan grinned as though he had struck gold. His eyes brimming with joy and a hearty measure of male pride.

"I hope these are happy tears, Sarge," she said, brushing away the salty water that coated his cheeks. She knew she had some of her own.

"We're having a baby, Charlie. Of course, these are happy tears." Nathan tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear as he leaned in to kiss her breathless. "I don't know if I've ever been happier than I am at this moment. And do you know who is going to be just as excited?"

"Allie?"

"We should go tell her right now." Nathan took Charlotte's hands and started to pull her up.

"Nate!" Charlotte chuckled and stopped his advances. "It's late. I'm sure she's fast asleep by now. Let her rest. This will be just as happy of news in the morning as it is right now."

"I don't know if I can wait that long." He answered honestly. "I feel like running outside and announcing it to the whole world, 'Charlotte and I are having a baby'!"

Charlotte tilted her head back and laughed. She too felt herself bursting with joy and happiness as if her blood was made of tiny champagne bubbles. From the look on her husband's face, she knew he was feeling the same.

She combed her fingers into his hair. "This is something I've wanted to give you for so long. To be able to give you this experience. Our children…" Her voice broke. Overcome by emotions, she squeezed her eyes shut and a few lonesome tears threaded down her cheeks. "Our children will be so incredibly blessed to have you as their father, Nate. I'm just happy I can be a small part of it with you."

"You are no small part to me, Charlie Grant." Nathan shook his head slightly, his blue gaze filled with so much feeling and emotion. "No small part at all."

"I love you, Sarge."

He captured her lips with his own and forged them together in the hope and promise of their future together as a family. "And I love you, Mrs. Nathan." He whispered, as he drew back slightly. "Oh!" His face beamed with a broad smile as he moved down to kiss Charlotte's belly. "And I love you too, partner. I can't wait to be your daddy."

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL OF YOU... BUT ESPECIALLY HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO SARGE!

Much love! Chanda