Disclaimer: I do not own the characters within this story. All rights and much respect go to Crown Media, Hallmark, Brian Bird, Michael Landon, Jr., the actors, creators, and writers of the show "When Calls the Heart." Any real people or places noted in the chapter are just there for storyline purposes.

Chapter 16- I'm Sorry

Recap of Chapter 15 ending…

Throughout the day, Elizabeth did nothing but think about Jack. Instead of calling him, she decided to make plans to drive to New York City to see him and either make things right, or call it quits.

"Anger serves no useful purpose. It brings about feelings and emotions which send you down a dark and deserted road, often leaving you alone and confused. As you attempt to make your way out of the maze of jumbled expectations and assumptions, you are often left with nothing but the memories and the realization that perception is not always reality.

Memories, both good and bad, cause us to reflect on our prior relationships and experiences, excited for the happy moments, but realizing that in all good things some rain must fall. Maneuvering through those rough times, we must consider our feelings, giving them credence, but not allowing them to solely determine our path.

Unfortunately, in the absence of the truth, we jump to conclusions. These snap judgments lead us to believe what we think we know, when in reality, we couldn't be farther from the truth. We allow the hurt, anger and embarrassment to consume us, as we lash out or close ourselves off. We say things we truly don't mean in an attempt to make others feel our wrath, spreading our hurt and anger around assuming that we will feel better. However, we rarely do.

The truth is that life is quite ironic. It takes sadness to truly appreciate happiness; noise to respect silence, and your absence to value your presence."

Elizabeth closed her journal, pulled up the Mets schedule on her phone and made a decision that she hoped she wouldn't regret.

She dialed Brenda's phone number, "Hey, are you busy this weekend?"

"Not if you finally made the decision to go talk to that man of yours. If so, I'll be glad to take care of Lizzie."

"Well, I can't say that he's 'my man,' but I do need to talk to him. The Mets should be back in town through the beginning of next week. I thought maybe I'd go and…"

"Don't think about it, just do it."

"Well I can't leave until my elementary school safety program is done tomorrow morning, but I could still get there by 3, and travelling early in the day I shouldn't hit any traffic."

"Sounds great," Brenda stated as she stepped outside her front door. "I picked some apples today and I have some for you. I'm on my way over."

"Oh, thank you so much. That was so sweet."

As Brenda started across the small side yard which separated their townhomes she asked, "Have you talked to Jack at all?"

"No, not yet. I'm hoping that I haven't ruined everything."

"I think you'll get your wish."

"I hope so. He won't know I'm coming, so I hope he'll want to see me."

"Oh, he will…trust me."

"Well I hope you're right. Oh, you won't believe who came to see me at school today…"

Brenda stopped at the edge of Elizabeth's driveway, "I don't know, but I'm sure I could beat that."

"What? Oh just come over, you can tell me when you get here. The door is unlocked, just come on in."

The doorbell sounded…

"Hush Lizzie," she called out to her unusually excited dog as she headed for the front door.

"You didn't need to ring the bell. You could have just come in…" she mentioned as the door slowly opened.

"I'll remember that next time…"

"Hi Jack…"

Now on with our story…

14 hours earlier in New York City…

It was now 4am, and the team's red eye flight had just landed at JFK Airport. Jack grabbed his carry-on from the overhead bin and made his way off of Southwest flight #1423. He hailed a taxi and headed home.

Jack walked into his apartment, dropped his keys on the entryway table and left his carry-on leaning against the wall in the kitchen. He reached into the nearly empty refrigerator, pulled out a bottle of water and walked out onto his balcony.

It was dark but the lights in the City danced about, looking much like fireflies. It was actually quiet, uncharacteristically quiet, as he called out, "Alexa, please play the Blend on Sirius radio."

"Playing the Blend…" she replied.

Jack was obviously alone, however, the silent conversation he was having with himself had him wondering what he should do about Elizabeth. He wanted to give her time, but then again, in giving her too much time, was he simply showing her that she could live without him?

He leaned his head back, enjoying the feel of the cool fall breeze. He didn't mean to, but four hours later he woke with a kink in his neck, a stiff back, and a burning desire to see Elizabeth.

The music was still playing, but he paid little attention until Niall Horan's song "This Town" began.

Waking up to kiss you and nobody's there
The smell of your perfume still stuck in the air
It's hard

Yesterday I thought I saw your shadow running round
It's funny how things never change in this old town
So far from the stars

And I want to tell you everything
the words I never got to say the first time around
And I remember everything
from when we were the children playing in this fairground
Wish I was there with you now

If the whole world was watching I'd still dance with you
Drive highways and byways to be there with you
Over and over the only truth
everything comes back to you

I saw that you moved on with someone new
In the pub that we met he's got his arms around you
It's so hard
So hard

Jack listened intently, showing little emotion until he pictured her, as the lyrics referenced, moving on with someone new. He had never met a woman who could bring out such emotion in him. Realizing that he had nothing to lose, and everything to gain, he wiped his eyes, stood up and walked inside.

"Stop Alexa," he called out as he grabbed his carry-on bag and headed for his bedroom.

Jack took a shower, emptied his carry-on, traded his dirty clothes for clean ones, and headed down to the garage. Thankful for a free night, he climbed into his car and prepared for a four to five hour drive to Baltimore, hopeful that the traffic would not impede him arriving at a decent hour.

Two hours earlier in Baltimore…

Elizabeth left school, still finding it hard to believe that Selma came to see her. She felt bad that she allowed her hurt, anger and embarrassment to take hold of her, and thought seriously about making a trip to see Jack in New York City.

Needing food for Lizzie, the music teacher advised her of a wonderful new pet store that had just opened. Elizabeth wrote down the address and headed out, disappointed in the after work traffic jams.

She pulled into the parking lot of a high end shopping center and found a space. As she walked toward the store, the restaurant next door caught her eye.

"Hmm, The Fieldhouse; I wonder if this could be Jack's restaurant," she thought as she stepped inside. Admiring pictures of Jack and his teammates in their Met's uniforms, Elizabeth ordered a "Thornton Burger," and then stepped next door to the pet store.

Fifteen minutes later, she returned to the restaurant, and handed the waitress her credit card.

A few minutes later the waitress returned, "Um, I'm sorry…"

"What… is something wrong?" Elizabeth asked, concerned that her credit card had been declined.

"Oh, no ma'am. I thought I recognized the name on the card."

"Well, that's me; is there a problem?"

"No, but you're on the "Do not pay" list."

"The "Do not pay" list?"

"Yes ma'am. Do you know Jack Thornton?"

"Yes I do."

"Well, he placed you on the "Do not pay" list, so here's your order. Have a great evening."

"You too," Elizabeth stated as she took her "Thornton Burger" and fries and headed for her car.

Thirty minutes later, Elizabeth pulled into her driveway, and carried in her dinner and Lizzie's bag of food. She placed her dinner on the dining room table and carried Lizzie's bag into the kitchen, dumping it into her food container, before pulling out a cup and placing it in her dish beside her water bowl.

"There you go, baby…enjoy."

She poured herself a glass of wine and took a seat on the sofa to ponder her plans for the weekend. If she went to visit Jack, would he want to see her? Had she pushed him too far away? Would this just end up being another disappointing weekend?

She attempted to make sense of the jumbled mass of emotions and feelings that seemed to be swirling around in her head. As usual, her journal always seemed to put things into perspective, often calming the rough seas and setting her back on the right path.

She grabbed her journal from the end table and opened it to the next blank page. With her favorite writing pen in hand, she attempted to capture her innermost feelings…

"When relationships begin, it is much like bringing a palette of different colors together, hoping beyond hope that they will blend and not contrast. However, they often start out bold and at odds with each other, but as we grow and learn more about each other, the colors will often soften, blending until you find it quite difficult to tell one from the other. The brightness of one compromises with the pastels of the other, while the bold lines of one compliments the softness of the other, and as you combine the two together…a masterpiece develops.

At times, accepting situations as they are presented is much like watching leaves change color and fall from the trees as autumn approaches. You know it will happen, for every year it is the same, and there's nothing you can do to change the inevitable. I believe that things happen for a reason; maybe it's meant to help us grow independently; maybe it's meant to help us understand the strengths we hold inside but rarely use, and maybe, just maybe it's meant to push us into making decisions that we may be hesitant to make otherwise.

Starting over, second chances and new beginnings, each one carries with it hope and the importance of setting things straight. Although we are unable to rewind time, we are occasionally given an opportunity to correct mistakes, accepting the fact that we are not perfect. In those moments of self doubt, everything is put to the test, our friendships; our relationships, who we are and who we want to become.

Saying 'I'm sorry' is truly only acceptable if you no longer repeat the action. It is by no means a free ticket to jump to conclusions, or make unfiltered statements, expecting the words to miraculously clean the slate and make everything right again, that is until next time. Express what you feel, but do so with love, kindness and compassion. You never know when those words, initially said in anger, will be the last ones spoken."

Elizabeth closed her journal and placed it back on the end table. She took a deep breath and realized that if she was going to apologize, she needed to make the first move. She picked up her phone and dialed Brenda's number.

"Hey, are you busy this weekend?" she asked.

"Not if you finally made the decision to go talk to that man of yours; if so, I'll be glad to take care of Lizzie," Brenda replied.

"Well, I can't say that he's 'my man,' but I do need to talk to him. I think the team gets back in town sometime today and he should be in New York through the beginning of next week. I thought maybe I'd go and…"

"Don't think about it, just do it."

"Well I can't leave until my elementary school safety program is done tomorrow morning, but I could still get there by 3, and travelling early in the day I shouldn't hit any traffic."

"Sounds great," Brenda stated as she stepped outside her front door. "I picked some apples today and I have some for you. I'm on my way over."

"Oh, thank you so much. That was so sweet."

As Brenda started across the small side yard which separated their townhomes, Jack's car pulled into Elizabeth's driveway, "Have you talked to Jack at all?"

"No, not yet. I'm hoping that I haven't ruined everything."

Brenda stopped where her yard meets Elizabeth's and watched as Jack grabbed something from the passenger seat, and then took several steps before stopping and taking a deep breath, "I think you'll get your wish."

"I hope so. He won't know I'm coming, so I hope he'll want to see me."

Jack glanced over at Brenda and mouthed "Is she inside?"

Brenda held tight to her phone as she shook her head up and down before responding to Elizabeth, "Oh, he will…trust me."

"Well I hope you're right. Oh, you won't believe who came to see me at school today…"

Brenda stopped at the edge of Elizabeth's driveway, "I don't know, but I'm sure I could beat that."

"What? Oh just come over, you can tell me when you get here. The door is unlocked, just come on in."

"Uh, okay…"

The doorbell sounded…

"Hush Lizzie," she called out to her unusually excited dog as she headed for the front door.

"You didn't need to ring the bell. You could have just come in…" she mentioned as the door slowly opened.

"I'll remember that next time…"

"Hi Jack…"

Her heart pounded as she stepped aside and he entered her townhouse. She caught a glimpse of Brenda, holding a basket of apples at the edge of her sidewalk as she placed them on the ground and gave her a "thumbs up" before backing away.

Just the sight of him brought tears to her eyes but she quickly swept them away from her cheeks before turning around to face him.

There he stood in the entryway, only a few feet away holding a beautiful bouquet of yellow roses.

She was as beautiful as ever, he thought, even more so if that were even a possibility. He knew they needed to talk, but truly all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and hold her. He'd missed the feel of her body against his, but he could only assume that they were still on shaky ground.

Although she was only a few feet away, he was aware of the wedge that had been driven between them, and as such, they may as well have been miles apart. Jack extended his arm hoping that she'd take his peace offering.

"They're beautiful, Jack; thank you." As she reached out and took them, her hand brushed against his and each one felt the unexplainable heat and energy that accompanied the touch.

"Let me get these into water," she nervously stated as she walked into her kitchen.

He seemed anxious, obviously not certain what to expect. As he followed her, stopping in the den, his eyes caught a glimpse of the restaurant bag on her table. "You found my restaurant?"

"I did, but Jack you aren't going to make it successful if you have a "Do not pay" list and give away free food all the time."

"You're the only one on the list."

"What?"

"It's not really a list because you're the only one on it."

"Oh, well thank you. Are you hungry?"

"No, but don't let me keep you from eating," he stated, knowing that he was so nervous that he wouldn't be able to keep anything down. Glancing around he caught a glimpse of her overnight bag on the floor and he swallowed hard.

"Are you leaving?"

Still in a slight state of shock she responded, "I was."

Seeing her tears, his own eyes watered, "Please don't leave. I'm sorry that I hurt you, but we need to talk."

Her hand covered her mouth as she turned away from him, fighting to keep her tears contained.

He closed the short distance between them as his hands gently rubbed up and down her upper arms. "Shh, please don't cry; I know I hurt you but you need to give me a chance to explain," he leaned in, feeling her body shudder against him.

She could feel his warm breath on the back of her neck as her nerve endings came alive, causing her skin to tingle.

"Please talk to me," he whispered as he turned her around to face him.

She was leaning back against the kitchen counter, feeling slightly weak in the knees but thankful for his hands on her waist as they helped to steady her.

It had only been a week since they'd seen each other and everything fell apart. However, as he fought the urge to devour her lips, it felt as though they had separated a lifetime ago. No matter the cost, he needed her; he needed them back where they were emotionally before Hurricane Selma made landfall.

"Jack, what are you doing here?" she asked. "Your games…"

His voice started out strong, somewhat authoritative, "You won't talk to me. You're pushing me away, and I know it's my fault but the longer we don't talk the worse it gets. I'm here to explain, and I'm not leaving until you hear the truth."

Glancing back at her bag, "Elizabeth, if you leave, we'll never be able to work this out."

"I'm not going anywhere, Jack."

"Will you listen to me?"

"Jack…"

"Please Elizabeth; I know what you saw, but it's not what you think. You need to let me explain."

"Jack, it's not necessary."

"Elizabeth, I've never lied to you. When you asked me about Selma and meeting her for lunch, I told you the truth. But…"

"But what?" she suddenly found her breath catching in her throat.

"Elizabeth, I went to lunch with Selma because she insisted on giving me back things I'd given her," Jack began to explain. "I wanted her to keep everything until she reminded me that she had my dad's policeman's uniform at her place. I asked her to mail it to me, but when she hesitated, I was afraid I'd never see it again. So I went to her apartment."

Although Elizabeth had been told that nothing happened between them while Jack was at Selma's apartment, now he was explaining, and it was as if she was watching a movie over again, knowing what happens, but somehow expecting the possibility of an alternate ending.

"I promise you, Elizabeth, nothing happened."

"I believe you."

"You do?"

"Don't sound so surprised."

"I am surprised. Elizabeth, you've shut me out; you pushed me away; told me to lose your number and never call you again."

"I guess it's a good thing that you didn't listen to me."

"What happened to change things?"

"Jack, I have to apologize too," she stated as they took seats across from each other.

"What do you have to apologize for?"

She released the breath that she was unaware she was holding, "I'm sorry that I left; I'm sorry that I didn't trust you. I'd want you to trust me if the situation was reversed, so I was very unfair to you. I'm sorry that when you needed me to stand behind you, to trust you, I gave up; I shut down and pushed you away."

"Do you mind me asking where you were going?"

"New York City…"

He hesitantly smiled, "Were you coming to see me?"

"I was…"

"Why?"

"Jack, I believed your explanation regarding the lunch with Selma and I was excited to see you last weekend. But when I saw you kissing…"

"I didn't kiss her; she kissed me. I pushed her away; I told her that I was in love with you and that we would never be a couple. Truthfully, the only reason she wanted to be with me is because I had moved on with you."

"I'm sorry; I know. Anyway, between my next door neighbor, Brenda, and Rosa, I realized that I was being unfair to you and that I needed to give you an opportunity to explain."

"You know what happened? How?"

"Well, I didn't know what happened, but I realized that you deserved a chance to tell your side. So, I had decided to drive to New York in the morning, but then Selma came to see me."

Jack's eyes widened, "Oh Elizabeth, I'm sorry. What did she say?"

"It's okay Jack. I was surprised to see her too, but I guess it took a lot of courage on her part to make the trip."

She glanced down before continuing, "She told me what my heart already knew, but I was just too hurt and embarrassed to accept it. You are a kind, loving and honest man. She basically set you up; I assume to cause problems between us."

"Unfortunately it worked," he took a deep breath, before standing, walking around the table and taking a seat beside her. "I love you, Elizabeth. You are the only woman I have ever felt this way about, and you have to know that this past week has been the longest and worst time of my life."

"I love you too, Jack,"

"You do?"

"Jack, you don't fall out of love with someone just because you're angry with them," her heart fluttered as his hand covered hers. "But I was hurt, and I felt like a fool. At the time I meant what I said, but I was angry. Honestly Jack, I knew you wouldn't do that and if you wanted to be with her, I believe you would have told me."

They sat side by side, his hand rested on hers as he inched closer. A week ago, as he caught a glimpse of her eyes, he recalled the icy stare she gave him before running away. Now, his heart pounded as he looked into her eyes. No longer were they devoid of emotion, and he easily felt the love they carried.

His hand rested along her jaw line as his thumb brushed across her cheek.

"Please look at me," he whispered as his finger under her chin lifted her eyes to meet his.

"Elizabeth, I am so sorry that I hurt you," his thumb traced along her face where her skin met her perfectly shaped ruby lips.

The heat from his eyes warmed her, as her lips parted slightly, begging for him. Butterflies pooled in her stomach as his lips gently met hers, both of them immediately feeling at home again.

"I've missed you…this…us," he whispered, as he pulled her body into his chest. His arms around her shoulders held her tightly against him. "I love you so much," his voice was soft and emotional. "I was afraid that I'd lost you."

Feeling her break down, his arms tightened around her as he tenderly rubbed her back, "Shh babe, please don't cry." He found himself gently rocking her back and forth as her crying eventually calmed and she melted into him.

She leaned back, "Jack, was this a test? If so, I failed you. I'm so sorry."

"Elizabeth, this may have been a test, but look where we are; I'm here, we're together, and we're going to be okay."

He quickly leaned in again, wanting her close, but knowing morally speaking that she could not be close enough for him. His lips gently met hers as she softly moaned and everything about her flooded him. Each subsequent kiss was more passionate than the one before as his lips, hungry for hers consumed them as if they were his favorite Thanksgiving meal.

"Elizabeth, I have never felt this way about anyone before," he whispered. "I am completely taken by you. When you aren't around I find myself looking for you, and when you are, I have to stop myself from staring."

Her smile was warm, engaging and always drew him in, "Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?" he asked.

Their eyes were misty and showing signs of exhaustion as they were locked on each other and refused to waiver. Her lips quivered, aching to be touched.

All she could think of was being with him; loving him, showing him how she truly felt. Elizabeth stood and held out her hand which he gladly took. Her heart pounded as she realized that although she wouldn't be married when she made love for the first time as she'd planned, he was truly the man who held her heart.

"Elizabeth…"

"Shh, I have missed you so much, Jack… I need you."

With one arm behind her back and the other under her knees, he picked her up and carried her to the staircase.

"Sorry, I didn't plan this well. Put me down, I can walk up the stairs," she giggled, but he paid no attention.

Her arms were wrapped around his neck while her lips nibbled gently on his earlobe, which stoked his desire as he carried her effortlessly up the 18 steps to the second floor.

She could feel his respiration quicken as they entered her bedroom and he gently released her legs as her feet touched the floor.

"Elizabeth, are you sure?" he whispered, as her fingers on his shirt began to release each button.

She pulled his open shirt over his shoulders as her lips made contact with his bare chest, working her way up his neck. "I want you, Jack, but if you don't want…"

His hand behind her head pressed her closer as he captured her lips. His tongue pressed through the seam of her lips, brushing gently along the soft, tender skin on the inside of her mouth. He wanted her, but more than that, he needed her. It wasn't just a body that he needed, it was her body and everything about her captivated him.

Jack's fingers tugged gently on her blouse, pulling it from the waistband of her skirt. As the last button opened and her blouse fell to the floor, Jack was certain that his pounding heart could be seen through his skin.

His hands framed her face as his lips met hers with the fire of a candle burning at both ends. Her eyes closed and head tilted slightly as his lips made their way along her neck, stopping momentarily just below her ear, where her soft moans fed the fire inside him.

His hand slipped around her waist where he released the button and zipper to her skirt. As it fell over her hips and to the floor, Jack pulled her body closer than he could possibly imagine, but yet, she was still too far away. He picked her up and laid her on the bed, lying down beside her.

His hand rested on her abdomen as she lay there in her bra and panties, thankful that on this day she'd picked out matching Victoria Secrets undergarments to wear.

The touch of his lips and hand drove new sounds, as soft moans escaped her mouth. His hand moved up the outside of her leg, not realizing until this point just how soft her skin actually was.

His hand rested momentarily on her abdomen, as his lips made their way up her arm, along her neck and across her shoulder. His finger slipped under the strap of her bra and as it dropped over her shoulder, his lips pressed gently against her breast.

He felt her body stir, "Elizabeth," he whispered, "Are you sure?"

"Uh huh," she moaned, however, her response didn't match the tear he observed that slipped from her eye.

He pulled the strap of her bra back over her shoulder and covered her body with his shirt.

"What are you doing? I thought you wanted me."

"Oh, if you only knew how much I want you, but this isn't right for you."

"But it's right for you."

"Honey, unless it's right for both of us, it's not the time. I told you before that I'd wait. I meant it then and I mean it now."

"But Jack, I need to show you how I feel about you; how I'm so thankful that you're in my life; how you've awakened feelings in me that I never knew existed, and how, with you, I've found the missing piece to my puzzle." As her tears fell she continued, "I want to be the woman who makes you think, 'My life is so much better with her in it.'"

As his own tears threatened to fall, his finger under her chin lifted her eyes to meet his. "Elizabeth, I see your love when I look into your eyes; I feel it when you touch me; I hear it in your voice, and I know it when your tears fall, because complete love allows such emotion. Oh, and just so you know, my life is so much better with you in it…"

He leaned in and kissed her forehead, "You mean the world to me, and I will wait until you're ready, okay?"

"Okay," she replied as she snuggled into his body.

The doorbell rang, but with each one lost in the moment, it went unnoticed.

BAM, BAM, BAM… Elizabeth sat up as she heard someone banging on her door. "Something must be wrong," she slipped into a robe and ran downstairs.

"Kelly, what's wrong?" Elizabeth asked as her neighbor stood in her doorway holding her 6 months old daughter and a diaper bag.

"Elizabeth, I'm so sorry, but Michael fell out of the tree in the backyard and he's dislocated his elbow. I have to take him to the ER, but Roger isn't home."

She observed Jack, now completely dressed walking down the stairs, and added, "I hate to ask, but could you keep Abby until either I get back from the hospital or Roger makes it home?"

Elizabeth looked behind her and smiled at Jack, "Sure, you just take care of Michael. We'll be fine."

Kelly asked Elizabeth to step outside, "I'm so sorry to interrupt your evening. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Elizabeth replied as she reached out and took a sleeping Abby and the diaper bag from Kelly.

"Is that Jack Thornton, from the Mets? Never mind, that would be too bizarre."

Elizabeth smiled, "Yes, that's Jack."

"He is Roger's favorite player. WOW, you're dating Jack Thornton. Roger is going to freak."

"Um Kelly, don't you think you should get Michael to the hospital?"

"Oh, yeah right. Thanks Elizabeth; I'm sorry for messing up your night."

"That's okay." Elizabeth stated, but what she was thinking was it's probably a good thing that you stopped by when you did.

Elizabeth stepped inside with Abby in her arms, "I'm sorry, Jack."

Just the visual of her with a sleeping baby in her arms brought about a huge dimpled smile. "We'll have our time, but not until it's right."

"Jack, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that I was pushing you into doing something you didn't want to do."

Jack took her arm and led her to the sofa where they sat side by side. "If you only knew how much I want you…that's not the problem."

"So what do you mean?"

"When we're married. That will make our time together perfect."

"So, do you think about us getting married?" she asked.

"I do…" he laughed. "See, I'm already practicing. Do you ever think about it?"

"Well, I guess I never thought I find someone that I loved enough to take that leap, but then you came along. So, I guess I'd be lying if I said that I didn't think about it."

"So, if I asked you, what would you say?"

"I guess you'll have to ask me to find out."

Just then Abby woke from her nap and was in need of a diaper change and a bottle.

Elizabeth pulled a bottle from the bag, and while it heated in the warmer, she changed Abby's diaper.

"Do you mind if I take a shower?" he asked.

"Of course not; help yourself."

Jack walked outside and grabbed his overnight bag. As he walked back inside, Elizabeth was sitting in her rocking chair with Abby's head comfortably situated in the crook of her elbow, and a baby bottle held to her mouth.

"Do you need anything?" he asked.

"Would you look in the diaper bag and hand me a cloth diaper as a burp pad please?"

He found what she was looking for, handed it to her, kissed her cheek and walked upstairs to take a shower. Stopping at the top of the stairs, Jack rested his arms on the banister as he lovingly watched Elizabeth. He smiled, seemingly mesmerized as he watched her first feed and then rock Abby.

Elizabeth held her up, "Well, Miss Abby, I may not have the best singing voice, but my mom used to sing this song to me when I was little." She placed Abby on her chest and began to rock back and forth.

His tears fell when she opened her mouth and he heard the voice of an Angel…

Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleep my little baby.
When you wake you shall have
All the pretty little horses.
Black and bays, dapples, grays,
All the pretty little horses.
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleep my little baby.
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleep my little baby.
When you wake you shall have
All the pretty little horses.

Quietly he wiped his eyes and thought, "She's my puzzle piece, and this is definitely the life I want."

To be continued…