Author's Note: There is a TWO ALARM STEAM alert. The section is marked if you want to skip it.

… … … …

Chapter 32 – Surprise for Bill (long)

Jack and Bill got to their room and found Elizabeth still struggling to put JT to bed. He refused to listen to Elizabeth and the moment he saw his father, he ran to Jack.

"Daddy." JT squealed.

"Why aren't you in your pajamas?" Jack asked.

"No!" JT said, stomping his little foot. "Not those. Blue ones."

"Your blue ones are dirty." Jack said. "You got blueberries on them yesterday."

JT pouted and his bottom lips started to quiver.

"JT." Jack said, kneeling down to JT's level. "You have two clean pairs of pajamas. So choose one and then Uncle Bill will read to you. If you throw a temper tantrum, we won't read to you. So which pajamas are you going to wear?"

JT took one of the pairs that Jack held out.

"Thank you." Jack said. "I love you. But you can't act like this every time that you don't get your way. You are almost five years old. So can I have a hug and then you go change, okay?"

JT gave Jack a hug.

"Can I have a hug, too?" Elizabeth asked, standing across the room where she had been huffing.

JT just looked at his mother, then turned and went to the room where he was sleeping with Bill and Jack. Elizabeth started to follow JT, but Jack stopped her.

"Let him be." Jack said. "Until he knows that you aren't going to yell at him every time you aren't happy, he will continue to pull away. So just give him some space. He is getting ready for bed and Bill will read to him. We need to talk about tomorrow."

"I will be back in a bit." Bill said.

Bill turned and went to his room and closed the door.

"Seriously." Elizabeth huffed.

"I mean it." Jack said. "I don't know what has happened before I came back, but from what little Jack said, you were mean and never around. He is scared of something, so give him time. It is well past his bedtime and he is finally going to bed, so I am not going to fight about this."

"You have no idea how hard it is." Elizabeth said.

"No." Jack said. "But I know what it is like to be a little boy who is scared and just wants to feel loved. So I can relate to him. I also know what I was like at that age. I have learned that it is easier to pick your battles. It is no different than when I first came to Coal Valley. I could have been hard on all the boys and forced them to listen, but by showing them I was different and I listened to them I was able to earn their trust and respect. That is what I am doing with JT. He is old enough to have a say in some things. Fighting with him and constantly yelling is not doing either of you any good."

Elizabeth huffed twice and then let out a harsh breath.

"You wanted to talk about tomorrow." Elizabeth said.

"Bill, JT and I are going with Nathan to services at the Episcopal church tomorrow." Jack said. "Then we will come back here and get Carol, so we can go to brunch at O'Connor's. It sounds like Carson is going to be joining the group as well. Carol is going to stay here and Allie is still in the hospital."

"Allie is in the hospital?" Elizabeth said. "I should call Nathan and check on her."

"She is fine." Jack said. "Bill said she was fine and that Carson was taking care of her. She is sleeping and I am sure that Nathan and Carol have turned in for the evening. They were heading up shortly after Bill and I left the ballroom. Also if you had been paying attention during Nathan's speech, you would have known that Allie was in the hospital because he said something about it."

"Oh." Elizabeth said.

"So are you going to join us tomorrow or not?" Jack asked.

"I guess I will join you." Elizabeth said. "It is not like you gave me much of a choice."

"You can stay here if you are going to sulk and be all pouty." Jack said. "But JT will be spending the day with Bill and I."

"I guess I will go with you since you have pretty much said I can't do what I had planned." Elizabeth said.

"Then we will have a nice meal with Nathan and Carol." Jack said. "Then we can come back here and have a nice family afternoon or I can make arrangements and we can go back on the afternoon train tomorrow afternoon. Either way, I know that Nathan and Carol will be staying until at least Monday night."

"I was hoping we can get the rest of the things for the new house on Monday." Elizabeth said. "I wasn't able to check everything off my list on Friday."

"What do you have left to order?" Jack said. "Because I don't want a bunch of furniture I didn't pick out if you aren't going to be at the new house."

"Why wouldn't I be at the new house?" Elizabeth asked.

"I told you." Jack said. "Until you decide that you really want to be a part of the family and work on things, you are not stepping foot into my house. That land is in my name and my name only. If you want to live there, you are going to have to find a way to overcome this canyon that is between us. I was serious, you have a lot of work to do before we can have the relationship that you want."

Elizabeth was going to continue to argue with Jack, but Bill came out and took a seat by the fireplace.

"JT is sound asleep." Bill said.

"Thank you." Jack said. "I figured it wouldn't take long. He was so tired, I could see it on his face."

"You were right about that." Bill said. "He couldn't even keep his eyes open after he laid down."

"What time are we meeting Nathan in the morning?" Elizabeth asked.

"Nine." Jack said. "Do you want to continue to talk or not?"

Elizabeth looked at Bill.

"Anything you want to say." Jack said. "You can say in front of Bill. I talk to him about everything anyway."

Elizabeth huffed, but didn't say anything else. She just took a seat at the writing desk. Jack moved over and sat near Bill. They talked about the Ball and the different people that they saw.

… … … …

Nathan got to their room, shut the door, pulled his wife to him and kissed her until he was forced to pull back and take in some air.

"Leave the pins." Nathan said. "But maybe you could change into one of those new things."

"I can do that." Carol said with a smile.

Carol went, grabbed something from her trunk and then went to the water closet. Nathan took a moment to change as well. He hung up his dress uniform and pulled a worn henley on with his silk pajama pants he liked. Once he had changed, he took a seat in one of the arm chairs and waited for his wife. Nathan leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment. After about a minute, Nathan leaned forward and dropped his head, clasping his hands between his legs. He closed his eyes again and started to pray out loud.

"Heavenly Father." Nathan prayed. "Thank you for all you have given me. Thank you for the honors that were awarded to me tonight, I know that You are the one that deserves the praise not me as You are the one that gives me the strength to do my job. Please be with Allie tonight as she is in the hospital recovering. Reach Your healing hand out and touch Allie. I also thank you for Carson and being here when we needed the most. Thank you for the knowledge You gave him and bringing him back here to serve these people.

I thank you for my brothers-in-arms and being able to spend time with them this evening. Please watch over them as they travel back to their posts. Keep them all safe. I especially pray for my best friend Gabe as he is missing his sweetheart. I also want to specifically pray for Jack as he struggles to hold his family together. Please be with him tonight and all of us as we spend some time together tomorrow. I also want to thank you for bring Carol into my life. I don't know what I would do without her. Please watch over her and keep her safe as she carries the blessings that You gave us. Help us both to know what You want of us as we move toward a new phase in our lives. I also ask that You keep our babies safe and allow them to be delivered safely. If that is not the case, I ask that You give us the strength to deal with that as well. Amen."

Carol had come out while Nathan was praying. She waited by the bed and then when she heard him say amen, she came over and sat on the arm of the chair. Nathan was still leaned forward and had his head down. Carol ran her fingers through Nathan's hair. Nathan looked up at his wife and smiled. She was wearing a short cream silky nightgown.

"You are so gorgeous." Nathan said.

"You are pretty handsome yourself sitting there." Carol said.

Carol ran her fingers through Nathan's hair again and he sat back. She moved to sit in his lap.

… … … …Steam Alert… … … …

As Carol settled on Nathan's lap, she tugged at his henley. Nathan smiled at her and she reached down, pulled the henley over Nathan's head and dropped it on the floor. She then ran her hands over Nathan's torso, up to his neck, cupping his cheeks and kissed him deeply. Nathan ran his hand up Carol's leg and stopped at the hem of her nightgown. He caressed her leg. He loved the soft skin on her thighs. Carol reached down and took Nathan's hand. Nathan allowed Carol to move his hand; she slipped it further up and once again, Nathan learned that she wasn't wearing anything under the nightgown.

As Nathan caressed Carol, she reached down and started to caress Nathan, brushing his manhood causing him to moan. Nathan leaned his head back and allowed Carol to continue with her actions. Finally Nathan got to the point he needed Carol before he exploded.

"I need you, now." Nathan rasped.

Carol tugged on Nathan's pants, he lifted up and let her pull them down. Carol then straddled Nathan, lowering herself on him. Nathan moaned as Carol lowered herself on him. She waited a moment before she rocked forward. Nathan moaned again, gripping Carol's hips. He thrust up as she rocked forward. Carol felt Nathan stiffen underneath her. Nathan exploded inside of Carol as she tightened around him pushing further over the edge. Carol fell over the edge moments after Nathan did. They stayed together on the chair as they rode the waves of bliss that washed over them.

Once Carol had come down enough, she moved off of Nathan, but remained straddling him in the chair. She leaned down and kissed her husband. She sat back and ran her hand over his chest, stopping to feel his heart beat. Nathan opened his eyes.

"I love you." Nathan rasped.

"I love you more." Carol said.

"If you say so." Nathan teased. "The things you do to my body are incredible. I hope you are as happy as you make me."

"You make me extremely happy." Carol said, rubbing her baby bump.

"I am happy you are happy." Nathan said.

The couple sat there for a few more minutes before moving to the bed and continuing their love making, coming together a few more times before falling asleep wrapped in each other's arms.

… … … …End of Steam… … … …

… … … …

Jack looked over at Elizabeth and wished there was something that he could say that would make a difference, but he wasn't sure what else he could say. When Jack looked back at Bill, he could read the sadness in the older man's eyes.

"I wanted to say thank you for coming this weekend and helping with JT." Jack said.

"You are more than welcome." Bill said. "I had fun seeing old friends and you know I love my godson."

"Still." Jack said.

Before Jack could say anything else there was a knock at the door. Not expecting anyone, he was concerned that something happened, so he quickly went to the door and saw a young Constable standing there with an older blonde woman that Jack thought looked familiar, but couldn't place her.

"Sorry to bother you." The young Constable said. "But is Judge Avery here?"

"Bill." Jack said.

Bill quickly came to the door and froze when he saw the woman standing there.

"Sorry to bother you so late." The Constable said. "But she insisted on speaking to Judge Avery right away. The Commissioner tasked me with personally seeing her up here. I hope that was okay."

"Yes." Jack said. "Thank the Commissioner and have a good night."

"Yes, Sir." The Constable said.

He gave Jack a salute which was returned and then the young Constable headed back down the hallway toward the lift. Jack looked between the woman and Bill, shook his head because he couldn't read the look on Bill's face.

"Do you wish to come in, ma'am?" Jack asked.

"I don't want to intrude." She said. "Maybe Bill and I could go speak somewhere else, if it is a problem."

"AJ?" Bill said softly.

"Yes." She said. "I am sorry that it is so late. I had hoped to be here much earlier, but it was one thing after another getting here."

Bill stepped into the hall and hugged the woman standing there. Jack was still standing in the doorway, looking confused.

"Sorry." Bill said, shaking his head.

Bill turned and looked at Jack.

"I don't know if you remember AJ Foster?" Bill said. "AJ, Corporal Jack Thornton."

"Nice to meet you ma'am." Jack said. "I honestly don't remember you."

"I don't think we met before." AJ said. "But I have heard plenty about you. Again, I am sorry for coming to your door so late."

"It is fine." Jack said. "JT will sleep through most anything. My wife, Elizabeth, was just writing and Bill and I were just talking."

"What are you doing here?" Bill asked.

"I came to see you." AJ said. "I got your letter and then the invite from the Commissioner. Like I said, I was supposed to be here much earlier. The Commissioner had invited me to attend the Ball as your guest and I am sorry that I wasn't able to get here, but after the train was delayed because of trees down on the track, it took awhile to get someone to drive me here. Still I wanted to see you."

"Please come in and have a seat." Bill said. "Jack, can you order us some tea?"

"Of course." Jack said. "Miss Foster, are you hungry?"

"Don't go to any trouble on my account." AJ said.

"No trouble." Jack said. "Please come in."

The trio went back into the room and Jack went to order some tea and stuff to be brought up. Elizabeth turned and also froze when she saw AJ.

"Nice to see you again." AJ said.

Elizabeth just nodded and then went back to her journal.

"I can leave if it is a problem." AJ said.

"It is fine." Bill said. "Please sit. I am so glad you came. It is a long way to come from Winnipeg."

"I would have come sooner, but until I got your letter I didn't know if you wanted to speak to me." AJ said.

"I am sorry." Bill said. "I have written you many letters over the years, but never knew where to send them until I asked the Commissioner to look into where you were."

"I wish you would have looked me up sooner." AJ said. "I missed you."

It wasn't long and the porter had brought their tea and biscuits. Jack thanked the man and gave him a tip. Despite not feeling like hosting, Elizabeth came over and sat with the group and had some tea. She said a few words to AJ, but mostly just sat there.

Over the next hour, Bill and AJ caught up. Jack enjoyed sitting there listening to the two of them. He only spoke when asked a direct question and he was fine with that. He hadn't seen the light in Bill's eyes that was there every time he looked at AJ, or at least Jack couldn't remember the last time he saw that light in Bill's eyes.

"If you will excuse me." Elizabeth said. "I have had a long day and I am going to turn in."

"I can leave." AJ said.

"Here is a key Bill." Jack said. "Why don't you go downstairs if you want to continue to visit. You won't wake us if you come in later."

"Thank you." Bill said.

"Miss Foster." Jack said.

"Please call me Adeline or Addie." She said.

"Adeline." Jack said. "I just wanted to invite you to attend services with us in the morning. We are meeting in the lobby at nine. Another Constable is coming and then afterwards, he will come back here to get his wife so we can all go to brunch. You are more than welcome to join us."

"I would like that." AJ said. "I am here for a few days before I need to decide what I am going to do."

"Then please join us in the morning." Jack said.

"I will." AJ said. "You said nine in the lobby."

"Yes." Jack said. "I will see you then."

"See you then." AJ said. "Again, sorry I arrived so late."

"It is fine." Jack said. "Have a goodnight. Bill, I will see you later, don't worry about waking me when you come in."

"I won't." Bill said.

Bill and AJ stood and left the suite to head downstairs to sit and talk some more. As soon as they were out the door, Jack turned to Elizabeth.

"Have a good night." Jack said.

"You aren't coming to bed?" Elizabeth asked.

"I meant it when I said I wasn't going to share a bed with you again until things changed." Jack said. "I will see you in the morning. I hope you are up and ready to go to services. Goodnight."

Jack then gave Elizabeth a kiss on the check before heading to the other room. He checked on his son and then got ready for bed. He said his prayers and crawled into bed, still hoping and praying that Elizabeth would realize what she had done.

… … … …

Bill and AJ went to sit in the lobby. They found a quiet corner near where Nathan and Bill had been before. They continued to talk and catch up. Bill still couldn't believe that she was there and she wasn't mad at him.

"So what happened after you left the last time?" Bill asked.

"I spent six months in jail before all charges were set aside." AJ said. "I was granted an apology and restitution. The former Commissioner personally apologized for what happened, especially after it was proven I was working under duress. I ended up back east for awhile, but then people who knew the Wyatt brothers started making trouble for me. I moved seven times in four years. I lived under a different name for awhile, until the current Commissioner caught the men that were causing trouble. I have been living in Winnipeg for the last ten months, but I don't like the big city. I would prefer to be somewhere a little more quiet. Maybe somewhere I can get some good hiking and fishing in."

"I know a place like that." Bill said, smiling.

"Are you asking me back to Hope Valley?" AJ asked.

"If you want." Bill said. "I would love to see where this goes if we can. I have loved you all these years, but didn't know where you were or if you were angry at me because I did my job."

"I was angry for a while." AJ said. "But then I realized that you were right. Then I missed you, but because I was worried about the Wyatt brothers and their cohorts, I was also afraid to contact you. I wasn't sure you were still in Hope Valley. Every time I picked up the phone to try and inquire about you, I would chicken out. I didn't think you would still want to speak to me or if you did, I didn't want you to be with me because you felt bad or pitied me."

"I never pitied you." Bill said. "I always thought it was brave of you to try and stand up to men like the Wyatt brothers."

"So where does that leave us?" AJ asked.

"I don't know." Bill said. "I am still me and you are still you. Can you look past my background?"

"Can you look past mine?" AJ asked.

"I have many times." Bill said. "I just never knew how to tell you."

"Tell me what?" AJ asked.

Bill just looked at AJ for a long minute before speaking.

"What I wanted to tell you six years ago." Bill said. "Adeline Josephine Foster, I love you and have loved you from the moment I saw you. When you caught me in your cabin, my heart flipped and I knew I loved you. But I had to set those feelings aside and do the job that I was charged with carrying out. Then when you risked everything to get help for me after the snake bite, I wanted to spend my life with you, but had to once again set those feelings aside because you were under arrest and I was a law man at the time.

By the time I realized that you were the woman I truly wanted, I didn't know how to find you. Then I thought I had lost my chance with you, so I just tried to move on with my life. But I have never loved another woman as much as I have loved you for the last six years, even though time and circumstance has kept us apart. A long time ago, I resigned myself to spending the year of my life alone. But that didn't mean I still didn't love you. I just didn't think you loved me."

"I love you too, Bill Avery." AJ said. "I just thought you couldn't look past my background and there was nothing for us. I am sorry, I didn't reach out sooner."

"Me too." Bill said. "But like I said in my letter, I just had to try and reach out to you. Jack had just come back after we thought he had been dead for five years and then the man I saw as a son found the love of his life and married her in less than a week. I just wanted to reach out and see if we could at least be friends, because you were in my heart where you had been everyday since I had first seen you."

Bill and AJ continued to sit and talk down in the lobby. At close to three in the morning, Bill walked AJ to her room and kissed her goodnight on the cheek. They had decided that AJ would come back to Hope Valley at least for Christmas. They wanted to see if they could make their relationship work. Both realized that they had made assumptions about the other, but they were not based in truth. They knew that they loved each other, but at the same time they had been apart for a long time and they had never really given their relationship a chance because of where they each were in life.

"Thank you for giving us a chance." AJ said, standing at her door.

"You are welcome." Bill said. "I was truthful when I said I have missed you and never loved another woman like I have loved you."

"I love you as well." AJ said. "I just hope that we can make things work."

"I believe that we can." Bill said. "We just need to try."

"I agree." AJ said.

AJ then leaned in closer to Bill, just inches from his face she looked from his eyes to his lips and back to his eyes. Bill gave his permission with his eyes, so AJ leaned in and captured Bill's lips. AJ wrapped her arm around Bill's neck and pulled him closer. Bill kissed AJ back and instinctively wrapped his arm around her waist and held her close. They kissed until Bill needed air, so he pulled back, but still held AJ close.

"I should go." Bill said, softly.

"If you must." AJ said.

"I must." Bill said. "As much as I don't want to, I should go."

"Okay." AJ said, kissing Bill again.

AJ tried to pull Bill into the room, but he resisted.

"I shouldn't." Bill rasped, breaking the kiss.

"Okay." AJ said.

Bill and AJ let go of each other, but then held hands while Bill was in the hall and AJ was in the open door.

"See you in the morning." Bill said. "Please try to come to services with us, but otherwise we will be having brunch at O'Connor's which is just a couple blocks down the road."

"Nine, right?" AJ said.

"Yes, nine in the lobby." Bill said.

"I will be there." AJ said.

AJ leaned in and gave Bill one last kiss before backing into the room and shutting the door. Bill stood there for a moment before turning to head up to the room he was sharing with Jack. As much as Bill had wanted to spend the night with AJ, he knew it was not the way to do things. As Bill walked to his room, he mind went to an item he wanted to pick up in the morning if the shop was open, otherwise he knew it would have to wait until Monday. The thing was Bill knew exactly what he wanted, he knew it would be perfect and couldn't wait to get it.

… … … …