It was an unseasonably cool morning for summer, not that Jack was complaining, but with it almost August, the cool weather would soon be the norm each and every morning until it faded to cold winter mornings. On this beautiful morning, he'd finished the chores, and with the early sun and still very early hour, had taken Paint on a short ride just up to the road to check on some fencing that he'd spotted the day before looking like it needed repair. It did, so with a plan for the day, he'd returned Paint to the paddock, promising to get a longer ride in later after mending the fence.

"Morning," Tim called to him from his truck as he pulled up while Jack was walking back to the house to start breakfast. Jack waited for Tim and walked alongside him. "What time did you get up to already be out on a ride with Paint?" Tim had spotted Jack returning to the barn as he'd arrived, and now the two men were ready for coffee and breakfast before starting the day's chores.

"Oh," Jack waved his hand, "got done with the chores relatively quickly, and since it was nice and cool, I took Paint up to check that fencing north of the driveway. It looks like we need to fix about four sections of fence. I swear, this place is falling apart. We fix one section, and the next day, we have an entirely different area to fix."

"You're telling me," Tim gave Jack a once-over as they climbed the stairs. "Ranch is falling apart, but so is its owner," Tim smirked. "Oh," he smacked at Jack's shoulder as Jack stepped inside ahead of him, "how was your appointment with Tricia?"

Jack stopped to take off his boots and wash up at the sink by the door while Tim stepped to the small table to snag a banana.

"You know, she's not at all what I expected."

"What did you expect?" Tim asked, chewing a huge bite of banana as he spoke.

"She's your and Lisa's age for one," Jack waved.

"Yeah?"

"Thought she'd be younger, blonde-"

"She's got a kid in school here," Tim waved his hand. "She's really smart."

"She seemed to be, competent too. Things went fine with her, and yes, Lisa even commented to her you'd be a good one to teach her to ride, so you're welcome for that.."

"Great," Tim grinned, chewing more. "So, old man, your heart is-"

"Doing just fine. I'm not dying on you, not yet," Jack said sighing and shaking his head as he walked to the refrigerator. "I'm going to start some eggs-"

"Scrambled," Tim pointed toward the hallway, but stopped with Jack at the refrigerator with the door open. Tim leaned over Jack's shoulder to look inside, "Ohh, Chinese still in the carryout bag. I might get into that." Je looked up at Jack, "What? Something wrong with it? You didn't eat that last night? Never mind," he eyed Jack. "I'm going to ahh," he smirked, "be indisposed for a bit."

"As for the Chinese, we just never ate dinner. Now, I wasn't asking if you wanted breakfast-"

"Toast with those eggs, thanks, Jack," Tim continued, ignoring Jack as he disappeared down the hallway. Jack sighed and started pulling out the things to make breakfast. What he'd planned to say is that he was going to make some breakfast for Lisa and himself, the early hour still before 7AM. Lou, Amy, and the girls had been out late at their carnival, and as he started prepping things to make breakfast on the counter, he moved the huge bag of cotton candy and examined some of the other treats the girls had brought home from the carnival. He hadn't spoken to them yet, but with their late hour and it being summer, Jack was pretty sure they wouldn't be up too early, Amy included. She'd been working hard and long hours. Jack had told her to enjoy the carnival and a quiet morning, part of the reason he'd gotten the head start on the chores.

"Well, good morning," Jack smiled at the sight of his beautiful, soon-to-be bride shuffling across the floor toward the kitchen, her cane in hand. She really was walking a lot better, but she still had a slight limp. Lisa smiled warmly at him and joined him there in the kitchen by the stove, her long floral robe on over her silk pajama set. "My morning just got a lot better."

"Morning," she smiled brightly at him as she reached the stove. Jack turned toward her and waited to kiss her until she'd propped her cane against the cabinet. He pulled her into his embrace while she grinned up at him and wrapped her arms around him too, neither sure who was more eager to kiss the other. As their kiss deepened, they both smiled into it, getting lost in the moment. When they broke the kiss to catch their breaths, Lisa smiled up at Jack as he held her in his embrace.

"How did you sleep?" Jack asked her, his voice low and soft as he spoke to her there in his arms. He brushed some of her tousled hair from her face.

"When I finally did sleep," she eyed him, and Jack chuckled, nodding, "I slept well, but hard not to next to you and you keeping me up. I like the weight of that new quilt."

"I like it too," he winked at her. "I also slept very well, thanks to you. Now, how are you feeling? How's your pain?"

"Ahh," she shifted her head from side to side, "as we said last night, not promising I'm fit for anything, although," she smiled as she tightened her grip around his waist, "I'm very glad we're both medically cleared and had a lovely evening even if things weren't perfect-"

Jack raised an eyebrow, "I thought things were pretty great."

She laughed, playfully smacking his chest, "Yes, you know what I mean. Thank you for being patient. You didn't die on me, which is something I'd read about as some horrible possibility in all that heart attack literature, and my broken body tolerated things too. Not perfect," she shrugged, smiling as she said that, "but very much on the track back to normalcy, and I'm very, very glad about that. I'm just glad to be back with you in all ways, even if we're both old and broken," she said quietly, her sparkling eyes searching his. Jack could look into those eyes all day, had missed looking into those eyes for months, and we so happy that yes, after being given the 'green light' from Tricia at their appointment, had enjoyed a quiet, romantic evening together.

Lisa looked up at him again, and Jack leaned down to kiss her, their kiss quickly deepening. After running his hands up the silk of her robe on her arms, they moved to her waist, and the grips the two had tightened on each other, if that was even possible. This quiet, early morning, the two were very much glad to be alive and in love.

"Breakfast ready? Oh, geez, come on you two!"

Jack and Lisa almost jumped apart, Jack steadying Lisa as they did. Their heads both snapped to Tim who was grimacing there by the table, gesturing at them.

"You have a bedroom-"

"Yeah, we do," Jack snapped quickly, "and happily used it-" Jack groaning and closing one eye as he realized he'd engaged with Tim more than he wanted to right now. When his gaze met Tim's, Tim was smirking at him, gesturing at the two. Before Tim could speak, Jack continued, "We have a house. You have your own. You're the one here eating our food and using our toilet-"

"Hey, you should be lucky it was just me just now, thanking me for being the one to break up this little love fest," he waved his hand at them. "Lisa," he flashed a smile at her, "nice to see your more casual look here at the house. I take it you two have addressed any concerns about her staying over. Oh, right," he started to smirk, eyeing them, "Jack did mention you two saw Tricia. I see-"

Lisa cut him off, "I'm going to freshen up, shower, before the girls all get up," she looked up at Jack as he nodded at her. He leaned down to kiss her cheek and handed her the cane which was still leaning up against the counter. Jack squeezed her arm as she turned.

"I'll continue with putting on breakfast, eggs, Lise?"

"Ahh, fine, thank you," she said nodding at him, squeezing his arm, before she turned to head to the bedroom. She gave a nod to Tim who had now picked up the morning paper on the table and was getting ready to sit. "Tim, I'm already self-conscious enough, so please don't start in on things with the girls around-"

"Lisa, I'm only teasing, and I am only trying to mess with Jack. I apologize and want you to know I really am glad you're here. It's good to see you doing so well, and well," he shrugged with a grin, "keeping this guy actually pleasant and in a good mood. So, from the entire family, thank you."

Lisa sighed and shook her head, hobbling away, while Jack finished cracking eggs for the skillet. Once Lisa had stepped back into the bedroom to collect her things for the shower, Jack turned and gestured at Tim.

"You know it's hard for her to get used to this, to being around the family in the morning. It's still a bit tense especially since we aren't married yet-"

"All I'm saying, Jack," Tim smirked at him now, wearing Jack's glasses to read the paper, which Jack waved at Tim, and Tim just shrugged, "is that the girls aren't as clueless as you and Lisa think. They are well aware Lisa has been staying here for years. You've just not discussed it, and they certainly didn't want to discuss it."

"I know Amy and Lou are aware-"

"Georgie knows what is going on, Jack," Tim chuckled. "At the carnival, she told me it was weird seeing Lisa in your bedroom and didn't want to think about what old people are up to. I told her I didn't want to hear about a kid talking about it, so that was the end of our discussion, but it's not the secret you might believe. She's a smart kid, foster care for a long time, Jack."

"I know, Jack waved. "We'll be getting married soon enough. You know I've just tried to run an upstanding household, did the same with you and Marion."

"Oh, I remember," Tim smirked as he turned the newspaper page. "I actually was chased out of the house with a shotgun, but you know that, participated in it," he flashed a fake smile. "See, you and Lisa don't have to worry about that, although," he made a face, "wouldn't do that to the woman with her limp."

"Just," Jack groaned and shook his head, "be nice to her."

"What?" Tim recoiled in shock. "I always am. I really like Lisa. I am glad to see her here, in her robe," he waved. "I mean," Tim got flustered, "you know what I mean. I'm not saying I'm attracted-"

"Watch it, Tim."

"No," he chuckled, "just that I'm glad to see her settling in, looking normal like anyone else in the family. It's not uncommon for any of them to wander into the kitchen in their pajamas. Lisa just looks better than all of them. Wow, even her leisure clothes are expensive. You are one lucky man, Jack. She's amazing."

"Who's amazing?" Lou wandered in wearing a tattered robe she had open, a t-shirt with a rip across the bottom, and sweat pants with a bleach stain down the side.

"See," Tim waved at Lou's less than stellar appearance. "Case in point."

"What? Who is amazing? What are you trying to prove, Dad? Grandpa, coffee ready?"

"Nothing," Jack shook his head.

"Lisa's amazing. Just telling Jack how great it is to see Lisa settling in," and Jack snapped his head to Tim and glared at him, waving his hand.

Movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention, and he looked over to see Lisa stepping back out of the bedroom, her clothing in hand as she made her way toward the shower. Jack winked at her when she looked his way, and she smiled brightly at him.

"Coffee is ready, just made a pot," Jack waved at it, answering Lou. "I've got a cup," he gestured toward it. "Your dad and Lisa haven't had any yet."

"Oh, well sign me up for a cup right away, and I'll take that to the shower," Lou replied.

"Lou, could you get me a cup?" Tim called out from the table as Lou made her way to the cabinet.

Jack shook his head, "Lisa just headed that way, to the shower, I mean."

"Ahh," Lou frowned as she retrieved a coffee cup for herself and a second for Tim, "Wait, I thought she showered at night?"

"She did, she does most of the time," Jack amended his statement as he shook his head. "She's freshening up, ahh," he scratched his head, "didn't sleep well."

"Bet she didn't," Tim grumbled, and when Jack glared at Tim reading the paper, Tim looked up and smirked at Jack.

"Oh, okay," Lou frowned. "No problem. Gosh, should I ask if there's anything I could do to help, I mean, the house warm enough-"

"Lou, she's fine. Jack's doing his part-," Tim cut in. Jack eyed him again and looked at Lou.

"Thank you for your concern. She is fine, settling in, and we're getting back to normal, I mean," Jack paused.

Lou put her hand on Jack's shoulder as he was turning red, "Grandpa, I get it, she smiled at him. "I know she's stayed here before, duh, plenty of times. So, I get that you two are getting settled again, and that it is a little strange for everyone. I mean, sure, do I like to think of my grandfather being romantic? No, but I get it. We're all adults, so no need to mention it again. Lisa's here. I get it. You're getting married."

"Anyway," Jack waved, not wanting to discuss it further. "I'm making eggs and toast. Would you like some?"

"Oh, no, none for me," Lou waved. "I promised Georgie and Katie I'd take them to this waterpark place in Calgary. It's not open much longer, so I'm trying to gear up for that today. I'm going to just start with this coffee," she held up the cup. "Way too much junk last night at the carnival. Gosh, I'm exhausted, and we're not even on the way to the waterpark. I'm going to get things packed up for the day and hop in the shower when Lisa is done. Bye," she waved and walked out of the kitchen.

Jack waited for Lou to clear the air and waved his hand at Tim, "Could you just stay out of it?"

"What?" Tim looked up from the paper.

"Those comments about Lisa and me," he waved. "It's awkward enough."

"Look, you're the giddy groom there. Sadly, my mind can imagine-empty house, girls all out for the evening, you two had your appointments with Tricia-yeah, thanks, Jack. I am sure I know what went on. Oh geez," he frowned, "the not eaten Chinese. Thanks, Jack. Now me, sure, has Lou walked in on me at the dude ranch? Yes, but I try to keep things out of the house-"

"It's my house! What my, my," Jack was getting frustrated, "wife," he finally blurted out, "and I do is our business, and we've tried to keep it like that. Just stay out of it."

"When is this blessed event?"

"Soon," Jack waved. "We talked about it a lot last night, and honestly," Jack let out his breath and calmed down as he met Tim's gaze, "we're hoping to get married within the month. We're both tired of this just dragging out-"

"So romantic, Jack," Tim shook his head as he laughed.

"You know what I mean," he eyed him. "I should have done this years ago. We both are ready to be married, and, "he waved at Jack, "out of the scrutinizing eyes of the family."

"That's great!" Tim's eyes widened, and he grinned at Jack. "You're honestly going to marry Lisa in a month, no backing out?"

Jack looked horrified at Tim, as he gestured with his hand, "Of course, I'm not backing out! You idiot! She's living here. I just spent months in France nursing her back to health. She took care of me with my heart attack. She's already got a wedding band and an engagement ring-wearing both of them-not to mention the most important thing-I love her more than anything."

"Ahh, I know," Tim smirked. "Just glad to hear you finally at your senses, admitting it to all of us. Now," he gave Jack a nod, "I'm assuming you're wearing your good suit, the only good suit you have because Lisa had it made for you."

"Yeah," Jack had turned back to the stove and was working on the eggs now. He waved his hand back at Tim.

"Great, I'll wear mine too, you know, as your best man. Anything you need me to do? Walk Lisa down the aisle for you too?"

"You are not the best man."

"Come on, Jack. You know you need someone to stand up for you, sign the marriage license. Who better than your business partner-your business partner watching you marry your life partner, right? Marion would want that. We've come a long way. Let's not forget I saved your life-"

"You'll definitely never let me forget that."

"At least I don't have to get you a gift. The gift of life is my gift to you," Tim smirked.

Jack glanced to Tim, and Tim nodded like a child waiting on a gift. Finally, Jack sighed and dropped his shoulders.

"Fine, if you want to stand up for me, you can."

"Great! Just great! You won't regret it-"

"Already do," Jack said, rolling his head at the stove.

"Who is Lisa going to ask?"

"Val Stanton," Jack answered without missing a beat. He smiled to himself when he heard Tim cough into his coffee and turned, spatula in hand, to flash his own grin at Tim.

"She's not," Tim coughed, shaking his head, and when he met Jack's gaze, he smirked at him.

"No," Jack laughed, "although, I did enjoy hearing you choke on that. "To be honest, we talked about you and Ty standing up for me with Lou and Amy standing up with Lisa. With Peter," Jack shook his head from side to side, "not sure if he will be in town, and if he is, Katie and Georgie will need him around. He would prefer that, anyway, sitting with Katie."

"Oh," Tim rolled his eyes, adding, "so you already were going to ask me." Jack, choosing not to reply, continued talking.

"Small family wedding, so it's honestly sort of silly having half the family standing up for us-"

"Well, one thing I can tell you, Jack, is just make the lady happy. I think you told me that when I was marrying Marion and complaining about this, that, and the other."

"I did," Jack nodded as he worked on the eggs. He turned to the toaster and dropped in two slices. "I'm well aware of my role-show up, say 'I do,' kiss her,' he nodded.

"At least it sounds like you can finally get through your duties for and then even after the wedding," Tim smirked, and Jack turned to glare at him from the toaster. "I guess you'll call Randy to marry you. Where are you getting married?"

As he walked over to the refrigerator to get the butter and jam out for the toast, Jack waved at Tim, "We've got it covered. Just show up when and where we tell you."

"That, I can do, if anything, just to make sure I don't have to save your life again." Tim looked up as Lisa walked back into the kitchen, dressed, but without makeup and her hair still clipped up. "Lisa would appreciate that too."

"What would I appreciate?" Lisa asked, carrying her makeup bag in hand.

"Jack not dying at your wedding or even later that night," he smirked, and Lisa rolled her eyes and turned to Jack at the stove.

She gestured at Jack with her makeup bag in hand, "Lou's getting in the shower. I'm going to finish putting on my makeup, and it smells like breakfast is about ready?"

"It is, but take your time."

"No, no," she patted his arm. "I just wanted to grab a cup of coffee to sip on while I finish getting ready, but if breakfast is ready, let me put my makeup in the bedroom, and I'll be right back. I'm absolutely starving." He nodded, leaning over to kiss her cheek.

"Just taking the eggs off now."

"Okay, I guess just pour me some coffee for breakfast then?" Jack nodded again, and she patted his arm as she limped off to the bedroom. Before she was too far, Tim called out.

"Lisa, I heard that Val is going to stand up for you at your wedding."

Lisa glanced back at Tim, "You know, if it would mean her being front and center to finally clear up that I am the woman Jack is marrying, I'd put her right there to witness it all." Both men chuckled while Lisa continued to the bedroom.

Jack turned and brought the plates to the table-three of them-one for each of them since Lou had said she wasn't wanting breakfast. As Jack groaned into his seat, Tim met his gaze.

"Really happy for you, Jack. I mean it. You two have had a long road. You deserve this, and with all the worries you've had about the girls, well," he waved his hand, "they are adjusting just fine. It's not like they don't know and love Lisa. She's been part of this family for years."

"That she has," Jack nodded.

Lisa hobbled back into the kitchen, and Jack jumped up to help her to her seat, "Honey, I'm fine."

"I know, but chivalry isn't dead, Lise. I still want to help my favorite person. Now, your coffee is there-"

"Jack, could you get me a refill?" Tim asked. Jack glared at him and finished sitting down in his seat next to Lisa.

"As I said, Lisa is my favorite person," he smirked. "You, I tolerate, and besides, I've made breakfast. You can get your coffee."

"Wow, such talk for your best man-"

"You two," Lisa gestured between the men, "have also had a long road to get to this point. I, ahh, overheard you, Tim," she nodded, "as I slowly made my way to the table."

"That we have," Tim smiled at Jack. "I think Marion would be proud of us."

"I remind myself that anytime you irritate me, so pretty much all day, every day, I tell myself it would make Marion happy that we are to where we are."

"Well," Lisa held up her coffee up in a toast, "here's to getting to where we are now, all of us. It has been a long road."

"Here's to that, to you two, finally getting to the end of yours."

"Not the end," Jack winked at Lisa as he gripped her hand. "Just a fork, a new beginning, we take together."

"It's going to be so great," Tim chuckled as he shoveled food into his mouth. "Can't wait. Oh," he looked up to see the two of them staring at each other, smiling warmly, "speaking of our favorite neighbor, will she be coming to the wedding?"