Two days after the trip to Buxton, it was time for William to leave Hope Valley. Elizabeth wanted to bring Jack with her this time as he was excited about seeing the train after hearing that his grandfather had come on a train. William told Elizabeth that he would be on the lookout for a train set in Hamilton and he would send it if he found the right one.

Nathan was also coming with them however he was dressed in his serge so he could go on rounds as soon as he got back to town. They all arrived at the train station but the train was running late. Jack was excited and tried to jump out of Elizabeth's arms when he heard the train whistle. Nathan offered to hold Jack and he walked to the end of the platform so Jack could see the train as soon as it came around the corner. William watched Elizabeth's reaction as Nathan took Jack. There was no worry, only trust and love in her eyes.

As Nathan was far enough away, William turned to Elizabeth and said, "He's a good man. And he will be a wonderful father to Jack one day."

"Father, we aren't… I mean, we haven't talked about that… We're courting."

"I know. I know. But I have also seen you two together while I am here with each other and with the children. Elizabeth, don't postpone your happiness because you are worried about the timing. This isn't Hamilton and you aren't the same girl we took to debutante balls. Be happy and do what is right for you."

Elizabeth smiled, overcome by emotion. "Thank you father. I will miss you."

"I will miss you too," William said as he reached out and kissed her cheek. Nathan walked back over to them after the train arrived in the station. William shook his hand and said goodbye. The porter came up to William and he followed him to show the porter where the luggage was and so William could get on the train.

After William walked towards the train, Nathan stood close to Elizabeth and asked, "Are you alright?" Nathan could see the tears and he reached up with the hand not holding Jack and wiped the tears from her cheek.

Elizabeth leaned slightly into his hand and smiled, "I'm ok. Just a little sad that he is leaving."

"Why don't we all get dinner at the cafe tonight?" Nathan asked her as he put his arm around her shoulder.

"That sounds wonderful," Elizabeth said.

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The four of them walked to town later that night for dinner. Nathan and Allie were each holding one of Jack's hands helping him to walk when they got into town. Elizabeth needed to stop at the mercantile prior to dinner so she started to walk that direction as the others walked slowly towards the cafe. William had asked Elizabeth to send a telegram to her mother after he left so that she would know when he should arrive in Hamilton. After the train station it was time for Jack's nap so she planned to send it before dinner.

Elizabeth walked into the mercantile and saw Ned over to the side stocking shelves. Florence was behind the counter and Fiona was talking on the phone near the switchboard.

"Hello Elizabeth, can I help you today?" Florence asked.

"Yes, I need to send a telegram to Hamilton to my mother."

"Of course, yes."

Just as Florence reached for a pad of paper, both of the women heard a crash. The crate that Ned held fell to the ground and he fell to his knees holding his chest.

"Ned!" Florence ran from behind the counter and she went immediately to his side.

Fiona had gotten off the phone and was standing in the doorway. Elizabeth told her, "Fiona, call Carson and the infirmary and ask him and Faith to hurry. Can you call over to the cafe too? Nathan is there with the children."

Fiona nodded and went to make the calls. Elizabeth went to one of the shelves to get some blankets, propping them under his head. She watched as Florence took Ned's hand with worry on her face.

Carson ran into the mercantile a moment later. He bent down to check Ned and Elizabeth looked at the concern in his eyes. Nathan walked in a moment later, standing behind everyone. Carson saw him walk in and said, "Nathan, can you help me get Ned over to the infirmary, quickly please."

Bill had also walked over to the infirmary with Nathan. The three men almost carried Ned out the door and down to the infirmary. Fiona said that she would keep an eye on the mercantile as Elizabeth walked with Florence behind them. Elizabeth could see that Florence had feelings for Ned, more than coworkers or friends. She knew that Florence would want to go with him but she would also need someone to sit with her outside the infirmary.

Elizabeth led Florence to sit on the bench outside the infirmary door. Bill and Nathan walked out a short time later with Bill saying that he was headed back to the cafe.

"The children?" Elizabeth asked as she looked up at Nathan from her seat.

"Minnie said she would watch them. She said she would take them home later if we were still here," Nathan said as he reached out and took Elizabeth's hand. "I am going to go back and check on them. Can I bring you anything?"

"Florence, do you need anything to eat?" She shook her head towards Elizabeth. Elizabeth asked Nathan, "Could you bring us two sandwiches? I will stay here. Let the children know I will check on them later."

Nathan squeezed her hand and then walked towards the cafe.

Faith came out of the door and Florence stood very quickly. Faith put her hand on Florence's arm. "He is alive, Florence. Carson is examining him now. He thinks he may have had a heart attack. He is checking a few things and then you can go in and see him."

Florence started to sway on her feet and Elizabeth helped her sit down, "Thank you Faith." Faith went back into the infirmary to help Carson.

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Florence had sat with Ned for hours even though he was unconscious. Carson told her that he would need to do surgery later that night to fix an issue with Ned's heart that he had heard when testing him earlier. It needed to be soon and there was no time to travel to the hospital. Florence wanted to stay outside but Fiona had talked her into going home after Fiona had closed the mercantile for the night. Elizabeth agreed, telling Florence that she could come back after the surgery when Ned would be awake and Elizabeth would stay outside the infirmary in case there was any change or news.

Nathan had gone to check on the children in the cafe when Rosemary walked in. She offered to take both of the children to her house for the night since she had some of Jack's things already there to make things easier. Nathan went with Allie to get some of her things for the night and then walked her to the Coulters house. After making sure the children were settled, he walked back to town to check on Elizabeth.

He saw her sitting alone outside the infirmary, with her arms crossed in front of her. She looked cold but if Nathan knew her at all, he knew that she would not leave that spot no matter how much he asked her to. She hadn't seen him yet so he walked into the Mountie office to get an extra blanket from the back room. He walked out the front door and he saw Elizabeth immediately look up at him with a slight smile. He walked over to her across the street with the blanket under his arm.

"Any change?" he asked.

"No, Carson is still working on him. Florence finally went home but I told her I would stay and wait for news," Elizabeth said. Nathan nodded and held out the blanket. "I'm ok."

Nathan sighed and rolled his eyes with a chuckle. He opened up the blanket and put it over her shoulders, "and stubborn."

Elizabeth looked at him with her mouth hanging open as he sat down next to her. She smiled and pushed his shoulder, "oh you." Then she moved closer to him and set her head on his shoulder. The two of them sat like that for a short amount of time looking out at the sky. Nathan reached over for her hand and held it up to his lips, then moving it to over his heart.

"Nathan?"

"Hmmmm…."

"Promise me you'll never leave me," Elizabeth said.

Nathan sat up and looked at Elizabeth. She had tears in her eyes as he looked at her, with tears forming in his own. "Sweetheart, where is this coming from?"

"I don't know. The whole thing with Ned. Florence told me that she loves him and that she hoped she had the chance to tell him. I know that you love me. I don't want us to miss out on the life we are going to have together."

"You and I both know that anything can happen. We can't know what tomorrow will bring. But I will promise you this. I will never choose to leave you. My dreams are the same as yours. I will do everything in my power to make sure that those dreams become a reality."

Elizabeth reached up and put her hand behind his neck, pulling him to her. Their kiss held the emotion of the love both of them had and the promises of the future.