Elizabeth had just finished putting Little Jack to bed. She When she wandered downstairs to find her love, serge and all, putting a pot of tea on the stove.

She walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Welcome home."

He turned around and gave her a quick kiss. "Sorry I was so late. I had some catching up to do at the office. Although, I will say, Oliver did a great job covering for me."

"That's no surprise. He's a sharp young man. Thank you again, for dropping everything and being there. You don't know how much that means to me."

Nathan smiled. "Like I said, there is nowhere else I'd rather be. If I wouldn't have been with you two while this was going on, I would've been going crazy."

"I love you so much."

"Give me your hands." She put her hands in his and gave them a gentle squeeze. "Tonight, on the way over here, I was thinking about us, and this grateful calm just came over me. And then, as soon as I realized what I needed to do, that calm went away."

Elizabeth's lips formed a small frown. "I don't understand."

"It's you, Elizabeth. You're what I think about all the time. You and this family we've created."

Nathan took a breath and went down on one knee, pulling a small box out of his pocket. "Elizabeth Thornton, you are my one and only, my love, and my lifetime. Will you do me the honor of making it official and becoming my wife?"

I do—I mean yes! Of course I will marry you." She jumped in his arms, laying sweet kisses on his lips.

Setting her down, he placed the ring on her finger. "Nathan, it's so beautiful."

"I bought this last year, right before Jeanette came back to town. I was prepared to propose to you then, but then after all that happened, I was not necessarily scared, but just taken back. It gave me a different perspective."

"Nathan, if I'm being honest, I'm glad you waited. Don't get me wrong, I would've said yes had you asked, but this past year, we have gotten to know each other on a whole new level. I feel like now the transition into a blended family will be so much smoother because in all but law, we are a family. When I realized Allie was in trouble a few weeks ago, my mother panic set in. I knew there was nothing that would stop me from getting to her. My relationship with her has really blossomed and I love her as my own."

"And I love Jack as my own."

"Which leads me to my question. Will you adopt Jack as your son? If something were ever to happen to me, you are the one I would want to raise him."

"It would be my honor. Uhh…Allie migh—"

"I would never assume that's what she wants. That is entirely her decision. I won't even bring it up."

"Thank you. You're not upset?"

"I told her our relationship would be whatever she wanted it to be, and I meant that."

"Does she know?" She gestured to her ring, "About this?"

"I talked to her about it a few weeks ago. She was on board. We were struggling to come up with a way to go about it, but tonight—tonight I just couldn't wait any longer. I'm ready to start the life we were meant to lead."

"How do we tell the kids?"

"Well, I should be heading back home anyways. Whenever I'm on duty and don't come home on time, she gets worried, which is understandable with all that's been going on recently. I might come back later tonight."

"I yearn for when we no longer have to say goodbye at the end of the day."

"Well, my dear, that time is coming soon." He pressed a kiss to her lips. "I love you, Elizabeth."

"I love you too." Nathan closed the door behind him, and walked over to his house.

He walked in to see Allie pacing back and forth. "Hi, dad," she said, looking slightly embarrassed.

He walked over and hugged her. "Sorry I'm late. Had some things to take care of."

He pulled the ring box out of his pocket and opened it, showing his daughter the contents, or rather the lack of.

"You lost it! What were you th—" Allie stopped when she saw the grin on her dad's face. "You did it! Oh my gosh I can't wait! We're gonna be a family! I'll be right back."

He watched as his daughter put on her slippers and ran out the door, hardly giving him any time to ask where she was going.

Peeking outside the door he watched as she ran a few doors down. She knocked quietly on Elizabeth's door, not wanting to startle Jack.

Elizabeth opened the door, surprised to see Allie, who immediately gave her a huge hug.

"Congratulations. I'm so happy for you."

Elizabeth let out a soft laugh, hugging Allie back as the young girl practically bounced on her toes. "I take it you heard the news?"

Allie pulled back, her eyes shining with excitement. "I can't believe it's actually happening! We're going to be a family—like, officially! I mean, we kind of already are, but now it's real real!"

Elizabeth smiled, touched by Allie's enthusiasm. "It is real, sweetheart. And I couldn't be happier."

Allie nodded rapidly, then hesitated for just a moment, her fingers twisting the hem of her sleeve. "You're sure?" she asked quietly, her voice losing a little of its earlier excitement.

Elizabeth's heart ached at the uncertainty in her tone. She reached for Allie's hands, holding them gently. "Allie, I have never been more sure of anything. I love you, and I love your dad. This isn't something I decided on a whim—I want this. I want us."

Allie bit her lip, blinking back the smallest hint of tears. "It's just… you changed your mind before. And I know you had your reasons, but—I just don't think I could handle it if you changed your mind again."

Elizabeth looked in Allie's eyes, squeezing her hands a little tighter. "That won't happen," she promised softly. "I won't change my mind, because this is where I belong. With you. With your dad. With Jack. We are a family, Allie. And nothing is going to change that."

For a moment, Allie just stared at her, as if searching for any hesitation. When she found none, she let out a breath, a grin slowly spreading across her face.

"I'm so happy right now. Sorry for just running over here. I just—I had to be sure."

"Allie, I've never had the words to tell you, but I am so sorry for all the hurt I caused you. I didn't just hurt your dad by denying the love I had for him. I hurt you too."

Tears began to brim Elizabeth's eyes. "I loved you as more than my student back then but I refused to let myself admit that. I was so selfish and—"

"I love you too, Elizabeth. Can we sit? Make this a real 'girl talk'," she said with a slight nervous giggle.

"Of course." Both women made their way over to the couch.

"I didn't just think of you as my teacher, or even just my dad's friend. I mean, yeah, I was mad when you walked away, and I didn't understand it back then, but… even when I tried to pretend I didn't care anymore, I still wished you were there."

A tear slipped down Elizabeth's cheek, but she made no move to wipe it away. She just listened.

"You were the first person who really saw me, Elizabeth. You challenged me, encouraged me… you made me believe I was capable of things I never thought I could do." Allie swallowed hard, blinking back tears of her own. "And I didn't realize it at first, but… you felt like a mother to me, even when I wasn't sure I'd ever have one."

Elizabeth let out a quiet, shaky breath. "Oh, Allie…"

Allie gave a small, tearful laugh, shaking her head. "I think that's part of why it hurt so much when you left. It felt like I was losing something I never even got to have. But now, it doesn't feel like that anymore. Because I do have you. And I don't have to wonder or hope—I know you love me."

Elizabeth couldn't hold back any longer. She pulled Allie into her arms, holding her as tightly as she could, as if making up for every moment of doubt, every second of distance that had ever existed between them.

"I do," Elizabeth whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of Allie's head. "I love you so much, sweetheart."

Allie clung to her for a moment, tears streaming down her face, before finally pulling back, her eyes bright with joy.

"I'm gonna head back home. It's been a long day."

"Your dad had mentioned he was coming back over. Tell him to give me about ten minutes, but first, can you send Rosemary over? I see her light on and want to tell her about this beauty," said Elizabeth, showing Allie the ring.

"Dad really outdid himself with this one."

"Yes he did."

Allie grinned, giving Elizabeth one last quick hug before turning to leave. "I'll send her right over," she promised before slipping out the door and hurrying back toward her house.

Elizabeth took a deep breath, glancing down at the ring on her finger. It was still sinking in—Nathan had proposed. She was going to marry him. A warmth spread through her chest at the thought.

A few minutes later, a light knock sounded at the door. Elizabeth barely had time to reach for the handle before it swung open, revealing a beaming Rosemary.

"Well, I knew something was up the second Allie knocked on my door looking like she was about to burst!" Rosemary declared, stepping inside. Her eyes immediately dropped to Elizabeth's hand, and she gasped, grabbing it before Elizabeth could even say a word. "Oh, my word! It's stunning!"

Elizabeth laughed, squeezing Rosemary's hands. "It is, isn't it?"

"I take it our dear Mountie finally worked up the nerve?" Rosemary teased, her eyes dancing with excitement.

Elizabeth nodded, her heart full. "He did. Tonight."

Rosemary let out a delighted squeal before throwing her arms around Elizabeth, hugging her tightly. "Oh, Elizabeth, I knew it was only a matter of time! And you said yes, of course, because you are a sensible woman."

"I did," Elizabeth confirmed with a soft laugh. "Rosemary, I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

Rosemary pulled back, brushing away a dramatic tear. "Well, it's about time, I say! I must know every detail—how did he do it? What did he say? Did you cry?"

Elizabeth chuckled, shaking her head. "Why don't I put on some tea, and I'll tell you everything?"

"Oh, please do," Rosemary said, settling herself eagerly into a chair. "Because this is the best news I've heard in ages."

As the kettle whistled, Elizabeth poured two cups of tea and handed one to Rosemary before settling into the chair across from her.

"Well?" Rosemary prompted, eyes alight with curiosity.

Elizabeth smiled, running her fingers over the rim of her teacup. "He came over late, after catching up at the office. I could tell something was on his mind, but I didn't expect…" She trailed off, glancing down at her ring.

"And then he said, 'It's you, Elizabeth. You're what I think about all the time. You and this family we've created.' And before I knew it, he was down on one knee."

Rosemary clapped her hands together. "Oh, how romantic! You must have been a mess of happy tears."

Elizabeth nodded, her eyes misting at the memory. "I could hardly get the words out, but I said yes. Actually, I accidentally said I do instead."

Rosemary smiled. "You deserve this happiness, Elizabeth. You and Nathan both."

Before Elizabeth could respond, the front door opened, and Nathan stepped inside, glancing between them. "Am I interrupting?"

Rosemary stood up. "Of course not. Get over here, you!" She hugged him. "You did a marvelous job. This ring is beautiful!"

"Thank you, Rosemary."

"I will give you two some alone time, but tomorrow, let the wedding planning begin!!!" Rosemary whisper yelled, careful not to wake Jack up. She hugged Elizabeth and went home.

Nathan chuckled as he watched Rosemary leave, then turned to Elizabeth, taking her hands in his. "Well, looks like we're in for quite the adventure."

Elizabeth smiled, running her fingers over the ring once more. "I wouldn't want it any other way."

He pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Neither would I."

They stood there for a moment, wrapped in each other's warmth, the quiet of the night settling around them.

Elizabeth sighed happily. "I can't wait to marry you."

Nathan smiled. "Then let's make it the most beautiful beginning."

And as he kissed her softly, their future felt brighter than ever.