Elizabeth just stood there stunned for a few seconds as she watched Nathan and Allie embracing Mrs. Grant. You could see the love and pride emanate from her as she looked up at her son and granddaughter. She was a slight woman, barely over five feet tall. Elizabeth now wondered where Nathan had gotten his height. There was no mistaking the resemblance though, as she saw the same smile lighting up from both Nathan and his mom.

She then heard her name and Jack's and saw the trio look her way. Elizabeth smiled at them and ushered Jack over to meet her soon to be mother-in-law. Elizabeth started to say hello but found herself instantly caught in a tight and warm embrace.

"Forgive me for staring earlier, I have been imagining what you look like for years now my dear. I thought my son and husband were exaggerating your beauty, but I see I was wrong." She stepped back and gave her a big wink.

"Mom!" Nathan admonished her as he turned a bright shade of pink.

"Elizabeth, I'm so happy to finally meet you. I'm Mary Grant, but as we're about to be family, please feel free to call me mom." Mary's attention then went to the small boy hugging onto Elizabeth's leg. "Well, you must be Jack. I've heard a lot about you."

Jack tentatively stepped over as Mary bent over slightly to be at his level. "I'm Allie's grandma, pleased to meet you young man."

"Does that mean, are you going to be my grandma?"

"I suppose so, would you like to all me grandma as well?" Jack nodded very eagerly and ran over to give her a big hug. Mary beamed up at Nathan and Elizabeth.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming Ma?"

"Well, us old ladies can still have our secrets, can't we? When you told us you all were on your way home, I told Archie it wasn't right that he was the only one to have met your fiancée. I decided it was high time I made my way to this Hope Valley of yours. Archie would have come with, but he had work obligations."

Mary stood back up and wrapped an arm around Allie. "I wanted to spend some quality time with my lovely granddaughter and handsome son, as well as meet my new family." Mary grabbed Nathan's chin and squeezed, as he rolled his eyes at her. Elizabeth had to stifle a laugh as she saw Allie's eye roll reflected in his expression. It was endearing seeing her fiancé as a son, she could almost imagine what a young Nathan might have been like.

"How long are you staying for?" Nathan inquired.

"Well, I haven't quite decided that yet. I just wanted to spend some time with you all, see if maybe I could be of any help planning a certain special event."

"That would be lovely, it's so nice to get to know you Mary…Mom. I have a guest room in my row house, you're welcome to stay with us, if that is okay with everyone." Elizabeth gave Nathan a questioning glance. He smiled back at her, basking in the joy of seeing his mom with the woman he loved.

"That would be lovely dear, that way I could get to know you and this little gentleman more."

It was at this point that the folks of Hope Valley started to wander over, and Nathan began introducing his mom to their friends. Rosemary came over and put her arm around Elizabeth.

"Hello, Mrs. Grant, I'm Rosemary Coulter. We live next door to Elizabeth. Why don't you all come over to our house tonight for dinner? We'd love to welcome you properly to Hope Valley! Plus, I'm sure you must have lots of entertaining stories of our Mountie as a young boy." Nathan shot Rosemary a warning look as Elizabeth, Rosemary, and Mary shared a hearty laugh.

"I'd be delighted!"

"Right, well, why don't we get you over to Elizabeth's house and settled Mom, so you can rest before dinner."

Mary insisted on walking to the row house, even though Lee offered to give them a ride, so she could shake out her stiff legs. Allie and Elizabeth carried her bags, as Nathan gave a piggy back ride to a very worn out little boy. Mary lit up watching her son carry Jack.

"I always knew he had so much love to give, it just warms my heart seeing him living such a full life now with his own family." Mary confided in Elizabeth as they followed after Nathan and Allie.

"Nathan has been an immense blessing in my life and Little Jack's life. I don't know what I would have done without his love and support through Jack's illness."

"Nathan has always had a stout heart. He was my ray of light in the hard days when my husband went to prison. He was a rock for Colleen and I, and then when Colleen…" Mary paused, trying to find the words. Elizabeth reached over, and shared a knowing glance. Mary gave her a soft smiled as Elizabeth squeezed her arm. "Nathan also told me how you were there for them when they went through the rough patch last year, when Allie wanted to meet Dylan. Thank you. Thank you Elizabeth. I always hoped my son would find someone who puts family first, as he does. I'm so glad that he found you, that you found each other."

Elizabeth stopped and gave her a big hug. Nathan glanced back and his heart was full.

As they reached the Thornton house, Elizabeth offered her room up to Mary. "It's really the most comfortable room in the house, I won't take no for an answer." May nodded, and Nathan and Elizabeth carried her bags up to Elizabeth's room, as Allie made tea for everyone.

Nathan stopped just outside of Elizabeth's room, hesitating to follow her in. This was the first time he had ever been inside her room, and he felt as if he were invading her privacy.

"Nathan, it's okay, you can come in. After all, this will be your room soon too."

Nathan slowly walked in and set his mother's bags down on the bench at the end of the bed. He took his time looking around her room, their room, he let that sink in. Their life had been changing so fast lately, there were still so many things he hadn't yet had a chance to fully think about.

She came up to him and wrapped her arms around him. "You seem lost in thought, what is it, Nathan?"

"Just taking it all in I guess." Nathan pulled her in to him, as she rested her head on his chest. "I've envisioned our life together for so long, I guess part of me can't believe it's actually happening." He kissed the top of her head and buried his head for a few moments in her hair.

"We should go down and check on Mom." He stepped back and took her hand and they walked down the stairs to their waiting family.

Allie and Jack were regaling Mary with stories from both Hope Valley and Cape Fullerton.

"Who's this Oliver I hear so much about, Allie?"

"That's her boyfriend." Jack said, matter-of-factly.

Allie almost dropped her tea cup and Nathan shot a panicked look at Allie.

"He's my friend. He was dad's cadet and now the deputy in town." Allie countered very quickly, nervously looking at her dad.

"Is he cute?" Mary winked at her granddaughter.

"Ma!" Nathan said with exasperation.

Elizabeth shared a look of amusement with Mary, she could already tell she was going to love having Mary as a mother-in-law.