Two weeks had passed since the Grants and Thorntons had returned home. They were now in full wedding planning mode. Elizabeth and Nathan had decided to have their wedding in a month's time, on August 15 so that they could take a short honeymoon prior to school starting. The plan was to take a short trip to Union City, so that they would be close enough to make it back home in a day should anything happen with Jack's health. Elizabeth had been uneasy about being away from him, but Mary assured her that she and Allie, along with the rest of the town could take good care of Jack while they were gone. In the short time that Mary had been visiting, she had already started to grow a strong bond with Elizabeth and Little Jack. Elizabeth could see where Nathan had gotten his strong sense of family, loyalty, and tenderness, not to mention his sense of humor.

A small ceremony was being planned by the pond in front of the school house. Rosemary had insisted on making Elizabeth's dress and Minnie was making the food for the reception. Elizabeth's parents and Julie planned to come for the ceremony. Charlotte Thornton was even making the trip and bringing Tom with her. Everything was coming together.

During the day Elizabeth spent her time either at the new diabetic clinic just outside of town with Jack or with Rosemary, Mary, and Allie working on wedding details. Nathan joined in on the planning when he could but had had his hands full lately with work and catching up after being gone for a month.

The nights were Elizabeth's favorite time of day. Her house was filled with her family. They had dinner most nights at her house, though they all shared in making dinner. Dinner itself was full of heartfelt talks and stories from Mary about Nathan and Colleen. Elizabeth felt like she was getting to know even more about her fiancé, and she loved him every day just a little bit more.

After everyone had turned in for the night, Elizabeth and Nathan made sure to take a little time to themselves, discussing their days and their plans for the future. It was on such a night that Elizabeth brought up a topic they had yet to discuss.

"Nathan?"

"Hmmm?!" Nathan said lazily into her hair. They were sitting on the couch with his arms wrapped around her.

"Nathan, do you want more children?"

"Do you?"

"To be honest, with what we just went through with Jack, I was starting to think I couldn't handle having anymore children. This new clinic though, he's doing so well, I'm almost scared to think I can fully breathe again, but I have to say, I can start to see myself wanting to have more children again. I'd love to give you a biological child, Nathan. You are such an amazing father to Allie and Jack already. I would love to see you holding a baby that was half you. Not to mention, I would love to know the experience of going through a pregnancy with a husband by my side."

She could feel Nathan's smile. She turned slightly so she could look at him. He ran his hands down a strand of her hair. "You are an amazing mother, Elizabeth, I would love to grow our family with you."

Elizabeth leaned in and put all her love into kissing him.

It was this conversation that was running through Nathan's mind the next day while he was sitting at the jail, attempting to finish up his expense reports. He couldn't help but grin, thinking about the future with Elizabeth. It still amazed him that life had lead them back together. It was not yet two years ago that he was resigning himself to be her friend and watch her marry another man. Now here he was, ready to marry the love of his life in a month's time.

Nathan was so lost in his thoughts that it took him a few seconds to register that the phone was ringing.

"Hello."

"Good morning, Nathan, I have Superintendent Hargreaves on the line for you."

"Yes, thank you Florence."

The phone call lasted merely five minutes, and now Nathan had gone from a feeling of pure happiness to dread. He didn't want to leave Elizabeth right now, but he had a job to do, and this was unfortunately part of it.

Nathan slowly walked to Eizabeth's house after first stopping at the livery to talk to Oliver. He took a breath before knocking, anxious of what Elizabeth's reaction would be to his news. Mary was the one who answered the door.

"Hey Ma, is Eizabeth here?"

Mary knew her son too well, "She's in the kitchen son, preparing dinner with Allie. Allie, Jack, why don't the three of us go upstairs and look at some of those pictures grandad Archie just sent."

Allie looked over and saw her dad's expression, she knew what was coming, but nodded and took Jack's hand and followed her grandmother upstairs to Elizabeth's room to give her dad and Elizabeth privacy to talk.

"Nathan, you're home early…oh…" Elizabeth paused and took in his expression. "How long will you be gone?"

"I don't know, Hargreaves wants my expertise on a tracking mission near Union City. I'm taking Oliver with me to get some field experience. I'm not sure how long we'll be gone, and unfortunately, we won't have much opportunity to check in while we're gone."

He could see the tears glistening in her eyes but also saw her push her fear aside and give him a strained smile. She walked over and put her arms around him and rested her forehead against his. They both let out breaths they hadn't realized they had been holding in.

"I understand, but hear me on this Nathan Grant, you do everything in your power to come back to me, and soon."

"Always." He said, as they stood entwined in each other's arms.

Nathan and Oliver left early the next morning. Elizabeth had made Nathan promise to stop by her house before they headed back out for their journey. She gave him a kiss to remember, pouring all her love and hope for the future into their kiss. He held her tight, then softened the kiss and stepped back and onto Newton.

"I love you Elizabeth, I promise to do everything in my power to return to you."

"Be safe," she said with a faltering voice.

He gave her a wink, tipped his hat, and rode off towards his mission.

He was able to check in when they reached Union City, to let them know they had met up with the other Mounties assigned for their mission. That call had been two weeks ago. Elizabeth tried not to think of where Nathan was, what he was doing, or what danger he may be in. She filled her days with Jack's appointments and wedding planning. The rest of their family was planning to arrive in a little over a week, as the wedding was fast approaching. Elizabeth stopped herself from wondering if everyone, but the groom would be there.

Allie was staying at the now very crowded row house. She had tried sleeping the first night on the couch but ended up curled up in the guest bed with Elizabeth. They provided each other the comfort they needed to ease their minds enough to sleep. Elizabeth could tell that not only was Allie feeling her dad's absence, but also that of a certain deputy. Even Jack had been extra grumpy the last few days. It had become very clear just how much Nathan had become part of their daily lives.

It was on the last day of the second week of Nathan and Oliver's absence that Elizabeth set about taking care of the laundry. She found the more she kept herself busy, the less she had time to think about missing Nathan. As she hung up the last corner of the blanket to dry, she felt two strong arms envelope her.

"Hello my love."

Elizabeth turned around in his arms as fast as she could manage, "Nathan!" She could tell he hadn't shaved in the two weeks since she had seen him, and he was in need of a bath, but none of that mattered, she flung her arms around his neck and hungrily kissed him. They kissed with more passion than they had yet allowed themselves to show to one another.

Nathan was the first to soften the kiss as he muttered against her lips, "I missed you sweetheart."

"Oh Nathan, I missed you so much."

"Although, if you welcome me home with kisses like that, I may have to leave more often."

"Nathan Grant, don't you dare."

"Dad?!" They heard Allie's voice behind them. Nathan turned around and gave Allie a big hug, then followed her inside to greet his mom and Jack.

Elizabeth smiled as she heard the jubilant, "Mountie Nathan!" yelled out by Little Jack as she followed them into the house.

Nathan was very happy to see them, but Elizabeth could see how weary he was. He and Oliver had ridden all night after the mission was over, anxious to get home. Elizabeth sent him home to bathe and get some rest, after sending him off with one more long kiss and hug.

As soon as Nathan had left, Allie looked expectantly over at Elizabeth. "Go on, I'm sure you'd like to welcome Oliver home. Make sure to invite him over to dinner at our house tonight." Allie smiled and took off to town and the jail.

Dinner at the Thornton house was a much happier affair than it had been in the past few weeks. Mary was amused looking around the table and catching the long glances between her son and Elizabeth and Oliver and Allie.

Nathan begrudgingly allowed Oliver to escort Allie to their door, though Nathan kept an eye on them from Elizabeth's front porch. He tried to overlook the fact that they held hands on the walk home.

He sighed as he came back inside, after he had watched Allie walk into their house and Oliver walk off towards town.

Elizabeth smiled up at him from the settee.

"Mom already go to bed?"

"Yes, she took Jack up to bed and said she was going to turn in after she got him tucked in."

Nathan just smiled at her for a few moments. Elizabeth put her arms out, beckoning him to join her on the settee. He sat beside her and pulled her in close.

"I didn't know I could miss someone that much." Nathan quietly said into her ear.

Elizabeth turned towards him and ran her hand down his cheek. Nathan leaned down and captured her lips with his. He was home in the arms of his fiancée and there was nowhere else he'd rather be.