Epilogue

Six months later

During the summer, while school was out, Jack received some approved time off so he and Elizabeth could take the twins to visit their grandparents in Toronto. Their new baby wasn't due for six weeks. The doctor had given Elizabeth the okay to travel, especially after learning they were going to the city, where a hospital would be more easily accessible if necessary.

Elizabeth woke up early, with a slight case of indigestion. Brushing it off as nothing, she proceeded to get dressed. Noticing Jack was still sound asleep, she smiled. He's so handsome, she thought to herself. She bent down and brushed a soft kiss on his cheek. "I love you, Jack Thornton," She whispered. She watched as a smile crossed Jack's lips, and his hand reached up and touched his face where she had just kissed him.

"Elizabeth," He whispered, though he never woke up.

She chuckled as she headed into to the nursery to check on the twins. "Hi," She said cheerfully to Bella and J.J. when she saw them both sitting up in their cribs, happily playing. They both squealed excitedly upon seeing their mother. Elizabeth changed both their diapers, got them dressed, and led them by the hand to their bedroom, discovering Jack was still sound asleep. She picked up each of the twins, placing them on the bed next to their father. She couldn't help laughing when Bella and J.J. started hitting Jack in the head and yelling "Dada, dada, dada."

"What?" Jack asked as he opened his eyes and abruptly sat up in bed. He grinned upon seeing the twins. "Hey you two." He pulled both of them onto his lap.

"They wanted to see their daddy." Elizabeth said, climbing on the bed to join her family.

After a few minutes of family time on the bed, Jack got dressed and they all headed to breakfast. After a breakfast of pancakes, and cleaning syrup off the twins faces, Jack and Elizabeth placed the twins in their strollers and took them for a walk in the park. Jack noticed Elizabeth rubbing her chest on numerous occasions. "Are you alright. Do you need to sit down?" He asked concerned.

"I'm fine." Elizabeth answered out of breath. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she went weak at the knees, and almost fell over, but Jack caught her before she hit the ground.

He led her by the elbow to a nearby park bench, which did not prove easy considering that he had the twins' strollers to guide as well, but he managed. "Let's sit here for a second." He stated.

"Alright." Elizabeth reluctantly agreed, "But I'm fine."

"Elizabeth," Jack retorted. "You have been rubbing your chest, and out of breath all morning and just now you almost fell. You're pregnant, you don't have to do everything yourself. It's alright to ask for help."

"I know, Jack." She said warmly. She rested her head on his shoulder, "Thank you for caring. I love you."

"I love you too." He kissed her temple. "And I don't want anything happening to you."

"Can we go back home, now?" She asked with a yawn. "This baby makes me tired."

"Of course." Jack replied, standing to his feet, and offering Elizabeth his hand to help her stand which she gladly accepted.

As soon as Elizabeth was on her feet, she gripped her stomach and doubled over in excruciating pain. "Jack!" She cried.

"Elizabeth!" Jack panicked. He rubbed her back.

"Jack, what's happening?" She asked with fear in her voice, "I can't let anything happen to the baby."

"Shh," Jack whispered, trying to calm her down, though he himself was terrified. Jack glanced around. He was a trained Mountie who has found himself in far more dangerous situations than this, but at this moment in time he was at a loss; he didn't have a clue as to what to do. He knew he needed to go find help but he couldn't leave Elizabeth and the twins. Lord please I can't lose them. He silently prayed.

Just then, Jack noticed a young couple approaching. "Help…" was all he could manage to say… "My wife… my wife is…" He continued to stutter.

The young man stopped in his tracks then rushed to Jack and Elizabeth. "I'm a doctor." He remarked. "What seems to be the problem?

"My wife just doubled over." Jack answered out of breath. "She's pregnant please help her."

"How far along is she?" The doctor asked.

"She's uh… she's due in six weeks." Jack stuttered nervously. "Please help her!"

"I'm Jason Henrich." The doctor said. "And this is my wife Lindsay Henrich."

"I'm Jack Thornton and this is my wife Elizabeth." Jack answered. By this time the twins were crying.

Lindsay walked over to them and bent down to their level. "Are these your children?" She asked.

"Yes. They're twins." Jack managed to answer, "Bella and J.J."

"They're beautiful." She replied. She started talking to the children, attempting to soothe them.

"We need to get your wife to a hospital quickly." Jason told Jack

Jason and Lindsay helped Jack get Elizabeth to the hospital.

"Is she going to be alright?" Jack asked as he nervously paced around the hospital room.

Jason informed Jack that Elizabeth had lost all her amniotic fluid and that they would have to deliver the baby now, via cesarean section.

"No it's too early!" Elizabeth cried. "I can't lose my baby."

"We'll do everything in our power to make sure the baby survives." Jason informed. "But we have to work quickly."

Several hours later, after a successful surgery, the baby was delivered.

"She's so tiny." Elizabeth cried when she and Jack finally were able to see their new baby. "What if something happens to her?"

"She's small but she seems to be holding her own." The doctor informed. "You two a very lucky."

Jason wanted to keep Elizabeth in the hospital for a few days to monitor both her and the baby. While at the hospital, Jack had refused to leave Elizabeth's side. He had called Julie, explaining what had happened asking if she could pick up the twins who Lindsay had been keeping occupied in the waiting room.

Finally Jack and Elizabeth were allowed to take their new baby home.

When they arrived to the Thatcher mansion, Jack helped a very sore and tired Elizabeth get into bed. He then joined her, "She's beautiful." He admired his new daughter.

"I'm so glad she made it." Elizabeth remarked. "She's a strong one isn't she?"

"Yes she is." Jack remarked, "She is a Thatcher after all. She doesn't run from a challenge."

Elizabeth giggled as the words she had said to Jack when they had first met came flooding back to her.

"So what do you want to name this little miracle?" Jack asked.

Elizabeth thought for a moment. She looked down at her new tiny daughter, who she held tightly against her chest. "Hope." She answered. "Her name is Hope."

Jack chuckled. "Hope. I like that. It fits for our little miracle."

"What should her middle name be?" Elizabeth asked.

"It think that she should be named after her mother, since she fought so hard to bring her into this world." Jack remarked. "Hope Elizabeth Thornton."

"I love it." Elizabeth stated, "Thanks for thinking of me."

"You and my children are all I ever think about." Jack replied.

"Speaking of our children, where are our other two?" Elizabeth questioned.

"Playing with Julie," Jack answered.

"Will you go get them?" She asked I want our entire family together. I don't want Bella and J.J. to think they are any less loved because there is a new little one in the house."

"Don't worry." He kissed her forehead. "We'll make sure all our children know we love them." He left the room and returned a short while later with the twins in tow. "Here's mommy."

Elizabeth beamed when she saw the twins. "Hey! Mommy has missed you."

Jack placed each of the twins on the bed, and joined his family. He looked at his wife and children. He couldn't contain a smile, while he held Bella and J.J. on his lap, and Elizabeth rested her head on his shoulder, with baby Hope in her arms. A few years ago, Jack would have never dreamed this day would come… He'd never planned to become a husband… a father. He chuckled, remembering the day he'd told Elizabeth that if the Mounties had wanted him to have a wife they would have issued him one. He didn't want this… to come to Coal Valley. Little had he known Coal Valley would be the best thing that had ever happened to him. It had led him to his new dream... a dream of life, love, and Hope for the future.

The End.

And that's a wrap…. Hope you enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it… Somewhere along the way it went from 'Jack's Story' to 'Jack and Elizabeth's Story' … a few things you need to know… This story takes place shortly after season one ended. Season two had not yet aired. So Bill Avery's arrest, Coal Valley's transition to Hope Valley, The fact the Elizabeth's family live in Hamilton and not Toronto, and our new appreciation for Rosemary Leveaux are not mentioned in this fanfiction… among other things… I appreciate the continued support for this story… I hope to write again… Please leave a review if you so feel inclined… tell me what you liked best… Hearties are awesome xoxoxo