Daniel could hear his daughter's giggles as she approached the front door. Moments later it was opened to reveal Meghan's smiling face.

"Hi Daddy. What a surprise, what are you doing here?" She asked as she opened the door wider to let him in.

Daniel kissed his daughter's cheek and followed her into the parlor. His gaze then went down to her abdomen that was just beginning to show proof of her pregnancy. "How are you feeling?"

"Good, thanks." She smiled and waited. "So what are you doing here?"

Daniel opened his mouth to respond but stopped when a young man he had never seen before came into the room.

"Hey Meg aren't you coming back upstairs to finish what we started?" Ian stopped and stared at Daniel. "Sorry, I didn't know we had company."

Daniel looked over at the young man. He looked to be in his twenty's with light brown hair and hazel eyes, but what Daniel didn't like was the fact that the top two buttons of the young man's shirt were open and he had his sleeves rolled up.

Meg smiled up at him. "Come in I'd like you to meet someone." She turned to her father. "Daddy, this is Luke's friend from Australia, Ian Grant." Meg then turned to Ian in time to see him pale and she gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. "Ian this is my father Daniel Thompson. He's the town doctor, loving husband, understanding father and all around thorn in Luke's side."

Ian wiped his hands on his trousers and shook Daniel's hand. "Nice to meet you sir, I'm sorry for interrupting. I can finish upstairs by myself."

Daniel nodded in acknowledgment and turned questioning eyes on his daughter. Meg noticed his disapproving gaze immediately and sighed softly. "Ian don't try to move anything else around by yourself wait for Luke to come home."

"What's going on?" Daniel asked.

"I'm trying to repay your daughter's kindness by building her a nursery." Ian replied.

Daniel's eyebrows rose. "Oh. How nice."

"I thought so." Ian said. "Here I was with no place to go, and Meg opened the doors of her home to me. I owe her a lot more than a nursery."

Meg blushed. "Ian, you're a friend of Luke's it's the least I could do."

"I've known Luke for over five years why hasn't he ever mentioned you before?" Daniel asked.

Ian frowned. "We had a bit of a falling out before he left Australia. I'm hoping to repair our friendship."

"I see." Daniel replied.

Ian looked from Meghan to her father and back again. "Well, I'll leave you two to talk. Oh Meg, will you need the buckboard today?"

"I was planning on going into town later on. I have to get some things from Cromwell's for the party. Why?"

"I was thinking of going into town to negotiate for some lumber, so I can get started on the little things until Luke can help me move the rest of the furniture into the other room."

"Why don't we go together. Since I know most people in town, it might help if I was there." She replied.

"Alright. Let me know when you're ready to go." He faced Daniel once again. "It was nice meeting you Doctor Thompson."

"Same to you Mr. Grant." Daniel watched as Ian went back upstairs then turned to his daughter. "Meghan-"

She looked at him with raised eyebrows. "What?"

"It's not proper for you to ride into town with him." He said.

"Proper? Daddy I'm a married woman not some young innocent."

"That's exactly why you shouldn't be seen alone with him. You know how people will start talking." Daniel reasoned.

Meg rolled her eyes. "Daddy, Ian doesn't know anyone in town. What am I supposed to do? Leave him locked up in this house? Luke and I are his only friends, and Luke can barely tolerate him."

"With good reason." Daniel muttered.

Meg's mouth opened and she stared at her father. "You knew he was here. What happened? Did Luke run off to ask your advice?"

"No, I met Luke in town while I was going to pick up mine and Serena's costumes from Grace, and I asked him how you were doing, and he told me that you both had a new housemate and went on to tell me about Ian."

Meg's eyes narrowed. "What exactly did Luke tell you?"

"That he wasn't to be trusted." Daniel sighed. "Meghan, Luke doesn't trust him much."

"It sounds more like no one trusts me!" She stood up and began pacing.

Daniel noticed her agitation and immediately made to soothe her. The last thing he needed was his daughter getting upset in her condition. "Meg can't you just see it from Luke's perspective?"

"Of course I can. But I also believe that Ian has changed and deserves a second chance." She stated.

"Well, I for one did not pay to get Luke back to you so you could share a house with someone else. Meghan you and Luke have barely been alone since you got married."

"We were alone for a whole . . . six weeks." She said weakly. "And besides, Ian isn't going to be living here forever."

"No, maybe not forever, but you're going to have a baby soon, and that's a twenty four hour responsibility. You and Luke won't be alone for a long time."

Meg snorted. "Me? How about you? You married Serena, and she got a ready-made family, then I go off and get married, and she gets pregnant. Tell me daddy when were you two alone?"

"We're alone now. And don't get smart with me young lady, I'm still your father." Daniel warned.

"I'm sorry daddy." Meghan muttered. "It's just frustrating that you don't like the man, but you've only just met him. Give Ian a chance Daddy, Luke is slowly warming up to him can't you do the same?"

"I'm trying to give you and Luke a chance." Daniel rose from his chair and sighed. "Meghan, I want you to remember you're a married woman, and you have to keep your husband happy. That is your duty as his wife. You owe nothing to this Ian person."