A/N: Please don't leave reviews reprimanding me for writing a short Nathan x Elizabeth story! Jack and Elizabeth will always be loved but I think I will enjoy Nathan and Elizabeth too (if they become an actual thing). Thank you!

Takes place one week after S6E05

Nathan Grant stood in the shadows of the cafe. It was the late afternoon of a muggy, summer day. Allie was fishing - as she often did after school - and he was watching the town. Everything seemed in order. He entered the cafe, beginning to become hungry after a long day of work in the blazing sun.

Clara immediately walked over to him. "Hello, Constable. What can I get you?"

"A ham and cheese sandwich to go, please."

"I'll have that out for you in just a few minutes. In the meantime, have a seat."

Nathan nodded and glanced over the cafe. It was nearly empty. He immediately spotted Elizabeth Thornton. He approached her to say a 'hello'. It seemed only the polite thing to do, especially after everything she had done for Nathan and Allie.

"Hello, ma'am," he greeted politely.

Mrs. Thornton's eyes were downcast and her head was low. She craned her neck up to look him in the eyes. "Good afternoon, Constable," Mrs. Thornton's voice was soft and her eyes were misty. This did not go unnoticed by Nathan.

"Are you. . . alright?"

Mrs. Thornton shook her head. "I'll be fine. . . soon. Today is Jack's birthday."

"Your son?"

"My late husband."

"I'm so sorry," Nathan bowed his head politely. "Everything I've heard about him indicates he was a good man. The best man, in fact."

"Oh, he is. . . err, was," Elizabeth dabbed her eyes with an embroidered tissue. "I would always try to surprise him, but he always caught on. We tried to outdo each other on birthday surprises. On my birthdays, he would think of the sweetest surprises. One year, it was a dance in the moonlight. Another time, it was a grand dinner at Abigail's Cafe with the people I love. Once, he tried to bake a cake but failed miserably," Elizabeth Thornton laughed through her tears. "It was the thought that counted."

Nathan eyed her with compassion.

Mrs. Thornton looked into Nathan's eyes, making his heart pound. "I'm sorry to burden you with all of this."

Nathan shook his head. "Jack was a good man. . . I completely understand."

A few days had passed since the afternoon at the cafe. Nathan was approaching the small schoolhouse. School was out for the day and he wanted to pick up Allie.

"Hi, Uncle Nathan!" Allie Grant shouted at the top of her lungs. She was running down the schoolhouse steps, approaching her uncle rapidly.

Elizabeth Thornton smiled at Allie's enthusiasm. Allie lunged into her uncle's arms. "It's good to see you, too," Nathan Grant chuckled. He embraced his niece warmly. "How was school?" Nathan asked as he pulled away from the hug.

"It was pretty good. . . for school at least," Allie shrugged before remembering a big part of her day. Quickly, she jumped up and down in excitement. "Oh! Mrs. Thornton is helping me make friends!"

Mrs. Thornton slowly approached. Nathan gave her a faint smile.

"The kids are really starting to get to know Allie," Mrs. Thornton directed her comment at Nathan. "She's a joy to have in class."

"And a handful, I'm sure," Nathan chuckled knowingly.

"Hey!" Allie elbowed Nathan's ribs.

Mrs. Thornton lowered herself down to Allie's level. "Opal and Robert are going to walk home. Maybe you'd like to join them."

Allie shrugged.

"I think that's a good idea," Nathan said firmly, placing a hand on his niece's shoulder.

"Alright, alright," Allie playfully swatted her uncle's hand away and ran to Opal and Robert.

Mrs. Thornton stood again. "Allie is really thriving in the classroom. She is good at her work. . . when she isn't fooling around."

Nathan simply nodded.

"She has gotten to the point where she is willing to make friends. Opal and Robert are really excited to be friends with her."

"Thank you, Mrs. Thornton, for everything you've done," Nathan said. He paused to look at the teacher's lovely, happy face. She was nearly always cheerful even after her husband's tragic death. He liked that. It had been only once when Nathan had seen Mrs. Thornton sorrowful and that had been at the cafe a few days ago. He honestly couldn't blame her. Losing a loved one was always difficult. He thought of his sister and brother-in-law's deaths nine years ago.

"I didn't do much. It was Allie who has done most of the work."

Nathan nodded. "Thank you."

Mrs. Thornton smiled and sighed. "If you'll excuse me, I have to go home to my son."

"Thank you," he repeated sincerely.

"Don't mention it," she smiled once more before turning to walk down the dirt path.

Nathan stood there, awestruck. Lately, he had been feeling. . . happy. But not just the usual type of happy one would expect. He was happiest when Mrs. Thornton was around and when she left, he would often stand there, frozen in time. It was an odd sensation he hadn't felt in years. Not since his first love.

He felt foolish feeling such silly feelings after knowing Mrs. Thornton for two weeks. He was usually more guarded with his heart, but Mrs. Thornton. . .

Mrs. Thornton.

He shook his head and began his way back to the jailhouse. No doubt that the usually cranky, old Bill was waiting for him back there. However, Nathan could not quite shake the feelings he felt toward Mrs. Thornton. Unfortunately, he could not rid himself of those feelings. He knew he would never have a chance at winning Mrs. Thornton's heart. Just the thought sounded wrong to him after Mrs. Thornton had talked passionately about her husband just a few days ago.

"He was a good man," Elizabeth Thornton had said in the jailhouse.

What was wrong with him? He had only known her for two weeks. She had a five-month-old son and was a new widow. He felt like an awful person when he thought about his growing affections. He would never allow himself to pursue a relationship with her.

He stumbled up the steps to the jail. Bill greeted him. "You're back."

Nathan threw his hat on a chair. "Yep."

"Where is your niece? I assume she'll hang around here. . . again," Bill narrowed his eyes.

"She is with her friends," Nathan said absentmindedly.

"That's nice." Nathan couldn't tell if Bill was serious or sarcastic. Perhaps a mix of both.

Nathan didn't respond as he stared into space.

"Are you okay?" Bill's eyes narrowed further.

"Uh, yes," Nathan gave Bill a serious look. "Is there any business to attend to?"

Bill looked at him for a moment before responding. "Glad you asked. . . "

It had been a long day. Nathan laid down in the jail cell cot. It wasn't the most comfortable bed but it had been doing its job faithfully the past week. Allie laid across from him, in the other cell.

"How long do we have to sleep in this old jail?" Allie complained. "The beds aren't very soft!"

It was the complaint Nathan heard every night from his niece.

"I'm trying to figure something out so we can move out. Right now, the only alternative is the saloon and I don't want you sleeping in the saloon."

"You don't like Mr. Bouchard much, do you?" Allie said.

Nathan sighed. "Don't worry about it. You should get some rest. You want all of your rest for school tomorrow!" He arose from his cot and kissed Allie on the forehead.

"Uncle Nathan, I don't think school is so bad anymore. Mrs. Thornton makes it fun."

Mrs. Thornton.

He smiled faintly. "I'm pleased to hear that."

"Uncle Nathan, do you like her?"

Nathan sputtered. "Like her? No! No! Where would you get such a silly idea?"

His niece looked at him matter-of-a-factly. "You seem really happy when you see her."

"I'm happy that you are enjoying school."

"Oh?" Allie asked as she pulled a thin cover over her small body.

"Yes, silly girl. Get some sleep," Nathan said, tugging the blanket over Allie's shoulders.

"Goodnight, Uncle Nathan."

"Goodnight, Allie."

As Nathan laid in bed, he tried not to think about the beautiful schoolteacher.