WE'VE MADE IT TO CHAPTER 10. WHAAAAAAAAT?

Again, such marvelous encouragement from you lovely reviewers!

I've discovered a wonderful bluetooth keyboard that connects to my phone (with a little slot for it to sit in) which is what I wrote most of the last chapter on and I was pleased with the results, so you can probably expect faster updates! Maybe.

So was the last chapter unexpected? Yes? No?

Disclaimer: Janette Oke and Hallmark own WCTH. I just own this really cool keyboard. Did I mention it's bluetooth? Jane Austen still owns Pride and Prejudice. The film I reference is the Keira Knightly 2005 version.

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The Negotiator: Chapter 10 - Of Pride and Prejudice

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Okay, so it possibly could have been said better. Different. I mean, I meant it, but…

Jack was tossing in bed, thinking back on how the evening had gone from great, to therapeutic, to fantastic, to suddenly horrible within moments.

How did it go so wrong?

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"He's resurfaced, and he won't stop until I'm dead."

Elizabeth had stiffened at Jack's words her whole face turning white. "Jack," she whispered, her eyes filling with tears.

Now, Jack found himself in a position to comfort her. He wrapped his arms around her body and lifted her into his lap, cradling her against his chest. "I'm very good at what I do," he murmured at last, "I will find him before he finds me, and when I do, he will be sorry that he ever messed with the Thorntons."

This he believed with all of his heart. This almost seemed to placate Elizabeth, for her quiet sobs had stopped, her breathing seemed to regulate and her eyes turned up to his, their faces so close Jack was very close to forgetting everything else.

"Your eyes are so beautiful," he whispered, only meaning to think the words.

Elizabeth didn't blush, just gazed at him steadily, a small smile growing gradually growing across her face. This, this confidence he found extremely attractive. "So are yours," she breathed back, but then her face turned pensive again.

"What is it?" Jack asked quietly, his nose nudging her cheek as his lips gently skimmed her jawline.

Elizabeth pulled away and he frowned. "Jack," she started in earnest, "I don't want you to quit."

Jack blinked in surprise. "Quit? Why would I quit?"

"I don't mean you are, I mean, I was serious, before, and just because you told me something like this doesn't mean I think you should quit," she continued quickly, her hands moving to his shoulders as if she was bracing herself against him. "I think this job is perfect for you."

Jack finally understood where she was going with this and grinned, completely and whole. "I won't quit. And I meant it, too. Hearing you say that means the world to me."

Elizabeth gave a sigh of what sounded like relief and Jack watched on with an amused expression.

"Would you like to watch a movie now?" she asked him calmly, her hands roaming soothingly through his hair.

This was the best, when she touched his hair. It was comforting and relaxing all at once. Jack had closed his eyes, but they flew open at her words. "You want to watch a movie with me?" he asked skeptically.

"Why not?" Elizabeth asked, plainly baffled. "This date is not over because you told me some important information about yourself. Actually, isn't that the very essence of a date? I am very honoured that you trusted me with this, Jack. And we don't have to watch a movie if you don't want to. I mean, we could just sit here in silence if you want, or I could leave, I guess, if you wanted me to, but - "

"No!" Don't go. Stay. Forever. The words were almost out of his mouth before he stopped them just in time.

Elizabeth gave him a soft smile, eyes not full of pity, like he had feared, but full of admiration, pride and understanding.

"Jack," she whispered, "I am not leaving. Do I have to convince you?"

There was her beautiful smile, the slight shine in her eyes, and when he smiled back, slowly, hers blossomed into blinding light.

"Yes," he whispered back.

Elizabeth's hands slid through his hair again and gently gripped it, and Jack realized very quickly that this was definitely not out of comfort. It was also sexy as hell.

The anticipation was palpable, the heat in the room so unbearable Jack thought he would start sweating - which was weird because girls never made him sweat, but this was no ordinary girl, this was Elizabeth - and she was kissing him, her tongue seeking his, her teeth lightly nipping, her fingers gripping to the point of painfully tight but it felt so good he didn't mind at all.

This was beyond powerful, beyond fantastic, maybe because she had initiated it, but it didn't matter. They were lost to the world for minutes, and when they finally had to release each other to breathe, their foreheads met as if by magnetic pull and the only sound in the room was their harsh breathing and pounding hearts, both in sync with each other.

"That was…" Elizabeth sighed at last, but Jack wasn't done. His mouth covered hers again, unable to get enough of her, his hands moving to lightly cup her face to his, her hands swiftly moving up to hold his in place as she returned his kiss, sweep for sweep, stroke for stroke.

"Mhmmm," Jack agreed with a breathless laugh, one full of joy and awe. "That sure was something."

Elizabeth was speechless, her eyes wide as she gazed back at him in quiet wonderment.

She looked so delectable Jack wanted to skip the movie. "Movie?" Jack hmmed as he kissed the tip of her nose ever so softly.

"Yes. You pick this time," Elizabeth replied after a few moments.

"If you insist." Before Elizabeth could escape from his lap, Jack lifted her up himself, depositing her down on the couch beside him with a sweet tender kiss. While it lacked the depth and the length of the previous kisses, it didn't lack intensity, for either of them.

With a slight reluctant shove, Elizabeth gently pushed Jack off of her with a laugh, and he went, mock pouting the entire time. He quickly picked a movie, and he didn't even bother to look at the title before he placed the dvd into the machine, grabbing the remote and walked back to the couch.

Just before he sat down he looked at Elizabeth, sprawled out on the large couch with a sleepy smile on her face, her hair a mess because of him, her eyes red from crying but still happy.

This is definitely something I want to get used to.

Jack slid down on the seat beside her, scooped her a little so she would be lying on top of him but still relaxed, and with a few adjustments and no arguments she settled in beside him.

It took him a few moments for this to sink in. He was cuddling. With Elizabeth. And he was going to cuddle her for two glorious - no wait, 2 hours and 50 minutes of cuddling with her.

Yup, he sighed contentedly as her loose hair tickled his skin and her warm body hugged his, This is something I definitely want to get used to.

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It was Pride and Prejudice. Elizabeth smiled as she tucked her head against Jack's body, taking the opportunity to just sit and inhale his amazing scent.

Elizabeth didn't think that Jack would have owned such a movie, or maybe she might have thought he kept it for dates such as this, but it wasn't until he laughed at the first Austen joke and quoted a line along with Elizabeth Bennet that she realized that he was a fan.

This fact pleased her immensely, and she found herself rewarding him with small touches every time he quoted something in her ear. Perhaps that was why he was pulling out all the stops.

Of course, they both shared a laugh when they both quoted Mr. Collins' ridiculousness at the same time. "What excellent boiled potatoes!"

By the time the two hour mark had passed, Elizabeth was fading in and out, trying to keep awake but mostly failing miserably.

I hope Jack doesn't notice…Oh God, what if I snore?!

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Jack was a closet Jane Austen fan, and usually he'd be loathe to admit it, but with an Elizabeth in his arms and an Elizabeth on the screen, he was finding it very hard to hide his inner nerd. The only thing that made this all better was the fact that Elizabeth and he would often quote the same parts together, both under their breath.

And when it came to the potatoes...

God, I love her.

The thought almost stopped his heart.

I love her. He tested it out, rolled the words around in his head. I love Elizabeth Thatcher.

I have to tell her.

No! I have to wait for the right moment!

When is that?

I have to tell her.

I need to tell her right now.

What if she doesn't feel the same?

It doesn't matter, I love her.

I love Elizabeth Thatcher!

The rest of the movie was lost to Jack, and he tried not to stiffen so Elizabeth wouldn't know the difference as she cuddled closer, he tried not to inhale her fresh scent too obviously, for he craved even a hint of her, and he tried to think of anything but her but it was all hopeless.

It's only been a few days!

When you know, you know.

It's been years and you know it. You've been falling in love with her from Jon's letters.

Jack finally relaxed, his grin widening. I love her.

By the end of the film he was impatient to tell her. He wanted to tell her. He needed to tell her. This was not something you kept to yourself!

Luckily, he had a plan. If it all went smoothly, she would at least accept it. If not, he could blame it on the film? He had to admit, it was a terrible plan.

Jack waited until the right moment and gently brushed his lips against Elizabeth's ear, comfortably resting near him. "You have bewitched me body and soul and I love, I love, I love you, Elizabeth Thatcher." He held his breath and waited, waited for a sign, for a sigh or for a smile. He got nothing.

Now he was starting to panic. That was horrible! Why did I say it like that?! Can I take it back?

Elizabeth jolted upright, and Jack almost had a heart attack.

"Oh, it must be very late, musn't it?" Elizabeth asked, stifling a yawn. Jack just stared at her. "I need to go to bed. Luckily we live right down the hall." Was that an awkward laugh?

Before Jack could analyze her laugh or anything else, Elizabeth had gently pecked him on the cheek. "Good night! Thank you for the lovely date," she beamed. "Go get 'im, Tiger."

With a wink she jumped up and hustled to the door and grabbed her sweater, pulling it on as she opened the front door, calling behind her, "Don't forget to lock up!" she teased, and was gone.

"What. The. Hell. Was. That?!"

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So now Jack was in bed, trying to sleep, tossing and turning and wondering what he did wrong. No, he knew what he did wrong. He said he loved her in the most corny way possible and was paying for it now. He never told a girl he loved her before! He wasn't exactly a pro at this!

With a growl, he rolled over on his stomach, slamming his pillow down on top of his head. He almost missed the urgent knocking at his front door.

Jack jumped up and rubbed his eyes as he padded to the door, quite forgetting he was in his boxers and nothing else. When he opened it, he was stunned and who he saw. Stunned and confused.

"Elizabeth?"

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Elizabeth was almost asleep when she jolted upright in bed, eyes wide.

Did Jack Thornton say he loved me?!

She had been in and out of consciousness for the most part during that movie, but now nearing restful sleep, something had stirred at her memory. Now that she thought about it, before she had fallen asleep for the last time Jack had definitely said the words love and Thatcher.

Elizabeth quickly made sure she was in decent pajamas for a trek down the hall in the middle of the night and sliding on some slippers, she ran down a the few doors to Jack, and, not knowing what else to do, knocked on the door urgently, forgetting that it was indeed the middle of the night and Jack might be sleeping, like a normal human being.

To her relief, the door opened fairly quickly and at his surprised greeting, she looked sideways out into the eerie hallway in which she still stood.

"May I come in?" she whispered awkwardly, now feeling very shy. That could have had something to do with Jack being shirtless.

"Of course," he said immediately, holding the door open for her.

As soon as he had shut the door behind her, Elizabeth blurted, "Did you say you love me, Jack?"

Ouch, that was not how she wanted to start off that conversation.

Jack winced and rubbed his jaw. "Well, I - "

No, no no no you cannot back out of it!

"You haven't lied to me before, don't start lying to me now," she quickly cut him off.

Jack winced again. "You're right. I did," he sighed. "But if you don't feel the same, I can wa-"

Elizabeth threw herself at him, mouth desperately seeking his to show him how she felt, kissing him with all of the passion she had.

"I love you too, silly boy," she whispered between a flurry of kisses, and Jack took over, pressing her against the hallway wall, his lips drifting to her neck while her fingers traced random mindless patterns on his bare shoulders.

"Really?" he murmured against her skin, his smile so big she felt it.

"Yes, I do," she said confidently back, giggling, "I was just asleep."

A confused Jack pulled away much to Elizabeth's disappointment. "Asleep?"

"I'll tell you tomorrow," she whispered, before she drew his face up to hers, their lips clashing with intense heat. When Jack's cold hands ran up her sides, Elizabeth didn't mind at all.

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Wooh! A bit of fluff after that intense chapter from this morning. Thoughts are always appreciated!