So here's the thing... not everyone is going to like my story, where it went, how it got there, etc etc. I'm okay with that because as selfish as it sounds. I write for me. I love to write. Some days it comes easily, some days not so much. Writing for me has been a journey. It's cathartic. Me pleasing everyone is never going to happen, and to my defence I was very clear that Jack and Elizabeth were end game. My writing, is mostly done on the move, on a train, in a car (when I'm not the one driving) while I'm walking to and from destinations. Rarely do I actually get to edit. So apologies for the typos and grammar and blah blah. However, I make no apologies for where the story is headed or has led to, because frankly it's my story. So yes, if you so wish...stop reading. The last thing I want to do is aggravate you. The other is I don't tolerate the swearing so I will be deleting reviews with profanity because there truly is no need. I have now stepped off my soapbox.

To those who are still reading and are enjoying the somewhat 'messy' journey Elizabeth and Jack are on, please enjoy the next chapter.

Song Credit: 'Audience of One' - Tasha Masitha

"Logan?" Elizabeth said sitting up. Immediately Jack felt the absence of her in his arms.

"Tom's going to take him home." He answered drawing her back in an embrace not quite ready to let her go after months of not being able to hold her.

"It's getting late, we should probably get going." She said gently knowing he didn't want to leave.

"Can we just stay like this for a little longer," Jack asked, his voice hoarse from emotion. She glanced up at him and saw the toll of their roller coaster had taken on him.

"Sure Babe," She replied giving his cheek a kiss as she ran her hands through his hair giving him a moment she knew he needed.

Eventually he reluctantly walked her back to her car. It was well past midnight and Elizabeth had a bunch of errands she needed to run early the next day.

"Spend the day with me tomorrow?" He asked,

"I am driving home tomorrow. I need to sort out my Visa and it's easier to do a day trip to Canberra than having to navigate that through endless visit to Australia Post and I don't feel at all confident that my passport won't be lost in transit. I was going to see my Dad. You're more than welcome to join me." She added noting the look of disappointment on his face.

"Are you sure?" Elizabeth smiled,

"Of course. Dad would be happy to see you too."

"I'm not so sure about that," he replied.

"Believe it or not he's been your biggest advocate,"

"That I didn't expect,"

"He's no Leland Coulter," she answered ruefully.

"That's a relief, though I can't blame Lee."

Whilst most managed be impartial, Lee was not one of them. Jack was well aware of Lee's anger. For the most part he knew it was because out of anyone in the her world it was Lee who was privy to the most vulnerable Elizabeth. It was Lee whom she had no filter.

"He'll come around. He's just a little over protective of me."

"I get that. I don't begrudge him of it. If I were him I would have punched me by now."

"I would never condone that behaviour in any circumstance,"

"Lucky me,"

Jack insisted on following her home to ensure she arrived safely. It also gave him the opportunity to walk her to her door. He hadn't been there since the morning of their break up.

"Thanks for walking me to my door," Elizabeth said as she looked up at him leaning against her door.

"You're welcome. What time did you want to head out tomorrow?"

"7? Pick you up at yours?"

"I'll drive,"

"Of course you will," She replied with an eye roll.

"I'll see you in the morning Sweetheart,"

"I'll see you then," Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his neck as he hugged her tightly against him.

"I'm not dreaming this am I?" He murmured against her shoulder. Elizabeth cupped the back of his head,

"No. I'm here Jack. We're here." She assured him. With one last hug she sent him home.

As she walked in she jumped a mile at the sight of Lee asleep on her couch. She grabbed a pillow and playfully whacked him with it. Eliciting an Ouch from her beloved cousin who she knew was there to check on her as a result of quick exit and absence from dinner.

"What time do you call this?" He asked wagging his finger at her. Elizabeth chuckled throwing the pillow right in his face for good measure.

"You okay?" Asked a muffled Lee from behind the pillow. Elizabeth sighed and took the pillow back.

"Yeah, it's been an exhausting couple of months. Give me a half hour to shower and pj? You staying?"

"Sure and yes. Oh and you may want to drop Abigail a message to say you're home and okay. I will message Rosie. Although I wouldn't be surprised if she had her face to her window looking out for your return." Elizabeth smiled at the image that was not at all hard to conjure up.

After dropping Abigail a message Elizabeth went to shower in her ensuite whilst Lee had done the same in the main bathroom. He had his own portion of the closet in her guest bedroom for moments such as these. By the time she had joined him he had brewed her favourite tea and laid out their favourite cookies.

"You went big!" She teased as he grinned with a shrug.

"It's after 1am, why not. Calories don't count after midnight." Elizabeth laughed,

"I'm not sure that's quite how they work but I'll buy it."

Elizabeth sat on the other end of the couch taking with her the tea he handed her as he sat on the other end with his. She began to tell him all that unfolded that evening. He let out many Wows and Ohhs as she did so.

"So where does that leave you two?"

"I love him. Life's too short to be apart if we truly love each other. There's a peace about it. I'd like to think we have a future as he promises we do but I'm okay to leave that to God. For now I'm happy to take it one day at a time. We still have a few things to work through and we can only work on them and see where that takes us. Am I being naive?" She asked him. Lee shook his head,

"No Beth, you love him and you're willing to take a risk. That's not naive, that's brave. God's got you and he will direct your path. Jack loves you, that I am sure of. The rest will fall into place."

"Does that mean you're going to go easy on him?"

"Hmm, I make no promises. I may make him sweat a little."

"I expect nothing less."

"Are you worried?" He asked. Elizabeth knew immediately what he meant by that.

"A little but not really which is strange considering this is me we're talking about."

"Love is strange,"

"That it is."

Elizabeth and Lee talked for a little while longer before finally turning in. Elizabeth knew that the chances of her sleeping on the drive to Canberra was going to be a high one at that point.

Jack dropped by Abigail's to pick up coffee for both he and Elizabeth before heading to Elizabeth's. Abigail who had received Elizabeth's message the night before got the gist that they had worked through their issues. Therefore she wasn't surprised that he would be driving her to Canberra instead of going solo that day.

"Morning Jack, you're here early."

"Morning Abigail," he greeted dropping a kiss to her cheek.

"I was hoping to grab a large cappuccino and an extra hot large skim mocha to go please."

"I recognise that order a mile away. You driving to Canberra?" Jack smiled and nodded.

"Yes, I am. No more secrets Abigail. I've told her everything."

"Good to hear."

"She is everything to me."

"I know Jack," Abigail replied placing a hand on his arm.

Elizabeth opened her door to find Jack on the other side holding her Abigail's Diner glass Keep Cup with her coffee just as she liked it.

"Thank you," she said as she kissed him good morning. Jack wrapped his arms around her waist.

"You're welcome and good morning. You ready to go?"

"Yes. Let me grab my bag." Jack followed her in and stood at the front room while she ducked into her room. He noticed the blankets on the couch and empty tea cups.

"Rosie or Lee?" He asked as she came out pointing to the couch making her laugh.

"Lee, he's actually asleep in the guest room."

"I'm surprised you didn't have the whole trifecta waiting for you. Abigail, Rosie and Lee.

"To be honest, I was too." She replied as they both laughed.

By hour two Elizabeth had succumbed to her exhaustion and fell asleep with her hand resting on Jack's leg as he drove. Jack kept his hand over hers when he wasn't using it. Alone with his thoughts he was left to ponder. He thanked God for the another chance with Elizabeth. He knew that whilst it was Elizabeth's person that was willing to give him yet another chance, who loved him enough to hang in there and not walk away, it was God's ultimate grace that flowed through her that allowed for another chance. She could have kept walking and he had given her plenty of reason to doubt his love but here she was beside him. He brought her hand to his lips before laying it back down on his leg. He was serious when he said he had a planned for a future, their future. If he were honest it was one he planned whilst she was still in Hope Valley. It was the plan he always had. In his heart she was always end game. He had switched the music from her playlist to his and started playing his favourite worship songs. There was something about the silence and the peace in that moment that had he been stationary, he would have been on his knees. Instead He prayed. He worshipped. He praised. Elizabeth woke to his singing one of her favourite worship songs,

"I set this time aside

Singing of the love I find

As I worship you my God

Distraction fades away

And I find clarity

As I enter your presence

All my love, All my life

For you, For you.

And I sing this song

For an audience of one

Search my heart and find it after yours

Let my life, bless you Lord

All my soul, all my soul

No other can take

Take your hopes for me

You are higher than all things

When love is meant to be,

Is now found in me

As my heart touches yours

All my love, All my life

For you, For you.

And I sing this song

For an audience of one

Search my heart and find it after yours

Let my life, bless you Lord

All my soul, all my soul"

She could see in between the verses, he was muttering between his breath, in prayer and in declaration. Whilst she always she knew he was a Godly man, it wasn't until that moment she knew that he was prayerful and full of surrender in his faith in God. It was as though God had allowed her to witness a private moment so that she could trust in the words behind the man because they were rooted in the faith he had in Jesus. Elizabeth an overwhelming love overcome her. For him, but also for God for giving her that moment. She felt the tears well up in her eyes. She squeezed his hand drawing him out of the moment.

"Hey," he said seeing the tears in her eyes

"Can you pull over?" she asked as he nodded. They were on an open road where there was nothing but greenery. As he pulled over Elizabeth got out of the car as he worriedly he walked over to her.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" he asked. Without a word she threw her arms around his waist and hugged him tighter than ever before.

"I love you and I trust you with my heart." She said softly but definitively, looking up at him as he cupped her face with his hands.

"I need you to hear that. Everything aside, I know your love for me is pure. That despite the circumstances and all that we have endured, you are who God destined for me, and I believe he destined me for you. So I'm in this. I'm all in. However we navigate this, God will be at the centre because it's the only way we can ever work. It's how he designed us to be. So I commit us, our future to him and his works. Whilst we may do that separately now, I want us to do it together." Jack's eyes filled with tears. Everything she was saying to him was the very thing he had just been praying without words.

"As do I."

"Okay, good."