Elizabeth's breathing grew more rapid as the plane screeched to a halt. She gripped Nathan's hand in hers, hoping she didn't start to hyperventilate. "This was a bad idea," she said raspily. "Is it too late to turn around and go back home?"

Nathan squeezed her hand. "It'll be alright, sweetheart. We'll do this together."

"But what if they refuse to see me?" Elizabeth asked, tears welling in her eyes. "What if this goes very badly? They're not expecting us. Mother and Father never did like surprises."

"One step at a time," Nathan said gently. "Your sisters will be there as well. You'll have them and you'll have me. Whatever happens, you will have support."

Elizabeth's breathing calmed slightly, though the anxiety curling through her stomach continued unabated. She held Arianna close to her chest, inhaling the sweet scent of her innocent daughter. As they made their way off the plane to the luggage claim at JFK International, she reviewed the plan for this evening.

Viola and Julie were set to pick them up in fifteen minutes. They would stay at Viola's house, a large estate just outside of Manhattan. Viola had invited their parents for a family dinner before they set off on their trip to Europe. William and Grace Thatcher were completely unaware of the arrival of Elizabeth and Nathan.

Elizabeth's stomach was in knots. There were only three hours until the planned dinner. She wasn't sure her heart could take the suspense. The only thing keeping her from bolting was Nathan's calm hand on her back. She let out a breath, thankful for the support of her husband. His steady presence gave her a measure of peace.

This had been her decision. It hadn't been an easy one, but she wanted to be sure she did everything possible to bring about reconciliation between herself and her parents. If this failed, at least she could say she'd tried.

"Elizabeth! Nathan!"

Julie's exuberant voice reached their ears. Elizabeth turned with a smile, receiving the hug her sister gave her. Viola followed at a more serene pace, but she embraced her sister and brother-in-law as well. Both sisters then looked between the babies in their car seats.

"Oh!" Viola exclaimed, a hand over her heart as Cecilia smiled up at her. "What precious children! I can't believe they're already three months old."

"Neither can we," Nathan said with a smile. "They're growing so fast."

"But they're still tiny," Julie exclaimed, bending down and letting Arianna grasp her finger. "Such cuties! Oh my goodness, Nathan, you're going to need to get your shotgun ready when these little ones grow up."

"Oh, it's already ready," Nathan said, raising a brow.

Elizabeth chuckled. "Rosemary has determined that Lucas needs to marry one of our girls when they're all grown up." Her chuckle turned to laughter at the mutinous look on Nathan's face. "Not for a few years, sweetheart," she said, patting his arm.

"Try twenty-five years minimum," he muttered under his breath.

The three sisters grinned in unison. Nathan handed Cecilia's car seat to Julie, then grabbed the luggage from the conveyor belt. Viola helped him get it all, and then the four of them made their way to the parking lot.

The drive to Viola's was pleasant as the four adults caught up with each other. Julie especially managed to keep the conversation light and humorous, which relieved Elizabeth. It took her mind off the fact that she was about to see her parents for the first time in a very, very long time. Her estranged parents.

Nathan took her hand in his as if he could read her thoughts. He gave her a smile, and that smile calmed the butterflies beating their wings against the walls of her stomach. She relaxed, letting Nathan's strength hold her up. No matter what, her husband would be there for her. So would her sisters.

She could do this.

They reached Viola's house and got settled in one of the guest rooms. Nathan's jaw dropped as he took in the large, roomy area that was more like an apartment than a spare bedroom. "Um, sweetheart?" he said, placing Cecilia's car seat on the floor and unbuttoning his jacket. "This room is bigger than our entire house! How can your sister stand to live in such a large place all on her own?"

Elizabeth chuckled, removing her own coat as well. "This is what we were used to," she said simply. "My childhood bedroom was just as large and extravagant as this. For the longest time, I thought everyone lived this way. It was quite shocking when I realized that wasn't the case. I grew to prefer the simple things in life, but Viola still loves the New York society lifestyle. This is an expression of that."

"You grew up like this," Nathan said, his voice faint. "I knew when you said the name Thatcher that you came from an extremely wealthy family...but this? This has previously been outside my realm of thought."

Elizabeth smiled, going to him and wrapping her arms around him. "This is who my family was," she said gently, looking up into his eyes. "But it was never who I was."

Nathan cupped her cheek in his hand. "I know," he said, giving her a soft kiss. "But it is pretty neat getting to have a small window into what your life was like growing up."

Jaunting an eyebrow, Elizabeth gave him a sassy grin. "You're going to have another window into that shortly, my dear husband. In about an hour, we will need to get dressed for dinner."

Nathan looked down at their clothes. "What's wrong with these?" he asked.

Elizabeth suppressed another smile, taking in Nathan's jeans and Hawaiian shirt. "Sweetheart, in New York society, you dress for dinner. You remember how I told you to pack your tuxedo?"

"Ye-e-s," Nathan said, his eyes widening. "You mean that's what I'm supposed to wear tonight?"

"Mm-hmm," Elizabeth said, her eyes twinkling. "Dinner is going to be a very formal affair. Viola even told me she hired a qualified nanny to look after Cecilia and Arianna this evening. She said she has a surprise for us after dinner, a date night to something specific."

"Oh?" Nathan said. His arms pulled her a little closer. "Do you have any ideas what this surprise might be?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "Nope. But apparently we will need our fancy clothes for that too."

"Well," Nathan said, "this should be interesting." He led her over to the couch, where they sat. Nathan put his arm around her. "How are you feeling, Elizabeth? Are you ready for this dinner?"

"No," Elizabeth said frankly. "Not at all. I'm scared, Nathan. I have no idea what to expect. What if they reject us?" Tears sprang to her eyes. "I don't know if I could handle that."

Nathan didn't respond. He simply pulled her fully into his arms and held her for several long minutes, stoking her hair gently in long, smooth motions. Elizabeth relaxed into him with a sigh. "That feels lovely," she breathed, resting her head on his shoulder and just letting him soothe her. She was amazed at the fact that Nathan could comfort her without a word. His strength, his presence, and his love were enough to remind her of all the good she had.

As long as they had each other, everything would be alright.

"A tuxedo," Nathan muttered, straightening his tie. "For dinner." He shook his head. "Wonders never cease." He ran a comb through his hair, trying to tame the unruly waves. Elizabeth had finished nursing the twins and released them into the care of Marta, the nanny Viola hired for the evening. She was getting ready in the bathroom while Nathan used the mirror at the large dresser. Satisfied with his appearance, he put the comb down and readjusted his tie for good measure.

The sound of the bathroom door opening caught his attention. Nathan glanced toward his wife and instantly lost his ability to speak. Elizabeth was dressed in a sapphire blue evening gown that glittered with silver sequins. Her hair was piled atop her head in a beautiful style and she wore a matching sapphire earrings and necklace set. She was stunning.

Reminding himself to breathe, Nathan stepped toward her, taking her hand in his. "Wow." That was the only word he seemed capable of uttering. Elizabeth must have seen the look in his eyes, because she smiled brightly. "You look very handsome yourself," she said, her eyes twinkling in amusement. When Nathan still couldn't say anything, she laughed outright. "Cat got your tongue, sweetheart?"

"Uh...yeah," Nathan stammered. He gazed at her for several moments before his words finally came. "You're beautiful, Elizabeth." He pressed a kiss to her lips. "I'm the luckiest man in the world."

She smiled, returning his kiss. "And I'm the luckiest woman in the world." She took a deep breath, straightening her shoulders. "Mother and Father will be here any minute. We should head downstairs."

It was only then that Nathan realized her palm was damp, a sure indication that she was nervous. "Breathe, sweetheart," he said softly. "We'll do this together."

Elizabeth took a deep breath, tucking her hand into his arm. "I'm thankful you're here with me," she said, looking up at him gratefully.

He pulled her a little closer, wanting to be there for her. "I'm not going anywhere," he promised. Side by side, they walked down the stairs. Julie and Viola were waiting for them. The two women were also dressed in lovely evening gowns, Julie in green and Viola in purple. They looked beautiful, but in Nathan's estimation, Elizabeth outshone them both.

"Mr. and Mrs. Thatcher have arrived," Viola's butler announced. "Shall I see them in?"

Viola nodded. "We'll meet them in the formal parlor, Harrison," she said. Looking at her family, she motioned to a side room. "This way," she said.

Elizabeth moved closer to Nathan. "This is it," she said, her voice shaking as much as her body. "The moment of truth."

Julie moved close to Elizabeth's other side. "We'll hope for the best," she said, patting her sister's shoulder.

Viola nodded, but before she could speak, William and Grace Thatcher came sweeping elegantly into the room. They saw Viola first and greeted her, giving Nathan a moment to study his in-laws. They looked every inch New York royalty, with a formality of bearing that Nathan would have found stifling as a child. Their address to Viola was cool and detached, almost as if they were talking to an acquaintance instead of a daughter. Nathan involuntarily looped an arm around Elizabeth, pulling her close to his side. He felt a sudden need to protect her, though he wasn't sure from what.

"Mother, Father," Viola said. "We have some visitors today."

"Oh?" Grace said, lifting a brow. "You didn't mention visitors. I thought dinner was between us and Julie."

"It is," Viola said. "And two others." She gave an encouraging smile to Elizabeth and Nathan, opening her arm toward them. "Elizabeth is here as well with her husband."

Nathan read the shock on the faces of the Thatchers even before they turned to look at their middle daughter. For a long moment, no one said a word. Nathan watched as William Thatcher's face slowly turned a bright shade of red, veering toward purple before he spoke.

"We're leaving," he said in a clipped voice.

Nathan felt Elizabeth tense. She let go of his arm, taking a step toward her parents. "Father, please…" she began.

William held up a hand, cutting her off. "Let's go, Grace," he said, ignoring Elizabeth.

Marta came in at that moment, holding a fussy Cecilia in her arms. "Excuse me, Mrs. Grant," she said, her eyes darting between each member of the family. The tension in the room was palpable, and she was clearly hesitant to speak. "I can't get Cecilia to stop crying, and thought perhaps she needed a moment with her mother to calm down."

Despite the tears in Elizabeth's eyes, she took the baby, holding her close. Cecilia immediately stopped crying, nestling her head into Elizabeth's chest. Nathan saw Grace Thatcher's eyes widen at the sight of the baby. Her facial expression softened ever so slightly, her eyes glued to Cecilia.

William, however, didn't show the smallest indication of budging. "We're leaving," he said again, his tone leaving no room for argument. He seared Viola with a look. "How dare you?" he growled, his tone menacing.

Viola looked near tears and Elizabeth was in tears. Julie was wringing her hands, a look of anguish on her face.

Nathan couldn't remain silent. He stepped forward, coming to a stop in front of his father-in-law. Crossing his arms the way he did when questioning a suspect, he leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "How dare you?" he said, his tone soft but dangerous. "Your daughters are three of the best women on this planet. They are hoping for a reconciliation within this family. The least you could do is try without belittling your own flesh and blood."

The purple hue on William's face deepened. "Do you know who I am?" he demanded, his eyes burning as they looked into Nathan's.

Nathan laughed without humor. "Oh I know exactly who you are, sir," he said, practically spitting the last word. "But titles and rank don't intimidate or impress me. My wife came here wanting to see you and Mrs. Thatcher. She wants to be reunited with her family. She's been reaching out with no response." His eyes seared William. "She is a truly brave woman."

William sneered in response. Nathan had never been tempted to hit someone in his life, but right now he wanted nothing more than to knock that look off of William's face. His better judgement prevailed, but his father-in-law must have seen the look in his eyes. Taking a step back with a slight look of fear, William turned to Grace. "Let's go," he said, taking her hand and practically dragging her from the room.

Grace looked back at Nathan, then Elizabeth, then the baby. Tears glistened in her eyes, but she followed her husband without a word. The door slammed behind them, silence descending on the room.

No one spoke for a full minute, too stunned by what had just happened. Nathan went to Elizabeth, drawing her and Cecilia into his arms. Julie and Viola held each other as well, trying to find a measure of comfort after their father's harshness.

Nathan was the first to speak. "Maybe we should cancel dinner tonight and…"

Elizabeth shook her head. "No," she said, her voice muffled against his chest. Raising her head, she squared her shoulders. Their daughter was now sleeping peacefully, and Elizabeth handed her back to Marta. "We cannot allow them to ruin our dinner," she said stoically. "Viola had a wonderful menu prepared, and I think we ought to enjoy it. We all have each other. What more do we need?"

Nathan was amazed at Elizabeth's response. Head held high, she followed Viola and Julie to the dining room.

"Are you sure?" Nathan whispered to her as they walked.

"Yes," she said, sounding almost defiant. "I will not let my parents ruin our evening." She bit her lip. "Though we might have to ask Viola if we can reschedule our date. I'm not sure I'm up for going anywhere tonight."

"Of course," Nathan said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I'll talk to her."

Dinner was a surprisingly upbeat affair. The sisters talked and reminisced. Nathan learned a lot about all three of them and their childhood just by listening. Elizabeth laughed happily and talked animatedly. Feeling a bit surprised, Nathan watched her. If he knew his wife, she was hurting inside, but she wasn't showing any sign of it outwardly.

She continued to show no sign of it as the evening progressed. They played games together and watched a movie in the large theater room, then said goodnight to Viola and Julie. Elizabeth was quiet as they got ready for bed, simply shaking her head when Nathan asked if she wanted to talk about it. She nursed the twins silently before putting them to bed. She climbed into the large bed beside him, turning on her side and falling asleep within minutes. Nathan listened to her deep, even breaths, mingled with the even breathing of their girls in their portable cribs. Feeling uncertain of the entire turn of events today, he eventually fell asleep himself.

He woke in the middle of the night to the bed shaking. Deep, body-wracking sobs were coming from Elizabeth's side of the bed. She was clearly trying to keep quiet, but he could hear the pain in her suppressed wails. Heart hurting, Nathan reached out, turning her over. When Elizabeth saw that he was awake, she couldn't keep quiet any longer. The sobs burst from her body with such force, Nathan was surprised the twins slept through the noise. He gathered Elizabeth into his arms, holding her tightly as she wept. He could feel the hurt and pain emanating from her, which made him hurt for her. He wished he could take away her suffering.

Eventually Elizabeth's sobs lessened, and she slumped against his chest. She was so still, Nathan wondered if she had fallen asleep again. To his surprise, she laid back against the pillows, pulling him to her. "Kiss me, Nathan," she whispered brokenly. "I need your love right now. I need to know that you will always be with me. That you will never reject me." Her voice cracked, more tears spilling from her eyes.

Throat working, Nathan wiped the tears from her cheeks, looking her directly in the eyes. "I will always be with you and I will never reject you," he said fervently. "You are the love of my life, Elizabeth. I love you more each and every day." He framed her face in his hands and bent down, kissing her deeply. Elizabeth's arms wrapped around him tightly, their bodies pressed so closely together it was hard to tell where he ended and she began. Nathan continued to kiss her, hoping that his physical love eased the emotional pain she was feeling inside. He let Elizabeth determine how far they went, knowing she simply needed him tonight.

His only need in the moment was to be there for his hurting wife.