Thanks for the lovely comments! I'm glad I can provide some comfort to those stressed out by the current storylines in the show.
This little story is one with Elizabeth and the kids (In contrast to the previous chapter with Nathan and the kids)
I thought having separate stories where Nathan and Elizabeth interact with Allie and Jack without the other being there would be a cool way to get a glimpse into the relationships between Jack and Nathan as well as Allie and Elizabeth :)
Allie and Elizabeth had come home from school on a sunny Friday afternoon. Allie's books were spread out on the little living room coffee table, where she was vigorously working away at her homework as Jack was running about the living room with his toy train.
"Jack, please be quiet!" Allie exclaimed in frustration. Little Jack, with his toy train in hand, had just made his way to the table where Allie was working and was making something that loosely resembled train noises.
"Come here, Jack. Why don't you help me make a snack?" Elizabeth said as she picked jack up and placed him on her hip.
Allie worked away on her homework and finished in record time before running out to play with Anna, Emily, Robert, and Opal. Jack had finished his snack and was now happily stacking blocks on the living room table. Elizabeth worked on grading papers, looking up every few minutes to check on Jack. She had given Laura the day off because she was going to spend most of the day with the kids herself anyways. Suddenly Allie burst into the house leaving the door open behind her as she ran upstairs.
"Allie, what is going on?" Elizabeth asked, quickly standing up from the table.
Allie had stopped about halfway up the stairs and turned back, heading towards the kitchen sink. She had a tiny bunch of wildflowers in her hand and was smiling down at them with delight.
"Can you believe it?" Allie asked. Before Elizabeth had any time to say anything Allie continued, "We were walking by the pond looking for frogs and then Robert gave me these!" Allie thrust the somewhat withered little bouquet in front of Elizabeth's face. Elizabeth blinked rapidly, trying to process what just happened.
"Wow" she finally managed to say, with an amused smile. "How do you feel about that?" she asked cautiously, studying her daughter's face.
"Well..." Allie began, "At first, I was scared because I didn't want our friendship to feel different - But then Robert said that we wouldn't do anything different really, just be closer friends." She added.
"So are you saying that Robert and you...?" Elizabeth looked up from her papers with a quizzical expression.
"Yea I guess!" Allie said cheerfully with a bright smile. "May I take these up to my room?" Allie held a tiny vase in one hand and the flowers in the other.
"Yes of course," Elizabeth said with a slight laugh. Allie's innocence and simple outlook on romance refreshed Elizabeth, considering how much hassle it took for her and Nathan to finally get together. It was all worth it though, Elizabeth thought with a smile as she looked over at little Jack who was quietly playing with his wooden mountie.
Allie helped Elizabeth get little Jack ready after his nap to go into town. They were going to go on a walk to get a few things from the mercantile for dinner and then planned to stop by Nathan's office to say "Hi".
Elizabeth walked with a basket in one hand and little Jack's hand in the other. Jack walked between Allie and Elizabeth. Every few paces they would lift him off the ground slightly by his arms as he would squeal from excitement. The sun was still out, casting their shadows in front of them in elongated figures.
"Look at that! I'm just as tall as you," Allie said to Elizabeth, pointing down at their shadows.
"So is little Jack," remarked Elizabeth with a laugh. Allie laughed, and little Jack giggled, pretending to understand what they were talking about.
Now nearing the end of the row-houses, Allie glanced over at the house that used to be her and Nathan's place before Elizabeth and Nathan got married.
"How did you know you were in love with dad?" Allie asked contemplatively.
Elizabeth paused at this sudden question. If she was being honest, she knew she was in love with Nathan for a while, but life, grief and fear made things more complicated than that, and she didn't admit she was in love until much later. However, this would be a bit difficult for a child of Allie's age to understand.
"Well..." Elizabeth began, "I guess I knew I loved your father when I realized what an amazing, kind, and thoughtful person he is - and when I saw how much he loved you, and little Jack and me. He is willing to put God and his family above all else, and I admire that about him." She concluded, "Does that make sense?" Hoping this would answer Allie's question she looked up and noticed they were nearing the town.
"Yea that makes sense," Allie said smiling as she looked down at her feet and kicked at a couple of bits of gravel.
Elizabeth walked up the mercantile steps, followed by Allie who offered to carry little Jack. They picked up some flour and a few fresh apples for pie later. Now stepping out of the mercantile, Elizabeth looked out at the sunny town from the boardwalk. The sun was nearly setting, and a hazy glow covered the town as birds chirped and the scent of wildflowers filled the air. Elizabeth heard the bell from above the mercantile door and quickly looked back at Allie and Jack.
"Mr. Yost gave us some dried fruit," Allie said, looking at Jack who was holding the tiny bag of fruit mix in his fist.
"That was very nice of him! Did you remember to thank him?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes, I did, and so did Jack," Allie said proudly.
"Good job," Elizabeth praised. She smiled at them and rubbed little Jack's head. "Alright, let's go say 'Hi' to your father," Elizabeth said cheerfully as they reached the end of the mercantile steps.
With that, Allie and little Jack were off and running towards the mountie office, which was only a short distance away. Dust rose in the air behind them as they ran, causing rays of sunlight to sift through the dust clouds like beams of light. Elizabeth tried to catch up with them, but Allie had already burst through the door with Jack not far behind before Elizabeth reached the boardwalk. She heard muffled squealing sounds coming from behind the office door. Elizabeth reached for the doorknob and went in. Allie was looking through the bookshelf behind Nathan's desk, and Nathan was kissing little Jack all over, hence, the squealing. Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh at the sight of her happy little family.
"Hi there beautiful! For what reason do I have the pleasure to see you all today?" Nathan asked standing up.
"Hi," Elizabeth said, still smiling. Before she could respond, Nathan walked over with Jack in his arms and kissed her.
"I hope we didn't come at a bad time" Elizabeth continued, glancing over at the papers on Nathan's desk.
"No, of course not, you are never a bother," He said, kissing her once more on the cheek and placing little Jack down. "I was just finishing up a few things, and planning on going to Bill's office before heading home," Nathan said with a smile.
"I'm making apple pie for after dinner," Elizabeth said, holding up the basket, "Allie is going to help me, and little Jack will taste test," Elizabeth said with a big smile.
Nathan laughed and looked down at little Jack. He was raising his arms and rising up on his toes in an effort to get one of them to pick him up. Elizabeth picked her son up with one arm and handed the basket over to Allie with her other arm.
"We will see you tonight then," Elizabeth said with a smile as she leaned over to kiss her husband.
"See you then - do you need me to pick anything up before I come home?" Nathan asked
"No, just bring your handsome self," Elizabeth said calmly. Allie tried to conceal a smile as she looked down at a crack in the floorboards.
The happy trio stepped out of the office and walked back towards the row-houses. The sunset was beautiful, and there was just enough light to make it home and finish dinner before dark. Elizabeth looked down at Allie and Jack with a smile, she could almost feel her heart swell up with happiness.