I know that many of us envisioned what we thought would happen throughout season 8 of When Calls the Heart, especially the season finale. I know for myself; the ending was a far reach of what I had dreamed. The last month since the finale, I have tried to come to terms of the new reality in Hope Valley, and after a lot of reflection, and reading of what others imagined, what I spent hours imagining in my own mind finally made its way to my computer screen. This is my therapy, and step one of what I hope will allow me to move forward. I want to hope that the powers that be at Hallmark and the show know what they are doing – more so than I do, but if not, at least I know my dream for the "little show that could" will have at least made it to "paper" and added to the collection of other beautiful versions of what might have been. I truly hope you enjoy my vision.

Elizabeth could not sleep. After her conversation on her porch with Lucas, she tossed and turned. She cried to herself, in the deep realization that she did not recognize herself. How did she let herself become the person that she ran away from so many years ago? If anything, her time in Hope Valley had taught her is that you do not run away from your problems, or your deepest feelings, and that is exactly what she did. She ran away from her feelings for the man who inspired her, the one who asked her "What is in your heart?" Nathan.

She crawled out bed, slid her feet into her slippers and wrapped herself into her robe. She stepped out of her room, poked her head into check on Little Jack. She watched his chest rise and fall while in his deep slumber. More then anything, she wanted him to be like his father, Jack. A man of honor and integrity, and most important, having the capacity of eternal love.

Shutting the door, those words, words that she wrote in her journal so long ago, replayed in her mind. She was not proud of herself. She was not a good example of honor, or integrity, and she felt lost. Was she even capable of eternal love anymore? She knew that she had to be Little Jack's example, but she was so lost.

The only way to fix herself was to start righting her wrong doings. She knew she needed to start with her best friend, Rosemary. Muffins. Rosemary loves muffins. It may not be much, but it was a place to start, and since she could not sleep, she padded down to the kitchen, started a fire, and started to mix the most important batch of muffins of her life.

Elizabeth was about to start up the steps to the Coulters rowhouse when the door swung open, and Rosemary stepped out. Elizabeth put the basket of muffins out in front of her as a peace offering, and with tears in her eyes, her voice cracked "I am so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?"

Rosemary floated down the stairs, and with tears in the corners of her eyes said "Of course I forgive you. You are my best and truest friend. Come, I think its time for coffee and muffins".

Rosemary poured two cups of coffee, and they spoke of their friendship. Then Elizabeth told her what happened with Lucas the night before.

"He was right to let me go. I was lying to him; I was lying to everyone. Including myself. I am not sure what to do though Rosemary. I feel so… Lost".

"People come into our lives, some for a reason, some for a season, others for a lifetime. Jack was a season, and it was glorious. Now its up to you to decide who might be here for a reason, or perhaps even a lifetime. And once you have settled that in your heart, you'll be able to throw yourself into that person's arms with all of your being".

"And never let go" Elizabeth whispered.

Several hours later, Elizabeth returned home from her meeting with Mr. Landis regarding Angela Canfield. It may not have gone as she liked, but she had a renewed energy to ensure that Angela would receive the same quality education that all the other children in Hope Valley were able to receive.

"Hello Robert! And hello my little man! Did the two of you have a good day? Momma missed you!"

"He was very good Mrs. Thornton. Mr. Bouchard stopped by. He left you a package, it's on your desk", Robert said as he gestured towards the desk.

"Thank you, Robert. Would you mind staying for a few more minutes while I look at this?"

"No problem Mrs. Thornton, I have no where to be for a while". Robert sat on the floor and continued to play with Jack as Elizabeth sat at her desk and opened the package.

Inside was the copy of her manuscript. The two conversations that inspired her to write it instantly played in her memory – Lucas when he said, "The best stories are the ones that come from the heart", and the one later that same day between her and Nathan on the dock when she was with Little Jack, "What's in your heart?"

Elizabeth knew what she needed to do. For the first time since Jack died, she knew exactly what she needed to do. She was firm in her decision - there was no more floating between two good men. She reached inside her desk for two sheets of paper and two envelops. She quickly wrote the first note, placed it in its envelope, and wrote the name of the recipient on the front. She turned to the second sheet of paper, and with a smile, wrote down what was in her heart:

"This is what is in my heart. Please join me this evening at Abigail's Café at 7. Dress code: your finest attire"

She ran her fingers across the title of her manuscript and noticed the glimmer of her wedding band on her left hand. It was time. She slowly slid the ring off her finger, and as it came off the tip, peace enveloped her. She knew she was making the right decision. She opened the desk drawer and placed the ring inside of it. She would save it for Little Jack to give to the love of his life someday, for she knew that going forward, that her and the man that she loved would be authentic examples of how to show and have capacity of eternal love.

She returned the manuscript to is package, tied it up, and slid the 2nd envelope under the strings.

"Robert, on your way home, could you please deliver these to Mr. Bouchard and Constable Grant? It is very important they receive these right away".

"Not a problem Mrs. Thornton, I am the right man for the job". Robert grabbed the package and envelope and turned in the direction of town.

Elizabeth knew there was no turning back. She went and picked up Jack, walked out her door and made a bee line for Rosemary's door. Rosemary answered within seconds.

"I know who is a reason, and who is a lifetime. I need help. Can you help me?"

Rosemary's chin went up, and her eyes started to twinkle. "Of course I can".

Lucas sat in the chair in his office, looked down at the envelope in his hand, and slowly opened it.

"Dear Lucas,

I am truly sorry for how I have behaved the last several months. You are the epitome of a gentleman, and I am blessed to call you my friend. Thank you for helping me figure out what I must do to be true to myself, and true to you. You will always have a home in my heart.

Always,

Elizabeth"

Lucas looked around his office, stood, and walked to the mirror on the wall. He studied his reflection, adjusted what he imagined was slightly off on his attire, then opened the door and walked back to the floor of his saloon.

Flowers and candlelight filled the tables, bringing a pleasant aroma and ambiance to room. It was simple and elegant, not over the top. It was the room where she first witnessed what more then friendship could look like with this man, as he held her son and made faces to make him laugh. She was wearing the same dress she wore that night, the night of her son's christening, her hair in the same updo. She wanted this to be another night she would never forget.

Elizabeth was standing in the center of Abigail's Café when the door opened and Nathan walked in. As requested, he was wearing his brown tweed suit. He was carrying the package that held her manuscript. As much as he was trying to look confident, Elizabeth could tell he was nervous. Her eyes met his, and she smiled to calm his nerves. He approached her but stopped about 3 steps away. He was scared. Scared she was going to break his heart again. Scared because he knew that the next few minutes were going to be the most important of his life, or the worst possibly imaginable.

"Always do what you are afraid to do", Elizabeth started. "It was the plaque you gave me. It has so much truth to it. I have been afraid for so long. I have been afraid to think of the future, to face my past. I have been afraid to love. But more then that, I have been afraid to live the life I want. I finally realized that I am not afraid anymore. I am not afraid to move forward. I am not afraid to love. And I am not afraid to live my life to the fullest that it can be".

Elizabeth moved forward, inches from Nathan's chest. He looked so handsome in his suit, but she knew that was not who he was.

She looked up into his eyes, and slowly brought her hands up to the knot of his tie. She gently loosened it and released the stretch of fabric from around his neck. His eyes bore into hers as her fingers returned to the top button of his shirt, and in the most innocent, intimate movement of her life, she unbuttoned the top button of his shirt, and then the next one down.

"I am in love with you Nathan Grant, just the way you are. You and our children are the most important things in the world to me. I do not want to spend another day of my life without you beside me. Will you marry me, and make me the happiest woman in the world?"

Nathan looked down at her, not believing what he is hearing. He could not speak. Everything he had wanted was happening, and he could not say a word. With his free hand, he reached for her face and tilted his head down so that his lips melted into hers. He dropped the manuscript as his other arm found its way around her waist and pulled her so close to him that neither of them could tell where one stopped and the other started.

He finally brought his head back up, tears in the corner of his eyes, as he said, "A thousand times, yes".

"Oh, I knew it, I am so excited for you" Rosemary exclaimed as she burst out from behind the curtain to the kitchen in the café.

Nathan looked up, surprised to see her with Allie at her side, then Lee and Bill come through the curtain, with Little Jack in Lee's arms.

Elizabeth stood there, still in Nathan's arms watching his face, as confusion and then happiness lit up his eyes. He looked down at her and smiled.

"So, are you ready to do this?" Bill asked.

Nathans's head popped back up and looked at his friend and mentor. "What? Now?" Nathan asked. He looked back down at Elizabeth as he said "We aren't ready. She deserves the world… a house… rings…"

"Oh, the rings are taken care of" Rosemary interjected while Lee sneaked a little smirk on his face.

"Nathan, you and our children are my world. We have two houses, pick which one we want to live in. I have everything I need in my life except you as my husband. I do not want to wait. Life is too short, and we have missed too much time already. I don't want to miss another day not being your wife."

"If you're sure…?"

"Yes, I am sure!"

"Ok"

Bill stepped forward, looking at the two of them, still wrapped up in each other's arms. "Do you want a little space?"

At the same time, both Elizabeth and Nathan said "No". Nathan looked down at her, and his trademark crooked smile formed on his face. Elizabeth smiled and gently bit on her lower lip.

Lee, with Little Jack still in his arms, stepped behind Nathan, and Rosemary next to Elizabeth, with Allie by her side.

Bill began. "Nathan, repeat after me. I, Nathan, take thee, Elizabeth, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith."

"I, Nathan, take thee, Elizabeth, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith."

"Elizabeth, repeat after me. I, Elizabeth, take thee, Nathan, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith."

"I, Elizabeth, take thee, Nathan, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith."

"Lee, the rings". Lee reached into his pocket and pulled out two simple gold wedding bands and put them into Bill's hand.

"Nathan, place the ring on Elizabeth's left ring finger, and state, with this ring, I thee wed."

Not wanting to break the connection with her, Nathan stepped back a step, reached for the ring, and slid the ring onto Elizabeth's finger. "With this ring, I thee wed".

"Elizabeth, place the ring on Nathan's left ring finger, and state, with this ring, I thee wed."

Elizabeth picked up the ring in Bill's hand, brought it to the tip of Nathan's finger, looked up into his eyes, and as she slid it on stated "With this ring, I thee wed".

"By the power invested in me by the territory of Alberta, I pronounce you, my wonderful friends, husband and wife. And family!"

Elizabeth was smiling the biggest smile of her life as Nathan pulled her back into her arms and kissed her as though his life was depending on it. Allie shrieked with joy, and Little Jack clapped because Allie was happy. After a moment, Elizabeth and Nathan broke apart, and Nathan reached for Little Jack, and Elizabeth brought Allie close to her. Allie looked up at Elizabeth, and with tears in her eyes said "I have a family. A real family." Following her lead, Little Jack yelled out "Famy".

Elizabeth knew she had made the right decision. It may had taken her a little while to figure it out, but these were the people she wanted to travel the road of life with, and she could not be more excited to discover what their future had in store for them.