AN: Alrighty, so I had planned on including more than just episode 1 in this chapter but it's a decent length and everyone has been patient waiting for updates so I thought i would just leave it at this. Hope you all enjoy!


Jack had thought he knew loneliness before. Being a simple spectator on his family, friends, and neighbors' lives had been hard before when he had Colleen to confide in. Now that his fellow spirit was gone, he truly was alone. More than once, in those weeks following Christmas, he thought about seeking Colleen out to talk about something. A wave of loneliness and sorrow crashed over him every time when he remembered that the sister and mother had found her peace. Colleen had moved on to be with those that had passed before her and await her family in the real world.

That feeling gave Jack an idea of what his wife was going through. He would often see those emotions cross her face at random times throughout the day, but especially when her eyes fell on one of his pictures. It told Jack how much Elizabeth was missing him, even if she had stopped visiting his grave.

Elizabeth had not been to his grave in several months. At first, Jack had told himself it was due to the cold weather to assuage his hurt. However, as the snows melted and winter gave way to spring, and she still did not visit Hope Valley's little cemetery, Jack knew it was something more. Jack knew that she was having trouble coping with his death once again. More than ever, he wanted to wrap his arms around her and just hold her.

Something else that frustrated Jack was the backward step that Elizabeth had taken in her relationship with Nathan. They had seemed well on the way to their friendship moving onto something more at Christmas time. It wasn't like Elizabeth went out of her way to avoid Nathan, however, she didn't seek him out either. More than once, Jack had seen her cast a look toward the jail when in town on errands. Jack wished she would just get over her fears and seek Nathan out. He knew she would find comfort with Nathan because his Mountie replacement had fallen for his widow. Jack knew that without a doubt.

It was partly that knowledge, and partly a sense of duty to Colleen, that made Jack check in on Nathan and Ally as well. Knowing that Elizabeth was fairly safe among her friends and neighbors in town, Jack, more often than not, accompanied Nathan on his rounds. The act brought a soothing sense of familiarity to Jack. When an assignment took Nathan out of Hope Valley, again he followed his replacement constable. He felt that Nathan needed what little protection he could give more than Elizabeth during this time. This was the start of Jack becoming a second guardian angel for Nathan, a man that he had not known in life but that had been important to Colleen. A man who was important to Elizabeth even if she was not yet open to it.

For Jack, it seemed almost as if he was paying a debt, as Nathan looked out for Elizabeth and Jack, so he did so silently. Jack knew that if a need arose for Elizabeth, Nathan would be there to fulfill it just as he quietly had pieces of wood to her woodpile out back every morning before most of Hope Valley was even awake. Though Elizabeth questioned Lee about the extra wood, Lee denying it was he, she did not inquire further. Lee did however, asking both Bill and Nathan about the woodpile. When Lee asked Nathan about it, Nathan had looked at the ground, giving Lee the answer he needed. Lee had told Nathan his secret was safe with him and had left the jail, heading for his own office.

Besides, it hurt less to watch over Nathan for Colleen than to watch Elizabeth drowning in her grief and unable to do anything about it. If only Elizabeth would open herself to the feelings, she was suppressing perhaps she could find a way to move on. Jack spent long evenings with her just hoping that she would open her journal and pour out what was in her heart. Or even walk next door and have a heart to heart with Rosemary.

Despite the fact that Lucas criticism of her short stories ruffled Elizabeth even more, Jack had to admit he took a little bit of pleasure in the awkwardness it created between her and the saloon owner. All Lucas was doing was confusing Elizabeth more as he represented her past. However, just like Billy Hamilton or Charles Kensington, Lucas was not right for her. Elizabeth was no longer that pampered, city girl he was sent to Hope Valley to 'babysit'. She had developed into a strong, independent woman who had learned that there were things in life more important than the luxuries that money could by. The only thing being with Lucas would do, was make her forget that lesson.

Despite her confusion involving Nathan, the confusion did not extend to Ally where Elizabeth was concerned. Since first arriving in Coal Valley, Elizabeth had always spent extra time with those students who seemed to need her a little more than the others. First there was Rosaleen Sullivan who wouldn't talk after losing her father. She had taken a special interest in Gabe Montgomery who had struggled with not only his father's death but the mystery surrounding his mother's actions. Then there were Phillip and Opal. Even Laura, who she was now fostering a further education while employing the young woman.

With that history, it did not surprise Jack that Elizabeth would reach out to Ally. The girl had a sad past, even with the little that Elizabeth knew. The struggle to make friends had been real and even now, happy as she was in Hope Valley, Ally lived with an uncertainty that Elizabeth knew well - sending a love one off to work with the very real knowledge that they may come home hurt or worse.

It was that interest in Ally that usually gave Elizabeth the courage to strike up a conversation with Nathan, just like the one that Jack was witnessing right then. However, as Elizabeth turned to walk away, Nathan stopped her.

"Elizabeth."*

Elizabeth turned, the same look of curiosity in her expression that Jack felt himself. Nathan was not much of a talker, but he seemed about to say something now. Jack could only hope that his professional replacement was finally getting the courage to take steps to replace him in another way as well.

"Ah yeah um . . . I wanted to say . . . never mind."

Jack let out a groan. Nathan Grant was like the teenage boy who was trying to ask a girl out for a first time and it was frustrating. What Jack would not give for just even two minutes to give the man a quick talk about how to talk to women.

"What?" Elizabeth said, in an attempt to prod Nathan into saying what was on his mind. She waited a moment before teasing gently, "cat got your tongue?"

"Yeah, maybe," Nathan told her. "Or my better judgement."

That last bit told Jack that it wasn't simply nerves that was holding Nathan back. He knew then that his fellow Mountie was also dealing with feelings of guilt that Elizabeth was his widow. Nathan had come to look after a fallen brother in arms' widow, not fall in love with her.

Oh, how he wished he could just tell Nathan that it was okay. That if Nathan could bring Elizabeth happiness that he was perfectly fine with him being with her.

"Well, let me know when you figured it out," Elizabeth told him before finally leaving.

Jack sighed again. The chemistry between Elizabeth and Nathan was obvious. Jack even thought the two was aware of it as well, but their own guilt was holding them back.


Jack stood on the dock next to Elizabeth, while in front of her, Little Jack threw pebbles into the pond. His son's antics made him smile. How he wished, he could experience this for real. Only now, in death, was Jack realizing how much he had missed out in life by focusing so much on his career.

"Maybe it was a dream. Maybe I wasn't cut out to be a writer."*

Elizabeth's quiet lament tore at Jack's heart. His Elizabeth had so much talent inside her. Those short stories he had published for her were sweet little stories. Perhaps they would not appeal to a wide audience but that didn't matter. They came from the heart. They were true and genuine, and he was sure he was not the only one who would enjoy reading them. Other people that the stories would resonate with even if Lucas Bouchard did not have the life experiences to appreciate them.

Jack reached out a hand. Though his fingers simply passed through Elizabeth's hair, he knew it was the only way he could offer comfort. Elizabeth glanced in his direction briefly as if she felt his fingers slip through her hair. Perhaps she did. He had told Elizabeth he would be watching over her the rest of her days. He could only hope that promise brought her some comfort.

"Hello."

Nathan's greeting caught both Jack and Elizabeth's attention. Jack turned with Elizabeth. It was only then that Nathan noticed the little boy with Elizabeth.

"Oh, sorry, I uh, didn't know that you were busy," Nathan commented as he dismounted Newton.

"Not at all," Elizabeth told him casually. Reaching down, she picked up Little Jack and moved him away from the edge of the dock.

"Kid's got quite an arm," Nathan commented, dropping Newton's reigns as he came forward, assured by Elizabeth's response that he wasn't bothering him.

"He sure does," Elizabeth replied, placing Jack down again, right in front of Jack, though no one knew he was there.

Nathan notices Elizabeth's book of short stories on a nearby stump. "What are you reading?" Nathan inquired reaching out or the book. "Collection of Frontier Stories by Elizabeth Thatcher," he read out loud. "Well that's you, isn't it?"

Jack could see the color come to Elizabeth's face at the question. He found her self doubt endearing and wished more than anything that he could still be there to chase it away.

"I didn't know that you were a writer," Nathan continued when there was no response from Elizabeth.

Elizabeth finally reached out for the book. "I am not," she told him, even as Nathan easily surrendered the book.

"I think that book says otherwise," Nathan told her, his words the encouraging words of a friend who wasn't concerned with the quality but simply the effort of an endeavor.

"Well, I've been told my writing should be deeper, so . . . "

"What does that mean?" Nathan asked, seeking understanding.

"Apparently the best writing comes straight from the heart," Elizabeth told him, repeating Lucas' words from earlier.

"So, what's in your heart?" Nathan asked her.

Once again, Jack saw the perfect opening for these two to open themselves up to the feelings stirring within. If only he could knock some sense into the both of them.

"Mama" Little Jack said, causing Elizabeth to kneel and brush her hand over her son's head, not answering Nathan's question. Knowing her like he did, Jack Sr. did not need her too. He knew what was in Elizabeth's heart - her son, this town, her students, and he would even confidently say Nathan at this time. Unfortunately, she was not ready to accept that last one quite yet.

With the grace of a man willing to wait patiently while a widow sorted through her turmoil of feeling, Nathan told her, "you let me know when you figure it out." Unlike Lucas, who pressured Elizabeth into giving answers, Nathan showed her compassion and patience.

As Nathan turned to mount Newton, Jack hoped that Elizabeth would realize the difference between how the two men interacting with her. He hoped that she would see that it was love that fueled Nathan's pressure while Lucas Bouchard simply viewed it as a challenge to win her love. The self-proclaimed gambler was use to having anything and anyone he wanted and Elizabeth was no different.


*Dialogue taken from Season 7 Episode 1 of WCTH.