Surprise!

I've been seriously bogged down with work of just about every sort, resulting in maybe five minutes (if that) to spend writing each night. This ridiculous schedule has done little to ease the writer's block I've felt for weeks, but sometimes the right story comes to you and the words just flow - and this is one of those times.

I got a request a while back for a bit of an AU/Missing Moment fic and in thinking about it randomly the other day, I knew this one just had to be written. As you'll quickly realize, this is set amidst season eight, specifically episode three immediately following the explosion at the oil rig. I'll always be sad that that we didn't get to see all the fallout of such an intense event, but perhaps this will ease at least a little bit of that sorrow for us.

Enjoy!

Gathered together in the saloon, some sat in prayer, others paced back and forth across already worn floorboards, and Elizabeth Thornton sat with Helen Bouchard, worry evident on both of their faces.

Neither had said a word since they'd entered the Queen of Hearts. It had taken some convincing to usher the editor inside, but eventually, the schoolteacher was able to get them settled at a table near the back of the saloon. It had been eight years since an explosion had last rocked the ground beneath Hope Valley, but no one had forgotten, and Elizabeth was sure that this felt all too familiar to a town that had already dealt with so much loss.

It certainly felt familiar to her.

She'd tried to tell herself that she shouldn't be this concerned. After all, she wasn't even officially courting Lucas. Plus, he wasn't alone at the oil derrick. Nathan was there too, and she should be just as concerned for his safety as she was for the son of the woman who sat next to her. But when the flames and smoke had risen over the treeline, as she had stopped Helen from racing in their direction, she found herself petrified by the thought of losing him.

Elizabeth reached out to grasp Helen's hand in what she hoped would be a comforting gesture, but the older woman didn't move. "He's going to be alright," she whispered, although she wasn't convinced of that statement herself, even as she said it.

Helen closed her eyes, her fingers wrapping around Elizabeth's. "I cannot lose my son," she choked out.

Elizabeth wanted to tell her that she wouldn't. That Lucas would come walking back through the door at any moment, the picture of health. But she knew it wouldn't do any good to say those things, because she'd once convinced herself that Jack would be alright too.

And so, instead of trying to convince either of them further, she tightened her grip on Helen's hand and waited.

Fiona was the first to arrive back in town, Faith beside her on the wagon and a rather burnt looking Hickam in the back. Elizabeth had caught a glimpse of them through the window, and she knew Helen had caught it too based on her sharp intake of breath.

Someone jumped toward the door, swinging it open, and others followed, but Elizabeth and Helen remained where they were.

Through the doorway they watched as other men arrived back in town. Most looked a little worse for wear, but otherwise unharmed. Nathan and Lucas remained missing, but Elizabeth was well aware that both men would remain at the derrick until everyone had safely made it back into town.

It was only when her eyes locked on a flash of red surge that she felt her heart race.

Helen stood, her heels clicking on the wooden floor as she hurried to the front of the saloon. Tentatively, Elizabeth followed, but she found her gaze turning to the window behind the bar, where she could see Allie hurry toward her Uncle as he dismounted his horse. She stopped to watch as the young girl threw her arms around him, and he held her just as tight.

Nathan was safe, and there was some part of her that was relieved. But when she looked back toward the door only to find Helen gone, her heart dropped.

Every step toward the front of the saloon felt like a mile as a wave of memories she so desperately tried to push from her mind washed over her. All the days spent worrying, the nights spent praying, the hours passing by as she longed for her husband's safe return. She'd done this all before.

Elizabeth found Helen just outside. She too had stopped to look in the direction of the jail, watching as Nathan and Allie climbed the steps together. Allie walked inside, but Nathan paused, his own gaze turning to meet Elizabeth's from across the street. He stared for a moment and then followed his niece.

Footsteps sounded behind them, and in a flash, Helen was no longer beside her.

Elizabeth felt the worry ease from her shoulders, but she found her gaze locked firmly on him. Aside from the ash that was smeared across his face and clothing, he seemed physically fine. His hair, usually combed perfectly, was unruly, and he seemed tired, but he held his mother just as tightly as she held him.

"Never do that to me again," Helen muttered, a light sob finally escaping her as she embraced her son.

Lucas glanced up then, his eyes meeting Elizabeth's. She searched his gaze for any signs of distress, but still found none. Just the same longing she felt, the same desire to hold the other tight, just to confirm that they were, indeed, there and safe.

"I promise I won't," he said in response to Helen, although Elizabeth sensed that he was saying it just as much to her as he was to his mother.

Suddenly, Elizabeth felt as though she were intruding on a private moment she wasn't invited to. Plus, no matter how much she wished to confirm for herself that Lucas was fine, they were outside, and several sets of eyes were already turned in their direction.

Squaring her shoulders, Elizabeth cleared her throat. "I'd best be getting home to Jack," she stated formally.

Helen pulled back from her son, but left her hand firmly on his arm as though she needed his presence to remain grounded in the moment. Lucas looked like he was about to protest, but as a car rushed by, bringing yet another pair of eyes with it, he simply clenched his jaw and nodded lightly.

She turned without another word, forcing herself to walk away, but it was Helen's voice that stopped her.

"Elizabeth," she called after her, pausing for a moment as she waited for the schoolteacher to turn around. "Thank you."

Elizabeth gave her a weak smile, and with one last glance at Lucas, she made her way back toward the rowhouses.

~ E & L ~

With Jack finally sound asleep in his bed, Elizabeth collapsed against the couch with a heavy sigh.

Since returning from town that afternoon, she'd been unable to settle her mind for more than a moment. The explosion felt like years ago already, despite the fact that it had been only hours before, and as she ran her hands over her face, she wasn't sure what bothered her more: the fact that she hadn't been as concerned for Nathan or that she'd left Lucas without ensuring he was indeed okay.

Nathan had told her that he loved her, and she had turned him down. There was no doubt in her mind that that had been the right decision, but the explosion had given her pause as to why.

There had been a time, many years before, where she'd wondered if she would ever be fit to be a Mountie's wife. Jack himself had said that if Mounties were meant to have wives, they'd be issued one, a statement which she had only scoffed at, but now understood. Over the years that followed, she'd spent so much time waiting for Jack to return from danger. Day after day of wondering if she'd be granted more time with him, worrying if the Mountie riding into town was on his way to tell her that she'd lost him forever.

Her mind then flashed back to the previous fall, when virtually the entire town had watched as she nearly threw herself at Nathan after the Mountie had been shot. That had felt familiar too, but in a different way, and there was still a part of her that wondered if she had told Nathan no because she couldn't bear to go through that kind of pain again.

Yet here she was, hours after seeing him safe with her own eyes, but just as concerned for Lucas Bouchard as she ever was for Jack Thornton.

Elizabeth let herself sink further into the plush settee, groaning as she pleaded with her mind to quiet. Perhaps she should have stayed earlier, and asked him personally if he was alright. It certainly would have done wonders to calm her anxiety brought on by the thought of losing him.

Worrying wouldn't do anyone any good though. Lucas was fine. She would see him tomorrow, when his hair would probably be neatly back in place, any signs of the previous day's events extinguished from his form. With a huff, she stood, picking up the remaining lantern to take with her back up the stairs. She had just reached the bottom step when a knock sounded at the door.

It was so light that she'd barely caught it, and for a moment she wondered if she was imagining things. It was only when a second round of knocks tapped against the wood that she turned, setting the lamp on the nearby table so she could unlock and open the door.

"Elizabeth...I…" he started before she even had a chance to fully take him in. As she had expected, his hair was once again combed to perfection, a blue and grey suit now in place of the brown he had been wearing earlier. He still looked tired though, exhaustion just as evident in his gaze as it had been when she'd left him.

Without thinking, she lurched forward, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her head against his chest. His form was tense at first, unsure of how to respond, but he relaxed into her after a moment, his own arms coming to secure her against him. When she made no sign of letting go, he only held her tighter.

"Elizabeth," Lucas whispered again, his breath a gentle breeze against her hair.

"Just tell me you're okay," Elizabeth murmured.

"I'm so sorry. I never meant to…"

"Just tell me that you're okay," she reiterated, a seriousness now evident in her tone as she clung to him.

He sighed heavily, as though there was so much more he wanted to say, but instead he simply ran his hand up and down her back. "I'm okay."

Elizabeth let her eyes fall closed so she could focus on the sound of his heartbeat, loud against her ear where it rested on his chest. Beat after beat, moment after moment, each spent thanking God that he was here. He was safe. And, for today at least, she didn't have to worry any longer.