So this was supposed to be a one-shot. But the lack of Mountie Jack and Constabeth romance in season 4 has left me with way too much inspiration to leave it as a one-shot.
I cannot say how many chapters this will be, but this story will go through the many scenarios that I think should have played out in season four.
So hold on to your Stetsons everyone. It's gonna be a fun little ride.
Jack smiled, eyes still closed to the world around him, as Elizabeth silently played with his hair while grading last week's spelling tests. It was a moment of pure peace and joy… and God knows the young couple needed it.
The past two weeks had been nothing but turmoil. First, Jack and Elizabeth attend Doug's memorial service in Union City. There, Jack spent a great deal of time with Doug's mother. The two shared stories of the young Mountie, laughing and crying throughout. And while it had been terribly sad and difficult time, it had been quite thrilling all the same when Jack was able to introduce Elizabeth as his fiancee for the first time.
After Doug's funeral, Elizabeth was forced to travel to Cape Fullerton once again in order to testify against Thomas Higgins along with several other teachers, as well as clear her damaged reputation as and educator. Jack had been unable to go with her, due to the rising chaos in town associated with the ever expanding Pacific Railroad. And suddenly, and without Jack realizing it, two weeks had flown by. Elizabeth had been reinstated to her teaching position in Hope Valley, and she had been more diligent and determined than ever to prove herself to the town even though it seemed that every parent in town was thrilled to see the Elizabeth Thatcher reinstated.
"I received a letter from Julie today," Elizabeth stated simply, though Jack could hear the delight hiding in her voice.
Jack smiled, his eyes still closed, "And what did this letter say?"
"Well," Elizabeth began excitedly, "Julie is ecstatic. She's decided that she is moving to Hope Valley immediately to help me begin planning the wedding."
"I'm sure that Tom moving here in two months with the railroad has nothing to do with it."
"Oh hush," Elizabeth smacked his stomach playfully, earning a chuckle from her fiancé, "they're both keeping out of trouble for now so I won't question it. I seem to recall a particular mountie, on several occasions, reminding me not to go looking for unnecessary trouble."
Jack gave a hearty laugh at Elizabeth's last comment as he pulled her left hand up to kiss her knuckles, "Good to know that you actually listen to me. I can leave knowing that a little common sense has rubbed off on you."
Elizabeth smiled briefly before Jack's words fully settled in her mind. He was leaving in three days to travel with a unit of Mounties to the Northern Territories. He was leaving and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it. The knowledge of all that could happen once Jack was out of her site and out of her reach left Elizabeth with a terrible ache in her belly that she couldn't quell.
She had scoured through her precious books for any information on the Northern Territories to learn everything about the landscape that her fiancé would call home for the foreseeable future. The Spring and Summer were temperate enough and the geography was fairly similar to Hope Valley. Unfortunately, it wasn't Spring or Summer. Winter was quickly approaching and if the farmer's almanac was right, as it had been for the past three years, Northern Canada was in for a harsh winter. As if fighting outlaws weren't bad enough, Jack would have to fend off the bitter cold and howling winds. And all Elizabeth could do was sit and wait for him to come home.
"Where did you go?"
Elizabeth looked down Jack, his beautiful hazel eyes staring up at her with love and concern. She smiled at him then and carded her slender fingers through his hair once more.
"It just hit me."
"That I'm leaving?" Jack's eyes narrowed and he raised a hand to caress Elizabeth's rosy cheek.
Elizabeth nodded as she let her graded papers rest on the soft picnic blanket underneath them. Her now free hand reached up to hold Jack's strong, calloused hand in place. She hoped he would leave it at that and not press her for any further details as to the reason for her melancholy mood.
But of course, Mountie Jack was far too observant to leave well enough alone. Elizabeth watched as his stunning gaze narrowed as he studied her worried features and by God if she didn't love and hate when he did this. It was a fascinating sight, to watch the wheels in his brain turn and work out minute details that most men would pass off as nothing. But as awe-inspiring and, well, infuriatingly attractive as it was, Elizabeth couldn't stand it when she was the recipient to his detailed study. Especially because he was rarely wrong.
"It's not just that, is it?"
Elizabeth closed her eyes and rested her chin further in his sturdy palm. She lowered her head as Jack rose to sit up with her, his free hand coming to tangle itself in Elizabeth's auburn hair.
"My father wrote to me," Elizabeth's voice was barely above a whisper.
Jack's jaw clenched involuntarily, already knowing what William Thatcher said. If it was anything along the lines of the three letters of rejection Jack had received throughout his courtship with Elizabeth, it couldn't be good.
"He wrote that he and my mother did not support our engagement and that they would not be attending my wedding so long as you were the groom.
Jack took a deep breath, unsure how to comfort his fiancee.
"Elizabeth," his voice was warm like maple syrup and Elizabeth took in a deep breath, taking in as much of his soothing presence as she could get before he left, "Sweetheart."
"I just don't understand, Jack," Elizabeth's voice cracked as Jack pulled her into his chest. She felt a gentle kiss to her forehead as tears started to well in her deep, blue eyes, "How can he not see how wonderful you are? How happy you make me?"
Jack placed a gentle hand underneath Elizabeth's delicate chin to stare into her watery eyes, a weak smile playing at his lips, "He's your father, Elizabeth. In his mind, no one will ever be good enough for you. And I can't say that I completely disagree with him. He just wants to make sure that you'll be cared for. And we haven't had a good enough relationship to feel reassured."
"But that's his own fault," Elizabeth countered, refusing to let her father get off scot-free, "you tried to get to know him and let him get to know you. He wrote you off the minute he met you… and I didn't do anything to defend you."
Elizabeth tried to lower her gaze, but Jack refused. His hand held her face steady, "Listen to me, Elizabeth. Don't you dare blame yourself for this. This has nothing to do with you. This is about your father and me. I know how much his opinion means to you, and I promise you that I will continue to do everything I can to ease the tension between you. I'm sorry that my presence has caused such a rift between the two of you."
Elizabeth shook her head furiously, "Don't you dare apologize, Jack. You've done nothing wrong. This isn't just about you. My father has never approved of my choice to teach. He always chocked it up to a flight of fancy, a youthful urge for adventure. He saw you as some last ditch juvenile rebellion. And as much as I love you for moving past it, the fact remains that I let him treat you horribly when we were in Hamilton."
Jack's jaw clenched and this time he was the one to lower his head. Elizabeth refused to lose his gaze, "I will never be able to apologize enough for my behavior in Hamilton, Jack. You… you are without a doubt the best man I have ever known," Elizabeth didn't even try to fight the smile that always seemed to grow when she thought of Jack, "You are so kind and smart and strong. You're brave and good and… all I can do is thank God every day that He gave you to me."
"You humble me, Elizabeth," Jack's voice was soft and shy and Elizabeth couldn't help but think that it must have been what he sounded like as a small boy. Charlotte often remarked that Jack was a soft-spoken, shy young boy. The thought brought a gentle smile to her lips.
"I love you, Jack Thornton," Elizabeth declared, "I can never tell you that enough."
"I love you, Elizabeth Thatcher," Jack whispered so sweetly it took her breath away, "I will never get tired of telling you, how much I love you."
Jack gave a quick grin as Elizabeth pulled him in for a kiss. Their lips melded together in a slow, lingering dance. Elizabeth's soft, slender fingers carded through Jack's dark brown hair, taking purchase in the short silky strands. Jack's hands went to Elizabeth's hair and to her waist, pulling her close.
Quickly, as all of their kisses seemed to invoke these days, passion raged within them. Elizabeth's hands moved to cling to Jack's light blue cotton button up. He had forgone the vest that usually accompanied the shirt, leaving Elizabeth to feel the hard planes of his chest and sculpted muscles of his arms and shoulders. The beautiful feeling of his muscles under her hands only encouraged Elizabeth, and she pulled his lips fiercely to her mouth.
Hot desire surged through Jack as he kissed her back with a fury and passion that sometimes scared him and drove him to the brink. Elizabeth whimpered as Jack's mouth left hers to trail kisses from the corner of her lips and down toward the hollow of her neck. Goodness, how he wanted her.
Elizabeth could scarcely think. Gracious, how she wanted Jack. She held the back of his head, playing with the strands of hair that were beginning to curl due to their length. She wanted him to claim her, to giver herself to him. It was too much… he was too much. She prayed he would never stop….
Of course, he stopped, he had to stop. But Jack would be lying if he said it wasn't the hardest thing he'd ever done in pulling away from Elizabeth, his future wife, in the heat of the moment.
"You're going to be the death of me, Elizabeth Thatcher," Jack exhaled against Elizabeth's neck that was somewhat red from the scruff adorning Jack's handsome face. Elizabeth giggled.
Dammit…. she giggled. She really was going to be the death of him.
"You're not allowed to die, Jack Thornton," Elizabeth teased before pulling his face up to hers and placed a single, solid kiss to his beautiful lips, "Not for a very long time."
"Yes, Miss Thatcher," Jack smiled that grin with those damned dimples that made Elizabeth go weak in the knees.
Elizabeth flashed him a quick grin, laughter dancing in her eyes as she ran her fingers through his hair, "I love you, Jack Thornton. I cannot wait to be your wife."
"I love you, Elizabeth Thatcher. I cannot wait to be your husband."
Elizabeth smiled at Jack as though she held a secret. It was intriguing, tantalizing, and by God, insanely attractive. Jack's eyes narrowed in playful confusion as he watched the wheels turning in that beautiful brain of hers.
"What?"
Elizabeth bit her lip, "Why don't we?"
Jack chuckled, "Why don't we what?"
"Why don't we get married? Today?"
Jack's eyes widened and Elizabeth nearly giggled at the comical display. It was fun to know that she could still surprise him.
"Elizabeth," Jack was flustered, excited and confused. Elizabeth decided that he was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen, "Are you sure? I mean… I would have married you the minute you got back from Cape Fullerton but… your family."
"My family," Elizabeth took a deep breath and calmly continued, "my family will simply have to get over it. Julie will understand and Viola couldn't care less. My father… well, he's made his opinion on the matter very clearly. And my mother is too scared to go against my father even though I know for a fact that she adores you. They wouldn't have been at our wedding, whether it's today or six months from now."
Jack gazed in wonder at the woman before him. What did he do to be so blessed? How on earth to he ever win favor with this marvel of a woman? He would do everything in his power to make her happy. He would do everything possible to give her the best life.
"I don't want you to regret anything. I don't ever want to be the reason you regret anything in your life."
A soft, beautiful, loving smile adorned Elizabeth's full lips as she pulled her betrothed in for a tender kiss.
"The only thing I will ever regret in this life, Jack, is that I did not marry you sooner."
Jack couldn't contain the smile that beamed from his face.
"Marry me, Jack Thornton," Elizabeth whispered, "marry me today."
Jack pulled her and claimed her lips with his.
"Of course, Elizabeth. Of course, I'll marry you."
Reviews are appreciated and welcomed! Let me know what you think!
