"You are not alone"

The timeline for this story is roughly set around season 8!

disclaimer: I do not own the characters from When Calls the heart. They belong to Janette Oke & Hallmark Channel.

Enjoy the story :)

Nathan couldn't remember the last time he had a good night's sleep. Ever since he received the news of his father's passing a few days before, Nathan couldn't seem to rest. He knew what kind of man his father was but there was still a part of him that hurt. Hurt because of his father's past mistakes that destroyed their family but most importantly hurt for Allie. Because after everything Nathan's father did to their family, Archie somehow managed to redeem a little of himself through Allie. Seeing Allie heartbroken over the death of Archie made it even harder on Nathan. He knew he had to be strong for her but he felt like his strength was fleeing by the day.

After many offers turned down that week from Bill, on Thursday afternoon Nathan finally gave in and left Allie with him.

Nathan knew he couldn't hold it all in for much longer so he went to the only place he knew to go. To the only person he felt could understand and not look down on him for it. To Elizabeth's.

He was knocking on her door before he could talk himself out of it. Pushing his hands in his pockets while he waited for a answer.

"Nathan" Elizabeth announced with surprise. They haven't really talked much lately. What with everything that happened. With her breaking it off with Lucas and him being out of town for Mountie business, they haven't had a lot of time to talk.

Motioning for him to come in, Nathan slowly made his way into her house and shut the door behind him. He gradually turned back around to face her while trying to gain the courage to say something.

"I…." Nathan starts to say but his words fall short. He didn't know what to say or where to start. He started to think maybe this was a bad idea and turned his body back towards the door to leave.

Elizabeth stops him instantly by reaching out and gently grabbing his arm. "Hey, what's wrong?" Elizabeth immediately asks alarmed by the way he is acting. This was Nathan. The same man who would tell corny jokes just to try to make her smile. Like the jokes about the founders being proud or school projects made by Allie. This wasn't like him. Something was definitely wrong.

He turns back around and looks down at her hand on his arm. He takes a deep breath out and looks back up at her not uttering a word. Hoping that she can read why he came without actually having to voice it out loud.

It only takes a moment for Elizabeth to piece together why he came. She knows that look. She has had that look. The look of not being able to hold it all together much longer.

"I heard what happened. I'm so sorry Nathan" Elizabeth speaks up again as she watches the pain in his eyes intensify. Her heart slowly breaks as she catches the different emotions pass over his face. She steps a little closer to him to give him some sort of support as she keeps her hand on his arm.

"I…." he starts to say but stops himself as he feels himself losing control. After a moment he clears his throat and starts again, "I don't know why it hurts so much. He spilt our family apart. For more than half of his life he wasn't a good man, Elizabeth" Nathan said with pain portraying in his voice and eyes. He took a deep breath out before looking up at the ceiling to keep his composure.

Elizabeth gently moved her right hand from his arm to over his heart looking into his eyes. Nathan's breath caught as his eyes found hers once again.

"It hurts because after everything he put you through, he was still your father"

The sincerity in her eyes and worry in her voice was slowly breaking down his walls. Looking away from the intensity in her gaze once more, he struggles to not let the tears fall. He can't keep his emotions in check with that look of sincerity from her.

"It's okay to mourn him, Nathan" Elizabeth whispers as tears slide down both of her cheeks.

He covers his hand over hers, that lies on his chest, and closes his eyes. Taking a few deep breaths in order to calm his racing heartbeat down, he tries to focus on her hand on his heart. Losing the battle a moment later a tear makes its way down the side of his face falling onto the ground below. Lowering his head he finally lets the rest of the tears fall as he holds onto her hand like a lifeline.

"You don't have to go through this alone, Nathan" Elizabeth gently speaks through her tears as she watches his heart breaking in front of her. She steps forward wrapping her free arm around him and placing her head on his chest to give him some comfort.

He stiffens to her head on his chest and doesn't immediately respond to her embrace. Taking a deep breath, Nathan finally gives in wrapping his arms around her fully as he breaks down. Lowering his head down on her shoulder, he finally lets the tears flow freely.

"It's okay" Elizabeth continues to whisper to him as a hand lightly strokes the hair on the back of his head.

Nathan didn't know how long he remained in Elizabeth's arms that afternoon. All he knew was that he slowly felt the weight of the world lifting from his shoulders the longer he remained in them. He didn't feel alone anymore.

When he finally gained the strength he needed, Nathan leaned back from Elizabeth's embrace. Looking into her tear stained eyes he squeezed one of her hands that lies in his. With the tiniest of smiles, he turns and leaves her house.

The next day Elizabeth opened her front door to find a small note on the top of her front porch. Noticing the handwriting on the front flap of the piece of paper, she instantly opens the note.

"Thank you for reminding me I'm not alone- N"

With a small smile and a light in her eyes, she looks across the row-houses searching for his. She knew he was going to be okay and that's all that mattered.