Oh look how the colors are changing

New stars appear in the night sky

This heart is starting to come to life

-Imaginary Flute, "Love is Beginning"

Elizabeth closed the door on the oven after checking on the chicken she was roasting for dinner with Nathan that evening. She couldn't help but remember the first chicken she'd ever attempted to cook, so many years ago now for the Montgomery children. It'd been burnt to a crisp and she laughed as she remembered the looks on the childrens' faces. Then the memory shifted—to Jack, of course, to the first meals she'd tried to make for him, which she was sure would be considered more poisonous than food—and she felt a pang in her heart for the man she loved so deeply and had lost.

Losing Jack had almost broken her beyond repair. Elizabeth had honestly felt as if she could no longer live in Hope Valley at first with so many reminders of the life she'd dreamed of having and would never experience. If it hadn't been for Abigail and so many others, she was sure that she would indeed have left, gone back to Hamilton—made her parents happy. The baby, of course, had only reaffirmed her decision, after she'd made it, to stay; raising the child her and Jack had created in the short time they'd had together nowhere else but Hope Valley, the place they had shared so much love. It would be disrespectful to his memory and to their love if she'd left.

So Elizabeth had stayed, determined to give her child the best life she could provide. After Carson had confirmed Abigail's statement that she was going to have a baby, Elizabeth had frequently felt melancholic. It was amazing that she had become pregnant so quickly and a miracle that she would always have a part of Jack with her. Yet, at the same time, it was bittersweet. She'd so looked forward to helping Jack build a crib for their baby, decorating the nursery, deciding on names, and everything else that expectant parents did. While she certainly wasn't alone, it wasn't the same as having her husband help pick out curtains or wallpaper, rubbing her swollen belly, and talking to the unborn baby—telling it how much they already loved and couldn't wait to meet him or her.

As time had passed and Little Jack was born and grew, Elizabeth had settled into life as a single mother. A burden had lifted when Laura had consented to become her nanny and Little Jack—who was not so 'little' anymore—had a more stable home life. She'd thrown herself into caring for him and had given very little thought to what the future would hold beyond her job, friends, and her son. Jack's final letter to her was safely placed in one of the drawers of her desk, never even considering the idea of opening her heart to someone else, despite having his blessing. It was absurd to think she would find another man who could capture her heart.

Fate, it seemed, had other plans. Within a short time of each other, two men had entered her life, and both had had a huge impact. It had been confusing with Lucas to begin with. He was so charming and so like the rich men she'd known in Hamilton, yet also sincere and genuine, qualities men in Hamilton often lacked. It was around the time that he'd helped establish the library that she wondered if his interest was more than friendly. He'd not confirmed it, but neither had he denied it. Nathan had implied that Lucas had donated the space purely for her. At the time she'd dismissed the claim, but later she hadn't been so sure. Him buying the tickets for the Virginia Woolf reading solely for her made her once again question his motivation for the library. Had his regard for her been present for much longer than she'd assumed?

But Elizabeth wasn't the only woman in Hope Valley that Lucas was his ever-suave self with, only his attentions specifically toward her had grown over the months. Even before the day he and Nathan had brought flowers to her, it was obvious that the two men were in competition for her heart. It had been embarrassing knowing that the whole town was speculating which man she would choose. It was very reminiscent of Jack and Charles. At least she didn't have students asking her who she was going to marry this time. That had been embarrassing!

Nathan, on the other hand, had never shown any interest in another woman since he'd moved to Hope Valley. Even his behavior with Elizabeth had been highly circumspect, he was so shy and kept his emotions hidden away that she'd had trouble deciphering what his feelings might be. It had been so frustrating and confusing and no help to her whatsoever in trying to figure out her own feelings! The man was like a riddle wrapped in an enigma and then hidden in a puzzle for good measure! she grumbled to herself. However, Elizabeth was fairly confident that she'd finally solved it. At least, she hoped so. Nathan telling her that she mattered to him had given her much to think about, and later made her heart soar with hope when she could finally admit to herself who she cared for in the romantic sense. It was like her heart was starting to come to life again.

Unsurprisingly, it was Rosemary who helped Elizabeth realize where her feelings were leading her. It had just been hard, because no matter which man she chose, the other was going to get hurt, and that was part of what had been holding her back. Lucas and Nathan were both good men, and it was entirely possible for her to see a future with both. There could only be one though, and she finally knew who she was willing to open her heart to and give it fully. It was scary. There was every chance she could lose him again, but it was worth the risk.

Elizabeth smiled and hummed softly to herself as she finished mashing the potatoes to go along with dinner. She was satisfied with the meal she was preparing and hoped it was the first of many to come.

After purchasing a bottle of red wine from the Mercantile Nathan walked into his rowhouse to see Allie sitting at the table. She was concentrating on whatever it was she was putting to paper. There were no books so she was not doing homework, but there was an envelope on the table so she was not writing a story, which meant she must be writing to his father. Archie, true to his word, had sent letters every month, pages and pages worth of stories of Colleen, sometimes including Nathan. Allie was always so eager to go to the Mercantile to check the post for her next letter. He felt happiness swell within him at the knowledge that she was getting to know—if only in letters—her grandfather and her mother. Archie and Nathan kept in touch as well, but their letters were not quite as long or as frequent. Their bond, and trust, needed time to heal. It was, albeit slowly. That was all right with Nathan though. As the saying goes, "Rome wasn't built in a day."

Allie looked up and smiled brightly at Nathan. "Hey, Uncle Nathan! Anything interesting happen on your rounds today?"

The question was more of a little joke of theirs rather than a serious inquiry. Hope Valley had its moments, like Gentleman Johnny being caught or the fiasco with Amos Dixon, but the town was more often than not peaceful, which suited Nathan just fine. "Not really. Unless you count the Mercantile getting a large quantity of black licorice with the supply shipment."

Allie wrinkled her nose. She detested the candy with a passion, a sentiment Nathan shared. "Eww—definitely not!" Nathan chuckled at her spirited denial and sat at the table.

"Allie, I know this is last minute, but you're going to be having dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Coulter and Little Jack tonight," Nathan said, trying to hide his nervousness. He still felt quite anxious about joining Elizabeth for dinner.

Allie's countenance brightened. "Does that mean you're having dinner with Mrs. Thornton," she asked slyly.

Nathan hoped he wasn't blushing when he said, "It does."

"Is this a date?"

Nathan could hear the hopefulness in her tone. She obviously hadn't missed how he and Elizabeth seemed to be dancing around each other lately or that his feelings were deeper than friendship."I—I don't know, to be honest." Nathan felt awkward discussing this subject with his eleven-year old niece. In the seven years that she had lived with him, Nathan had never been interested in courting a woman, let alone go on a date.

The young but wise-beyond-her-years girl looked at her uncle for several moments, deep in thought. "Is it going to be just the two of you?"

"Yes," Nathan replied to her query.

Allie nodded decisively. "It sounds like a date to me. But what do I know? I'm only eleven." She shrugged dismissively, trying to affect an adult-like attitude.

Nathan almost laughed, but decided to play along instead. "Well, it's a subject you should definitely have no knowledge of for another twenty years or so, at the very least," he said in a mockingly stern voice. Allie just rolled her eyes. He had to stifle another laugh.

"Don't worry, Uncle Nathan. I'm never getting married."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"Because," Allie said as if it were obvious, "adult relationships look so complicated. I prefer a simple life." She sniffed and stuck her nose up in the air.

The laugh Nathan had been holding in finally escaped. His niece just looked at him like he'd lost his mind. "Yes, I'll agree that relationships are complicated, but someday—in the very distant future—you will meet someone who will change your mind."

Allie rolled her eyes again at her uncle. "If you say so."

"I do, but again, that's a long way off from now." This statement was met with a shrug of indifference.

"Well, whether it's a date or not," Allie began in a serious voice, "I want to wish you luck. I think you and Mrs. Thornton would be good for each other. It looks like you make each other happy-most of the time."

Nathan felt his throat tighten with emotion. He cleared it and said, "Thank you, Allie." She smiled at him.

Allie went back to her letter and Nathan made his way upstairs to change out of his uniform. His nerves began to build, wondering if he was about to get his heart broken, or, if by some miracle, a future he'd hardly dared let himself wish for was about to begin.