AN: Okay folks, so my Christmas fic this year is going to be for WCTH. I started this back in June and it has turned into my therapy story. As the story progresses, you will see why. It is also going to extend to New Year's but I need to start posting so that you all get to the Christmas chapters on Christmas. I hope you all enjoy it though the beginning might be hard to read for Nathan fans.
A light snow was falling on the little town of Hope Valley, adding to the snow already present. As it was normal weather for December in the area, and reports from the surrounding towns indicated, the snow would remain light, life in Hope Valley went on as usual.
Inside the Queen of Hearts, Nathan casually aimed the dart at the board and threw it. The dart joined the other two in the small ring surrounding the bull's eye.
"You win again," Lee said quietly, shaking his head. "I thought you said you don't play much."
"I don't," Nathan replied, gathering the darts from the board.
"He is a Mountie," Bill commented, walking toward the two men. "Aiming a dart at a stationary board is much easier than aiming a gun at someone that might shoot back at you."
"You make a good point," Lee replied. "Now that you are here Bill, we can sit down and eat so that Nathan doesn't keep humiliating me at darts."
"It was your suggestion," Nathan replied.
"Eating sounds like a good idea. Smelling everyone else's food at the café has made me even hungrier," Bill replied.
Nathan and Lee handed the darts off to Mayor Hickman and Kevin as Bill staked claim to a table. Lee picked up his beer while Nathan picked up his bottle of sarsparilla. Both then headed for the table.
"I thought you had the night off from the café," Lee commented as he and Nathan joined Bill at the table.
"So did I. However, Jesse distracted Clara who forgot about the corn muffins in the oven. I walked into the smell of something burning. After taking the black corn muffins out of the oven I had to assure the customers that the place was not burning down," Bill replied.
"I thought Abigail was taking charge of the café. That was why she chose not to run for reelection when she returned," Lee commented.
"She is," Bill confirmed. "However, Abigail decided to join Elizabeth and Rosemary for the girl's night that you got kicked out of your house."
"Well, I think all three of them can use a girl's night. Rosemary has been running herself ragged trying to put out the newspaper alone. She needs help. I know Abigail has been trying to adjust to things again after two years of caring for her mother and Elizabeth," Lee paused for a moment before continuing. "Other than when she is teaching, I don't think Elizabeth has been happy," Lee commented.
Nathan had suddenly found the pattern of the grain of the wood very interesting. Bill nodded in his direction and Lee looked at his friend and grimaced.
"Sorry," Lee said.
"It is fine," Nathan said, shrugging his shoulders and trying to pretend hearing about Elizabeth didn't bother him.
A waitress appeared and took the three men's order. When she disappeared, Bill changed the topic of conversation.
"What is Ally up to tonight?" Bill asked, knowing that the only reason Nathan had agreed to have dinner with him and Lee was that his daughter had plans.
"Having dinner with Robert and his family," Nathan replied.
"Ally is a little young to be dating isn't she," Lee commented.
"It is not a date," Nathan said firmly. "She is simply having dinner with a friend's family."
"A friend who happens to be a boy," Bill commented.
"The Wolfs have assured me that they will keep a close eye on the two of them," Nathan said.
"What are you going to call it when Robert asks Ally to a dance," Bill asked with an amused smile. "Or maybe even to simply go for a moonlight stroll?"
Nathan knew Bill was simply trying to bait him but they were legitimate worries for him. He knew it was just a matter of time before Ally started dated and he was not ready for that. Inevitably, she would probably end up with one broken heart in the process no matter how hard he tried to protect her.
"I have not decided yet," Nathan said, not at all ready to admit that the relationship blossoming between Ally and Robert was moving past friendship.
Bill and Lee both chuckled.
"I am so not ready to be a father to a teenager," Nathan admitted.
Lee reached out and rested a hand on Nathan's shoulder. "Having looked after my niece for a short time, I know what you are feeling."
"You will do fine, Nathan," Bill said reassuringly. "And if you feel like Robert is getting too close to Ally, I can always remind him that you carry a gun for a living."
That comment got a chuckle even from Nathan. "Ally would love you for that," he commented. Deciding it was time to get the conversation away from him, Nathan asked Lee about his business.
Bill's drink arrived, followed shortly by their meals. The three men continued to chat while they enjoyed their meal. Things were going fine until Lucas' voice drifted over from the bar.
"Your eyes are quite pretty. They sparkle like diamonds."
All three men glanced in the direction of the bartender's voice, wondering if perhaps Elizabeth had decided to skip girls' night after all. However, Lucas wasn't talking to Elizabeth but to a blonde that none of them had seen before. Though they heard the blonde reply, her voice was low enough that the words couldn't be heard. However, Lucas words could still be discerned as he continued to flirt with the stranger.
Nathan put down his fork and got to his feet. Bill reached out a hand and grabbed Nathan's wrist.
"Don't go making a scene," Bill warned.
"I won't," Nathan replied. "However, I am suddenly no longer hungry. I think I am going to go pick up Ally and call it a night."
Bill nodded, letting go of Nathan's wrist.
"Do you want me to drive you out to the Wolf's place?" Lee asked.
Nathan shook his head. "You and Bill finish eating. I will catch up with you tomorrow."
Bill and Lee both said good night as Nathan headed for the coat rack. If he had looked back, Nathan would have noticed the concerned look his friends were following his exit with. However, Nathan didn't look back. Grabbing his coat and campaign hat from the rack, Nathan headed out of the saloon, pulling the black coat on over his red serge as he left the saloon.
The snow was still drifting down. Hoof prints, wagon wheels and other foot prints packed the snow down in places and made it slick. His thoughts and emotions a turmoil inside, Nathan wasn't paying as much attention to his footing as he should have been. He was still trying to pull on his gloves as his foot slid on a slick spot and he went down. Instinctively, Nathan tried to break his fall with his hands, only one of which had the glove on.
"Nathan, are you okay?" Faith asked, hurrying down from the boardwalk in front of the infirmary which she had just left.
"I'm fine," Nathan replied, getting to his feet as Faith carefully hurried toward him. "I was hoping no one had noticed their Mountie being clumsy though," he told her.
Faith smiled. "I won't tell anyone," she assured him. "Are you sure nothing hurts?"
"My pride, maybe," Nathan replied knocking the snow from the glove he had dropped and then pulling it on. He winced as his left wrist protested the action.
"I saw that reaction," Faith told him. "Come over to the infirmary and let me take a look at that wrist."
"I have to pick Ally up from the Wolfs."
"A delay of ten minutes will not matter," Faith insisted, taking Nathan's arm.
Knowing that Faith was not going to be persuaded otherwise, Nathan let himself be led to the infirmary. Faith unlocked the door again and held the door for Nathan, making sure he went in.
"Have a seat," Faith told him, pointing to the closest bed as she went to light the lamp. As she had just left, the room was still warm though the fire in the stove had been put out. Faith didn't bother lighting it again as she pulled a chair over to the bed with the hand not holding the lamp. "You are usually very careful about your footing, how did you fall?" Faith asked casually.
A few months ago, Nathan would have probably replied with a casual 'guess I was not paying attention'. However, he and Faith had been talking more these last couple of months, having found common ground in their heart ache. Faith was missing Carson since he had left for Baltimore and had needed a friend to talk to. Likewise, Nathan had found a confidant in Faith for the unrequited love that he still had for Elizabeth. With Faith, Nathan had felt no need to try to act as if her rejection didn't bother him.
Instead, Nathan told her about Lucas' comments to the blonde stranger as she examined his wrist. "Part of me wanted to punch Lucas like Bill was thinking I would, though I know that would not have been good. Especially, not while in uniform. I would have been facing another inquiry for sure and Bill would have had a legitimate reason for putting me in the jail cell this time."
"I think you just sprained the wrist, " Faith told him. "And you were right not to hit Lucas," she told him. "I am going to wrap the wrist. Stay where you are."
"I could not just sit there and continue to listen to him. He may have won Elizabeth's heart but he does not deserve it. Not if he is going to disrespect her like that."
"I agree," Faith said, retrieving a bandage and returning to the chair. "However, unless Elizabeth realizes that on her own, there is not much that can be done."
"Part of me wants to go to Elizabeth and tell her what happened," Nathan admitted as Faith began to wrap his wrist. "I know it would hurt her, but she should know the truth."
"But she might not accept that truth. Especially coming from you, Nathan," Faith said sympathetically. "Elizabeth could just view it as an attempt on your part to interfere with her relationship with Lucas."
Nathan sighed. He knew that Faith had a point. Hadn't he experienced much the same thing with Colleen? His sister had often defended his accusations against Dylan because she had thought she was in love. "I know you make a valid point. I saw it with Colleen," Nathan admitted. "However, watching Lucas hurt Elizabeth is just as hard as watching Dylan hurt Colleen, though I do not think Lucas is the type of man capable of physically hurting a woman."
"But emotional pain is just as bad," Faith commented. "As hard as it is though, Nathan, I think it would be best for you to stay out of the situation with Elizabeth and Lucas. You getting involved is only going to cause you more pain and possibly drive Elizabeth further away."
"So I sit back and do nothing?" Nathan asked, as Faith secured the bandage.
"No," Faith told him. "You just say nothing. However, continue to show Elizabeth that you still care about her. Be her friend. Pray for her and hope that someone else can help her see that Lucas is not treating her right."
Nathan nodded. Faith was right. As hard as it was, he was not the person who could make Elizabeth realize that Lucas was not right for her. Perhaps no one could. Perhaps Elizabeth had to make that discovery on her own.
Nathan would continue to keep Elizabeth in his prayers, and offer her support as a friend where he could.
"Can I walk you home, before I go to pick up, Ally?" Nathan asked Faith as he got to his feet. He carefully pulled on the second glove, being careful not to displace the bandage Faith had wrapped around his wrist.
"I would like that," Faith told him.
Nathan waited while Faith put her gloves back on and put the lamp out. The two then left the infirmary, which Faith locked up once again. Tucking the key safely into a pocket, Faith took the arm Nathan offered her and the two carefully made their way out to the row house that Faith was living in.
"Have you heard from Carson recently?" Nathan asked her. Faith had listened to his concern and now Nathan intended to take the opportunity to do the same.
"I did," Faith said, a sad smile on her face. "He says he misses me and wants to come home for a visit. However, he isn't sure it is feasible. With the limited time he would be able to get off, he would only be able to stay for a few days. His commute would take up a good portion of his time off and even then, he would need to come before the holiday."
"How do you feel about that?"
Faith sighed. "I suppose I understand how he feels. Honestly though, I would rather see him for one day before Christmas than not at all."
"Are you going to tell him that?"
"Do you think it would make a difference?" Faith asked, looking up at Nathan.
"It might or it might not. However, he would know how you feel, Faith. If a long distance relationship between the two of you is going to work, being honest about your feelings, good or bad, is the only way to do it."
Faith was silent for a few moments. As Nathan figured she needed time to process his words, he remained silent as the walked down the snow-covered path.
"You are right," Faith finally said, breaking the silence. "I will write Carson back and tell him that I respect whatever choice he makes as being what is best for him but that I miss him and I really want him to come home, no matter how short a time."
Nathan nodded in acknowledgment to the statement.
"Why does love need to be so complicated?" Faith asked, leaning her head against Nathan's arm as they walked.
"You are asking the wrong person that question," Nathan replied.
They made the rest of the walk in silence, both watching the flakes of white drift slowly down around them in the night air.