Elizabeth felt alive in Nathan's arms. His touch was both tender and passionate. Elizabeth could feel Nathan's desire and passion yet also his respect in his kiss. Elizabeth was so happy to be sitting down. This kiss was leaving her breathless and weak in the knees. She had butterflies in her stomach. Truly, it had been so long since Elizabeth had felt this way. Elizabeth also was attracted to Nathan's public display of affection. If there were people around, he hadn't cared. Elizabeth hadn't either.

They both came up for air at the same time. Elizabeth rested her forehead on Nathan's. They both stayed silent, breathing in and out. "Nathan!" Elizabeth whispered.

"Lizbeth," Nathan kissed her forehead.

"I am so happy." Elizabeth pulled back to look at Nathan.

Nathan laughed. "I can't stop smiling around you. Ally keeps talking about how she likes who I am with you in our lives. What she doesn't know is that I like it too."

Elizabeth snuggled once more into Nathan's arms. "Can I ask you a question?"

"You can ask me anything," Nathan assured her. "I want you to know all about me just like I want to know all about you."

"How long have you had feelings for me?"

Nathan laughed. "Well, there are many parts to that question."

"Oh?" Elizabeth joined in the laughter.

"Well, I was first blown away by you when you came into the Mountie office."

"The day I came to welcome you to town?" Elizabeth could hardly believe Nathan had noticed her even then.

"There was a gorgeous brown haired woman standing in front of me". Nathan kissed Elizabeth's hair. "I wondered why this woman, seemingly with everything under control, had come into my office. Once you said who you were, though, I reined my attraction in."

"But Elizabeth, by you being you, you kept making yourself more and more attractive to me. Then there was the day in the library with the broken bookcase. Our hands touched and I could barely breathe. I was so glad Fiona came in; otherwise, I might have said something silly."

"You mean like the time you said 'the founders would be proud?'" Elizabeth chuckled at the memory.

"Oh don't remind me," Nathan shook his head in embarrassment. "Even Ally questioned why I said what I did."

"I thought you were cute," Elizabeth teased.

"Cute huh?" Nathan still shook his head. "But you want to know when I had deep feelings for you?" Nathan paused momentarily. "It was watching you at Clara and Jesse's wedding."

"You were watching me?"

"Honestly, Elizabeth, I know most people watch the bride. But you walked into that nature paradise and I turned and watched you. I'll admit it to Clara one of these days. Also her vows about Jesse sweeping into her life…I realized that that was what you had done in my life."

"That is incredibly sweet," Elizabeth sighed. Even through her coat and Nathan's red serge, she could feel his heartbeat. It was in tandem with hers.

"What about you?" Nathan also noticed their being in unison.

"I was attracted to you way earlier than I anticipated. It was watching you with Ally after she tricked her classmates. But when our fingers touched in the library and then watching you holding my son….that was noticed by me." Elizabeth turned so she was facing Nathan once more. "And you are doing things every day that I notice."

"On our date in the cabin," Nathan spoke. "You talked about falling fast. Since that date we have kissed which I have loved. We have gone through a custody battle. We have also taken an overnight trip together." Nathan looked at Elizabeth tentatively. "Do you think we are moving too fast."

"No," Elizabeth said. "Do you?"

"No," Nathan also said. "I'm glad."

There was a clock chiming in the distance. The hour was far later than Nathan had realized. As much as he wanted to stay up all night with Elizabeth in his arms, he wanted to maintain a level of propriety. Lee and Rosemary did trust him after all.

He extended his hand to Elizabeth and helped her up. "I should get you back."

"But we can take our time getting back, can't we?" Elizabeth smiled.

Nathan gave her a little wink. "I can make that happen. Slow and steady is the way I do things…as you know."

Nathan shut the door to his room, undoing the top few buttons of his red serge. He hated buttons in normal circumstances but ever since he had seen Elizabeth come down the stairs in that stunning red dress, Nathan had been unable to breathe. Kissing her had taken that difficulty to a whole new level.

Saying goodnight to her after declaring his love had been one of the hardest things Nathan had ever done. He was leaving a part of himself with Elizabeth. If Nathan were being honest, all he could think about was Elizabeth by his side. He thought about falling asleep next to her every night and waking up beside her every morning.

Nathan thought about Elizabeth's smile across from his at the dinner table. Her voice blending with his as he sang to Ally and Jack in the evening. He thought about being a father to Jack and Elizabeth being a mother to Ally.

All of these thoughts made Nathan incredibly happy. It made Nathan realize that he was prepared to do one big thing.

He wanted to propose to Elizabeth Thornton.

Nathan caught sight of himself in the mirror. He had a smile so crooked on his face. He only smiled like that when he was incredibly happy. He raked his fingers through his hair. He was going to do this! Some might think it was too fast, but Nathan had already spent two years pursuing Elizabeth. They were bonded by pain and loss. They had been friends first; that was the best foundation to begin a marriage on Nathan knew.

Would Elizabeth be ready for a proposal? Nathan was unsure of that answer. Her kisses seemed to indicate that she was. Her openness and honesty seemed to indicate so as well.

Nathan looked over at the packages from Elizabeth and Nathan's shopping expedition. His eyes fell on a small square package. Lee had gone back to the store and ordered its contents, just like he had told Nathan he would.

Nathan smiled at the thought. Perhaps one day, in the not too distant future, Elizabeth Thornton would become Elizabeth Grant, his beautiful, cherished wife.

Nathan had no way of knowing that over in her room, Elizabeth was having very similar thoughts. She sat in front of the dressing table, undoing her hair. She looked over at Nathan's roses and closed her eyes, taking in their smell.

What a wonderful evening it had been—from the dress Ally had insisted upon Rosemary making—to the kisses in the park. Nathan had been handsome, passionate, respectful, open, honest. All of these were emotions and traits Elizabeth had hoped to see in him. And she had since the day she had opened her heart to Nathan. They were traits a woman hoped for in a man, in a future husband, lover, and partner.

Was she ready for that step?

Was she ready to change her name once more? Was she ready to share her bed with another man? Was she ready for her son to have a father in his life?

As she pondered these questions, Elizabeth kept her eyes closed, allowing herself to dream, to fantasize.

She pictured herself making breakfast on a lazy Saturday morning. She was in a nightgown and robe, like she always was on Saturday mornings. Elizabeth saw Little Jack playing contentedly on the floor. Arms came and snaked along her waist. A head dipped down and kissed the nape of her neck and sent a trail of kisses up to her mouth. Elizabeth turned away from the stove and returned the kiss.

"Good morning Mrs. Grant."

"Dad!" Ally teased. "Do you have to be so romantic with Miss….Mom?"

Elizabeth opened her eyes, feeling very flustered. It was so easy to picture being in Nathan's embrace. Ally calling her mom. Elizabeth hadn't realized just how much she wanted these dreams to be realities. Now she did.

"I'm so happy Jack," Elizabeth whispered into the air. "Thank you for reminding me to love again."

Elizabeth walked over to the bed and turned out the light. If Nathan Grant to ask, she had no doubt in her mind:

She would accept.