Elizabeth was putting the last of her make up on. It was the day of her wedding. She would be marrying Nathan Grant. If someone had asked Elizabeth 3 year ago if she would ever get married again, her answer probably would have been no. But when it comes to love, anything can happen. Elizabeth stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself. She was wearing a simple white dress with the sleeves made of lace. Nathan and Elizabeth decided that they wanted the wedding to be simple. After much discussion, they decided that they would have the wedding ceremony in the church because they wanted God to bear witness to their union not only as husband and wife but as parents too. Elizabeth would be adopting Allie as a daughter and Nathan will adopt Jack as a son. It will be a perfectly blended family.
Elizabeth opened up her jewelry box to find some earrings. As she was looking through her box, she saw her rings from Jack. She picked them up. She was saving these for when Jack was older and he wanted to ask a woman to marry him. Elizabeth thought back to Jack's proposal. All those candles must have taken so long to light but he did it because he loved Elizabeth. Elizabeth kissed the rings.
"I will love you forever." Elizabeth said. She placed the rings back in the box. She found the earrings she was looking for. Although Elizabeth had been married before, she was still nervous. But she knew these were pre-wedding nerves. She was ready to marry Nathan Grant and start her life with him.
There was a knock on the door, it was Rosemary.
"Oh, Elizabeth, you look beautiful." Rosemary said softly.
"Do you think Nathan will like it?" Elizabeth asked.
"No. I think he'll love it.: Rosemary said.
"I'm nervous." Elizabeth admitted.
"I would be worried if you weren't." Rosemary said.
"What if I don't live up to his expectations." Elizabeth asked.
"Elizabeth. Nathan loves you. You are everything he wants and more." Rosemary said.
Elizabeth nodded her head.
"The car is waiting; shall we go to the wedding?" Rosemary asked.
Rosemary and Elizabeth walked downstairs. Elizabeth's father was standing at the bottom of the stairs.
"You look beautiful." William Thatcher said.
"Thank you." Elizabeth said.
"Nathan is a lucky man." William said.
Elizabeth smiled. Even though Nathan and her father only met yesterday, her father gave his overwhelming support.
Elizabeth took her father's arm and they went outside to the car. Her mother was waiting in the car. Once Elizabeth was in the car, the two hugged. They started driving toward the church.
xxx
"The car just pulled up." Bill said to Nathan who was getting ready for his wedding.
"We'll be right out." Nathan said finishing tying Jack's bowtie.
"There, now we match." Nathan said.
"You two are so handsome." Allie said entering the room where they were getting ready.
"You look beautiful sweetheart." Nathan said. The two hugged and Allie took Jack to get ready for the ceremony.
Nathan adjusted his bowtie one more time. He was wearing a rented tux. He had never worn a tux before. But Nathan has never been married before, so he decided that a tux was the way to go. Nathan took in a deep breath. It had been a long journey to get to this day. But he knew Elizabeth was worth the journey. He knew he wanted to marry her a long time ago, probably the first time he met her.
Nathan walked to the front of the alter. As he was standing at the altar, he looked out at his guests. Most of the town was there for the wedding. A few people from Maple Creek made the trip to see them get married. Lastly, Nathan landed on Lucas Bouchard, who had his arm draped around his wife, Rebecca, while she was holding a baby girl. Lucas and Nathan locked eyes and Lucas gave him a nod.
The music started playing.
Rosemary who was a bridesmaid walked in lockstep with Bill who was a groomsman. After they made it to the alter, Jack and Allie walked down the aisle together. Allie was Elizabeth's maid of honor while Jack is Nathan's best man. Once the two were up at the altar, the wedding music began to play and everyone stood up. From the back of the church, Elizabeth started walking with her father to the alter.
Nathan's jaw dropped. Elizabeth was always beautiful to Nathan but today she looked extra beautiful to Nathan. Her simple white dress was beautiful and made her look like an angel. Tears started to fill Nathan's eyes. When Elizabeth and her father reached the alter, Nathan shook her father's hand and Elizabeth gave Allie her bouquet.
"You look beautiful." Nathan said.
"So do you." Elizabeth said laughing and wiping tears from her eyes.
Nathan laughed. They both turned to Joseph.
Joesph smiled at them.
"Dearly beloved, we are here to take witness in the union of not just two people but a union of a family. I prayed reverently for these two souls to find each other. And I'm proud to announce that God has answered those prayers. Before we move ahead to the wedding vows, Elizabeth and Nathan would like to take turns giving their vows as parents to their new children. Elizabeth, would you like to start?" Joseph asked.
Elizabeth nodded. Allie gave the bouquet to Rosemary and stood with Elizabeth in front.
"Allie. When we first met, your dad and I had discovered that you had gone fishing instead of going to school. From that point on, you have kept us on our toes. But underneath that mischievous personality is a sweet young woman. I admire you, Allie. You live by your choices. You don't give up on people. And I admire your forgiving nature. When I imagined what it would be like to have a daughter, I never imagined you because you are better than my imagination. I promise to love you, hold you, and to be a rock in your life. I promise to be the best mother I can." Elizabeth said. Allie wiped tears from her eyes. The two hugged. After they were done hugging.
"Nathan, would you like to say something to Jack?" Joseph asked.
"Yes." Nathan crouched down to his level.
"Jack. I once believed that to be a family, you need to have the same DNA. But I discovered a long time ago that isn't the case. Although I did not help bring you into this world, I will bring the world to you. I promise to protect you and always love you." Nathan said.
"I love you too Natey." Jack said. Everyone awed. Nathan kissed Jack on the cheek and Jack giggled. Jack ran back over to his spot. Nathan and Elizabeth stood in front of Joseph.
"Beautiful. Before we start with the vows, Nathan and Elizabeth would like to say a few personal vows to each other. Nathan, why don't you go first?" Joseph said.
"Elizabeth. I tried to write my vows down but I couldn't. I realized that the best vows come from the heart. Elizabeth, I fell in love with you a long time ago. And I can't think of a time that I will ever stop loving you. While the circumstances around us meeting might have been unconventional, I believe that there was a higher power working to bring us together. I love laughing with you. I love holding you. Heck, I even love fighting with you. You are the one I have been looking for all my life." Nathan said.
Elizabeth was wiping tears from her cheeks.
"Nathan. As I was looking up poems or saying to recite at our wedding, I found an Irish poem I would like to share; "May you never steal, lie or cheat. But if you must steal, steal my sorrows. If you must lie, lie next to me with me all the nights of my life. And if you must cheat, cheat death, because I couldn't live a day without you."
Nathan smiled.
"Do you, Nathan Grant take Elizabeth Thornton to be your lawfully wedded wife, till death do you part. Through sickness and health, through the good times and bad, for all the days of your life." Joseph asked.
"I do." Nathan said.
"And Elizabeth Thornton take Nathan Grant to be your lawfully wedded husband, till death do you part, through sickness and health, through the good times and the bad, for all the days of your life." Jospeh asked.
"I do." Elizabeth smiled. Nathan and Elizabeth smiled at each other.
"May we have the rings?" Joseph asked. Bill gave the rings to Nathan.
"With this ring, I thee wed." Nathan said slipping the ring on Elizabeth's finger.
"With this ring, I thee wed." Elizabeth said slipping the ring on Nathan's fingers.
"With the rings exchanged, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Constable, you may kiss your bride." Joseph said.
Nathan and Elizabeth got closer to each other and the two kissed. These two finally became one.
Everyone cheered. After they were done kissing, they smiled at everyone. They walked down the aisle while people clapped. Outside the church, people threw rice. Outside, there were tents set up for the reception.
xxx
After taking a few pictures, eating and a few toasts, it was time for Nathan and Elizabeth's first dance. They decided they would dance the waltz. After they had their first dance, everyone danced to the band.
Nathan saw Lucas and went over to say hello.
"Lucas." Nathan said.
"Nathan. Congratulations. Beautiful ceremony. Happiness looks good on you." Lucas said.
"Fatherhood looks good on you." Nathan said.
"It feels right." Lucas said.
"I guess we were found the people we were supposed to be with." Nathan said.
Lucas looked over at his wife and smiled.
"Yes, we did." Lucas said. The two shook hands. Nathan watched Lucas walk over to his wife, kiss her cheek and hold their baby girl.
The reception lasted until the sun was down. A wagon had been set up for Nathan and Elizabeth. Nathan helped Elizabeth into the wagon and then he got into the wagon. They waved goodbye and Nathan steered the wagon.
After not going to the direction of the row houses, Elizabeth looked at Nathan.
"Where are we going." Elizabeth asked.
"I have a surprise for you, Mrs. Grant." Nathan said.
Elizabeth smiled and grabbed Nathan's arm and cuddled next to him.
Nathan smiled.
When the wagon got a little closer, Elizabeth saw a tent with lanterns surrounding it.
"Nathan." Elizabeth said softly.
Nathan stopped the wagon. He helped Elizabeth out of the wagon.
"We are camping?" Elizabeth.
"Yes and no. To me, camping is sleeping in sleeping bags on the ground." Nathan said as he led Elizabeth into the tent. In the tent was a bed all made up for them.
Elizabeth laughed.
"Where did this mattress come from?" Elizabeth asked.
"From my room." Nathan said.
"You dragged it out here?" Elizabeth asked.
"Bill and Lee helped. Rosemary helped gather your things. There is going to be a full moon tonight. But if you don't like it, we can go back home." Nathan said.
Looking at all the effort that Nathan went to make this perfect, Elizabeth smiled.
"It's perfect." Elizabeth said. Nathan smiled. Elizabeth went to put on something more comfortable. Nathan took his bowtie, jacket and buttoned shirt off until he was down to a short sleeve, pants and suspenders.
Elizabeth came back wearing a robe with a night gown underneath.
"I brought supplies to make smores." Nathan said.
"You're adorable." Elizabeth said.
Nathan took two glasses and filled them with champagne and gave one to Elizabeth.
"To us." Nathan said.
"To us." Elizabeth said and the two clinked their glasses.
Nathan put for marshmallows on a metal rod and put them in the fire. Once the were ready, Elizabeth set up the graham crackers and chocolate. Nathan carefully put the marshmallows on the graham crackers and Elizabeth folded the chocolate and graham cracker onto the marshmallow. They both ate the smores.
Nathan's was gooey and got all over his mouth.
"Ler me help." Elizabeth said. She went over and kissed Nathan. Nathan's heart started to beat fast.
"Elizabeth." Nathan said.
"Yes." Elizabeth said softly.
"When I was starting in the Mountie's, some men went into tows nearby and found women to spend the night with. I was never one of them. To fit in, I went along with their "talk." But after Allie came into my life, I never talked like that about a woman again. All I could think what if those women were my Allie, I would hate to hear the way men talked about her. I'm not experienced." Nathan said.
Elizabeth nodded her head.
"I had a feeling. And I'm not all that experienced either. Jack and I were only married for a short time. And I'm nervous." Elizabeth said.
"Why are you nervous?" Nathan asked.
"Because I didn't have a baby when I was with Jack. I guess I'm just a little self-conscious about my body." Elizabeth said.
"Elizabeth, I don't care about how your body looks. I love everything about you." Nathan said.
"Why don't we just lie next to each other and look up at the stars." Elizabeth suggested. They both laid down and held hands. They looked up at the stars.
"Build me a house." Elizabeth said.
Nathan smiled.
"Where should I build it?" Nathan asked.
"Jack's land." Elizabeth said.
"Are you sure?" Nathan asked.
"I am. Jack bought that land to raise a family." Elizabeth said.
"I'll build it." Nathan agreed.
"Maybe we can have a room with a skylight so we can watch the stars." Elizabeth suggested.
"That will be our room." Nathan said.
Elizabeth and Nathan looked at each other.
"I love you." Elizabeth said.
"I love you too." Nathan said.
The two looked at the stars and the two grew closer to each other.
Nathan kissed Elizzabeth passionately. Elizabeth kissed him back passionately. Nathan led Elizabeth to the bed where the two finally became one.