Bill and Charlotte noticed Nathan seemed a bit nervous as it got closer to bedtime and contemplated trying to talk to him, but Matthew approached him before they could.

"I wanted to let you know I have all the items you need in your room to change Elizabeth's dressings. You should do it before she takes her pain medication." Matthew said. Then he saw a bit of anxiety in the other man's eyes and pulled into a nearby room away from the group, which turned out to be the library. "Something wrong?"

"No, .…Well, I mean kind of….I don't know," Nathan replied, stuttering nervously, running a hand through his hair. At the reddening of Nathan's cheeks, Matthew recalled his friend telling him that Nathan and Elizabeth were newly married that morning, and he had been a bit nervous.

"Nathan, why do we sit down over here for a moment," Matthew said, motioning to two high-back chairs nearby. "Is it doing dressing changes? Are you unsure of how to do it?"

"No, I feel okay there, but it's the undressing," Nathan whispered. "I don't want Elizabeth to feel uncomfortable or that that kind of intimacy is being pushed on her."

Charlotte and Bill had moved to listen just outside the door in case they could help and to keep others from listening.

Charlotte moved before Bill could stop her. "Let me put your mind at ease Nate," Charlotte said. "I had already offered to help her change the dressing, clean up and do whatever she needed, but she said she would wait for you. Think about this…. though circumstances aren't ideal, this is your wedding night. If she hadn't been in the shape she was, would you be worried about helping her?"

Nathan wanted the floor to swallow him up as a picture of him and Elizabeth on a typical wedding night popped into his head. With a knowing smirk, Charlotte said, "Exactly. But Nate, I do want you to be prepared for the sight of her ribs and bruises, and I also don't think she would be comfortable with too many people seeing her that way because it makes her vulnerable and unsafe.

"I would have to agree, Nathan," Bill said.

"Actually, while we have a bit of privacy, Nathan, I think that you being the one helping Elizabeth and monitoring her dressings will be the best plan forward for both her physical and, even more importantly, her mental well-being," Matthew said. "If you are still unsure, then maybe talk to her, but from what I have seen and what she has told me, I think Elizabeth is okay with it and prefers you over others."

"Why don't you let me and Charlotte get the kids to bed while you and Elizabeth spend the rest of the evening relaxing and just being together? Maybe even figure out where you want to live when we return to Hope Valley. Nothing else needs to be discussed tonight, and I think we could all use a quiet night." Bill suggested.

They could see Nathan wavering between his need to tuck the kids in and wanting time alone with Elizabeth. "Not taking no for an answer, Nate," Charlotte said, deciding to use a bit of guilt. "I've not had the pleasure of spending time with my grandchildren, and after what I have been through, I need it. You not going to deny me that, are you?"

Nathan chuckled, "Not a chance, Charlotte. Let me say goodnight to them and the others then."

Surprisingly neither child had an issue with Charlotte and Bill putting them to bed. Nathan wasn't sure how he felt about it since he had been their primary caregiver for the past few weeks. But the prospect of him having some private, quiet time with Elizabeth made up for it. Before going upstairs, he had arranged for a pot of tea and a couple of scones to be prepared, knowing it might help Elizabeth relax. Nathan called out softly to his wife before opening the door, not wanting her to be startled. He found her propped, sitting up, reading a book. She smiled as he walked in.

"Hey you," Elizabeth said. "I was hoping you would be coming back soon."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. We are still trying to round up the last of the Nexxus group, but I am at your disposal for the rest of the evening. Charlotte guilted me into letting her and Bill put the kids to bed, and they were on board. How are you feeling, sweetheart?" Nathan asked, gently caressing her cheek.

"The pain is coming back with a vengeance," Elizabeth replied.

"Why don't you take some pain medicine tonight so you can sleep?" Nathan suggested.

"Only if you are sleeping in here with me tonight," Elizabeth retorted, blushing. "We are also going to need to change out the dressings tonight as well."

Nathan nodded, "Elizabeth, I will be wherever you need me to be. But are you sure that you'll be comfortable with us here? Comfortable with me helping you with your delicate needs? Seeing you in various stages of undress?"

"I thought we have already been through that, Nathan. Are you uncomfortable with it? Because I guess I can get Charlotte to help me if it is too much. I know that I must look a horrible mess right now." Tears began to fall down her face, and she turned away from him.

Nathan sat down and gently, with his finger, brought her eyes back to his. "Elizabeth, you are my wife, and I am fine with it as long as you are. I didn't want you to feel that the intimacy of doing any of those things while you are injured is being forced on you. I love you, Lizbeth, and there is nowhere else I want to be than by your side." He leaned over and gently captured her lips, knowing that her jaw and bottom lip were still healing. "I thought we could change your dressing, and then we can have the chamomile tea and scones I brought for you and me to share."

She smiled, responding softly, "That sounds lovely, Nathan,"

"Let me just gather everything we will need," Nathan said, moving toward the dresser where Matthew had placed everything. He noticed there were ampules of pain medicine and sedatives if needed knowing Nathan would have been trained to administer them in emergencies. Quickly gathering what he needed, he could see that Elizabeth had already untied the front of her gown so that the gape exposed her bandage though they would still need to remove it from her shoulders. He gulped as he saw the bandage and was immediately assailed with the memory of her jumping in front of him and then realizing that she had taken a bullet meant for him. He turned back toward the dresser and closed his eyes as he felt tears well in them in an attempt to regain control of the emotions flooding through him.

"Nathan?" Elizabeth called out, her voice shaky.

"I'm just making sure I have everything, sweetheart," Nathan answered, hoping his inner turmoil didn't reflect on his face as he turned to his wife.

Approaching the bed, he could see her tremulous smile as she tried to be brave. "Nervous?" Nathan asked.

"A little," Elizabeth said, "but not because of you, Nathan. While you are doing it, I'll be vulnerable to attack, which scares me. I'd be even worse if it were anyone else, my love, so don't take it personally."

"It's all right, I understand. I'm a bit nervous too, so why don't we go slow, and I'll wait for you to give the okay before each step, all right?" Nathan asked, kissing her cheek as he sat down on the bed.

"Thank you for being so understanding, Nathan," Elizabeth said. "Perhaps if we talk as you work, it may help."

"When you are ready, I need to bring your gown down to your shoulders, and it will still keep your….Um….you covered. Would you rather do that?" Nathan asked, blushing a bit.

"You can do it," Elizabeth said, amused and comforted by his reaction. As he moved closer and began to ease her gown down over her shoulders, Elizabeth could see his unease, so she leaned and captured his lips. "I love you, and I trust you," She added when she pulled back.

He caressed her shoulder lovingly to get her used to his touch, then, unable to resist; he gently kissed her before asking her if she was ready for the bandage. He began removing the old one at her nod and started discussing the book she had been reading when he walked in.

He drew close once the wound was exposed to get a better look. Suddenly those memories that he had suppressed earlier of her shielding him and then the horror of finding out she had been shot in his place was too much, and tears began to well up and fall silently.

He quickly redressed it so that his tears didn't contaminate the wound.

"Nathan? What is it? Is something wrong?" Elizabeth said, her own tears starting to fall.

"The wound is fine. Lizbeth," he replied gruffly, starting to clean up the mess. He knew he was probably upsetting her more, which made things worse.

"Why Elizabeth?" He rasped.

"Why what?"

"Why did you shield me?" Nathan said flatly. He knew why and the others had said it, but he needed to hear it from her.

"You know why Nathan," Elizabeth said, looking down at her clasped hands. "I did it for Allie and for you,"

"Who asked you to do that?" Nathan said, tears falling in earnest. "Elizabeth, it is my job to protect others." He felt anger rise, but he wasn't angry at her but the situation as his fears of almost losing her surfaced, adding to his already swirling emotional state.

Elizabeth felt slightly defensive and said, "I promised Allie that I would save you and…."

"Elizabeth, what if you had died? I don't think I would have ever recovered from that. It was bad enough…." Nathan said. "When Jeanette said the blood wasn't from her and… Charlotte went, then Bill followed and came out saying you had been shot, and I knew it was supposed to have been me…."

Elizabeth's heart went out to him, and she held her arms out. He curled beside her, and she held him as he cried.

"I had to wait for Allie to be picked up because Bill said you were too bad for her to see you. Then when I had you in my arms, you lost consciousness. Then after they took you to the hospital, Bouchard taunted me and said he guessed I didn't get the girl after all. Gabe had to hold me back, or I would probably be locked up too." Nathan said.

Elizabeth asked, "Is that why you married me, Nathan?"

Nathan looked at his wife, confused for a moment, then sensing the insecurity behind her question, he said, "No, Lizbeth, I married you because I love you. I won't lie and say that you're getting shot didn't affect my decision, but only the timing."

Now it was Elizabeth's turn to be confused.

"The simple truth was I was already thinking along those lines before you were even found. Sitting in the waiting room, not knowing if you would make it was torture. I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to get that chance that it could be over just as we finally got it straight. Not to mention that you were fighting for your life because you saved mine. Promise me you won't ever do anything like that again." Nathan pleaded.

"You know I can't do that, just like you can't make any promises you won't die," Elizabeth replied. "But I will make the same promises as you,"

Elizabeth, just the thought of losing you and never knowing…." Nathan's sobs began in earnest, and she just held him tighter and cuddled his cheek against with her palm.

"I would have felt the same; only I would have lost both you and Allie. I wouldn't have been able to recover from that either, Nathan. If our situations were reversed, you would have made the same choices. Nathan, I want to adopt Allie, and I want you to adopt Jack. That way, if something happens to either of us, our family is still together. The children would always have each other as well." Elizabeth said. "I would never want Jack taken from you if something should happen. It would hurt me to lose Allie as it would to lose my son."

Elizabeth had held her husband for as long as she could, but her ribs were increasingly protesting, so she loosened her arms. Ever sensitive to her needs, Nathan moved away, correctly sensing why she had moved. It took them a while to realize that her nightgown was still down around her shoulders and had slipped further during the exchange.

On the heels of that, their cheeks reddened, and their eyes locked as he gently tugged her nightgown back up, adding a kiss on top of her bandage. "Thank you for saving my life," Nathan choked out as he retied the ribbon.

Elizabeth kissed him sweetly, acknowledging his thanks though in her mind, how could she not save him? Allie and Nathan were as much a part of her as her son, and in saving his life, she preserved her own and the children's.