AN: So this is written for the May #HS Challenge. This months challenge - change something about S7E7, "Heart of a Writer". My muse came up with a few ideas and this is a toned down version of one of my "darker" changes to it. There are some implied overtures and a little violence but nothing too graphic.

As the door clicked behind her, Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief. While she had enjoyed hearing from Virginia Wolf her conscience had not allowed her to enjoy the experience as much as she thought she would. Coming with Lucas had been a mistake. Her parents would be scandalized to think she had made an over night trip to another city with a single man. The separate hotel rooms or the going as friends argument would not have mattered to them and she knew it. For that matter, should Mr. Landis find out about this little excursion, she was sure the school inspector would see fit to check out the Jack Thornton School.

Jack, she thought sitting on the stool in front of the room's vanity.

Elizabeth had felt her late husband's disapproving eyes on her all evening. He had never been afraid to call her out while living, why should his memory affect her any differently. Jack had been right about Billy Hamilton. The man had been after her trust fund and not interested in her. Granted, Lucas truly did seem to have his own means but in many other ways he was like Billy and so many of the fellows that she had grown up with. They thought that romance was created with the things that money could buy. They believed that smooth talk, even without sincerity, were the way to a woman's heart.

Once upon a time, she had been able to realize there was more to love than that. She had believed that true romance came from the emotion behind the gesture, grand or small.

So what was she doing here, with Lucas? It was wrong. It had felt wrong all night and his words and actions were not those of a man who was here 'just as a friend'.

Elizabeth felt tears stinging in her eyes as she looked in the mirror and began to remove hair pins. All she had wanted was a taste of the life she had grown up in. There was no true love in Lucas' actions. To him she was a prize to win. So, what was so wrong with using him to get a night in society life as he was using her to prove he was better than Nathan.

Speaking of Nathan, she was sure she had seen him at a corner table in the dining room tonight? Was he there to check up on her or had he simply stopped in Union City on his way home from Cape Fullerton?

Pulling pins out more forcefully than necessary, Elizabeth wished she had gotten up the courage to say hello and inquire. However, Lucas had seemed unaware of Nathan's presence. She was sure if that were to change, Lucas would make a scene. He would find some way to make Nathan look bad. Even if he were checking up on her that was the last thing that Elizabeth wanted.

A knock on the door startled Elizabeth. The pin in her hand slipped from her fingers and bounced slightly on the wooden surface of the vanity. Who would be knocking at her door at this time of night?

Whoever it was, knocked a second time. Taking the last of the pins out quickly, she let her curls cascade freely around her shoulders as she got to her feet.

"Who's there?" Elizabeth called out, suddenly concerned about her son back home. Was something wrong and Lee and Rosemary trying to get a hold of her?

"It's just me, Elizabeth," came the silky voice of Lucas.

Elizabeth sighed. What could he possibly want?

Unlocking the door, Elizabeth opened it just a crack. "What is it?" she asked.

Lucas held up the two glasses of wine he held. "I thought we might have a drink before we retire for the night," he said, his voice continuing to be as smooth as silk.

Elizabeth shook her head. "I'm tired, Lucas. I just want to get some rest before our ride home tomorrow."

"You can doze in the car," Lucas countered quickly. "Don't you want to enjoy this night of freedom as long as possible?"

"I honestly wish I was singing my son a lullaby and snuggling with him."

Lucas took a step forward. "Snuggle with me." She was sure that if his hands were not occupied with the wine glasses that he would reach out and try brushing her hair or caressing her cheek. Just the thought made a shiver run up her spine.

"This is most inappropriate," Elizabeth said, feeling sick to her stomach, just like she had when Thomas Higgins had proposed she grant him certain favors in return for a posting at Westin. Lucas had shown all the signs of men like Higgins - an answer for everything, never accepting a 'no'. Nathan's comment the night they had gone looking for the kids out at the cabin came back to her. "He's a lover alright. I'm just not sure about the book part."* Apparently Nathan was more perceptive of Lucas than she had wanted to believe. Yet she had scolded Nathan and accepted Lucas excuses.

Trying to push the door shut, Elizabeth found that Lucas had a foot solidly in the way.

"You wouldn't have come with me tonight if this wasn't what you wanted too," Lucas told her, pushing his way into the room. Though he still held the wine glasses he used his body to move her away from the door, kicking the door shut behind him.

Elizabeth jumped at the sound of the slamming door. "Lucas, you need to leave now," she said, trying to make her voice sound determined and forceful and not show the fear that was building inside.

Lucas simply smiled. "Just have a drink with me. You might feel otherwise after wards," he told her.

Elizabeth felt icy dread in her stomach. She needed to get out of here. Her mind whirled with possibilities as she accepted one of the wine glasses. She let Lucas make a toast and then instead of taking a sip, she splashed the wine in his face and hit him across the face with the glass. The goblet part of the glass broke from the stem, as Lucas' hand went to his cheek. Dropping the stem of the glass, she hurried toward the door, losing a shoe in the process. Opening the door, she hurried out it. In the hallway she kicked off the other shoe, knowing that if she could reach the front desk she would find someone to help her. Nearing the staircase that led downstairs, Elizabeth risked a glance over her shoulder. The hall behind her was empty. The relief was momentary though, as she ran into something or someone.

Feeling hands on her forearms, Elizabeth panicked trying to back away.

"Elizabeth, calm down. It's just me."

Even in her panic, Elizabeth recognized Nathan's soft, soothing tenor. She stilled, knowing she was safe. She no longer cared what had brought Nathan to this hotel tonight. She was just glad he was there.

"What's wrong?"

Elizabeth looked up at him. "Lucas came by with wine. He wanted to share one last drink with me. I told him I was tired. He pushed his way into the room." Elizabeth's face flushed. "His words indicated he wanted certain things from me."

"Did he touch you?" Nathan asked.

Elizabeth shook her head. "He didn't have a chance but I didn't think he would go away voluntarily. When he made a toast, I threw the wine in his face, hit him with a glass and ran."

"Elizabeth! Come back here!"

Lucas' angry voice carried down the hallway. Both Elizabeth and Nathan turned to see the man, a handkerchief pressed against his cheek, stumbling down the hallway. Nathan instinctively moved to put himself between Elizabeth and the irrate man and Elizabeth did not fight him. She stood, her hands resting on Nathan's strong back and peered around him as Lucas approached.

"I don't believe the lady wants your company right now, Lucas," Nathan told the man quietly as he stumbled to a stop in front of them. Other hotel guests were now peeking out their doors, drawn by the commotion Lucas had made.

"She hit me with a glass!" Lucas accused, blood on the white handkerchief indicating that he had been cut by the glass breaking.

"After you barged into my room and made unwanted advances!" Elizabeth countered, still behind Nathan. Soft grumbling from the spectators could be heard at that remark.

"You came with me on an overnight trip, Elizabeth. Everyone can see the coy 'just friends' line is just a game."

"No, I meant it. I just wanted to see Virginia Wolf speak but I should have listened to my conscience. This was a huge mistake!"

Lucas' face turned red. "Find your own way home then," he told her before turning and stomping back down the hallway.

Satisfied that Lucas was heading away, Nathan looked down at Elizabeth. "I can arrest him if you would like."

Elizabeth shook her head. She was embarrassed and her ego bruised but physically she was fine. "The only one who got physical was me. Can we let it go?"

Nathan nodded. "I will be watching him though. If he gives you any trouble, you let me know."

Elizabeth nodded. "Thank you. Now I need to figure out how I am getting home to my son."

"That won't be a problem. Lee and Rosemary drove me here, when I said I wanted to check on you and make sure Lucas was being a proper gentleman," he admitted, a blush to his cheeks. " They have a room at the end of this hall."

For once, Elizabeth wasn't mad at Nathan's distrust of Lucas. She was thankful for it. "If they're here, where is Jack?"

"With Bill for the night," Nathan told her.

Elizabeth nodded, knowing her son was in good hands, though she might have been a little disappointed that her friends hadn't brought her son with them. She quickly dismissed it. Jack was better off at home instead of traveling about.

She should have just stayed home.

"What do you say we get Rosemary to stay with you tonight so you are not alone in the room after what happened, and we all head home first thing in the morning?" Nathan suggested.

"I like the sound of that," she said, wrapping her arm around one of Nathan's and letting him lead her down the hallway. Perhaps he was overly suspicious but right now, she was thankful for that quality. "I do hope Lucas doesn't decide to stop by my room a second time," she added as they approached her room.

"Don't worry about that," Nathan told her. He pointed to some comfortable looking wingback chairs in an alcove one door down from her room. "I plan on sitting right there to make sure he doesn't."

"Thank you," Elizabeth replied, though the words seemed woefully inadequate for the gratitude she felt inside.

*Line from Season 6 Episode 7 - "Hope is With the Heart."