AN: Here we are, another chapter! You reviewers always make me so happy!
Elizabeth had never been so happy in her entire life as she was this day. She held hands with Jack- her husband!- the entire time that people emptied the church, and shook their hands, hugged them, or gave them fond kisses on the cheek. She held his hand the entire walk back to the cafe, and didn't let go when they arrived.
"Miss Thatcher, Miss Thatcher- Oops!" Emily giggled as she ran up to her teacher. "Mrs. Thornton! You're married!"
"So she is." Jack said proudly. Elizabeth grinned as Emily took her free hand, and dragged Elizabeth, and Jack in the same motion, to one of the tables, chatting the entire time.
"And my Ma cried when you two kissed, but Miles thought it was yucky, but I thought that it was so romantic! You're better than a fairy tale, Miss Th- Mrs. Thornton!" Emily gestured for them to sit down, and they listened. Elizabeth reveled in the glorious feeling of being called Mrs. Thornton. "But I wish Mrs. Blakely wasn't teaching for you next week. It isn't as fun as when you teach. But don't tell her I said that, she scares me!"
"I think we can keep that little secret." Jack assured her, and Emily skipped around the table and settled on his knee.
"I'm glad she chose you Mountie Jack. You're much handsomer than that other fella. And nicer. Even if you are a bad dancer." Emily said in a comforting tone. Jack looked to Elizabeth in confusion, and she only blushed.
"I'll explain later." She said quietly.
"Thank you both for this new dress! I love it so much- it makes me feel like a princess! A real live Hope Valley princess! I want to wear it forever- but Ma says I should only wear it on special occasions." Emily pouted. "Now that you're married, I don't get to see you as often. Either of ya."
"Don't be silly Emily. You're always welcome to visit us." Elizabeth assured her. "And I'll be back in school in a week."
"Emily! Leave Mr. and Mrs. Thornton be!" Cat called, approaching the table with a smile on her face.
"Don't worry about it Mrs. Montgomery. Emily wasn't being a bother." Jack assured her, and Emily wrapped her arms around his neck. "She's been wonderful company." Elizabeth let out a quiet sigh at the sight of Jack with the child on his knee, hugging him tightly. She knew that he would be a wonderful father, and he kept proving it, over and over again.
"Come on Emily. Mrs. Stanton has cookies over by the kitchen." That was enough for Emily to spring up and take her mother's hand. "That was a beautiful wedding, you two. You make such a handsome couple."
"Thank you, Cat." Elizabeth smiled at her friend, and looked to Jack, who surely did look handsome in his blue suit. The Montgomery's left, and Jack leaned over and kissed her again. "I'm not complaining, but what was that for?"
"Can't a man kiss his beautiful wife?" Jack asked innocently. "Why does Emily think I'm a bad dancer?" He followed up, and Elizabeth felt her ever present blush grow again.
"Abigail might have told her that you were." Elizabeth cleared her throat, and looked towards the crowd, who were mercifully surrounding the table with food and drinks on it. Jack looked at her quizzically, and motioned for her to continue. "Because Emily overheard my mother saying that she didn't think you'd hurt me too badly."
"Hurt you? Elizabeth, I'd never…" Elizabeth gave him a look, and bit her lip, and his eyes widened. "Oh. Oh! Elizabeth, You know that I...well…"
"Calm down, Jack. My mother is very old fashioned. She thinks she's being helpful, but sometimes I wish she wouldn't say anything at all." Elizabeth laughed the subject off. After all, this wasn't the time, or the place for such a discussion. "I'm so happy Jack. This has been the best day of my entire life."
"So far." Jack laughed, quoting her from the day of their engagement. "There will be better days to come."
"We can only hope."
"And pray."
…..
Abigail helped Elizabeth put on a much simpler outfit as the evening became late. An outfit with significantly less buttons. She kept looking down at her hand, to see her wedding ring side by side with her engagement ring, to prove that it wasn't a dream after all.
"Elizabeth, I'm so happy for you. You looked so beautiful today." Abigail said as she embraced her dearest friend. "You and Jack are going to be so happy together."
"I'm really going to miss this room." Elizabeth sighed. "I'm going to miss you too."
"I'm ten minutes away if you ever need me. Or if you just want to visit."
"I'll be here, at least once a day." Elizabeth assured her as she put on her coat, and picked up the bag that contained the rest of her possessions. "I love you, Abigail. Thank you, for everything you've done for me."
"I love you too Elizabeth." Abigail said. "And thank you. For everything you've done for me. Are you ready?"
"Yes. I am." Elizabeth breathed, and squeezed Abigail's hand. "Or as I'll ever be."
"I packed a little something in your bag. It's nothing next to the dress you and your sisters got for me, but it is lacey and pretty. And I think Jack will like it." Abigail said as Elizabeth opened the bag and saw the thing that Abigail must have been talking about. She gasped, and put her hand over her mouth. The thing was...a nightgown, of sorts she was sure. It was a baby pink silky soft nightgown, with some lacy trim on the bust line that plunged lower than any of the nightgowns she owned.
"Abigail!" Elizabeth gasped. "This is...it's so racey!"
"That's sort of the point." Abigail laughed. "It's a negligee, Elizabeth."
"I know that! I know what it is." Elizabeth said, and closed her bag again. "It's very pretty. Oh, but it makes me nervous."
"Elizabeth, don't be nervous. Remember, Jack loves you, you love Jack. and everything will be fine. And you don't have to wear the negligee tonight, or ever if you don't want to. But no bride should be without one, Mrs. Thornton."
"Thank you, Abigail." Elizabeth smiled. "Well, I guess this is it. I'm going home." Abigail gave her one last hug, and then she opened the door. Jack was waiting on the other side, leaning against the wall.
"Hey. Are you ready, Mrs. Thornton?" He asked, grinning at her. Elizabeth nodded, Jack took her bag, and her hand, and kissed her again.
"Let's go home." Elizabeth grinned, and Jack led her towards the stairs.
"I think that's my favorite thing you've ever said." Jack said. Elizabeth smiled even more broadly, and together they walked down the stairs. When the reached the bottom, everyone began to cheer to send them all off.
"My baby! I'm so happy for you." Mrs. Thatcher exclaimed, and hugged her near the door. "You looked so beautiful today!"
"I love you Mother." Elizabeth grinned. Her father kissed her on the cheek, and gave Jack an icy glare. "Viola, I'm so glad you were here today. Thank you, you were such a help. I love you."
"I love you too, Beth. I'd stay longer to visit if I could, But I've got so many wedding plans to see too." Viola said. She kissed her sister's cheek, and gently patted her shoulder.
"Sir Lionel. Until next time." Elizabeth said, shaking his hand.
"Yes. It's been just charming, seeing this little place." Lionel said, putting his free hand on Viola's shoulder. Elizabeth nodded at Jack, and he opened the door for her and then shut it behind them.
"Home?" Jack suggested, and Elizabeth nodded. "You looked so beautiful today, Elizabeth. And now, you look beautiful now too."
"And you look so handsome. I can't believe that we're married Jack." Elizabeth sighed. Jack took the hand he was holding, and brought it to his chest as they walked.
"Well it's true. This mountie took a wife." Jack said.
"And I am so glad he did." Elizabeth grinned.
"Mrs. Thornton." Jack said, and kissed his wife on the cheek. "I like the sound of that."
"Not as much as I do." Elizabeth grinned, and looked up at the stars. "Wow. The stars are so beautiful. They look perfect. Everything about today has been perfect." Jack nodded, and Elizabeth gently leaned her head on his shoulder as they walked. They made the rest of the walk in peaceful silence, and didn't stop until they reached the threshold of their home. Jack opened the door, and Elizabeth took a step towards the door.
"Ho, hold on a second, Mrs. Thornton." Jack protested, and pulled her back to lift her up into his arms.
"Jack! You've already carried me over this threshold six times already!" Elizabeth laughed.
"And I don't intend to stop any time soon." Jack grinned. He carried her in, and set her down only briefly to shut the door behind them, before scooping her up again, and carrying her up the stairs.
"Jack, I can walk, you know!" Elizabeth laughed again.
"I know. But that wouldn't be as much fun as carrying you." Jack shrugged.
"You're ridiculous." Elizabeth sighed in an over dramatic way. "But I guess I'm stuck with you now."
"Sorry about that." Jack rolled his eyes. The bedroom door was already open, and he carried her into the room with ease. As he set her on her feet, Elizabeth found that her nerves had returned. She looked around the room nervously, and bit her lip. Jack put a hand on her cheek, and looked into her eyes. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm, um, I'm fine." Elizabeth assured him with a nod. "I'll just be, um, a minute. I'm going to freshen up." She finally managed. She picked up the bag that Jack had only just set on the floor by the door. "I'll be right back." She scampered out the door, and stopped for a second to catch her breath. She went to the washroom, and was thankful to see that someone had filled the pitcher that was beside the basin. She poured some onto a cloth, and ran it over her overheated face and neck. She looked to the bag she had brought into the room, and opened it. She pulled out the nightgown, and looked at it. It was pretty, very pretty, and a little sheer. "Elizabeth That- Elizabeth Thornton, what are you so nervous about? Jack loves you, you love Jack. Everything will be alright." She found herself smiling as she thought about what Jack would say if he heard her talking to herself again. She quickly changed out of her shirt and blouse, and pulled on the nightgown. She looked at herself in the mirror, and adjusted the nightgown so that it covered just a bit more of her chest. "Elizabeth Thornton." Elizabeth sighed, and walked back into the bedroom.
"Elizabeth, I-" Jack stopped when he saw her, and his jaw went a little slack.
"Look at you. Slack jawed and staring." Elizabeth said, and looked down at her now bare feet.
"Look at you." Jack said, and closed the distance between them. He had removed his jacket, and his tie, and had rolled up his sleeves. He took both of her hands in his, and kissed them, and then slowly twined his arms around her waist, and kissed her. She kissed him back, and let her fingers trail up the side of his face and twine in his hair.
"I'm a little nervous." Elizabeth laughed airily when they finally broke apart.
"Elizabeth, If you're too nervous-"
"No. No, I'm not. I love you, Jack." She said, and leaned her face down to rest against his chest. "I love you so much."
"I love you, Elizabeth Thornton." Jack said, and kissed her hair. Elizabeth stayed there for a moment, and listened to the rhythmic beating of his heart.
"I'm being silly." She laughed. "I'm ready for this, Jack. I really am." She stood on her toes, and pressed her lips to his again. "Jack, have you ever...done this before?" Elizabeth asked suddenly. Jack looked at her and shook his head.
"No. Of course not."
"Good." Elizabeth nodded, and kissed him again. Slowly they made their way to their bed, the one that Jack had built the frame for, and Elizabeth had bought the bedding and the mattress. As he kissed her again, and again, his lips trailing up, and down her neck, Elizabeth realized that she couldn't believe how silly she had been to be nervous. So when he kissed her, and touched the hem of her nightgown with a questioning glance, She didn't hesitate to kiss him in response.
AN: They're married! Here's to hoping they get married in canon too! Thank you for reading!