AN: So this is suppose to be a introspective from Nathan's first episode set on the balcony right before Lucas comes out and apologizes for the night before.

Stepping out onto the balcony of the Queen of Hearts, Constable Nathan Grant slowly put his campaign hat on his head as he looked out at the town. This post had remained empty for almost the past year because no one on the force had been anxious to take it. It was never easy to try working in the shadow of a Mountie who had died in the line of duty. When that posting was a small town like Hope Valley it became harder, especially when that Mountie was as beloved by a town as Jack Thornton was.

Stepping to the railing, he looked down at the street. It seemed like a nice little town. If fights started by young men like that Jesse fellow last night was the major excitement, then Hope Valley would be a safe place to raise his niece. The glowers and distrustful looks cast his way right now didn't bother him. He had expected those. After all, he was the outsider. He was the one trying to take the place of the beloved town hero.

And, more than likely, it was probably already circling that the sherif had put the new Mountie in jail.

The memory of Sheriff Bill Avery's face last night when he revealed who he was, had been worth even that small inconvenience. Like Jack, Bill Avery's reputation was well known. A former Mountie, he was a man that no one on the force wanted to cross and quite possibly, part of the reason some didn't want the Hope Valley posting as well.

Well, Bill's reputation didn't scare him, not even after last night. After all, he had been doing his job as well though learning to listen a little better would probably help him with that job.

Living in Jack Thornton's shadow didn't scare him either. Yes, it would be a tall order to live up to his reputation but Nathan knew he could do it. All he needed to do was uphold the law and the values of the uniform. He would give the townsfolk the space they needed to warm up to him. In a way, perhaps knowing they would keep distance from him at first was part of the charm of this posting. There were things in his past that he didn't want to answer - like why his father was in jail or why Jack Thornton's last assignment had been one that should have been his.

Superintendent O'Reilly had asked him if he had requested this posting out of guilt. At one point that would have probably been true but he had finally set the guilt aside thanks to a visit to Charlotte Thornton. It had been guilt that had led him to the short detour to the Thornton ranch on an assignment. He had told Charlotte who he was. Confessed that her son's last assignment should have been his and expressed his regrets. His initial confession had resulted in the woman insisting he come inside and she would feed him while he gave her the whole story. Even if his stomach hadn't growled at that point, Charlotte was clearly a hard woman to say no to. He had gone inside and told her the whole story.

"Son, as I see it, you are as much a victim as my son. You were doing your job and were punished by what seems like a superior's bruised ego. You didn't ask to be pulled from that assignment. You didn't ask my son to take it. Jack should have been on his honeymoon. He could have said no to the assignment, though like his father Jack lived and breathed the force. You did not cause that landslide. Let go of the guilt and honor my son's memory by living your life to the fullest."

Nathan had promised her that he would. He would also honor Jack Thornton's memory by serving the town that he loved and looking out for Jack's widow and the son that Charlotte had revealed to him.

Besides, perhaps a small, close-knit environment was exactly what his niece needed. Not to mention, Gabriel had repeated to him stories Jack had told in the Northern Territories about what a wonderful teacher his Elizabeth had been. Allie needed a good teacher. One who would try to encourage her instead of just saying how withdrawn his niece was and blaming that on him.

Footsteps drew him from his thoughts. Turning from the street below, Nathan saw the saloon owner approaching and put his reflections aside.