AN: So, Heather4cu asked for a follow up for drabble 75. I did one. Trouble is, I don't think this alone is going to feel any more conclusive than that one did. It does however gets Elizabeth's feelings out in the open. Hope you all enjoy!

As she sobbed out all her hurts, fears, and worries, Elizabeth wondered why she hadn't done a confession like this to someone long before this. It felt as though all her troubles were slipping from her shoulders. The strong arms of Bill as he held her in a fatherly embrace made her feel safe. The fingers tenderly stroking her hair as her father or mother had, as a child, were soothing.

"Oh I have made a mess of things."

Elizabeth waited for her friend to agree with her. Maybe add to her list of offenses.

But the words that came out of Bill's mouth weren't ones of condemnation.

"My tendency to make a mess of things has taught me one thing over the years, Elizabeth," Bill told her quietly. When he paused, Elizabeth lifted her head to look at him. "There is no mess that can't be sorted out by talking with someone if all parties are willing to listen as well as talk. From what I hear, you've got the talking part of the equation down. Now, instead of running away in fear, maybe you need to just sit still and let Nathan speak to you."

"He probably doesn't even want to see me, let alone speak to me."

Bill smiled. "Don't be so sure. When you women capture a man's heart, it is almost impossible for us to get it back, no matter what happens. Abigail still has mine," Bill confessed.

"Oh, Bill," Elizabeth said softly, her heat aching for this man who had become like a second father to her.

Bill smiled and shook his head. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I've got you, Little Jack, Clara and lord help me, even Jesse. That's the family I need, though if you wanted to make your own family a little bigger, you won't get a complaint from me."

"It's too late!" Elizabeth said with a shake of her head. "I said the most stupid things to him yesterday, including that I had been looking for Jack in him which is ridiculous really. I could not see Nathan buying all the candles in the area and creating a pathway to the schoolhouse like Jack did. That is more Lucas style. The truth is, when I see Nathan in uniform, I see the serge and see Jack and all the pain of losing him comes rushing back."

"Nathan is so much more than the uniform, Elizabeth. I would wager he would even give it up for a chance to be with you."

Elizabeth sighed and rested her head back against Bill. "He said he would. Right after he told me he loved me."

"If he said those words Elizabeth, those feelings aren't going away anytime soon."

"It's too late," she lamented.

"You are both still here in Hope Valley, unattached, and breathing. It isn't too late."

"I would probably make a worse mess of things," Elizabeth countered, the hurt in Nathan's eyes as he stood in the jail, shocked by her words, came to her.

"Simply share with him your fears and what you just told me about Jack and the uniform, and then stay put and let Nathan talk things through with you. Just stop running and things will get better. They did for me when I stopped running and stayed in Hope Valley."

Elizabeth let Bill's words fill her with hope. Things really couldn't get much worse.

"Do you know where he is?" she asked, looking hopefully to Bill, who simply nodded.