Author's Note: This is part two of the series I am calling Wedding Surprise. While not technically part of the Nathan Grant Fanfiction September Heart Stories, I still tried to keep this part to between 6000 and 10,000 words, as I will with the rest of the parts of the story. I hope that you enjoy and fair warning there is a two alarm steam alert for Chapter 2. I will also say upfront, sorry, not sorry for the cliffhanger.

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Chapter 1 – Making it Make Sense

Late Friday Night: Nathan's house

After leaving Jack and Elizabeth at their house, Nathan walked to his house. He was glad that Allie was staying at Angela's house for the night. He needed some time to process everything that had happened that afternoon and evening. As happy as Nathan was that Elizabeth had her true love back, his heart still hurt because he did love her. He knew he should have protected his heart better because he knew she wasn't ready to move on, but she crawled in there before he even realized it. He was just happy that she was away from Bouchard.

As Nathan sat there, he thought back over everything Jack had shared. He started making notes on things he wanted to follow up on. Nathan had to stop and start thinking about it like it was a case. He knew that he was going to have to make calls to headquarters the following week, so he wanted his thoughts in order. Nathan knew that he couldn't deny Jack staying in Hope Valley as it had been his post first, but then he wondered what it would be like working together. He wondered what Jack meant about what else Bouchard was hiding. The way that Jack made it sound, he had something on Bouchard. Nathan wondered what it could be since he had not found anything on the man in over three years. Maybe he just wasn't asking the right questions to the right people. Either way, Nathan knew they were going to have to sit down and have a much longer conversation about Bouchard and his past. Even if he left Hope Valley, Nathan wanted to be prepared should people come looking for him like Amos Dixon had.

The other thing that Nathan thought about was what he had been doing before he had been reassigned to follow the cattle rustlers, where everything started to go downhill. Then he remembered he had been looking into supply chain issues. The area around the Fort kept getting shorted on supplies, despite the warehouse swearing they sent the whole shipment. Since it had been leading to petty thefts and arguments, he had been looking into it, though not assigned by Hargraves, but one of his underlings. Nathan wondered how close he had been to figuring things out, since he had been abruptly pulled off looking into the supply chains by Hargraves, yelled at for it and sent days away to follow some suspected cattle rustlers.

Nathan tried to find some peace about things, so bowed his head in prayer. Now knowing that he wasn't responsible for Jack Thornton's death helped, but he still felt bad. Fort Clay had changed him in so many ways, almost as much as taking on Allie. Except the changes from Fort Clay were no good ones. Nathan had started to question his ability to be a Mountie and if he was even a good person anymore. So many things have happened since then. Nathan wondered if Constable Novak would still be alive if he had never come to Hope Valley. He wondered if ….

"You can't think like that." A voice said.

Nathan opened his eyes, looked up and saw his sister standing there.

"I know you Nate." She said. "Things happen and you don't get to see the why from your side. As much as you think you can control everything, you can't. You are where God wants you. You also can't change the past."

"Why?" Nathan said. "I love her and I know I can't be with her, so why?"

"I don't know, maybe you were brought here to keep her from making a mistake with that other guy." She said. "Maybe it was to protect her little boy, because you know that you have. Maybe it was to show her that her heart was open to love and was ready when he came back. All I know is you are where you are supposed to be. Allie has friends and is thriving. Do your best and trust God to lead you. That is all I can say. I wish I could tell you more, but I can't and you know it."

"I miss you so much and feel alone so much of the time." Nathan said.

"I am always here watching over you and Allie." She said. "You know you wouldn't be so alone if you just let people in a little. There are so many friends here for you and they could be much deeper friendships if you just opened up a little bit. There are plenty of people in this town that support you. You just need to open your eyes and heart a little. Maybe if you do that, you will see what is meant for you and you alone."

Nathan sighed.

"You need to let the past go." She said. "You know the truth now. You are not responsible for what happened. Dwelling on the past is not going to change anything and is only going to make you bitter and leave you frustrated. You need to let it all go and finally move forward. If you can't do it for you, do it for Allie. She misses the funny, more open guy you used to be."

"Fine, I will try." Nathan said.

"That is all I ask, love you."

"Love you, Collie."

She moved over to Nathan and kissed him on the top of his head like he did to Allie. When she did that, Nathan felt the love from his sister and he was filled with a physical warm feeling.

"Take care, brother."

In a blink of an eye, Nathan was once again alone in his sitting room. He grabbed his journal and Bible. He spent over the next hour praying and writing. He poured out everything that had happened since he had been sent after the cattle rustlers. He knew that he needed to find a way to let go of the past, but he wasn't sure how to do that, so for what felt like the millionth time, he prayed to God to help to heal his heart and soul, so he could move forward.

"Then leave it at my feet and don't keep picking it up." A voice said.

Nathan heard it loud and clear, but when he looked around, he was alone as he thought. He knew he had heard it as clear as day. He also realized that was exactly what he was doing. He was asking God for help to move forward, but then taking everything back because it wasn't going fast enough or the way that he thought. Nathan realized that once he handed it over to God, he needed to let God handle it, even if it wasn't going as he would want it to go.

As Nathan sat there, he thought about the words that his sister said and wondered what she meant when she said if he opened his eyes and heart he would see what was meant for him and him alone. He wondered if he had met the woman he was meant to spend his life with, but he had been so hung up on Elizabeth that he missed it. Nathan pondered that more, but soon realized he was too tired to think about it anymore that night.

By the time he climbed the stairs to head to bed, he felt much better. He had resolved to let Elizabeth go and prayed she was happy with Jack. He also made a conscious decision to try and open up a bit more. Lee and Joseph had both tried to get to know him much better.

…. …. …. ….

Late Friday Night: Elizabeth's house

Elizabeth wasn't sure what she was thinking of having Jack go back to the house with her. While they were still technically married, maybe, she wasn't sure with her having thought he was dead. She was going to have to check with Bill about it. Either way, she was nervous. It might have been her Jack standing there, but at the same time he was a different man. She wondered if they could just pick up where they left off or not. She also didn't want anyone to see Jack going into her house that late at night. She was worried someone wouldn't know that it was Jack and it would cause problems. Overall she was just nervous.

Elizabeth wasn't the only one that was nervous. Jack was as well. He loved his wife and had dreamt of her many times but five years was a long time to be away. He also quickly realized that Elizabeth was different then the woman who had left him at Fort Clay. He realized that part of it was the time that had passed and also becoming a mother, but there was something that had changed about Elizabeth that he wasn't sure about. Maybe it was that fear that Nathan had been talking about, because the Elizabeth that he had known, would never have let a man like Bouchard anywhere near her or a child for that matter. To break the tension that was building in the room Jack had an idea.

"Dance with me." Jack said, holding out his hand.

"What?" Elizabeth said.

"Come dance with me." Jack repeated. "I have missed you so much."

Jack turned on the Victrola, then stood there with a dimpled grin and his hand out. Finally, Elizabeth came over and Jack started waltzing her around the living room.

"I can go back to the jailhouse if you are uncomfortable with me here." Jack said.

"No." Elizabeth said. "We are technically still married, I think. You shouldn't have to stay somewhere else."

"As long as you are sure." Jack said. "And yes, we are still married. Collins did tell me to give you time to adjust and also had suggested a vow renewal if you wanted. If we have to spend some time apart for you to feel comfortable, I am okay with it. Officially, according to the government I was never dead, so yes we are still married. The money you received was not my pension, but money due to me for the work I had already done. They just had to make you believe I was gone. I don't know what would have happened if you would have tried to file a new marriage certificate. Never even thought about that until right now.

I am sorry for everything you have been through, but the people I was after were dangerous. I didn't like the idea, but it was to keep you safe. I am truly sorry for having put you through this, but I just couldn't risk the men coming after you if they found out I was investigating them. I also never thought it would take almost five years to complete the mission I had been given. There were so many times I wanted to come home to you and you know that if I had known about Little Jack I would have been here."

"You are here now." Elizabeth said. "Just promise me you won't ever leave me again."

"I will do my best." Jack said. "If I stay here and share the post with Constable Grant, I might be gone overnight here or there as our area expands. I have told Collins that I will not be away from you for months on end again. He said he could only guarantee that for the next two years and then he would do his best not to call on me. He had offered me a promotion to Inspector, but I couldn't do that from here. I would have had to stay in Cape Fullerton. I didn't think you would leave Hope Valley, so I turned it down."

"You are right." Elizabeth said. "I wouldn't want to leave. I can't imagine living anywhere else, especially now that you are back. Your land is paid off and being held in trust for Little Jack. I decided I couldn't live out there, but I also didn't want to give up the land."

"I know." Jack said. "Your father set it up, and was especially grateful after you started going around with Bouchard. You know that he doesn't like that man."

Elizabeth just looked at him.

"I don't want to talk about him, especially right now." Elizabeth said.

"Fine." Jack said. "But at some point we will have to talk about it. Just so you know, I haven't spoken to your parents. I have however heard things that they have said about the two gentlemen that you wrote about. I know that Nathan Grant is in love with you and if you really want to move on with him, I would leave. However, if you want to choose Bouchard, I would take Little Jack with me. I don't want that man near my child again."

"I want you." Elizabeth said. "Yes, there was a time that I thought I might have feelings for Nathan, but then he was almost killed in a prisoner transfer and I couldn't risk losing him, like I had lost you. I think if the prisoner transfer hadn't happened, I might have been able to build a life with Nathan, but there was always something holding me back and I think he knew it and that is why he never pressured me to go on a date with him."

"I know about the prisoner transfer." Jack said. "I also heard about the hug that happened when you realized that it wasn't Nathan who died. I was at Constable Novak's funeral. Not in my serge, but I was there. I saw Bill and Nathan. Nathan was taking it really hard. I wanted to comfort him and Bill so badly, but I couldn't blow my cover, especially with Hargraves there. I wasn't surprised when Hargraves went after him again, he hated Nathan so much because Nathan was everything that he would never be. I had wanted to come back and help him with that, but I couldn't. That was why Collins came personally. He told me what Nathan said about honoring those lost and also what Allie did. She must be pretty impressive. I can't wait to meet her.

I was also in Union City and saw you with Bouchard one time. It hurt to be so close to you and yet so far. There were several times I went to the train station when I was in Union City and thought about getting a ticket and just coming here. Then I would remember all the people that Hargraves and his cronies hurt, I knew I had to make it stop. I was always so close, but never could find that last piece that connected everything. Then one day about two months ago, out of the blue, I found and started planning my return to you."

Elizabeth stopped dancing and stepped back. She looked at Jack.

"You saw me in Union City?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes." Jack said. "I was staying in the hotel working undercover. I saw you when you checked in with him. I heard the manager call you Mrs Bouchard and then you quickly correct them. For a moment my heart broke until I heard you speak up."

"Why didn't you come over and talk to me?" Elizabeth asked.

"I couldn't break cover." Jack said. "It broke my heart to watch you with him that night. I saw plenty from the shadows. I couldn't understand how you were there and alone with a man. I wanted to hit him so hard that night and it took everything in me not to break my cover. After that, I started looking into Bouchard. Collins wasn't happy that I was spending time working on that, but I needed to know who you were associating with.

Several times, I had Collins send information to Bill about Bouchard, but everytime he had an excuse about it and nothing stuck. We knew he was shady, but he always just stayed on this side of the legal line and had others cross the line so he could deny knowledge of the criminal happenings. You know that he paid for your book deal with his mother. He was trying to buy his way into your heart and from where I stand it almost worked. He is not the man that you pretended to be and I had tried to protect you even from afar. I know that you gave him his ring back, but I need to know. Did you even love him?"

Elizabeth went and sat down on the settee. She was playing with the rings that were back where they belonged. Jack went and sat on one of the arm chairs and just gave Elizabeth room to speak. He knew that they needed to clear the air before they could move forward.

"I don't know." Elizabeth said. "I kept telling myself I would learn to love him and it had to be enough. He was safe and I was afraid to really open my heart. I know that you had written it in that letter that you had left me, but I just couldn't. I was so close to opening my heart to Nathan, then he almost died and I was thrown right back into that place I was after I learned you died. I never really grieved the loss of you. I was numb, then I found out I was pregnant and everything went into making sure that the baby was okay, then raising our son alone.

I know that I had help, but I felt so alone. I was here with Little Jack at night dealing with him. I was trying to teach during the day when I was exhausted after being with Little Jack all night. He wasn't a great sleeper for months and it was just so exhausting. I had people helping while I was teaching, but beyond that I was trying to do everything and I felt like I was failing at every turn. I was just starting to get to the place where the grief wasn't overwhelming and I could think about a future and then that failed prisoner transfer happened. I had finally found a routine with Little Jack, work and still being involved in the community when that transfer happened. Suddenly I was right back in the depths of grief and no one to talk to.

Abigail was gone by that point and I felt so alone. The longer it went on, the worse it got. At one point I was at odds with Lee and Rosemary. I had started to become a person I didn't know. I pulled back from both Lucas and Nathan, especially since they were both gone for quite a bit of time after the transfer. When they came back, Nathan respected the boundary, but Lucas didn't. I made up with Rosemary and Bill. I did what I could to mend fences. I kept telling Lucas that I wasn't interested in him any more than a friend. But he was relentless from the start. I would agree to something and he would turn it into a date when that wasn't what I wanted. When he finally proposed, I think I was sick of telling him no that I just gave in. So, no I don't think I ever really loved him."

"But you were supposed to marry him tomorrow." Jack said.

"Honestly." Elizabeth said. "When we set the wedding date, it seemed so far away and then before I knew it, it was here. I don't think I could have gone through with it tomorrow. Especially after I heard about how he spoke to Little Jack this afternoon. I had warned him before that he needed to be patient with him, but he refused to listen. He would tell me that I need to teach him manners and he needs to learn to sit quietly. I don't know why I didn't see things more clearly until this afternoon.

When we were outside the hotel and I saw you sitting there holding Little Jack, something in me broke. There was a complete stranger, or so I thought, showing my son more care than Lucas ever had. Then when I saw you closer, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. I kept telling myself it wasn't possible and I was just making it up or my mind was playing tricks on me. Then I saw your eyes and heard your voice. I thought I was dreaming, because I heard your voice so many times in my dreams. Suddenly everything I had built the last two to three years came crashing down around me.

It was like I suddenly saw Lucas for what he was and I couldn't believe that I had let it get that far. I was ashamed I had let Lucas push me into something that I didn't want. I just want to take my son and run away. Then my heart was crying out for you. When you squared off with him, it was like when we first moved here again and you were always trying to rescue me, when I didn't want your help. It suddenly felt like nine years ago and you were facing off with Billy Hamilton again. When I yelled, I almost called Lucas Billy because that was what I felt I was looking at again."

Jack laughed.

"Sorry about that." Jack said. "I wasn't the best back then. I am just glad that we got past that and we will get past this. I am glad I arrived when I did. I don't know how I would have handled it if I had arrived and you would have already been married."

"Let's try not to think about that." Elizabeth said.

"I know that you didn't want to talk about him." Jack said. "But if we are going to be sharing a bed again, I think we need to get everything out in the open. I am not mad at you for trying to open your heart. Nathan would have been a good choice and no he didn't know that I was alive. He might have sensed that you weren't ready to move on, but I honestly think he would have done anything to protect your heart. I also know that he feels extremely guilty for falling for you. I told him it wasn't his fault and I could totally see how it could happen."