AN: So this is my attempt to work through my feelings that are getting stirred up through recent things that have gotten to me. I know many of you are happy with the current s10 show. I'm not there. I am still feeling betrayed by the s8 finale when they had such a wonderful way to have Lucas bow out at the end of episode 11 which felt respectful to all characters and then the S8 finale happened. So, I wrote this in an attempt to get past a writer's block on my current fanfics. If you are a Elizabeth fan, I suggest you skip this installment of my drabbles.
The sky was a crystal blue with big puffy white clouds. The sun shone brightly on the crowd gathered at the cemetery, a stark contrast to the mood of the people gathered. It was a solemn group that gathered to say good-bye to one of their own. Despite recent actions that had hurt people, those now finding places around the freshly dug grave and casket were ready to forget those transgressions and remember only the good. Even those who had spent the last few days whispering things among friends that they would never say out loud.
And there had been whispers. Attuned to listening for the slightest of noises while out on rounds, Nathan's ears had picked up those whispers.
Some had been concern for him. Apparently his neighbors still realized his feelings for Elizabeth. An unrequited love was painful but hard to let go of. He had tried. Failed relationships with Mei and Faith were a result of that trying.
Others said that God had simply had enough of her self-centered ways guised under caring for people. That the lighting strike was his way of stopping Elizabeth from meddling with others' lives. That it was in response to her handing out advice that she did not live herself.
Another whispering that he had heard was that it was no coincidence that she had been struck by lighting shortly after breaking off her engagement to Lucas. Clearly, someone up above had been tired of her playing with men's hearts - leading them on and then dumping them. "Just like she did with Nathan," he had heard whispered, the person making the comment quickly walking away when she saw him.
For those who still didn't quite trust Lucas Bouchard's sudden transformation to a family man and upright citizen, there were whispers that it wasn't a lighting strike that had killed Elizabeth. Those conspirators felt that Lucas some how was involved in her death. That after being turned down by the woman he had spent so much money on trying to win, he had simply spent a little more money and hired someone to shoot her.
Though Nathan was skeptical of Lucas' sudden transformation himself, even he didn't think the man capable of that. Besides, he had been the one to find Elizabeth that night on the road leading out of town to the row houses having been in the office late. There had been no blood as she lay on her back, open eyes staring vacantly up into the sky.
As he watched Lee carry a heartbroken boy to the front of the crowd, Nathan hoped that Elizabeth was now with that boy's father. He wanted to believe that Elizabeth hadn't meant to hurt either him or Lucas, but that she simply had not been able to let go of her love for Jack Sr.
Wrapping his arms around Allie, who stood in front of him, Nathan vowed to be there for Jack Jr. for the parents who could no longer be with him.