"Nathan, did you really never learn how to drive," Elizabeth found herself barging in through the jail door looking at him with mild annoyance.

His eyes slowly came up from his desk, his face flushing. "Hello to you too," this woman had seemingly just welcomed herself right into his place of work with no questions. What was new though? Elizabeth always had a knack for inserting herself into every part of Nathan's life.

Elizabeth found herself at the front of his desk with that expected answer to her question. Sometimes Nathan felt like he was one of her students getting a scolding. "How do -"

"Allie,"

"Allie, of course. You told me you had it covered and I found out today you're supposed to drive to Buxton. You don't even know how to drive, what if you get into an accident -"

Nathan let out a sigh, "It can't be that hard -"

That look of annoyance stayed on her face, "I'm teaching you how to drive - now."

"I'm-"

"Now."

He let out a groan but he never won arguments with Elizabeth.

—-

And now here he was sitting in the car with Elizabeth. She was going through the process that her father had taught her. A process that was long, overtaught, and draining to listen to. But this time he sat and listened.

After all, he did need to drive. "Ok, now we go,"

"We go!" his smile brightened up, as he began to drive. A little too fast for Elizabeth's liking.

"Nathan! Slow down!"

He ran his hand up and down the steering wheel, a bright smile on his face as they began their descent onto the big open road. Well - tiny. It was Hope Valley after all. "I'm driving," he turned to smile at her, and for a small moment, she smiled right back at him. For a small moment, she allowed herself to really take in the joy of him, and his features, and that smile, and - that everything.

But quickly reality caught back up at her and she was scolding him again, "Nathan! Eyes on the road, not on me."

"Sorry," that red flush caught his cheeks again.

"Where are we going,"

"Buxton," he almost turned to look at her, but felt he'd been scolded enough by her already.

"That's kind of far?"

"Well, that's where you're going and I'd be a poor teacher not to make sure you have already gotten there and back once before,"

"Is that how it works?" she could see the eyebrow quirk from where she was sitting, causing her face to flush now.

"Well, it is with me. Just drive,"

And they were off.

Nathan whistled a bit clearly in his element. Elizabeth couldn't help but stare at him. There was so much she wanted to say. She felt as if she was holding her breath. Now was not the moment to bring it up.

She'd be trapped in a car with him if she did.

"Everything okay?" Nathan asked as he could feel the silence overtake the air, a different type of silence from before.

"Mmm, what? Yeah, everything's fine." Elizabeth was always, 'fine.'

"You know there's this great little bakery I go to in Buxton they make the best muffins,"

"The best?"

"Yeah,"

"Didn't you just tell me the muffins I gave you the other day were the best,"

"Oh - those muffins are - I just meant outside of yours, of course."

"Yeah, of course," she rolled her eyes, a soft smile on her lips, a twinkle in her eyes.

This journey continued a little longer until they reached their destination.

—

And Nathan did in fact get his muffins. As they sat in the car on the way back from their journey Elizabeth couldn't help but admit these were in fact better than hers. "Oh my, these are delicious. Is that - is that raspberry inside,"

"Yes," he smiled, "But not as good as yours," he turned briefly to her, and couldn't help the wink, but he'd missed the flush over her face.

"Yeah, sure, Nathan," she spoke playfully.

Her eyes scanned out the window, that soft silence filling the air again.

"Hey, how's Little Jack been doing?" he asked her, causing her to turn toward him and lightly shrug. "He still has questions about Jack but more than anything recently he's more curious what being a mountie is like - he wants stories, and he talks about wanting to be a mountie,"

"Oh yeah?" he spoke softly, "You know-" he looked at her from the corner of his eye. "I could take him out one day on the job-"

"What! That's a horrible idea, Nathan! I already have to worry about you and now you're trying to take my son with you!"

"I don't mean an actual mission or rounds! I meant more like a fake mission." his face flushed.

"Oh?" she turned to look at him intrigued, her face flushed too.

"Yeah, I know a guy that would be willing to fake a robbery and we can bring him in, Bill could join us -," he paused, "You too-"

"I - If I'm there too - I - Yeah, I actually think little Jack would really like that."

"Yeah?" he nodded, "Then it's settled."

"Thank you, Nathan." she looked at him, her eyes softened, and she took a moment to catch her breath, "For everything, not just - for being there for me and him -"

"Always,"

Ooc - I'm hoping to have a few different parts. These parts include going on the fake mission with Jack, Elizabeth admitting her feelings, a first kiss, and some Allie and Nathan scenes.