AN: I don't own any of the characters, etc. This story just came to mind as I wanted to resolve things between Nathan and Lucas since I rewatched the series up to the end of season 10. I felt that Nathan had been trying to be gracious about Elizabeth's choice of Lucas when he told Elizabeth she could do worse (paraphrasing) and I thought that, as Nathan and Lucas had become friends, this might be a good way to keep their friendship from turning bitter. I am of course anxious to see where the next season takes us...Please be kind with comments. I haven't posted any type of FanFiction in a great while as I've been experiencing vision loss so some words, etc may not be edited to my usual standards.

--

Lucas Bouchard glanced at his pocket watch again. There would not be much time. Ever since he'd arrived, he had been bustled to one thing after another on a tightly packed schedule — speeches, interviews, press conferences, dinners, engagements for fundraising. It was, to be sure, a whirlwind. In a way, he welcomed the distraction. In all his busyness he didn't have too much time left to really reflect on what the past few weeks had brought. Well, aside from where he was at the moment. The hotel room was plush, befitting a gentleman who was running for the office of Governor. He wasn't surprised at the ostentatious and elaborate decorations — this was the kind of life he'd seen himself living, if he were being honest. At least before Hope Valley. And that was what brought him back to the matter at hand. He picked up the receiver and asked the operator to place a call.

Constable Nathan Grant was almost to the door when the phone began to ring from its place on his desk across the room. His heart ached in a way he had not been prepared to feel, and his struggle was twofold…He was aware of the emotions that related to his own feelings. But then he wondered what her feelings were…Her true feelings, not the ones that were masked in words when her eyes held a different story. By now she would of course be with Lucas, standing by his side and giving him her full support in a whirlwind of activities that probably reminded her very much of her life in Hamilton. Nathan would have to be happy for her — for them. And he would truly try. Her happiness was far more important to him than his own. It was the only thing that made the situation bearable, seeing her smile, even when that beautiful smile was not directed at him. "Constable Grant," he said distractedly into the mouthpiece, his tall frame leaning across the desk.

"Hello, Constable," came one of the voices from his very recent musings, and not one that had been expected. Lucas' tone was succinct and business-like. "How are things in Hope Valley?"

Nathan was more than a little surprised, and his hand shook a moment, having been caught off guard. He grappled for control of the mouthpiece and spoke into it awkwardly. "I…Fine as far as I'm aware. Why? Do you have any news?" Nathan reverted his thoughts from Elizabeth to his Mountie duties. Even though the question had caught him off-guar, he was a Mountie. He couldn't let his personal feelings intervene with potential Mountie business. Perhaps Lucas had heard of more destruction coming during the campaigning. After all, Lucas was out among the people, both for the good and the bad, and Nathan wasn't sure what the other man may have heard. He needed to stay professional and focused, very much detached. He asked again after no words were forthcoming. "Lucas…Why have you called? What news do you have?"

"News?" Lucas' voice was a mixture of something he didn't recognize. It was not quite bitterness. "News…Yes. As a matter-of-fact, I do have news," Lucas spoke slowly and deliberately, drawing it out, hopefully stressing to the constable he enormity of what he had to relate. "I have news. And it's important," he told the man on the other end of the line, miles stretching between them. There was some small comfort in knowing he would not have to face Nathan, because in that situation Lucas wondered if jealousy would win over. But he was a rational, even if also a gambling, man. And he knew that Elizabeth had been right that night on the train platform for many reasons. Their paths had intertwined for a time, but the separate roads they would travel from here would be for the best. "You had better sit, if you are not…"

Nathan grew tense. "Is everything okay with you? With…Elizabeth? You're not in any danger there, are you? Given the situation, I can request a Mountie be assigned to you both for the duration of the campaign…"

Lucas had suspected by Nathan's tone that he had not seen Elizabeth, but now his words confirmed that she had not seen him, since her return. He wondered if she'd seen anyone or had just taken time — he was slightly hopeful — to grieve the loss of their relationship. He had known she wrestled with saying goodbye, but he respected her still. And he knew her well enough to know that she had not trifled with his emotions, and that she would not trifle with Nathan's. He also knew his Mountie friend would at least be up to the task he envisioned for them both. He had not taken time to properly grieve, he thought ironically, and wondered if it was because the battle before him had given him purpose and reinforced what he knew to be true – he was destined for this path, and Elizabeth was not. He laughed softly from the other end of the line. "That, my friend, will not be necessary. I am completely fine. As for Elizabeth…I really need to speak to you about her. It's why I've called…"

Nathan found himself anxious as he walked around the desk to his chair and eased himself down, as had been suggested. "Ye-es?" He knew Lucas could hear the tension in his voice, because he heard it himself.

"Where to begin…?" the other man started.

Nathan, needing to get to the point, did not hesitate to bark out in his official Mountie tone. "What? Just tell me…" He felt like he was about to be punched and braced himself for the blow. Perhaps they'd eloped…He felt bile rise in his throat, but choked it back down, only to start coughing and the voice on the other end waited a few moments for him to regain his composure. "What already?!" The suspense of whatever news was coming regarding Elizabeth, whom Nathan knew to be the one love of his life, was almost unbearable and he wondered why he had to endure the torture.

"Nathan…" Lucas was slow and deliberate, wanting his words to sink in. "Elizabeth…did not come with me. She remained in Hope Valley. She's home." He waited for Nathan to speak, letting the weight of his words sink in. But Nathan appeared to misunderstand.

Lucas almost laughed at way Nathan immediately focused on Mountie business, having processed the words in the wrong way and asking for the preferred outcome. "Do you need Bill or I to escort her and Little Jack to wherever you are? Or should I request a detail to watch over them and their home? Have you heard something about Balfour that we should be aware of? Are they in danger?" Though still as business-like as possible, there was a catch in Nathan's voice.

"My friend, and rival, the only danger is in you and Elizabeth not being honest with one another."

Nathan, usually very quick to decipher matters of importance when it came to so many things, was confused. And because of his concern over Elizabeth's safety, he was not going to pretend he understood the man who had come to be his friend. "I…I don't understand…"

Lucas laughed softly again, interrupting. "Well…Let us just pray I don't lose the governor's race, as I lost the one between us. I don't think I could handle a second blow to my ego at this stage and I truly want to do some good in this world, to help people. It will never be quite what you do, but I like to think I can bring some good to not just Hope Valley but the whole area," Lucas spoke thoughtfully. He sounded sincere to the Mountie, but the words were not making sense to Nathan. He heard someone in the background calling to Lucas, but Lucas excused himself momentarily and said he needed another moment, that the matter he was discussing was of utmost importance.

"It's time for me to go. Do not squander your opportunity, Constable. I know the best man won. I'd seen that long ago, but I didn't want to admit it. She told me you told her you loved her, and I asked what she'd said in reply. When she said she hadn't said anything but had just left, I knew there was something there, some feeling greater than a friendship, for you. I gambled and lost this hand. But she deserves to have a great love with someone who can give her a whole heart. As do you."

Nathan cut in. "Lucas, Elizabeth has never…"

Lucas cut him off. "I do not doubt her character. I know that regardless of how she felt, she did not act upon those feelings once she committed to me. You thought…" Lucas laughed ruefully. "Well, I don't hold it against you, not for being her friend. And I can't hold it against you that you care so much about her happiness. Maybe you saw that we were not destined to be together. I like to think you just felt love was 'worth fighting for'. She is a remarkable woman and you will do well to keep in line and not lose her affections."

In the background voices were insistent about the time and Lucas apologized. "I am so sorry to cut this short, but I must be going. Give my regards to all there in Hope Valley. And pray we have victory here. Goodbye, Nathan. Take care of — everyone — there." There was a catch in his voice as Lucas said it, a finalization in his soul that things were indeed over for him with Elizabeth. But he smiled with satisfaction as he hung up the phone. He knew Elizabeth loved Nathan more deeply than she would even admit to herself. He'd known she loved him too. But, as she'd finally confessed, she couldn't give him her whole heart. And he was satisfied that, as his life was changing course, hers would find its path and she would indeed find great love again. As would he.