Elizabeth stood inside her row house, a hand on her stomach, trying to quiet the butterflies. She inhaled deeply, exhaling until her lungs were empty. Did she want to do this? Did she want to travel to Union City with Lucas? Yes, she wanted to see Virginia Wolfe, but this trip could be misconstrued, and she didn't want that. She didn't want Lucas to think this was anything more than two friends attending an event together.

Lucas had turned courting her into a competition, pursuing her aggressively, and she knew this was partly about being with her but mostly to annoy Nathan. Her agreeing to this date would seem like a win for Lucas. This outing would hurt Nathan; why has she agreed?

What did she want from Nathan, shy Nathan, who would never dare suggest something as scandalous as an overnight outing? Picnics and family dinners with their children were more Nathan's style. She knew Nathan had feelings for her; he had shown her that in the small, subtle ways that matter. Like the apple he had brought earlier that week, and how he listened to her, really listened.

A knock on her front door snapped her out of her reverie. Lucas was here to collect her and drive them both to Union City. There was no turning back now. Was there?

Elizabeth only had to collect her bag; she had dropped Jack off to Lee and Rosemary earlier, not wanting to say goodbye at the car and have him watch her drive away. They had taken him to Town for breakfast to distract him from missing her, but nothing would stop her from missing him.

Elizabeth allowed Lucas to place her bag in the car he had borrowed from Henry. She took her seat next to him, expecting him to drive toward Union City, and was surprised when he headed into Hope Valley.

"I need to collect an item from the Mercantile. I hope you don't mind?" Lucas asked.

"Of course not," Elizabeth replied tartly, wondering what he would have done if she said she did; he hadn't waited for her response.

Lucas kept up a steady stream of chatter as they drove the short distance to Town, not reacting to Elizabeth's one-word answers. Elizabeth admitted she wasn't surprised; he never cared about her responses and barely ever asked about her or her son, content to talk about himself; endlessly. It was going to be a long twenty-four hours, she thought, wishing she hadn't agreed to go.

"Lucas," Elizabeth interrupted. She couldn't do this. She needed to get out of the car and go home. What had she been thinking?

She saw the scowl on Lucas's face as he turned toward her, knowing he would argue with whatever she said. Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak but stopped; something was wrong.

A group of people stood outside the Mercantile, Lee in the centre of them. Rosemary stood in the outer circle, holding Jack as Fiona, Faith, Mike, and Molly all stood around. Something was definitely wrong; she could tell by their expressions and Rosemary's agitated gestures.

"We need to see what is wrong; it looks serious," Elizabeth said urgently.

"We are on a schedule," Lucas explained, his tone grumpy. "I have plans for the trip. I don't want to be late."

"My son is over there, Lucas. I need to see what is wrong. I am not leaving before I know that he is fine," Elizabeth insisted. As the car rolled to a stop, she leapt out, not waiting for Lucas to open her door.

"What's happened, Rosemary?" she asked, rushing toward her and quickly taking her son, needing to hold him and ensure he was okay.

"Nathan's been shot," Rosemary blurted out.

"Rosie!" Lee exclaimed, wishing his wife had broken the news a little more gently. He reached for Elizabeth and Jack as he saw her sway, stumbling under the weight of the information.

"Is he...how...what happened?" Elizabeth implored Lee with her eyes, clutching his arm with her free hand, begging him to tell her Nathan was okay.

"Something went wrong at the trial in Cape Fullerton. We don't have a lot of details, but it seems one of the gang members was still on the loose and turned up to free their friend. Nathan was shot trying to stop them." Lee explained as best he could with the information they had. Bill had gone to find out more, and they were all waiting for him to return.

"Elizabeth, we need to get on the road," Lucas said as he approached the group.

"I am not going to Union City with you, Lucas, Nathan has been shot."

"Elizabeth, that's ... unfortunate, but I am sure he is in good hands wherever he is, and you can do nothing for him. We should keep our plans." Lucas smiled at her condescendingly, "I am sure many others are willing and better trained to look after the Constable."

"That may be, Lucas, but I need to see for myself he is all right, and I want to be the one to look after him."

Lee looked at Rosemary and saw her eyebrows shoot up before a broad smile spread across her face. He had scolded Rosie the other day for being too enthusiastic about the Union City trip. They had agreed to support Elizabeth with whoever she chose but felt Nathan was the better choice.

"Elizabeth," Lucas began...

"I am going to see Nathan, and I am going to be there for him and Allie," Elizabeth said firmly.

"I will go without you, Elizabeth. I am offering you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity here." Lucas' eyes bored into hers, leaving no doubt he wasn't just talking of Virginia Wolfe and Union City.

"Then go," Elizabeth said, turning her back on Lucas and dismissing him. When Bill walked out of the Mercantile toward them, she focused on his face, trying to sense if it was good or bad news. She didn't hear Lucas walk away, start the car and leave.

"He is in the hospital in Cape Fullerton; he is in Surgery to repair the damage from the bullet in his arm," Bill explained; his voice was tight with the emotion he was trying to control, and his face was white. He looked around at the group, noticing Elizabeth for the first time. "I thought you were going out of Town?"

"I was until I heard. The only place I am going now is Cape Fullerton."

Bill narrowed his eyes; he could see the determination in her eyes and nodded. "I am driving, Allie; you can come with us. Florence took her home to pack a bag; as you can imagine, she is quite distraught."

Looking at her bag, she realised she had nothing appropriate for the trip; everything was much too fancy, but she didn't care; she would find rags to wear if she could ensure Nathan was okay.

Elizabeth sat in the back of Lee's car with Allie, her arms around the young girl as she sobbed. Elizabeth tried to comfort her but quickly realised that until she saw her Uncle and knew he would be okay, that wouldn't happen. All she could do was hold her and let her cry. Elizabeth rested her head on Allie's and let her own tears fall.

She stroked Allie's hair, her thoughts swirling in her mind. How could she have been so stubborn about protecting herself? How could she have let the fear of losing Nathan stop her from being with him? What if she didn't get to tell him how much he mattered to her, how much she loved him?

The trip to Cape Fullerton was endless, or so it seemed. Allie had cried herself to sleep, her emotions exhausting her. Elizabeth and Bill let her sleep, murmuring so they didn't wake her.

"So, Elizabeth. What does your presence mean?" Bill asked, looking over his shoulder at her.

"I am here because I want to be there for Nathan and Allie?"

"In what way?" Bill asked, needing to understand. He wouldn't allow Elizabeth to waver anymore; if she weren't all in, he would find some way to keep her at arm's length from Nathan and Allie. Now was not the time for Nathan to be distracted or confused.

"In every way if he will still have me. If I haven't ruined everything by making the wrong choices."

Bill smiled. Elizabeth was finally back. He was only sorry it had taken Nathan getting hurt to bring her to her senses. At least Bouchard would be out of the picture; he had never wanted him anywhere near Jack and Elizabeth.

Arriving at the Hospital, Elizabeth was glad Bill was with her; he was relentless in his desire to see Nathan. Bill refused to hear the word 'no', and eventually, they were standing outside Nathan's room as the Doctor explained the situation.

"He's awake, and we have given him medication to help with the pain." Glancing at Allie, he smiled and said, "your Father was lucky, the Courthouse is close to the hospital, and they got him to surgery quickly. I believe he will make a full recovery with time. You and your mother must ensure you look after him, so he rests that arm."

"Can we see him?" Allie asked, not bothering to correct the Doctor's assumptions about her or Elizabeth.

"Of course," he responded, stepping aside to let them enter the room.

The three of them stepped inside hesitantly, not knowing what to expect. When Allie saw her Uncle propped up in bed, pale against the sheets, she cried out and ran to him.

Nathan saw Allie coming and tried to sit up, wincing in pain. As Allie launched herself at him, he was glad she was on his uninjured side, although the force of her hug still had him reeling in pain.

"Slow down, Allie," Bill called, grimacing in sympathy for the pain her hug must have caused. "You don't want to reinjure him."

Nathan looked up at Bill, not surprised to see him there; he had known he would come and that he would bring Allie. He was surprised to see Elizabeth there.

"What are you doing here?" Nathan asked, staring at her. His heart was racing, and it was nothing to do with his injury.

"I had to come when I heard," Elizabeth said, slowly walking toward him. "I had to see you, to see for myself you were okay."

"Why?" Nathan asked, hoping against hope to hear what he had been waiting months to hear.

"I needed to know."

"Why?" he repeated.

"Because I finally admitted what was in my heart," Elizabeth said, unsuccessfully holding back a sob as she reached for his hand. "It's you, Nathan. You're in my heart." Elizabeth let the tears welling in her eyes roll down her cheeks. "I needed you to know that. When I thought there was a chance I wouldn't get to tell you how I feel, I couldn't breathe."

Nathan smiled at her; his pain forgotten. He forgot Bill and Allie were listening.

"Breathe, Elizabeth. You're here now, beside me, right where I want you to be."

"Oh, Nathan." Elizabeth whispered, "I'm sorry it took me so long; I'm sorry I hurt you with my indecision; it was never about you or your worth. It was me and my fear. I was scared of losing you, but now, I know..." she took a moment to get her emotions under control, "I could have lost you anyway."

"I love you, Elizabeth," Nathan said, his voice clear, unconcerned who was listening. Well, unconcerned, Bill was listening; he knew Allie would be thrilled.

"I love you too and can't wait to take you home to Hope Valley." Elizabeth leaned down and kissed Nathan softly, cheeks reddening at her boldness.

Nathan reached up and cupped Elizabeth's cheek in his hand, "I can't imagine anything that would make me heal faster than coming home to you." Glancing at Allie, whose face was beaming, he said, "coming home to my family.