This is my submission for the Suspenders Unbuttoned challenge #GrantonEra. Thank you for suggesting the challenge suspendersunbuttoned, and I hope you enjoy. Jill

"Ready to go, Newton?" Nathan asked as he stroked the horse's mane. "It's time for you to settle in for the night and for me to collect Allie and head home." Nathan laughed as Newton threw back his head with a soft whinny as though he was agreeing with him. He had organised to collect Allie from Abigail's Cafe on his way back from the livery. Allie was spending the afternoon there with her friend Angela and Jack Thornton who she was babysitting.

Laughter drifted across the road toward him, and he recognised the voice as Elizabeth Thornton's; he would know it anywhere. He turned to look for her, and when he saw her, he was stunned.

Elizabeth was standing on the steps of Nickel and Dimes with the salon owner, Fiona. As he watched, he saw her reach up and touch her hair, playing with the ends of her new short hairstyle. It was quite a change from her long flowing locks; it was a modern style for her, it suited her, and she looked beautiful. Her smile as she faced Fiona was radiant, and whatever Fiona said next made Elizabeth laugh even harder than before. As she tipped her head back, her hair grazed her chin, drawing attention to the graceful curve of her neck and highlighting her porcelain skin.

Nathan couldn't look away; he was mesmerised by Elizabeth. As he admired her, he realised it wasn't only her hair that had been transformed; her clothes had too. Standing beside Fiona, who had always dressed fashionably, Elizabeth's outfit mirrored hers. Elizabeth had embraced the changing times and looked stunning in her soft pink blouse and matching skirt. Nathan wondered if the changes in her appearance meant other changes would come.

A lot had changed in their lives already. Lucas had left town permanently after winning the election for governor. When he returned to collect his things, he confirmed he would not return to Hope Valley to live; that chapter of his life ended when Elizabeth called off their engagement. His new life suited him; it was as though he had found his true purpose and was thriving in his new role.

Allie had a new role, too; Elizabeth had engaged her as Jack's after-school babysitter once Robert left town to start his Mountie training. It was a perfect arrangement now that Jack had finally started at the Jack Thornton school. Elizabeth walked to school with him each morning, and Allie walked him home in the afternoon. Depending on Elizabeth's schedule, Allie took Jack to Town, to his home or to the Grant's home. This new arrangement meant Nathan and Elizabeth spent a lot of time together.

Nathan wasn't complaining about his time with Elizabeth and Jack, and Allie had undoubtedly flourished during the time she spent with them. The one concern he had was the lack of change in their relationship. They were friends. She was his best friend, and they could talk about anything except his feelings for her. He was in love with her and had been since almost the moment he met her. Unfortunately for him, she wasn't in love with him and he had respected that, understanding you can't make someone love you.

It still hurt. It hurt that Elizabeth couldn't look past his role as a Mountie, that who he was as a man wasn't enough. There were times when he thought she did care for him as more than a friend, but he couldn't risk losing what they had if he were wrong. He would have to learn to be content to share what he did of her life and support her choices.

Sighing, he turned back to Newton.

"Let's go, boy." Nathan clicked his tongue and headed toward the livery, trying to rid his mind of thoughts of what could have been.

"Is it possible Nathan has gotten better looking?" Fiona asked, noticing him walking along, leading Newton by his reins. Fiona had always considered Nathan handsome, but today, dressed in his Mountie jodhpurs with only his short-sleeved Henley and suspenders, he was gorgeous.

Elizabeth turned and followed Fiona's gaze, and in that moment, before she had the chance to control her expression, Fiona saw the naked longing in her eyes. So, Elizabeth did have feelings beyond friendship for Nathan. She had always wondered. It was evident to anyone who cared to look how Nathan felt, although he had gotten better at hiding his feelings. Elizabeth was much better at disguising her own...at least until today.

Fiona, Faith, and Mei had discussed Nathan and Elizabeth many times, during Mei's awkward interactions with him and Faith's disastrous attempt at forming a relationship with him, especially after Elizabeth called off her wedding to Lucas. They had expected that Elizabeth would declare her feelings for Nathan, and they would live happily ever after, like in a fairytale. That hadn't happened. The three young women wondered how Elizabeth continued to resist Nathan Grant. He adored her; he adored her son, and their children loved each other. She lit up when she was around him. They were a perfect match, yet she held him at arm's length.

"Elizabeth? Don't you agree? I am sure I am not the only one to notice."

Fiona watched as Elizabeth blinked, dragging herself out of whatever daydream she was having about Nathan Grant. Fiona bit back her smile, not wanting to embarrass her friend. Well, maybe a little bit.

"Um, yes. I... he is ahhhh." Elizabeth shook her head. "I need to go. I have to start dinner for Jack and..."

"Of course." Fiona teased. "Enjoy your evening, Elizabeth. I hope everyone likes your new look."

"Thank you again, Fiona. I know I love it."

Fiona watched as Elizabeth turned to walk away, stifling her giggle as her friend almost tripped on the steps, distracted once again by the retreating figure of Nathan Grant. Those two could do with a nudge.

"What do you have planned for your haircut, Rosemary? Something similar to mine? Elizabeth was brave enough to make the change."

"Oh no, not today. I love the modern styles, but I am not quite ready for short hair." Rosemary smiled at Fiona before adding, "Elizabeth does look stunning. I was thinking of suggesting we have dinner at the Cafe tonight to show it off to everyone."

"Oooorrrr," Fiona drawled, "she could have dinner at home and show it off to Nathan."

"I'm starting to think it will take more than a new hairstyle to shake those two up."

"So, you agree, there is something there. Something between them?"

"Of course, there is, but Elizabeth is too scared to admit it, and Nathan is too afraid to be rejected again...can you blame him."

As Fiona began cutting Rosemary's hair, the two women discussed what they could do to help them admit their feelings, and by the end of the appointment, they had a plan. It wasn't an overly complex plan, and Fiona wondered if it would even work, but it was better than doing nothing and watching their friends remain apart when they could be so happy together. She and Rosemary could give them the opportunity, but in the end, it was up to the two of them.

Elizabeth fussed over the dinner she was preparing, wondering why everything had gone so wrong. She had burned the chicken, and her bread hadn't risen. She had come a long way from her first cooking attempts and was quite a good cook now. Today, she had been all thumbs after the conversation with Fiona.

Elizabeth had been unsettled ever since Fiona commented on Nathan's appearance. What could she say? No, Nathan hadn't gotten better looking; he had always been handsome. Of course, she had noticed; she wasn't blind. No, Fiona wasn't the only one who thought him ...what had she said when he arrived... a bit of a dish. To make things worse, Nathan was beautiful inside as well.

Flinging the tea towel on the table, Elizabeth gave up on baking bread and stood, head bowed, defeated. She knew what she wanted her relationship with Nathan to be, what she wished they were, but didn't know how to make it happen. He had loved her; he had told her so. She hoped it was still true, it seemed to be. She felt it in everything he did for her, the way he spoke to her and listened. But he didn't trust her, and for good reason. She had broken his heart and hurt him unbelievably. It was a testament to the type of man he was that he had forgiven her at all; she couldn't expect him to risk being hurt again.

Could she do it? Could she tell him how she felt, and if she did, would he give her one final chance so they could be a family at last? Or would it ruin everything?

The door was flung open, and her son ran inside, calling out to her, breaking her out of her reverie. He ran toward her, smiling, but as he got close to the kitchen, he slowed down, face wrinkled in confusion.

"What's that smell, Mama?"

"That smell, Jack, was our dinner," Elizabeth explained, covering the pan of burnt chicken with a cloth. "It doesn't smell very appetising, does it?"

"Nuh-uh," Jack agreed.

"Oh! Mrs Thornton. I love your hair," Allie exclaimed. "Don't worry about dinner; why don't Jack and I cook something? I can always use the practice, and we have lot's of ingredients at home. Besides," Allie said with a grin, "you don't want to mess up your new hairstyle by cooking."

Elizabeth smiled at Allie, touching her hair self-consciously.

"Your dad won't mind?" Elizabeth asked, wondering where Nathan was; he had planned to walk the children home, and she had hoped to see him.

"He won't. I can ask him; he went to get changed." Allie barely waited for Elizabeth to agree, turning, and heading for the door. "I won't be long!"

After telling her dad the new plan for dinner and telling him to come as soon as he could, Allie ran back to the Thornton's, ingredients in her basket. As she got closer, she noticed Mrs Coulter standing on her veranda, waving frantically at her.

"Is everything alright?" she asked as she changed course and headed toward her.

"What are your plans for this evening, Allie?"

Allie explained about the burned food and what she was doing to fix the problem so they could have something edible for dinner.

"Why don't I come inside with you?" Rosemary suggested, taking the basket of food from her. "I would be happy to supervise you and Jack while you cook. We can do it in my row house, and that way, Elizabeth can relax after her long school week."

Allie was a little confused about the offer from Mrs Coulter, but she was happy to go along with her suggestion. She loved spending time with the Coulters, especially baby Goldie and Mrs Coulter was a good cook, so she could learn a lot from her.

After gushing over Elizabeth's hair and outfit, Rosemary explained her plan. When Elizabeth began to protest, she held up her hands, stopping the flow of words. "I insist, Elizabeth. Sit down. Relax and take some time for yourself. We will be over as soon as everything is ready." Bustling the children out of the front door, she left Elizabeth standing in her wake, stunned by the strange turn of events.

Elizabeth prepared a cup of tea, pleased she had managed to do that without messing it up. As she carried it to the lounge, there was a knock on the door, assuming it was Allie, needing something she placed her cup down and hurried to answer the door.

The words died on her lips as she saw her visitor wasn't Allie.

"Nathan," she stammered, "I guess you didn't hear about the change of plans."

"I guess not. What change of plans?" Nathan tried not to stare at Elizabeth as she stood before him. She truly was beautiful, and her new hair looked lovely. "Has it anything to do with your lovely haircut? You look wonderful, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth smiled, and he knew she was pleased with the compliment despite the tinge of pink colouring her cheeks. She stared at him for a few moments, not speaking, before she shook her head to clear it and invited him inside. Elizabeth quickly explained the change in plan, where Allie and Jack were and when she expected them to return.

"I'll understand if you prefer to go home and relax until there is something decent to eat, or I could get you something to drink. Tea? Coffee? Something cold?"

Nathan hesitated; the last thing he wanted to do was go home, but he wasn't sure whether he should be alone with Elizabeth.

"It's fine, Nathan, I understand," Elizabeth said when he hesitated.

"No, sorry, I would love to come in. Juice is fine, thank you." Nathan followed Elizabeth inside, wondering if his nervousness was rubbing off on her; she seemed agitated.

"Is everything alright, Elizabeth?" he asked, noting the spoiled food on the table when she went to pour his drink.

"It's fine," she said with a rueful laugh, "just revisiting my early attempts at cooking."

Nathan smiled with her, remembering his own poor attempts when he was learning to cook; luckily, Allie had been a patient child. Thanking her for the drink she handed him, he placed it on the table and began helping her clean up the mess.

"You don't need to help, Nathan," she exclaimed.

"You should let me do it all. I would hate you to mess up your new outfit." The moment the words left his mouth, he wished he could take them back. It was one thing mentioning her hair, but her clothes...what was he thinking!

"Fiona talked me into it. Is it too much?" Elizabeth's eyes went to the outfit before she raised them, looking at him shyly.

"No. You're lovely. It's lovely," Nathan stammered. "The colour is lovely on you," he said, wishing he could clearly say what he meant. Pausing, Nathan waited a beat before speaking, "Elizabeth, you couldn't look anything but beautiful to me." Seeing her eyes widen in surprise, he apologised, "I'm sorry; I shouldn't have said that."

"Did you not mean it?" Elizabeth asked, her eyes daring him to take the words back.

"Of course, I meant it. You're always beautiful to me, no matter what clothes you wear or how you wear your hair." Nathan swallowed hard, apprehensive about her reaction.

"Nathan? You know it is the same for me with what you wear. There was a time when you wore the serge, and that was all I saw. I allowed myself to be consumed by the fear of what it represented, the risk to you. I don't feel that way anymore."

"You're not afraid?" Nathan queried, dropping the pan back on the table and focusing entirely on Elizabeth. Was this it? Was it finally going to be their time?

"I know the risk is there no matter what you wear, and I would be devastated if something were to happen to you, and staying apart from you doesn't change that."

"Elizabeth, are you sure?"

"I have never been more sure of anything in my life. You are my best friend, and I am my best self around you. I'm in love you. If you still love me, I will spend the rest of my life proving I am worthy of you and Allie."

"I love you, Elizabeth; that has never changed, and it never will."

With a sob, Elizabeth threw herself into arms, holding him tightly. Nathan wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on her hair. It wasn't the first time he had held Elizabeth in his arms, but this time was different; this time, nothing was holding them back from having the future they deserved. It was finally their time.