Chapter 24- Christmas Magic

Nathan was not sure why he decided to stop by his office after making rounds this afternoon.

Who was he kidding? Nathan knew exactly why. He could not stand the thought of returning home on Christmas Day to an empty house. Not after yesterday and this morning and all the perfect time he had spent together with Allie and Charlotte.

Nathan's mind raced through the past few days. His talk with Charlotte yesterday morning. It was such a real discussion, open and honest in every way. Then their intimate connection at the church when they were perfectly happy to just be in each other's embrace. And last night, when Charlotte gifted himself and Allie, with not just the most perfect of presents, but ones that were literally a part of her being given to them. Charlotte's words to Allie after giving her the Claddagh ring. About not wanting to replace Colleen, but still wanting to be there for Allie as a mother. It had moved Nathan to tears. His girls and their love for one another were a beautiful thing to watch unfold.

A knock at the door to the jail, broke Nathan from his thoughts.

Who could that be on Christmas Day?

Nathan stood and rounded the corner of his desk to open the door.

"Lee!" surprise carried in Nathan's voice. "What are you doing here tonight? Shouldn't you be with Rosemary? Or at Little Jack's birthday party?"

"It was just a simple lunch this year for Jack's birthday. And no, in usual Rosie fashion she has had me running errands most of the afternoon. As I was finishing up, I saw your light on and thought I would swing in and see how your Christmas was," Lee responded.

"It's been good. Really good actually."

"Then why are you here and not still celebrating?"

"Allie is spending the night at Opal's with a few other girls from school and… and Charlotte went back to her house since I had to go on my rounds."

"You two are not spending the evening together? It's still Christmas, you know." Lee's eyes sparkled. "You would rather spend tonight alone... here? Then in the presence of a beautiful woman who adores you?"

"Lee, I don't want to force Charlotte to be with me. You know what she has been through. This isn't easy for her."

"No, it's not easy. No relationship is. And you both have had more obstacles than most to overcome. But when you two are paired together, as a team, there is nothing that can stop you."

Nathan gave Lee an appreciative smile as he placed a hand on his shoulder, "Thanks Lee."

"Merry Christmas Nathan," Lee said as he moved towards the door.

"Merry Christmas Lee."

"Oh! One more thing." Lee turned on his heel and strode back to Nathan, pulling a small envelope from his pocket. "My last errand for Rosemary."

Nathan raised his eyebrow in question but took the envelope from Lee's extended hand.

"From what I hear the dress code is red serge approved. So, I wouldn't take too long to get ready if I were you." Lee said with a wink, as he quickly departed out the door leaving Nathan to stew over his words.

Dress code?

Get ready?

Nathan turned over the envelope in his hands, opened the flap and pulled the tiny note from inside.

Nathan

I have one more gift I wish to share with you this Christmas. Please stop by my house on your way home tonight.

Yours, Charlotte

Nathan's nerves were getting the best of him. Here he stood on the front porch of Charlotte's house, not quite sure what lay behind the door in front of him.

One more gift?

What possibly could Charlotte mean by that? She had already given Nathan everything he could have wished for this Christmas. But the pull to know what Charlotte had planned, brought Nathan's knuckles forward to knock on her door.

"Come in!" Charlotte's cheerful voice came from inside.

Nathan's hand wrapped around the knob, twisting and gently pushing it forward into Charlotte's house as he stepped through the entry, before quickly closing the door behind him to keep the chill of the evening outside.

When he turned back towards the living room, it was as if the earth crumbled from beneath him.

"Good evening Constable Grant."

There on the other side of the room stood Charlotte. Her hair hung loose in silky waves that kissed across her exposed collarbone. A midnight blue gown hung off Charlotte's shoulders. Its lace material molding around her curves to the place where it connected at her waist to the A-line skirt that flowed gently to the floor. The flickering light of the wood stove, cast them both in the softest romantic glow.

Nathan didn't know if breathing was even possible anymore. The air had been forcefully knocked from his lungs. Nathan's eyes stung from his refusal to blink. Blinking would prove this was all just a mirage. And he didn't care if it wasn't real, he was going to sear this image of Charlotte into his mind, and heart, forever.

As Charlotte approached, Nathan could see she was smiling as if glad to see him. She gave him her slim hands, a gesture of closeness and familiarity. The day instantly became the best one he'd had in weeks, actually the best he had in forever. His heart thumped joyfully at her nearness.

Nathan had fallen for this beautiful girl, who was so much more than pretty. She was smart. She was funny. She was brave. Charlotte had a past that wasn't all that lovely, yet she still found ways to put a smile on her face. As much as Charlotte liked to say she did not deserve him, Nathan often felt it was the other way around.

"Wha-" Nathan's voice cracked. "What's all this for?"

"It's your Christmas present."

"Charlotte, you have already given me more than I could have ever wished for."

"No. I haven't," Charlotte's eyes shifted to where she held Nathan's hands, as she nervously tightened her grip. "I have a promise to make Nathan. To you."

Nathan's throat went dry. A promise?

"I know you are not Beck. You will never hurt me. But I can't guarantee that episodes like what happened the other night at the dance, won't happen again. That they won't cripple me in fear and take me right back to that night of the attack"

Charlotte raised her eyes then to look into Nathan's gaze. His breath was unsteady, hanging onto every word she was telling him. His blue eyes shading into all the blues there are.

"But what I promise to you tonight, is this; I don't want to do this alone anymore Nathan. I do not want to face that darkness without your light. Your support. Your hand in mine. I want to see where this goes. Where we go. I want to be with you Nathan. I want to understand this amazing man who stands before me. I want to know your joys and tribulations. Your fears and triumphs. As much as you want me to let you into this complicated mind of mine. I want to be let into yours too."

A lone salty tear escaped from the corner of Charlotte's eye. Nathan instinctively reached up to brush it away from her cheek with the back of his fingers. His palm then gently trailed over Charlotte's exposed shoulder on the way back to holding her hands into his. The action caused Charlotte's breath to catch. Not in fear, but in longing and desire.

"When I came to Hope Valley," Charlotte continued. "I wasn't looking for anything. Actually, I was running away from feelings and emotions of any kind. But then you came into my life. You and Allie. And that was it… I guess things just happened. I found you and I found myself slowly wanting to spend time with you. It felt right. And I think that is how the best relationships begin. When you're not looking for anything and then suddenly you realize; you have something."

A smile came across Nathan's features causing small lines to form at the corner of his eyes.

"Nathan, you unselfishly take care of everyone, Allie and this community. But if you let me, I'd like to take care of you now too. I want to be there for you, like you are for everyone else."

Nathan's eyes closed then. The impact of Charlotte's words seeping into his very core. This was all he ever wanted in life. To be someone's choice.

He realized then, that when you meet the other half of your soul, you understand why all the other loves of your life didn't work. Why they let go. Because when you meet the one who deserves your heart, you know why things did not work out with anyone else.

"Nathan, Will you dance with me?" Charlotte asked. Her brow slightly furrowed with the question.

It was then Nathan noticed that all the furniture had been pushed to the side of the room, except for Lee and Rosemary's gramophone that now sat at the base of the stairs. Charlotte stepped over to the player and with expert movements started a record. A slow, classical Christmas song began streaming from the speaker, filling the room with a soft rhythmic beat.

"Are you sure?" Nathan gently questioned as Charlotte led them closer to the center of the room. "You don't need to prove anything to me."

"I know I don't need to prove anything to you Nathan. But I want to do this for you. And for me too. After these past months, I think we deserve this little piece of happiness. Just you and me. I want to pretend the rest of the world just doesn't exist. At least for tonight."

Charlotte lifted their hands into position like the other night at the saloon. Nathan hesitated, reading Charlotte's expressions.

"It's alright, Nathan. I want you to hold me. Let's replace all the bad memories with this. With us."

Nathan nodded as he took a step closer and slowly wrapped his right arm around Charlotte, placing his hand on the small of her back. Charlotte's breath caught; her eyes closed. They stood there for a moment without moving, waiting for the pain to pass.

"Charlotte, look at me." Nathan coaxed gently. The feeling of Charlotte's warm and sweetly curved body pressed against his and her uncorseted waist soft beneath his fingers made Nathan's words come out husky and low. "Don't close your eyes darling. Know it is me holding you tonight. And for the rest of our lives."

Charlotte's eyes fluttered open. She stared up at Nathan through her thick lashes. Taking in and memorizing every feature and small scare of his face.

It was Nathan. And it would only ever be Nathan who held her like this into their future.

That thought sent tingles of anticipation through Charlotte's body. She wanted this. She wanted them.

Charlotte took a deep, cleansing breath and on the next beat, Nathan began leading them around the room in a simple waltz. The music was slow and flowing, each turn about the space caused Charlotte's skirt to whirl in an eddy of silk and lace.

The sensation made Charlotte feel as though they were flying. Her stomach turned light, as if she were on a tree swing, soaring a little too high and coming back down in a giddy arc. Charlotte hadn't felt this free since she was a little girl, running barefoot through the verdant pastures and crystal-clear streams of the ranch.

The world around Nathan and Charlotte was nothing but moonbeams and music as the two of them swept through the empty room with the ease of a morning mist carried on a calm mountain breeze. It was at that moment Charlotte believed in all the possibilities of magic. Of spells and charms and enchantments.

As the song neared its melodic end, Nathan gently tightened his right arm around Charlotte, drawing her body closer into him. Charlotte responded, moving her head to lay on his shoulder. The clean scent of her shampoo, that Nathan was becoming all too familiar with, blended elegantly with an amber and sandalwood perfume that Charlotte wore. Pure and understated, while intoxicating at the same time.

Nathan moved their clasped hands to rest against his chest, as Charlotte smoothed her left hand over Nathan's shoulder before her fingers started a sensuous slow play with the curls of hair that hung around the back of his collar.

There were no more fancy dance moves. Just a slow, shuffling of Nathan and Charlotte's feet in time to the beat of the music. Their bodies deliciously melded together.

Charlotte shifted slightly, raising her head, looking up to see Nathan already staring down at her. Eyes locked. Understanding passing between the two of them without even a word needing to be spoken. Nathan and Charlotte both felt so many emotions at that moment. Cared for. Desired. And loved.

Even though the music from the gramophone had now finished, replaced by a gentle crackle of the record, neither Charlotte nor Nathan made a move to separate.

"Merry Christmas, Nathan," Charlotte whispered breathlessly, as she moved her hand from Nathan's hair to cup the side of his face, gently rubbing her thumb across the stubble on his cheek.

"Merry Christmas, my love," Nathan responded, noting the blissful smile that caused Charlotte's eyes to dance in the moonlight, before she again moved to rest her head on Nathan's shoulder. Her face gently nuzzling into his neck. Charlotte's hair creating a soft pillow for Nathan's cheek to rest against.

They stayed there. Gently swaying in each other's embrace until the magic of Christmas Day had passed. But Charlotte and Nathan understood the promise and magic of their future together was just beginning.

And with that we wrap up our "Season 9 and corresponding Christmas Movie". I hope you have enjoyed reading this story as much as I have enjoyed creating it. Not that I much care for Brian Bird and John Tinker after the disaster that was Season 8, but I did imagine their "Iris out, to a small heart" when writing the last paragraph above. Only this time, I hope I've been able to portray a "lifetime love" worthy of such a scene. I mean who needs all those candles and twinkle lights, when moonbeams can be just as romantic?

I know it hasn't always been easy. I know I've put you all through a rollercoaster of emotions (especially after what we experienced in a brutal Season 8 finale). We needed happy, but I also wanted to create a complex character who could help me carry this story into future "seasons". Who brought out (and tested) all the best characteristics of Nathan, Allie, and the rest of Hope Valley.

I hope this chapter full of fluffy Christmas magic made up for some of the tough stuff I put y'all through. Charlotte's promise to Nathan is also a promise to you. They are moving forward. Happily together. I'm not saying it will always be easy, but they do have each other. Allie, Nathan, and Charlotte. And we have so much to look forward to… "I Love You's", First Kisses, Sweet Family Moments, etc. They are all still coming down the pipeline. So, stick with me. The best is yet to come.