Tomorrow Always Comes

Author's Note: After watching S11 E2, most of Team Nathan was left with a sour taste when we saw how the episode ended. Some of us even started getting S8 flashbacks, which is understandable. Yours truly went through a roller coaster of emotions and coped with it the only way she could: by picking up the proverbial pen.

This is an alternate/expanded version of the ending, picking up from the scene between Elizabeth and Nathan outside the saloon; a redo from my creative perspective, in the form of a story. Just a bit of wish fulfillment to survive the "bumpy ride" of the upcoming S11 episodes!

Any familiar dialogue from the show is used to maintain narrative cohesiveness. WCTH characters are property of Hallmark media. I'm just here to play in the sandbox!

Best always, LadyofLetters26

As grateful as he was to everyone who had gathered to celebrate him, Nathan felt the need to step out of the saloon and get a breath of fresh air. He needed some time alone with his thoughts. Maybe if he went over the events of the past couple of days, he could finally make some sense out of them.

Nathan had to admit he had spiraled. When Elizabeth mentioned his birthday and casually suggested dinner, his brain had gone haywire. For a split second, he'd thought she was asking him out!

But that couldn't be, could it? Yes, her demeanor towards him was different. There was something there, he knew it deep down. However, he'd gotten so out of sorts, the first thought that popped into his head was Allie had to be planning some sort of surprise party. Since Elizabeth made him lose any capacity to think before speaking, his thoughts tumbled forth into spoken words. He had inadvertently created all the mix-ups and shenanigans that led to this party!

Nathan shook his head in disbelief.

It had been a happy mistake though. He wasn't a party guy, but he wanted to please Allie, and he had to recognize it… he lived to give Elizabeth reasons to smile. The two of them had come together to do this for him, and it felt so right, so wonderful. He wanted to treasure that feeling for as long as he could, for he had an inkling it could escape him as easily as it had found him.

Nathan pondered testing the waters with Elizabeth. He flitted between the confidence to do so, and the fear of getting his heart broken again. It had been difficult enough to put himself back together after Elizabeth's rejection five years ago. Now they were friends. Maybe even best friends? He certainly didn't confide in anyone else like he did with Elizabeth. It was important to Nathan not to ruin this beautiful friendship they'd developed and nurtured over the years.

However, his heart wanted what his heart wanted.

She was still as beautiful, as soft, as engaging, and as inviting, as she was when he first started falling in love with her. She was even more so now. Time, life experience, and motherhood had only made her an even more attractive woman inside and out. Nathan wished he knew what was going on inside her head. When he told her he'd act surprised at the party, for Allie and everyone's sake, he'd seen her eyes light up at his nearness. Could it be he'd left her a little bit breathless as well? It certainly seemed so when she'd immediately called out his name in an unaccustomed higher pitch. Maybe this inkling was worth pursuing… but he had to consider the very real possibility that all these inklings could amount to nothing.

The party was in full swing, but Elizabeth felt the need to step outside for a spell. She hadn't set out to find Nathan, yet she did. He was leaning against the saloon wall, deep in thought. Maybe this whole production had been too much for him. She knew big parties weren't Nathan's thing, but everything had snowballed out of control, as much as she'd tried to contain it. At least all's well that ends well since he seemed to be enjoying himself! He looked happy; a look Elizabeth realized suited him very much. A smiling Nathan was truly a rare event, but when it happened her stomach flipped. It had been flipping on overtime recently, she realized.

Finding her voice, she opened her mouth to speak. "Escaping the throng?" Elizabeth's voice wafted through the balmy evening breeze.

"You know me too well," he responded with his crooked smile, pleased that she'd found him.

"Penny for your thoughts?" she asked, leaning against the wall, and looking up at Nathan.

Quirking a brow, he replied, "They might not be worth that much." If she only knew.

"I'm sure that's not true. Hero Constable Grant's thoughts are surely worth more than a penny," she said a tad cheekily.

"I'm no hero. You can't be a hero just for doing your job," he pointed out pragmatically.

"You can be a hero to someone, just for making them smile. It's not the action. It's how you make people feel," Elizabeth surprised even herself with this eloquent turn of phrase, but…that aptly worded sentence had both their heads spinning.

What do you feel when you're with me? Nathan wondered.

I wish I could be the reason for your smiles. Elizabeth thought.

He couldn't take his eyes off her face. The way she was looking at him, the ease of how they could be with one another, was simply perfect. Every instant with Elizabeth was heaven, and his heart only beat faster. Nathan didn't want the interlude to end, yet something glittered in her hair, effectively distracting him. "Elizabeth… there's…" Nathan couldn't say more. He simply acted on instinct and tenderly removed from her hair a piece of star-shaped foil confetti that had found its way into her short curls.

Thank goodness she was leaning against the wall! Elizabeth's legs had boiled down to jelly, and her heart was racing with a mind of its own. She could only look at his handsome face and surrender to the moment. Was Nathan looking at her like a man in love? His touch was ever so gentle, and a feeling of exhilaration invaded her.

Meanwhile, on Main Street and not so far from the saloon, a car pulled up.

"Sir, it seems like there's some sort of activity going on at the Queen of Hearts. Do you want me to check before you go in?" Edwin, the governor's assistant, and all-around gofer, asked.

Already witnessing what was going on in front of the saloon, and more than ready to get out of the car, Lucas replied, "That won't be necessary, Edwin."

"But sir, your leg! Are you sure you don't want to be dropped off right in front?" he asked, oblivious to Lucas's predicament.

"It's fine. I can manage," Lucas said through gritted teeth.

He was more worried over the scene playing out in front of him than his darned leg. When had Elizabeth and Nathan grown so intimate? That didn't look like friendly conversation. In fact, Elizabeth had never looked at him that way during their entire courtship. He should've known. Nathan and Elizabeth had always shared a special sort of relationship. With all his grand gestures, he'd never been able to top Nathan's connection with her.

However, he needed to give it another shot as much as he needed to breathe. He'd been able to negotiate working from Hope Valley during his tenure as governor. Now Elizabeth wouldn't have to leave, and they could pick up where they left off. They could get married and continue with the plans they had in place before the elections. He knew he was holding on to a flimsy illusion, since she had already said her heart wasn't in the right place the night he left for Capitol City. Still, he needed to try, since all he'd ever wanted was to have Elizabeth and little Jack by his side.

"Good evening," Lucas's staid voice startled both Elizabeth and Nathan.

Trust Lucas to interrupt yet another juncture with Elizabeth, Nathan mused acerbically. He set his features in a stoic expression and politely greeted the governor. "Hello Lucas. Good to see you up and about."

"Hi Lucas," Elizabeth smiled indulgently, followed by a quick look at Nathan. While he didn't take notice, her former fiancée certainly did.

"What's going on? Is there some sort of party?" Lucas asked, trying to get a gauge on the two of them. Elizabeth certainly seemed somewhat affected, but Nathan was quite adept at hiding his feelings.

"It's Nathan's birthday," Elizabeth promptly replied, smiling prettily.

"Oh! Happy birthday. Please let me invite you for a celebratory drink," Lucas said amiably.

A hint of a sardonic smile quirked Nathan's features. He fully understood there was nothing left to do but accept. Anything other than that would be considered rude, and he'd never behave that way, not in front of Elizabeth or anyone. The men let her take the lead, and the three walked back into the Queen of Hearts. Multiple sets of eyes widened at the sight before them, but none more than Rosemary's. She immediately noticed that Elizabeth stood off to the side but kept close to Nathan.

"Lee! Do something!" Rosemary whispered anxiously, tugging on her husband's sleeve.

"What?" Lee asked absent-mindedly. Ever the typical male, he was clueless. Rosemary narrowed her eyes, exasperated with her husband.

"Lee, listen to me! Corner Lucas. Engage him in conversation. Talk about the sale of the saloon. Talk to him about anything!"

Lee keenly looked at his wife. "You're up to something, aren't you?"

"I won't let Lucas take away Nathan's spotlight, nor Elizabeth's attention! We'll talk later. Now, go!" Rosemary exclaimed as quietly as she could, her frustration evident.

"Ahhhh! I get it. Consider it done." Lee shook his head and made his way over to where Lucas stood. "If it isn't our eminent governor!" He exclaimed a little too boisterously, giving him a friendly slap on the back. "Good to see you doing so well! Come, we need to talk business," Lee said, leading an aggravated Lucas towards the bar.

Elizabeth gave a little sigh of relief. Tonight was about Nathan and Lucas's arrival hadn't been part of the plan! Thankfully Lee had been an emissary sent from heaven and circumvented a potentially awkward situation. Elizabeth gave herself a little shake. It was time to give Nathan a bit of a nudge. Succumbing to impulse, and thinking he might be pleased, Elizabeth boldly asked, "Could I persuade the man of the hour to dance with me?"

Nathan blinked. He also did everything in his power to not drop his jaw. Did she just ask what he thought she'd just asked? He stood rooted to the floor, trying to keep it together. It simply wouldn't do to spiral again! "Elizabeth… did you just ask me to dance?" His voice was so hoarse, it was almost unrecognizable, dropping to levels even he hadn't heard before.

A pinkish blush colored her cheeks. "Yes. It's okay if you don't want to. I understand." The look in her eyes mirrored the one he'd had at the Founder's Day dance so many years ago. She started to retreat, an air of sadness about her.

"Wait." Nathan said firmly. She paused, and he saw what could only be hope flash in her gaze. "You have persuaded me, 'Lizbeth." He not only regaled her with his lopsided grin, but also with his own sweet, special way of pronouncing her name. Elizabeth's insides melted when he extended his hand, accepting her invitation to dance. The smile that spread on her face had Nathan realize he was done for. There would never be anyone for him but Elizabeth, and it was high time he admitted his heart was irrevocably hers.

The moment she placed her hand within his grasp, a shock ran through both of them, making Elizabeth's stomach flip, and Nathan's chest tighten. He drew her closer, as close as he could do so in front of the entire town of Hope Valley. She kept her gaze lowered, but his eyes were ineradicably fixed on her face. The pink hue of her cheeks deepened, and he could feel her tense energy deep in his bones. He wished he could whisper in her ear tender words of affection and assuage her of any nervousness she might be feeling. However, Nathan didn't trust his voice, didn't have the words, and he simply wanted to relish the fact that Elizabeth Thornton was finally in his arms, if only for a dance.

In a not-so-distant corner of the saloon, Allie and Rosemary commiserated over the evening's events. "Thank you, Mrs. Coulter," Allie said happily, as she toyed with her piece of cake. "I think it's wonderful my dad finally got his dance with Mrs. Thornton."

"Stay tuned, dear child. Stay tuned. Those two will find their way to each other. Can I count on your assistance if we find they need a bit more prodding?"

"Of course, Mrs. Coulter," Allie said simply. Nothing mattered to her more than her dad's happiness. If what Mrs. Rosemary said was right, and Mrs. Thornton had feelings for her father, she'd gladly help get them together. After all, she wouldn't be around forever. She worried about her dad being alone when she went off for college.

The rest of the evening flew by, and the partygoers started trickling out of the saloon. All chattered happily about what a wonderful celebration it had been, and how Nathan fully deserved to be honored by the entire town. Lucas never had a chance to talk to Elizabeth. Edwin noticed his leg was bothering him so he made himself a nuisance, insisting Lucas retreat to his former rooms to rest up for the next day. Mike and the saloon staff took care of the cleanup, letting Elizabeth and Allie know it wasn't necessary for them to stay for that task. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Rosemary suggested they all walk together back to the rowhouses. As they neared Elizabeth's house, the group stopped suddenly at the sight of Robert sitting on her front porch. Goldie was asleep on his shoulder and little Jack, who was leaning against his arm, was struggling to stay awake.

"Oh my goodness, whatever happened here?" Elizabeth asked, stifling the urge to laugh.

"They were a bit of a handful, Mrs. Thornton, but nothing I couldn't handle," Robert said cheerfully. "Little Jack just wanted to be sure he'd see Constable Grant walking home. He kept saying he had something special for him for his birthday."

At that prompt, Rosemary took Goldie from Robert, and along with Lee, bid their goodnights. Robert placed an exhausted little Jack in Elizabeth's arms and asked Nathan if he could walk Allie home. Elizabeth almost choked at Nathan's unamused head tilt, and her heart melted over Allie's dreamy look.

"Errrmmmm…I guess it's alright? It's only a few houses down, but Robert… I'll be watching from here." Nathan said in his best official Mountie voice.

"Dad!" Allie gave him a side-eye while she shook her head in what could only be described as teenaged disdain.

Elizabeth couldn't help but snicker as the two teens left chattering happily.

"Okay, you. Stop it. We'll see how happy you'll be when this one starts bringing girls to the house," Nathan said in a huff.

Elizabeth tried to think of a couple of comebacks, but her son's weight was getting to be too much for her. "Ooomph," she heaved as she shifted on her feet. "Jack's getting too big to be carried."

"Want me to take him inside?" Nathan asked, holding out his arms.

"I guess you'll do, since I lost my babysitter to your daughter," Elizabeth quipped.

Nathan chuckled as he took the little boy in his arms.

"Mountie Nathan, is that you?" Jack asked groggily.

"Yes, young man."

"I have something for you. I wanted to stay awake to give it to you. Mama, can you give Mountie Nathan his birthday card?"

"Of course, my darling boy," Elizabeth replied.

Once inside, she took the piece of paper from her desk. Meanwhile, Nathan settled Jack on the sofa, where he promptly fell asleep. With glimmering eyes, she gave Nathan the card her son had so lovingly made.

Smiling, Nathan opened little Jack's card. Gripping the back of the sofa, his knuckles turned white. What Jack had drawn for him… well, it was his ultimate dream.

"'Lizbeth, I…" Nathan was staggered, flummoxed, nonplussed. There were many feelings, yet no words.

"I know," she said softly. "We might have to talk about this, but maybe tomorrow?"

Gruffly he replied, "Yes, let's talk tomorrow." He looked down again at the drawing and his voice broke when he spoke, "'Lizbeth, he's seen what's in our hearts."

XXXXXX

It had been a day for the books alright, and most certainly a birthday he'd never forget. Nathan entered his bedroom, ready to retire for the night. He sat at the foot of his bed and pulled little Jack's birthday card from his suit pocket. It indeed was all sorts of amazing how children saw things and reminded adults of what was truly important in life. All that mattered to him was emblazoned in that piece of paper by way of the little boy's crayon-fueled artistry.

Elizabeth. Allie. Little Jack. Scout. Newton. Sargeant. A home in Hope Valley. That was it. That was his endgame. It only took this very special birthday card to make the point even more obvious.

Nathan breathed deeply and smiled. Tomorrow will come, and with it, another opportunity to reach for the stars and grab his happiness. He stood and pulled yet another thing from his pocket. This time it was the piece of star-shaped confetti he'd removed from Elizabeth's hair. He folded it within little Jack's card and opened his nightstand drawer. Nathan placed it with his most treasured keepsakes—a photograph of him and Allie, along with the one he had with Elizabeth, taken by Carson at Jesse and Clara's wedding.