Disclaimer: I do not own the characters within this story. All rights and much respect go to Crown Media, Hallmark, Brian Bird, Michael Landon, Jr., the actors, creators, and writers of the show "When Calls the Heart." Any real people or places noted in the chapter are just there for storyline purposes.

Chapter 10- It's Inevitable

Recap from the end of Chapter 9…

She kissed his cheek before walking back toward the door. He stood not far from her, wanting to make certain that she was safely inside for the night before he left. Before closing the door she called out, "Thank you for my bracelet Jack. It's beautiful."

"You're very welcome. Hey, since we have a free day, would you like to go to the beach tomorrow?" he asked.

What…beach…bathing suit…do I even have a bathing suit…? "Um, sure. Just call me when you wake up in the morning."

"Good night, Elizabeth."

"Good night, Jack."

He walked out and sat in his car, "Elizabeth in a bathing suit…I'm dead."

Elizabeth stepped inside and was immediately greeted by Lizzie. "Do you need to go out girl?"

Lizzie immediately ran to the door with Elizabeth close behind. She flipped the back light on, grabbed a glass of wine, and took a seat on the sofa.

She reached into her bag and pulled out her journal. She flipped through it quickly remembering explicitly the situation with each prior entry.

"My whole adult life I have held out, held off, and fought the expectations around me, as assumptions made by those closest to me regarding what was best or what I needed ran rampant. 'You need to find a man; give up that tight hold you have on your virtue; let go and enjoy yourself," and the best one of them all, 'guys won't wait around if you don't give it up.'

Those who followed the crowd, or did what was 'in,' often opened themselves up to derogatory comments, relationships that were physically based, and/or character assassination. What's right for me and what I can live with may not be what's best for others. I can only do and be responsible for my own behavior.

I need to know that I'm good enough; that I'm not simply a bed partner to be used when the need arises. I've met many boys and men who seem to think with their manhood, considering a notch in the bed post with each conquest as an Olympic gold medal win. They often expect intimacy as payment for a meal, and conversation and will frequently let their desires be known early, not wanting to waste any time if the woman is not receptive. As such, I'm leery; I don't trust easily and I'm hesitant to open up.

That was then…this is now. You entered my life and even with my skepticism, suspicion of your motives, and fear of being hurt, you broke through the walls that I'd built. You're honest, trust worthy, and my guess would be that at some point, you were most likely a Boy Scout. I care about you, more than I expected or even wanted. You are a surprise and as I learn more, I seem to fall deeper and want to know even more.

This evening my strong commitment to remain a virgin until marriage was in jeopardy. Never before has the desire to be with someone been so strong. Jumping into bed would have been so easy, almost feeling natural. But without even knowing my moral standing, your thoughtfulness, kindness and consideration for me and this relationship showed that you don't see our time together as a quick means to sex. That certainly is a refreshing thought.

I guess the saying is true…Cinderella may have lost her slipper, but she didn't have to lose her virginity to find her prince."

As Jack pulled into the parking lot of the motel, his phone chimed, signifying a text. He glanced down and smiled…

"TY again 4 a beautiful evening…"

"The pleasure was all mine. I'll call u when I wake up about the beach, OK…?"

"Sounds good. Looking 4ward 2 it…" Looking forward to seeing you; maybe not while wearing a bathing suit though.

"Me too…" WOW, I can't wait to see her in a bathing suit! Bikini…I'm dead; one-piece…I'm dead; Potato sack…I'm still dead!

Now on with our story…

Elizabeth turned Lizzie in for the night, grabbed a bottle of water and they headed for bed. She changed into a comfortable pair of shorts and a t-shirt before crawling into bed, turning out the light and closing her eyes.

Within minutes, her eyes shot open; the light came back on and she was rummaging through her drawers looking for bathing suits. Finding a bikini, a Tankini and a one-piece, she laid them across the bed.

Stripping down to nothing, she began trying them on. First the Tankini…

"Lizzie, how does this look? Lizzie, wake up, I need your help here. I guess it's all about you, isn't it, girl?"

She modeled it in the mirror, turning around several times, trying to see everything. "Not too bad," she commented before she moved on to the one-piece.

As she walked across the room, passing in front of the mirror several times, she wondered if the black bathing suit was the perfect choice. She stared at the bikini, trying to decide if it was too revealing for this stage in their relationship. She tried it on, realizing that at least all of them fit. She decided to make her decision when Jack called her later in the morning.

She pulled her shorts and t-shirt on and climbed back into bed. She again turned out the light and closed her eyes.

Suddenly her eyes again shot open; she clasped her hands behind her head, drew her knees up slightly and proceeded to do sit ups, praying that anything she ate this evening would not result in a poochy stomach in the morning.

Near the ballpark at his motel, Jack sat on his bed wondering how this demotion of sorts to the farm team had turned out to be the best thing that could have ever happened in his life. He didn't throw the word 'love' around easily, and had only said it once before in his entire life. However, looking back on that occasion, he realized that in high school, he really didn't know what it meant.

Now, with Elizabeth, his mind was always on her. When she wasn't with him, he wondered what she was doing, and when they were together, he hated for their time to end. He wanted her more than any woman he had ever known, but also knew that the immediate gratification from sex wasn't what he was looking for here. He wanted more.

He sat in the darkness as tears slipped from his eyes. He had never felt such emotion for a woman before and wondered how she had been able to turn his world upside down so quickly.

He understood that although he loved baseball and had since he was a kid, it certainly wasn't the only thing in his life. Realizing that she meant more to him than he could have imagined, he also recognized that returning to the majors, though important, was surprisingly not the focal point of his life.

With both of them finally asleep in their respective beds, the morning arrived very quickly.

Jack stretched and immediate pulled his cell phone from the bedside table to check the time, pulled up her contact information and quickly tapped out a text…

"GM, did u get any sleep…?"

He held the phone up waiting on a response, but several minutes later, still no reply.

"Are u there…?"

"Sorry, just walked n from a run…" she responded, neglecting to add that she was simply chasing Lizzie down the street.

"Me 2…" he texted back as he pulled the covers back, jumped out of bed and started running around his room.

"Hey, since we have no real beaches here, where r we going, Rocky Point…?"

"Yes, is that OK…?

"Yes, and I'll pack food…"

"Pick u up at 9…?"

"Gr8, c u then…"

Elizabeth scolded Lizzie for sneaking out the front door when she went out to get the newspaper. Seeing that she was getting nowhere with her, Elizabeth turned her in the backyard while she packed her picnic basket.

She made ham, turkey, and roast beef sandwiches, hoping something would be to his liking. She placed potato salad, cheeses, olives, chips, fresh baked cookies, water and a bottle of wine in the cooler.

She pulled the suntan lotion from the bathroom cabinet, grabbed several beach towels from the closet and walked back to the bedroom to select a bathing suit.

With her selection made, she slipped on a pair of gym shorts and a crop top over her suit. She released the French braid from her hair and restyled it, knowing that it was going to be hot and she didn't want it in her face.

It was now 8:30am, and she had a little while before Jack was expected. Elizabeth thought back to her wonderful night with him out on the water and the beautiful gift he gave her. She thought about how his kindness, thoughtfulness and sincerity made her realize how wrong she was about him, and how much she cared about him. The more she learned about him, the more she realized that she had done him a major disservice by judging him based on the baseball players she'd met before.

She pulled her journal from the end table and held it tight to her chest as she reminisced about all the memories, both good and bad that were contained within. There were entries that at the time she felt defined her life. Her time with Adam was documented with many positive posts, leading her to believe that the love she felt for him was all encompassing. She could now pick out the entry where it was evident that things were beginning to fall apart, although she didn't recognize it at the time.

There were entries discussing first impressions and how her own prejudice over baseball players initially led her and Jack down a difficult path. Elizabeth was thankful that he was now in her life, and she generally held the 'what if' thoughts at bay, assuming that should anything happen, they'd deal with it at that time.

She opened her journal, flipped to the next blank page and began to convey her feelings onto the white canvas…

"New beginnings, second chances, and starting over often require you to move from that which you know best, often leaving you hesitant about what may come. You move from the past, finding a balance between the old and the new, saying goodbye to some people and things, while still holding tight to others.

As we attempt to move forward, there are times when you have to give up on certain beliefs, realizing that your own misconceptions have led you down a dark and erroneous path. Accepting responsibility for where you've landed and the feelings you have hurt along the way will show real growth and maturity.

You quickly learn that obstacles do not block your path; they enhance it, as they force you to step from your comfort zone and grow mentally and emotionally. You realize that you are no longer that caterpillar, wondering about life's plan. You have grown into the beautiful butterfly that you were always meant to be, and you pray that what lies before you is the promise of a bright future."

A few minutes before 9am, Jack rang her doorbell.

She closed her journal and placed it back on the table. She couldn't have wiped the smile from her face if she'd tried as she rushed to open the door, surprising him when her lips excitedly met his. He dropped his car keys as his arms instinctively enveloped her.

"I could easily get used to a greeting like that," he teased. "Hey, let me get that," he stated as he took the cooler from her hand and carried it to the door. "Anything else that's going?"

"Just my bag," she stated as she looked inside. "I have lotion, towels, two sets of ear buds, but you have to listen to my music because it's already downloaded."

Lizzie was brought inside; Elizabeth gave her fresh water and laid out her newly cleaned bed by the back door. "You be good."

Jack took her hand as they walked toward his car. Jack was wearing his board shorts and as he placed the cooler in the back seat he turned to her and asked, "No bathing suit?"

"What? Oh yes, I have it on under this," she stated.

Seeing her bare midriff through the crop top she had on, he could only assume that she was wearing a bikini. I'm DEAD! Jack opened her door and she slipped inside.

"You look hot, by the way," she added. "And I don't mean because of the temperature," she teased.

"So, you think I look hot?"

"Uh huh, but you can't tell me that you didn't already know that."

"I don't think of myself that way, but I'm glad you like what you see."

She took his hand and pulled him down to her level, "I do." She smiled, "I really do."

He leaned in as their lips met. It was a tender, gentle kiss, but even that sparked something inside him.

As a baseball player he had been thrown into many high society functions, and dated some of the world's most gorgeous women. However, he quickly admitted to himself that he found Elizabeth to be more intelligent, more fascinating, more exciting, and more beautiful than all of the others combined.

As they sat in Sunday morning heading to church traffic, Elizabeth reached over and took his hand as it rested on the middle console. "Thank you again for last night. I'd have to say that it was truly magical," she stated as she squeezed his hand before entwining her fingers with his.

He pulled her hand up to his lips, "I had a great time too. I really enjoy spending time with you, Elizabeth, and I'm so happy that you're willing to help me with my foundation."

"What got you started in charity work? I mean, I guess I've always thought of people in sports or entertainment as taking their money and buying elaborate cars, big houses and exotic trips. I'm fascinated by your desire to help others," she ran her free hand up and down his arm that was linked to hers.

"WOW, you really don't have a good impression of us, do you?"

"I can't say that. You've impressed me; I don't know any other famous people."

"I'm not famous…"

"Tell that to all the people who watched the last World Series game. I think they'd beg to differ with you."

He cast a glance in her direction, "I'm just me, nobody special."

"Now I'd beg to differ with you. You're very special…to me," suddenly feeling a bit awkward as if she'd told him that she was in love with him, she turned away and glanced out the window.

"Hey," he caught her attention as she turned back to him, "You're very special to me too."

They pulled into the park and proceeded to the beach area. He parked the car, pulled the cooler from the backseat, took hold of her hand and they proceeded down the path to the sandy trail leading to the water.

It was only 10am, but the area was still fairly crowded. Jack managed to find them a spot which they immediately staked out.

Elizabeth pulled the towels from her bag and shook them out to lie on. She grabbed the suntan lotion, ear buds, and a magazine that she thought they could both enjoy.

"What do you have there?" he asked.

"It's Sports Illustrated. Do you want to look at it first?"

"You like Sports Illustrated? That surprises me," he added.

"There is an article about running that I wanted to read. Oh and there is a section of athletes modeling swimwear."

"Swimwear… modeling…maybe I will look at it first."

"No Jack, you had your chance," she stated as she started flipping through the magazine. "WHOA, Jack Thornton, do we add model to your list of accomplishments? How did they get you in a Speedo?"

"A Speedo? Let me see that; I wasn't in a Speedo," he pulled the magazine from her hands.

"I'm kidding Jack. It is a great picture though."

"Funny… I didn't want to do it, but Sports Illustrated offered to pay me in a donation to one of my charities, so I agreed."

She sat Indian style on her towel, "You never answered me before about what got you into the charities?"

"From the time we were very young, my mom always said, 'Don't let a day go by without helping someone else.' I don't need all of the money that I've been blessed with, and the charities I started are really doing some good."

"Well, you just let me know what you need me to do with your education charity and I will be glad to pitch in."

"Thank you; I know you're knowledge and experience will be a big help."

"It is a beautiful day out here. I wonder how cold the water is." She asked as she stood up and began to pull off her shorts.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm taking off my shorts and shirt. This is a beach and generally you hang out in your bathing suit."

Shoot me now…

She stretched out on the beach towel beside him, turned her head to face him and asked, "Would you mind putting some lotion on my back please?"

While lying on her stomach, Elizabeth reached around and released the hooks on her bikini top so she would not be inclined to get a tan line.

His heart skipped a beat and he had to remind himself to breathe as he felt somewhat overcome, and it had nothing to do with the heat.

He squirted some lotion in his hand but before touching her, he closed his eyes as if not seeing her would make the desire for her go away.

His fingertips brushed down her back as she felt the electricity from his touch coursing through her veins. Her hair was in a ponytail pulled high up on her head and he brushed it off to the side as he leaned down before adding the lotion and kissed her neck.

Jack sat protectively over her, afraid that she'd wake up and stand before realizing that her top wasn't secured.

Approximately twenty minutes later, she woke, reached around and with the skill and steady hands of a surgeon, hooked her top and sat up. "You look a little tense; are you not able to rest at the beach?"

"Just watching you sleep."

"Do you want to get in the water?"

"Sure," he responded as he stood and held out his hand. Once she stood, he couldn't resist momentarily standing there, literally gawking.

"Jack, is something wrong?"

"Absolutely not," as he observed the coral color of her bathing suit against her already golden tanned body. "Let's go…"

They had only travelled ten feet when he heard his phone ring. He pulled his phone from her bag, "Hey, I need to take this."

"Okay, meet me out in the water."

Elizabeth ventured out waist deep and walked around, keeping her eyes on Jack as he talked on the phone. She assumed that there may have been a problem with one of his charities as she observed him walking and talking, looking very far from a man who was receiving good news.

She observed him sit back down on the towel. He drew his legs up to his chest and rested his forehead on his knees. At this point it was apparent that something was wrong, so she proceeded out of the water and back to their spot.

"Jack, what's wrong? Is your family okay?"

"It's nothing like that."

"Well what is it; you're scaring me?"

"Elizabeth, I've been called back up," he announced, watching her expression and hoping to gauge how she really felt by her reaction.

Having become used to Jack being around she didn't understand the meaning of his comment, "Called back up where?" Just as she asked the question, the realization of the situation struck her.

She felt as though she had hit a brick wall running full steam as it seemed that every bit of air rushed from her body. However, knowing how important this was to him she forced a smile, "Jack, that's wonderful news. You should be very proud of all the hard work you've put in, not only in your rehab, but in how well you're playing now."

"But…"

"Jack, there are no buts. This is what you've wanted your entire life. You should be excited," she stated as she turned her head slightly to wipe away the tears. "When do you have to leave?"

"Tonight…the team is flying out to San Francisco in the morning."

She closed the distance between them, reached her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a hug. "I'm so happy for you," she whispered in his ear.

As she released him, she felt his arms tighten around her. Elizabeth remained in his arms until he relaxed.

She kissed his cheek before pulling back slightly, "It's not like we weren't expecting this. You're a talented baseball player; it was just a matter of time before they called you back."

She bent down and grabbed her towel, shaking the sand out and folding it before putting it in her beach bag.

"What are you doing?"

"Jack, you need to get home and pack. I don't know how long your drive is, but I don't think you have time to waste."

"Please sit down here with me for a minute; we need to talk," he stated as he scooted over on his towel to give her some room.

Once she took a seat beside him and looked into his eyes, tears began to slip down her cheeks, "I'm sorry. I told myself when you left that I wouldn't do this. Really Jack, I am happy for you. I know this is what you've been hoping for."

"I thought it was."

"What do you mean?"

"Elizabeth, I never expected to meet someone like you."

"Jack, you came here to play baseball and prove that you could get back to the majors. I knew that from the beginning."

"I don't want to talk baseball Elizabeth. Right now, I want to talk about us."

"Oh, I'm sorry mister," a young boy apologized as his beach ball landed in Jack's lap.

With other groups nearby talking and laughing, it was hard to concentrate. "Wait right here; I'll be right back," Jack stated as he gathered their belongings and ran for the parking lot.

Ten minutes later he returned and found Elizabeth standing down by the water. He couldn't help but think that she looked much like a goddess with her eyes focused on the gentle waves as they swept up onshore. He walked up behind her as his arms slipped around her waist and his lips made contact with the soft skin just below her ear.

Elizabeth was afraid to face him, feeling certain that once she did, the crying would take on a whole new level of emotion.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

She remained facing the water, wishing at that moment that the tide would simply wash her away. "I'm gonna miss you."

"Miss me; Elizabeth, we'll only be a few hours away from each other."

She turned around to face him. "Jack, you didn't come here to find romance, I know that and so do you. You'll get back home to your normal life, and forget all about me," she stated as she turned to walk ankle deep in the water.

"Will you forget about me, Elizabeth?" he pulled gently on her arm causing her to stop and turn to face him.

With tears in her eyes that seemed to flow freely down her cheeks, she shook her head back and forth, "No, but Jack, we both knew this was temporary…and I don't blame you, I knew what I was getting into, and I don't regret it, but I guess…"

"What do you mean temporary? It isn't temporary to me."

Jack cradled her face in his hands as his thumbs brushed away the tears that continued to streak her cheeks.

"Jack, we need to be honest; your life is in New York, and wherever the game takes you, and mine is here. Besides, I'm not so certain that I believe long distance relationships work."

"Elizabeth, by plane we're only an hour and a half apart. Are you willing to at least give it a try?"

"Jack, I care about you, more than I ever thought possible, but what if it doesn't work out?"

"What if it does? You can't say 'no' without giving it a try. Don't we owe it to ourselves to see where this takes us?"

"Well…"

Assuming that she had reasons why it wouldn't work, he continued, "We can talk by phone and face time every day, or at night after the game, and on the weekends, you can fly to where we are so we can have some time together. I'll get you a ticket, and a hotel room…please, let's try."

He finally saw a smile, though hesitant, it was there. He took her hands in his and as his smile grew, so did hers. He pulled her into his chest, feeling her skin against his as the intoxicatingly fresh scent of her strawberry and mint shampoo consumed him.

"I was actually going to say that it's time I take a chance. I don't want this to end, Jack."

Without thought of others on the beach, his lips met hers. They were firm, yet gentle as he tasted the saltiness from the water on her lips.

He took her hand and they walked back toward the parking area. "I'm sorry about today."

"Jack, it's not your fault. Besides, this is great news; it's what you've worked so hard for; it's what you've hoped for."

"Well, when I came here that's what I wanted, but then you came along. I have never had a woman turn my world upside down as you have.

Off in the distance, Jack observed an area that appeared to be deserted, "Wait, let's go there and talk."

He spread out the towel close to the water, took her hand and helped her take a seat beside him as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

"Elizabeth, I came here to play baseball, but I can't deny that I've found something more since I've been here than I anticipated, expected or even wanted."

He wiped his own eyes as tears threatened to fall, "WOW, that breeze is causing my eyes to water."

"Jack, it's okay to be sad; I'm sad. I don't want you to go, but then again, I want you to go because I know how hard you've worked. I know how much you want this."

"But I want you too, Elizabeth."

His hand brushed away several strands of her auburn hair which had escaped from her ponytail and swept them behind her ear. "Elizabeth, I know you may think this is too soon, but I…I just want to tell you that I…"

Before he could finish his thought, a group of ten or more teenagers ran out onto the beach, yelling and laughing, causing Jack to take Elizabeth's hand and head toward the path to the parking lot.

"Hey, that's Jack Thornton," one of the guys yelled out before the boys left the girls they were with and circled around, pushing Elizabeth away from their band of brothers as Jack was held within.

Jack shook hands and signed autographs before excusing himself and running up to Elizabeth who was waiting at the entrance to the path.

"I'm sorry…"

"Jack, you were very kind to them. I'm sure they appreciated the time you gave them."

"But I never want you to feel left out," he stated as he took her hand and started for the parking lot.

Elizabeth gave a slight tug on his arm as she wrapped her arms around his neck once he stopped and turned to face her. "I love how kind and considerate you are to others Jack. I'm so sorry that I underestimated you before."

Once they reached his car she slipped inside, snapped her seatbelt and he closed the door behind her. After he was situated behind the wheel she asked, "Jack, you were telling me something before the kids came on the beach. Do you remember what you wanted to tell me?"

He did, but something about spouting out that he was in love with her after only a few weeks and just before he left town didn't seem right. "Uh, no I don't remember."

Once inside Elizabeth's house, she pulled their lunch from the cooler and fixed them each a plate. They sat across from each other, talking about everything except the elephant in the room…him leaving.

Jack got up to leave. He squatted down and hugged Lizzie, "Take care of her for me."

As Elizabeth walked him to the door, the eventuality of them being apart became very real. "Don't forget your phone this time, okay?"

"I won't, and I'm going to call you every day."

"I'll watch the games that are televised when I'm not working, but I want you to promise to face time me after the games; I don't care what time you get home, okay?"

"I promise," he replied.

It was evident that both were having trouble saying "goodbye." She did her best to hold her tears at bay, not wanting him to feel any worse about leaving than he obviously already did.

"Goodbye Jack…"

"Please don't say goodbye. I'll be back in New York in ten days and we'll be home through the weekend. If I get you a ticket and a hotel room will you come to New York?"

She leaned in as her pulse quickened with equal measure of excitement and trepidation. "I can't wait to see you again," she whispered as her lips pressed against his ear.

As they came face to face, her lips met his, soft and gentle as the kiss lingered, drawing out the most precious of moments. As they separated slightly, there was barely enough room for a whisper to slip between them. They said nothing; words were not needed as their eyes spoke clearly what they were each feeling.

Jack backed her up against the wall. As he cradled her face in his hands, his lips hungrily met hers. Elizabeth felt the air being sucked from her lungs, but never thought before now how overrated breathing was.

Jack clasped his hands in hers as he raised her arms above her head; his full weight pressed against her body; their lips touching; their tongues searching, and their hearts pounding.

"I don't have to leave yet," he whispered. His hand slipped under her crop top as it rested on her stomach.

She felt her breath catch in her throat. With little time to talk, now didn't seem like the time to have the virgin discussion, but with his hands working their way over her body, it was now or never.

His lips were quickly drawn to the soft skin on her neck, as his tongue traced down from her earlobe to her shoulder blade. His touch was so gentle; so intimate, as he began to roll the hem of her shirt upward with his fingertips. Knowing that she needed to stop him, her soft moans did little to extinguish the fire that was burning between them.

He held her close, each curve fitting perfectly together as if their bodies were designed with the other one in mind. He knew that his chest was rising and falling, but he doubted that the air was actually reaching his lungs. His hand slipped around her waist and moved upward as his fingers released the hooks on her bikini top.

"Stop Jack…please stop."

Elizabeth reached behind her and hooked her top closed. She took his hand and led him back to the den where they took a seat on the sofa.

Observing the tears in her eyes, he was devastated. "I'm so so sorry, Elizabeth. Please forgive me. Even if you were ready for that step, it was wrong for me to push."

Jack reached over and took her hand, "Elizabeth, I'm all for spontaneity, but it was wrong for me to assume that I could breeze in, make love to you and then disappear."

"There's nothing to forgive, Jack, but we do need to talk. And I don't know, but this may have some impact on whether you want to keep seeing me or not. And if you don't want to, please just be honest."

"What's wrong?"

Elizabeth harshly ran her hands over her face several times before looking back at Jack. "I'm sure you know the term 'virgin'?"

He released a soft laugh, "Of course I know what it means, but I don't think I've met any since I entered college."

Elizabeth stuck out her arm to shake his hand, "Let me introduce myself…"

"Wait…what?"

Elizabeth got up from the sofa and started to pace in front of the coffee table, "Look Jack, I'm sorry that I didn't say anything sooner, maybe I should have. But in my defense it isn't something that you just blurt out after you meet someone… Hi, I'm Elizabeth and I'm a virgin."

She continued to ramble as Jack watched and smiled at her nervousness, "Jack, I know that this is a, well you know I'm sure it's a shock, why wouldn't it be a shock? I'm probably the only virgin over the age of twenty in this city, shoot, probably in the State of Maryland. I should have told you, I knew I should have, but you were so sweet and thoughtful, and you backed away on your own so I assumed that maybe it wasn't a big deal. WOW, that's what I get for assuming. Besides, I know that this may be odd, and for me to be 30 years old and never having 'done it' I'm sure you may think I'm a freak."

It was almost as if she forgot that Jack was in the room as she continued to talk to herself, "You're so stupid, Elizabeth…you know it's a big deal. You'd think you'd catch on, it's not like he is the first man whose run off when he found out…"

Her little rant had certainly changed the tone in the room, but hearing her last comment he jumped up and wrapped her in his arms. "Elizabeth, I'm not going anywhere. Well, I am leaving, but not because of this. Please come over here and sit down with me."

He took her hand and led her back to the sofa, "You are no freak; you're so special and the more I learn about you the more I want to know. I don't want to rush you into anything, and if you want to wait, we'll wait."

She wasn't used to men being that understanding. Very few men that she'd dated had told her they'd wait, but the pressure continued. Only Adam never pressured her and thinking back on it, she assumed that he was getting those needs met elsewhere.

"Really Jack? You're willing to wait to have sex?"

"No…"

She stood up and stepped away, "I don't understand then."

He jumped up and took her hands in his, "You didn't let me finish. Since we're pouring out our hearts here, I am crazy in love with you. It may seem too soon to you…not to me. So, I don't want to just have sex with you. If you need to wait to make love, then we'll wait until you're ready."

"What did you say?"

"If you need to wait to make love, then we'll wait until you're ready."

"No, before that…"

"I love you Elizabeth. I've never felt so strongly about a woman before; you are so special."

Her hands worked their way up his arms, over his shoulders and around his neck as he pulled her into his embrace. "I'm in love with you too, Jack."

"You are? Are you sure?"

"Yea, I'm sure."

"WOW, now I really don't want to leave."

"But we both know that you have to. I'll see you in a few weeks, and we can face time until then."

"But this changes everything. I just want you with me…"

"And so we're back where we started. Jack, right now my life is here. I have a job that I love and I can't just up and leave. I mean, not that you were asking me to, but…"

"Elizabeth, we have time to talk more about this. I don't want you to do anything that you aren't comfortable with. Maybe after the season, I can rent something down here until I have to report to training camp."

Elizabeth glanced at the clock, "Jack, as much as I hate to say it, you need to leave. I don't want you rushing to get back." She took his hand and walked him toward the door.

They stepped outside and she continued to hold his hand as they made their way to his car. As they stood by the car, he pulled out his cell phone, "I want a selfie of us together so I can see you anytime I want."

"Will you send it to me please?" she asked.

"Done…" he stated as he pushed the send button on his phone.

Jack seemed a bit nervous as he wasn't sure what was allowed since he'd told her he'd wait.

"Jack, kissing is good, great actually. Please don't feel awkward around me."

"I don't, I just don't want to do anything to make you feel uncomfortable."

She stepped closer and their lips met. It was gentle and tender and in that moment the tension between them and the hesitancy each experienced melted away.

She stood at her front door and waved as he drove away. Sad as she was at his leaving, excitement filled her at the revelations each made to the other.

She stepped inside, grabbed a glass of wine and took a seat on the sofa with Lizzie. "We're going to miss him, aren't we, girl? He said he won't forget us. I just hope he doesn't get back to New York and realize the life he left there is really what he wants."

Jack's drive, with the usual New York traffic, was nearly 4 ½ hours. He pulled into his parking garage and made his way in the elevator up to the 17th floor. He stepped out into the hallway, and headed for his apartment.

Once inside he dropped his bags at the door and walked out onto his balcony. He took a deep breath and did his best to tune out the noises below. He walked back inside and took a seat on his bed. Thinking of Elizabeth, he grabbed his phone and pulled up their picture together. With his favorite Sirius radio station playing in the background he wiped a few tears from his eyes.

Two hundred miles away, Elizabeth sat in her bedroom with her phone in hand, her eyes unable to drift from their picture together as she listened to Jack's favorite Sirius radio station.

Little did they know each of them was listening to the same song, Ed Sheeran's "Photograph…"

Loving can hurt
Loving can hurt sometimes
But it's the only thing that I know
When it gets hard
You know it can get hard sometimes
It is the only thing that makes us feel alive

We keep this love in a photograph
We made these memories for ourselves
Where our eyes are never closing
Hearts are never broken
Times forever frozen still

So you can keep me
Inside the pocket
Of your ripped jeans
Holdin' me closer
'Til our eyes meet
You won't ever be alone
Wait for me to come home

Loving can heal
Loving can mend your soul
And it's the only thing that I know (know)
I swear it will get easier
Remember that with every piece of ya
And it's the only thing we take with us when we die

We keep this love in this photograph
We made these memories for ourselves
Where our eyes are never closing
Hearts were never broken
Times forever frozen still

So you can keep me
Inside the pocket
Of your ripped jeans
Holdin' me closer
'Til our eyes meet
You won't ever be alone

And if you hurt me
That's OK, baby, only words bleed
Inside these pages you just hold me
And I won't ever let you go
Wait for me to come home

Oh you can fit me
Inside the necklace you got when you were 16
Next to your heartbeat
Where I should be
Keep it deep within your soul

And if you hurt me
Well, that's OK, baby, only words bleed
Inside these pages you just hold me
And I won't ever let you go

When I'm away
I will remember how you kissed me
Under the lamppost
Back on 6th street
Hearing you whisper through the phone,
"Wait for me to come home."

To be continued…

NOTE: Several people have contacted me about the reference made to the pictures I've posted and where they can see them. Unfortunately, you are not signed in to the fan fiction site and simply come across as Guest. Therefore, I am unable to respond to you there. Hopefully you will see this addition to my chapter and it will answer your question... On Facebook, there are two groups where we often post a notification when a story has been updated. Both are closed groups, I believe, so you would need to join. They are When Calls the Heart~Fan Fiction, and #Hearties WCTH Fan Fiction II