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Author's Note:
In response to the challenge to write a one-shot story that follows Nathan's and Elizabeth's first kisses, here is my imagining…dream, wish, and hope. Maybe this is yours as well?

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Till Tomorrow

By Eilie Hunter

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Savoring their closeness and the taste of her sweet kisses, Nathan held his dearest love tightly, his hands once again clasped behind her waist.

Elizabeth leaned her face against his chest with her breath warm against his neck, one hand resting on his upper arm and the other feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat. Catching their breath, their heart beats' calmed even as their minds' raced.

Nathan whispered, "So what's next?"

Elizabeth barely spoke her response, "Will you stay awhile? Maybe sit with me?"

"Gladly," Nathan released her hug, but held her arm while guiding her to the step. Realizing her shawl had fallen, he handed it to her and questioned, "Shall I get you a blanket instead?"

"Would you please?" Elizabeth nodded as she took the shawl and laid it beside her.

Having brought the blanket that was draped over her sofa, Nathan smiled as he wrapped it around Elizabeth's shoulders, asking as he sat beside her, "Do you remember?" Unlike any time before, he wrapped his arm around her, gently rubbing her arm to warm her.

"Oh, Nathan, I haven't forgotten. I'm just sorry I didn't appreciate your loving care back then." Pausing, she looked into his face as she confessed, "I do now." Closing the slight distance between them, Elizabeth leaned her head on Nathan's strong shoulder and shivered with delight.

"Are you still cold?"

"Not really. I'm warm in your embrace and this is where I always want to be, Nathan. I'm fine now."

"I know. I don't want to ever leave your side because," Nathan took a deep breath, "this is where I belong."

After some moments gazing at the stars sparkling against the indigo blue above, Nathan broke the silence with some concerns, "May I ask you a couple of questions?" With her nod, he continued, "You just said I am your 'home,' but what about Lucas? What changed?"

Slowly she moved his hand to drape over her shoulder and intertwined her fingers with his. Hesitating briefly, Elizabeth spoke softly, "I've come to realize that I ran to Lucas because I wasn't ready to admit my feelings for you. I know it wasn't fair to him, to you, or to myself, but I believed it was too soon to feel deep love again, especially an all-encompassing love with you. It was a cowardly thing to do, but I thought if I could get you to stop loving me then I could feel less guilty for loving you as strongly, maybe even more intensely than I loved Jack…"

Elizabeth grew thoughtful and quiet until Nathan spoke again, "So why did you break your engagement?"

"Oh! I never told you that? I'm sorry, Nathan. I broke it off the night he departed Hope Valley. When you asked me what I wanted, I suddenly saw everything clearly. I didn't love him enough to leave town with him. My heart was yours and wherever you were is where I wanted to be. I told him I couldn't give him my whole heart and he deserved to find someone who could be his great love…." Elizabeth gulped then, her voice soft, she added, "You are that great love for me, Nathan."

Nathan reached his other hand to tenderly hold her neck, his thumb stroking her cheek as he bent to capture her lips again, grateful they could now express their love beyond words.

"I'm happy to hear it. I think I should go though, Lizabeth, it's late," Nathan whispered against her mouth before another kiss.

"You probably should," Elizabeth admitted as she leaned up to meet his soft lips again.

After laughing quietly, they gazed into each other's eyes.

"It is difficult to leave you, my Love, sitting here looking so beautiful and inviting," Nathan's eyes twinkled as he confessed.

"So, maybe we need to change that, hmmm?"

"Lizbeth? I've been waiting all summer for you to be certain of what you want, to be able to admit your love for me. Should I still wait for you to take the lead?" Nathan tweaked her adorable nose as he raised his eyebrows tantalizingly.

"I think it is time for you to lead, Nathan. Hold my hand and I will be right beside you from now on."

"Oh?" Nathan grinned, speaking low, "Then tomorrow morning I will tell Allie. How do you want to tell Jack? Should I ask him for your hand?"

"Let's tell him together, okay? Jack adores you, but I think that explaining our future family should be with both of us present. Is that okay?"

"That's perfect. I'll be giving him a riding lesson in the morning, so maybe then?"

"Yes, Nathan. The sooner the better."

"The sooner the better?" Having sometimes assumed incorrectly in the past, Nathan wanted to be certain. "For what?"

"For everything…" Elizabeth paused, thinking he might recall the conversation they'd had after the wind storm. When she observed him furrow his brow, she explained a little more, "To talk to Jack and Allie and take the next steps."

"Oh, okay." Not wasting any time, Nathan planned their day, "I have a call to make to Headquarters after my morning rounds, then the riding lesson, and lunch?"

"I'll pack a picnic for us all."

"Sounds great. So now I really do need to let go of you?" Nathan queried, still holding her in his arms.

"Only for now…"

After another goodbye kiss, Nathan rose and stepped onto the lane. Turning to Elizabeth he lifted two fingers to his lips then, motioning towards her, he whispered low, "Sweet dreams… Till tomorrow…"

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