Nathan froze and so did Elizabeth. He had never meant to say that out loud. Nathan could see as tears began to pool in Elizabeth's eyes and he felt as if someone had punched him in the gut. The fear pulsing between them was so strong that Nathan felt like he was suffocating.

"Elizabeth…" Nathan said, breaking the silence that somehow felt deafening. He took two steps towards her, but stopped when Elizabeth didn't move. They hadn't fought like this in a long time and suddenly, Nathan wanted nothing more than to hold Elizabeth in his arms.

"Nathan?" Elizabeth spoke his name like a question and Nathan watched as a single tear trickled down her cheek. His heart broke knowing that he was the one who had put it there.

"I'm so sorry, Elizabeth," Nathan said, his voice breaking when he said her name. He couldn't stand to see her cry. "I-" His next words were cut off when Elizabeth suddenly launched herself forward and wrapped her arms around him. Slowly, Nathan let his arms circle her waist as he pulled her tightly into his chest. They stood like that for a moment. Neither one moved and neither one spoke. Squeezing his eyes shut, Nathan tried to calm his ragged breathing and slow his racing heart. He didn't know how much time passed before Elizabeth slowly eased back. When their eyes met, the two of them just looked at each other, tears trailing down both of their cheeks.

"Nathan," Elizabeth finally said, her voice soft as she gazed up at him. "Please don't quit the Mounties."

"But-" Elizabeth reached up and put a finger to Nathan's lips, silencing his protests.

"Please, can I say this first?" Elizabeth asked, while she moved her finger from his lips. Nathan just nodded, but continued to hold her gaze. "Being a Mountie is a part of who you are," Elizabeth started. "You're good at it and you are so brave, Nathan." Elizabeth lifted a hand to tenderly cup his cheek as her eyes misted with more tears. "You are the most selfless person I know and I love you so much."

Elizabeth smiled a little bit as she said, "Just when I think I can't love you anymore, I think about all the ways you've saved the people of this town and I feel like my heart is going to explode because it's not big enough to hold all my love for you." Nathan managed to give her a half smile as he tried in vain not to cry. Elizabeth moved her hand so that it was resting on Nathan's upper arm again. "You deserve to do what you love, Nathan," she said. "Not be held back by guilt or my fear."

"Thank you," Nathan breathed out, when Elizabeth was done. "I appreciate everything you just said and it means a lot to me, but-" Nathan faltered and glanced away, as he tried to gather his thoughts. "But I know how much worry it causes you, Allie, and Little Jack when I have to go away. And if something were to happen to me-" Nathan's voice broke as he spoke one of his greatest fears out loud. "I don't even want to imagine what would happen to the three of you and what you would have to go through."

At this, Elizabeth tilted her head at him, almost as if she heard something that he had left unsaid. "What did you mean when you said that you 'can't lose me too'?" she asked. "How would you ever lose me?"

"Because I see how much me being a Mountie affects you," Nathan answered. "And I don't want you to have to live in fear of something happening to me. I couldn't bear it if that fear started taking over your life." Nathan knew he would never be able to live with himself if he watched the person he loved most in the world succumb to fear and become only a shell of the person she used to be.

"I know how hard it is to be a Mountie's wife," Nathan continued. "You already went through so much when Jack died and I've had a couple of close calls over the years, and while nothing happened, it could have. And it still could." Nathan let out a shaky breath and briefly glanced away. "You are the most loving person I know, Elizabeth," Nathan said and he gazed deep into her blue eyes. "I love watching you care for others and love our children. I never want to cause you pain and I never want you to lose your love. And if me quitting the Mounties will ensure that never happens, I'll do it in a heartbeat."

Now, it was Nathan's turn to gently cradle Elizabeth's cheek. He felt her lean into him as he slowly rubbed his thumb across her soft skin. "I need you more than I need to be a Mountie," he said.

"But Nathan." Elizabeth stepped closer and reached up to hold Nathan's hand that was on her cheek. "I'm not going anywhere. And Allie, Little Jack, and I- we need you to be a Mountie." Now, Nathan scrunched up his eyebrows.

"What do you mean?" he asked, confused.

"Imagine if you hadn't been there when I was held hostage by Amos Dixon," Elizabeth replied. "Think about what would have happened to Allie if you hadn't gone and arrested Dylan after he came to Hope Valley. Or what about when Jeanette held me and Rosemary in the saloon? If you hadn't been there, I don't know what would have happened after that gangster grabbed me.

"You see, Nathan," Elizabeth continued. "You keep people safe. You keep us safe. Yes, there is a certain amount of risk involved, but the reality is, life is risky. We never know what could happen to any of us at any given moment. I will always worry about you, but Nathan," Elizabeth paused and squeezed his hand. "That's because I love you. And I have the power to choose whether or not I let my fear control me," she said with conviction. "I don't want to choose fear anymore and neither should you." Then, Elizabeth smiled a little as she looked up at her husband. "Our family needs you, Nathan. Not only as a father and a husband, but as a Mountie as well. And this town needs you too."

Nathan wasn't able to hold back the tears this time. He pulled Elizabeth closer again and rested his chin on her shoulder, her soft hair brushing his cheek.

"I love you so much," he whispered in Elizabeth's ear.

"And I love you," he heard Elizabeth reply as she just held him. Nathan closed his eyes and didn't move for a few minutes. But once the tears had dried on his cheeks, he slowly pulled back.

"Do you really mean everything you just said?" Nathan asked her then, searching her face as if he could find the answer there. In response, Elizabeth lifted her hands to wipe the tears from both of his cheeks.

"Every word," Elizabeth said with a smile.

"So, you really don't want me to quit the Mounties?"

"Let me ask you this," Elizabeth said, as she moved her hands to take hold of his. "Do you want to quit the Mounties?"

"You know I would do it for you," Nathan said seriously. "And Allie and Jack."

"I know," Elizabeth affirmed with a nod.

"But," Nathan continued. "I feel like it's how I can make a difference in the world. To me, it feels like it matters." Hearing his answer, Elizabeth smiled her first real smile of the night.

"Then, keep doing it," she said. "And we'll face the fear together. OK?" Instead of answering, Nathan took Elizabeth's face in his hands and kissed her tenderly. When they pulled apart, Nathan rested his forehead against hers.

"OK," he finally answered. Elizabeth chuckled, which made Nathan finally break out into a smile. He loved her laugh and he wanted to spend the rest of his life hearing it.

"So, you're really OK with this?" Nathan asked after a second. He didn't need to clarify what he meant. Elizabeth knew.

"Nathan," Elizabeth said, pulling back a little so she could see his face better. "I meant what I said. We can't keep living our lives in fear. It isn't good for either one of us and it isn't good for Allie and Jack. Instead, we should just take each day as it comes and face whatever it brings together."

"That sounds good to me," Nathan muttered and then he kissed her again.

"Now, Constable," Elizabeth teased, when they pulled away. "What do you say we finish our dinner? I think our food is getting cold." At this, Nathan grinned.

"I'd love nothing more," he replied. Hand and hand, they made their way back to the table. And as Nathan sat and stared at the love of his life sitting across from him, he felt the weight disappear from his shoulders. Because now he knew that he didn't have to bear it all alone. No matter what life might throw at them, he and Elizabeth would face it together. Step by step and hand in hand.

Author's Note: Stay tuned for the final chapter, which I will be posting sometime next week! Thank you all for reading! :)