A/N Now that things have settled down I can turn back to the stories in progress. My hope is to post an update once a week on them. However, with this chapter, I am including a bonus update with the next one too. It will take us through New Year's. I hope you enjoy and I thank all of you for your patience.


Dec 30, 1909

Finally finished unpacking the last of her trunks, Elizabeth found the dolls and dollhouse she had brought for Allie. Allie was immediately enthralled with her gift and wanted to play with it. Elizabeth carried it into her room, and they sat to play for a while before dinner. Elizabeth looked up as her aunt called her name.

Looking at her aunt's face, she instantly knew something had happened. Thankfully, she was able to leave Allie playing with her dolls without alerting her. As they walked towards the library, Catherine could see that Elizabeth was anxious about something happening back home and quickly reassured her that everyone was okay. "Agatha had a visitor show up unexpectantly, and she wants to discuss it with you."

"I'm guessing she gave the letters to my parents, and it was Father?" Elizabeth asked, her heart sinking.

"It was, but I don't think it is what you are anticipating, sweetheart. Just hear her out but know that there's nothing that can change that you are legally married. You are not alone in this, and I suspect that Nathan will do whatever it takes to protect you. Not to mention you have your aunt and I as well." Catherine said quickly, pulling Elizabeth to her soothingly.

"Are you sure that it's only Aunt Agatha?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes, although your correct that your father went to her about your letters," Catherine told her.

"I can only imagine what that was like," Elizabeth muttered.

"I don't even know what to make of it myself, even as Agatha told me. Although my impression is that good things came from the conversations that resulted." Catherine said mysteriously.

As they entered the library, Moira had been talking to Agatha but seeing Elizabeth, she went to excuse herself, but Elizabeth stopped her. "Mom, you are family and part of this, so there's no need for you to leave; Besides, I want you to stay."

Moira smiled softly and nodded, moving to a chair nearby and leaving the one by the phone for Elizabeth.

"Hello, Aunt Agatha," Elizabeth said.

"Hi, sweetheart," Agatha said warmly. "I really miss you around here. Thompson and the others send their love."

"I miss you too, Aunt Agatha," Elizabeth said. "I'm very happy here, and I hope you can visit soon."

"Well, about that. I had an interesting visitor tonight, as I'm sure that Catherine already told you?"

"She confirmed it after I guessed Father got my letter announcing my marriage," Elizabeth stated. "I'm sorry you had to endure his verbal abuse. I hope you have told him I won't change my mind." Elizabeth said.

"He knows that, and actually, he wants to come with me to Aberdeen to see you personally and mend things with you," Agatha said and then proceeded to tell her about their conversations and the reactions to the letters by her parents.

It hurt deeply that her mother hadn't even read her letter and considered her in the wrong. But she also knew her mother loved her in her own way. As she finished listening to her aunt, her heart was heavy, and she could feel tears welling up in her eyes.

"Are you still there, sweetheart?" Agatha said.

"Do you trust him, Aunt Agatha?" Elizabeth asked finally.

Elizabeth, your father is a man of his word, so yes, I do trust that he only wants to make amends and meet your family. However, I will be keeping my guard up and a close eye on him. It would only be your father and I coming. Elizabeth, would you at least talk to him tomorrow? He is coming here to talk with you, and if you are amenable, we will arrange to arrive a few days later. I thought that we could call you tomorrow at 2 pm."

"That's fine. I will think about talking to Father and him coming here, and I would need to talk to Nathan about it too. I will talk to you tomorrow, Aunt Agatha. I love you." Then she handed the phone back to Catherine and without another word she left. All the emotions swirling within her were threatening to spill down her cheeks.

"Elizabeth wished that Nathan was home, but he was with Gabe helping a neighbor repair a fence. She went to their room and shut the door. Laying down on the bed, she gathered Nathan's pillow and hugged it tightly, comforted by his scent on it. The tears began falling silently down her cheeks as she recalled what her father had said and what her aunt had told her.

Fifteen minutes later, Nathan walked in and instantly knew something was wrong. "Where's Elizabeth?"

"She's in your room, Nathan, and I think she could probably use you right now," Catherine explained and then filled him in on everything that Agatha had told them.

He walked to their room and opened the door. He entered quietly and couldn't help but notice her shoulders shaking as she cried. He took off his coat and his shoes and then just curled up behind her. She immediately turned in his arms and burrowed as close as she could as the tears continued to fall. He just laid there holding her, occasionally kissing her forehead and rubbing her back and listened as she began to tell him what was wrong.

Feeling her shaking even after the tears stopped, he pulled the blanket that was folded at the foot of the bed over the two of them. They lay there holding each other, and a few minutes later, she had fallen asleep, her hands clutched into his flannel shirt. He followed after, his face buried in the fragrant softness of her hair. They dozed for about an hour, and then both began to awaken.

As Nathan looked into his wife's eyes, he saw something that made him happy. Before he could fully think about it, she cupped his cheeks tenderly between her hands and kissed him deliberately softly on the cheek before shyly pulling back.

"Thank you, Nathan, for being here with me," Elizabeth said.

"You're welcome, Elizabeth," Nathan said. "You are my wife, and I always want you to be able to come to me about anything."

Elizabeth smiled and began to pull away in preparation for getting out of bed. Nathan reluctantly let her go, wishing he could stay with her a little longer. That kiss made him only want more and look forward to the day they could fully be man and wife. Gabe's words from the day before immediately came to his mind, but he felt that it wasn't quite the right time. That night in bed, they discussed her father rather than the standard questions.

"Elizabeth, I will stand behind whatever decision that you make. You are my wife, and there's nothing he can do that will change that fact. I will not let him hurt you any more than he already has. But if there is a chance that he really wants to mend things between you and to support this marriage, then I think we should at least give him an opportunity, if for no other reason than for our children. It will also help start the marriage out on the right footing." Nathan assured her.

"You are right, Nathan," Elizabeth said. "I do trust Aunt Agatha and her instincts, so then I will hear him out tomorrow, and we can decide from there. I also trust you, and it makes it easier to know you're with me."

Elizabeth's words warmed his heart and were like a balm. Alice had bruised his heart, but it hadn't been as wounded as he had thought. Because the love he felt for this woman, now his wife, was stronger than anything he had ever felt for anyone else. He definitely needed to thank her the next time he saw her because he couldn't imagine anyone more perfect for him than Elizabeth.

Nathan leaned over and gave her a light kiss, only holding it for a few seconds before pulling back. They just looked at each other for a long moment before they met in the middle, still keeping it light, knowing they weren't quite ready for much more. But even the soft kisses seemed to build a fire within them, and they knew the time was coming; they would be ready soon. They fell asleep and snuggled together, content to be in each other's arms.

Dec 31, 1909

Though the storm had blown in fast and furious, it went out quicker than predicted. It allowed the town to dig out enough that the New Year's Eve festivities would go on. Moira and Catherine insisted the couples go to town for dinner and stay until after the fireworks. Allie would be in their capable hands and happily engaged in her own planned activities. Faith and Elizabeth had spent the afternoon trying on dresses to wear to the dance that evening while Gabe and Nathan worked.

Her Aunt had called at precisely 2 pm, and after a few minutes, Elizabeth agreed to talk to her father. However, she asked Nathan to sit beside her and hold her hand.

"Bethie?" William said. Elizabeth felt a pang in her heart as she heard her father use the familiar nickname for her since she was an infant. The only time she had heard him call her Elizabeth was in company or if he was cross with her. It had been a few years since he last addressed her that way.

"Hello, Father," she choked out.

"Sweetheart, I have so many things to apologize for in my treatment of you and the words that I spoke. I can't unsay them, but I wish more than anything I could. I am so sorry for saying them, and I was wrong to do what I did. There are so many things that you were right about in your letters. There's a lot that I want to tell you, but I'd rather do it in person. Would it be all right if your aunt and I came to see you in Aberdeen?" William said.

Elizabeth couldn't answer because the tears were falling. Nathan took the phone from her and handed it to Catherine while he pulled her into his arms. After a few minutes, Elizabeth got control of herself and motioned for the phone again.

"Father, I will agree for you to come; however, I have a few stipulations. "You come with the knowledge that I am married, and that won't change. Second, if you have an ulterior motive for coming here, please stay away. Third, you will be respectful to Nathan and his family. If you are okay with that, then I would love to see you and clear the air." Elizabeth said.

She handed the phone back to Catherine and left the room. She was overwhelmed with emotions once again and needed some space to process her feelings. She knew Nathan was right behind her, a comforting presence for her as always.

"I was proud of you, Lizbeth, and I think you made the right decision. With that decided, what do you say we turn our attention to our evening ahead." Nathan said, his eyes sparkling.

"I'd like that, Nathan," Elizabeth said, "Faith and I have been looking forward to it."

"So have Gabe and me," Nathan said. "I placed my suit in Allie's room so you and Faith could have privacy to get ready in ours." It wasn't twenty minutes later that she and Faith returned to the bedroom and began preparations for their dates with their husbands.