I was planning to do two separate one-shots for episode 8.1, but the more I thought through it, the more I wanted to examine Nathan's thoughts in this episode through the lens of these two invitations he offers Elizabeth. So I've changed the name of the story to The Invitations - and added a second chapter that picks up near the end of the episode.

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Nathan peeled the sweat-stained Henley off his body and tossed it on the floor to be dealt with later. He wasn't looking forward to the work it was going to take to clean his uniform after the events of the last two days, but at the moment, he didn't really care. She'd said yes. The four of them were going to dinner together. For the first time in years it felt like everything was as it should be. Or maybe everything was as it could be.

As anxious as he was to get cleaned up and walk a few houses down with Allie to pick up Elizabeth and Jack, he also wanted to take the time to make sure he was presentable. He selected a dress shirt, vest, and pants and set them aside, turning his attention to the bath he'd prepared. He winced a bit as he swung a leg over the side of the tub, first in reaction to the soreness and then in response to the temperature of the water. He knew he'd heated it a little more than he normally would, but the steaming bath was sure to do wonders to relax his bruised muscles. He gave his body a moment to adjust, sitting still while some of the tension melted away. Nathan closed his eyes, remembering.

Dylan's arrival and subsequent threats against Allie had lit a fire in him. A man who has a child has certain responsibilities, and as long as he is alive and able, the man's most important role is to ensure the welfare and safety of that child. Dylan had turned his back on that responsibility. Had left Allie at her most vulnerable point. He had relinquished every right or privilege he had concerning the girl, and his decision to do so had inadvertently given Nathan a path and purpose that he never would have chosen on his own but couldn't imagine his life without.

In many ways it was Nathan's sense of certainty about this very principle and the joy that raising Allie had brought him that made his decision to request the transfer here to Hope Valley so easy. He knew Jack Thornton would never have abandoned his wife and child like Dylan had. He, by all accounts, was an honorable man. The least Nathan could do after the part he played in the Mountie's death was accept the responsibility of protection that Jack had been deprived of performing. It was a simple matter of character. Of doing the right thing.

So when Dylan had shown up yesterday - not to try to make amends like Archie had a year prior - but to try to profit off his own irresponsibility and sluggishness, Nathan had determined not just to protect Allie from this person, but to ensure that he ended up in jail where he belonged. Being successful in that mission had left Nathan feeling as unburdened and optimistic as he had felt since taking custody of Allie six years prior. And it was with that sense of excitement about the future that he rode through the trees back into town, finding Elizabeth sitting in her familiar position on the steps of her row house. He gave himself permission to believe that she was waiting for his return, even though he had no real evidence that was the case. It was a beautiful day. Hope was everywhere. Yeah - she was waiting for him.

He had clocked her look of concern - almost of relief - when he had ridden up and swung off of Newton. He could sense her care for him, and he knew in that moment the only thing that would make this day better would be to finally get to spend the evening with her. To take that step toward showing her the depth of his feelings. He'd told her just yesterday that she could let him know when she was ready, and he wasn't trying to push her. But this was right, the two of them. The four of them. That's why it was so natural to suggest they all go together when she indicated she might not be able to find someone to watch Jack on such short notice. And she'd said yes. And now here he was - on the cusp of something extraordinary.

He finished cleaning up and rose from the now lukewarm water, wiping his face and torso with a ragged towel and stepping out over the edge and onto the wooden floor. He wrapped the towel around his waist and took a quick look in the mirror that hung on the wall, noting the goofy grin and shaking his head at himself.

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Two hours later, Nathan stood in the same spot, a very different expression staring back at him. He unbuttoned and shed the vest and ran his hands through his hair before heading back downstairs. Allie had already cleaned up the dishes from their makeshift dinner and had gone to her room, making the excuse that she was feeling tired after she and Opal had stayed up late the night prior. But Nathan knew she was almost as disappointed as he was that the evening had gone the way it had.

Nathan poured himself a finger of whiskey and stepped out his back door, taking a seat on the steps. He'd been drunk on optimism earlier. Elizabeth's sudden illness after encountering Lucas and his mother had more than sobered him. The liquor might bring him back to level.

As much as he wanted to blame Lucas for ruining his evening, he knew that wasn't the root of the problem. And it wasn't why he was sitting here beating himself up in the dark. The fact was, he'd pushed her. He'd known she wasn't ready, but he'd pushed her anyway because of how thrilled he'd been about Dylan's arrest. He should have paid more attention to that look on her face when he rode into town. The relief in her voice when she said "you made it home." He rubbed his thumb and forefinger over his eyebrows, while he rested his elbows on his knees. He'd said, "You didn't think I would?" In hindsight, it was so clear how stupid that was to say. If there was anyone in the world who had reason to worry if someone was going to make it home safely...and it's not like he had given her much information about what he was doing. She'd had every reason to worry. It was a wonder she'd agreed to dinner at all. He'd noticed more hesitation as they'd walked together into town. She was quiet, reserved. She walked as far away from him as possible, keeping both children between them. The encounter with Lucas and his mother was just the straw that broke the camel's back. The excuse she had needed to retreat back into herself.

They'd returned to the row houses in relative silence. He'd sent Allie inside as they passed his home, and he'd walked Elizabeth the rest of the way to hers. She held Jack's hand and climbed up her front steps to the door, barely looking back when she said "Thank you, Nathan."

"Feel better," was all he had been able to muster as he watched the door close behind them.

Nathan finished his drink, set his glass down beside him, and threaded his fingers together in front of him. He looked up at the stars, chuckling a little at how much they had felt aligned a few hours ago and how askew they felt now. He had a complicated relationship with the idea of fate. Life had given him too many difficult hands for him to trust that everything was always as it should be. It wasn't an accident that he was here in Hope Valley. He'd chosen to come here. And then he'd chosen to stay here. But he hadn't chosen to love her. That had grown in him over time - in spite of his best efforts to fight it - and now his love for her was as much a part of him as breathing. No. The choice wasn't whether or not to love her. The choice was whether or not to risk his heart and pursue it. But now that he'd taken steps in that direction, he couldn't imagine not seeing it through.

After tonight, though, it was even more obvious that a similar risk might be more than Elizabeth was able to take. He knew she had feelings for him too. He could see it in her eyes when she looked at him. But there was a big difference between having feelings and acting on them. She'd need time. And she'd need reassurance. Nathan knew he would have to show her that giving him a chance wasn't as risky as it seemed. He'd need to show her that a home and family meant more to him than anything. He'd need to be more open with her about his job - to ease her mind about any danger he might face. He'd need to be willing to walk away from the profession entirely if it came to that. And he knew that if that's what she needed, that's what he would do.

Tonight hadn't been the start to a relationship with Elizabeth that he'd had such high hopes for earlier in the evening. But it wasn't the end of one either. If anything, he had a better understanding of her heart - of her fears. All he needed was some time.

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Thanks as always for reading! Let me know your thoughts about Nathan at the end of episode 8.1. You can find me on Instagram at notawriter32 or you can leave a review here.

PS - You're welcome for Nathan in the bath. ;-)