The Footnote, a when calls the heart fanfic

This is for you, Amy! Thank you for being an amazing friend!

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As Jack Thornton rode through his final training mission, he thought about how quickly he had buckled under the desire to love Elizabeth. He'd been attracted to her, but hadn't factored a wife into his life's plan. After all, if the Mounties had wanted him to have a wife they would've issued him one. But in the deepest part of his heart, he never wanted to be alone.

But her? No. He didn't think it would be her. She had gotten under his skin more often than she didn't, could make him lose his temper in nothing flat, and drove him crazy with her endless tenacity. But ironically all the things that initially drove him mad, had slowly morphed into a blazing desire for her, and now she held all his thoughts and future plans. No one could have been more surprised than him, but he was eternally grateful for it. He was eternally grateful for her, because she was the one who completed him. So he had fallen to one knee and asked her to be his forever, and to his everlasting joy, she accepted. They'd married and their future looked bright. But just as they were preparing to leave for their honeymoon, the Mounties called for him, and he had answered. Instead of being cross with him for choosing to go, she joined him, and they spent ten glorious days together before having to separate.

"I love you and I'll be home soon," he said, after kissing her deeply.

Approaching a rather treacherous ridge, with unstable footing for the horses, Jack turned his attention back to the matter at hand.

"Men, mind where you're at on the ridge," he'd barely managed to get out, as a tenderfoot youngster and his partner got far too close to the edge. "Get back," he yelled, putting his heels into Sergeant's sides, driving him forward. While it was only a matter of seconds, it felt like slow motion to Jack as he jumped off his horse, pushing the two young cadets out of the way. Seeing them fall back against the security of solid ground, he had but one thought as the mudslide drove him off the edge into certain death.

Elizabeth.

"There is no way to know for sure what my husband was thinking about in the moments leading up to his death. It's taken me a long time to even ponder it. But knowing Jack, he was thinking of me. He was thinking about us and the life we'd live together.

I'm deeply saddened that we won't raise our son together. That we won't have other children. That I'll be a single mother guiding our son down life's path. But, thankfully, we're not alone. We're surrounded by friends who care for us, love us, and support us. I'm so grateful for their help, because it really does "take a village" to raise a child…and my "village" is top tier.

With their help, I will stay focused on my son, my teaching, and my newest venture with a kind gentleman in our community; caring for our town's first library. He recently quoted a line from Dangerous Liaisons to me, which in part says, "I became fascinated by your goodness." I could say the same of him. Because he can see the potential of those in our community, and I am in awe of his efforts to champion the bringing of culture to our small town. I want to say thank you to him, for encouraging me to publish this book. I couldn't have done it without you and I'm very excited for what the future might…"

"That's enough," I said out loud to no one, decisively closing the book.

Reading about her grief over Jack had torn me apart, but I stayed the course. I wouldn't read the last page, though. Detailing her excitement over a future with Lucas, was something I did not want to revisit. It was the same reason I skipped the dedication page, too. I knew who she'd mention and I'd already spent far too long on the hypotenuse side of our triangle. The side furthest away from the right angle, or in my case, the right woman.

Elizabeth.

She alone held my heart, and in truth, Lucas being her choice was very hard to live with. I knew he wasn't the right man for her. Of course, she could do a lot worse than marrying him. I even managed to tell her that. She hugged me and I grinned, making a dumb joke, but it hurt to watch her walk away. Because I knew she was settling for a life where she'd love in safe, half measures, and she'd rather do that than risk living a life with me.

That hurt increased when she showed up, days later, wearing a huge diamond ring. It was so big, that I'm not certain five years of my salary could purchase it. But I wasn't jealous. No, it was worse than that. I was heavily concerned. Lucas could afford the ring, so that wasn't what bothered me. Simply put, the ring just wasn't in Elizabeth's taste. She may have come from an affluent lifestyle, but it no longer suited her, and yet Lucas kept raining down luxuries. It was just another indication that he really didn't know her. He couldn't see the happy existence she enjoyed in quiet, simple moments. And how could he see it, when she seemed content to hang on his arm? He had paid no attention to the simple, elegant ring she wore from her engagement to Jack. He paid no heed to this being the life she'd chosen for herself: the life she wanted. A life that had nothing to do with him…or me either, for that matter.

Because she wanted this life with Jack Thornton.

I'd never met him and he was deceased, but somehow he would always factor heavily into my life's happiness, or lack thereof. Even reading Elizabeth's thoughts on his final moments had rattled me. Because her words sent me right back onto main street, on that awful day, and I began to wonder if I'd ever fully escape it?

"I know there's something you're not telling me, and I want to know what it is. Now!"

She'd released me from guilt, long ago, but I hadn't done that for myself. Because what kind of man falls in love with the woman he came to protect, is rejected by her twice, and continues to be in love with her when she becomes another man's fiancé? Sure, I played the role of her friend, and I was genuine about it. But I still thought about her every day and dreamed of her every night.

Of us…together…every night.

I carefully flipped to the page with the words she'd written to me, and brushed my thumb across them. "With love, Elizabeth." I closed my eyes, trying to put Jack and Lucas out of my mind, and the guilt and hurt that came flooding back, when I heard her voice break the silence.

"Nathan, are you here?"

My eyes shot open and I closed the book, hastily stowing it back under the mattress.

"Elizabeth?" I answered, exiting the holding cell.

"Hi! What were you doing in there?"

"Nothing important," I said quickly.

"Okay, well I made beef stew this afternoon and brought the bone for Scout."

"He'll love that."

She bent to pat Scout on the head and gave him the bone. He immediately trapped it between his two front paws and began chewing on it.

"How's everything going?" she asked me.

Not well. I'd been mentally and emotionally derailed. But I had no desire to talk about it.

"Fine," I said. "How about you?"

"I'm good, too."

She didn't elaborate and I couldn't help feeling uncomfortable, because my thoughts were still spiraling from what laid under the mattress, and I was sure my face would somehow give me away. So I reverted into business mode.

"Do you need help with something?"

"Well, yes. If you have a few minutes?"

"I do."

I began walking to my desk, but stopped dead in my tracks when I heard her bolt the door. I gave her a questioning look, but she ignored it. Instead, she walked to the window and pulled down the shades.

"Elizabeth?"

Turning to face me, she wore a wickedly, sexy grin as she started to slowly undo the buttons on her blouse, holding my eye contact.

"Your wife desperately needs your help, Constable."

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We'd been married for six months now, and were very happy, but we were in a busy season of change. The row house wasn't big enough for our family, so we decided it was time to move. We bought Bill's land and were slowly moving in this week. I had just finished building a barn for the horses, as well as two more bedrooms for the cabin. We wanted to have a baby, and were actively trying to get pregnant, so I insisted on building another room. But the second room was my gift to Elizabeth. It was just for her. An office where she could work on her writing.

Her writing.

I'd found her book among the boxes I'd put in storage a couple of days ago. I'd never read it before. I just couldn't. I knew it would hurt badly to do so, and it had. But she was my wife now, so how could I not read it?

"Nathan?"

"Hmm?"

"Your wife is standing in front of you, taking her clothes off, and you look completely distracted."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I guess I just have a lot on my mind right now."

"About the move? Honey, there's no pressure. The kids are with their grandparents. The rooms are built and so is the barn. We have all week to move in."

That need-driven fiery look came back, as she walked slowly over to me.

"Make love to me here, just one more time. After this week we won't need to anymore, unless we just want to. We might miss our "lunch breaks" together."

Our love life was very active, but with two kids in the house and quarters being so close, we had to be extra quiet. However, where there's a will, there's a way, so we got creative. The occasional "lunch breaks" at the jail, and "mama needs daddy's help after school," were our go to excuses. But our new home would give us more intimate freedom, because it had something we desperately needed. A master bedroom on the opposite end of the cabin, away from all the other bedrooms…with a lock on its door.

Fun fact: thunderstorms are, in theory, a fantastic time for parents to enjoy spontaneous passion. The light show and the built in sound proofing, the romantic sound of falling rain, all seem to create a perfect scenario. But one evening in the first month of our marriage, as we were "utilizing" mother nature's gift to us, we were abruptly reminded of another detail regarding thunderstorms.

Six-year old boys are afraid of them.

"Mama, I need hugs! I'm scared!" Jack said, jumping right in the middle of our bed.

We'd been very caught up in the moment, focused solely on each other, so neither of us heard him knock.

"What are you doing?" he asked, inquisitively.

"Hugging," we said, in unison; giving each other a nod of "congratulations" for our in sync, quick response.

"Are you scared too, daddy?"

"Uh, well, Jack. Um."

Thankfully, my wife stepped in for the assist.

"Yes, daddy needed hugs. Mama will give you hugs and read you another story. But you know, Scout gives good hugs, too. I don't think Allie would mind if he spends the night in your room. Would you like him to come sleep with you tonight, honey bear? "

"Yay! Thank you, mama."

"You're welcome. Go let Scout out of Allie's room and then get into bed, please. I'll be right there."

"Goodnight, son. Sleep well."

"Goodnight, daddy. Mama will keep you safe. She gives the bestest hugs," he said, while scurrying out of our room.

"Close call."

"Too close," she said, with a giggle, as she slipped on her robe.

"You do give the best "hugs," Lizbeth," I said, leaning heavily on the innuendo, winking at her.

"How about we try "hugging" again in twenty minutes, Constable?" she asked, giving me a kiss that promised continuation.

"Make it fifteen," I replied, huskily.

"Done."

Ten minutes later she came back…with a chair to hook under the doorknob.

Presently, she was pulling me along by the suspenders, leading us into the holding cell.

"Touch me," she said, pulling me flush against her, and all coherent thoughts left my brain.

I ran my hands down her hourglass figure until they rested on her bottom, squeezing gently, as I lifted her off the floor. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and her legs around my waist, as we began to ardently kiss.

"I want you," she breathed against my lips.

"I want you, too."

I put her down on the bed and she leaned back on her elbows, shamelessly watching as I took off my shirt.

"Enjoying the view, Mrs. Grant?"

"ABS-olutely, Constable," she said, biting her lip and staring at my abdomen.

She sat up, put her hands around my waist, and pulled me down onto the bed with her.

"Ouch," she said, as I landed on top of her.

"Sorry," I said, easing my weight and rolling away from her.

"No, it's not you. There's something poking me in the back."

She got up to pull back the mattress, and my heart stopped, as guilt came flooding back like a bucket of ice water.

"My book?"

"Yeah."

"What is it doing here?"

"I found it in the storage room a couple of days ago."

"Oh. So you're reading it again?"

I'd never lie to her, not even about small things, but I didn't want to have this conversation either. So I just smiled and shrugged my shoulders.

"I'm flattered you'd read it more than once. In fact, it's very sexy, Constable."

I stayed quiet as she laid it to the side, straddled my lap, and began running her hands through my hair as she kissed my neck. My wife was the most attractive woman I'd ever laid eyes on. I was constantly turned on by her. But I couldn't make love to her right now if I tried. Not with her thinking I was husband of the year, reading her book twice, when I hadn't fully read it once. And not with both Jack and Lucas in the room with us.

"Sweetheart, I'm sorry. I can't have sex right now. I still have a lot to do. I need to take this wagon load of stuff out to the cabin and unload it before the rain comes this evening."

She leaned back and gave me a sultry look.

"But we can store it in the barn overnight and unload it tomorrow. You know, in the barn that my very handsome husband built with his extremely skilled hands," she said, taking mine in hers, slowly leading them where she desired.

I knew what she wanted, and any other day I'd revel in this, but not today. I just couldn't. So, I gently pulled my hands from hers.

"Elizabeth, I'm sorry. I just can't right now. Can you let me up, please?"

She looked confused at first, then completely wounded as she got off my lap and stood up. I couldn't stand to see that look on her face and I hated being the one responsible for it.

"Damn it," I said under my breath.

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No," I answered, my frustration with myself, sounding like anger towards her.

She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at me.

"Nathan Grant, until this moment you have never once turned me down. What is going on?"

"Elizabeth, I'm fine. I just have work to do," I said, picking up my shirt and pulling it back over my head.

"Nathan!"

"Elizabeth, please. Let it go," I said, picking up her blouse and handing it to her.

She narrowed her eyes even more; she was breathing fire now. Snatching the blouse from my hand, she quickly put it on, stormed out the door, and slammed it behind her.

"Great work, Nathan. You've lied by omission, hurt your wife, and now she's furious with you. Have fun sleeping on the couch tonight, because you can forget about sex. You're not getting that again anytime soon," my inner dialogue spat at me.

I walked back to the holding cell, got the damn book, and tossed it on top of the last box I had to load into the wagon.

"Let's go, Scout."

He followed me out the door and I kicked it shut behind us. Even Scout could tell my mood was off because he obediently stayed by the wagon, the entire way home.

As I turned onto the lane that led back to our cabin, the sky looked ominous. It was going to rain sooner than I thought. I got the team moving faster and pulled the wagon into the barn, just as the rain began. I hopped off, unhooked the team, led them into their stalls, and latched the door behind them. That's when I spotted Sergeant in his own stall, and if it's possible, even he looked disappointed in me.

So she was here somewhere.

Seeming to read my mind, she announced her presence, standing up from the bench in his stall.

"Nathan."

"Elizabeth, I'm sorry about earlier."

She exited the stall and gently closed it behind her, but she was still fuming.

"That's not good enough, Nathan."

"Well, it's going to have to be."

"Since when do you not want to have sex with me? Do you know how bad it felt to be rejected like that?!"

I shook my head and let out a frustrated laugh.

"Yes, Elizabeth. I'm overly familiar with how rejection feels."

Her eyes widened.

"I cannot believe you! That was your way of paying me back for past wrongs?!"

"Elizabeth, you know me. You also know how much I love you. Do you seriously think I'd ever intentionally hurt you, just to make a point?"

"What else am I supposed to think?! You wouldn't make love to me, when I practically begged you to, and now you won't even tell me why!"

"Elizabeth—"

No, Nathan! I know there's something you're not telling me and I want—"

"Elizabeth, for the love of God, I beg you not to finish that sentence! Don't say that to me. Please. Not again."

I ran a hand over my face and let out a long breath, as I met the eyes of my very confused, very angry wife.

"Nathan!"

"It was the book, okay?! I'd just finished reading it and I was rattled."

"Nathan Grant, not thirty seconds before you asked me to get off your lap, you were ready to ravage me. I find it very hard to believe that a book you've already read would stop my virile husband from having sex with me! Now what is going on?!"

"I never read it, Elizabeth!"

Well, she wasn't expecting that. Her shoulders fell and she visibly deflated, slowly shaking her head as she digested my words.

"You never read my book?" she asked, sounding crushed.

"No."

"But, you came and got a copy. I signed it for you and everything!"

"I know."

"I don't understand. Why wouldn't you read it?!"

"Because I was in love with you! That didn't go away for me, Elizabeth. I was proud of your accomplishment and I wanted to support you, but I was hurting. I wasn't in a hurry to pour more salt in my wound!"

"Nathan, I have been in love with you all along! You know that!"

"I know, but it sure as hell didn't feel like it back then!"

"That's not fair! I was with Lucas!"

"Oh, I know you were! I watched you hang on his arm for two years, remember?!"

"Nathan, I broke up with him!"

"Elizabeth, there had been something brewing between us for weeks before you broke up with him. I know you felt that, too!"

"Of course, I did!"

"Then why did it take me asking, "What do you want?", before you finally saw me?! I was here all along, Elizabeth, wandering around like the footnote in my own love story."

"The footnote?! Nathan Grant! How can you say that to me? I married you! I'm in love with you!"

I shook my head. I hated arguing. I'd never told her how much she hurt me in the past. I should have, because she wouldn't be furious and hurt by me today. I never wanted to keep secrets from her. I should've been open with her the night of our first kiss. She gave me the opportunity, but I didn't take it. Instead, I kissed her until we were breathless, thrilled for her to be in my arms, officially belonging only to me.

I wasn't expecting those old emotions to rear their ugly head today, from a few words in her book.

"I should've let that book continue gathering dust."

"Maybe you should have," she said angrily.

She blew past me in a blind rage, grabbed her book off the box in the wagon, and threw it out in the rain.

"There! I hope you're happy now! Goodnight, Constable Grant!"

She stomped out into the rain, and the invisible string pulled me along with her.

"Elizabeth, there's no furniture in the house yet. Come back to the barn. I'll drive us home when the rain stops."

"No! I'll wait in the house!"

"Elizabeth, you are the most stubborn, infuriating woman I have ever known! Do you have to make everything difficult?!"

"I guess I do! Now leave me alone," she shouted, as she spun around to face me. Her hands were on her hips and she was seething at me, while the rain poured down.

That's when I noticed her blouse. It was soaked clear through and clinging to her, reminding me of what was under it...of what belonged only to me.

"What?! Why are you staring at me?! Something else you want to say?! Don't hold back on me now, Constable! Spit it out!"

I growled, frustration combined evenly with lust, overtaking me.

"Half the people in the world are women. Why does it have to be you that stirs me?"

Before she could respond, I grabbed the nape of her neck and pulled her lips to mine, kissing her ravenously. She responded immediately, thrusting her tongue against mine, running her hands up my chest and across my shoulders. So I picked her up and carried her back to the barn.

"You're so sexy, Lizbeth"

"Nathan, I can't keep my hands off you."

"You drive me crazy!"

"I'm so angry at you!"

As our kiss progressively deepened, rage slowly died out, leaving love and lust to take over.

"I want you and I love you," I said, against her lips.

"You're the only man I want. The only man I love!"

"Hayloft?"

"Yes!"

I sat her down on a low step of the ladder, first. Following my lead, she wrapped her legs around me, pulling me closer to her. We continued to kiss hungrily for quite some time until we needed more, so I held her waist and kept her secure, as she turned to climb the ladder.

"That's a hell of a view, Mrs. Grant," I said, giving her bottom a pinch.

She giggled and scurried up the ladder more quickly.

"Come up here and I'll give you a closer look," she said, letting her skirt fall to the floor, as she reached the landing.

When I joined her at the top, she grabbed me by the suspenders and pulled me down with her onto a soft mound of hay. Our clothes quickly came off and we let our hands roam free, kissing and touching each other, until we could wait no longer.

"Let's make love," she said, with desperation in her voice.

I needed no more coaxing.

We naturally fell into love's rhythm, savoring the lust and heat between us, the pleasure and ecstasy of it all. And since there was no one around to hear us, or to interrupt, we let ourselves express it; freely and clearly.

In the moments that followed, she rested her head in the crook of my arm and snuggled more closely into me.

"Are you cold?"

"I am."

"There's some horse blankets in the tack room. I'll go down and get a couple."

"No," she said. "Don't leave. Just hold me."

I turned onto my side and pulled her against me, letting my body heat warm her. We were quiet, wrapped in each other's arms for several more minutes, before she broke the silence.

"Nathan?"

"Hmm?"

"I want to tell you something."

"Okay."

"Concerning Jack, I know the circumstances of his death have affected you greatly. But he was my first husband and the father of my son. I will always love him. He'll forever hold a special place in my heart. But now it's you who fully possesses me: heart, mind, body, and soul. You know that, don't you?"

"I know, sweetheart. I do. I'm sorry if I made you feel like I wasn't okay with that. I am. I can't explain why I reacted the way I did today."

"I know why you did, Nathan."

"Sweetheart."

But she put a finger against my lips, silencing me.

"It's because you love me so completely. You always have and you always will. I'm sure my book made old feelings of guilt over Jack's death come up to the surface. I wish you could let that go, and I hope someday that you will. But, I do understand."

She paused, before she spoke again.

"Can I ask you something?"

I nodded, letting her know she could ask me anything.

"Where did the anger about Lucas come from today? I understand why you were upset. But what triggered it?"

I inwardly groaned. I didn't hate Lucas. In fact, we had an unspoken understanding and respect for one another. But when it came to his history with my wife, he was my least favorite subject to discuss.

"Your book."

"My book?" she asked, sounding surprised.

"Yeah."

She sat up quickly. I could see the wheels in her head turning, like a light bulb had just turned on.

"I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?

"To get the blankets."

"Sweetheart, I'll get them."

"No," she said, putting her hand on my chest. "I'll get them and be right back."

Minutes later she reappeared, with two big horse blankets…and her book.

"How did you stay dry?"

"I covered up with another blanket. It's soaked, but I hung it on Newton's stall door to dry."

We got under the blankets together and she snuggled in close.

"I have another question."

"Okay."

"Did you read my whole book?"

"All but a couple of pages."

"Okay, that's what I thought."

She reached up, brushing the wayward hair off my forehead.

"Nathan, you had every right to ask me the questions you did today. I can't say I liked the delivery, or the way you framed them, but I was no better with my responses. I'm sorry for that, honey."

"I'm sorry, too."

I kissed her softly, and rested my forehead against hers.

"I should have never chosen Lucas. I shouldn't have dated him, I shouldn't have accepted his proposal, and I should have broken our engagement off long before I did."

"What's done is done, sweetheart. I'm sorry I even brought it up."

"No. You were right to bring it up. You should always feel free to share what's in your heart with me."

"I love you, Lizbeth. You're what's in my heart."

"I love you, too."

She put her hand on my cheek and I leaned against its warmth.

"Will you let me read something to you from my book?"

"Okay."

She sat up and took her book in hand, flipping to the desired section.

"I couldn't have done it without you and I'm very excited for what the future might…"

She turned the last page, and I braced myself for impact, but to my surprise I heard…

"bring for my writing."

"That's it?"

"No. There's one more paragraph."

"Okay."

"As far as love goes, well, I'm not sure what the future holds for me. I hope I find it again. I hope whoever he is, that he'll love my son like his own, and find joy in helping me raise him. But if pressed, I'll share just one hope for myself, too. I hope he'll kiss me so soundly that I'll forget what day of the week it is. I just have to be brave enough to let him love me. It's scary, but I know he's worth it. Because great love always is."

"That's beautiful, sweetheart."

"There's one more thing I need you to hear, Nathan."

"I'm listening."

Flipping back to the beginning, she turned onto the page just past her delicate, handwritten sentiment.

"I dedicate this book to all those who have experienced loss. To those working through their grief and to those brave enough to look for love again. May we "always do what we are afraid to do."

A tear fell from her eye, and I reached out, wiping it away with my thumb.

"Nathan, I'm sorry for not choosing you first. I'm sorry for making you feel like I didn't see you. I did, I just wasn't brave enough to tell you. But I want you to know, in no uncertain terms, that I love you from cover to cover. You aren't the footnote. You're the whole book. Your love means everything to me."

I couldn't help feeling touched. My wife had always loved me, from cover to cover.

"I love you, Lizbeth."

She kissed me, softly at first, and then more assertively. I was starting to enjoy myself thoroughly, responding in kind, but she pulled away with a mischievous gleam in her.

"What's that look for?"

"I was just thinking it's been quite a while since I enjoyed a roll in the hay, with a very attractive man."

"Sweetheart, I know we're sharing today and I know you had a sex life before me, but I'd rather not hear about it, please?"

"Oh, but Constable, you definitely want to hear this story. Because it was life changing."

I'm not sure that I would, but I kept quiet and let her talk.

"I gave him my full trust and leapt into that hay. When I opened my eyes, I saw my future clearly. The most handsome, kind, loving man was staring back at me, and I imagined a lifetime of waking up in his arms. That night he kissed me and told me he'd never stopped loving me, not for a single second, and he's made me very happy every day since."

"Mmmm. You're right. I like that story. Would you like to hear my point of view, from our roll in the hay?"

"I would, yes."

"I opened my eyes and saw you were looking at me, the way I'd always hoped you would. My thoughts came in rapid fire, but I remember every one of them."

"I'd love to hear them."

"She wants me. She's ready for us. She likes being in my arms and the feeling of my hands on her waist. I wonder if she'll like my lips?"

"Mmmm," she said, placing a kiss over my heart. "You've always read me well, honey. I felt all those things."

"When I lifted you off the wagon, I let my hands linger on your waist and you ran your hand down my arm. I remember thinking, "she's attracted to me. She can't hide her desire for me anymore, and even better, she's not trying to."

"I couldn't for one more second, because I was so in love with you, honey."

She placed a warm kiss on my neck and laid her head back down on my chest.

"Nathan?"

"Hmm?"

"Has it been this loud the whole time?"

I chuckled. She was so damn cute.

"It's the tin roof. I built it and the hayloft just for us."

"For us? But don't you need the loft to push down hay for the horses? And why the tin roof?"

"It's a luxury to push the hay down through the trap doors, rather than use the wheelbarrow to haul it back and forth. But I've been dreaming of getting you back in the hay, ever since the day we got out of it. The roof, well, that's ambiance. There's nothing like the sound of pouring rain, on a tin roof. It's loud, but it's peaceful, and I wanted a lifetime of moments like this, with you."

I pulled her into my chest and kissed her tenderly, but I felt her shiver.

"Are you still cold?"

"A little, but it's your kisses that send shivers up and down my spine. I shiver for you every single time, Nathan."

"Mmmm. I like hearing that, Lizbeth."

"It's true."

"I believe you, because your kisses have the same effect on me, too."

She gave me a very pleased grin and very sultry look, as she climbed on top of me, pinning my arms at my sides.

"Like this?" she asked, before letting her tongue taste my lips.

"Yes," I said in a low timbre, almost a growl.

She let her teeth capture my bottom lip; gently pulling at it.

"What about that, Constable? Are you shivering for me now?"

"I could show you what I'm feeling, if you'll let me?"

"Hmm," she said, making a show of pondering my question, before answering. "Yes, I'd be okay with that. I rather like show and tell."

She released my arms and I surprised her by rolling on top of her, in one sudden move. I heard her breath catch as I began sucking on her neck, in the spot that always drove her wild for me, and I knew it wouldn't be long before she gave the inevitable command.

"Make love to me," she said, almost instantly.

"You read my mind, Mrs. Grant. There's just one more matter to settle, before I do."

I hungrily took her lips, sucking them with mine, letting my tongue dance with hers, until desire reached a fever pitch.

"What day of the week is it, Lizbeth?"

"Huh?"

I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.

"Never mind, sweetheart," I said, before taking her lips once more, and making passionate love to my wife.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Author's notes:

If you made it this far, thank you for reading! I know it was long but I hope you felt it was worth your time. Another one-shot failure! LOL! I would love to hear your reviews & constructive comments about this story on here or on Instagram. The feedback is so helpful! So, thank you in advance if you're able!

My friend HeartieMusings made a reel that she was going to throw out. It was so good it sent me straight into my "writer's cave." I set out to prove to her that her art speaks volumes! This story is based on immediate thoughts that came into my head canon when I watched it. I wrote this story for her, but I hope you all enjoy it too! She is incredibly talented! If you don't follow her on Instagram, you are missing out! Hop on and watch the reel that inspired it all. We posted it today!

Open, honest communication has been the foundation of Nathan & Elizabeth's relationship. This one-shot story is very in line with the kind of depth I'd like to see in season 12. My two favorite "bots" (inside joke) love a fight, and my friend HopeValleyGuy and I share the opinion that Nathan deserves more answers. Terry and I often banter on various Instagram posts, about wanting deeper conversations between Nathan & Elizabeth to happen. Some of our banter from last week inspired my thought process on the deep conversations I decided to tackle with this story. "Why didn't she see him?" "We need more!" I did my best with the fight, "bots," and giving Nathan more, Terry! I hope you all enjoyed it. I love bantering with my "bots" and my resident "Nathan brain twin," Terry! LOL! Thank you for supporting my writing and being great friends!