"We want you to know you're always wrapped in love." -Abigail Stanton, Close to my Heart

Nathan paused at the doorway, almost afraid to cross the threshold. He knew this was supposed to be his bedroom too now, but he felt an intruder into Elizabeth's personal space. His feet wouldn't obey his best efforts to make this next step.

"What are you doing?" Elizabeth asked, no hesitation in her movements as she moved with ease past him into the room and placed her suitcase on the bed.

He tripped over his explanation, knowing that it was silly to be afraid of this boundary. They had spent a week on their honeymoon, how was this to be any different than sharing their hotel room together. "Um…I'm just…That's your bedroom."

"Actually, now, it's our bedroom." Elizabeth pulled him into the room, and took his suitcase from him, placing it on the bed next to hers.

Nathan's feet stuck to the floor once again, but now he was actually in the room, and he looked around to take it in. The bed took up most of the space, leaving just enough room for a large oak wardrobe on one wall and a cedar chest at the foot of the bed. His own chest of drawers was shoehorned in next to the bed, and he just knew he would be hitting his head or shoulder or elbow on it nearly everyday. The window was wide open, wind gently blowing the white curtains back and forth. The breeze caught a tendril of Elizabeth's hair as well, and Nathan found himself fixated on the lock as it swayed in front of his wife's face. His wife; he couldn't believe those words and how beautiful they sounded.

After all the starts and stops they had gone through over the years, he finally was blessed with what he most desired; a wife, beautiful inside and out, and a family to care for. It was hard to believe the wedding was only a week ago, because it felt like a glorious eternity of joy.

"I've made space for you in the wardrobe. If you need more, we could get another chest, maybe one that fits under the bed." Elizabeth indicated that Nathan could begin unpacking his bag.

"Oh, ok." Nathan opened the wardrobe, and started putting away his shirts. He managed to get them all in, but only barely. He checked for room in his drawers, but they were still full of random items that had been thrown in while packing up his old house. For now, he opened the cedar chest to see if his trousers could fit there.

"Oh, I don't think anything will fit there," Elizabeth said.

Nathan could see that for himself; extra blankets and quilts filled every square inch of the space. He paused to run a hand across the top quilt, a beautiful patchwork, each square unique, but all on the theme of hearts.

"This one is really nice. Did you bring it from Hamilton?" he asked.

"Uh, no. I received it as a gift, here in Hope Valley. After Jack died."

"Oh." Nathan shut the lid. While Jack had always been an open topic between them, he hadn't come up since their wedding. And it felt different now, somehow. Yes, he was now Elizabeth's husband. But that place had once been held by Jack, and he couldn't help but feel inferior to the man who came before.

Elizabeth paused her own unpacking, and went to stand before Nathan, placing a hand on his chest. "Receiving that quilt was the first thing that made me happy after Jack's death. I was thinking about leaving, and my friends were trying to support me. They told me it was meant to remind me that I am always wrapped in love. Then, right after I got it, my friend Abigail helped me realize I must be pregnant, and I felt a joy I thought I had lost forever."

Elizabeth indicated for Nathan to sit on the bed, and held his hand tightly in hers. "About a year later, an amazing Mountie came to town. At first, all I could feel was grief and fear. I couldn't let myself get to know him, not more than necessary, because what if life repeated? But, despite my best efforts, he became my friend. I turned to him for advice, for help, just for conversation. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was falling in love with him. I couldn't help it, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Because now I get to hold him whenever I want. I get to greet him first thing in the morning, and fall asleep in his arms around me. I didn't know it when I received that quilt, but there was so much happiness ahead, and I am grateful that I stayed here to experience it. That I put my faith in the future, and you were the reward for that."

Nathan pulled her to him, and kissed her deeply, then tenderly, passionately, then finally slowly. When they separated just enough to breathe in one another, Elizabeth whispered, "Thank you for waiting for me."

Nathan whispered back, "I'm just grateful that I don't have to wait any longer. I am so happy that we get to share the rest of our lives with each other." He pulled Elizabeth close once again, filled with love and hope for their unlimited future.

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