It Happened One Night

*** This was originally published on 2/19/25 as a one-shot. I apologize in advance for those of you getting notifications and realizing you read this already! Just wanted this story to also have its place within the Of Love and Hope collection- after all it's also inspired on season 12 canon, even though it's much longer than the minifanfic format.

Author's Note: This one-shot is inspired on S12E7 and Nathan and Elizabeth's adventure as Danny and Dianne DiMarco. I'm sure I wasn't the only one wondering what happened after they left Toddy and Trudy's party. To see Elizabeth back in Hope Valley the next morning chatting with Rosemary was almost a gut-punch. Not even a kiss by the front door after safely delivering Elizabeth back home? Come on Hallmark! *sigh* Thankfully this is where fanfiction steps in! I hope you enjoy my version of "Danny and Diane's After Party" loosely inspired by the classic movie It Happened One Night. Looking forward to your comments and reviews! Remember we can also chat a bit more directly on Instagram. You can find me as ladyofletters26. :-)

The air felt thick and charged as the cab pulled away from Toddy and Trudy's house on the hill.

"Mr. and Mrs. DiMarco, Mr. Davis left strict instructions to take you back home. Please tell me your address, " the friendly cabbie inquired.

Nathan squeezed Elizabeth's hand, silently asking her to let him take the lead. He spun his answer on the fly and prayed fervently she would go along. "My man, I had a surprise set up for my beautiful lady before we ran into Mr. Davis and ended up at his bash. We're not going home. Please take us to the Regent," Nathan said with a confidence he certainly didn't feel.

Elizabeth's eyes widened, barely keeping herself in check. Nathan was taking her to the Regent Hotel? "Danny, you're ever so thoughtful," Elizabeth said under her guise of Diane, yet a million questions flickered in her gaze as her eyes fixed on his.

She could feel his tension, which was saying a lot. If there was someone who always kept calm under pressure, it was her Nathan. However, she was noticing various quirks that had before gone unnoticed. When he was tense, his upper lip stiffened slightly. He made a good show of controlling that quirk, but Elizabeth could see those fragile, almost imperceptible white lines creep up. That was his tell if she ever saw one.

It didn't take long from Toddy and Trudy's to the Regent. The driver dropped them off with a wink, and Nathan and Elizabeth finally heaved a sigh of relief.

"Elizabeth, I must apologize again for the turn this evening took." Nathan cast his gaze downwards yet brought her closer, rubbing his hands over her arms. She had wrapped her shawl tightly around her, and he knew she was cold.

"There's no need for apologies. There was no way you could've known you'd run into Toddy after we left the theatre. However, we do have another situation to think of."

"What's that?"

"We won't make it back to Hope Valley tonight. We missed the last train," she said ruefully.

Nathan's brow furrowed, and he let out that frustrated sigh he had suppressed the entire evening. "I have been completely off tonight. It's a wonder I haven't compromised the investigation."

Elizabeth smiled gently and laid a hand on his cheek. "I'm sure you haven't. You're good at what you do. Trust your instincts and trust the big guy up above. He's got you."

Nathan softened at her words. "Do you trust my instincts?"

"Of course."

"And do you trust me?"

"Even though you almost didn't trust me with this date night?" She replied with a wry grin.

"Not my finest moment, but I will most certainly make it up to you. Still, I need to ask again. Do you trust me?" A silent plea caressed his features.

It was that look that always got to her. Of course she trusted him. With her life. "Always."

"Keep that ring on your left hand. Come." He slid his arm over her shoulders as they climbed the steps leading to the Regent Hotel lobby.

In a matter of minutes, Danny and Diane DiMarco were led to the luxury suite of the most prominent hotel in Union City. Their lack of luggage didn't raise a brow. After all, it was the twenties, and excess and eccentricities were the name of the game in the big cities.

Once inside the beautiful room, the silence became deafening. Nathan had never been one to fill silent spaces with inane chatter, so he approached the situation in full Mountie mode. He turned, grasped her hands, and looked at her solemnly.

"I know this isn't ideal. But there's no other option. It's my obligation to keep you safe, as well as maintain the integrity of the investigation. The decision to come here was made on the fly, as you could tell. We couldn't ask the driver to take us to the train station and risk blowing our cover. Thankfully, Jack and Allie are cared for, and no one expects us tonight in Hope Valley. I promise we will leave on the first train, and nobody has to know about this..." He said in a rush, waving a hand across the room.

"Nathan." She looked up at him with such love, such earnest eyes, all his anxieties eased on the spot. "All you ever do is take care of me, love me, respect me." Her lips twisted into a playful grin. "And things could be worse than a fancy hotel room in the big city."

Nathan tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering over the feel of her silky tresses. What had he ever done to deserve such an incredible woman?

He didn't realize he'd uttered those words out loud until Elizabeth said, "That's the second time tonight you've said I'm incredible. I'm going to start to believe it."

"You should. You are." Nathan spoke with such passion and verve the air sizzled around them.

Time stood still as they got lost in each other's eyes. I've never known love like this. The thought reverberated in both their minds and hearts.

Nathan cleared his throat and found his bearings before Elizabeth did, his words bringing them back to earth. "You should probably use the washroom first. I'll settle on the couch."

She blinked as she slowly processed the unspoken understanding of how the night was to progress. She knew it was for the best. But why was there this tiny hint of disappointment in her heart?

Elizabeth walked into the washroom and took a good look in the mirror. The finger waves Trudy had helped her fashion were still intact. The makeup had faded somewhat, but her eyes looked huge and luminous, their shade of blue intensified by the dark liner she'd used to define them. But it was time to take "Diane" off and let Elizabeth out. She realized deep inside that she enjoyed being Diane for the evening and living out the fantasy of being Nathan's... no, Danny's wife.

With a sigh, she washed her face and slathered some of the moisturizer the hotel provided in its amenities. She lit up when she saw a couple of robes hanging on the door. She carefully removed and folded her clothing before slipping on the soft cotton white robe. It wouldn't do to arrive all wrinkled back at Hope Valley tomorrow morning.

Elizabeth sauntered out of the washroom and happily spoke, "Nathan, we're in luck there are two robes—" But she lost her voice at the sight of Nathan in a thin sleeveless undershirt, pants riding low, suspenders hanging loose by his hips. He must have run his hands through his hair. It was the first time she'd seen it so unruly and in complete disarray.

She could barely swallow. He looked achingly handsome, and all she wanted was to run into his arms and forget that the world existed. However, her mind decided to play with her. The sudden picture of Nathan in a threadbare sleeveless shirt, water dripping down his face and chest, popped into her thoughts. Her dream! Her dream was alive and well and right in front of her.

"Oh, that's good. Thank you 'Lizbeth." He took the robe from her hands and stepped into the washroom, leaving her confounded, speechless, and just a bit frazzled.

Nathan gripped the edge of the marble washbowl and took a good look at himself in the mirror. It was going to be a long night of little or no sleep. It wasn't something he wasn't used to. Lord knew how many sleepless nights he'd had while on mission. But this was different. Sharing a room with the woman he loved while respecting her as she deserved was a first.

Well, at least he'd sleep more comfortably with the robe the hotel provided. He shrugged it on haphazardly, threw some water on his face, and headed to the bedroom to face the inevitable.

Spending the night with Elizabeth. While keeping his hands to himself.

He had just opened the washroom door, only to come to an abrupt halt. Elizabeth was shaking out a white sheet and laying it on the couch. A sense of déjà vu gripped him and didn't let go. It finally dawned on him. He'd dreamed of her in between white sheets, in the most ethereal yet passionate of dreams. She'd told him there was no place she'd rather be and kissed him gently yet very distractingly, her lips gliding over his jaw and down the sensitive skin of his neck.

"Nathan, are you alright?"

Elizabeth's words seemed to drag through a deep fog. He almost couldn't make out the words. Shaking himself from the stupor, he replied hoarsely, "Yes, I'm fine. Just tired, I guess."

"Okay. Well then, sweet dreams, Nathan," she said softly.

"You too," he replied in a hushed tone.

They couldn't help but look at each other and take stock of each other's expressions. Elizabeth's eyes were gentle and bright, but Nathan's gaze was guarded, and she caught a hint of sadness behind it. Her lips curved upwards in a soft grin, and Nathan's tension eased somewhat. Cupping her cheek, he dropped a light kiss on the other and immediately stepped back to settle on the couch.

Clutching the lapels of her robe, Elizabeth sat on the edge of the bed and took a moment before settling herself in for the night. With a tiny sigh, she laid back and prayed for sleep.

It was the longest five minutes of their lives. There was no way to get comfortable. Not with the knowledge that the person they loved most was scarcely a few feet away, and all they longed for was to be in each other's arms.

Elizabeth not only heard Nathan fidgeting on the couch, but she could also feel his restlessness.

"Nathan." She said his name in one breath.

"Yeah. I can't sleep."

"Me neither. Why don't we just... talk for a while?"

"That would be nice. I love the sound of your voice."

"I love the sound of your singing voice. You've been holding out." A little smile crept up the corner of her mouth.

"That's what happens under duress." Nathan held back a soft laugh.

"Yet we pulled it off," Elizabeth said proudly.

"And might I say with flying colors no less."

"What was going through your mind as we were singing?" If they were going to spend the night in such close quarters, she'd be darned if she didn't get some answers to a couple of burning questions.

"Other than surviving the moment?" He asked, grinning to himself.

"Nathan." Elizabeth almost threw a pillow at him.

He took a slow breath and placed his hand behind his head in an effort to find comfort in the narrow couch. "In all truth, 'Lizbeth, all I could think was that I wish I could spend every waking moment by your side."

She couldn't have been more pleased with his answer. "You do know you made me love you? Don't you, Nathan."

"We certainly fought our feelings for each other long enough," he replied softly.

"But what we have now is nothing short of splendid."

"I've never been happier, 'Lizbeth. And if you feel a fraction of how I feel for you, that would be nothing short of a miracle for me."

Elizabeth turned over on her side to look at Nathan on the other side of the room. He had already done the same to look at her.

"You know what I loved this evening?"

"My dancing technique? My sultry tenor singing range? How dapper I look in a tux?"

Elizabeth's eyes twinkled like two stars in the dark of night. "Oh, that was all quite intriguing and appealing. But I meant something else," she said as she hugged one of the pillows against her chest.

"I can't imagine what," he said with a playful hint of exasperation.

"When you called me darling. Although I think I might prefer sweetheart as an endearment."

How this woman could reduce him to a puddle of mush was beyond him. "I think calling you sweetheart can be arranged. Would you like that?" He asked, his heart thundering in his ears.

"Very much so."

"How about you call me darling, and I call you sweetheart?"

Elizabeth couldn't help the beaming smile that spread on her face. It took all her effort not to get out of bed and sit beside him on the couch.

"That's a deal, Constable."

"'Lizbeth. Could I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"How did you come up with that bachelor auction backstory?"

Elizabeth chortled. Nathan chuckled. Elizabeth's attack of the giggles was inevitable.

"Nathan, I have no clue! I swear words tumbled out of my mouth before I could even process what I was saying. Yet the idea seemed as excessive as that over-the-top party, so it seemed fitting that Trudy would buy it."

"For a second there I was worried that Toddy would figure something was up."

"Yes, how he kept repeating the word 'story' made me nervous. I knew he wasn't buying it there for a second."

"And then the mess up over the years Danny and Diane have been together. My heart sank for a minute there."

"But you saved the day, as you always do," Elizabeth's hushed voice echoed in the room. "When you said you started counting the moment I had been kind to someone you loved. That wasn't Danny speaking. That was you."

"Yes."

Elizabeth's voice broke. "When I took Allie under my wing to help her make friends, that's when you fell in love with me?"

"Yes."

A single tear slid from the corner of her eye and dripped on her pillow. "And you've been in love with me all this time."

"Yes," he murmured once again.

Nathan knew the moment was charged, and he didn't want Elizabeth to shed any tears without him being able to gather her in his embrace. Attempting to lighten the mood, he said, "Did I tell you how stunning you looked tonight? I was the envy of every man at that party."

"I've never felt so ritzy nor so modern. But that wasn't me. Although it was fun to play Diane for the evening. And be the woman whose husband worships the ground she walks on."

Nathan couldn't stand lying on the sofa anymore. He swiftly pulled himself up to a sitting position and looked at Elizabeth intently. Her makeup-free face glowed under the moonlight slivering through the window. He was absolutely floored that this stunning woman loved and supported him the way she did.

"Danny isn't me either, 'Lizbeth. Going undercover can be thrilling, but in the end, it's dangerous. Truth be told, I was having a hard time the entire evening. It was imperative to keep you safe, and there was the added layer of having to be on top of my game and get as much intel as I could from Toddy. But something happened... even with all these elements in place... I was having fun. Every moment with you is an adventure, and you make me cherish every moment, as simple or as over-the-top as it may be."

Elizabeth sat on the bed and met his gaze at eye level. "Do you trust me, Nathan?" She murmured.

"Without a doubt," he answered hoarsely.

"Then sleep with me."

"What," he croaked, his body not feeling quite his own.

"I know I won't be able to sleep knowing you're on that uncomfortable couch just a few feet away from me. Let me sleep with my head on your shoulder and your arms around me. Please."

And this time, it was her silent plea that did him in. He got up, and his heart led his feet the few steps from the couch to the bed. He slid next to her while Elizabeth comfortably snuggled against him.

It was a first for the two of them. Nathan had slept alone for as long as he could recall. Elizabeth's marriage had been so short-lived that she could scarcely remember what it felt like to share a bed. Yet that moment she fit herself against him was as if two pieces of a long-lost puzzle had found each other. They fit perfectly; it was home.

He held her right hand with his left, and his thumb rubbed her knuckles in that unconscious way he had about him. It was reassuring and comforting, yet gave Elizabeth little shivers that ran up and down her spine.

"Nathan, it might not have been how I pictured our evening going, but every moment with you is a joy. And for what it's worth, I enjoyed playing your wife." The whispered words dug into Nathan's soul.

If he had anything to say about it, she would never have to play at being his wife again. For if there was ever a next time, it would be the real deal. That's a promise Elizabeth Thornton, he thought, as they finally found sleep in each other's arms.

XXXXXX

It was still dark outside, and there was nothing Nathan wanted more but to stay in bed with Elizabeth cuddled next to him. The first train to Hope Valley was at six o'clock, though. They'd have to hurry to make it to the station. Still, he'd be darned if he didn't take a second to hug her and prolong this bit of heaven just a while longer.

She mumbled a muffled good morning as she snuggled closer, her eyes still heavy with sleep. Nathan pressed his lips to her forehead, smoothing back the wayward waves that fell on her face.

"You're distractingly beautiful in sleep, Elizabeth Thornton," he murmured.

"Just as you are distractingly handsome," she replied. Elizabeth wondered if there was any way she could hug him harder, feel him closer. "Nathan, I've never felt safer."

She didn't need to say more. He understood. "Aside from your love, that's all I've ever wanted."

The moment was right, not to mention ripe, for the kiss Elizabeth had been yearning for the moment they'd stepped into that hotel room. His lips were close, and those mountain lake blue eyes unerringly locked with hers.

Kiss me, Nathan. Kiss me, please. Kiss me how you do, with soft lips, with overflowing love. Kiss me playfully. Kiss me passionately. Take me away to that place only you can take me because only you can love me how you do.

He was so close, and the instinctive way Elizabeth delicately licked her lips in anticipation punched Nathan straight in the gut. How he managed to pull away and sit on the bed was a feat of herculean effort.

"We need to make that train. Let's get ready. We'll have breakfast in the dining car."

It had been too much to expect to continue the fantasy of Danny and Diane. She felt frustrated; there was no denying it. But in the end, she preferred her steadfast, proper Nathan rather than fancy-free gangster Danny DiMarco.

Elizabeth exhaled deeply. It was time to go back to reality.

The train ride to Hope Valley was tranquil and uneventful. They had a much-needed cup of coffee and talked about Allie and Jack, school, and their friends. Elizabeth mentioned how Allie was blossoming under her new teaching techniques, and Nathan pointed out how pleased he was that Oliver was helping her with her nature project.

Elizabeth decided to keep to herself Oliver's apparent interest in Allie. Nathan had only just recovered from the Wyatt debacle. Smiling into her cup, she took one last sip. They were finally home.

"I can't believe we made it without anyone seeing us. That, sir, is a miracle," Elizabeth said incredulously, stepping into the comfort of her rowhouse.

"Indeed. And now, I can do this." Nathan locked the door behind him, gliding his hand from Elizabeth's shoulder to her forearm. He pulled her against him without any resistance, sinking his fingers into her hair. At the same time, his lips fluttered over her cheek and then her jaw, whipping Elizabeth's emotions into a joyous frenzy.

Spurred into action, she grabbed his head, swiftly pulling his irresistible mouth to play with hers. Elizabeth was finally indulging in what she'd wanted the entire night.

Breaking off the heated kiss, Nathan smiled widely at Elizabeth's dazed and dreamy expression. "I know I don't have to make the distinction, but for the record, that was Nathan Grant kissing you, not Danny DiMarco."