Almost Paradise

Author's Note: This one-shot story is inspired by S12E3, specifically Nathan and Elizabeth's riding date. This is also my contribution to the Suspenders Unbuttoned fanfiction challenge based on this scene.

My approach to this story is through flashbacks. You will dive into Nathan and Elizabeth's thoughts as they relive their date. I hope you enjoy my take on this, and as always, I welcome your thoughts and feedback. I look forward to your reviews and comments on the Instagram post!

A shoutout and the deepest heartfelt thank you to my wonderful friend and collaborator, MountieWithHeart. Finding a true friend in the social media depths is beautiful, but it's another thing entirely to find someone with whom you feel safe creatively. Thank you for giving my muse wings and for contributing so beautifully to my creative process. I know I don't need to say more.

It was a sleepless night for the mountie and the teacher. Nathan paced his living room. Elizabeth tossed and turned in bed.

Yet, they both smiled. They couldn't wipe the silly grin off their faces.

Nathan breathed deep and ran a hand over his tousled hair. He could only channel all this adrenaline by taking a long walk. Just in case she woke up, he penned a quick note to Allie, grabbed a jacket, and headed out the door.

Back at her rowhouse, Elizabeth turned on her side and tightly clutched a pillow to her chest.

What a date. So simple. So perfect.

This shared feeling blossomed within both their hearts—at the same time, yet in different spaces. There would come a time when they'd realize an invisible thread bound them. Heart to heart, they'd always respond to each other's silent call.

She's lit something inside me. Nathan grinned as he walked the stretch between the rowhouses and the heart of the town. Who knew I could be that kind of guy? Truth be told, he never thought he could behave that way, that he could romance his 'Lizbeth the way he'd done. But she'd struck a match with her comment about planning a grownup date. If it hadn't been for Oliver, who knows where the kiss he felt brewing inside of him could've taken them. He'd even forgotten his cadet was living at the jail, for goodness's sake!

Love was a wonder, though. Being in love and fully able to express it was even more of a marvel. The reciprocity had him floored, and the only thing he wanted to do was to keep that mesmerized look on Elizabeth's face. He'd seen her eyes glimmer. He'd felt her pulse skyrocket and her breath quicken. And he'd be lying to himself if he didn't admit he loved it. Oh, he loved it alright!

And that was precisely why he had to sneak her away.

It was perfect—the most perfect afternoon with the woman he loved. From the moment she walked into the stables until the moment he dropped her off at home. He knew it would be everything he had dreamed of when he felt her shiver beneath his lips as he softly kissed that tender spot below her ear. Elizabeth's quick intake of breath was his reward. He still couldn't believe he affected her as much as she did him.

Goodness gracious. It was useless. Elizabeth couldn't find a comfortable position in bed. She had finally given up and laid in an ungraceful heap, chest heaving, looking up at the ceiling.

How can I still feel this rush of heat all over my skin? Ever since Nathan had huskily uttered, "Care to step into my office and... discuss?" Elizabeth hadn't been able to shake off that surge of exhilaration that had taken over her entire body. Things didn't improve at the barn. Nope, not at all. When had Nathan become so... so... seductive? It was a miracle she didn't dissolve into a puddle when he tucked her hair behind her ear. It was even more miraculous she didn't cease to exist when his warm breath caressed her cheek. She was a heartbeat away from vanishing altogether when he leaned in closer. The gentle pressure of his lips brushing against the tender skin where her jaw curved delicately into her neck had her insides melting.

Elizabeth's breath hitched. It was going to be a very long night.

But.

She didn't want to go to sleep. She wanted to relive each moment. Second by second. Minute by minute. Touch for touch. Kiss for kiss.

That kiss. What took place in the barn had set the tone for the rest of the evening. Sitting in her bed, Elizabeth took a long drink from the glass of water she kept on her nightstand. She didn't need to relive the moments in her mind. Her body remembered. She let out a slow rush of breath. She could still feel Nathan's arm over her ribcage while they rode Newton. Heat rose to her cheeks, tinting them with a deep, rosy hue. Her body could still feel every bump and jostle of that afternoon ride and how Nathan's masculine strength had felt against her. If she closed her eyes and concentrated deeply enough, Elizabeth could even smell his heady scent—a simple yet intriguing blend of citrus and freshly chopped cedarwood.

Caught between the need to relive the moments and the riotous feelings coursing through her, Elizabeth stood and clumsily opened a window. A profound sigh escaped her lips, rich with genuine emotion. Nope. Not even the gust of chilly night air that invaded her bedroom helped.

Meanwhile, Nathan stuffed his hands in his pockets as his walk took him behind the RCMP office. Overlooking the schoolhouse, he reflected on how effortlessly he and Elizabeth had adapted to their new relationship. It's incredible how we can talk about anything. Still, he shouldn't have been surprised. After all, they were friends before they became a couple. He didn't have much experience in the girlfriend department, but he knew this was a good thing. Hadn't he read somewhere that love was friendship caught on fire? That definitely rang true for them.

And the love he felt for Elizabeth was indeed peppered by fire. He struggled to prevent every simple touch from flaring out of control. Plus it didn't help matters knowing she melted in his arms every time he touched her. Just the thought rendered him senseless!

Equal breathless sighs echoed through the Hope Valley night sky as thoughts returned to their date's pivotal moment.

That sunset. For a while, they both stood in awe. The sky had definitely gone all out for them with its rich shades of lavender, pink, and blue, all bathed in the most perfect golden hue.

"Do you think Allie would be proud of our 'normal' date?" He posed the question with a hint of humor, but Elizabeth knew the heart behind it.

"Nathan, you want to know something?" She asked seriously, looking deep into his soulful blue eyes.

"I always want to hear everything you have to say," he replied, his fingers gently touching her soft, wavy hair.

"Our dates... our relationship... none of this is normal."

Keeping an even gaze, Nathan tilted his head questioningly.

"It's even better than normal." Elizabeth's voice thickened with emotion.

"Really?" His lips curved into his signature lopsided grin.

"Yes." Elizabeth paused for a second and looked down at their joined hands. "You see, Nathan, everything is heightened and takes a deeper meaning when it's with your great love."

He lifted her chin with his forefinger, forcing her gaze back to his. He couldn't form words; he had completely lost the ability to speak. But he could kiss her, and Nathan could show her everything he felt. He claimed her lips with his own, gently shaping them with his. Their mingled breaths made Elizabeth gasp, encouraging him to deepen the kiss. He enthusiastically did so, wanting to create a lasting memory of how she felt in his arms.

He murmured against her lips, "So I'm your great love? I may remind you of this frequently."

Laughter bubbled from their throats and erupted simultaneously. Elizabeth looked up at him, a sweet expression on her face. She adjusted his shirt collar and didn't resist the urge to glide her hand down his chest, fiddling with his buttons in the process. He shivered slightly underneath her hand, and a slow smile spread over her features. Her womanly affectations were incredibly pleased. Maybe at a later juncture, they could revisit that moment at the jail when she'd caught him half-dressed. And she'd tell him how often her traitorous mind took her to that particular moment in time.

Elizabeth slid her hands around Nathan's waist, hugging him tightly. She loved pressing her cheek against his chest. Feeling his heart thunder under her ear filled her with an energy she didn't know she needed. Nathan in turn, simply loved keeping her safe within his embrace. He was invaded by a sense of peace, knowing he was exactly where he needed to be.

As they stood in the clearing, their eyes swept over their beautiful town. Hope Valley was a vision drenched in the early evening light. Elizabeth took in the spectacular sunset and thanked God for their little slice of paradise and the man who held her heart.

Nathan took Elizabeth's face in his hands. His thumbs softly stroked the sensitive skin of her cheeks as he swam the depths of her gaze. He saw home, a family, and a love that lasted a lifetime.

"This is what heaven on earth must be like," she whispered.

In his heart, Nathan couldn't agree more.

XXXXXX

It was way too late. He still wasn't tired, but he might as well attempt to get some sleep. Nathan's steps guided him back home. He could feel some exhaustion in his limbs, but it actually felt good. The walk was precisely what he needed to make sense of his nervous energy.

Nathan sighed. It was a heartfelt sigh, one that dug deep in his chest. He couldn't rip away the image that pervaded his mind- Elizabeth's eyes. He could see they held the promise of forever.

When heaven was in your hands, and you had the certainty of love, you had to do something about it. Right?

Unconsciously, or maybe just a tad consciously, he ended up right in front of her house. A light was on. Should he? It was dreadfully late.

But he couldn't help himself. Until the day they could open that door together and not have to go their separate ways each time they parted, he would always feel the impulse to knock.

It didn't take long for his gaze to fall upon the face of the one he loved. Her gentle grin warmed him on this chilly night.

"I have something to ask. Is it too late for apple juice?" The corner of his lips curved upwards.

"Never," she replied huskily, widening the door.