Promises of Tomorrow
A/N: S12E9 was disappointing, so I took it upon myself to write a fix-it fic. However, this took a turn! I'm sure you will figure out what was expanded and what was added. I also might have some material for part II of this story. If you're interested, let me know in reviews and/or comments on the Promises of Tomorrow Instagram post. As always, thank you for reading me and for your unwavering support since I started writing WCTH fanfiction. It means a lot!
Nathan wasn't looking forward to telling Elizabeth about the stakeout- but duty was duty, and he had a job to do.
"Be safe?" She'd asked.
"I will," was his response. If she only knew. All he could think about was returning home to her. Of course, he'd be safe. Of course, he'd do his job to the best of his capacity and as expediently as possible. Nathan knew be safe was their thing. Those words were the ritual that kept them going when the going got rough; it was their own coded I love you.
She kept a brave front. Behaving otherwise wouldn't help matters. Allowing fear to take control wouldn't bring her any comfort; instead, it would only cast a shadow over Nathan. It was all in God's hands. She trusted Nathan. And she trusted Him.
Her loss of Jack had toughened her up, and her resilience surpassed anything she'd ever imagined. There was no promise of tomorrow. One could only make the best of the present. And that meant showing Nathan her love, her support. After all, his love made her feel brave. She would be brave for him.
"Just come home to me?" Elizabeth's eyes flickered with a hint of sadness. Nathan knew she was doing her best to keep up the positive front.
He gently took her chin between his thumb and forefinger. "Always, my dear 'Lizbeth. You, Allie, and little Jack are my world."
With those words, Nathan walked away. Elizabeth's spirits lifted a bit. Yet, a lingering thought dwelled in her mind—how much sweeter this goodbye would have been with the gentle touch of a soft kiss. She sighed, the expulsion of breath easing her overwrought emotions. She should've at least hugged him. But she understood. The focus was the assignment, and he was probably anxious to get going. That didn't stop her from dreaming, though. Oh, she could still dream! She'd run into Nathan's strong, muscular arms when she saw him return. Unerringly, her lips would his, and she'd sink into that kiss, letting his clever lips heatedly fuse with hers.
Yes, that was a dream that would definitely do until she could make it come true. And that she would! The corner of her mouth tipped upwards at the thought.
Elizabeth turned around, ready to go to the Mercantile and get some snacks for Jack's playgroup. Her eyes fell on the community bulletin board and the wanted poster. Her skin prickled at the realization that the stakeout involved Sonny Garrison.
"Oh dear. Keep Nathan safe. God, keep him safe. Please," she whispered under her breath.
The day's activities managed to keep Elizabeth busy and focus her attention elsewhere. Jack's playgroup never failed to make her smile. It was such a joy to be around her son and his friends. Goldie was always a sweetheart, yet it was Talia and Lily who kept her boy on his toes. The girls wanted to play tea party while Jack made a big case to play cowboys. Eventually the girls won the argument, with Jack sighing dramatically in defeat. Elizabeth chuckled as she watched her son play waiter at the girls' tea party. The affected British accents were hilarious, probably picked up thanks to the radio broadcast of Rosemary's play!
Noticing the time, Elizabeth remembered she was to meet Allie and Oliver at the library. After leaving the kids with Florence, she went on her way, wondering how much progress they'd made on their research project.
"That's odd," she muttered as she set foot inside the empty building. Something was off. Oliver and Allie were paragons of punctuality. Elizabeth waited for a few minutes, but she knew something was wrong. After unfruitful stops at the Soda Shop and Mercantile, she checked the Queen of Hearts. Maybe someone there had seen them.
Sure enough, Molly had, and it was thanks to her that Elizabeth put two-and-two together. If Allie and Oliver had inadvertently gotten involved with Woody and Sonny Garrison, she had to find them or Nathan—whichever happened first!
With the plan in place, she set off at breakneck speed with Mike and Henry, united in silent prayer and resolute intent.
XXXXXX
"What?" Nathan couldn't muster any other words. How on earth had his daughter and cadet gotten mixed up with Sonny Garrison? And how had Elizabeth gotten involved in all of this?
Nathan barely made sense of Henry's words, his head buzzing with all the distressing information. At the mention of North Road, he hurriedly set the pace towards the Martell Ranch. The sight of Allie's ribbon perched on a branch was a godsend that made him hopeful, yet his blood ran cold. He grabbed it and clutched it tightly within his grasp, making sure not to lose it as he kept a grip on Newton's reins.
How could it be that his whole world was upside down in a matter of minutes? How could a simple stakeout with Bill turn into a rescue mission where both his loves were in danger? He was trained for this, Nathan kept reminding himself. But there was no training, none whatsoever, to keep his emotions from clouding his vision. This was Allie. This was Elizabeth. This was his world. He wouldn't fail. He couldn't fail. How could he call himself a Mountie if he couldn't keep his daughter and the love of his life safe?
Nathan could feel Bill seething beside him. He knew Bill was as distraught as he was. Thank goodness for Henry's quiet grit. It was just what he needed to keep himself level-headed. There was comfort in knowing he wasn't alone. Bill and Henry were both upstanding men he trusted with his life. Still, he wouldn't breathe easy until he laid eyes on Allie and Elizabeth and ensured they were alright.
It wasn't long before he saw them at a distance. Nathan quickly assessed the situation and led the charge once he saw Oliver struggling with Sonny Garrison.
Seeing red at the danger unfolding before him, he let pure instinct take over. Charging full throttle, Nathan launched off Newton mid-stride, taking Sonny down to the muddy ground. Thanks to years of training, a surge of adrenaline, and his brute strength, Nathan gained the upper hand. Pinning him to the ground, he drew his firearm and said, "Sonny Garrison, you're under arrest."
Woody Garrison stood frozen, his mouth agape, as despair engulfed him. He knew they were done for.
Nathan signaled Oliver for assistance in restraining Sonny, while Bill immediately impeded Woody's pathetic attempt to escape. Henry rushed to Elizabeth and Allie's side. The relief was evident in their faces, but Elizabeth couldn't shake Nathan's steely blue gaze as it fell upon her, his mouth set in a grim line that shadowed his handsome features.
XXXXXX
Allie wasn't a Mountie's daughter for nothing. She could tell her father was both upset and relieved. It was evident he needed to process what had happened. Nathan draped his arm around Allie and fitfully squeezed her shoulder, letting her know in no uncertain terms that he was indeed dealing with dueling emotions.
"I'm going to the RCMP office. Take care of the paperwork. Would you please escort Allie and Elizabeth home?" Nathan's tone was sober as he addressed Oliver.
"Of course, sir."
"I will debrief you later," Nathan stated, his piercing blue gaze meeting that of the young cadet.
"Yes, sir." Oliver made an enormous effort to keep his emotions in check. He knew the Mountie way was stoic, that feelings couldn't play any part in the job. But it was difficult. So very difficult. If something had happened to Allie... he shuddered inwardly and decided against entertaining the thought.
Bill requested Elizabeth's horse be used to transport the arrested men. After her acquiescence, she, Allie, and Oliver made their way back to Hope Valley on foot. The walk home was enveloped in a heavy silence. The stillness was so deafening they could hear the gusts of wind rustling through the trees.
"Thank you, Elizabeth." Allie's gentle tone cut through the silence.
"You don't have to thank me. I did what I had to do," Elizabeth murmured loud enough for them to hear.
Oliver kept to himself. He could only think of how he'd let Constable Grant down. He would surely be discharged after this. Not being able to protect Mrs. Thornton and his commanding officer's daughter wouldn't earn him any praise. He'd be lucky if he didn't get a dishonorable discharge.
It took a while to get back home, but the physical exertion of the walk helped manage the onslaught of emotions this whole ordeal had triggered. Mike was thankful to see them safe and escorted them to Nathan's rowhouse. He would make sure to tell Molly that everyone was okay and that the criminals had been apprehended.
"I must go tend to Jack. Will you be okay, Allie?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes. I just want to take a bath and lose myself in a book for a while," she said with a small smile.
Elizabeth gathered the girl in her arms and hugged her tightly. Both held on in a desire to absorb each other's soothing energy. Allie was getting used to finding comfort in Elizabeth's embrace, while Elizabeth lived for these moments where she could pretend that Allie was her daughter and that they were an actual family.
After she left, Oliver set about to do the same. He needed to speak to Allie, but words were not his strength.
"Do you want something to drink, Oliver? Water? Orange juice? I could make some tea."
"No, that's okay. Allie... I'm so sorry. I'm so terribly sorry." His face crumpled as the full force of what had happened that afternoon dawned on him.
"Oliver, none of this was your fault. You were amazing out there."
"You truly are your father's daughter. I've never met anyone as intelligent or as resilient as you are. You really kept your cool under pressure," he heaved with an underlying intensity that surprised both him and Allie.
Her sweet smile felt like a most precious gift. "That truly is a compliment. All I want is to make my dad proud. But Oliver, don't sell yourself short. I've been around Mounties all my life. You're already one."
Oliver swallowed. So many thoughts he couldn't verbalize stuck to his throat. He would never be eloquent, and he didn't know how to make sense of everything swirling and blooming within him. Oliver just knew he wanted to be her friend. Maybe her best friend.
"Thank you, Allie," he said, grasping her hands and squeezing them fleetingly. "I have to go. Stay safe, okay?"
It was over too quickly, and Allie hardly had time to make sense of what just happened. But her hands tingled at Oliver's light touch, and the tiniest breath had caught in her throat. With a decisive click, she closed the door behind her, pausing for a heartbeat to steady her racing thoughts.
Allie walked over to her bookcase, the one right next to her desk, and picked up her copy of Anne of the Island. She found comfort in Anne and Gilbert's story. Oddly, theirs was a bit similar to her dad's and Elizabeth's. Leafing the book's well-worn pages, she realized something... Oliver had a bit of Gilbert in him too.
XXXXXX
Elizabeth felt incredibly out of sorts. But her first order of business was to ensure her son was alright. After Florence told her Jack wanted to go with Lily and Faith, she walked to the cafe.
"They fell asleep. Jack convinced the girls to play cowboys after the tea party, and they collapsed right after dinner. Do you want to go up and get him?" Faith asked in her warm, appeasing tone.
For the life of her, Elizabeth didn't know how to respond. She was exhausted yet wired. She wanted to hug her son but couldn't dismiss the desire to rush and find Nathan. She also wanted to sit, breathe, and take a moment, but she also wanted to wear herself out and fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Noticing all the emotions taking a toll on Elizabeth's delicate features, Faith spoke. "Why don't you go to the bedroom? I know seeing Jack sleep peacefully will make you feel better. Let him stay the night. Go. See Nathan. I have a feeling that's the medicine you need."
"Doctor's orders?" Elizabeth asked with a small, sheepish smile.
"Doctor's orders, Mrs. Thornton," Faith countered with a grin.
Taking Faith at her word, Elizabeth tip-toed to Lily's bedroom and stood in the doorway. Indeed, both slept peacefully and at the sight of her son, her heart lifted. Soundlessly, she padded over to the side of the bed, leaned, and brushed a light kiss over Jack's forehead. I love you, honey bear. I love you more than life itself.
Feeling better, Elizabeth left and headed towards the stables. She wanted to find Nathan but also needed to check up on Sargeant and give him a quick brush down if necessary. It had been a while since her loyal horse had been ridden at such breakneck speed.
She needn't have worried about taking care of her horse. Nathan was already there, taking care of Sargent and Newton.
"Hello." Elizabeth's greeting was soft but firm.
"Hi." Nathan was sullen and wouldn't meet her gaze.
The evening was quiet, the breeze was gentle, but the tension was thick.
"Out with it, Constable." Elizabeth's tone was determined.
The day took its toll, and Nathan, for once, couldn't keep it together. The words exploded from deep within his chest. "Why? Why would you put yourself in danger this way?"
"Because I was the one who realized both Allie and Oliver were with Sonny and Woody Garrison. I had a responsibility. What else was I supposed to do?"
"Send Mike and Henry? Keep yourself safe? Think of your son?"
Those words stung. "Nathan Grant. You take that back." Her voice was low and scratchy, and her eyes flashed with fire and brewing fury.
"Right. Now you won't own up to Jack being your responsibility." Nathan fired back. Immediately, he flinched, and his countenance revealed instant regret.
"No!" The exclamation thrummed through the stables, bouncing off the wood walls. "He's not my only responsibility." She paused for a beat, her eyes digging into Nathan's. "Don't you get it? It's not only Jack. I may not have given birth to her, but Allie—she's my daughter!" Elizabeth cried out, her voice breaking.
Nathan's striking features twisted in anguish. "'Lizbeth. You. Allie. Jack. You're it." He faltered, and his throat spasmed. After a couple of hard swallows, he said gravely, "I can't live without you."
"Neither can I. You're all that matters." Her muffled words were peppered with tears.
"Come here." Nathan wrapped his arms around Elizabeth, pulling her close. Feeling his warmth, she crumpled, dissolving into his embrace. Nathan could feel her tears branding him through his thin henley. He couldn't stand to see her cry. He never wanted to give her reasons to cry.
"I love you. And that means I love all of you. That includes Allie," she said passionately.
"I know. It goes both ways."
"And Nathan. I just wanted to be brave. I wanted to be brave for you."
The impact of her statement hit him like a punch to the gut. He held her tightly and dropped his chin on top of her head. Nathan made a point of taking the moment in, feeling her, and breathing her in. She was safe. Everyone was safe, and that was all that mattered.
His heart raced with a sudden realization. Heavens above, what more could he want? He had loved only one woman in his life, and now, against all odds, she felt the same way about him. She cared as much as he did for that one heart that beat outside his own. As much as he cared for the one that beat outside hers. And on top of all that, they were both willing to put their lives on the line for each other.
What in the world were they waiting for? What was he waiting for?
Nathan took a step back and took Elizabeth's face in his hands. His thumbs absently rubbed her ruddy cheekbones, wiping away the tears that stained her lovely face. "Elizabeth. My timing is not the greatest. I've never been impulsive my entire life. But this is what I feel, and I need to ask you now. We're already a family in all the ways that matter. I want the four of us to be together. To make a life together. Would you marry me?" He stopped briefly as emotion overwhelmed him for the umpteenth time that day. "I love you. So very much. You're my forever. My always."
Elizabeth looked at Nathan, her eyes glossy with unshed tears. Despite her usual eloquence, words eluded her amid the wondrous joy that pulsed through every nerve in her body. Only the soft breath of a yes slipped through her lips before her mouth found his in a delirious kiss that tasted of forever.
The kiss was urgent. Passionate. Fiery. It was brimming with love. Desire. Delight. Nathan poured everything he had into this kiss, and Elizabeth responded in kind. The searing energy and heat clawed at them, yearning to engulf them entirely. Yet, amidst the flames of unspoken desire, they fought to remain whole, knowing they had to pull apart just to take a breath.
"Did you just say yes?" Nathan barely managed to articulate. The briny tang of Elizabeth's tears lingered in his mouth along with that sweetness that was all her.
"Yes," she breathed again.
Nathan's lips twitched, curving into his boyishly adorable, crooked grin. That smile lit up his eyes, intensifying their magnificent shade of blue. Elizabeth took him all in, loving the faint creases that crinkled the corner of his eyes, and lightly traced a finger over them. His stance softened at her tender touch, and he pulled her against him once more.
"I feel like I should tell you we should go home and rest, but I don't want to be apart tonight," Nathan said softly.
"Me neither," Elizabeth replied quietly.
"Want some apple juice?" Nathan whispered.
"I'd love some." Elizabeth looked up at him with a wide smile.