Nathan had his eyes set on the store in front of him, he was barely going to make it there before they closed. He couldn't lie, he was actually getting a sense of fulfillment out of his work in Cape Fullerton. He was helping to get the constables better equipped to handle the day to day work of managing a town. Though he greatly missed Hope Valley, this work was full of new challenges he had not yet faced serving the frontier town. It was also nice having more backup for times when he needed to leave early to help Elizabeth with Jack, to spend time with Allie, or to make it to a jewelry store before they closed.

He had been carrying his grandmother's ring in his pocket pretty much since the first night he kissed Elizabeth, but it just hadn't seemed like the right moment. However, after their conversation, well start of a conversation, he smirked at the memory of kissing her on the settee, Nathan knew it was time to get the ring ready for her finger. He had taken it to the jewelry store the next day to give it a proper cleaning.

They had somehow managed to plan a dinner out tonight for just the two of them, and he was hoping to have the ring back in his pocket just in case. As he neared the store, Nathan thought he might have heard a woman yelling in the distance. He glanced over and saw nothing amiss, but as he approached the door handle of the jeweler he heard, "DANNY! Oh, Danny, it is you!"

His heart sank. He steeled a smile on his face and turned towards a red headed woman walking fast towards him. She threw her arms around him and pulled him down to plant a big kiss on his cheek.

"Why Danny, what are you doing here?! Please tell me Diane is with you! I was just telling Toddy the other night we needed to look you up!"

Nathan quickly scanned around him, hoping no one that knew him had just witnessed this scene. Unfortunately, he missed seeing a car that passed right as Trudy was kissing his cheek.

"Diane's here, but she's at our hotel resting."

"Oh, you two simply must join us for dinner tonight!"

"Oh, we'd love to, but…"

"Best give in now Danny, my Trudy never accepts a no from anyone, isn't that right darling." Toddy walked up smiling sharply at both Nathan and Trudy.

"Well, how can I say no to that. I can't, can I?" Nathan awkwardly smiled at Toddy and Trudy, accepting that this was not his night to propose to Elizabeth.

He got the details from Trudy and was able to make it into the jewelry store in just enough time to grab the ring, the ring that would now be burning a bigger hole in his pocket.

As he entered Charlotte's apartment, Nathan was figuring out how he was going to tell Elizabeth that once more Diane and Danny would be taking over their date night. He noticed Elizabeth wore what looked like a sly smile as he walked towards her.

"Hi," he said as he pulled her in for a hug and quick kiss.

"Hi, yourself."

"You will not believe who I ran into today."

"Let me guess, Trudy?"

Nathan gaped at her, "How did you…"

"Well," Elizabeth said as she laced her arms around his neck. "Charlotte came home, fit to be tied, telling me about a lovely red head she had seen kissing your cheek after yelling out Danny. I put two and two together."

Nathan panicked for a second.

"Did she say anything more?" He was wondering if he was going to have to explain his presence outside of the jewelry store.

"No, was there more to tell Chief Constable?!"

"No, not like that," he gave a chuckle. "I didn't know if she had mentioned Toddy as well." Nathan inwardly sighed in relief.

"Ah, why do I feel like our dinner plans have changed?"

Nathan offered a sheepish grin.

"Well, I'll admit I was looking forward to a night out of just you and me, but I can think of worse ways to spend my night than pretending to me your wife." She gave him a wink and headed to the room she was sharing with Little Jack and Allie to get dressed.

Nathan didn't hear Charlotte walk up behind him.

"Don't worry Nate, I didn't tell Lizzie I saw you standing in front of the jewelry store." Charlotte gave a wink and headed off to her room.

Within the hour, Nathan and Elizabeth had been replaced with Danny and Diane and were on their way to have dinner.

"I just couldn't believe my luck, seeing that tall drink of water, otherwise known as your husband, standing there in the street." Trudy giggled and downed a second glass of champagne.

Nathan held Elizabeth's hand under the table, his thumb tracing circles on the back of her hand. This may not have been how he saw this night going, but he was not going to waste any time of being out with Elizabeth. Their time together was limited, with his work and the time they spent in the clinic with Jack.

"It was definitely a shock seeing you here," Nathan agreed.

Nathan and Elizabeth shared a smile.

"Toddy, I'm bored, let's dance," before anyone could answer, Trudy was dragging both Elizabeth and Toddy to the dance floor of the posh restaurant.

Nathan followed behind, he had to keep up Danny's reputation as a gadabout. After four songs and one more hour of talking sports, antiques, and societal parties, Danny and Diane were able to take their leave. Trudy made sure to give both of them big hugs, before she pulled Toddy back onto the dance floor.

As they stepped out into the chilly night air, Nathan wrapped his jacket around Elizabeth.

Elizabeth snuggled up against Nathan in the back seat of the taxi, thoroughly enjoying the few moments of alone time with him.

"I promise we will find time for a dinner for just the two of us, Danny and Diane won't be invited next time." Nathan said as he leaned down and gave her a soft kiss.

"I don't know, I quite enjoy Danny's company from time to time," Elizabeth short him a coy smile.

"Is that so Mrs. DiMarco?!" Nathan proceeded to lean back down and this time he took his time kissing her.

Once he pulled back, Elizabeth sighed and snuggled tighter to his side. Her hands were starting to get a little chilled, so she slipped the hand opposite Nathan into the pocket of his jacket. As soon as she put her hand in the pocket, she felt it, a small box. A box that would be used to hold a piece of jewelry, a ring box. A huge smile spread on her face.

"Nathan, I love you."

"I love you too darling." Nathan tightened his hold on her.

Elizabeth knew the days of merely pretending to be his wife were almost over.