Author's Note: There is a small section with a two alarm steam alert. I have marked it, if you want to skip it.

Chapter 331 – The Next Morning

Elizabeth woke up about four am and crawled from the bed. After going to the bathroom, she stood and looked at her new husband sleeping on the bed. 'New husband' that was still so shocking to her. She quietly grabbed her journal, wrapped her robe around her and went out into the sitting area to write. She had so much to write about and she was feeling so many things that she couldn't go back to sleep after getting up.

The first thing that Elizabeth wrote about was the morning of the wedding and the ceremony itself. She took a moment and thought about the ceremony and how special Father Mark had made it. She liked that they kept with the traditional vows and only shared a sweet short kiss at the altar. She loved how Jack looked in his kilt and shirt. She hadn't been so sure about the kilts, but it was one of the only things that Jack had wanted, so she agreed to it and then realizing how good all the guys looked in them, it was great. She also realized how special it was to Jack when she learned that both of his grandfathers were married in their kilts as well. She at least understood why he had wanted that and was glad she didn't fight him on it. She knew that Jack looked good in a kilt as he had worn it to the charity banquet. As she was sitting there, she realized that she almost preferred him in his kilt to the other dress pants that she saw him in. She loved his riding pants and his tight jeans, but when he got dressed up, he wore loose dress pants that just didn't look like they fit him.

As Elizabeth sat there, she thought back to when they were alone in the back of the church for a moment before getting in the limo and going for a drive.

… … … …

(flashback to the church as Elizabeth saw things)

"I love you." Jack whispered.

"I love you too." Elizabeth said.

The two stood there as the rest of the bridal party gathered around them and offered their congratulations. Once everyone but them had left, Jack took her by the hand and they stood in the back of the church for a minute, just looking at things.

"I will always remember this day." Jack said.

"I will too." Elizabeth said.

"When we were standing there exchanging our vows." Jack said. "I was struck by an image of us standing there with our children being baptized by Father Mark."

"Have had that vision as well." Elizabeth said. "Only it scared me at that moment, but it doesn't scare me anymore."

"I am glad." Jack said. "I was afraid up until last night that you were going to ask to postpone things."

"I wouldn't do that to you." Elizabeth said.

"I know." Jack said. "But I couldn't shake that fear. I was afraid that all of this was too much for you and you would want to leave."

"I love you too much." Elizabeth said. "As much as I don't want to deal with the media, I do love you and I am willing to accept that they are going to be a part of our life going forward. I do it because I love you and know how much you love me."

"Thank you." Jack said. "I can't believe that we are actually married. It is wild. I really honestly didn't see that this is where we would be when I stood in your parents home back in June."

"Neither did I." Elizabeth said. "But we made the right decision, right?"

"Yes, we did." Jack said. "I also know that it might not be the easy road, but I love you and am committed to making things work."

"Me too." Elizabeth said.

"I am glad." Jack said.

"We just need to remember to talk to each other." Elizabeth said. "I know that you have gotten better about it, but we still need to work on it. You also need to remind me to share with you and not just write in my journal. I have never really had anyone to share my feelings with before, so I might forget."

"We will remind each other." Jack said.

"Good." Elizabeth said.

"Sorry to interrupt." Devin said. "But everyone else has left and the limo is waiting. Not sure how long we can keep the press from realizing what is going on."

"Okay." Jack said. "Let's go."

Jack and Elizabeth followed Devin out to the limo where Jack helped Elizabeth in with her dress and then crawled in after her. Devin shut the door and got in the front seat. As soon as Jack and Elizabeth were alone in the back seat, Jack pulled her close and kissed her like had been wanting to for a long time. He let his body react, even if he couldn't do anything about it for a while. Elizabeth also poured the passion into the kiss. Jack finally pulled back breathless.

"Keep kissing me like that." Jack gasped. "And I might tell Devin to just take us to the hotel."

Elizabeth giggled.

"I think your grandparents might be a bit upset." Elizabeth said. "Especially with all the work that Gran and Trish did to make that reception happen."

"I guess." Jack said, giving Elizabeth a pouty face.

"You are cute when you do that." Elizabeth said. "But we have time alone right now. Can you just sit and wrap your arms around me and we can enjoy the quiet for a little bit?"

"I can do that." Jack said. "You don't want to talk or anything."

"Not really." Elizabeth said. "I am feeling a bit overwhelmed and I know that there are going to be a lot of people at the reception, so let's just sit here and enjoy the quiet while we have it."

"Okay." Jack said. "I can do that."

Jack wrapped his arms around Elizabeth and she leaned into his chest and they literally just sat there in the quiet, until Jack turned on the music softly just so they had a little in the background. Elizabeth smiled up at Jack before leaning her head back on his chest.

… … … …

Elizabeth sat writing for about an hour when Jack came out to the sitting area in just his boxer briefs. He stood there watching Elizabeth write in her journal. She was biting her lower lip and it was driving Jack nuts as she sat there in the fluffy robe from the hotel. He walked over to her and ran his finger up her arm as he moved behind her. Elizabeth jumped just a bit when Jack touched her arm, but she turned to look at him and saw that he was standing there wearing almost nothing.

"Hey you." Elizabeth said.

"Hey yourself." Jack said. "What you doing?"

"I woke up to use the bathroom and wanted to write in my journal." Elizabeth said. "I had so much that I wanted to get down, I knew that I wouldn't be able to sleep until I got some of it down."

"Were you writing about me?" Jack teased in a sing-song voice.

"Of course, husband." Elizabeth teased back.

"Husband." Jack said. "I like the sound of that."

"I like saying it, husband." Elizabeth said, standing up and kissing Jack.

"Mmmm." Jack said, pulling back.

"Are you ready to go lay back down?" Jack asked.

"Do we have time?" Elizabeth said.

"I texted Nathan to let him know that we will have Devin bring us later." Jack said. "So we have plenty of time."

"Good." Elizabeth said. "I think I want to spend time with my husband."

"What if I want to spend time with my wife?" Jack teased.

"I think that can be arranged." Elizabeth said.

Jack leaned forward to kiss Elizabeth again, but she stops him and he gives her a pouty look.

"I love you." Elizabeth said. "But you need to do something about your morning breath."

"Oops." Jack said. "I will go brush my teeth and meet you back in the room."

"Sounds like a plan." Elizabeth said.

… … … …Steam Alert… … … …

… … … …Steam Alert… … … …

… … … …Steam Alert… … … …

Jack went to brush his teeth and Elizabeth finished her thought in her journal. She closed the journal and went back to the bedroom. She laid the robe across the end of the bed and sat on the bed against the pillows, stark naked waiting for Jack. Jack walked out of the bathroom after brushing his teeth and let out a low whistle when he saw Elizabeth sitting there wearing nothing.

"You are gorgeous." Jack said.

"You are not half bad yourself there, husband." Elizabeth teased.

Jack walked to the bed and leaned over to kiss Elizabeth. This time, she didn't pull away and actually ran her finger down Jack's chest as he kissed her causing him to shiver from the touch.

"Like that." Elizabeth asked, pulling back from the kiss.

"Your touch is like fire on my body." Jack rasped. "I need you, now."

"Come and get me." Elizabeth said, shifting to give Jack access.

It only took a moment for Jack to shed his boxers and join Elizabeth in the bed. He quickly claimed his wife again and after they had climbed the mountain and fell over the edge, they laid under the covers wrapped in each other's arms.

… … … …End of Stream… … … …

"I have a question for you." Elizabeth said.

"Okay." Jack said, kissing Elizabeth's shoulder.

"I know what I was feeling and thinking when we were in the back of the limo." Elizabeth said. "But I was curious what you were thinking or feeling as we drove around after the ceremony."

"I was thinking lots of things." Jack said.

"Care to share any of them?" Elizabeth asked.

"I was thinking about how much I loved you." Jack said. "I was thinking about how much I want to go right to the hotel and skip the reception. I was thinking about how hungry I was. I was thinking about how lucky I was to have you in my arms. I was thinking about how much I had to do. Like I said, I had lots of things going through my mind, but at the same time, I was still trying to be in the moment with you. I loved just holding you in the back of the limo and I tried to be in the moment, but my mind doesn't always let me do that. Like I said, I had so many things running through my mind. I was thinking about the show today. I was thinking about the trip to Minnesota and what we will do if the press finds us. I was thinking about how much we have to do before school starts. I was thinking about how much time it is going to take to organize the apartment."

"Wow." Elizabeth said. "I didn't realize you were thinking about all those things."

"It is like I can't turn my brain off sometimes." Jack said. "I try to not focus on the running list of things in my head, but when it is quiet and I am not actively engaged in something, I can't exactly turn it off and that is why I withdraw when it gets too quiet. My brain is going over everything that I should be doing or need to do."

"Thank you for telling me." Elizabeth said. "Is that why you always want music or the TV on?"

"Yes." Jack said. "It helps cut down on my brain's running commentary about everything. The only time I can really shut it off is when I am one hundred percent focused on something else. Which is why I can get lost in playing the piano. I put all of my focus on playing the piece and that is why I don't get distracted and why things can happen around me while playing and I don't realize it."

"That makes sense." Elizabeth said. "Again, thank you for telling me."

"Thank you for asking." Jack said. "Most people have never taken the time to ask about what is going on. I have said a few things and I know that Doug and Lee have picked up on a few things."

"Is that why you do so well when you ride?" Elizabeth asked.

"It is part of it." Jack said. "The other part is the bond that Bandit and I have. I barely have to give him signals for him to know what I want. I can also see the course in my head and know what I am going to do, three moves before I do it."

"Wow." Elizabeth said. "Please as we move forward, if you need a few minutes or time to decompress, just ask. I know that both Father Mark and Gran mentioned that you need time when you have been in crowds."

"Yes." Jack said. "Because of the way my brain works, it can be exhausting being in a crowd and constantly scanning for press and trouble."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "I see why you do things the way you do now."

"It is exhausting at times." Jack said. "It is why I like to stay on the ranch and only have a small group of friends that I am close to. I know Doug and Lee well enough that I can let down my guard and not have to worry when I am with them. As you have seen, I don't always express myself the best and they usually understand what I am trying to say."

"I can see that." Elizabeth said. "I won't force you to be social, but I would like to make friends at school and maybe have them over to the apartment."

"If that is what you want." Jack said. "I can always go in the other room or maybe even hang out at the guys apartment if I need to."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "I will keep that in mind. Also, I don't want you to worry about trying to make things perfect in the apartment. It will get organized and I am not worried about it. I understand that plans have changed and stuff has been moved around in a short amount of time. We will deal with it."

"Thank you." Jack said, kissing Elizabeth's temple.

"You are welcome." Elizabeth said. "Thank you for explaining things to me."

"I will always try to do that when you ask." Jack said.

Jack and Elizabeth laid there holding each other as they fell back asleep for a few more hours before they headed to Schuylerville.

… … … …