Nathan & Elizabeth: A Deep Abiding Friendship

I share my thoughts on Nathan & Elizabeth's deep abiding friendship and how I feel it is leading to an epic love story.

Emotional cheating or deep-abiding friendship? This has been a piping HOT topic on Twitter since the finale. I have wanted to address it for a while but I saved this post in my drafts until things simmered down (kind of). Who am I kidding? It has not simmered down and likely won’t for a while. Please keep in mind the majority of the content in this post is my opinion, but I have provided objective facts from the show to back it up. My interpretation of scenes can differ from other fans. I am not trying to change anyone’s mind about this topic; if you disagree with me, that is 100% fine! I will lay out their interaction objectively but will also share my interpretation or thoughts for most of them. There are times I simply laid out the interaction but will leave it up to you to interpret. Let’s dive into their friendship and unravel it from the very beginning. I didn’t include EVERY possible moment and often excluded group conversations. Remember, this is simply my opinion. I apologize in advance for any spelling or grammar errors!

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Season 6:

In Season 6, Elizabeth & Nathan start their friendship by helping Allie fit in with the other children. Allie’s struggle comes to a head in Episode 6 when she plays card tricks on people for their food, money, etc. Together, Nathan & Elizabeth help her understand why it is wrong and formulate a plan to help her integrate into the classroom. Elizabeth has another parent-teacher conference with Nathan to learn more about Allie’s childhood. Elizabeth learns about the death of her mother and absent father. I firmly believe it is through this conversation the seed for friendship was planted. In Episode 8, Lucas appears to be headed toward trouble and Elizabeth seeks out Nathan to share her concerns. Yes, a large part, if not, the whole part is because he is a Mountie. But she trusts him enough to share her concerns. In Episode 9, Nathan brings a plaque to Elizabeth with the quote, “Always do what you are afraid to do.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson. This act of kindness struck a chord with me. Once, again we are privy to Nathan’s softer side which only appears with Allie, and now Elizabeth. Nathan’s gift is thoughtful and from the heart because he hears Elizabeth when she speaks. In a previous conversation, Elizabeth expressed Emerson was one of her favorite authors and this gift is evident that Nathan truly listens to her. Another poignant moment in his episode is when Nathan offers to hold Little Jack while Elizabeth talks with her friends. He makes funny faces and LJ starts to giggle and smile. Elizabeth turns around and smiles when she sees this exchange. How sweet of Nathan as a friend to offer to watch LJ so she can have a break. He can likely relate because he is also a single parent.

Season 7 Christmas Movie: Home for Christmas

The When Calls the Heart Season 7 Christmas Movie, Home for Christmas, is pivotal in Nathan’s life, personally and professionally. His friendship with Elizabeth was tested but turned out stronger in the end. Their first moment of the movie was sweet as Nathan’s gift for Allie arrived and he shared with Elizabeth the deeply personal sentiment behind the charm bracelet. Nathan & Elizabeth have another opportunity to share their Christmas traditions while Allie hunts for the perfect Christmas tree. This was a vulnerable moment for Elizabeth because she started to share how she feels about being truly alone, without Jack, raising their son. Nathan started to become vulnerable about his struggles and the promotion but he did not share this with Elizabeth. Next, we see Elizabeth helping Nathan and Allie decorate their tree. She learns more about Nathan’s traditions with his sister as Allie excitedly plans to plant roots in Hope Valley, literally and figurately. Elizabeth unexpectedly finds out from Allie that she and Nathan might be leaving if he accepts the promotion. She meets him in his office to confront him while indirectly expressing her desire for him to stay. Elizabeth is excited to hear they will be staying in Hope Valley but as their eyes meet across the room something is amiss with Nathan. In my opinion, it is apparent he has developed feelings for her but unlike Elizabeth, he cannot tuck them away or ignore them.

Season 7:

In Episode 1 Nathan & Elizabeth get to know one another better and their friendship continues to deepen. They continue to encourage one another and share their thoughts or feelings. In this episode, Nathan and Elizabeth both have something weighing heavy on their hearts. Like true friends, they encourage one another and ask challenging questions.

Throughout this season she continues to share parenting advice with Nathan. Most notable is her advice and support while he navigated his father coming to town in Episode 2. Some people view this as negative, but it demonstrates Nathan is NOT perfect as a Mountie or Father to Allie. Elizabeth shows him grace; therefore, he shows grace to his father. In this episode, Nathan & Elizabeth also share the responsibility of entertaining Allie and her friends at the sleepover. This was a light-hearted moment and highlighted the organic chemistry between Nathan & Elizabeth. After this, they transitioned into a more serious conversation where Nathan shared why he struggles with trusting his father. He asks Elizabeth for advice on the situation and she gives her honest opinion. I love that their friendship is a two-way street with a give-and-take aspect. Nathan & Elizabeth make each other better because they ask challenging questions and push one another.

In Episode 3, Nathan is still struggling to see the goodness and change in his father. Allie is still mad at Nathan for arresting Archie. Elizabeth encourages him to look into the Archie situation because he could be innocent this time. She does not disregard his obvious trauma and history with Archie but suggests second chances are sometimes necessary. Also in Episode 3, Nathan asks Elizabeth if Allie can stay with her while he is investigating the stolen necklace in Benson Hills. He asks about her writing which is a follow-up to previous conversations they had. Even amid a stressful time in his life, Nathan makes an effort to create time to ask Elizabeth meaningful questions. He never forgets her hopes and dreams no matter what is going on in his life. This is yet another example of his selflessness. Then, at the end of the episode, we see Nathan & Elizabeth exchange glances about Archie’s innocence. It was a beautiful ending and storyline in which Nathan & Elizabeth deepen their friendship and learn more about each other. This was also a prime example of Elizabeth challenging Nathan which ultimately led to a more desirable outcome than he expected.

In these next episodes, we start to see Nathan open up to Elizabeth about his feelings for her. In Episode 5, Nathan & Elizabeth are talking outside the Mountie office about the bachelor part and how much LJ loves horses. Nathan comments that Newton and LJ seem to have connected. They are interrupted by the kids coming by to inform Mrs. Thornton they have a basket of apples for her. She tells Nathan that’s the perk of being a teacher. As he walks away he says, “Hey I’m a parent. Maybe I should do something nice for you sometime.” In my opinion, this is one of the first times Nathan has expressed directly, but subtly, his desire to pursue something more than friends. I think this is important to take note of; however, at this time they are both just friends with each other.

In Episode 6, Nathan catches up with Elizabeth in the street to discuss the flowers that he gave her. He knows she received other flowers but says he is not one to shy away from competition. I will admit, rewatching this scene makes me cringe a little. I never considered Elizabeth’s heart the consolation prize for a competition. However, that seems to be what the writers have continually implied since the introduction to the dreaded love triangle. Nevertheless, I have to include this scene because to me it is clear Nathan is expressing his feelings openly to Elizabeth. In Episode 6, Elizabeth seeks out Nathan’s advice for Robert since he told her about wanting to join the Mounties. The most notable part of this scene is Elizabeth opening up to Nathan about Jack. She rarely talked about him with Lucas or Nathan but in this moment she felt secure enough to share a little tidbit about Jack. She told Nathan that when she first met Jack she did not understand the Mounties but now she does. She understands it is about making the world a better place. Later, at Jesse and Clara’s wedding, Elizabeth thanks Nathan for taking the time to mentor Robert. Then Carson snaps their picture and says, “It’s a keeper.” I feel like these are important to include because they illustrate a level of trust, deepening friendship, and security between Nathan & Elizabeth. In my opinion, this is a level of friendship and security they don’t share with anyone else including Rosemary and Bill.

Nathan & Elizabeth shared a cute moment with flirty banter in Episode 7 when he delivered an apple to her. The main purpose of his visit was to tell Elizabeth he was going out of town so Allie would be staying with Opal. As he leaves Elizabeth says, “Safe travels.” Their interactions in this episode were minimal due to Elizabeth going on the Union City trip with Lucas. At the end of the episode, Nathan gives Elizabeth a less-than-warm “welcome back” and appears upset by her not-a-date date with Lucas.

This less-than-warm feeling from Nathan continues into Episode 8 when Allie informs him of their field trip into the woods. Nathan briefly asks Elizabeth questions about it but this is strictly a parent-teacher conversation. Nathan’s entire demeanor shifted and we will see the result bubble over in the next episode. Later in Episode 8, we see perhaps one of the most intense conversations to date between Nathan & Elizabeth in the cabin. Nathan bluntly shares his displeasure with Elizabeth going out into the woods to find Emily despite him telling her to stay with the kids in the cabin. Elizabeth retorts with a jab at Nathan by saying he didn’t find Emily, she did. He then responds rather loudly “You both could have died.” Both Nathan & Elizabeth have gone back and forth with raised voices. After Nathan's comment, it is apparent there is more to the story; however, we are not privy to it yet. They lower their voices and he sternly tells her that his priority is raising Allie and keeping the town safe. Back in Hope Valley safely, there is a clear tension between Nathan & Elizabeth. Before Nathan can say anything, Florence interrupts with news about Lee and Jesse so he has to leave. The next day Elizabeth stops by to discuss what happened at the cabin. Nathan is headed to the train station in plain clothes on Mountie business. He doesn’t want to talk about it but Elizabeth does. This is where another “be safe” moment takes place. Elizabeth tells him to “be safe” as he heads to the train station. Toward the end of Episode 8, we get the “you matter to me” scene in which Nathan apologizes to her. Nathan also tells her how much he appreciates her courage and that she followed her instincts. He adds, “If you can’t do that [follow her instincts] then you are in real trouble.” Then tells Elizabeth, “I just want you to be safe because you matter to me.” The “be safe” scene is a clear demonstration of what. isin Elizabeth’s heart. Despite their argument, she wishes for him to be safe. I do not think she can let him depart on a potentially dangerous trip without saying those two words. The most important takeaway from this episode is the “you matter to me” scene. I appreciated Nathan’s ability to recognize what Elizabeth did took strength and bravery. It is also important to note Nathan & Elizabeth apologize to one another which allows them to move forward without resentment. This is another clear expression of their developing feelings toward one another.

In Episode 10, Nathan & Elizabeth coincidently meet in the barn after her morning ride. He helps Elizabeth unsaddle her horse and congratulates her on the publishing deal. Nathan tells Elizabeth he is glad the publisher realized how special she is. He struggles to get out his questions and feelings to her at this moment which I admit is frustrating to me as a viewer. Later, as Nathan waits for the prisoner transport Elizabeth approaches with playful banter by asking “Standing guard?” After laughing and staring into each other’s eyes they start to part ways. Nathan stops her and asks if she would like to get dinner at the cafe when he gets back. Elizabeth doesn’t answer but Nathan is gracious enough to tell her she can let him know when she’s ready. As the trouble with the prisoner transport arises, Nathan, Bill, and the other Mountie’s lives are at risk. Elizabeth, worried that it might be Nathan, runs outside in a panic. Realizing it is not Nathan, she runs into his arms and gives him the “hug heard around the world.” This episode is heavy on Nathan & Elizabeth's moments. The main takeaway is Nathan notices the little things that are important to Elizabeth like the book deal. Elizabeth seems to be struggling with Nathan’s developing feelings and her feelings. This all comes to a head at the very end when she runs to hug Nathan thinking he was injured or worse, killed in the line of duty. This is the beginning of her truly denying her feelings for Nathan out of fear. Her reaction to him nearly being killed is greater than one of being relieved a friend is safe.

Season 8:

In Episode 1, the opening scene is Nathan riding past Elizabeth’s row house. He stops to make conversation with Elizabeth and greets Little Jack. He circles back to their dinner date conversation from last season. She doesn't say yes to him immediately instead she asks to let him know later. He then turns to LJ and tells him to “take care of your mother.” Back in the mountie office, Allie’s biological father, Dylan, showed up to cause trouble for Nathan. Dylan threatens Nathan that if he does not pay $1,000 then he will be back. Dylan shows up at the stagecoach to “play” with LJ. Nathan handles it but later Elizabeth brings it up. Nathan does not share that Dylan is Allie’s biological father or why he came to town. I feel like he did not owe her an explanation because it was Mountie's business. Nathan came by Elizabeth’s again to cancel dinner plans and to inform her he was going out of town. She tells him to “be safe” again. He returns with Dylan under arrest and Elizabeth greets him with “You made it back” as if she were relieved she could breathe again. He asks her to dinner again and she reluctantly agrees. However, this is short-lived as she gets “ill” at the door of the saloon after seeing Lucas and his mother. I’ll admit this episode threw me for a loop the first time I watched it. I think it’s further evident of their feelings for one another which Elizabeth later admits to Rosemary. It’s often ignored that Nathan asked Elizabeth out on a date multiple times, and this is more proof that he does ask and she accepts. Her continual bait-and-switch act throughout the season is frustrating.

Episode 2, brings the aftermath of the ditched date. Nathan & Elizabeth briefly discuss it and she haphazardly agrees they should try it again. They meet again and Elizabeth learns he is riding out to Bill’s land to check it out. She asks to get together with him after he returns. They unexpectedly meet at the “ILY Log” as he rides back from Bill’s land. This is where Nathan pours his heart out to Elizabeth. Nathan tells her he is IN love with her. In return, she tells him “I can’t” because losing him the way she lost Jack would hurt too much. Elizabeth rides off leaving Nathan fumbling and stumbling both literally and figuratively. I view this episode as part two of episode 1. These two episodes were frustrating the first time I watched but even more so during my rewatch. In hindsight, Elizabeth is leading Nathan on by continually agreeing to go on dates. It’s cruel and unkind but somehow they are still friends. Furthermore, to tell Nathan that losing him like she lost Jack indicates Elizabeth has strong feelings towards him in my opinion. How is he (and the audience) supposed to take this information?

Elizabeth & Nathan barely interacted in Episode 4, but she was a supportive figure for Allie during Nathan’s inquiry. At the end of the episode, Elizabeth asks Nathan again if he ever knew Jack and why he did not tell her about being stationed at Fort Clay. Of course, Nathan says no like he has every other time she or Bill poses the question.

In Episode 5, Nathan misses the parent-teacher conference, so Elizabeth writes him a note. He arrives a her house due to the urgency of the note (I assume). They decide to have the parent-teacher conference at her house that night. Nathan apologized for missing the parent-teacher conference and sites it was sefish. Elizabeth explains to Nathan that he is Allie’s rock, world, and the measure of the quality she will look for in a man when she chooses who to marry. The following day at the graduation ceremony, Nathan thanks her for everything, again, and she thanks him. I admire their ability to work as a team for the betterment of Allie despite their adult problems. They can move forward in their friendship despite what has recently happened. All of these interactions are further evidence of their deep-abiding friendship.

In Episode 7, Nathan invites Elizabeth to Allie’s adoption ceremony. Later outside the infirmary, Nathan gives her a blanket and she reluctantly accepts while waiting for Ned to get out of surgery. Nathan & Elizabeth chat about the adoption ceremony, their friendship, and grief. This was a vulnerable moment between them but of course not met without resistance from Elizabeth. In the end, they were able to share what was on their hearts and be vulnerable with one another. Sharing these things is important because they haven’t disclosed this to their closest friends. The trust and connection these two have are beautiful and depicted in a relatable manner. This is further evidence of their deepening friendship and trust. The next day, Nathan sees Elizabeth has received her invitation to the adoption ceremony. They are both looking forward to it and part ways with smiles and happy hearts.

In Episode 8, Elizabeth confronts Nathan about the adoption ceremony fiasco. Elizabeth blames Nathan for Allie only inviting her but he stands his ground and claims she doesn't know him if she thinks he’s being cruel. Bravo Nathan! I’m so happy he finally stood his ground against Elizabeth’s cruel accusations. Another pivotal conversation between Nathan & Elizabeth occurs at the parade for Bill. Nathan reveals Allie is afraid to talk to Elizabeth without him there after their “chat” in the schoolhouse. At this point, they are both raising their voices with one another. He tells her part of the reason he turned down the promotion to the inspector is because Allie was putting down roots, she felt safe and happy. Elizabeth catches on there is still something he isn’t telling her so she forcefully demands him to tell her. This is where he reveals he originally had the position to lead the training mission but he was placed on suspension due to a previous event and Jack took his place. This scene was aggravating and beautiful all at once. This was not the time or place to have a conversation like this one. But Elizabeth forced the situation and there was no other option. At this point, their friendship seems so one-sided as Nathan is the only one being kind. Since Season 8 Episode 1, Elizabeth has been extremely unkind to Nathan and constantly beats him down.

In Episode 9, Elizabeth goes to Nathan’s office to discuss the Fort Clay issue. Elizabeth asks him what took him so long to tell her about Fort Clay. He says he requested a transfer to Hope Valley after finding out Jack left behind a wife and son. He also felt it was his duty to protect her. Nathan reveals when he found himself falling in love with Elizabeth he felt like he was betraying Jack and his memory. He tells her again that he fell in love with her and that love is always worth fighting for. This triggers her to shut down and she abruptly excuses herself. It also triggers a mean streak in which Elizabeth expresses to Rosemary that she did not ASK for Nathan to be noble or fall in love with her. Ridiculous honestly. I don’t even have words to express how frustrating Elizabeth’s continued behavior toward Nathan was at this point in the story.

In Episode 10, Elizabeth asks to speak with Nathan after Ned & Florence’s wedding. Elizabeth tells him that she doesn’t blame him for Jack’s death, from the bottom of her heart. It’s about time she apologizes and sets the record straight with Nathan. Cut to Lucas looking on at their exchange from the window. Is this foreshadowing? Food for thought.

Episode 11, has some fiery Nathan & Elizabeth moments. It is hard to see them as “just friends” at this point in the series. Nathan drops by to bring Elizabeth the flowers from Florence’s bouquet. Elizabeth offers to warm Nathan’s serge for him by the kettle. (Excuse me while I melt to the floor!) While she is warming his serge, she shares that she used to do this for Jack in the mornings. Once again Elizabeth is sharing intimate details with Nathan about her life with Jack. He listens carefully and acknowledges each moment. Instinctually, she helps him put on his serge and has to stop herself from buttoning it. Later, he stops her in the street to tell her it means a lot to him that she doesn’t blame him for Jack’s death. They put that behind them and move forward. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I want to point out how maturely Nathan & Elizabeth handled these tough situations and conversations. It strengthened their friendship and continued to lay the foundation for a relationship. I still saw the potential for them as a couple despite everything that happened earlier in the season. They overcame obstacles together, had vulnerable conversations, and continued to support one another. Adjacent to Nathan, a pivotal moment was Lucas breaking it off with Elizabeth by saying he needed to “let her go.” Even Lucas could sense the unresolved feelings between them. How could anyone not notice Nathan & Elizabeth had a bond deeper than just friends? Lucas noticed and I would guess Rosemary did too.

In Episode 12, Nathan returns with Jesse. Elizabeth briefly speaks to him and says she needs to see him later. She also says she is glad he is alright. She enters Nathan’s office on her way to break his heart. Elizabeth tells him how thankful she is that he was the one Jack replaced. She tells Nathan he is the most courageous, selfless, and good man to watch over her. How sweet right? I thought this was a sweet sentiment until she continued speaking. The next line out of her mouth is a real kick in the gut. She tells him she was only trying to see Jack in him. And that she has been trying to replace Jack with him. She loves him but is not IN love with him. Ouch, this hurt all over again almost 3 years later. I’ll be honest, I don’t have much to say here as this put an end to their romantic interactions and ruined the previous episodes of the season for me.

They are still friends in Season 8 but it’s hard to see it at times during the season when Elizabeth’s selfishness overtakes her logical side. I truly got whiplash with their friendship during this season. But that does not negate their deep trust and vulnerability with one another which I feel deserves to be highlighted. It is one of the reasons I feel they have a path from friendship to love. However, that was squashed (for now) at the end of the season which leaves me fumbling to process it all over again. It is hard to put into words exactly how I feel about their interaction in season 8 because it still hurts.

Season 9:

I’ll leave some of the interactions of Season 9 up to you to interpret but I’ve merely laid out the facts. I certainly have my opinions and shared a few of them. I will say, that I think the interactions in Season 9 are important in their friendship and further demonstrate the depth of their friendship. The scenes also serve to strengthen and deepen their friendship. I won’t venture into the territory that these interactions are more than just friends because that would put into the character of Nathan and Elizabeth. At this point, they are JUST FRIENDS. Their ability to remain friends is admirable and these interactions also depict the deep-abiding friendship Elizabeth wishes to share with Nathan.

Nathan & Elizabeth’s first meeting and chat after she broke his heart occurs in Episode 1. This chat is about two friends catching up after a prolonged time apart. He updates her on Allie being at her grandparents and then asks if Lucas can teach him how to drive. Instead, Elizabeth volunteers herself to teach Nathan how to drive. Their second meeting of the episode occurs at the saloon as Elizabeth is waiting for Lucas to finish his business discussions. Nathan shares that he is happy to see Elizabeth happy. She tells him how glad she is they were able to remain friends otherwise she would have regretted it.

Following the aftermath of the hit and run, Episode 2 picks up with Nathan in the hospital and Lucas rushing Elizabeth to be by his side. Ironic right? Reminds me of wedding vows. Nathan says he doesn’t know who she is but quickly reveals it is a joke. Nathan asks that she keep this accident from Allie and wants her to check on Newton. Later, Elizabeth stops by with “get well” cards from the children. Then Nathan & Elizabeth unravel a paper card with horses and hearts. She updates him on Newton and they are both worried about him. There’s some more playful banter throughout this scene. This scene is interesting to me because it set up Nathan & Elizabeth to share an intimate moment. It also demonstrates just how close they are because Nathan trusts Elizabeth to check on Newton.

In Episode 3, Nathan is released from the hospital. He gets his book signed by Elizabeth but wants it addressed to “the one that got away. N-A-T-” and they both laugh. In actuality, the inscription said, “For Nathan, an impeccable Mountie, and treasured friend." With Love, Elizabeth.”

Nathan arrives back from picking up Allie in Rock Creek and greets Rosemary, Elizabeth, and LJ in Episode 5. Their next interaction is after the race with Lucas. Nathan & Elizabeth briefly talk about Jack teaching Seargant to bow and he tells her Lucas is on his way. Again, I feel it is important to point out that Elizabeth shares a vulnerable moment with Nathan about Jack and she doesn’t share that with anyone. Strictly speaking, this is said as friends because to think otherwise would put into question Nathan & Elizabeth’s character. But it is important to take note of the interactions in which Elizabeth shares tidbits about Jack. She is still grieving and Jack was her first love, so to feel comfortable sharing details about their relationship shows immense trust. To our knowledge at this point, she has not opened up to Luca or even Rosemary about this. So I think it is noteworthy she shared this information with Nathan and even more so that he was interested enough to ask her.

Allie, Robert, and the other kids get into an ice cream fight in Episode 6. Nathan & Elizabeth both talk to Allie about her actions. Elizabeth practically scolds her for being an active participant in the ordeal. Nathan tells Allie she will help them clean up. I find it ironic Nathan & Elizabeth were co-parenting here. Then Nathan & Elizabeth have a good laugh about it while he shares Allie is more and more like Colleen every day. He shares that Colleen kept his parents on their toes. Elizabeth then says they have a whole town of people who would be willing to give him advice. One final interaction of this episode between Nathan and Elizabeth occurred outside the barn. Nathan and Elizabeth (with LJ) talk about the driving lessons and Robert grooming Newton after the events at the Soda Fountain. The co-parenting scene is so important in their friendship because Nathan shares a moment of vulnerability about Allie and his sister. Elizabeth shared something vulnerable in the previous episode, so when Nathan shared about Colleen I thought it was a full-circle moment. Elizabeth offers parenting advice and support which is par for the course in their friendship. Nathan rarely talks about Colleen with other people just like Elizabeth rarely talks about Jack with others. So for him to open up to Elizabeth about Colleen again speaks volumes about the trust and deep friendship between them. Just an aside, the majority (not all) of what we have learned about Colleen and Jack has been during conversations between Nathan & Elizabeth. They have served as the vessel to keep Colleen and Jack’s memories alive.

In Episode 7, Elizabeth attempts to give Nathan driving lessons per his request. It was quick and unsuccessful. He jokes that “maybe it’s a good thing they didn’t end up together. Speechless. I don’t have much to say about this interaction. I wasn’t a fan of the driving lesson storyline. It was silly and a filler that did nothing to progress any storyline for the characters involved.

In Episode 8, Nathan & Elizabeth run into each other on the street. Elizabeth informs him of a sign-up sheet for Thanksgiving at the schoolhouse. She assures Nathan that people care about him but he is persistent in stating his displeasure in being the talk of the town. While Nathan is talking to Lucas, Elizabeth interrupts and then she and Nathan start talking. She says how great Allie is with LJ. Then Nathan tells her Allie just wants him to get married so she can have a little brother..or sister. Elizabeth says, “You never know.” Then Nathan reads a quote about love from the window in the pharmacy. Is this another foreshadowing moment?

In Episode 10, Nathan makes the selfless decision to accept the plea deal. He goes to Elizabeth’s house to inform her of his decision. She is resistant to his presence at first but upon hearing he accepted she gives him a big hug.

In Episode 12, Elizabeth asks Nathan to find Lucas since he has disappeared into the woods. Nathan and Elizabeth exchange a round of playful banter about the irony of Nathan “running” after Lucas. But she thanked him for always being there for her. He says “Always.” When Nathan returns he informs Elizabeth that Lucas will be back later. He says, “You could do worse than marrying Bouchard. Try not to lose him as you lost me.” She smirks and hugs him. Perhaps another foreshadowing moment. Interestingly, Nathan receives two hugs from Elizabeth this season.

Season 10:

Episode 1 brings friendly, playful banter between Nathan & Elizabeth. This time it centers around Scout, the failed Mountie dog. Elizabeth shares that Rip was equally as stubborn. Nathan sketches a picture of Scout with the words ‘Adopt Me” and they have a little back and forth with the paper.

In Episode 4 Nathan & Elizabeth chat about single parenthood and how to tackle hard questions from their children regarding the deceased parent. The conversation starts when Nathan notices Elizabeth is a little off. He asks “Are you OK?” She opens up about her own experiences with giving birth to Jack. Then segues into single-parenthood. Nathan has experience with a 5-year-old asking about a deceased parent because that is the age Allie was when Colleen passed. Logically, it made sense these two would be having this conversation. Elizabeth has always given Nathan advice and single parenthood is frequently a topic of conversation for them. Furthermore, Elizabeth has always felt comfortable opening up to Nathan about Jack Thornton. This time Nathan is the one advising Elizabeth on tough parenting questions. Additionally, opening up to Nathan about her fears and feelings during Little Jack’s birth shows she still trusts him with her vulnerability. Again, she is sharing an intimate detail about her personal life with Nathan that only a few people.

In Episode 5, Nathan & Elizabeth talk about his upcoming camping trip. He confides in her and says he is nervous. She finishes his sentence about difficulty talking to Allie because she is a teenager. It’s a brief, but light scene which I welcome any day! Another light but important scene is when Nathan rides back into town after the camping trip. Coincidently, Elizabeth walks out of her row house with a basket of muffins for Rosemary as Nathan rides by. Of course, Nathan stops and they chat about “HOME” and how great the camping trip was for him. It’s all smiles and jokes between these two best friends! It is interesting how Elizabeth reacts to the topic of home in her conversations with Lucas and Nathan at different times. It appears Lucas and Elizabeth are not on the same page. But she and Nathan share a similar view of home.

In Episode 7, Nathan & Elizabeth exchange glances across a crowded room. Does it mean something or nothing at all? Well, that is up to each individual to determine. I felt like it meant something more than what we were seeing. She lingered too long on Nathan while dancing with Lucas. Of course, she was not privy to the conversation Nathan and Faith just had. I cannot claim objectivity on this one but I included it because it becomes the topic of an important conversation later in the season.

Another small but important interaction between Nathan & Elizabeth occurs in Episode 8. They meet in the street and discuss Allie babysitting LJ and jokingly ask him to join the choir. We learn Allie had a list of things LJ likes and dislikes plus fun games to play. This shows how close LJ and Allie are and overall it is so precious! A brief aside about Bill and Montague. They discuss this later in Nathan’s office.

Now let’s discuss the infamous and controversial “Apple Juice” scene from Episode 8. Elizabeth comes back from her date with Lucas to find Allie resting her head on Nathan’s shoulder. He informs LJ that he got “lost” during hide and seek so Allie came to get him. Elizabeth invites Nathan to stay for some apple juice while Allie sleeps peacefully in the background. Nathan asks how her day was and she says “Lovely.” He circles back to a conversation in Episode 4 by asking how things are going with LJ asking questions about Jack. This moment right here solidified their deep-abiding friendship. This is what friendship is all about. He listened in Episode 4 and then followed up at a later date. It shows he cares about her as a friend. They briefly mention Faith & Nathan says he is giving up on love. Elizabeth offers for Allie to stay and for Nathan to come by in the morning to get her. Some view this chat as inappropriate but it is important to note Allie is sleeping no less than 10ft away and LJ is upstairs. Furthermore, Elizabeth invited Nathan to stay and they drank apple juice. There are no romantic undertones. I think Elizabeth is struggling with unresolved feelings for Nathan but it is important to highlight she has not acted on them. Nathan is non-the-wiser to her feelings and seems to have been working overtime since season 8 to bury his feelings aside.

Episode 9 starts with Allie meeting Elizabeth to babysit LJ. Nathan brings the snacks and he and Elizabeth interact a little. She watches from afar Nathan play with LJ and Allie. This episode is pivotal because Nathan is involved in a hostage situation. This brings to light Elizabeth’s true feelings, unresolved feelings, for Nathan and forces her to face her fear. The fear of loving and losing again. She has a panic attack and Henry witnesses all of this. It’s a slow build over a few minutes and by the time she reaches Henry, she explodes with fear. He calls her out on this at the end of the episode. Of course, she denies anything but friendship between her and Nathan. While that is true she cannot deny her feelings. She does not act on her feelings while engaged to Lucas but it is clear she has them.

Episode 10 Elizabeth tells Nathan to “Be Safe” as he goes to give the Governor a tour of Hope Valley. Nathan goes over to Elizabeth’s to see when Allie can come over. He sees her in the wrong wedding dress but says she still looks great. She approaches him before his acceptance speech at the Governor’s ball and he asks for advice. She tells him to find a familiar face in the crowd. He finds her and is immediately comforted and continues his speech with confidence.

Episode 11 has two pivotal moments between Nathan & Elizabeth. First, we have their meeting on the sidewalk where Elizabeth shares her love for Hope Valley and how it is rare and fragile. She asks, “How can we ever find something like it?” to which Nathan responds, “I don’t think we can.” This snaps Elizabeth out of it but they part ways. Later, the “what do you want” scene happens. This is the final blow to Elizabeth’s tough exterior which forces her to face her true feelings later on in the episode with Rosemary. While she holds up in front of Nathan it is clear she is struggling big time. Nathan is a true friend and the only one who truly challenges her on the topic of leaving Hope Valley. She forced her to think about herself and LJ in the situation instead of everyone else.

Their interactions in Episode 12 are minimal. The first interaction is at the voting booth. The scene is set up similar to a confessional. Nathan apologizes for coming in strong toward Elizabeth. Elizabeth expressed gratitude for the push and challenge even though it was hard to hear. Finally, the famous reunion at the ILY Log. They both are unsure of why they are at the ILY log; however, before they can even begin to answer each other’s question, Bill informs them Lucas is injured. Regardless, it is important to note this scene is set up like their original meeting in S8 Episode 2. This is their spot and for some reason, Nathan and Elizabeth were both led to this spot. We will have to wait until Season 11 to delve more into this storyline, and I cannot wait!'

Overall, I think we have seen a beautiful, deep-abiding friendship grow and flourish over the years between Nathan & Elizabeth. They have had ups and downs but that made them stronger. They now have a solid foundation to build a romantic relationship. We have seen undertones of that in S6-8 and then a deepening of their friendship in S9 and S10. Now, in Season 11 we get to see them explore romantic sides with each other. I cannot wait for this EPIC love story!

Whew! You made it to the end of this long journey! Thank you for sticking around and reading this post. It has been a labor of love and passion project since mid-October. Almost 4.5 months watching/rewatching and writing, rewriting/editing. Please share your thoughts below and subscribe for my thoughts on the Season 11 premiere on Sunday, April 7th, at 9pm/8c on the Hallmark Channel.