Where Heart & Home Meet
A one shot fanfic based on the Season 10 Episode 12 promotional videos and photos. The saying goes "Home is where the heart is.” Elizabeth knows her home is in Hope Valley. But where is her heart?
Elizabeth has been doing a lot of journaling and reflecting in the weeks following the aftermath of her break up with Lucas about 3 weeks ago.
Elizabeth is sitting on the log by the pond just off the path into town. This is a place she goes frequently to think because its quiet. It’s her safe place and she feels at home. It’s where she went after her chat in the church with Nathan a few weeks ago. She comes here daily to clear her mind and to be alone since her break up with Lucas. Today she is deep in thought about where her heart is with Nathan.
In her heart, Elizabeth feels at home and safe here because this is where Nathan first told her that he was in love with her. Other than Rosemary, no one is aware of her unresolved feelings for Nathan. She is sitting at the log deciding when or if she should even tell him. After a while she decided she would tell Nathan she is in love with him. Her only dilemma is HOW? How does she tell the man whose heart she broke and brutally rejected 2 years ago that she is IN love with him? As she ponders this question doubt about where Nathan’s feelings lie begin to creep into her thoughts. Elizabeth asks herself “What if he doesn’t feel the same way?”
The next day, she is at back at the log mustering up the courage to tell Nathan what’s truly been on her heart lately. Elizabeth was thinking back to when Nathan asked her a thought provoking question while she was writing her first novel, A Single Mother on the Frontier. He asked her, “What’s in your heart?" it caused her to pause and look at Little Jack, her son. Nathan continued, “you let me know when you figure it out.” She has often pondered this question but now more so than ever. Jack Thornton, her late husband, was her inspiration to start writing while their son, Jack Jr., is her inspiration to continue pursuing her passion of becoming a published author. There is something else in her heart but she has not found the courage to look deep enough. Perhaps she was afraid of loving and losing again or she is content in feeling safe with what was on the surface. After digging deeper she has finally found what’s in her heart. Nathan Grant. He is in her heart and always been. He has completely and unconditionally given his heart to her. Now Elizabeth is ready to give him her heart, completely and unconditionally. She the happiest she has ever been knowing her heart belongs to Nathan Grant. Just as his heart has always belonged to her. She is ready to answer is his question from a few years prior, “What’s in your Heart?”
Suddenly, she is jolted out of her mind back into reality by a sweet, husky voice whispering, “Elizabeth? Elizabeth? Elizabeth…are you okay?” She immediately recognizes the voice. It belongs to the one and only Nathan Grant. Heeding her own advice she decides to “Carpe Diem” or Seize the Day and tell him what’s on her heart. She stands up to greet him. “Nathan. What are you doing here?” she says. Nathan says, “I just finished my rounds at Eagle Creek and Rock Creek. Both towns are without a Constable so it is my duty to check in every other day. I am headed back into town to meet Allie for lunch. I noticed you sitting here deep in thought. I wanted to ask if you were okay with everything that happened in the last couple of months.” As always, Elizabeth is pleasantly surprised that he noticed and struggled to hold back tears. She has admired his deep level of care for her despite what she has put the both of them through. They lock eyes and Elizabeth smiles sweetly and says, “I am okay. Thank you for always caring about me Nathan. There is something I have been meaning to talk to you about. Do you have a minute now? Nathan takes a deep breath and nods his head “yes”. Elizabeth takes a few deep breaths and seems lost in thought for a moment. Nathan is too.
Nathan is not sure where Elizabeth’s head and heart are at the moment. He is still very much IN love with her her but has been suppressing this feeling for 2 years. He is anxiously awaiting her response. She had told him there was something they needed to talk about. Nathan was hoping it was not going to be a rejection for the second time. He had noticed her strange behavior these last 8 months even though he had not been able to put his finger on it. Nathan figured it was just wedding planning jitters due to her upcoming nuptials with Lucas Bouchard. Elizabeth even told him she was leaving with Lucas to go to Capital City. It was not until a week later Elizabeth told him she and Lucas broke off the engagement. Elizabeth had decided to take a train to Hamilton to visit her family instead of coming back to Hope Valley. Nathan had been keeping his distance from Elizabeth as a form of self-preservation and to protect Allie. He even encouraged Allie to keep her distance outside of school hours but now wondered if that was a mistake. He couldn’t bear the thought of her rejecting him again but it would be more painful to see Allie hurting again. But in the end all he has ever wanted was for Elizabeth to be happy. Now with the engagement over Nathan wondered what was next for Elizabeth. It had been 3 weeks and they had barely spoken. He thought she was IN love with him too but now he started to question everything like he did years prior. Nathan snaps out of his deep thoughts when he hears Elizabeth whisper his name. Almost as if she was holding back tears.
Elizabeth takes one last deep breath before pouring her heart out to Nathan. Elizabeth says, “Do you remember when you asked me what was in my heart and told me to let you know when I figured it out?” Nathan says, “Yes, of course I remember” smiling and nodding for her to continue. She says, “I finally figured out what was in my heart.”
Elizabeth says, “Last time we were here I said you and Allie both mean a lot to me. I told you I couldn’t give you what you wanted because it would hurt too much if I lost you the way I lost Jack.” Nathan nods his head in agreement and he winces internally. He tries to forget about the pain of that rejection and being her with her in their spot is making it impossible. Elizabeth continues “Deep down I have always loved you just like I told you that night in the jail. What I failed to mention that night is that I was IN love with you. I never saw Jack in you nor was I trying to.” Nathan nods because he remembers that night and his mind is in spinning. Nathan was glad she was never seeing Jack in him because it was gut punch for him the first time. Elizabeth says, “Nathan, you have always been in my heart. I am IN love with you. I always have been. I am sorry for the hurt I have caused you and Allie. You are not Jack nor do you try to be, so thank you for always being YOU. The red serge is sometimes a reminder of what I have lost in the past and don’t want to lose in the present or future. I was so afraid of losing the way I lost Jack. I realized after our chat at the church that losing you in anyway would hurt too much. I know now that means I am lucky enough to have two wonderful men that love and care about me in my lifetime. That is if you still love me…”
Nathan reaches out to grab her hands and Elizabeth willingly lets him take them. With her hands in his hands Nathan says, “Elizabeth, thank you for apologizing to me. It truly means the world to me. I have always been IN love with you. I love you. You mean the world to me and I have always wanted your happiness. You knew the Mounties were my calling, so thank you for not letting me quit. I know it is not easy to love a Mountie, but we will get through this together. My motivation for coming home everyday is Allie…and you. When you tell me to be safe I know I have to make it home so I don’t break my promise to you or Allie.” Elizabeth smiles with tears in her eyes. She thanks him for asking her what she wants and reminding her that her calling is teaching the children here in Hope Valley.
After all this is said and done Nathan and Elizabeth are the same page regarding their relationship. Nathan and Elizabeth share a sweet kiss and then embrace one another. They stand in silence embracing one another, soaking up the sun, admiring the beauty of nature around them, and taking in this special moment. A moment that will always be known just to them. Their journey to love is just beginning.
So Where do Heart & Home Meet? For Nathan and Elizabeth it is at their log off the path into town by a peaceful pond. Their home is Hope Valley and their hearts found a home in each other.
WOW! BEAUTIFUL JOB!!!! (almost cried)