As Elizabeth pulled her white door opened, she was not sure who she expected to be standing there before her. What she did know was that as the door swung open her hear skipped a beat. "Lucas" she breathed.
She could not tell by his face what he was feeling but her heart sunk once she looked in his eyes and saw sorrow. "Hello Elizabeth" he half smiled putting his hands in his pockets. "What are you doing here?" she asked anxious for his answer fearing it was related to him seeing her kiss Nathan on the cheek earlier at her doorstep like they are now, but Lucas is out of reach.
"I needed to see you. To speak to you about earlier" she noticed how he was avoiding eye contact with her not wanting to see how she would react to his words. "I wanted to ask you what happened with Nathan. Rather than let my mind run wild with the idea that..." softly saying his name she interrupts him mid-sentence already knowing the idea he had in his head. She closes the gap between them reaching her hand out to take his.
"I would have hoped you'd know me better than that. That I would speak to you both when I had decided who it is I love, and that I would not make it public before doing so" she had not realised he was holding his breath in anticipation until he released it in a deep sigh, squeezing her hand.
"I promised you I would be patient and I shall stay true to my word, please do not let me turning up here like this rush your decision. If my father can wait 5 years for my mother, I can wait a lifetime for you Elizabeth. I just want you to be happy" he pauses to take a deep breath she can see the emotion all over his face "and if that isn't with me, I can accept that and I hope we can remain friends"
Elizabeth cannot help the smile that started to appear on her face, she knew in her heart that she was making the right choice. The choice that would make her happy, like Jack asked for her in his final letter that she loves again and finds happiness.
"Lucas, I don't think we can remain friends" she sees the hurt flash in his eyes as he releases her hand taking a step back to create space between them. "I see I understand. I hope he loves you unconditionally as you deserve nothing less Elizabeth" his arms now folded across his chest she steps forward and places a hand on his arms where they cross. "Lucas, you misunderstand me" his eyes are scanning her face trying to read her to figure out what was happening.
"Earlier with Nathan, I had invited him over to speak with him. To tell him that I cannot give him what he wants, that I was not in love with him as he is with me. I won't deny I did have feelings for him, but I do not love him." She places her other hand on Lucas' arm as she takes a breath to carry on.
"you have been so patient with me, and for that I am truly grateful." She smiles up at him as she gestures for him to take her hand. "As I said to you in union city, when I find the perfect woman for me, I would be willing to wait as long as it took to win her heart."
"Lucas" her eyes searching his she breaths his name, they have not stood still close since she was in his office after Henry's health scare and they nearly kissed for the second time, but she was not ready then.
She felt herself leaning closer to him, her gaze moving from his eyes to his lips and back. His doing the same. "Elizabeth are you sure?"
She cannot stop the smile that spreads across her face as even in this moment he is being ever the gentleman. "I choose you Lucas. I am in love with you. Every day I got to know you more I fell more each time. I have never been so sure." His hand cupping the side of her head he pulls her closer to him both breathing heavily. "I have loved you Elizabeth from the moment I saw you."