I admit it, I actually enjoy Lucas as a character. Everything in me rejects the thought of him and Elizabeth together though, for way too many reasons to post here (and my soapbox seems to have disappeared…)

With that scene, (yeah, you know the one), this is just my way of trying to continue to justify to myself that the reasoning behind his declaration isn't the whole "if you love something, set it free" logic.

Want

Lucas Bouchard was a gambler, enjoyed playing the odds both in games and in life, and he didn't like to lose. A competitive nature was natural for a gambler, however a sense of self-awareness and the ability to understand when to walk away were also necessary for success. He'd won and lost too many times to count over the years, and generally found life an easy proposition to deal in, never really wanting for much of anything.

This was not to say life was always easy. Hope Valley had, after all, been an essential decision when he'd arrived for difficult reasons that had since been resolved. In meeting Elizabeth, he'd been saddened to hear of her story and surprised by the feeling that he wanted to be the one to make her smile again. As they had gotten to know each other, he'd found her intelligence charming, her beauty diverting and her presence a wonderful distraction from the lack of bigger city entertainment.

Hope Valley had also made its mark on him, there was no doubt. He enjoyed the community and whilst his business ventures proved stressful at times, he was enjoying a sense of permanency he'd not previously experienced, leaving him unexpectedly happy in the small town.

Lucas had never really had a home and honestly felt he hadn't needed one. His family had loved him, and they had enjoyed time together, but they were busy, so he had taken the time to watch and learn. To combat a sense of loneliness, he had taught himself how to read people, along with ways of interacting, like his magic tricks, to assist him in obtaining the outcomes he desired. When the odds had fallen from this favour in the past, he'd moved on easily, not finding it difficult to do so.

When the new Mountie and his enigmatic niece had arrived in Hope Valley, Lucas had felt Elizabeth's energy shift, and he'd found himself sharing her attentions. The dynamics between himself, Nathan and Elizabeth were strong, long-standing and well known throughout the town. Lucas' competitive nature, along with his and Nathan's natural antagonism, fuelled his interest in Elizabeth further without him actively realising it. He was used to getting what he wanted, though he had to admit, he'd found it frustrating that despite his best efforts, it hadn't presented him with a fait accompli.

With Elizabeth eventually telling Nathan she couldn't give him what he wanted, and accepting his attentions, Lucas did garner hope that she had finally made her choice. In her telling him she would need to take things slow; he had genuinely been willing to give her time. But in seeing the continued synergy between Nathan and Elizabeth, and in Nathan's declarations and persistence with his feelings, he'd pushed a little to try and gain ground. Wanting her to declare to the town that she had chosen him over the Mountie.

It was becoming clearer every day though that she and Nathan were drawn to each other instinctively. Just like a pair of magnets with synced polarity, there was a predisposed attraction they didn't even attempt to fight when things were well. In times when they were actively seeking space from each other, even though they were set to repel, they still ended up spinning around and coming back together. Lucas couldn't help but acknowledge that as much as their relationship was not always easy, they continually maintained the highest level of respect for each other and defended each other's characters without question. He'd noted that even though they tried to ignore it, they were constantly aware of each other, and not fooling anyone otherwise.

And so, Lucas finally acknowledged that he had a decision to make.

Lucas was perceptive enough of his own character to know that he both cared for and wanted Elizabeth to be happy, and that was not going to change. He could also admit that whilst it would hurt to lose her attentions, the ultimate impact would be greater on his pride, than his heart.

He was, and always had been, a hopeful romantic. His admiration for his parent's love story had been his guiding light, and even though their recent troubles had shaken his foundation, his faith in love itself remained strong. Lucas remembered telling Elizabeth in Union City that he had always believed he would know the one for him when he met her, but now he wasn't so sure. Of course he'd formed attachments before, with only one causing him concern in separation. In Amos Dickson's interference and Lucas' attempts to resolve the situation outside of his normal character, things had deteriorated rapidly, bringing about the need for them to part. His concern for Janette had been ongoing throughout, with worry a constant friend, and when he'd found out Amos was after them, his first instinct was to go to her.

In reviewing his previous relationships and reflecting on the way Nathan and Elizabeth unconsciously orbited around each other without question, Lucas was provided with a clarity he had been denying for quite some time. He needed to go and set her free to find her true love, as while he may have ultimately wanted Elizabeth to choose him, he didn't need her to.

But Nathan did.