Chapter 45 The Rescue

Lucas was exhausted from all the activity. If he was being absolutely honest with himself, this trip was not at all what he pictured it to be. He was finding himself more and more excited just to be home and get back in his routine. He tried not to think about the fact that major changes in his life were about to happen and he was still unclear on how he was going to proceed. He kept telling himself to stop thinking about it, but it just kept fighting its way back into his brain.

Lucas opened his eyes to see her beautiful blue eyes staring back at him:

"We danced to a song

A song we both thought beautiful

Beautiful like your eyes

Eyes that were blue

I gazed at them

As you spun me around casually

And we thought the neighbors might think

That we were crazy

Crazy we may be

Being with you, though

It's just as beautiful as that song"

"Lucas it was beautiful." She looked at him with the most adoring look.

"Nothing can compare to your beauty, Love. My vision of your beauty out shines the sun, the moon, and the stars." He said while pulling her hand to his lips and placing a sweet kiss on it.

"You always find a way to bury yourself further into my heart Lucas Bouchard!"

"I hope I bury myself so far inside your heart, I can never get out!" He flashed her that dimpled smile.

Soon Jack was waking up and Lucas and him were burying each other in the sand and building sand castles. They had leftover fish sandwiched for dinner and evening was quickly upon them. They had asked Jack if he wanted to sleep outside, but he was too afraid. So the Bouchard's packed everything back up and headed for their suite on the ship.

Lucas got Jack cleaned up and ready for bed by candlelight and read him a story until he fell asleep. Lucas had put him on the mattress on the floor, so he could enjoy some closeness with his beautiful wife. He crawled under the covers and wrapped his arms around her. "I have missed being close to you! Are things going to change now that you are pregnant?" He asked curiously.

"Lucas, what do you mean?" She asked in response.

"Will we still be able to be intimate and enjoy each other?" He asked trying to channel his thoughts knowing Jack was in the room and anything beyond kissing was not going to happen.

"Of course, we will." She replied pulling his lips in for a passionate kiss.

Lucas deepened the kiss. "I can never get enough of your kisses." He grinned.

He just wanted to do something nice for his wife, so he massaged her feet and her shoulders before snuggling up next to his wife and pulling her close so they could fall asleep. It wasn't long after they fell asleep the door to the suite opened and Julie came in. She was trying to be quiet as she cleaned up and lay down next to Jack on the floor mattress, not to wake anyone. She had thoroughly enjoyed her time with Carson.

The next day was spent pretty much the same way. It was late in the evening when the rescue ship pulled up. It was larger than the ship they were currently on. Everyone pitched in to get all things transferred over to the other ship so they could begin their journey home. Lucas and Elizabeth were glad to have a suite to themselves and so was Julie. She knew how important it was for Lucas and Elizabeth to have alone time. Jack stayed with Lucas and Elizabeth during the day allowing Julie to spend time with Carson and then Jack would sleep with her at night.

Despite having all the dining facilities open on the rescue ship there was no entertainment booked. Lucas being the magician that he was, volunteered to do a show every evening while on the ship. Jack always loved to watch Lucas do magic, and Elizabeth always admired how selfless her husband was with his time.

Their journey home had been delayed by two days. There were still some things Lucas and Elizabeth needed to discuss before they arrived home where everyone would be gathered around to greet them. How were they going to tell their families and friends the news? As the couple lay in their bed for the evening, "Darling, how should we tell our families about the babies?" She asked rubbing her hands over his chest.

"Well, maybe we can have a welcome home party and get everyone together and tell them that way. We could get Gustave to make a big buffet style dinner. We can also celebrate our anniversary." He recommended.

"That sounds perfect." She reached up and gave him a kiss.

Lucas deepened the kiss feeling the need to be with his wife growing inside of him. Their newlywed love had definitely changed. It was growing into a mature love. They were so comfortable and connected with each other. They were still passionate, but overwhelmed by all the events. They were more than okay just to hold each other as they fell asleep. Lucas wanted to test his patience. He was going to hold out until they got home to their own bed which would be tomorrow.

The cruise ship pulled into port and everything was transferred onto the train. Julie said goodbye to Carson but they were going to write letters. They boarded the train. In just a short time they would be back in Hope Valley. The rail had been laid and the train now went all the way into town, sharing the space with the stagecoach depot, which was seldom used now that the train came all the way into town. It would more than likely become obsolete. They had also ran a rail all the way up to the oil derrick pipeline for easy transport by rail of oil creating a huge drop in transportation cost making the oil company extremely profitable.

There had been no communication with their family since Lucas had sent his father the letter and they were two days late. Lucas could only imagine what everyone was thinking. The train whistle blew to alert the town of the train's arrival. Everyone showed up at the depot to see if they were on this train. All of their family and the Coulters stood on the platform as people starting filing off the train. They all had a look of anticipation as they knew they were two days late. Finally the caught a glimpse of Jack as he walked down the step and ran to Rosemary giving her a big hug.

Everyone's eyes lit up knowing they were home and safe. Julie followed and then Lucas being the overprotective father that he is picked Elizabeth up and placed her gently on the ground making sure she did not trip on that last step, it was a large one.