DESTINY

by april darawich

My apologies for my flub with the chapters but I have corrected that and hope you now enjoy the missing chapters, My apologies. What happens when Lucas Buck meets the one woman he can't seduce? Especially when she turns out to be the one woman he really

4.

DESTINY
Chapter 4

Lucas walked into the hospital and headed straight for the ICU ward. Matt spotting him, as he was about to enter, intercepted him just outside the entrance door.

"Buck, you can't just storm in there, she can't handle you right now."

Lucas looked Matt in the eyes, for the first time without anger or contempt. "Crower, I know about her mother. And I also know what you have to do by tonight too. She needs someone who loves her to be here with her. So I'm not telling, I'm asking, please let me in there."

Matt considered his request, and then seeing his sincerity stepped aside. Hoping his instincts were right.

Lucas gave a slight nod of his head in appreciation as he mumbled, "Thank you."

Matt looked at him squarely, "Don't think this is for you, not by a long shot. I'm doing it for Dara. She needs someone, unfortunately you're the someone she's needing." With that Matt turned and headed for his office.

Lucas walked thru the ward till he spotted the name on the temporary doorplate: CHAMBERS, GWENNA. Opening the door softly he took in the scene before him. He could easily see the close relation the woman in the bed had with Dara. Although the ravishment of her disease was obvious, Lucas could still see the similarities in the shape of the mouth and eyes, as well as the remaining traces of color in her hair. He looked from the frail woman in the bed to the one sitting in the chair, clutching onto the other's hand, as is holding on might somehow keep her here awhile longer.

Lucas sucked in his breath when he realized how frail Dara looked. Although she was asleep, the shadows under her eyes were evident, as well as the shocking amount of weight she had lost in the short time since he last saw her.

Matt, who had entered quietly, stood beside Lucas. "It started the day you two had your, uh, discussion? I had the test results on her mother then, this was the only and final alternative."

Lucas looked at him in disbelief, "You're really taking her off life support tonight?"

Matt sighed heavily, "We have no choice. She has a living will; if she shows no signs of progress in two weeks she has to be removed from artificial respiration. She hasn't shown any signs of improvement, and her lungs are almost completely gone now anyway, it would only prolong her agony and suffering to keep her on life support. To be honest, my concern now is for Dara, she hasn't eaten but maybe two bites of food the whole time her mothers been here, she sits in that chair day and night. She leaves long enough to take a quick shower in the nurse's locker room and that's it. I've tried talking with her; even Caleb came by to see her, but she doesn't respond to anybody, unless it's about her mother. Believe it or not, I'm glad you found out I don't think she's going to be able to handle this alone."

At that moment Dara opened her eyes and sat up, continuing to hold her mother's hand. Looking around the room, trying to orient herself, she spotted the two men watching her. Settling her eyes on Lucas with a cold glare, she asked acidly, "What are you doing here? Come to make one of your infamous deals? Let's see me for my mother's life, or have you decide to up the stakes? My soul instead, I'm curious which one?"

Lucas glanced at Matt, who wordlessly excused himself, and then back at Dara. The pain and stress evident on her face, he ignored her barbs. Walking calmly over to her chair, he knelt next to her and shook his head as he cupped her face in his hands. "No deals, this is God's will. If you can accept that, then so must I. The only thing I came here for is you. Despite what you seem to think, I want you because I love you, and I know you feel the same about me. All I'm here for is to take care of you and help you through this."

Dara looked at him, the ice in her eyes was replaced with skepticism. "I don't want your pity."

Lucas shook his head as he stated emphatically, "You're a stubborn woman Dara Chambers. You have a lot of things, my love, my devotion, my support, and my heart. But one thing you don't have is my pity."

Dara looked into his eyes with tears brimming in her own. "I can't take it anymore Lucas, it hurts too much. She's all I have, when she's gone, I'll be alone."

Lucas gently put his arms around her, careful not to loose her hand from her mother's, and began softly but decidedly, "Dara, no matter what, as long as I live you're not ever going to be alone. I swear it. You may get mad at me, but I'm going to say this anyway, when this is behind us and things settle down you and I are getting married. I know this is the wrong time and place, and not how I wanted to do this. I also know that I've done a lot of reprehensible things to a lot of people, I can't change that. I'm not a saint and I'm not even saying that I'll turn over a new leaf, but I promise you this, no matter what, I will always be honest with you and never hurt you intentionally, but for right now I'm here for you and I'm not leaving you to deal with this alone."

Dara searched his eyes for his sincerity, then, satisfied when she found it there, bowed her head to his chest and simply let him hold and comfort her. After a few minutes, she looked up and stated, "I do love you, I hate admitting it to even myself for the things you've done, but I want you to swear to me that I won't share you with another woman. And I know about Gail and the baby. I want you to swear to me that whatever children we have it will be because it's God's will, not because you did something other than what every other man does to impregnate his wife. Swear it!"

Lucas watched her face carefully, not certain he had heard her correctly. Then, realizing he had, and that she had agreed to marry him, he took her free hand in his and solemnly stated, "I swear that you will be the only woman I touch from here till the day I die. And that whatever children we have, will be out of our love for each other, and for no other reason."

Matt chose that moment to timidly know on the door. "Dara, I'm sorry but it's time to start. I need your signature on some forms."

Dara looked at Lucas questioningly, "You go on darlin, I'll stay with her." Dara satisfied, that he would take her place, rose with his help to follow Matt out the door.

Lucas took Gwenna's hand in his own as Dara had done, knowing that she wanted her mother to feel someone with her at all times.

Suddenly, her eyes opened and looked straight at Lucas. "I know you love her, she loves you. All I ask is that you care for her; she's better than you deserve, but I know you'll protect her. And tell her that I love her and not to worry, I'm going to a better place." With her last words and just as Dara entered the room, the alarms on the monitors went off as the screen registered flat lines.

Dara stared at the straight lines on the monitors, then, down at her mother in dawning horror. Running to the bed she grabbed her mother's hand as she knelt down and laid her head next to her mother. "Oh God no. Mamma please don't, please don't leave me."

Matt walked in and checked Gwenna's pulse and heart, then, glancing at the questioning look on Lucas' face, shook his head sadly. Reaching over he flipped the switch on the monitors to silence the never-ending beeping noise to indicate her demise. Then he began removing the various tubes and hoses.

Both men looked at Dara, who was still clutching her mother's hand and sobbing, in concern. Lucas bent down and placed his arms around Dara to try and comfort her. Rocking back and forth and stroking her hair he voiced, "All right, honey let it out. It's OK; she's at peace now. Cry for yourself, but not for her, she's beyond the pain and agony now. It's OK, darlin."

The door to the room opened to admit the orderlies who had been waiting to remove Gwenna's body, knowing that she was going to be removed from life support that night. Matt motioned to Lucas, who understood his meaning.

Turning Dara towards him he suggested, "Come on, sweetheart, let's get you home for some rest. The battles over here, you did everything possible and she knew it. She loved you, now love her and let her go in peace." Dara, who had ceased her sobbing, nodded, although she had taken on a blank look and didn't really seem to be conscious of anything. Lucas looked at her in concern as he grabbed her purse and took her arm to lead her out of the room. Sitting her in a chair across from the doorway, he walked over to the nurse's desk to join Crower, who had motioned to speak with him. Handing Lucas a small bottle of pills, he instructed, "Here, these are to help her sleep. She's exhausted and needs to rest, so do whatever it takes to get her to take one, but otherwise keep them away from her, she's very depressed, I don't think she would consciously consider it, but in her present state she may inadvertently consider taking her own life."

Lucas glared at Matt. "I wouldn't let her harm herself, you know better than that, Harvard."

Matt sighed heavily, realizing he should have explained more thoroughly he began, "Look, I'm not implying anything. I didn't mean intentionally, but she is very despondent right now, and she may become very depressed. The thought may simply materialize as the desire to just lay down and rest forever, I've seen it take a lot of forms at times like this. So just watch her, and I don't believe I'm saying this, but you need to stay with her till she comes out of this."

Lucas looked at Matt in concern. "Is she really that bad, she'll come out of this right?"

Matt looked at him sadly, "She's been through a lot and she feels alone right now, not to mention she's probably harboring a lot of guilt, even though she has nothing to feel guilty over, but I think in time, she will come around. In the mean time, just be there for her."

Lucas nodded to Matt, and then, walked over to where Dara sat in the chair he had left her in, still staring straight ahead but not seeming to see anything. He hated the dead look she had in her eyes, he hoped that soon they would sparkle again with her laughter.

Kneeling down, he looked into her eyes and suggested, "Darlin, I'm going to take you home now, all right? Don't worry, I'll stay with you, I'm not leaving you alone."

Dara turned her head towards him, but seemed to be looking through him instead of at him, as Lucas took her arm to help her up.

Just then one of the orderlies opened the door and began pushing the gurney, holding her mother's body, out into the hallway. Dara turned, and seeing what had been her parent now covered with a sheet, gave a small sob of anguish before she passed out.

Lucas, sensing what was about to happen when he saw the look of agony cross her face at the sight of her mother's body, caught her before she could hit the floor. Glaring at the two orderlies, he roared, "Just what in the hell were you two idiots thinking? You knew she was sitting out here!"

Matt, hearing the commotion, rushed over to check Dara over. Taking out his penlight he opened one of her eyes to check and make sure she was okay. "What happened to her?"

Lucas, who was glaring daggers at the two highly chagrined orderlies, answered, "These two idiots wheeled her mother's corpse in front of her eyes. Is she OK, Crower?"

Matt nodded, "Yeah, I think she just fainted. With the shock and the strain it was bound to happen. I can't see keeping her here; the best place for her is away from the hospital for a while anyway. Go ahead and take her home, she'll more than likely be out for the night. If there's a problem call me." Lucas nodded his thanks to the other man.

Bending down he swung Dara's small frame up into his arms, as he proceeded out to the parking lot and to his car. After settling her on the passenger side and himself in the driver's seat, he flipped the switch on the CB radio. "Ben, you still there?"

Static, then a voice emanated from the box. "Yeah Lucas, I was just about to sign off, why?"

Lucas mashed the button and replied, "Look Ben, Dara's mom died tonight and she isn't taking it very well, so I'm going to take her home and stay with her. Crower is afraid that as depressed as she is she may do something foolish. So if you need me that's where I'll be. You think you can cover a couple of days, maybe?"

Ben came back after a second, "No problem, Lucas. Is there anything else I can do to help?"

Lucas considered his offer, then glancing at Dara still unconscious, replied, "Yeah, as a matter of fact. First, get her car; have it taken to my house. She won't need it for a few days. Then, go by Trinity Glen tomorrow and see if there were any arrangements already made. She's not in any condition to make those type of decisions right now."

Ben came back over the airwaves. "No problem Lucas. I'll get with you after I talk to them. OK? Out."

Lucas switched the radio off then turned the key in the ignition. He sat for a moment in indecision before driving in the direction of her house.





Lucas had just cut the motor and gotten out to go around to Dara's side when Mrs. Adams came out onto the porch. Opening the door, he gathered her in his arms and headed inside. Mrs. Adams followed behind him into Dara's bedroom, where she helped him pull down the covers of her bed. Lucas began taking her shoes off and unfastening her clothing, when Mrs. Adams glanced at him suspiciously before stating, "I can put her gown on her Lucas. There's no need for you to do this." Lucas sighed wearily as he explained, "It's all right Mrs. A, I promise. We're getting married shortly anyway, so I'll see a lot more than this, I'm sure." Lucas watched as the matronly lady turned red. "Besides, all I want to do is make her comfortable. She's in no condition for ravishment."

Satisfied with his answer, Mrs. Adams helped him to undress and put her nightgown on her.

After Lucas had gently tucked her in and walked to the bathroom to turn the light on so she wouldn't be left in the dark, just in case she woke up. He and Mrs. Adams walked into the living room.

"I suppose Crower called you. Let me guess you two don't trust me, that it?"

Looking him squarely in the eyes she replied in a brittle tone, "Don't be cheeky with me, Lucas Buck, now isn't the time for it. Yes, Matt called, but he called to tell me about Gwenna. He said he thought it would be a good idea to get over here, and have the medical supply company pick up the oxygen tanks and hospital bed, before Dara got here. He said she took it worse than he thought she would. Is that true?"

Lucas ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "Yeah, she did. Of course those idiot interns rolling her mother's corpse in front of her eyes didn't help much either."

Mrs. Adams looked at him in horror. "My God, no wonder the poor thing fainted." Mrs. Adams asked, with an uncertain tone in her voice, "Did I understand you correctly, you and Dara are going to get married?"

Lucas nodded as he explained, "Well, it wasn't how I planned on asking her, but yes, I asked her tonight and she said yes."

Mrs. Adams considered this new information. Lucas Buck was a cold man, but she had no doubts of his love for Dara. It was obvious from observing Dara these past few weeks, that she loved him as well. Silently, she prayed that Dara would be happy and was making the right decision. Looking him in the eyes she asked with concern, "You know she shouldn't be alone right now?"

Lucas stared at the woman in amazement, was she reading his mind? "She won't be, Ben can take over for a few days. I have no intention of leaving her by herself. I would, since you're here though, like to go get some clothes and a few others things from my house if you wouldn't mind."

Mrs. Adams nodded her agreement. "You go ahead, I'll stay with her. The hospital should be coming any time to take the equipment out anyway." Suddenly realizing, she asked, "What about Dara's car? It's still at the hospital."

Lucas glanced at her knowingly; both sharing the same thought, that Dara more than likely shouldn't be driving till she was herself again. Relieving the woman's anxiety he informed her, "No. It's at my place; I had Ben take it over there. I'll be here, so she won't need it for a few days at any rate."

Mrs. Adams sighed with relief, "I'm glad, she shouldn't have access to it till she's back to normal."

Lucas got up and prepared to leave. "I won't be but about half an hour at the most. I hate to ask, but could you find me a pillow and some blankets? I'll sleep on the couch; it's near her room in case she needs me. And if it's not too much of an imposition, I skipped supper, could you rustle me up something?"

Mrs. Adams bestowed a motherly smile on him; this side of Lucas Buck was a new one. "I'll fix you something and have it waiting when you get back."

Lucas walked over and kissed her on her cheek. "Thank you for caring."

Shocked by the show of emotion in him she simply gaped at him as he pulled the door to and left.





Lucas arrived at Buck Manor about ten minutes later. Hurrying to the door her was just about to let himself in when it was opened from the inside. Sighing in deep aggravation as he stared at the uninvited visitor in his home, he asked, "Mama Lucy, what are you doing here and at this time of night?"

The old woman smiled on her only grandson. Only being the operative word. She doted on Lucas, there was no doubt of that, she had after all, raised him after Simone, the woman Lucas had believed to be his mother, had left and his father had died. She looked at him now with fondness. "Why boy, your old grandma thought she'd come down so she could be here when you tie the knot. Nothing wrong with that I hope."

Lucas rushed through the house in a decided hurry, as he gave a quick explanation to be followed by a quicker goodbye. "Look mama, if it will make you happy I'll tell you. I don't need your assistance with Dara, as a matter of fact I asked her and she said yes."

At the look of triumph on the old woman's face, Lucas gritted his teeth.

Still heading to the bedroom, with her trailing behind him, he stated, "However, right now we, and that means you and I, are not going to discuss this with anybody. Do I make myself clear?"

Lucilla Buck looked at her grandson with curiosity in her eyes. "And just why the big secret, Lucas? She said yes, so what's the problem? She's not pregnant is she?"

Taking in the look of glee on the old woman's face, Lucas ground out in annoyance, "For God's sake, mama, no, she is not pregnant. You know damn good and well that I haven't even touched her. I had no intentions of it till I married her."

Lucilla looked at her grandson sharply. "Not even in those little visits you take in her dreams at night? You mean you haven't even taken the opportunity there?"

Lucas let a long, deep breath out in order to control his anger at the woman. "No, not even then. Despite what your plans are for her and I, mine happen to be different. I happen to love her and she will not, I repeat, will not, be subjected to what all the other Buck women were subjected to. And I'm warning you, if you try to interfere with it, I promise so far as I'm concerned the Buck will definitely stop here."

Lucilla took in the thunderous look on his face and assessing that he meant every word he said, decided that she would stay clear of interfering with is marriage. "All right Lucas, you've made your point. I won't interfere I swear it. But just tell me why the big secret about it."

Lucas, satisfied with her answer, explained the earlier events of the evening and his intentions. ""Her mother died tonight, and she isn't taking it too well. I just don't think the timing is appropriate. When things settle back down and she starts feeling better, then we'll discuss everything. All right?"

Lucilla satisfied that he was making the right decision nodded to the bag he was packing. "What are you packing a bag for?"

Lucas looked at her apologetically. "I hate leaving you on your own here, but she doesn't need to be left alone right now. She needs someone who lover her to help her through this."

Despite herself, Lucilla smiled at him in understanding. "And that someone is you. You go on, your old grandma will be just fine. But tell Caleb I'm here; I wouldn't want to miss seeing him. Besides, she needs you more right now than anybody else."

With her last words, Lucas finished zipping the bag and throwing it over his shoulder. He walked towards the door, stopping to bend down and kiss his grandmother's cheek. "I'll call you in the morning, and I'll tell Caleb you're here. As soon as she's up to it you can meet your future granddaughter-in-law." With that he walked down the stairs and out the door.

Lucilla stood there for a moment watching as he left. "I still say that girl is going to shake this family by the roots, but maybe thats what we need."







Lucas arrived back at Dara's house just as the deliverymen were finishing with loading the hospital equipment. Mrs. Adams looked up from signing her signature on the forms as he walked onto the porch.

"She's still asleep. I looked in on her to make sue they didn't wake her with the noise."

Lucas nodded towards the woman, then, headed inside to drop his bag on the floor, next to the couch. Even though she had assured him Dara was fine, he had to check for himself, for his own peace of mind. Opening the door quietly, he looked down at her, still sleeping. Stepping closer to the bed to look at her more closely, he knelt down to smooth her tousled hair away from her face. He gently took the hand she had resting on the pillow next to her head as he uttered, "It's all right sweetheart. You sleep, you have enough to face the next few days." With that he leaned over and gently placed a kiss on her mouth, then, making sure she had enough cover, left, closing the door softly behind him.

Mrs. Adams was waiting in the living room for him. "Lucas I'm afraid there isn't much in the kitchen." Glancing to the room he had just left, she continued. "Dara was due to go shopping just before her mother went into the hospital, but with everything she never got around to it. I scrambled you some eggs and fried some bacon. There's also toast, coffee, and a couple of pancakes. I hope that'll be OK."

Lucas smiled down at the woman, as he followed her to the kitchen. "That will just hit the spot Mrs. Adams. Thank you." Taking a seat on the end of the center isle he began attacking the food she had placed in front of him, just before she took her own seat at the opposite end to drink her own cup of coffee. Noticing a stack of letters in the middle of the counter he motioned towards them, "What are those?" He asked between bites of pancake.

Mrs. Adams sighed, "I'm afraid they're an assortment of bills. Mostly medical, the utilities, a few other things, Dara usually keeps everything in such good organization, but I'm afraid with all the time missed from her counseling and then the hospital bill, she's never going to dig her way out."

Lucas looked at her with puzzlement. "Didn't her mother have health insurance or life or anything?"

Mrs. Adams nodded sadly, "She had health, but they wont pay for all of it. And as far as life insurance goes, take it from me, after the funeral expenses she may have a small amount but it won't cover everything. Besides that, I assure you her brother will be here within the next few days with his hand out. I'm just not sure what the poor girl is going to do. She's usually very strong, as you well know. But to be honest I think this is all going to overwhelm her."

Lucas nodded his head in agreement with part of her statement. He definitely knew how strong and strong willed Dara could be. But he wasn't about to allow anyone to overwhelm her. "Tell me something, what's the deal with this brother of hers, anyway?"

Mrs. Adams stated in stark honesty. "Plainly, he's a manipulative bully. You have to understand something; there are four children, including Dara. I'm sure you'll meet them soon enough. Mara is the oldest, then there's Kara, Zachary, and finally Dara. She's the youngest. Anyway, Zachary was a very sick baby. Gwenna worried that she would never raise him. The doctors even told her that, but they couldn't explain why he was so sick. Then, suddenly one day he was well, just as there was no explanation for his illness, they couldn't explain his recovery. Ever since that day he could wind Gwenna around his finger. Alex, the children's father, tried to discipline the boy, but Gwenna became overly protective of him. She would never let him be punished, and if he did something he would place the blame on one of the girls and get away with it."

Lucas waited for the woman to continue her explanation into the reasons for the animosity between Dara and her brother, as she got up to refill their coffee mugs.

Taking her place once more, she continued her story. "It all became very frustrating for Alex; he began taking his frustrations out on the girls. The two older girls, Zachary never bothered with much, but Dara was a different matter. He resented that she took his place as the youngest, there's a good number of years between Dara and the rest of the children. He began physically mistreating her, even to the point that he broke her collarbone when she was about seven. He pushed her out of his way into a closed door. You know how small she is now imagine her at seven. The other girls did a lot to protect Dara, but when her parent's marriage started falling apart, she lived with her grandparents for a while to get away from it. Now, Zachary is nothing more than a con man. He's ran up huge debts in his mother's name, which Dara paid to keep her mother out of debt and trouble. That's one of the reasons she moved them here, to go where he couldn't track them, and to give Gwenna some peace at the end."

Lucas took in this new information, the anger evident on his face at what he had just learned. "Do you think he'll show up here, after all of that?"

Mrs. Adams nodded her affirmation of his statement. "Yes, I do. Especially if he thinks that there's going to be money. I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to force Dara to sell the house. Since the two of you are getting married she may, just so he'll leave her in peace."

Lucas seethed in anger. "This is her house. If she chooses to sell it, it will be because she wants to. Not because she was forced to by anyone."

Mrs. Adams studied him for a second, he had a dark side, but something told her that he would never let anyone harm Dara.

Picking up the stack of envelopes he handed them to her. "Will you check on these and any others you can think of? Find out how much to pay them all off and let me know."

Glancing at him with skepticism, she pointed out, "You know that Dara won't like that. Don't you?"

Looking her in the eyes, "She's going to be my wife, what's mine is hers and vice versa. All I'm doing is paying off our debts."

Mrs. Adams sighed, "All right then, I'll work on them tomorrow. What about the funeral arrang...."

She wasn't able to finish her inquiry. At that moment they both heard a blood-curdling scream from the direction of the bedroom.

Knocking over the stool he had been sitting on, Lucas was in her bedroom in a flash, followed by Mrs. Adams.

Dara was in the middle of the bed kicking and screaming, yet still asleep, caught in the throws of a nightmare that wasn't letting her out of its grip.

Lucas rushed around the side of the bed and gently grabbed her flailing hands as he began trying to either wake her or calm her back to sleep. "Dara, wake up! Darlin, come on its just a dream, let it go. It's OK." Seeing he wasn't having much success, Mrs. Adams asked, "What can I do?"

Lucas motioned to her. "Get Crower over here." Running into the living room to make the call she left him still struggling to calm Dara, who was now starting to hyperventilate while still asleep. [There's only one thing left that I know to do.] Gathering her tightly to him, he sat on the bed while cradling her still struggling body close to him. Forcing himself to concentrate, despite her struggles, Lucas began drifting towards her in his mind. Finally he found her in her nightmare.

He understood why she was so hysterical. She was once again in her mother's hospital room, reliving the moment of Gwenna's death. Only this time, instead of dying in peace, it looked as if the cancer had eaten itself out of her body, like an acid dissolving her flesh away as it slid along the floor towards Dara, who was huddled in a corner.

The hideous mass congealed, to form a slimy, ghostly specter. With hands of decayed flesh and slime, the thing reached its hands towards Dara's throat as it rasped in a hideous voice, "This is your fault, now it's your turn to suffer the same agonies."

Lucas rushed over to knock the thing to the floor, away from Dara. Grabbing her to him and pulling her close behind him, placing himself between her and the phantom of her dream. "Leave her alone, this was not of her doing. This was God's will. You have no right to punish her."

Just as quickly as it came the ghost was gone. Dara looked up at Lucas, "You're doing it again. But this time, I'm glad you did."

Lucas, still holding her, rested his chin on the top of her head. "I'll always come when you need me. Rest now it won't be back."

With that Lucas opened his eyes and looked down at Dara. She was still sleeping, but she was once again quiet and breathing normally. Lucas stood and placed her between the covers, pulling the comforter over her and pushing her hair away from her face.

Sleepily, she opened her eyes to look at him and mumbled, "Thank you." Then, once again she drifted off to oblivion, for what he hoped was the rest of the night. He bent over and placed a kiss on her cheek. "You're more than welcome, love." Turning off the lights and pulling the door to, he returned to the living room.

Mrs. Adams was still on the phone with Crower. Walking over to her he motioned for the phone. Handing it to him with worry marking her face, she listened as he spoke with Crower. "Hello, yeah, Harvard? It's OK. No, she's fine now, just a nightmare. No, I don't think so, sorry I bothered you, but I think she'll sleep the rest of the night. OK bye." With that he replaced the receiver on the cradle.

Seeing the worried look on the older woman's face he assured her, "It's OK, she's fine now just a really bad nightmare. She'll sleep the rest of the night. And speaking of which, I know I need some, and I'm sure you do too."

Taking that as her cue to leave, Mrs. Adams walked to the entryway table and picked up her purse. "Lucas, my number is by the phone, should you or Dara need anything please call me. Otherwise, I'll be over tomorrow. Goodnight." With that she walked out the door and left.

Lucas went around the house, turning off the lights and locking everything up. When he came to what had been Gwenna's room he paused. Curiosity pushing him in, he turned on the light. Other than the obvious absence of the bed and machinery, it was the way it had been left when she went to the hospital.

Lucas glanced at the various photos scattered here and there on the dresser, night tables, and walls. He paused when he came to one that was of Dara when she had graduated high school, as well as one of what he assumed were the three sisters, although Dara was much younger in this one, he could tell it was her by the color of her hair and eyes. He spotted a photo on the wall that drew his curiosity, taking a closer look; he realized it was of the four children. In this one Dara was no more than a baby. He knew it was she instantly by the gleam he had grown accustomed to seeing in her eyes, which was present in the eyes of the infant in the photo.

Lucas couldn't help but feel like a trespasser as he flipped the lights off and pulled the door closed. Deciding he was indeed tired, he cast a glance towards the sofa with the blanket and pillow stacked neatly on it. Knowing he would be no more comfortable there than where he truly wanted to spend the night, he passed by the sofa and went in the direction of Dara's room. Opening the door softly, he entered the room quietly.

Checking to make sure that Dara was still sleeping soundly, he pulled the padded rocking chair closer to the bed, so that he would be able to at least stretch his legs out on the bed. After he was satisfied with his efforts, he turned to the bed to once more assure himself that she was resting comfortably, readjusting the comforter he kissed her softly on the mouth, then went to take his place in the chair to keep watch over her till morning.



Lucas wasn't sure how long he had been sleeping, but he knew when he awoke that something was different. He was still in the chair, with his feet propped on the bed, the difference was that a blanket had been placed over him. He took a second to orient himself to his surroundings; glancing at the bed he saw that it was empty.

Looking at the clock on the nightstand he saw that it was only about 2:00a.m. Standing to stretch to his full height, to work out the kinks in his back and legs, Lucas went in search of Dara. He was about to become concerned, having searched the entire house and not finding any trace of her, when he passed by the large window in the living room that looked out onto the river and spotter her sitting in a chair on the pier. Searching the hall closet until he found what he was looking for, Lucas let himself out the back door and went to join her.

Dara was facing the river as though it might hold the answers to her dilemma, when she felt two strong hands placing a linen shawl around her shoulders. Not bothering to turn around, already knowing who was now standing at her back, she asked softly, "She's really gone, isn't she?"

Lucas knelt down and took her hand. "I'm truly sorry sweetheart, but yes she is gone." He waited for a moment for her reply, curious as to what turn her thoughts were taking.

Finally, when she did speak, Lucas felt an aching in his chest for the self-incrimination in her voice.

"I feel so guilty, Lucas. I watched the suffering for so long that I kept praying that the suffering wouldn't last for her much longer. Then, when Matt told me that this would be the last time in the hospital for her, all I could think about was that I wanted her to stay with me, so I wouldn't be alone. I feel like the biggest hypocrite in the world right now."

Lucas turned her around to face him. Lifting her eyes to his he stated, "Darlin, you have nothing to feel guilty about, you did what a lot of people wouldn't, not even for their parents. What you felt, it's only natural. Do you remember what we talked about last night? If you do, then you know you're not alone, as long as I live you never will be, I promise."

Dara searched his face as she asked, "Did you mean what you said last night?"

Lucas placed his hand along her face and smiled sadly. "Honey, I know that it wasn't the best way to propose, and it wasn't how I wanted to do it, but yes, I meant it. And when all of this is settled and behind us, we're going to get married, however you want to."

Dara tilted her head to the side as she considered his statement. "How did you want to propose?"

Lucas' never let his eyes lose contact with hers as he bent down on one knee, then, taking her hand in his he stated, "Dara Chambers, I love you with all my heart, something I didn't even think I had until I set eyes on you. I want you to be by my side for the rest of my life, and to be the mother of my children. I know I'm not a saint, and I won't promise you I'll change, but I will promise you this; no matter what, I will always love you and only you. And I will always be honest with you. Will you please marry me?"

Dara searched his eyes for his sincerity. Seeing that he was speaking the truth, she placed her hands on either side of his face as she answered his question. "Lucas Buck, you are the most manipulative, arrogant, and stubborn man I have ever had the pleasure to meet. But, I do love you with all my heart, and I can't imagine anyone else being the father to my children. So yes, I'll marry you."

Rising to stand, and pulling her up with him, Lucas wrapped his arms around her, then, lowering his head he kissed her deeply. When he lifted his head he looked into her eyes. "Tomorrow we'll settle everything with your mother's arrangements. Then, if you feel up to it, we'll see about getting our marriage license. All right?"

Dara nodded sadly, with the beginning of tears in her eyes. "I just wish mama were here to see us get married. She wanted me to be settled so she would know I wasn't alone."

Lucas decided that giving her the gift of her mother's final words would ease her mind considerably, so he offered, "Dara, do you remember when you went to sign those papers?"

Dara considered a moment, and then nodded. "I vaguely remember leaving the room, but to be honest it's all kind of blurry. Why?"

Lucas, glad she didn't remember seeing her mother's corpse or the nightmare, continued. "When you left, I took your place by your mother's bed. I knew you wanted her to feel someone was always there with her. Anyway, when I took her hand she opened her eyes and spoke to me. She said that she knew that I love you and that you love me, and that she also knew I would take care of you. And she also said to tell you not to worry, that she was going to a better place."

Dara took this information in, and stared ahead, as though she was searching her memory for something from long ago. "She knew, even then, she knew. She always said that she could tell when something was happening with one of us."

Lucas deciding that they had been out in the night air long enough gently guided Dara back to the house. Once inside, he recalled Crower's earlier statement about the lack of meals she had taken, so he suggested she eat something.

Dara shook her head, "No, I'm not hungry. I'll eat in the morning, I promise. Let's watch television for a while, I don't want to go back to bed right now, and I need a distraction."

Lucas grabbed the remote as he passed by the box. Handing it to Dara as he settled himself on the sofa.
Positioning himself in the corner, with his feet propped on the coffee table, he took the blanket off the back of the sofa and placed it over the both of them, after Dara had made herself comfortable, with her head lying on his chest and rest of her stretched out.

Lucas couldn't help but chuckle as he glanced down at her small frame. "Do you see the unfairness of this situation? I take up at least half the couch, and still have to stretch out on the coffee table; you on the other hand, don't even have to curl up. You definitely get the better end of the bargain."

Dara looked at him and pretending hurt began to rise, "Well, if you'd rather I can sit in the rocking chair."

Lucas pulled her back to him. "Not on your life, I like you like this beside me."

With that they settled back down and both fell asleep.