DESTINY
Chapter 6

After Lucas had closed the door behind him, and Mara was certain he was out of earshot, she shook her head stating, "Well, one thing for sure. Aside from being handsome as sin, he's charming as he can be."

Kara, who followed Dara to the stove to help with the meal preparations, agreed. "You sure lucked up, Dara. And that son of his is as sweet as he can be, too."

Dara nodded her agreement with them, "They've both been wonderful. And to tell you the truth, I couldn't have gotten through mama's death without Lucas' help, he's been here ever since she passed away."

Deciding that now was a good time to bring up the room assignments, Dara ventured casually in the hopes of glossing over the issue of Lucas staying as well, "By the way, I've put you two in one of the upstairs bedrooms. I thought the two boys could sleep in the other one, and daddy can take my room, Brittany and I will sleep on the sofa bed. I might as well tell you now, Lucas stayed here last night." Seeing the shocked look on their faces, she rushed to explain, "Nothing happened. I kind of lost it and I passed out. Lucas brought me home and stayed with me, he didn't want to leave me alone. Anyway, he'll be staying here with us too. He's sleeping in mama's room, I didn't thing the rest of us would want to. I hope you don't mind."

After careful consideration, Alex spoke up, "I don't see the problem, as you said he's been here for you and I see no reason why he shouldn't continue to be, if that's what he feels he should do."

Dara smiled at her father, "Thank you, daddy I hoped you wouldn't be upset."

After finishing with the cooking, the three women laughed and talked as they worked on the dining room table.

Kara asked if their brother had shown up yet. Dara confirmed that he had and related the events to them. After finishing her account, both sisters were shocked.

Kara was the first to voice her opinion. "You know, its bad enough what he's pulled when mama was alive, but to try and grab onto what little there is left knowing about the medical bills, he's unbelievable."

Mara looked at Dara, "How did Lucas react when Zach tried to hit you?"

Dara recalled the chilling look of danger in Lucas' eyes, as she stated, "Not well."

They weren't able to discuss it further, the front door opened and closed as Lucas and his grandmother entered the house.


Not being one for formality, Lucilla walked over and hugged Dara. "Well, let me see it. I want to make sure he did a good job."

Dara smiled shyly at the woman as she held her hand out. Lucilla took it in hers and after satisfying herself that Lucas had indeed gotten her a ring, nodded her approval.

"Good job, boy. I knew you could do it if you put your mind to it. Just like finding this little girl here."

Dara turned and introduced Lucilla to the rest of her family, "Nice to meet all of you, don't pay me no mind, I'm just a loud mouthed old woman." Everybody laughed at her description of herself.

Dara motioned for her sisters to follow her to the kitchen, after having everyone else take their seat.

Lucas ignored her protests and followed them to help with bringing the food in, after they were all seated, everyone began filling their plates as the conversation around the table picked up.

Kara began the first of the inquiries, "Dara, what are we going to do about a wedding dress? Mama never had one, and I left mine back home, otherwise you could have worn it. What kind of wedding were you wanting to have any way?"

Dara glanced at Lucas questioningly.

Lucas shrugged his broad shoulders as he replied, "I thought I'd let Dara decide that for herself. It's really her day, so as long as she shows up to say 'I do', I don't care if she gets married in her slip."

Mara shook her head at his statement, "All that would do would be to set a new family wedding tradition. Almost as bad as what Kara did on her wedding day.'

Remembering the event her sister was referring to, Dara started laughing. "Oh I remember that, I never saw a wedding ring fly that fast."

Explaining for Lucas, Caleb's and Lucilla's benefit, Dara related the events. "Kara was so afraid that the wedding ring wouldn't fit Jack's finger, that she put a little bit of Vaseline on it, you know, so it would slide on easier. Anyway, every time she thought about it, the more nervous she got, the more nervous she got, the more she put on the ring. When it came time for her to put the ring on his finger, she went to squeeze it to slip it on and it was so slippery that it shot right out of her grip. It hit the preacher in the head, bounced off and rolled into a heating vent. I never thought everyone would stop laughing about it." After the laughter had subsided, Dara became serious once more. "I don't want a big wedding, just a simple ceremony. We can have it on the pier at the river."

Glancing at Lucas, she knew he was remembering, as she was, the dreams involving that same pier. "Anyway, I would like a wedding dress and veil, since daddy is going to give me away. Otherwise, that's about my only requirement. Mara and Kara can stand up with me."

Mara looked over to Lucas, "Who's going to stand up with you, Lucas?"

Caleb, who had been steadily stuffing food into his mouth, spoke up. "I am ma'am. He said I get to be best man."

Lucas smiled at his son, "That's what I told the boy."

After finishing the discussion and food, the women, including Lucilla, got up to clear the table. Dara protested, "Mama Lucy, you don't have to do that we can get it. I have a dishwasher, so it wont take long to finish."

Ignoring the younger woman's protest she waved her hand, "Nonsense, I don't like just sitting around, I'd rather be doing something."

With that said, she went through the door to the kitchen, followed by an amused Dara.


After everyone was settled in the living room, there was a rapid knock on the door, Lucas looked to Dara, who nodded her ascent for him to answer it.

Opening the door he admitted Ben, who looked embarrassed at intruding on a family evening.

"Lucas, can I talk with you a second? I think it's important."

Lucas motioned for Ben to follow him into the kitchen for privacy. "What is it, Ben?"

Ben, deciding that he should just get it over with, launched into the reason behind his visit. "Look Lucas, her brother has been at it again. I got a report a little while ago that he was seen down at Clancy's with Selena Coombs, and that after a few drinks he got to running his mouth, with a lot of prodding from Selena. He's made it clear that he intends to, as he put it, 'teach his baby sister a lesson'."

Lucas considered Ben's statement, "All right Ben, here's what I want you to do. You might drop a friendly hint to Selena and remind her that I meant every word of what I said to her, if she values her neck, she won't stretch it into other people's business. As far as her brother goes, I'll take care of that. By the way, how about giving Caleb and mama a ride back to my house?"

Ben agreed, "All right Lucas, I'll drop by Selena's after I take them home."

When Lucas and Ben entered the living room, Lucas addressed Caleb and Lucilla, "Ben is going to take you tow home, all right?"

After all the farewells were said, Lucas followed Ben out to his car.

"Don't forget to pay our friend a visit, Ben."

Ben nodded and opened the door for Lucilla.

As they were driving off, Dara came out onto the porch. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she asked, "Now, do you want to tell me what you and Ben were discussing with such seriousness?"

Turning in her embrace to place his arms around her and pull her close to him, he stated, "Nothing darlin, just some police business, that's all."

Dara studied him for a moment, and then shook her head. "I don't quite believe you, but I'll let it go. You'll tell me when you're ready. You gave me the time I needed, so I'll do the same." With that said, she laid her head against his chest, to feel the rise and fall of his breathing.

Just then Brittany came out onto the porch. Seeing that she had just interrupted something, she apologized. "Aunt Dara, I'm sorry, but mom says they're ready to go to bed, could you show us where the blankets and everything are?"

Dara and Lucas followed the girl inside; everyone was in a flurry of activity, gathering their belongings to take to their respective rooms.

Kara turned and inquired, "Dara, I hope you don't mind, but we changed the sleeping arrangements a little. Me and Brittany and Jacob are going to share a room. Mara and Mikey are going to share the other. You can have the sofa to yourself. I hope you don't mind."

Dara shook her head, "Fine by me, whatever makes you guys more comfortable." Glancing around the room, she noticed the absence of their father. "Where did daddy go?"

Kara pointed to the bedroom door. "He said he was going to go ahead and get settled."

Dara walked over to the door and knocked. Waiting a till she heard, "Come in." She opened the door and entered. Her father was sitting in the rocking chair, where Lucas had spent part of the previous night. "Sorry daddy, I just needed to get my night clothes. I didn't mean to disturb you."

Alex Chambers smiled at his youngest child. "You're not bothering me, baby. Cone here and sit a second, talk to your poor old dad."

After gathering her gown and robe, she walked around to the other side of the bed, to sit next to her father.

Alex, never one for beating around the bush, took the direct approach with his daughter. "Now, since your sisters aren't here to butt in, would you like to tell me how you and Lucas came to the decision to get married?"

Dara nodded, she knew eventually her father would be asking her this. " I have an office across from the Sheriff's office, he helped me get some things moved in there. Then, I started counseling his son; I guess you could say we just hit it off. Every time I've needed him, he's there, and I know what you're thinking, that's not why I want to marry him. I want to marry him because I love him."

Alex pondered over her words for a moment, "You know, even when you were a baby, you had this way of bringing out the best in everyone around you. I used to think that you were the blessing to our lives, just as I thought that to a point, your brother was a curse, particularly because of his viciousness, in particular the way he would direct it at you. I used to think, and I still do, that he's jealous of the way you can reach into a person and bring out the goodness."

Dara, not sure where he was going with this, asked, "Daddy, what are you getting at?"

Alex took her hand, stating, "Honey, what I'm getting at is this; I can see how much that man loves you, there's no faking that, but I also get the feeling that he can be a very dangerous man when he chooses." Seeing his daughter's acceptance of his words, he asked quietly, "Are you sure you want to marry this man?"

Dara considered for a moment, then nodded, "Yes daddy, I'm very sure. I know he loves me and I love him. I also know that he can be dangerous, but I also know the kindness he's capable of."

Alex studied his daughter's expression for a second, "All right baby, I just had to ask you, after all, it isn't everyday that my baby girl gets married."

Reaching over and hugging her father tightly, Dara replied, "I love you daddy, and don't worry, it's all going to be all right, you'll see."

At that moment, someone knocked on the door, a second later, Lucas opened it partially. "Honey, everyone else has gone to bed already. Would you mind if I turn the television on?"

Dara shook her head, "No, go ahead."

Alex motioned for Lucas to enter the room, and then addressed his daughter, "Dara, why don't you go and put your gown on. I'd like to talk to Lucas for a second."

Dara glanced from her husband to her father, and then shrugging her shoulders left the room.

Lucas stood with his arms crossed over his chest. "I knew this was coming sooner or later."

Alex noticed the look of challenge in the younger man's eyes; he could see that when it came to Dara, this man was willing to fight for her. Motioning for Lucas to take a seat on the bed, Alex began hesitantly, "Don't look like I'm about to call you our for a duel. I'm not. I just want to talk to you, fair enough?"

Lucas relaxed considerably at the man's words, "All right, fair enough."

Alex paused a second, considering what he wanted to say, then began. "You know that Dara is the youngest, don't you?"

Lucas nodded his affirmation of the man's statement.

"There are a number of years difference between Dara and the rest of the children. I know it may not seem like it, and although I can't say we planned for her to be born, Dara wasn't an accident either."

Lucas looked at the man, stunned. He himself, although he would never consider her to be unwanted, had assumed that because of the age difference that Dara was an unplanned for child.

Alex, seeing the turn of his thoughts, shook his head in response to Lucas' unasked question. "She wasn't exactly unplanned for either. Gwenna's doctor discontinued her birth control pills, she told me and I figured that if she got pregnant again, it would be because it was God's will. Gwenna did get pregnant a couple of months later. Then, in November, Dara was born."

Lucas could see the look of remembrance in the man's eyes as he recalled his child's birth.

"You should have seen her, she was the prettiest baby, even when she was born her eyes were the color they are now. And when she would smile at you, it melted your heart. Since the day she was born, she has always had the gift of being able to draw out the best in the people around her. That's what enables her to do her job so well I suppose. More so with the people she loves enough to give a part of herself to. I've always thought that was why Zach is so jealous of her, because he's never been able to be like that. Mara and Kara, they seem to have it, but not like Dara does. You're such a person lucky enough to be in that category. I would have to be blind not to see how much you love my daughter, and I don't think you would ever hurt her intentionally, but I also see that when you choose to be, you're a very dangerous man."

Lucas nodded his agreement with the man's statement, there was no sense in lying to the man, and it wouldn't accomplish anything anyway.

Alex continued, "You are getting a very rare and precious gift in my daughter. She is the strongest person you would ever want to meet, but she can also be the most vulnerable, especially with someone she loves. All I'm asking is that you never harm her, in ANY way, and lover her like she deserves."

Lucas met Alex's eyes, stating, "Everything you have just said, is the absolute truth. I will promise you this, I will never intentionally hurt her, or let anyone else."

Alex nodded his acceptance, "I just want us to understand each other. No hard feelings, I hope."

Lucas shook his head, "No sir, I would be the same way if she were my daughter."

Dara chose that moment to timidly knock on the door, before opening it slightly to inquire, "Everything all right in here?"

Alex nodded to his daughter, "Fine baby, just chatting with your husband to be. I'm feeling tired now, so I think I'll head on to bed." With that he got out of the chair and turned down the covers.

Dara came around the bed and kissed him on the cheek. "Night daddy, see you in the morning."

Alex hugged his daughter to him as he stated, "Night baby girl, sweet dreams." Then, so only she could hear, he advised, "I think you got a good one, baby."

Dara gave her father one last hug and then turned and left the room, allowing Lucas to pull the door to.


Dara settled herself on the couch with a blanket to watch an old black and white movie.

Lucas looked down at her, "Mind if I join you?"

Dara smiled as she made room for him. "I'd be hurt if you didn't."

Lucas sat, as the night before, in the corner of the couch with Dara curled against him.

"You know I think I could get used to this."

Lucas kissed the top of her head, "I hope you do."

Dara glanced up, "By the way, I turned your bed down, if you want to you can go and put your pajamas on, so you can get comfortable, I don't mind."

Lucas grinned at her mischievously, "I don't wear pajamas, darlin."

Dara looked at him questioningly, "Well then what do you sleep? Oh! Never mind, forget I asked."
Turning crimson with embarrassment, she focused her attention back to the movie.

After about an hour or so, Lucas noted the change in her breathing, realizing that she had fallen asleep. Careful not to wake her, he eased his boots off to get more comfortable, then turned the television off.

The next morning Kara, being accustomed to getting up early, decided to start breakfast for everyone. She stopped short inside the living room doorway, taking in the sight of her sister curled up next to Lucas. Shaking her head and smiling, she carefully made her way into the kitchen to begin the coffee.

Dara, hearing someone in the kitchen, woke before Lucas. Careful not to disturb him, she got up, putting her robe and slippers on, and eased into the kitchen. She found Kara busily whipping eggs in a bowl.

Smiling at her younger sister, Kara stated, "Good morning."

Dara smiled in return as she got herself a glass of juice. After taking a sip, she asked, "How did you sleep?

Kara turned, and grinning quipped, "Not as well as you did, apparently."

Dara blushed furiously. "Yeah, well we fell asleep watching television."

Kara shook her head, "No need to apologize, I haven't been married so long that I forgot how it is."

At that moment, Mara made her way through the door. "I don't know which on of you did it, but whoever made the coffee, God bless you."

Dara laughed as she handed her sister a cup, the way she liked it. Shaking her head at her oldest sibling, she smiled, "Well, we know which one of us took after mama's coffee habit, don't we?"

At that, they were all giggling, trying not to wake the rest of the house.

Lucas woke up and noticed immediately that Dara wasn't next to him. Listening until he heard the muffled giggles coming from the kitchen, he got up and put his boot on, shaking his head.
[Damn, she's only slept next to me twice, and I'm already used to the feel of her.] Entering the kitchen, he found all three women, cooking breakfast.

Dara, catching sight of him, smiled as she poured him a cup of coffee. Handing it to him, she asked, "Morning darling, sleep well?"

Lucas, ignoring the presence of the other two women, pulled her against him and kissed her deeply. "I do as long as you're next to me."

Dara, blushing furiously went back to mixing pancakes, trying to ignore the shocked looks on the faces of her sisters.

When Dara began gathering the dishes and utensils to set the table, Lucas followed her to the dining room to help.

After the door had closed, Mara began shaking her head.

Kara, catching the movement, looked at her sister. "What?"

Mara smiled, "You know what's so bad? He looks better after having slept all night in those clothes, that our husbands do dressed up." Both sisters began laughing at the statement.

Lucas, hearing the laughter, asked Dara, "What's that about, I wonder?"

Dara shook her head, "With those two, no telling."

After the table had been set and everyone rooted out of their beds to begin the day, breakfast was quickly gobbled down, so that everyone could get started with the business of the day.

Lucas finished his breakfast earlier than the rest, so he could take a shower and get dressed.
After he was done, he sought out Dara. "What time is the wake tonight?"

Dara shrugged her shoulders. "He said we should be there by about five, then it would be over with by seven or eight. Since we don't know that many people here, there won't be a need to stay longer than that."

Nodding he then asked, "Are you three going shopping today for your wedding dress?"

Dara considered, "Yeah, I guess we better, there really won't be time to after tonight. Why do you ask?"

Lucas reached into his hip pocket and produced his wallet. Reaching in he pulled out a plastic card and handed it to her. "You pick out whatever you want, and before you protest, this is my wedding present to you, not to mention that it would make me happy. I'll take care of the flowers and cake; you just take care of the dress. OK?"

Dara looked at him stubbornly for a second, "Are you sure, I can buy my own dress. I'm not destitute you know?"

Lucas nodded, "I want to buy it for you. You get whatever you need; they shouldn't give you any problems. I'm sure by now, everybody already knows we're getting married anyway."

Dara nodded, "All right, if it will make you happy, I'll do it."

Kissing her deeply, he turned and left to take care of his own agenda.

Once in his car he considered a second, then, deciding to follow hi first impulse picked up the mike to the CB. "Ben, you there?"

Finally, "Yeah Lucas, what's up?"

Lucas explained, "Ben, I want you to go escort Ms. Coombs to my office, I'll meet you there shortly. Out." Lucas knowing that a battle was ahead prepared himself for it. Selena could be a real bitch when she chose to be.