"I'll pick you up at 6:00pm. Robert will be babysitting. I will see you soon. Love, Lucas," the letter read, in perfect penmanship. He was always leaving letters, even though he could extend the invitation in person. Elizabeth smiled as she tucked the note back in her basket where she found it. She wondered what they would be doing, but it didn't matter. Her heart fluttered at the thought of seeing him alone.

They had been spending so much time together, the three of them. They so easily felt like a family. Elizabeth had been in love with Lucas for quite some time, but nothing had prepared her for the feelings which would surface when she witnessed her son bonding with him. Perhaps in another circumstance, she would have been worried about moving into a family dynamic too quickly, but both Lucas and Elizabeth knew this was it. They had already been through enough to understand this. He was theirs, and they were his. They were a family.

The stresses of the school day melted away as she walked home to see her little man before her date. She thought about what she would wear tonight, but her attention was quickly shifted to the handsome man crossing her path in the street.

"Elizabeth!" Lucas said, sounding surprised to see her. "You're passing by rather late."

"Oh, I had a long day at school, so I'm a bit behind." Lucas nodded. "I am looking forward to our date though," she smirked.

"Oh? Are you, now?" he tilted his head and put his hands in his pockets. "Me too." Elizabeth scooted closer and looked up at him.

"What will we be doing?"

"Ah, that's for me to worry about, and for you to find out. Come hungry." He slowly leaned forward, hands still constricted in his pockets. He kissed her quickly, smiled, and walked away. Elizabeth couldn't help but grin. She took a deep breath, shook her head, and continued home.

Elizabeth heard the rumble of Lucas' car come closer and shut off.

"Are you ready for some boy time, Jack?" asked Robert. Jack stomped his feet and said,

"Yeahh!"

"Yeahhhhhhh!" chimed Robert, stomping his feet as well. Elizabeth sighed a pleasant sigh at the thought of her little boy being immensely loved by so many.

"I'll see you boys later," she said, as she moved toward the door. She heard footsteps, and she opened the door before Lucas could knock. She always tried to beat him to the punch. She giggled.

"Ah, very punctual as always, I see."

Elizabeth smirked as she looked him up and down. "Well, you look handsome."

"And you, beautiful," he responded. Elizabeth breathed deep.

"Goodnight, buddy!" yelled Lucas to Jack. "Thank you, Robert!"

"Anytime, Mr. Bouchard," Robert responded.

"Night night Lucas, night night Momma!"

"Goodnight, my little man," Elizabeth went over and kissed Jack's head. "Thank you, Robert." She walked back to the door.

"Ready?" Lucas said, as he offered his arm.

"Mhm!" Elizabeth responded, as she took it.

Lucas escorted Elizabeth to the front of the saloon and opened the door. He put his hand on the small of her back and led her inside, where the chandeliers were dimmed. Elizabeth looked up inquisitively at Lucas, who had his eyes on the kitchen. He led her past every table, and through the back curtain as she questioned where they were going. There, Gustave was waiting.

"Bienvenue, aux amoureux. Are you ready to cook?" he said, in his French accent. Elizabeth laughed.

"Oui! Bien sur!" she said. Lucas gave her a bashful half smile. He loved it when she spoke french. Elizabeth hopped over to the stove.
"What are we making?"

"Saumon, et...mushroom sauce. You. Chop ze mushrooms. Lucas, you filet ze saumon." Lucas and Elizabeth looked at each other and laughed.

"Yes, sir," responded Lucas, as Gustave slipped out the back to finish his closing duties.

Lucas and Elizabeth smiled at each other once more, and they got to work, chopping and fileting. They chatted about each of their days, releasing the stress as they let things go. They sipped on French wine, which Gustave had chosen for them, and they turned up the volume on the kitchen's victrola. They seasoned the salmon and mushrooms, threw them into hot pans, and washed their hands in the water basin. Lucas, looking down while drying his hands, felt Elizabeth's eyes on him. He slowly looked up and met her gaze. She wasn't smiling.

"Would you care to dance?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. She slowly went into his arms, without saying a word. Lucas wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her close. With his other hand, he held hers, and pulled it to his chest. Their foreheads met, and they swayed gently back and forth to the rhythm of the music. Lucas breathed in deeply and closed his eyes. He kissed her sweetly. He shook his head, ever so slightly and exhaled.

"I love you," he whispered. There were a few beats of silence.

"I love you too," she responded.

They swayed for a few more measures, the heat building between them. This time she kissed him, with more fervor. But a new form of patience was to be practiced now, by both of them. They pulled back slightly, and he touched his cheek to hers.

Gustave came bursting through the curtain.

"Le poisson! It's burning!" Lucas and Elizabeth were jolted from their euphoric moment. They looked at each other with wide eyes and started laughing. Gustave was frantic, mumbling in French, flipping fish and tossing mushrooms.

"Dois-je tout faire?" Both of them still giggling, Lucas grabbed Elizabeth and kissed her once again.