The evening of Annie's party arrived and there was a tremendous buzz of excitement throughout the Warbucks mansion.
The staff had all been given the night off to enjoy the festivities. Everything was being catered for by outsiders anyway, and just as they had been at Christmas, Annie wanted them all to be guests at her party. Of course, the Hannigans and Lily St Regis had cut the Christmas party short, so they were all hoping to finally be able to celebrate properly this time.
All of Annie's friends were also in attendance, her new friends from school and her old friends from the orphanage alike. All of her friends from the orphanage had also been adopted themselves, and were there with their new parents, so happy to share in the celebration of Annie, who had inspired her Father to help find loving homes for them all.
Dozens of kids and their folks littered the grounds of 987 Fifth Avenue. The place had never been so lively. The hot dog and the ice cream trucks were of course a big hit, as was the popcorn stand which Oliver had insisted on. The children scoffed themselves and then ran it all off playing games. They were absolutely enthralled with the petting zoo, and by the end of the night, almost all of them were asking their Mothers and Fathers if they could get new pets for themselves!
Annie was having the absolute time of her life. It was the most fun she had ever had and she was so thankful to her parents for making it such a spectacular event.
Her parents themselves were still slightly at odds with one another. They had pushed their own awkwardness and tensions aside to make the occasion as special and enjoyable for their little girl as it could possibly be. They put on bright faces whenever she was near, pretending that all was well between them for her sake. Any moments they spent together without her were purely spent conducting business however. Neither one of the hopeless pair knew how to fix things, and neither one was willing to put their heart on their sleeve and admit to the real reason things were so strained between them.
Oliver had been milling around the popcorn stand, encouraging everyone to try the salty, buttery snack. He'd received many compliments about his home and about the party, to which he responded every time, "That's very kind, but the party is all my brilliant wife's doing."
He didn't know it but Grace had been throwing glances his way all evening. Watching him interact with Annie's friends and their parents. Oliver had come such a long way since last December. He was far more sociable and friendly, and the way he played and kidded around with Annie's young friends made her heart skip a beat. She couldn't help the warmth that flooded her when Annie's friend Duffy went up to him and said, "Great party, Mr. Warbucks! Can we have a party like this every year?!" To which he responded, "Sure!" While grinning jovially at the girl and handing her some popcorn.
Grace sighed to herself. She still hadn't been able to shake off what she knew was an impossible fantasy, of having a child with him. The more she'd tried to stop thinking of the idea, the worse it became. It plagued her, filling her dreams at night. It was ridiculous and fanciful and she knew she was ten steps ahead of where they currently were to even conjure such a thought. She realized that if it were ever to become reality, she had to start by telling her husband how she felt about him. Even if he was going to reject her, she knew it was unfair to both of them for her to continue hiding the truth. Somehow, some way, she would have to have some courage and just tell him.
The night carried on and the crowd of people began to disperse slowly away from the food and onto the other activities. It was practically an entire carnival Grace had arranged to entertain their guests. There were games and circus performers and even a small ferris wheel which had been set up in the middle of the large lawn.
Now Grace stood at the entrance to the pony ride circle, showing the girls how to approach the equine animals. Oliver watched her from the top of the stone steps. She was so gentle and patient, a smile from ear to ear on her face as she interacted with the children. It wasn't until Annie had arrived that he realized how wonderful she was with kids, and how much she adored them. She was so soft and kind, and although he wouldn't want to change anything for the sake of Annie and the safety of the family the three of them had created, he still felt incredibly guilty for chaining such a magnificent woman to him for the rest of his life.
When she'd come to him the week previous and had told him of her desire for a romantic relationship, he was dismayed and hurt, but not surprised. He knew deep down, and had known from the day he'd met her, that Grace was a very soulful and passionate person. She displayed it in the way she worked. The way she handled herself in meetings and on the telephone. Her forthright attitude. She was a firecracker, and had never bent to anyone - not even to him.
Of course she was dutiful and loyal when she was his secretary, but even then she stood her ground with him. She wasn't a pushover and he respected her for that. Everything she did for him, she did of her own volition and not because he told her to. Luckily for him, she'd always been glad to do everything he asked of her - at least until Annie had arrived. After that of course, both Grace and Annie challenged him. He knew now that it was all for the betterment of him as a man. He was so incredibly grateful to both of them for making his life so infinitely better. Despite how unfair he knew it was to Grace, he loved their little family with absolutely all of his heart.
From the top step, he watched as she lifted little Molly down from the pony and placed her safely on her feet. Both woman and child wore matching grins and it filled Oliver with so much warmth to see such a pure and beautiful sight.
As Grace looked up from the small child, her gaze caught his and she seemed to still for a moment as their eyes locked.
He couldn't explain his relief when she offered him a dainty smile and nod of her head which he took as an invitation to approach her.
As he joined her at her side, she leaned towards him to talk to him over the noise of the crowd.
"Well, I think we have one very happy little girl", Grace said to him, gazing over at their daughter who was happily eating an ice cream and sitting on the edge of the fountain, laughing with her friends.
"All thanks to you", Oliver told her sincerely.
She ducked her head shyly. "Oh, I may have organized most of this, but do you really think I could have pulled so many strings without the name Oliver Warbucks behind me?"
"Well…a joint effort, then", Oliver shrugged with a warm smile her way.
She reciprocated graciously and Oliver felt his heart go into overdrive. Just to see the tinniest hint of of her effervescent smile gave him a feeling of hope.
"Uh, Grace, would you walk with me for a while?" He asked her softly.
"Oh", Grace blinked in surprise before turning to the man handling the pony. "Will you be alright here with them?"
"Of course, Ma'am. Thank you for the assistance", the handler tipped his hat towards Grace and shared a smile with her. Oliver fought the urge to drag Grace away quickly from the man who was much too similar to the cowboy-turned-lover in the movie they'd recently seen, causing Oliver to feel instantly threatened. He did however, place his hand on her elbow, pulling her gently along with him. Grace jumped a little at the sudden touch but kept quiet as they walked across the lawn arm in arm.
Oliver led her to the tree under which they had lain the week prior. The day they had watched the clouds and played baseball with Annie. The day he had complimented her and brushed her hair so gently away from her eyes it had made her melt.
Grace looked up through the leaves of the tree at the night sky, her heart hammering at the memory.
"Something on your mind?" Oliver asked her, pulling her focus from the man in her thoughts to the same man standing in front of her.
"No, not really", she lied, not yet feeling brave enough. "Just looking at the stars. They're beautiful, aren't they?"
He lifted his face heavenwards and had to agree with her observation. "Yes, very." He dropped his head again and looked at his wife, thinking to himself that the same could be said for her.
She met his eyes and seemed to catch on to what he was thinking because even in the low light of the moon, he could see her blush.
"What about you? Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?" She asked him, trying to move the conversation on, feeling quite flustered by his intent gaze.
"No, not especially. I just uh, I thought it might be nice for us to spend some time alone together. It's very seldom we have the opportunity to do so."
Despite the intensity she could already feel building between them, Grace had to chuckle. "We're alone together all the time."
"Yes, but we're usually so focused on work, I…I'd like to spend some time getting to know you better."
Grace pursed her lips. She shrugged shyly. "What do you want to know?"
"I want to know everything about you, Grace", he answered sincerely, his gentle tone taking her by surprise.
He continued. "I feel at a disadvantage sometimes, you know."
"How so?" She questioned him.
"Well, you know me so well. You know all of my worst faults, my deepest flaws. I doubt you have many of your own to show, but I…I'd like to learn to embrace them. As well as to celebrate all the wonderful parts of who you are."
She stared at him silently for several moments before replying, she was feeling quite floored. "Well, I…I'd like very much to share everything with you." She swallowed thickly. "To share my life with you, my past, my future. Today and tomorrow and every day of our lives."
Oliver's face softened, his eyes glistening with hope. "You would?"
She swallowed, leaning against the tree for support. "I don't just want the two of us to have an agreement or an arrangement anymore. I want us to have a marriage, Oliver.", she tearfully poured her heart out to him.
Suddenly everything made sense to Oliver. What she'd been trying to say to him, and why his reaction had made her so upset. He shook his head mournfully. "Have I been a complete fool, Grace? Have I misunderstood you entirely these past few weeks?"
She could see the sorrow and regret in his eyes. But more than that, she could also see the love. She bowed her head solemnly. "I think we may have both misunderstood."
"Then I think it's time we made things quite clear." He assured her, and simultaneously stunned her as he took her in his arms and pulled her body flush to his.
"Wh-what are you doing?" She stammered, her eyes wide and wild under the light of the moon.
Oliver looked at her with a smoldering stare and answered confidently, "I'm kissing my wife."
Her breath was short and shaky as he brought his mouth to hers and kissed her more tenderly and reverently than she could have ever dreamed he would. Her eyes fluttered closed, her lips turning upwards into a smile as she kissed him back slowly and emotively, her gloved hands snaking up his back and gripping onto his shoulders tightly.
Her head swam with dizzy pleasure. The feeling of kissing the man she loved and had been pining for was totally surreal, like she was caught in a dream from which she didn't ever want to wake up.
When, after several long moments, they separated, Grace dropped her head to his shoulder and panted, "Oh Oliver. I'm so relieved. I thought I was the only one who felt this way." She gripped him tightly, wanting and needing to keep him close.
He smiled into her hair. "No Grace, you weren't. You haven't been for a very long time. Perhaps even since before we were married."
She pulled back from him and looked into his eyes, feeling astonished, "Really?"
"Really", he replied gently, raising his delicate fingers to her face and brushing back her hair just as he had done the last time they had stood here together. Unlike the last time though, they finally gave into what they had both been longing for and shared a passionate kiss, full of love and deepest desire.
Behind them, the fireworks began to explode symbolically. The two of them grinned against each other's lips at how perfect the timing was before they fully embraced one another and spent the next five minutes completely missing the spectacular display.
…
It wasn't until the early hours of the morning that they took their daughter upstairs and tucked her into bed, the child still jabbering excitedly despite her increasing tiredness.
"Now, now young lady. I know it's been a terribly exciting night and I'm pleased you've had such a swell time, but now I think it's high time you got some sleep", Oliver said to Annie as he pulled her sheet over her, the room too warm for a duvet.
"OK", Annie sighed. "Love you", she told her Father sleepily. "Love you, Mommy", she then said to Grace as her Mother stepped forward and kissed her on her forehead. "I love you too, sweetheart", Grace told her tenderly and behind her, Oliver smiled affectionately at both of them.
"Goodnight honey", he said, stroking her head before turning to leave the room with Grace trailing close behind.
The couple strolled down the hall, side by side, a comfortable silence between them until Oliver spoke. "Well, Annie seems to have had a terrific time this evening."
"She really has", Grace smiled happily.
"Not quite as much as I have, though", he grinned, pulling his wife to him by her hand and circling her with his arms as they stopped outside of her room.
"Nor I", Grace confessed with a shy smile.
Now that they knew they were truly alone, the two of them became like magnets. Neither had any reservations nor pretense left between them as they held each other and kissed more deeply, more boldly than before. Each one of them melted into the kiss, the blood in their veins singing at all the sensations it brought about for them.
When they parted again, Grace was left breathless. "Oh Oliver won't you kiss me like that a thousand times more?" She sighed contentedly.
He raised his eyebrow at her. "Only a thousand?"
"A million then!" She giggled.
"Whoa now, steady on", he smirked teasingly.
She slapped his chest softly. "Oh you're an awful tease."
Oliver shrugged, grinnig coyly. "I'm sorry I can't help it. You bring out my playful side."
"Oh I see, so it's all my fault?"
"Definitely."
"Goodnight Oliver", Grace turned away from him, rolling her eyes in mock indignation.
"Grace…", he reached for her hand again and pulled her back to him. "Why don't you sleep in my bedroom tonight?"
She raised her eyebrow at him "Oh but where will you sleep?"
A laugh of surprise fell out of his mouth. "Ha. You've got cheek."
Grace too, laughed. "You invite me to your bed and somehow I'm the cheeky one?"
Oliver came nearer to her once more. "There's nothing so salacious about the two of us sleeping together. We are married, Grace."
Her heart quickened at him talking about them sleeping together.
"Will we really be getting much sleep tonight?" Her eyes twinkled at him.
He paused for a moment. "Well, considering the late hour…"
"That isn't what I meant", she cut him off.
Refraining from directly answering her question, he simply squeezed her hand lightly. "Join me", he all but pleaded.
Grace had been wanting and waiting for this invitation for quite some time. Of course she wasn't going to say no to him, but still she was a little coy as she followed him to his bedroom and waited as he softly closed the door behind him.
Their eyes locked and Oliver sauntered towards his wife slowly. Not trusting her voice enough to speak, Grace raised her arms up and drew them around his neck, burying her face against his broad chest, just breathing him in, rejoicing in the opportunity to have him so close. Oliver wrapped his own arms around her waist, holding her gently. He closed his eyes and thanked the heavens to have her in his arms.
They had both waited so long for this. To have and to hold one another. They had made the vow to do so many months prior, and now their promise was finally being fulfilled.
They remained standing by the door of his room for several minutes, relishing in the comfort and peace they both felt. The moment was beautifully solemn.
Oliver held Grace loosely, not wishing to make her feel trapped or that she had to stay if she really didn't want to. As nervous as Grace was though, as much as the anticipation for this moment had been building for so long, there was nothing more in the world she wanted than to be there with him.
She squeezed his shoulders firmly and shook her head against his chest. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm so nervous."
He kissed her on the top of her head and replied, "Change…can be a difficult thing. No matter how wonderful the outcome may be."
He pulled back from her and smiled. "Don't you remember how resistant I was at first to the idea of adopting Annie?"
"Oh yes, I sure do", Grace laughed, grateful for the moment of levity.
"And look how great that turned out", he said, tenderly running his finger across her cheek.
Grace's humor faded away into profound sincerity as she told him, "I adore you. Do you know that?"
Oliver swallowed a lump in his throat. "I'm learning", he whispered before his wife returned to him with another fiery kiss.
He couldn't resist keeping his hands off her any longer, running them along the sides of her back and down over her hips. She shuddered against him before she pulled away from him again with a groan. "You do that again and I won't be able to keep standing up."
"Well, perhaps we should move to the bed?" He suggested bravely, feeling a sense of utter relief when Grace nodded her consent.
He led her to the bed and they both sat down on the side. He leaned back and pulled her down with him so that she came to lay with her head on his chest. They simply stayed that way for several minutes in comfortable, companionable silence, Oliver drawing patterns on Grace's arm with feather-light fingers and Grace absentmindedly stroking his chest, toying with the buttons on his shirt until finally she freed one, exposing his bare chest. She slid her hand underneath the fabric and hummed as she touched his warm skin.
Her eyes lifted to his slowly and he gazed searchingly into them. "Are you sure?"
She chose not to respond with words and instead continued unbuttoning his shirt, trailing a line of tender kisses as she went. Oliver lost his breath as she descended down upon him. His clothes were discarded with abandon and hers soon followed, the two of them embracing again in all their glory, their hearts pounding wildly as husband and wife explored each other for the first time.
Grace whined as Oliver lightly sucked on her neck, her whole body trembling as at the same instant, he curled his fingers into her.
"O-Oliver…" she mewed.
"Grace…Please say you don't want me to stop", Oliver panted against her skin, his insecurity kicking in, but so far gone with lust for her.
"No, no, don't stop. Please don't st-", he swallowed the tail end of her sentence with his mouth.
He took her to a place of utmost euphoria and she did the same for him, each one learning the other by heart before the two of their bodies became one in blissful, divine union.
As Grace writhed and shook beneath her husband, she looked up into his face and tears filled her eyes. "I l-love you", she choked out. "I love you", she repeated again.
Oliver was too stunned to speak and too far over the edge to form words or even thoughts. With just one further thrust he came undone and swooped down to kiss her hard. She gripped him tightly and returned his kiss with ferocity before he collapsed on top of her.
The two of them breathed raggedly, their thumping hearts beginning to calm again. Grace wrapped her arms around her husband, stroking his back with her delicate fingers, while Oliver nuzzled and kissed her breasts. They each soothed the other into a drowsy, intoxicated state, both marveling at the fact that after so many years of maintaining a relationship of professionalism, they now felt so completely relaxed with each other like this. As if this was what they were alway meant to become.
Oliver raised his head and cherished her lips with a soft kiss before tucking laying back down upon her bosom, and the two of them together, succumbed to sleep.
