It was a few hours later into the night when Annie started to stir. She was having her bad dream again. She woke with a jolt and felt hot tears immediately fill her eyes.

"Annie? What's wrong?"

It was Grace. Usually when Annie was woken up by this dream she was alone. She'd reach for Sandy and often times cry herself back to sleep.

"Mommy?" She whispered.

"Are you alright?"

Annie just shook her head and hid her face against Grace. She felt Grace tighten her arms around her and this only caused Annie to cry harder. Oliver turned the lamp next to Annie's bed on.

"Annie," he spoke slowly, "what's the matter?"

"I had a bad dreams again."

"Again?" Grace asked. Annie just nodded against her.

"How often do you have bad dreams?" Oliver asked.

"A lot. Usually every night." She whispered.

"Oh Annie. Why didn't you ever tell us? Or come wake one of us up?"

"I didn't want to bother you."

"You wouldn't have bothered us. That's what we're here for."

"Annie what are the dreams about?" Grace asked her tentatively, almost scared to hear the answer.

"Sometimes about the bridge. Sometimes other scary things happen. But you and daddy are always gone."

Grace looked at Oliver with pain in her eyes.

"Annie you don't have anything to worry about. We are right here and we're not going anywhere," Oliver reassured her.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course sweetie," Grace said. Annie slid down deep into the fluffy blankets of her bed and into Grace's side. Grace ran her hand soothingly through those bright red curls until she could tell Annie had fallen asleep. Sleep took over Grace shortly after. Oliver however, was awake almost the rest of the night trying to figure out how to help make Annie feel safe and happy again.

After breakfast the next morning Annie was off to her tennis lesson and Grace went to look for Oliver in hopes of figuring out why he was so quiet during breakfast. She walked into his office and was faced with an empty room. She sighed and was about to turn and leave when she felt a cool breeze. Looking towards the balcony, she saw Oliver standing out there looking out over the garden. She made her way out there slowly hoping to not startle him. "Oliver...?"

He turned to her and smiled. "Oliver, are you okay? You've been awfully quiet all morning."

He reached for her and pulled her to him wrapping his arms around her and holding on tightly. "I'm okay. I've just had some things on my mind."

"Anything I can help with?"

He stepped back from her, kissed her gently and led her inside after him. He sat down in the chair at his desk and pulled her down onto his lap. He pressed his face into her neck for a moment and breathed deeply. "I just didn't realize what a hard time Annie was having. Nightmares every night, Grace! I'm supposed to take care of her."

"Oh Oliver. You can't blame yourself. She didn't tell us. How would we know she was having bad dreams."

"She doesn't trust us, Grace."

"Oliver. She trusts us, she's just scared. It's still new. Adults in her life don't have a good track record. You can't blame her for being hesitant."

"I suppose you're right. It just breaks my heart."

"I know honey. Mine too."

"I don't want to just sign the adoption papers."

"What?"

"I want the justice to come here and do the adoption. I think Annie seeing and hearing it happen will make it more real than us just telling her it's done."

Grace just smiled at him. "I think that's a wonderful idea."

"Grace. I want you to adopt her too."

"You do?"

"Of course I do. We're a family. You're going to be my wife. Annie is mesmerized by you and she's already a mommy's girl. It should be official and I don't want to do this without you."

Grace felt tears sting her eyes, "I love you," she whispered.

Oliver's arms tightened around her, "I love you too sweetheart. So much." He leaned in to kiss her and before long their tongues were together and Grace held the back of his head. Oliver moved to kiss down her neck and his hand started to travel under her skirt.

"Oliver."

He kept going.

"Oliver. Stop."

He felt her hand in his arm stilling his movements.

His lips found his way back to hers and kissed her deeply again.

"Oliver please. We can't."

"Yes we can."

"Oliver."

Realizing that maybe she wasn't kidding he pulled back, "What's wrong Grace?"

"We can't. It's not the right time."

He moved in again pressing hot kisses to her ear, "it's always the right time."

Grace pushed him back harder than she anticipated, "Oliver we can't do this now!"

She attempted to stand up off his lap but he held onto her wanting to know why she was so upset.

"Sweetheart look at me. What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. We just can't do this now okay?"

"Grace?"

Feeling defeated in her attempts to be discreet she got frustrated, "it's not the right time of the month. I'm sorry!" She stood up to move away from him but he grabbed her by the waist. "Oliver stop!"

"I can't even put my arm around you? Grace why on earth are you so upset about it? If I'd known I wouldn't have kept pushing you."

"I'm sorry."

"Why do you keep apologizing."

"I don't know!"

Oliver was more confused now. He could tell she was upset and not because he didn't stop when she told him too. "Will you tell me what has you so upset?"

"Nothing. I didn't mean to get so worked up. I'm fine, Oliver." She leaned down to give him barely a kiss and walked out of the office. Oliver what at a loss. Maybe she was that upset that he didn't stop.

Some time later Oliver walked in to Annie's room. She way saying on her stomach on the floor working on her coloring book.

"Hi daddy Warbucks!"

"Hi Annie... say Annie, come up here for a minute. I want to talk to you." He say down on her bed and patted the spot next to him.

"What do you want to talk to me about?"

"I was wondering if it would be alright with you if I took Grace out tonight."

"You mean you'd both be gone?"

"Well just for dinner. And I bet you and Grandma could do something special here!"

"Oh." Her face fell. "Yeah sure."

"Annie, if you don't want us to go out we won't."

"No I don't want to ruin your night."

"Annie you would never ruin anything. That's why I asked you. I wanted to see how you felt about it."

"I'm scared," she whispered.

"What are you scared of?"

"It's dumb."

"I bet it's not. Won't you tell me?"

"I'm scared that if you both go you might not come back. Just like my other parents."

Oliver picked her up and held her on his lap. "That's not dumb Annie. It's okay to be scared."

"But I'm going to ruin everything. You and mommy just want to be alone."

"You've ruined nothing! Grace and I don't need to go out tonight."

"Maybe you could go out here!!"

"What?"

"Yeah how about I stay with Grandma like you said, and you and mommy can have dinner in the garden!"

"Annie that's a great idea! You'll be okay with that?"

"Sure! That way you and mommy can still have a date and I don't have to be scared when you leave!"

"Sounds like our plans are all set then!"

That evening, Oliver got Annie settled with Helen and thanked them both before making his way to Grace's bedroom. He knocked on the door and couldn't help but smile when she appeared on the other side, "hi."

She smiled confusingly at him, "Oliver what are you doing?"

"Picking you up."

"You're... what?"

"I'm picking you up for our date tonight."

"We have a date?"

"Yes."

"Did I know about this?"

"No."

Grace was more confused now, and slightly taken aback. After how crazy she went this afternoon she was surprised he wanted to even be around her. "So where are we going on this date?"

"Downstairs."

She laughed, "what?"

"Well Annie was nervous about the idea of us both leaving so our date is going to be here." He lifted his hand for Grace to take. She suddenly felt overwhelmed by the fact that not only did he go to the trouble to plan something, but he checked with Annie too.

Grace put her hand in Oliver's and let him lead her downstairs. She assumed they were heading to the dining room but he kept walking. They walked through the garden to a beautifully set table. The moon was bright and there were candles. Grace saw champagne and flowers. Her heart raced and the beautiful gesture. "Oliver. I can't believe you did all of this."

"You deserve better than what I have been giving you."

"What? Oliver you have been nothing but wonderful."

"Grace I need you to know how much I care about you. How much I love you."

"I do know. Why are you suddenly doubting yourself."

"I need to apologize for earlier today."

"No, Oliver! I'm sorry. I didn't need to get as worked up about it as I did. I just couldn't give you what you wanted and I felt bad."

"That's the problem, Grace."

"What is?"

"You should not feel bad about that. You asked me to stop and I didn't. I told you I would never make you uncomfortable or push you too far and I did."

"No you didn't. I wasn't trying to get you to stop because I didn't want it. I have never felt forced into anything with you. I just wanted to stop before we got to far into it. I didn't want to tease you."

"Grace. Our relationship has moved very fast and our main focus seems to always be sex. Now don't get me wrong, I love that and there is not a single thing I would change about our sex life and yes I believe that it's a very important part of a strong and healthy relationship, but there's more too it than that I need you to know that I love you and I'm 100% wholeheartedly in this. All of it. That's why I wanted us to have a night to ourselves. I asked you to be my wife because I love you. Everything about you. I love spending time with you. I love talking to you. And I never ever want you to question that."

"I love you too Oliver. I have never doubted for a second that you loved me. I trust you and I've never questioned any of that, but it still is so nice to hear you say it." She stepped into him and he wrapped his arms around her. Her head found his shoulder and they stood quietly and contently for a few moments. They sat down for dinner and ate in comfortable conversation. Talking about everything from Annie, to work, to current events. After dinner, Oliver moved their dishes over the the garden cart, refilled their champagne glasses, and sat back down across from Grace. She kicked her shoes off and lifted her feet to rest them on Oliver's lap. He absentmindedly began rubbing them while they sat in the quiet of each other for a few moments.

"Oliver? Can I ask you a question?

"Of course sweetheart."

"I've just been thinking, about that morning Laura was in your office, and you said you hadn't been with another woman since becoming involved with me. I never felt you had and I was not surprised to hear that, but you also said you hadn't been with another woman since meeting me. I believe you... I mean I don't think you would lie, but why hadn't you?"

"It's no secret that I've been with a number of women. I'm not proud of it, but what can I do about it now?"

"Everyone has a past Oliver."

"Yes that's true. Well there was one date since meeting you. It was the first time I went out after hiring you, and subsequently the last time as well. It was just a few weeks after you started. She was here from out of town and we went out to dinner and then she invited me back to her hotel. I went and once I got there I realized that I didn't want to be. She was very interested in sleeping together but I couldn't. I apologized to her and left. I remember the whole way home hoping that you were awake when I got home just so I could see you. I went into my office and you were sitting on the couch covered with a blanket reading a book."

"I remember that! I thought you were going to be so mad that I was in your office but you weren't. You let me borrow the book so I could finish it."

"Yes. Well when you left, I went over to the couch to fold the blanket and when I lifted it I remember thinking how much it smelled like you. I realized that I had started to fall in love with you, and that's why I couldn't sleep with her. I never wanted to have sex again. I wanted to make love and I knew I could only do that with someone I was in love with. Well I quickly learned that I would never love anyone the way I loved you."

"Oliver," Grace signed in a shaky, tear filled voice.

"Come here." She got up from her chair and moved to him. He pulled her into his lap and held her tightly.

"Why didn't you ever tell me how you felt?"

"I was terrified. Yes I'd been with plenty of women, but I'd never been in love before. Plus we seemed like such a mismatch that I figured I was just setting myself up for heartbreak. I just keep telling myself that it happened when it did for a reason. If I had told you back then how I felt, yes we maybe would have been together longer, but we probably wouldn't have Annie." Grace's tears turned into full crying as she buried herself deeper into Oliver's embrace.

"I love you, Oliver. So much."

"I love you too sweetheart. More than anything."

"Thank you for tonight."

"You are very welcome... it appears we have an audience."

Grace followed his gaze up to the balcony coming off of Annie's room. She stood leaning against it with her chin resting on her arms watching her mom and dad. They both laughed before raising their hands to wave at their daughter. She waved back before Helen appeared to usher her inside. Grace's head fell back to Oliver's shoulder.

"Are you ready for bed sweetheart?"

"No. I don't want to leave you yet."

He knew she was tired but he didn't want to leave her yet either. He slid the hand around her back up and down her side rubbing gently when his other hand slid under her skirt to rub the soft flesh of her thigh. Her arms tightened around his neck and she kissed him there a few times before falling asleep in his arms. He pressed his nose into her hair, breathing deeply, and whispering "goodnight sweetheart. I love you," against her head.

They sat there for quite some time. Oliver couldn't decide if it was because he didn't want to wake Grace or if it was because he didn't want to stop holding her. It was getting late and the warm summer breeze was starting to turn cool. A small gust of wind blew and Grace nuzzled herself into Oliver. Knowing they should both go to bed, he reluctantly stood with her still in his arms and headed towards the house. His movements woke her slightly. "Oliver," She mumbled.

"Shhh, I've got you. Go back to sleep sweetheart."

He made his way up stairs and was heading towards her room when he met Helen in the hallway.

"Thank you again for taking care of Annie tonight," he whispered.

"Of course. It was my pleasure." She smiled at her daughter so comfortable wrapped up in Oliver.

"I'm just going to put her in bed..."

"Oliver..."

"Yes?"

"Take her to your room."

"What?"

"That's not the face of someone that wants to wake up alone. We're all adults here. If you wanted to put her in her own bed you would have brought her up an hour ago." With that, Helen winked at him and turned towards the guest room.

Oliver smiled to himself before kissing Grace's head and walking towards his room. Upon entering, he was surprised to see one of Grace's nightgowns laying on the foot of his bed. His future mother in law was more of a romantic than he thought. He set Grace on the bed before whispering to her, "sweetheart. Grace, wake up." He eyes opened slowly and she looked around the room. "What time is it?"

"Late. After midnight. I'm sorry to wake you, I just didn't want you to have to sleep in your clothes." He handed her pajamas to her, "here. I believe these are from your mom."

"What?"

"Well I was bringing you to your room and she told me to just bring you in here and they were laying on the bed."

She just smiled and shook her head. They both changed and Oliver left to use the bathroom. When he came back moments later Grace was snuggled into the blankets of his bed, her face pressed into his pillow. He felt like his heart stopped. Just when he thought he couldn't love her anymore, something as simple as seeing her comfortably in his bed happened and he fell even more in love. He climbed in beside her and she immediately moved into him. He pulled her close until her head rested on his chest and her leg slid between his. He brought his hand up to her face and brushed her hair back before holding her cheek to tip her face towards him. He kissed her deeply. She sighed into him and he pulled her closer. "Goodnight love."

"Mmm goodnight honey," She mumbled into his chest.