Winds of Change

[a.k.a. Saving LucaBeth]

Author's Note: After the disaster that was S10E11 I was clearing off my WCTH media from my computer in disgust when I came across this story that I had started after S9E12 had aired last year. After reading the chapter the story inspired me to write more. Call it a healing project to try to recover some good feelings about WCTH after watching the crushing ending of S10E11.

This story picks up after S9E12 and tells the story that SHOULD have been told in S10 (the season that IMO "jumped the shark" and killed the best show on TV.) Some of the good story lines from S10 will appear (e.g., Marigold Elizabeth Coulter and Henry's redemption) but they will be handled the way they SHOULD have been done. LucaBeth is healthy and thriving in this retelling.

This is for my fellow LucaBeth fans who have been dealt a terrible blow after watching our couple grow and develop for 4 seasons (S6-9) only to have them 'murdered' in cold blood.

Chapter One: A New Chapter

Elizabeth Thornton let out a contented sigh as she and Lucas made their way back into town after their afternoon walk with Jack. Glancing at the man beside her who was now carrying her sleeping son in his arms she couldn't help but smile.

Who knew three years ago when she had met him on Main Street that he would become so dear to her that one day she would agree to become his wife? She remembered thinking him to be nothing more than a smooth talker who did as he pleased without any regard for others. How wrong her first impression had been. Lucas was one of the sweetest and most caring men that she had ever met. Time and time again she had seen him put himself out to help others in whatever way he could. That included herself and Jack.

Lifting her left hand, she admired the ring that now sat there. As she rubbed her right thumb over it, she couldn't help but marvel at how much her life had changed and was about to change. When she lost Jack, she was sure that she would never find love again or ever want to. She could never imagine loving another man the way she had loved Jack; she couldn't picture herself as another man's wife. But now here she was engaged to Lucas Bouchard and one day – soon she hoped – she was going to be his wife. She looked back to Lucas and Jack as she mentally added, and he's going to be my husband and Jack's father.

Unable to contain herself she whispered, "I love you."

Lucas turned to look at her with mild surprise and delight on his face at her softly said words. "I love you too," he whispered back.

Before anything else could be said or felt, a loud voice shattered the moment.

"We're having a baby!"

Lucas and Elizabeth turned at the sound of Lee Coulter's excited voice to find the businessman running through the main street of Hope Valley dressed in his pajamas, a pair of slippers in his hand.

Spotting the couple, Lee shouted to them, his arms raised out in excitement.

"We're having a baby!"

Elizabeth and Lucas both laughed in amusement but before they could congratulate their friend he had started off in the opposite direction, still widely proclaiming his news.

"Well, I would have to say I have never seen such an excited expectant father," Lucas remarked with a broad smile on his face. "Though I certainly understand his enthusiasm." Elizabeth watched as Lucas glanced at Little Jack who was still sleeping soundly on his shoulder.

"Rosemary and Lee have been hoping for a baby for a very long time," Elizabeth told him. "They had pretty much given up hope that it would happen."

"Well, I am very happy for them," Lucas said earnestly. "Seeing how they both are with Jack; I have no doubt that they will make wonderful parents. Though I must admit to hoping the child takes after Lee more than Rosemary."

Elizabeth looked at her fiancé with a slight frown, wondering if she should be offended for her best friend. "And why is that?"

Lucas gave her a cheeky grin as he replied, "I just think one drama queen in the family is probably enough."

Elizabeth laughed, unable to contradict his statement.

As they continued towards the saloon, Elizabeth found herself musing about what it would be like to have another child – Lucas' child. That was something they hadn't discussed before – whether he wanted any more children. She was pretty sure that he did, considering how he didn't really enjoy being an only child himself, but she had never outright asked him about it.

As if reading her mind, Lucas suddenly remarked, "Though I suppose our children will help balance out the LeVeaux flair for the dramatic, just as you and Lee do with Rosemary."

Elizabeth felt a smile tug at her lips as Lucas once again demonstrated how well he knew her, and her heart soared at the thought of their children. Suddenly she started picturing a boy with Lucas' dark hair and handsome features and a little girl with his kind eyes and shy smile.

Sliding her hand into the crook of his arm she gave it a warm squeeze causing him to look down at her again, a tender look in his eyes as he said, "I hope we have a little girl that is the spitting image of her Mama."

Elizabeth flushed and admitted, "And a little boy who is just like his father."

"Would you like a big or small family?" He asked curiously.

She smiled and said, "I'd be happy with whatever God sees fit to give us."

Lucas smiled down at her and squeezed her hand between his arm and his side. Then after a moment he asked, "How would you and Jack like to join me for supper at the saloon tonight? I'll have Gustave make something special."

Placing her other hand on his arm she suggested, "The saloon is still a bit of a mess after the fire, so why don't you bring supper to my house, and we'll have a nice quiet meal there – just the 3 of us."

His smile broadened. "I couldn't imagine anything better."