Author's note: A sentence "You doubt your value. Don't run from who you are." is from Narnia by C. S. Lewis. Not mine, just borrowing it.

Chapter 24

Bill looked at Grace, shrugging.

"I don't know. I don't know what's got into her. That's not Elizabeth I knew… Obviously, I didn't know her at all. I never thought that she would toy with somebody's feelings like that. It's just cruel. And to let people bad mouth Lucas while it was her fault…", Bill shook his head "He didn't deserve it".

Grace nodded.

"He didn't. Lucas deserves the world. He is generous, kind, brave, always there to help, trustworthy…", noticing Bill's lips curling up, Grace swallowed hard "What?"

"You really care about him, don't you?", Bill silently asked.

Grace could feel her skin warming up and quickly looked down at the dough on the table, kneading it full force.

"Of course I do. He is a good man. A good friend", she mumbled.

"Just a friend?", Bill asked and saw the moment Grace froze, her fingers resting on the dough. He felt bad for making her uncomfortable, but there was no way he would pull back now "You know, Grace…", he started, but she jumped away saying that she needed to get blueberries.

Bill watched her opening the freezer and stare at it for at least two minutes before she grabbed the bag.

She came back and took the scissors to open the bag. Once she did, she poured the contents in a bowl and went back to kneading the dough.

Bill glanced at her, trying to hold back laughter.

She didn't even notice what was in the bowl.

As she prepared the dough for blueberries Bill knew that he had to stop her before she goes and bake the most odd cookies on the planet.

"Grace", he waited until she looked up at him, her fingers already reaching in the bowl. Bill stopped her hand by placing his fingers on her forearm and whispered "Grace, those are peas".

Grace blinked, then looked down at the bowl.

Her eyes widened.

"Oh, for God's sake!", she whispered, closing her eyes.

Bill took pity on her.

"Here, let me get the blueberries and put these back in the freezer", he took the peas and put them back in the bag, then walked toward the freezer.

Grace let out a nervous breath, nibbling in her lower lip.

Smooth, Grace. Really smooth.

At the sound of kids' laughter, Grace looked up and saw Lucas acting like Aslan from Narnia, roaring and kids squealing in delight.

She wasn't able to stop a smile on her lips at the sight of little Anna acting like little Lucy from Narnia and hugging Lucas exclaiming lovingly "Aslaaaaaan!".

Grace watched mesmerized as Lucas gently hugged little Anna back and read Aslan's words to little Lucy:

"You doubt your value. Don't run from who you are."

Bill came back carrying blueberries. He smirked to himself as he noticed Grace completely forgetting about her work as she watched Lucas with the kids.

Half of my job is done, he thought.

Putting blueberries in the bowl, Bill nonchalantly suggested:

"You know, you should ask him to do some magic tricks for the kids. He's amazing in that".

Grace jumped slightly at the sound of Bill's voice. She glanced at him and creased her eyebrows.

"Magic tricks?", as Bill nodded, Grace asked curiously "What kind of magic tricks?"

Bill grinned.

"Oh, you know - coins disappearing, guessing their cards, tossing the rings on the bottles and playing darts with a mirror", as Grace gasped in wonder, Bill raised his eyebrows "Lucas is a man of many talents".

Lucas is a man of many talents.

Magic.

Well, he certainly put a spell on me.

Grace flinched at her traitory mind having such thoughts and quickly went back to splitting the dough in small circles and starting to add blueberries.

Oh, God. Help me.

—--

The kids were helping Lillian and Gustave carry the dirty dishes in the kitchen. Grace was about to go and join them when she heard a barely audible whimper coming from the hallway.

She put the dirty plates and silverware back on the table, wiped her hands on the apron and went toward the hallway.

Lucas and Bill were emptying the leftovers from the plates in the garbage bags when Bill's voice was heard:

"Hey, where is Grace going? She was about to bring those dirty plates over here and she just stopped like she heard something", he glanced at Lucas.

Lucas looked up at the judge and followed his gaze toward the doors of the canteen where he saw Grace's blue dress disappearing behind the doors.

"You should check what's going on", Bill suggested "I'll finish here", he watched as Lucas left before he even finished talking.

Another knowing grin curled up Bill's lips.

"That was easier than I thought", he whispered to himself, smirking "Yep. I still got it."

—--

Grace looked around the dark hallway as she heard the soft whimpers once again

Following the sound, she saw a little boy hidden under the small table, crying as he rubbed his elbow.

"Colin?", she called out gently as she knelt in front of the table.

Lucas slipped quietly in the hallway and listened. He could hear Grace's gentle voice and the child's silent whimpering.

He followed the sounds, ready to help if it was needed.

And then he saw them.

And stopped dead in his tracks, completely enthralled by the sight in front of him.

Grace called little Colin's name and slowly reached her hand toward a crying boy who was hiding under the table.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?", Grace silently asked.

"My awm huwts, Gwacie", Colin sobbed quietly.

Grace's face softened.

"Oh, honey, can I look at it?, as little Colin nodded, she smiled softly and said "Why don't you come here?"

Little Colin crawled out from under the table and Grace gently pulled him up on her lap. Kissing his light brown hair, she gently whispered "Now, let me see what is hurting my buddy Colin", she slowly moved the little sleeve up and inspected a few tiny red scratches on Colin's elbow "Did you fall on your arm, sweetie?"

Colin nodded.

"My Mummy always kissed it better when I fell", little Colin sobbed silently, breaking both Grace's and Lucas' heart.

Lucas watched as Grace's fingers gently wiped tears from the little boy's cheeks.

"I know you miss your Mummy, Colin. But, if you allow me, maybe I can help you?"

Little Colin rubbed his left eye.

"How?", he mumbled through tears.

Grace put on a serious face.

"Well, there is something that you don't know about me. I have magic powers. I can kiss away any pain you feel", Grace smiled gently.

"Weally, Gwacie?", sniffed Colin.

"Cross my heart", Grace gently replied.

Little Colin glanced from her face to his elbow, then back at her face before he slowly nodded.

Smiling softly, Grace placed a gentle kiss on the little boy's elbow, and then blew some cold air on the tiny scratches.

Little Colin's face lightened up.

"Heeeey! It wowks!", he smiled happily.

"Of course it works! Magic, remember?", smiled Grace, picking the little boy up as she got up on her feet "Now, lets get you cleaned up and then you can have a story. Okay?"

Little boy nodded in excitement, his chubby little hands warmly hugging Grace around her neck.

"I wove you, Gwacie", whispered Colin with his little nose buried in Grace's chocolate brown hair.

Grace smiled, kissing his little head.

"Oh, I love you too, munchkin. Very, very much", she said warmly.

Lucas watched her go away toward the bathroom and felt warmth spreading in his chest.