Author's note: Thanks to Avis Minter for an idea for a gift that Carson brought for little Jack.

—--

William Thatcher stood by the window, gazing outside. A few minutes passed before he spoke.

"Maybe it's our fault. Maybe we should have made her stay in Hamilton after Constable Thornton's death", he mumbled against the rim of his glass.

Carson pressed his lips tightly together.

"Mr. Thatcher, don't do that to yourself. What's done is done. Just think about what you can do now, for both Elizabeth and your grandson", Carson spoke calmly, careful not to rattle William's nerves.

Elizabeth's Father glanced at him and for a moment, silence prevailed.

Then he nodded.

"You are right. There's no use for us to dwell on the past", he said silently and then a movement through the window caught his peripheral vision "Ah, here they come now."

Carson stood a few steps away from the old Mr. Thatcher and at his words he glanced outside.

He saw Agatha coming up the stairs, holding a little palm in her hand.

Carson felt a lump in his throat as he recognized little Jack. The little boy was so despondent, walked without the usual spring in his step, his little blonde head bowed down.

William moved from the window toward the doors, Carson following him slowly, but stopping at the threshold of the office, not wanting to startle little Jack.

He listened as William walked toward Agatha and little Jack.

"Jack, I have a surprise for you. An old friend of yours came to see you", William smiled gently at his Grandson and took his little palm in his hand, leading him toward the office.

Carson noticed how the little boy didn't react, just walked silently beside his Grandpa. Swallowing hard, Carson decided to reveal himself.

Stepping in the hallway he smiled warmly at little boy.

"Hello, Jack", he said gently.

William felt little fingers in his palm twitching and looking down, his eyes filled with tears as he saw his Grandson's face brightening up with a smile.

In the next moment, a little boy let go of his hand and ran toward Carson.

"Doctor Shepherd!", exclaimed Jack, running as fast as he could toward his friend.

Carson knelt down and opened his arms to welcome his little friend in his embrace. Jack catapulted into him, hugging him tightly.

Carson swallowed hard, a lump in his throat sending tears into his blue eyes. He gently caressed Jack's blonde hair and smiling, he pulled a bit away to look at the boy.

"Hey, Jack, it's good to see you again! You've grown so much since I saw you!", said Carson as he smiled warmly at a little boy.

Jack gave him a toothless grin, hugging him again.

Carson gently patted the little boy's back and looked at William and Agatha. Elizabeth's Father showed with his hand to the living room and all three grown ups went toward it, Carson holding Jack in his arms.

Carson sat down at the armchair and as a little boy still didn't free him of his hug, young doctor gently said:

"Hey, Jack, I brought you something", as Jack's grip loosened a bit, Carson slowly unlatched him from his neck and sat him down on his thigh "Do you wanna look?", he softly asked, handing a bag to a precious little boy.

Jack nodded and in the next moment his little hands pulled out a toy bow, plastic arrow and Robin Hood green hat with a red feather.

His little fingers slowly caressed a red feather on a green hat.

"What do we say, Jack?", William spoke softly.

Jack looked up at Carson.

"Thank you, doctor Shepherd", he mumbled silently.

Carson smiled gently at him and taking a hat, he put it on Jack's blonde head.

"Lets see how does it fit…perfect!", he gave Jack an arrow and a bow and watched as a little boy smiled sadly at the gifts.

"What's wrong, Jack?", William gently asked.

Jack fidgeted a bit and managed to get down from Carson's lap to his feet and toddled toward his Grandfather.

William welcomed him with a gentle caress on his head.

"It's Robin Hood", said Jack, his fingertips brushing over the small arrow.

William nodded.

"And do you know who Robin Hood was?", he asked softly.

In the next moment, William felt his heart shattering as little Jack's eyes shone with tears as he nodded.

"My buddy read 'Robin Hood' to me. I miss him reading to me", whispered Jack, his little palm rubbing his left eye "I miss my Mummy too."

William picked up his Grandson in his arms and held him closer to him, glancing helplessly at Carson.

Carson swallowed hard before coming to sit down next to William on the sofa.

"Hey, Jack… I am sure they miss you too. In fact, I am going to see your buddy soon and I will tell him that you miss him", he spoke softly, causing a little boy to look at him.

"My buddy is Robin Hood now. He helps other people", Jack mumbled as a few warm tears rolled down his cheeks.

Carson smiled sadly.

"He certainly does", he replied as he thought about everything Lucas did as a Governor so far, both with a water problem and the orphanage. He gently caressed Jack's little head and asked "Do you want to draw something for him?", at little Jack's nod, Carson softly smiled "Good. But, before you do it, let me just check to see are you healthy. I know that your buddy will ask me about you", he winked at the little boy and Jack gave him a small smile, watching as Carson took a stethoscope out of his medical bag.

After he listened to Jack's breathing, Carson checked the little boy's eyes and his eyebrows slightly creased.

William held his Grandson as Carson checked up on a little boy. He felt concern rising up in him at the slight frown on Carson's face.

As Carson put away his stethoscope, William gently kissed his Grandson's hair.

"Jack, why don't you go to show Auntie Agatha your new bow and arrow while I talk to doctor Shepherd?", he gently put the boy down from his lap and got up from the sofa, with Carson following him.

They walked a bit further away and William silently asked:

"What is it, doctor Shepherd?", he asked.

Carson creased his eyebrows.

"Mr. Thatcher, his lungs are fine, as well as his heartbeat. However, his iron level seems to be quite low. You told me that he doesn't eat well. He is very melancholic and probably doesn't sleep well either", taking a deep breath in, Carson continued "You should probably watch out during the night to make sure that he doesn't start walking in his sleep. I can prescribe medicine to boost his iron level, but we need to do something fast before he breaks down completely."

William nodded.

"Anything. Just name it", he said.

Carson took a deep breath in.

"We have to take him to see Lucas", he said.

—--

Lillian was cutting bread for dinner, shaking her head at Lucas playing airplane with the kids, sending squeals and giggles all over the air as they fleeeeeeew above the clouds!

That meant that Lucas held another kid above his head every few minutes and rushed through the dining room, while Grace yelled out the next airport.

"Dear passenger, get ready to land to New York! To San Franscisco! To New Orleans! To Chicago!"

At that moment Lillian heard a phone ringing and caught Grace's panicked look.

She untied her apron and turned to Bertha.

"I'll get that. You call the pilot and the stewardess to help you", quipped Lillian, causing Bertha to snort.

Lillian shared a look with Grace that said "Don't worry. Just keep him busy".

Grace nodded and mouthed "Thank you".

Lillian rushed outside the kitchen and ran to answer the phone in the living room.

"Hello, New Hope orphanage, Lillian speaking", she answered.

Carson smiled.

"Hello, Lillian, it's Carson. How are you?"

Lillian smiled.

"Hello, Carson! I'm good, thank you. We were expecting your call, but Lucas is here so Grace couldn't answer", she said and asked "How are you doing, Carson? It's been a long time since we talked."

Carson nodded as he rubbed his forehead, smiling.

"Yeah, can you believe how time flies?", he shook his head "I am good, Lillian, thanks", taking a deep breath in, he added "And I have some news."

Lillian swallowed, dreading the worst.

"Is Jack okay?", she silently asked.

Carson creased his eyebrows.

"He will be. I prescribed some medicine to boost his immune system and agreed with Mr. Thatcher on something."

Lillian swore that she stopped breathing.

"On what?", she silently asked.

Carson smiled gently.

"To take Jack to Capitol City and Lucas for his birthday", he said and as he heard Lillian gasp, his smile grew.

"Oh, my God, Carson! How did you do that?! ", she tried to keep her voice down in order not to alarm Lucas who, by the sound of giggles and squeals dying down, finished his airplane playing for the day.

Carson leaned into his chair.

"Mr. Thatcher is a reasonable man. He sees that Jack isn't feeling good and is ready to fight for his Grandson. He will deal with Elizabeth when she calls and will tell her that Agatha took Jack for a little trip for a few days to cheer him up. So, Agatha will be the one who will bring Jack in Capitol City for Christmas", Carson explained.

"And does Jack know that he will see his buddy?", Lillian asked, her smile growing as her eyes shone with tears.

Carson shook his head.

"No. We couldn't risk it that he says something about it to Elizabeth when she calls", he looked down at the drawing on his table and gently smiled "He drew something for Lucas and asked me to give it to his buddy."

Lillian wiped a few tears that escaped her eyes.

"Oh, dear, this is better than we could hope for!", at that moment she heard Lucas' and Grace's voices in the hallway and her eyes widened "Listen, Carson, I have to hung up, Lucas is coming. When can we call you back?"

Carson softly smiled.

"Whenever you want. I am free today, worked some night shifts so now it is time for me to rest", he answered.

Lillian nodded.

"Alright. I'll talk to you later. Thank you so much! Bye", and just as she said the last words and hung up, Lucas passed by her and headed toward the bathroom. Lillian glared at Grace with a warning look and Grace's eyes widened, her mouth slightly gaping open.

"I couldn't stop him from going to the bathroom!", she hissed, causing Lillian to roll her eyes. Grace let out a breath and looked expectantly at her sister "Was that Carson?", at Lillian's nod, Grace bit her lip, bubbling with nervous energy "Did he see Jack?"

Lilian smiled widely, taking Grace's hands.

"Yes, he did. He said that he is free today so you can call him whenever you can", her lips curled up in an excited smile as she added "And he talked Jack's Grandpa into letting Jack see Lucas for his birthday!", she smiled widely as Grace gasped in surprise.

"Oh, my God, Lillian!", Grace yelped, pulling her sister in a hug, smiling happily.

At that moment Lucas's footsteps were heard and Grace quickly pulled away and whispered.

"Lets not say anything to Lucas for now. Just in case they changed their mind", she pleaded and Lillian nodded before squeezing her hands and leaving to the kitchen.

Grace smiled, barely able to hold in her excitement as she turned to look at Lucas.

He gave her a questioning look.

"Is everything alright?", he asked as he walked toward her, fixing his cufflinks.

Without a word, Grace walked into his embrace and wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning her face into his chest, breathing him in.

In the next moment she looked up at him, smiling warmly.

"Everything is perfect", she playfully pecked his lips "Come on, lets get some dinner", she tried to pull away from him, but Lucas held her back causing Grace to look back at him, a small confused smile on her lips.

Lucas quickly glanced around them to make sure they were alone.

Satisfied with their silent surroundings, he looked down at Grace, his eyes darkening a bit with a fire she stoked inside him.

"You can't be serious?", he whispered, inching closer to her face.

Grace chuckled.

"Excuse me?", she breathed out.

Lucas gently nuzzled her nose with his, his breath warming her rosy lips, sending her heartbeat into a fiery race.

"That was not a kiss, my dear Miss Bennet", he whispered and felt her tremble slightly in his arms as he pulled her slowly toward him "That was not a way how you are suppose to kiss your soon husband-to-be."

Grace's lips curled up as her breathing got all messed up.

"Really?", she whispered back with a soft smile.

Lucas's smile turned seductive as he whispered, every word brushing over Grace's lips, causing her to let out a shaky breath:

"Yes, really, future Mrs. Bouchard."

Grace's eyes filled with tears at hearing Lucas calling her "future Mrs. Bouchard".

As her lips gently brushed over his lips, she breathed out:

"Show me."

And in the next moment, the dam broke.

Lucas pulled her flush against him, kissing her passionately, stealing every breath she took. Grace whimpered in pleasure, her hands wrapping around his shoulders as she tried to pull him closer.

She felt a gentle lick of his tongue on her lower lip and gasped silently at the delicious contact, opening up to him. He devoured her lips, his tongue lovingly drinking her sweet mouth in and Grace silently mewled in pleasure, unable to stop it. Her sweet sounds fuelled fire in Lucas and one of his hands sneaked into her soft, wavy hair. He slightly moved her head to the left side, getting himself a better angle to deepen the kiss even more as he pressed her body into his.

Grace's entire body shook wildly and she grabbed for Lucas' shoulders to keep herself standing as her knees buckled.

Sweet mercy.

Lucas gasped silently at the intensity of feeling her so close to him…and still wanting her to be closer.

As their kiss broke, both of them fought for breath, never breaking eye contact.

He watched as Grace visibly shivered in his arms, gasping for breath, her eyes never leaving his.

And how her lips curled up in a lazy smile.

"Oh, I think I will enjoy being Mrs. Bouchard very, very much!", she whispered and her smile widened, causing him to chuckle.

She hugged him tightly and he felt incredible joy bursting inside him at her love, causing him to pick her up from the ground and twirl her.

Grace laughed happily, holding tightly onto Lucas. As he slowly put her down on the ground, she sighed as she felt him bury his face in her hair.

"I love you, Grace", she heard him whisper.

She snuggled into him, her face hiding into her private haven between his neck and shoulder.

Gently, she pressed her lips against the skin of his neck.

And as she felt him inhale sharply at the delicious contact, she whispered:

"I love you too, my Lucas."