Lucas came over periodically, at least a few times a week, for dinner. He always brought her favorites. Tonight, she told him not to bring anything. Dinner was on her.

She knew that he wasn't a picky eater, except for hating broccoli, so she made sure not to include broccoli. She made pot roast, carrots and potatoes and then for dessert, she bought a cheesecake.

She left the wine on the counter, because he didn't think wine was very good chilled. She also, took out her box of decaf tea, because he was a tea drinker, not a coffee drinker.

Tonight marked the beginning of October. It had been a few months filled with friend dates for coffee, shakes or just to sit at The Bluff. Then they graduated to friend dates at her house where he brought food. Now, she felt like she might be ready to let him know that she was wanting a little more romance.

She was giving herself permission to feel the feelings toward Lucas. It had been almost 30 months since Nathan died and she felt her heart opening toward her now best friend.

She heard the door open, knowing it was him. "Beth?"

"Kitchen!"

"Hey," he said, walking in wearing his typical dark jeans and t-shirt combo that showed off those biceps very nicely.

She gulped and smiled. "Hi. Lucas, I told you dinner was on me."

He put a bag down on the counter. "Its dessert."

"I made dessert."

"Well, so we'll have two desserts."

Her eyes traveled down to his lips for a split second. That grin made her heart pound. Those dimples.

"Beth?"

"Hm?"

"Your cheeks are warm," he said, touching the back of his hand to her cheek. "Are you feeling okay?"

"A little flustered, actually," she muttered.

"Flustered?"

"Can we talk?"

"Of course. How long before dinner?"

"Twenty minutes."

"Okay. Let's maybe have a glass of wine on the couch?"

"Sure."

They took their glasses and sat down and she was nervous. She put her glass down and her hands wouldn't hold still. She put them under her legs and then back out, twisting her fingers together.

"Whoa, Beth. Its just me. You know that I'm here for you. No matter what."

She sighed and sat back, allowing herself to relax. Then she looked at him. "I think that I'm ready."

"Ready? For…."

"More than friendship."

"Do you…I mean, are you going on a date with someone? That's great. Really, Beth."

"What? Lucas," she laughed, pushed against his shoulder. "With you, you goof."

"Oh. Well, I didn't want to assume."

"Assume, Lucas. We have been spending time together. A lot."

"I know but that last thing I wanted was to ever push you into something you might not want or be ready for."

"And I appreciate that so much. You haven't pushed and…now I know that I'm ready."

"Okay."

He didn't know what to do with that information. Well, he wanted to kiss her, that was for sure but seeing as how they were just starting to move forward romantically, he could wait a bit longer. Maybe let her make the first move.

"Okay?"

"Yeah."

"Lucas…what do you think? I mean, I was hoping for a bit more of a reaction, to be honest."

"I'm a tiny bit surprised," he admitted, sipping his wine. "And I'm happy. I've been hoping and praying for this for a long time."

"You have?"

"Yeah." His cheeks turned a bit pink this time, and it was adorable.

She slowly raised her hand to his cheek and stroked his soft beard with her thumb. "Thank you for giving me time. For letting me find my way. I'll always remember how patient you were."

He put his hand on top of hers and kissed her palm. No words were needed. She could feel what his words would convey.

"May I hold you?"

She took her hand down and snuggled into his arms, feeling relaxed and relieved. It felt right.

As Lucas was leaving Elizabeth's driveway late that evening, his work phone buzzed in his pocket. He rarely got contacted on his night off, but his brothers knew that if it was an emergency, they could get him.

"Chief Bouchard," he answered, pulling over to the side of the road.

"Chief…its Tim."

"Larsen, what's going on?"

"Chief are you sitting down?"

"Yes, I'm sitting. What's the emergency? You are freaking me out a bit."

"Allie and I were on a date in Boulder."

"Were you drinking, Tim?"

"What? No, of course not."

"Did you get her pregnant?"

"What? Sir, can I please finish?"

"Sorry. Go on."

"There was an accident. I was driving and a car ran a stop sign and plowed into us."

"Are you both alright? Please tell me you are."

"We are hurt. We are in Boulder Memorial. She's in surgery. Are you with her Aunt? Can you please tell her?"

He turned his truck around and drove immediately back to Beth's. "I'm there. We will be up at the hospital in a bit."

"Okay. Sir, she's really hurt."

"Thank you for telling me. Say a prayer. I'll be praying too."

He said a prayer and walked up to Beth's door, knocking on it.

"Lucas? Did you miss me already?"

She saw the look on his face and it scared her. "Lucas!"

"Beth, let's sit down."

"What? No. What's happening?"

"Tim called me. He and Allie were on a date in Boulder…"

"I'm going to sit." She squatted down to the floor and tried to concentrate on breathing. He knelt in front of her.

"Beth, someone ran a stop sign and hit them."

"Oh gosh. Well, Tim called you, so he's alright. So that must mean that Allie is. Right?"

"He says its serious. They are at Boulder Memorial and he said you need to go up there. So I'm here to take you. He says she's in surgery but that's all I know."

"Lucas, I can't lose her. She's not actually my daughter but I raised her as my own. Lucas!"

He could see the beginning of a potential panic attack so he sat down next to her and held her. "She is your daughter in all the ways that count. As soon as you are ready, we will go up there. You just tell me when."

"Its an hour away. We need to go now," she told him. She stood up and so he did too, waiting there while she got her purse. He was beginning to worry when she finally came downstairs, her face blotchy from tears.

"Beth…"

"Please, let's just go."

…..

"I failed him," she muttered, wiping her cheeks as they drove.

"What? You did not. This is not your fault. Not only was it an accident but she is an adult. You can't protect them 100% of the time. Nathan would never blame you and I won't let you blame yourself."

"If she dies…"

"It still won't be your fault. But try to stay positive. Listen, I love Al too. I don't want to lose her either but whatever does happen, I'm not leaving you to deal with it alone."

"That's a big promise, Bouchard."

"I mean it. Every word. I'm your best friend and I always will be."

Once they arrived at the hospital, he showed his badge and let them know that one of his coworkers, Tim Larsen had been brought into the hospital as a result of an auto accident.

"I'm sorry, sir. I can't give you any information regarding his condition."

"I'm aware of that. I would like to see him."

"And I want to see my daughter, Allison Grant. She was also in that accident."

"Your daughter? Yes, ma'am." She looked in the computer and then back up to Elizabeth. "She's in surgery currently. If you both would like to head down the hall toward the surgical waiting room, a doctor will come find you."

"What about my coworker?" Lucas asked.

"He is having some tests. We will let you know when he can be seen."

Elizabeth slipped her fingers into his hand as they walked to the waiting room as directed. It felt good to take some strength from someone else for a change and not just try to find it within herself.

He squeezed it and looked at her. "I'm here."

"Thank you."

Elizabeth sat down and texted Ivy and Marley, asking if they would please come down to Boulder Memorial because Allie had been in a serious accident. They immediately texted back and said they would be there soon. University of Colorado was very close.

Lucas held out his hand and she took it again. "I really feel lost not knowing how she is."

"Let's go ask at the nurse's station in the hall. Maybe they don't know how she is right now but they can tell you the reason for her surgery and her injuries."

"You don't mind?"

He stood and walked, still holding her hand, leading her to the desk.

"Excuse me," she said quietly. A nurse looked up.

"Yes ma'am."

"My daughter. I know she's in surgery but I would like to know what injuries she had and why they needed to do surgery."

"What's your daughter's name, ma'am?" a man in a white coat said from behind the woman she was speaking with.

"Allison Grant."

"I was in the ER when the ambulance brought her in."

"What can you tell me?"

"We can go sit down in the waiting room and talk," the doctor said, walking out from behind the desk.

"Okay, please. I'm going crazy here," she said, sitting but not letting go of Lucas.

He squeezed her hand and covered it with his other one, trying to support but calm her down too.

"The vehicle she was in did not have a functioning airbag for the passenger side. So as a result, when the car hit her vehicle, her head hit the window."

"Oh gosh."

"We did an MRI and found bleeding in and around the brain so we rushed her to surgery to get rid of some of the pressure in her head. She also has a broken vertebrae in her neck, three broken ribs on her right side along with a broken tibia."

Elizabeth nodded and thanked the doctor. "Thank you. I want to see her as soon as its safe for me to, please."

"Of course."

About twenty minutes later, Ivy and Marley found them. "Mom!"

"Girls!" she said with relief as she hugged both girls tightly.

"How's Al? Is she alright?"

"She's alive, right? How bad are her injuries?"

"Okay, girls. One question at a time."

They nodded and then realized Lucas was there. "Uncle Luke, thank you for taking care of Mom until we got here."

"Of course." Lucas winked at Elizabeth and gave the twins a gentle hug. "Happy to help."

"So Allie has bleeding in her brain and a broken vertebrae in her neck. On her right side she has a broken leg and three broken ribs. She's in surgery to relieve pressure in her brain."

"Holy crap," the twins said in unison.

"Girls, you know I hate that expression."

"It fits," Ivy shrugged.

"Sorry, Mom," Marley said.

"Hey, um…were you and Uncle Luke holding hands?"

Elizabeth blushed. "Can we hold that conversation for a time more appropriate?"

"Its a yes or no question," Ivy sassed. "You know we'd be happy for you, Mom. We want you to be happy."

"Yes, okay? Lucas and I have decided to see each other."

"See each other like you've been? Or romantically?"

"Romantically."

"Awesome," they told her. "You guys make an adorable couple."

"Is there a Lucas Bouchard here?" a nurse said from the doorway.

"That's me," he said, standing.

"Tim Larsen asked us to find you. He'd like you to visit him."

"Great, thank you." Lucas placed a kiss on Elizabeth's forehead. "Will you be alright?"

"Of course. Tim needs you."

"Text me if you need anything. All of you," he told the girls. They smiled and thanked him and then he walked away, ready to check on his younger brother.