Crisis averted, Grace Farrell and Oliver Warbucks settled Annie, wrapped in Warbucks' suit jacket, on their laps in the back of the Duesenberg. Both couldn't help but stare at the little girl as she gave a large sigh and an even larger yawn before burrowing her face into Warbuck's shoulder. Annie's watery blue eyes blinked slowly before drifting closed, quiet snoreful sighs peppering out every few moments. Grace and Oliver shared a quiet look of surprise, shocked at how quickly the redhead had gathered her composure. Who would have thought with all the excitement that she would have fallen asleep within moments of getting into the car.

As the Asp pulled away from the scene, sirens and yells drifting away behind them, Grace shifted her weight, leaning into Oliver's left arm and letting her temple drop to his shoulder. A small sigh escaped her lips, but Oliver couldn't quite tell if it was a sound of relief or contentment. The night's activities had certainly made him certain of which emotion he hoped the sigh spoke, but he couldn't be certain. Feeling the dampness of tears seeping through the fabric of his shirt, he realized with a pang of regret that the tears came from a place of sorrow.

"Grace, are you alright?" Silence met his question. Oliver was overcome with doubts. Should he try to hold her? He wasn't certain of Grace's feelings towards him as of yet. Oliver had been quite certain only a few hours ago that she had similar feelings to his own, but the darkness of the night had darkened his inner voice as well. It was downright cumbersome. Feelings of doubt were foreign to Oliver Warbucks in all areas of his life except regarding Ms. Grace Farrell and at certain points, Annie. It was not a feeling that Oliver was in favor of, but he supposed it was just an unwanted side effect for the love he now felt carving gigantic holes in his heart. One cavern for Annie and one slightly large for Grace.

With another heavy sigh, Grace let the despair and fear leak out through her tears and waited a moment to gather her voice before answering. "I'm fine, Mr. Warbucks. It's just been a very long day."

A frown moved across his face at her use of his formal name, but a short chuckle escaped at the way Grace always got to the heart of the matter. "Yes, I quite agree. A very long day." He stared at the little girl in his arms a moment, gathering the courage to say what he knew needed to be said. There would be no going back after this, a path of no return laying itself out before his mind's eye. "I don't know what I would have done without you today, Grace."

The very thought that Oliver Warbucks would have been lost without someone beside him, that Oliver Warbucks needed anyone at all, brought a bubble of laughter to her lips. "We both know that's not true."

She could feel his shoulders slightly tense underneath her cheek. "I assure you, Madam, that it is true."

Falling into their pattern of banter, Grace responded without much thought. "Oh, darling, I don't believe that for a moment. The great Oliver Warbucks is quite strong enough on his own to deal with any situation."

Feeling him tense even more, Grace immediately regretted her flippant use of an endearment. How unprofessional. Her face burned with humiliation. Oliver turned his body, swinging his shoulder out from under her cheek, making her sit up into the seat. She turned her head towards the outer window, unwilling to look him in the eye. It didn't take him long to speak. "Strength isn't really the issue, Grace. And since when have you started calling me 'darling'."

Grace couldn't speak, couldn't breathe. She felt like her face was so bright it was burning a hole through the seat cushion. Oliver wasn't the patient type to wait for an answer. "You're all red. That means you're embarrassed. Why?"

She continued to be silent, hoping that he would drop the subject but knowing Oliver wasn't prone to dropping anything. She startled slightly when she felt his finger gently slide down her jaw before resting under her chin, exerting the slightest of pressures to push her face upwards, making her meet his eyes. "Why are you embarrassed, Grace?"
Grace felt forced to reply. "It isn't seemly for a personal secretary to be calling her employer 'darling'. I sincerely apologize, Sir."

Oliver couldn't let this opportunity slip through his fingers. This was the opening he hadn't realized he had been waiting for. Letting the gruffness seep into his voice, he continued to tip her face towards his. "I don't believe I lodged an official complaint, Grace." Normally, he would have left it at that, letting her slip away once again. But this night had shown him that the future was not guaranteed, and he promised himself that come Hell or high water, they were finishing this tonight. His heart thudded in his chest. Time to jump into the deep end, Oliver. "I believe we both know that I am not just your employer any longer, Grace." He felt her breath hitch as her eyes widened to what he was sure was twice their normal size. "Surely, you must know how I feel. I love you, Grace."

She thought she had surely fainted and this was all an elaborate dream. There was no way this was real. Sure, she had been in love with Oliver Warbucks for years, but he wasn't the type to fall in love with anyone. Grace stared at him, unblinking and frozen by his pronouncement. Unwilling to wait, Oliver slowly lowered his lips to her, featherlight. Receiving no response beyond her hand gently resting on his arm, he increased the pressure until they were properly kissing, feeling Grace settle into his body and start to kiss him in return.

Suddenly, a slight cough and throat clearing drifted back to them from the front of the car. Oliver shifted quickly backward, face swiveling around, eyes meeting the Asp's through the rearview mirror. Oliver's eyes narrowed in aggravation before hearing what his chauffeur was saying. "I'm sorry, Sir, but we are home."

Grace shuddered back towards her seat. Realizing that they were indeed back at the mansion, she quickly opened her door and started to scamper out of the vehicle. Like a snake striking, Oliver snatched her wrist and pulled, stopping her from getting completely out the door. "Grace, this conversation is not over." Eyes wide, she slipped her hand out of his grasp and practically ran to the front door.

Oliver watched her go, a faint smile on his lips. He turned back towards the front of the car and made eye contact once again with the Asp. "This might be slightly harder than I imagined. What do you think on the matter, Asp?"

The Asp gave a smile that looked more like a grimace in the moonlight. "Quite worthwhile in the end, Sir, I should think. I'd have traded my left toe for a chance with Ms. Farrell. Any of the boys in the mansion would have but she never showed interest. What's the end plan, if you don't mind me asking, Sir?"

Oliver turned and left his gaze rest on Annie's still sleeping face. His voice was quite soft as he answered the question. "Oh, I plan on marrying her, of course." The Asp's small smile erupted into a full faced grin. "Fine choice, Sir. Very fine choice, indeed."

Grace's footsteps thudding down the drive and up the stairs to the front door matched the thumping of her heart against her chest. Oliver had kissed her, he had kissed her. And it had been wonderful. Like sweet rain on a hot summer day and licking the whipped cream off your upper lip after an afternoon hot sundae. But what if it had been a mistake? Could everything she wanted actually happen? It seemed much too good to be true.

Her pace didn't slow as she started to make her way through the fourier, and her mind didn't slow a step either. Oliver had said he loved her. But what if this was all just an elaborate way to get her into his bed? Oliver had never seemed the type before but things change. They had certainly been getting closer lately, but maybe what she had mistook for closeness was actually just giving him the hint that she was up for some tryst. But surely not. Nothing she had ever seen from Oliver over the last five years of being in his employ had ever given her the impression that he was the type to carry on with a woman's affections.

Either way, Grace was sure that he would soon come to his senses, and she was deeply worried for the outcome. With how Oliver was, he would get so out of sorts that he would probably fire her rather than have to look her in the eye. The man did not do well with embarrassment.

Her rush through the hall came to an unexpected halt with the arrival of Mrs. Pugh from a side door. Grace tried to evade her with a brisk step to the side, but Mrs. Pugh would not allow for such a quick dismissal. "Grace, what is the matter? You look like you've seen a ghost. Are you upset over the situation with Annie? The girls and I all heard that Punjab was able to save the day and that she's safe and sound."

Grace ignored her and tried to continue to hurry towards the stairs to the second floor. With a sudden pull on the back of her elbow, Grace came to a screeching halt. "My dear, this is not like your nature and something is clearly amiss."

Mrs. Pugh's eyes seemed to stare straight into Grace's soul. With a whimper, Grace stopped and whispered "Mr. Warbucks just told me he loved me, Gertrude. I don't know what to do. What should I do?"

The eyes that had been so certain widened with shock. Mrs. Pugh's forehead wrinkled for a moment in consternation before her face relaxed into a large grin. "Oh, Olly! I knew some day he'd come to his senses. He can be a bit daft sometimes." She ignored Grace's surprised look and started pulling her towards the kitchen. "Let's talk it through, dear. You seem like this is unexpected news? We've had a pool going around the house for how long until you both made it official. I believe this makes Drake the winner of quite a tidy sum."

Unsure of where she would be going anyways, Grace allowed Mrs. Pugh to push her towards the other side of the house. The truth was that Grace wasn't sure how to proceed. Would it hurt to talk it over a warm cup of tea with Mrs. Pugh? And as a second advantage, Oliver wouldn't think to look for her in the kitchen. She waited patiently as Mrs. Pugh put water in the kettle and set it on the stove.

Setting a box of biscuits on the table, Mrs. Pugh sat down and gave Grace "the look". This look was known throughout the household as the one tried and true method Mrs. Pugh employed when she wanted information. Grace sighed and looked out the window before starting to speak. "Oh, Gertie, what am I going to do?" She slowly dropped her head into her hands, unsure about the entire situation.

"Oh, dear, me. What should one do when a handsome, rich, kind man tells you he loves you? At least the monster didn't try to kiss you. That really would have just ruined your day, hmm?" Grace looked out through the gap between her fingers, then let her fingers drop to show her grimace to the woman that was most like a mother to her on the staff. Mrs. Pugh let out a gust of laughter. "He did, didn't he? Olly, you rogue. Good on him." The wailing of the kettle stopped Mrs. Pugh from continuing on. With a grace that belied her years, the older woman deftly poured the hot water into two tea cups before plopping tea bags in to each one. "In all seriousness, Grace, what is the problem? I've watched the two of you dance around one another for years now. Seems to me more like answered prayer, not something to get upset over."

Grace looked down at her fingertips, playing with the cuticles around her nails. "What if it was just the boiling over of emotions after the day we've had with Annie? What if he wakes up in the morning and realizes that he doesn't want this…. That he doesn't want me? A heat of the moment sort of situation. We won't be able to go back to what we had. Do I want the happily ever after? Of course, I do, Gertie! But I cherish the life we have right now, too. We are both, I think, happy. The chance that this won't work out and then we have nothing might make this too much of a risk for me."

Mrs. Pugh hated to hear the despair and fear in her good friend's voice. This should be a time of happiness, not angst. "But what if it is real, Grace. What if he's been yearning for you just as you've been yearning for him all these years? And this happening to Annie was just the jolt he needed to know that he couldn't face losing you? You know how he is, Grace. It might take him time to make a decision, but once he has made one, it would take a hurricane to shift him. What would make his love life any different?"

Grace leaned back in the chair and took a sip of her tea. The smell of lavender from Mrs. Pugh's special blend slid into her nose, calming her immediately. She looked at the ceiling, following the slight cracks and grooves, thinking over what Mrs. Pugh had said. Finally, she nodded. "What's done is done, I suppose. Might as well jump into the deep end then. I'm not sure that I have the strength to face him tonight, though. If it's real, it will be much more solid in the light of day."

Mrs. Pugh gently patted Grace on the forearm. "That's the way to look at it, Dear. Now, let's talk about the most important part. How was our Olly in the kissing department? Good or needs some work?"

Her face as red as a fire hydrant, Grace ignored Mrs. Pugh's giggles. "I certainly had no complaints."

Grace gazed down at Annie's sleeping form for a moment before tucking the blankets more tightly in around the little girl. If her love flowed like water, it would fill a swimming pool or two. She kissed Annie on the forehead before gently tiptoeing back towards the door. Backing out into the hallway, her eyes never leaving the little girl who had stolen her heart, Grace didn't feel Oliver's presence until the door was closed and she turned into his hard body. She jumped in surprise, letting out a whispered "What are you doing?"
Oliver's eyes seemed to get bigger and bigger until they were all Grace could see. He was firm in his reply. "Finishing a conversation." She heard the words but they didn't immediately make sense to her frazzled mind until his lips crashed into hers. His hands felt like firebrands on either side of her waist and her hands flew to grip his biceps. Grace was so shocked by Oliver's sudden appearance and his lips on hers that her brain short-circuited. She froze like a doe out in the wild, unable to respond.

Oliver realized belatedly that Grace wasn't kissing him back. He took a forced step away, pulling away from the kiss in abject embarrassment. "I'm sorry Ms. Farrell. It's obvious that you don't…"

Like a key clicking into a lock, Grace's mind slid back into place. He was pulling away, was she going to let him? Her hands flew up his shoulders, grabbing him by the shirt and jerking his whole body into hers. Grace's back hit the door to Annie's room with a soft thud, her body caught between Oliver's hard body and the hard wood of the door. Her lips collided back with his, the kiss turning deeper than any before. Oliver's hands encircled her body, one pressed firmly to the middle of her back and the other entwined in her hair. A slight pull to the long strands elicited a moan and gasp from Grace. Oliver took the opportunity to deepen the kiss even further, angling his head and sliding his tongue against hers.

Time seemed to stand still for both of them. Oliver felt like flying. It was heaven to be so close to her, his hands wrapped so tightly around Grace's fit body. But it was hell, too. Hell that he couldn't be even closer, that clothing and honor kept them apart, even just those scant millimeters. He wanted to be closer, dammit. For once in his life, Oliver stopped thinking. Thoughts like how illicit it was to be necking with, well, any woman really right outside his soon to be daughter's door. Or how scandalous it would be to be caught having at it with his personal secretary in the hallway by any of the staff. He needed to be closer. With that feeling foremost in his mind, Oliver lowered his hands to the back of Grace's thighs and lifted her up. Without a pause, Grace reciprocated by locking her legs around his waist. His manhood nestled against her, Oliver groaned in response. Their kisses reached a frenzied pace, and Oliver slowly drifted to kiss her neck before settling in under and behind her left ear. He grabbed her right hand in his left and planted it up against the door, every slight movement of his hips making Grace give a small gasp near his ear. It took him a few moments before he realized the gasps had turned to words.

"Oliver, wait. We have to stop this." He stood perfectly still, but continued to suckle gently on her skin.

"Why, I beg of you, why? I think we both are quite enjoying this." Oliver didn't want to push Grace too far, but this felt so right. To have her in his arms, to be tasting her delicious skin. He breathed deeply, promising himself he would always remember the way she smelled of lavender and tea. There were many reasons he would remember this night, but this delightful aroma that was so completely Grace would be quite high on the list.

Grace gave out a small breath of laughter as unwanted thoughts turned to the idea that they were certainly not going back to the way things were after this little encounter. "Darling, if anyone were to find us, there would be hell to pay. Not only to my reputation, but to yours as well. Even if everyone were to applaud you for bedding your staff, they most likely wouldn't be in favor of your doing so in the hall."

Oliver startled when he heard the words 'my reputation' coming from Grace's lips, and he hurried to drop her legs, allowing her to stand on her own once again. "Oh, my dear, I never thought about what they might say about you. I would never…I wasn't thinking at all. I apologize, Grace."

She smiled up at him before giving him a sweet and slow kiss on the lips. "I don't believe we were discovered. No harm done."

He was amazed at her response. To be so sure about herself that something like this could be so unproblematic was simply astounding. Whatever her feelings on the matter, Oliver was certain that he needed to fix this problem, and fix it now. Taking her hand and bringing it to his lips, he left the softest of kisses before turning and dragging her down the hall. She struggled for a moment to keep pace with him. "Oliver, what are we doing?"

Turning to look at her briefly, he continued to purposefully stride towards the other wing of the house. "I am rectifying a problem." Finally reaching his office, Oliver let go of her hand and gently pushed her towards the doors to the outside. "Go out on the balcony, my dear. I have to find something important." Seeing Grace start to protest, Oliver put one finger over her lips, gently turned her body towards the veranda, and tapped her bottom. "It's important, Grace. I'll be out in a moment."

A hint of a smile on her lips, Grace let him be and floated out to the balcony. Or at least, it felt like she floated. It felt like her feet would never touch the ground again. Reaching the balustrade, Grace leaned on the railing, and stared up at the stars. She could hear Oliver rummaging through desk drawers, the cabinets, the safe. Grace sighed as she knew she would most likely be left to clean up the mess in the morning before realizing that she really didn't mind. Nothing could upset her on this night. She continued to stare up at the night sky, face illuminated lightly by the moon.

When Oliver found what he was looking for and turned to follow her out to the balcony, he was struck still at the sight of her, standing like a beautiful statue draped in moonlight. He realized he had no regrets over how this was turning out. No regrets, no second thoughts, just utter glee. He, Oliver Warbucks, was going to get the girl. If anyone had told the 12 year old mopping out the kitchens in the Navy ships that Oliver Warbucks would someday get the girl, he would have laughed in their faces. But here she was, plain as day, and hopefully his.

Grace was deep enough in thought that she started when she heard Oliver lightly say her name behind her. She turned to see him down on one knee and felt her hand, like a magnet, swing up to her mouth to stifle the gasp. Oliver didn't hesitate to state his intentions. "Grace Farrell, five years ago, you came into my life and turned it upside down. I had secretary after secretary and they were all bumbling idiots. Then you came in and did everything different and I thought to myself, damn that woman is competent. I had better keep her. I didn't realize that what I really meant was, damn, that woman is, well, everything that I need. In every way. You're intelligent, beautiful, kind. A wizard really at everything you set your mind to. And I love you. I've loved you for so very long and it took almost losing Annie to make me realize that all this time, these feelings I've had for you had nothing to do with your competency at your job, and everything to do with who you are as a person. You've fit into this household and my heart like a puzzle piece that I didn't realize had fallen out of the box. And I know you'll be a fantastic mother to Annie. I'm rambling. There you go, you know I'm in love, because what else can make Oliver Warbucks ramble. And I might have waited to do this in a more romantic way but, truth be told, having you in my arms earlier made me realize that I don't want to waste a moment. I want you in my arms and in my bed as soon as is respectably possible. I want to kiss you in the hallway without worrying that someone will catch us and think that's the only reason I'm marrying you. That would be wrong of me. This might be the longest speech of my life. So, what do you think about being Grace Warbucks, hm?"

Grace could only nod, tears running slowly down her cheeks as she prodded Oliver off his knees. He slid the diamond ring onto her finger before drawing her into his arms for a kiss. He gently wiped the tears from her skin with the pads of his thumbs before kissing her soundly once again. "So, what do you think about the ring?"

The question shocked out a short laugh. Grace let him lead her back into the office so that they could both sit on the couch. "You know I would have been perfectly fine with a ring out of the cracker jack box, but, Oliver, this is beautiful. When did you purchase it? You certainly kept it a secret. I haven't processed any jewelry for you since soon after I started here."

Oliver looked at her for a long moment, the tips of his ears starting to turn red. She gasped. "But that was years and years ago! You can't tell me that you've been in love with me for that long."

He ran his finger over the edge of her jawline before tipping a finger under her chin to look her directly in the eye. "I was in love with you within weeks of you starting, Grace. I just didn't understand that I could even fall in love. I felt compelled to buy this ring. I knew at the time it reminded me of you. Warm, stylish. Do you know that the topaz side gems are the exact color of your eyes?"

Grace settled into Oliver's arms and leaned into his warmth. He kissed the top of her head before asking the question that had popped into his head at the mention of when he had first fallen for her. "What about you? It seems like your demeanor towards me only changed recently. What did I do to finally win your affection?"

It was Grace's turn to blush. "The moment I walked in the door, Oliver. My affections have never changed towards you. I think I always saw underneath all the bluster that you were kind and generous. Certainly smart and handsome."

Oliver chuckled under his breath. "I don't believe you. The glares you used to give me when you disagreed could never have come from a place of love."

Grace slid away from him for a moment, meeting his eyes with her own. "I can assure you that it was love. I had to hide it some way otherwise I would have been throwing myself quite distastefully at your feet. If you don't believe me, you can go ask Mrs. Pugh. She heard my sob stories over you almost every night for the last five years."

He smiled gently and kissed her on the cheek. "Whatever you say, my dear."