Author's note: This chapter is a bit shorter but I couldn't resist not to publish it.

The line "There's no place like home" is from "Wizard of Oz". Not mine, just borrowing it.

As the moments passed Grace felt her laughter slowly calming down.

She took a breath in and wiping her tears, got up from the floor.

Lucas also stood up, running his fingers over his hair and face.

Lillian shook her head.

"You two are incorrigible!", she huffed out.

Lucas grinned.

"You know, Lillian, every time I see a water running, I remember you", he chuckled goodheartedly as Lillian rolled her eyes full force.

Straightening her green dress and fixing combs in her hair, Grace smirked.

"How could you not? She was a sight to behold! Like a little cat drowning!", Grace looked at Lucas and he looked back at her, laughter bubbling out once again!

Lucas tried to catch a breath, but hearing Grace's sweet laughter in full force got him in stitches once again.

"Oh, I am so sorry", Grace squeaked out, looking at Lucas' parents '"We are not usually like this", just as she said that, Lucas glanced at her, one eyebrow raised and she bursted to laugh at 'Oh, really?' kind of look he sent her way "Knock it off!", Grace laughed, gently kicking his upper arm.

"Oh, I'll never recover from this!", Lucas breathed out dramatically as he sank down on his chair.

Grace wiped fresh tears that rolled down from laughing so much, grinned and commented:

'Well, I think that kind of disease calls out for a special batch of my blueberry cookies!", she nodded seriously and leaving toward the kitchen, she added "Doctor's orders, Governor Bouchard!"

Lucas leaned in his chair, relaxed and smiling as he called out to her "Understood, Dr. Bennet!"

—--

"We had a lovely time, thank you so much for having us over", Helen took Lillian's palms in hers and kissed her cheeks "You both have hearts of gold and inspire me so much to try and make a change in this world".

Lillian smiled back.

"Thank you, Helen. And you are welcome to visit anytime you want to", Lillian said warmly.

Helen warmly smiled back and then looked at Grace and slowly approached her.

"I just need to click my heels and say 'There's no place like home', right?", Helen asked, her eyes sparkling.

Grace smiled and nodded.

"That's right. But, don't forget - you have to click your heels three times", her smile widened…

…Only to wobble a bit in uncertainty as Lucas' Mother surprised her with a hug.

Grace was frozen for a moment before she slowly hugged Helen back, wondering what was this all about.

And that was when she heard Helen whispering so silently that only Grace could hear her.

"God bless you, dear heart", as she pulled back Grace could swear that she saw tears in Helen's eyes.

But, she quickly turned around and walked out to join her husband outside, leaving Lucas alone with Lillian and Grace.

Lucas looked at Lillian with a friendly smile.

"Lillian, I hope that there's no hard feelings on your side for all that teasing. I am sorry if we made you feel uncomfortable", he said warmly.

Lillian shook her head, giving a slight snort.

"Oh, you won't get out that easily, Lucas! Get ready for revenge!", she grinned.

Grace gasped through a chuckle.

"What kind of revenge?", both she and Lucas looked curiously at Lillian, with smiles on their faces.

Lillian smirked.

"Aaah, that's for Gustave and me to know and for you two troublemakers to find out!", she couldn't help but laugh at their gobsmacked faces. She started to walk away, yelling teasingly "That should keep you up at night!", waving as she went away, she exclaimed "Bye, Lucas!"

Lucas chuckled at his friend's greeting.

"Bye, Lillian!", shaking his head, he looked back at Grace.

Her eyes were warm, her smile sincere as she looked at him.

Lucas felt his heart clench.

I don't want to go.

I don't want to leave you.

His smile slowly faded away as he realized what his thoughts were and he got a bit lost in Grace' warm eyes.

The only sound in the hallway was the ticking of the big clock. As it struck a full hour and rang loudly, they both got startled a bit.

Grace swallowed hard, not being able to look away from his handsome face.

Why is he so serious?

He was so close that she was sure that she could feel warmth radiating from his body. Her heart skipped a beat as his eyes held her gaze.

What is he thinking?

Why is he looking at me like that?

Like that…

Grace could hardly breathe from the intensity and warmth that came from his eyes. She saw his hand moving and next thing she felt was his gentle fingers tucking a stray curl behind her ear.

Her heart thumped so loudly that she was certain that Lucas could hear it. Her blood boiled dangerously hot as he pulled his hand away, lightly brushing his fingers against her shoulder on its way back.

Taking a deep breath in Lucas shook himself out of the dream he got lost in

"I will see you at the Ball?", he silently asked.

He watched completely enthralled as Grace inhaled, quickly moistening her lips with a tip of her tongue, before nodding.

"Yeah. I will… I will see you there", she stammered.

He nodded and smiled gently at her.

"Good night, Grace. Sweet dreams", he whispered as he quickly turned around and left.

Grace shut the doors after him, leaning her forehead against the wood and closing her eyes, she whispered:

"Good night", she breathed out, trying to calm down "I'll see you in my dreams".

Oh, she was sure of a few things.

She was a goner.

Her dreams will definitely be sweet tonight.

She turned away from the doors and dragged herself upstairs, her head swimming.

That man was too much.

And she loved every bit of it.

—--

When I want you in my arms

When I want you and all your charms

Whenever I want you, all I have to do is

Dream, dream, dream, dream.

When I feel blue in the night

And I need you to hold me tight

Whenever I want you, all I have to do is dream.

I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine

Anytime, night or day,

Only trouble is, gee whiz

I'm dreamin' my life away.

I need you so that I could die,

I love you so and that is why

Whenever I want you, all I have to do is dream, dream, dream, dream.

I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine

Anytime, night or day,

Only trouble is, gee whiz,

I'm dreamin' my life away.

I need you so that I could die,

I love you so and that is why

Whenever I want you, all I have to do is

Dream, dream, dream, dream Dream, dream, dream, dream Dream, dream, dream, dream

("All I have to do is dream" - Laurent Voulzy feat. Andrea Corr)