Grace felt her breath hitch at the sound of his voice, the words he whispered and warmth of his breath close to her earlobe.
A shivering breath escaped her. She was sure that she will faint.
She couldn't close her eyes to calm herself, knowing that many eyes must be directed at the woman to whom the new Governor danced with.
Therefore, she looked down.
A huge mistake.
She was now struck with the sight of his neck and his thick, dark hair above his collar.
He was everywhere. Everywhere around her. His skin, his scent, his warmth, the feeling of his hand on her waist, holding her close.
She swallowed hard.
Don't faint, Grace. Don't make a fool of yourself.
She tried to take in a deeper breath, but only managed to loose another shivering one as tremors shook her body.
Lucas felt her shaking slightly in his arms. Concerned, he pulled away a bit and looked down at her.
"Grace?", he noticed her cheeks were flaming red. Her eyes seemed so far away. She looked like a frightened deer at being the center of attention.
He was aware that the woman he would be dancing to would attract glances and attention and he was ready for it, as long as it meant to hold her in his arms.
Obviously, she wasn't ready.
"Hey", he whispered, worry getting the better of him "Are you alright? Do you want to sit down or take a walk?"
And that was when she left him utterly speechless when she shook her head and whispered, still looking down at his shoulder:
"No. Just hold me".
His heart soared at her words and he closed his eyes for a second, inhaling deeply. His hand gently pressed at her waist, pulling her closer to him.
"I got you", he whispered gently "Just breathe".
Grace swallowed hard, hiding her face for just a moment in the place between his neck and shoulder.
I will most certainly faint.
It felt so good to be this close to him. It felt so good to be wrapped up in his warmth.
She felt his face lean on top of her head and she closed her eyes, swaying to the rhythm of music, following his lead.
Propriety be damned.
All of a sudden, she felt a fire ignited her skin, her breath coming out in a small gasp.
His fingers gently brushed her bare shoulders and upper back, her skin exposed to his touch due to her strapless dress.
Oh God. Please, don't let me faint.
Unconsciously, she turned her flaming face into his neck, a breath escaping her lips into his skin.
Wait…
Grace opened her eyes.
Did she just feel his heartbeat speeding up?
Lillian's words from earlier today rang in her mind.
When he thinks that nobody sees it, he looks at you with warmth that would melt ice.
He cares about you.
Could it be?
Curious to confirm her suspicions or hopes, whatever they were, Grace moved her head a bit, slowly nuzzling her nose against his skin before settling her cheek on it.
Oh, yes. There was no doubt about it.
His heartbeat was almost frantic. She could hear it in her ears and was sure that it was the most wonderful sound she ever heard.
Warmth and love washed over her as she felt his pulse growing.
He does care.
Lucas inhaled deeply, scent of her perfume tugging at his heartstrings.
When did it happen? When did this angel manage to bring a light in his heart, chasing away the black clouds of sorrows and pains he had on his soul?
When was it that she reached out and managed to pull him out of darkness, helping him through his anguish?
Lucas' eyes were fixed on her head as her soft cheek was nestled in his neck.
He felt shivers running up and down his spine, his senses electrified.
His hand moved on its own accord and his fingers gently brushed her milky skin.
Heavens above.
He never wanted to let her go.
—--
Lillian took a glass of champagne as the waiter stopped beside her and people she was talking to.
Henry introduced her to few people who were interested in hearing more about the orphanage, what can be done to improve the children's lives until they are settled in new families.
She was thrilled for two reasons.
First - there were so many people who were really interested in the orphanage and wanted to help. Most importantly, a few of them knew good people who were fighting infertility and were thinking about adoption.
As she exchanged business cards and phone numbers with a few of them, she nodded to them and walked away, taking a sip of her champagne.
What a wonderful man Lucas Bouchard was to direct public opinion on the problem of increasing number of orphaned and abandoned children!
Looking down at the business cards, Lillian stopped on the one with a name of a child's counselor.
Dr. Miriam Cooper.
Lillian put her glass down and opened her little purse to put the business cards inside.
Finishing the task, she took back her glass of champagne and looked across the ballroom.
Her smile shone brightly at the sight of her sister and Lucas dancing, completely oblivious to the world around them.
And that was the second reason for her happiness tonight.
Her heart warmed as she noticed the intimacy between them. She could see Grace hiding from the world with her face nestled somewhere between Lucas' neck and shoulder.
But, it was Lucas' facial expression that caught Lillian's attention.
He looked down at Grace, inhaling deeply, then closing his eyes for a moment. His lips hovered over Grace's hair, but didn't touch it…not that he didn't want to…more like he didn't dare.
But Lillian noticed a gentle brush of his fingers over Grace's bare shoulders.
Oh, my.
At that moment Henry's voice was heard.
"You think he will allow some other man to dance with her?"
Lillian glanced at Henry.
"What do you think?", she asked back, her lips curling up.
Henry shook his head, a warm smile spreading on his lips.
"Not a chance", he replied.
Henry was glad to see his good friend coming back to his old self again. Lately they've spent quite some time together, playing chess and talking like they did back in the good old days.
He knew what a good man his young friend was and he was glad to see Lucas slowly, bit surely recover from the horrible blow Elizabeth threw upon him.
He remembered Grace from the days she visited Hope Valley. She was a good hearted young woman, eager to help little orphaned children, yet she carried a sadness inside her due to her hard life.
But, the most remarkable thing was that it didn't make her bitter or cruel. On the contrary.
One thing that Henry noticed these past few weeks was definitely how big Grace's heart is.
When she loved, she loved fully. She never played with people's feelings.
And she blossomed with love and happiness whenever Lucas was around. She was so in tune with his soul that they often didn't need words to communicate.
Like now.
All of a sudden, the air was different in the ballroom.
There was a slight commotion on the dance floor and Lillian's head snapped around in horror.
Lucas could feel a gun in his back, cold metal pressing against his jacket. His entire body grew rigid.
Grace froze, looking at the man that turned up out of nowhere and pointed a gun to Lucas' back, growling:
"Don't move".
Her eyes went to Lucas' eyes.
No.
Before anybody could move, Grace reacted on instinct, swinging her leg beside Lucas and kicking an attacker hard below his knees causing him to groan in pain as he fell to the ground!
Lucas sprung in action and launched at the man , kicking the gun away from his hand!
Bill and the security team ran through the screaming crowd to get to Lucas and Grace.
Lucas started to get up and for a second, he loosened a grip on the attacker.
A knife shone in the air as the attacker raised his hand to stab Lucas!
"Lucas!", Grace screamed, trying to stop the attacker as she saw where he aimed.
On the left side of Lucas' chest.
She managed to kick his arm, but not to kick out a knife from his hand.
And she watched in horror as a knife went deep in Lucas' shoulder.
By then, Bill and Marcus arrived, grabbing the attacker, but Grace didn't see anything as she launched forward to catch Lucas before he fell to the ground!
She caught him just before his body collapsed, her eyes widening in shock at the blood rushing from somewhere beneath his shoulder. She heard Helen's screams, she heard Martin calling Lucas' name as he knelt down across her, but Grace didn't see anything except the horrifying amount of blood oozing from Lucas' wound.
Quickly as lightning, she teared the bottom of her dress and pressed a material to Lucas' wound with both hands.
Lucas groaned in pain at the contact, but Grace knew she must not budge. She needed to stop the bleeding.
"Get a doctor!", she heard Henry's yelling.
Tears bursted from her eyes as she took in Lucas' pale face. His eyes were losing focus and his eyelids grew heavy.
"Lucas, no", Grace mumbled through tears "Don't you dare. Do you hear me? Don't you dare to close your eyes", she leaned down so he could see her.
His pupils moved in her direction, his eyelids losing a battle.
His eyes closed, breaking Grace down.
"No, no, no…NO! Lucas, open your eyes!", she turned around and screamed "Get a doctor! Somebody! Get a doctor!", she broke down in tears, still pressing her hands on his wound.
How much time passed until the medical team arrived, she didn't know. She felt the nurse taking her fingers away from Lucas' wound as the doctor checked the bleeding then ordered the nurse to hold pressure until they get to the hospital.
Lillian broke through the crowd and sank down on her knees, wrapping her hands around Grace.
Grace didn't hear anything Lillian said. Her eyes were glued to her bloodied fingers. She didn't move, shock overwhelming her and in the next second, heart wrenching sobs broke her down into her sister's arms.
"I want to go with him", Lillian barely understood Grace's words as they were drowned in tears "Lillian, I need to go with him".
"Calm down, sweetie. Calm down", Lillian kissed her sister's head, slowly getting her up from the ground.
Shock hit Grace hard and she almost lost her balance. Lillian held her tightly and Gustave rushed to her other side as the medical team took Lucas out, Helen and Martin right behind them.
Lillian hugged her little sister, holding her in her warm embrace.
"Come on, sweetie" whispered Lillian.
Grace shivered in her sister's arms.
"He can't die. I can't loose him, Lillian. I can't", she mumbled as Lillian and Gustave took her outside.
—--
The waiting room in the hospital was eerily silent except quiet cries from Helen and Grace.
It was almost four hours since the surgery started and still no word on Lucas' condition.
Finally, doctor showed up and asked about Lucas' family.
Helen and Martin rushed to the doctor's side, Gustave not far behind them.
Grace got up from her chair, both Lillian and Henry by her side, holding her arms, offering support.
"Doctor, how is my son?", Martin asked, holding Helen's weeping form close to him.
"The surgery went well. If the knife went just a bit lower, he wouldn't make it. And whoever pressed his wound saved his life. He didn't lose much blood, otherwise his recovery would be much harder".
Doctor's words rang inside Grace's head, her ears ringing, her head swimming.
Relief was so strong that she swayed on her feet, nearly falling. Lillian and Henry quickly caught her.
"Can we see him?", Helen mumbled through tears.
Doctor watched her for a moment, then nodded.
"Only for a few minutes. He is in intensive care. And only family members", he said seriously "I will be back later to check on him".
Martin nodded.
"Thank you, doctor", he looked at Helen and gave her a wobbling smile "Lets go".
Helen started to move, but suddenly stopped.
"Wait", she whispered.
Before Martin could react, Helen pulled away and turning around, she went toward Grace.
"Grace", Helen mumbled through tears before pulling Grace in a hug. They held each other tightly, both crying. After a few moments, Helen pulled away a bit and whispered "Come with me".
Grace swallowed hard, her breathing accelerating.
Helen gave her a wobbling smile and gently cupped Grace's face, wiping her cheeks.
"Thank you, dear heart", whispered Helen "Thank you for saving my son".
Fresh tears rolled down from Grace's eyes as she hugged Helen once again.
—--
Grace let Lucas' parents go inside his room before her, even though they said she can come with them.
As Helen and Martin went inside Lucas' room, Gustave helped Grace to sit down
She let out a breath and shivered.
Gustave took his jacket off and gently put it on Grace's back. She looked at him, blinking tears away. Gustave took her palm in his hands and held them for a moment before asking:
"Are you going to be alright? I really want to go and see him", he whispered, wiping his own tears.
Grace nodded and gave him a wobbling smile.
Gustave nodded and went inside Lucas' room.
As the doors closed, Grace put her face in hands and cried.
—--
Ten minutes later Grace slowly opened the doors to Lucas' hospital room and inhaled sharply at the sight of him so still and pale.
She moved quickly and reaching the chair beside his bed, she sat down and took his palm in both of her hands. She leaned her forehead against his knuckles and let out a sob.
"You scared me, Lucas. Please, don't go", she picked up her head, mumbling through her tears "Please, come back to me", as fresh tears filled her eyes at the sight of this wonderful man looking so fragile and helpless, Grace reached out and gently ran her fingers through his dark hair "Please, don't leave me", she silently sobbed as she got up from the chair and leaning over, she gently kissed Lucas' pale cheek, whispering "I love you, Lucas".
—--
You ran around inside my head,
When you passed out, I felt dead,
And I realized you make me live.
And when my world starts to cave in,
You jump inside and take my hand,
No matter where you're always there.
Will I ever see what you could see in me?
I do, I just believe that we will always be a dream, yeah.
Well, I will never be the sign that we must see,
That you and me were meant to be so just believe why we are together.
You are my light, you are my star,
You are my sunshine and my dark,
You are the everything I dreamed about.
You are the guy who stole my heart,
I am the girl you're always smiling for,
We have a love people dream about.
A real life fairytale.
I thought that I would be alone,
You caught my eye and I was home,
And I realized that this was love.
I see the world through different eyes,
I look at you by my side,
No matter where you're always there.
Will I ever see what you could see in me?
I do, I just believe that we will always be a dream, yeah.
Well, I will never be the side that you will see,
That you and me were meant to be so just believe why we are together.
You are my light, you are my star,
You are my sunshine and my dark,
You are the everything I dreamed about.
You are the guy who stole my heart,
I am the girl you're always smiling for,
We have a love people dream about.
Dream with me, make me believe
That this is a real life fairytale.
You are my light, you are my star,
You are my sunshine and my dark,
You are the everything I dreamed about.
You are the guy who stole my heart,
I am the girl you're always smiling for,
We have a love people dream about.
A real life fairytale.
A real life fairtytale.
A real life fairytale.
(Plumb - "A real life fairytale")