Author's note: Thanks to Avis Minter for suggesting E to be in the saloon when the party begins, hihihi!
The trick that Grace pulled on Lucas is shamelessly stolen from a scene with Marion and Robin in "Robin Hood" with Kevin Costner. :)
—--
Florence smiled as she welcomed them in. Ned was right behind her, taking them into the dining room.
Lucas was about to follow Grace who was greeted warmly by Ned, but Florence stopped him.
"Lucas…", she silently called him "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Lucas looked at her, his eyebrows slightly creased in confusion.
"Of course, Florence. Is everything alright?", he asked.
Florence nervously wrung her hands.
"I…", she stammered "I owe you an apology."
Lucas shook his head.
"For what?", he asked, confused.
Florence looked down at her hands, letting out a breath. When she looked back at him, Lucas saw that her eyes were filled with tears.
"I want to apologize for snapping at you about reopening the mine. That wasn't your fault", she silently sniffed "Fiona was the one who brought Jerome Smith back to Hope Valley, not you. It was wrong of me to say that you could have done something to prevent reopening of the mine. I am so sorry, Lucas. I hope that you can forgive me someday."
Lucas moved closer to Florence and placed his palms on her hands.
"There is no need to apologize, Florence", he said in his calm, comforting voice "You were hurt."
Florence shook her head.
"But, not by you, Lucas. You just showed up at the moment when I couldn't see clearly. And even afterwards, I never reached out to you to ask your forgiveness", she mumbled, her voice broken.
Lucas gently pressed her fingers.
"It's alright, Florence. I forgive you. Please, don't think about it anymore", he gave her a small smile as she wiped her tears and took a deep breath in.
"Thank you", she whispered.
"FLORENCE!", Molly ran in the hallway, out of breath, startling both Florence and Lucas.
Florence looked at her friend in panic.
"Molly, what is it?", she asked, grabbing her friend's forearms.
Molly gasped for breath.
"It's the chicken", Molly gasped out "It's on fire!"
Florence gasped as she ran toward the kitchen while Molly rushed to explain.
"Ned took it out, but Bill said that it's not grilled well. He put it back inside and then he and Ned went on talking about some sports game, I am not sure, and it wasn't until Grace and I sensed the smoke that…", the rest of her sentence was drowned by Florence's gasp as she saw the kitchen.
Lucas was right behind them and he stopped dead in his tracks at the sight in front of him.
The scene was priceless.
Bill was trying to scrape the burned parts from the chicken, holding it for its leg, his face regretful.
He looked up at Florence.
"Well, if this was still Coal Valley, this would be a house specialty", he tried to light up the situation.
Florence's facial expression was thunderous.
"Bill Avery!", she exclaimed.
Bill grimaced.
"I'm sorry, Florence", he said.
Ned threw the burned potatoes in a recycle bin.
"I am so sorry, folks", said Ned "We will make something else".
Florence threw her hands in the air.
"Like what?! Chicken takes time to be ready!", she lightly kicked Bill's arm "Oh, I could just kill you!"
Bill yelped, rubbing the affected area.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! You got eggs? I could make scrambled eggs for everybody and…", Bill tried to fix things, but Florence gasped.
"Scrambled eggs?! SCRAMBLED EGGS?! I am not serving scrambled eggs to Governor!!", shrieked Florence.
It was at that moment that Lucas finally found where Grace was and his smile widened into almost a wolfish grin as he saw her struggle not to laugh.
Oh, you're gonna lose "Don't you dare to laugh!" contest, Grace Bennett!
She saw his facial expression and her eyes widened as she quickly covered her mouth with her palm.
Don't. You. Dare.
Thoroughly enjoying himself, Lucas stepped closer to war parties.
"Scrambled eggs sound perfect", he said as he looked at Bill "Could you put a pinch of Mediterranean spice in it?"
"Sure!", Bill exclaimed happily then cautiously glanced at Florence "Do you have Mediterranean spice?"
If looks could kill, Florence would kill Bill Avery 20 times already.
"No!!", she whined.
Grace could feel her resolve crumbling as giggles bubbled dangerously close to her throat.
Bill looked at Lucas in panic.
Lucas waved him off.
"That's alright. We can eat regular scrambled eggs. I'm sure you'll do your best, Bill", Lucas deadpanned and stole a glance at Grace.
Almost there.
Ned opened the fridge and slowly closed it.
Everybody watched him as he slowly returned to the warzone.
Florence was at the edge of her nerves.
"Ned?", she whispered.
Ned took a deep breath in and exhaled in regret.
"We're out of eggs", he whispered.
Silence fell over the room, a pin drop could be heard.
Until…
A sound of laughter pierced the air.
Everybody turned to see Grace doubling over, holding onto the counter, laughing her heart out!
Molly smiled widely at Grace's sincere laugh. Bill let out a breath of relief, making a mental note to thank her later for saving his head from Florence's fury.
At hearing his love bursting to laugh Lucas couldn't hold it anymore and he fell into fits of laughter himself!
Ned and Florence looked from Lucas to Grace and Florence breathed out in relief, her face relaxing into a smile.
Walking over to Grace, Lucas said with a smile:
"Come on, lets go have a dinner in the saloon", he winked at the group "Bill's treat", he deadpanned, sending Grace into hysterics.
"I'm paying!", Bill announced in a guilty child's tone of voice.
Florence chuckled.
"Oh, I am going to order the most expensive meal on the Menu!", she quipped.
Very quickly, a company of friends left the house and went to their respective cars.
Once they were in the car Grace glanced at Lucas and both of them burst to laughter.
"Ooooh, you're gonna pay for this, Mr. Bouchard!", said Grace, giggling.
Lucas laughed as he started the car.
"Oh, I can't wait!", he quipped and both of them laughed hard.
—--
Elizabeth took a sip of her water as the laughter from the doors caught her attention.
She looked up from telling something to Nathan to see what was that laugh all about and from whom did it come from.
And the dinner she was eating just started to come back to her throat at the sight of a laughing company coming in.
She watched as they scanned the restaurant area until Ned pointed to one table and they all sat down.
Elizabeth watched as that woman held Lucas' hand all the time until he pulled out a chair for her. He said something to the company at the table and then leaned down, kissing that woman on cheek and gently squeezing her shoulders before he turned around and walked quickly toward the bar.
Elizabeth watched as he picked up the Menus and darts and rushed back to the table.
Taking a seat next to her, of course.
Elizabeth bristled as she looked back at her plate, her knife cutting hard into meat like it was all its fault.
Back at the table of friends they ordered their food.
"Well, shall we play some darts until the food comes?", asked Ned, already getting up.
They teamed up, ladies against men and started to play.
Suddenly, Molly gasped.
"Oh, Lucas! Show us that trick with a mirror! Lets try to play like that! It will be more fun!", she smiled.
Lucas smiled back.
"Alright, if that's what you want", he looked around and waved to the waiter.
While Lucas talked with a waiter Grace looked at Molly, slightly confused.
"A mirror trick?", she asked.
"Oh, you're gonna love it!", Florence clapped her hands excitedly.
Grace's lips curled up in a curious smile as she waited.
Lucas came back to her, his lips closed, but wearing a small smile.
She looked up at him, taking in his handsome features, his dark hair shining, his black suit bringing out his manliness and the scent of pines and something that was unique Lucas making her slightly dizzy on her feet.
He took her breath away.
The waiter came back and gave Lucas a mirror and Grace watched as he turned his back to the wall, picked up a mirror and positioned it near his head.
Then in one sharp movement, he threw the dart…
And it hit the bullseye!
She gasped in awe while Molly and Florence applauded excitedly.
"I wanna try!", Florence rushed forward taking a mirror from Lucas. He smiled, helping her to position a mirror near her head.
And Florence threw a dart a bit too strong.
It hit the wall and flew right back, hitting Bill on the head!
"Ow!", Bill yelped sending everybody to fits of laughter.
Florence chuckled, taking her place back between Molly and Ned.
"That's for the chicken", she deadpanned.
Bill raised his eyebrows, still rubbing his head.
"Fair enough", he mumbled "My turn".
Elizabeth gritted her teeth, her eyes glued to the scene a few feet in front of her.
She watched as Lucas gave a mirror to that woman and how his long fingers positioned her hands.
"Just remember", Lucas said "It's all in a wrist. Don't throw the dart too hard."
Grace nodded slightly, fully concentrated on the task in her hands.
She took a breath and holding it, threw a dart.
And it hit the board, a few inches away from the bullseye!
Lucas smiled in amazement at her.
"Not bad", he said.
Grace smiled back and let Ned take her place.
"Let the best player win", she quipped.
Lucas smirked, leaning down to whisper in her ear.
"Oh, I'll win if you play fair."
Grace raised her eyebrows as she watched Molly taking her turn at the darts.
"All is fair in love and war, Mr. Bouchard", said Grace flirtatiously.
During the next couple of rounds, Molly got a hang of it along with Grace and the ladies were slowly, but surely coming close to the men's score.
It was a tie and Lucas was next to play.
"Come on, Governor! Show us what you're made of!", Bill yelled, clapping hands, with Ned joining him.
"Come on, Lucas!", cheered Ned.
Lucas smiled at his friends and took a position. His eyes focused on the mirror and he didn't see Grace coming to his side.
He moved his hand to throw a dart and then he felt it.
Her hot breath on his ear, as she blew softly.
A huge tremor shook his body and a dart flew from his hand, completely missing the board, hitting the wall.
Florence and Molly erupted in cheers and hugs, celebrating the victory, while Ned and Bill groaned in disappointment.
Lucas slowly put the hand holding mirror down and looked at Grace, a smile curling up his lips, his eyes darkening a bit more as the heat sparkled from them.
Grace held gently on his upper arm and whispered, never breaking their eye contact.
"I told you that you will pay", she whispered passionately "And I always keep my word, Governor."
Lucas' hand went around her waist and he gently pulled her to his side.
He squeezed her side and whispered in her ear, his voice dropping an octave lower.
"Oh, you will pay for this, Miss Bennet."
Grace shivered deliciously, her smile bathing him in pure love as she whispered:
"Oh, I can't wait."
‐—--
Look into my eyes – you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart, search your soul
And when you find me there, you'll search no more
Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for
You know it's true:
Everything I do, I do it for you.
Look into your heart – you will find
There's nothin' there to hide
Take me as I am, take my life
I would give it all, I would sacrifice.
Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for
I can't help it, there's nothin' I want more
You know it's true:
Everything I do, I do it for you, oh, yeah.
There's no love like your love
And no other could give more love
There's nowhere unless you're there
All the time, all the way, yeah.
Look into your heart, baby...
Oh, you can't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
I can't help it, there's nothin' I want more
Yeah, I would fight for you, I'd lie for you
Walk the wire for you, yeah, I'd die for you.
You know it's true:
Everything I do, oh, I do it for you.
Everything I do, darling
You will see it's true
You will see it's true
Yeah!
Search your heart and your soul
You can't tell me it's not worth dying for
I'll be there
I'd walk the fire for you
I'd die for you
Oh, yeah
I'm going all the time, all the way.
("Everything I Do, I Do It For You" - Bryan Adams)