Author's note: Well, here it is. Lucas' confrontation with Elizabeth. I wanna thank all of you for so many reviews on the previous chapter. Our Lucas needs closure as well as we do. I hope that I did it justice with this chapter.

Thanks to Avis Minter for all the brainstorming we had about this chapter and for all the ideas that came out of it.

—--

Grace…what did she say to Jack?!

Lucas tried to take a breath in but his throat tightening prevented him from inhaling properly. He gasped, his fingers fumbling with the upper four buttons of his shirt. He pulled them open, trying to catch a breath as his face contorted in pain.

Quickly, Grace took his shivering fingers in her palms and pulled him to her arms. As his forehead touched her neck, Grace felt a shudder go through Lucas as he held on for her. It felt like convulsions took over his body.

She knew he had to face Elizabeth. And she knew it had to be now.

"Lucas", she warmly whispered "You have to talk to Elizabeth. You have to find out what's happened", she turned to her left and kissed his hairline, her fingers gently caressing the back of his neck.

Suddenly, Lucas pulled away, a stormy look on his face as he turned away and started to walk with determination.

She watched him go for a second and immediately went after him.

He was heading toward the rowhouses.

—--

Children's squealing and laugher was heard as Cooper, Emily, Opal, Susan, Robert, Timmy and Allie had a snowball fight in the yard of Opal's home.

Susan was aiming for a shot at Cooper when Timmy's voice was heard.

"Hey…isn't that Mr. Bouchard?"

The kids turned around and saw Lucas walking fast and determined in the direction of their teacher's house.

Lucas climbed up the few steps and knocked at the doors. Hard.

Nothing.

He tried to calm his breathing down, tried not to bang on the doors. Jack didn't deserve for him to make a scene.

He waited a bit, then knocked once again, forceful, but not loud.

And the doors opened.

Elizabeth showed up in a door frame, her facial expression turning shocked when she saw who was at the doors.

"Lucas", she breathed out.

"We need to talk", Lucas said, his voice slicing through the air between them like a sharp knife.

Elizabeth stepped aside.

"Come in", she said.

Lucas let out a humorless laugh, not moving an inch.

"Why, Elizabeth? Why did you tell the children that I left you? Why did you tell people in town that it was a mutual decision?"

Elizabeth's eyes went wide open and she swallowed hard.

"Lucas, please come in", she said through gritted teeth.

Lucas shook from trying to stay calm.

"Answer the question, Elizabeth", he said, his voice cold.

She quickly scanned the area and noticed kids close by, obviously eavesdropping

But, as she saw who was approaching her students, Elizabeth saw red.

She snapped her eyes back at Lucas.

"What is she doing here?!", she snapped.

Grace didn't want to interfere in the argument. She knew that this was something between Lucas and Elizabeth.

But that woman is mad if she thinks I'll leave him alone here!

Her eyes clashed with Elizabeth's as she told kids to go to their homes.

Elizabeth bristled.

"What is she doing here with my students, Lucas?!", she hissed "Leave, both of you!"

She tried to close the doors but Lucas put his leg and shoulder against it.

"I want to see Jack", he said, his voice so sharp it could cut the air between them.

Elizabeth fumed.

"No", she replied.

Lucas didn't budge.

"Did you also tell him that I left you? Did you also lied to your own son like you lied to your students, Elizabeth?!", Lucas' voice started to rise "How could you tell everybody that it was my fault?! You were the one who didn't have a decency to say how you felt while I was in Hope Valley! You waited until I had to board the train to say that you can't give me all your heart and that you can't go with me! And then you let the whole town think that I shared your feelings about it, that it was a mutual decision! I wanted you and Jack to come with me! I wanted us to be a family and you threw it all in my face!"

Elizabeth's face darkened.

"Well, it sure didn't take you long to get over me!", she snapped, throwing a dark glare in Grace's direction.

Lucas let out a small laugh of disbelief.

"Well, you certainly moved on! What made you think I won't?!", he replied.

Elizabeth angrily took her coat from the peg beside the doors and put it on. At the next moment she stormed from her house, heading in Grace's direction "I said I don't want to see her near my students!"

Lucas grabbed Elizabeth's forearm, stopping her and he tugged at her hand to turn her back to him.

"Leave Grace out of this, do you hear me? And answer the question, Elizabeth", he held her arm firmly even though she tried to break free "How could you do it?! I loved you so much and you pulled my heart out and stamped all over it! And you had the decency to tell people that it was also my fault! You thanked your students for supporting and protecting you! When did you ever need protection from me, Elizabeth?!"

Grace watched the confrontation, her heart breaking for Lucas. She could feel children beside her going deadly quiet.

"How could you lie like that?!"

Grace watched as Elizabeth just stayed quiet, not saying a word at first, but then she snapped.

"I don't have to explain anything to you!"

Lucas stared incredulously at her. At the next moment, he started to go toward her house.

"I want to see Jack."

Elizabeth gasped, grabbing Lucas' hand.

"No!", she yelled.

Lucas looked at her, barely able to stay calm.

"What did you tell Jack?! Did you lie to your son like you lied to the kids at school?!", Lucas asked angrily.

Elizabeth gasped.

"It is none of your business what I talk about with my son!", she yelled.

Lucas' fought for breath.

"I want to see him. You owe me that much, Elizabeth", he said in a warning tone of voice.

Elizabeth shivered with anger.

"Well, you can't see him! He is not here! He is with my family in Hamilton!", she yelled.

Lucas stumbled a step back.

"In Hamilton?!"

Elizabeth nodded, satisfied smirk on her lips.

"That's right. He will stay there for the holidays", she said.

Lucas felt sick.

Away from his Mother and his home for Christmas and New Year?

And all of a sudden, everything was crystal clear to him.

"You sent him away the minute you knew that I was coming back, didn't you?", Lucas was shaking from trying not to explode.

Elizabeth's face turned red.

"All I want is what's best for my son…", but she barely finished the sentence when Lucas interrupted her.

"Then why are you not there with him?!", those words stunned Elizabeth in silence and Lucas couldn't stop now. The dam has broken and all the pain and hurt and disappointment came rushing in "This has nothing to do with Jack. You just thought of yourself, you just didn't want to have to explain it to him why can't he see me. How can you be so selfish, Elizabeth?!"

Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak, then closed them, then opened them again, only to close them again.

By this time, the doors on the rowhouses were opened and their tenants were out, listening.

Even Rosemary was speechless.

Grace felt tears forming in her eyes at hearing Lucas' words. She knew how amazing he was with children, all the children, and to have somebody badmouth him to the kids… Well, that was plainly cruel.

She felt a pressure against her dress and looking down, she saw little Susan hiding her face in the material.

On instinct, Grace picked the little girl up, noticing how upset she was.

"Ssssshhh, little one, it's alright", whispered Grace as she caressed little girl's hair and tried to silence down the yelling for her by placing her palm gently against her ear. Grace turned around and quietly asked older children "Can somebody take her home, please?"

Cooper moved toward Grace and looked up.

"I'll take her", as Grace gently kissed the little girl's hair and put her down on the ground, Cooper took her small palm and said "Come on, Susan."

Elizabeth saw all this and shook with fury, but Grace held her death glare and gave back just as same, if not more.

You are not getting out of this, Elizabeth Thornton.

Lucas pulled fingers through his hair and let it slam against his side.

He looked at Elizabeth, his eyes full of hurt and disappointment.

"What happened to the kind, honest, gentle woman I knew, Elizabeth? I heard that you have become bitter and angry. I heard that you gave Nathan a hard time ever since Grace and I arrived. Why are you doing that? Why do you constantly have a need to bring men in your life down?! Nathan doesn't deserve your jealousy, Elizabeth because there is nothing left between us anymore, do you hear me?! NOTHING!"

Lucas shook from effort not to loose it and paced on the ground in order not to fall apart.

Elizabeth gritted her teeth.

"Really? And what about her?!", she all but spat the words, ponting at Grace.

Lucas looked up and his face darkened as he went closer to Elizabeth.

She stumbled two steps back, taken aback by the look in his eyes. Warning, anger and determination.

"Grace was nothing but kind to your beau. She even gave him his money back. Keep going with your jealousy, Elizabeth and you will chase another man who cares about you away from your life", he let out a humourless laugh "But, what am I doing telling you about love? What would you know about it?!"

The words from back when his Mother was in town hit Elizabeth like a slap on her face.

"You are not capable to love. You love being the center of attention, but you don't know how to give love. Have you ever stopped and thought about how Allie feels when she sees you and Nathan fight?", he shook his head "No, of course you didn't. You are only thinking if yourself."

Elizabeth gasped.

"How dare you?!", she yelled.

But, Lucas was having none of it.

"You need help, Elizabeth. This isn't just about you anymore. You are hurting people in your life. You hurt me by breaking up, you hurt your son by sending him away and not telling him why I am not around anymore! You are hurting Nathan with your jealousy and that affects Allie too", Lucas pressed his fingertips hard in the back of his palms.

Don't break down, Lucas.

Not in front of her.

"You always want what you can't have. You decided you want me only after you thought I left town. Then when we were almost in front of the altar, you suddenly wanted Nathan. You can't go on like that, hurting people, Elizabeth!"

He took a deep breath in, his lungs constricting in pain, begging him to allow tears to fall.

No.

Not yet.

He looked at Elizabeth one last time and said, his voice sounding like a straight line.

"You shouldn't let any man in your life because you are obviously still grieving for Jack. And that's why you need help", and with those words Lucas turned away from Elizabeth and started to walk away from her, back toward the town.

Elizabeth gasped for air and moved like she will go after him.

But, Grace moved quickly and blocked her way.

"No!", Grace said firmly.

Elizabeth gasped, trying to push her away.

"Get out of my way!", she yelled.

But, Grace held her ground.

"Don't even THINK about coming anywhere close to him ever again, Elizabeth!", Grace all but spat the words.

Elizabeth let out a laugh of disbelief.

"Or what?!", she asked.

Grace moved closer to her, her eyes sparkling dangerously.

"Or you'll have to deal with me", she said firmly and turning away, she rushed after Lucas.

Grace was running for a few moments before she saw him.

And her heart broke at the sight of him.

He stood in the snow, his shoulders sagged, his hands in his hair, his back shaking from sobs.

Grace ran toward him and crashed against his body, hugging him tightly.

"Lucas", she whispered.

And at the sound of Grace's voice, Lucas broke down.

She pulled him tightly in her embrace, letting him cry. She could feel him shaking, sobs sending his body into convulsions.

Grace closed her eyes, caressing the back of his neck and his back, kissing his hairline.

Opening her eyes, Grace scanned the area, calculating how far away they were from the town.

How will I get him back to town? He is in no shape to walk.

And like an answer to her prayer for help, a car was heard.

Grace looked at the road to see Henry pulling over and rushing out from the car to his friend's aid.

Grace quickly pulled away from Lucas and she and Henry helped him to slowly get in the car.

Grace looked at Henry gratefully before she went to sit next to Lucas.

"Take us home, Henry."

Henry smiled sadly and closed the doors behind her, then went back to the driver's seat.

Grace pulled Lucas in her arms, his face buried in her shoulder and she closed her eyes, gently kissing his hair.

It is going to be a long, sleepless night.

And she will be right by his side.

He won't be alone.