Author's note: Merci, Helene, for helping me with my French! :)
—--
Lucas' entire word shook as Jack's little hands hugged him tightly around his neck. He peppered tearful kisses all over Jack's soft blonde hair and just held him tightly for a few moments, allowing himself to finally break down.
He pulled away slightly and smiled widely as he looked at a boy in his arms.
"Let me look at you", said Lucas as he wiped tears from Jack's cheeks. Desperate to make a darling boy smile again, he asked playfully "Buddy, when did you grow up so much?!"
Jack grinned as he stood up.
"Look, buddy! Look how tall I am!", he said happily, pulling Lucas up on his feet so they could compare their heights.
Lucas smiled widely as he got up and quickly said to Simon:
"Please, can you get someone to clean this? I don't want Jack to get cut", he said as he pushed the broken tea cup pieces away from himself and the little boy.
As Simon nodded, Lucas stood beside Jack as his little buddy measured them. He looked down at the child, warm and happy smile never wavering from his face.
"What did you eat to grow so much?!", he asked as he knelt back down to be Jack's height.
Jack grinned as he bounced on his feet a bit.
"Spinach! Aunt Julie says it's yucky, but Grandpa says it will make me tall and strong just like he is!", Jack said, bursting into giggles as Lucas tickled him, only to squeal happily as his buddy picked him up in another hug.
"That's sound advice. You should listen to your Grandpa, he is a wise man", said Lucas as he positioned Jack in his arms and smiled widely as the little boy giggles grew louder.
"Grandpa says I shouldn't listen to Aunt Julie because she is silly!", he shrieked with laughter and Lucas couldn't help but chuckle at that constatation.
Agatha smiled through her tears as she watched the scene in front of her. To see Jack so happy…oh, if only William could have come with her and witness this!
Shaking her head to send sad thoughts away, Agatha decided it was time to make her presence known.
"Well, your Aunt Julie was always silly about many things", she said as she took off her gloves and walked toward two of them. She smiled softly "Hello, Lucas."
The moment Agatha spoke Lucas' head shot up in surprise and he gazed at her in disbelief. He vaguely remembered three people standing in the hallway, including his lovely Grace, but he had no time to look at them before one of his dreams came true - to hug little Jack one more time.
Surprised beyond words, he shook his head.
"Mrs. Thatcher…Hello", he swallowed hard before saying "I'm sorry, I don't understand".
Agatha gave him a small smile.
"Well, you can thank your friends for this. This young man just showed up at our doorstep one day, asking to see Jack and to talk with my brother", she stepped aside to reveal Carson standing a few feet away with a smile on his face.
Lucas let out a small, surprised laugh as he hurried across the hallway and hugged Carson. Carson laughed too as he hugged his friend back.
Pulling away, Lucas creased his eyebrows.
"Weren't you supposed to arrive later in the afternoon?", he asked, his smile widening at the sight of his friend.
Carson raised his eyebrows and smiled.
"Change of plan. We arrived about an hour ago", he pretended to frown in annoyance "Don't tell me you don't have any available rooms in here?"
Lucas shrugged, barely holding his laughter back as he glanced playfully at little boy in his arms.
"Well, I…", he quipped and winked at little Jack who glued himself to him.
Carson gasped in mock annoyance.
"Lucas! That's impossible! You are living in this castle all by yourself!"
Lucas stifled a laugh and grimaced.
"No, unfortunately, Gustave is here", he quipped, making Carson laugh out loud and that was when Lucas lost a battle with laughter too. Little Jack didn't quite get a joke, but he giggled all the same, never letting go of his buddy.
"Je t'ai entendu mon frère!" ("I heard that, my brother!"), Gustave's voice was heard and they all turned around to see Lucas' cousin coming toward them with a big smile on his face.
Little Jack yelped happily in surprise:
"GUSTAVE!", he exclaimed and gladly moved to Gustave's arms for a hug.
Lucas let out a shuddering breath and looked at Carson.
"How is this possible?", he asked silently, wiping his eyes with both of his palms.
Carson gave him a sympathetic smile.
"Grace made it possible", he said slowly and watched as Lucas' eyes cleared fast and he looked behind Carson, his eyebrows slightly creasing.
"What?", he whispered "But, she was here…I know I saw her before I saw Jack…Where did she go?"
Glancing behind Lucas to make sure that Agatha, Gustave and Jack were still deeply into the introduction of a Teddy bear little boy held in his arms, Carson pulled Lucas to a side.
"Grace was worried for Jack after your confrontation with Elizabeth and after she heard that she sent a boy away during holidays and his birthday", Carson talked silently so that Jack couldn't hear him "She called me and asked me to go and check on Jack."
Lucas felt his heart clenching at the words Carson just said. His eyes went wide open in surprise, his mouth slightly gaping.
Carson understood his reaction and he gently squeezed Lucas' shoulder as he continued:
"It turned out that Jack wasn't feeling good due to everything that happened and Elizabeth estranging herself from him, not wanting to talk to him about you and finally sending him away to her parents, making him miss both you and his Mum. So", Carson took a deep breath in "I convinced Mt. Thatcher to let us take Jack to see you in order to make him heal."
Lucas' face went pale as a sheet.
"What's wrong with him?", he asked, concern getting better of him.
Carson glanced at the little boy who was giggling at something Gustave just said.
"His immune system is affected from grief and confusion. Mr. Thatche told me that he barely eats, has trouble sleeping. I checked his iron level, it's very low so I gave him some medicine. But, the only way to help him to snap out of sadness and melancholy was to take him to see you", he saw question in Lucas' eyes and added "Elizabeth doesn't know about this, that is how her parents decided. They will try and get some help for her, but their top priority now is Jack. And they both agreed that it would do Jack good to see you again."
Lucas rubbed his forehead as he took all this in.
"Why didn't you let me know?", he silently asked.
Carson took a deep breath in.
This was it.
He took a deep breath in and looked at Lucas.
"That was Grace's decision. She was so worried that the Thatchers may change their mind about letting Jack see you and she didn't want to give you and Jack false hope. She said you both suffered enough", Carson's voice drifted away as he watched his friend's reaction.
Lucas covered his lips with his palm, trying to keep tears at bay as his heart warmed up at hearing all this.
"She was worried you will get your hopes up only to have them thrown on the ground again", Carson said silently.
Lucas swallowed hard as he looked around, the tears glistening in his eyes.
"Where is she?", he asked silently, his voice shaking.
Carson creased his eyebrows.
"She went home", at Lucas' stunned facial expression Carson explained "She's afraid that you will be upset about her doing all this, that you would think she crossed the line…and that you will leave her."
A gasp of shock escaped Lucas' throat.
"I have to go get her", turning around, he sprung into action. He rushed over to his staff to instruct them which rooms should they prepare for their guests, emphasizing that Agatha should have the one on the ground floor so she wouldn't have to climb up the grand staircase.
Agatha was moved by his care and thanked him kindly.
I was right about this man.
Next, he asked Gustave to make some refreshments and meal for their guests while they go and get settled in their rooms.
In the next moment, he scooped little Jack back in his arms and kissed him on a soft cheek.
"You tired, buddy?", he asked gently.
Jack nodded and snuggled into Lucas' chest, letting out a small yawn.
Lucas smiled softly at the precious boy in his arms.
"What do you say you get something to eat first?", as Jack slightly grimaced, Lucas pursued his lips "For me?"
Jack looked up at him and nodded.
"Okay, buddy", he silently replied.
Lucas kissed his hair.
"I have to do something, but I will be back once you wake up and we will have a lunch together. Okay?", he gently asked.
Little Jack smiled sleepily.
"Okay", he closed his eyes and let out another yawn as his little hands clutched a Teddy bear to his chest.
Lucas watched him as he and Carson climbed up the grand staircase. By the time they reached the first floor, Jack was totally out.
Carson smiled softly.
"I don't think he'll wake up so soon. But, don't worry, I will make sure that he eats", said Carson.
Lucas was torn as he glanced at the sleeping child in his arms.
"I told Gustave to make his favourite", he whispered, careful not to wake Jack up "I won't be long", he glanced at Carson "I just have to go get her."
Carson nodded.
"I know you have to. Go. Don't worry", he said and looked down the corridor, his eyes widening "And you said that you are not sure you have available rooms", he quipped.
Lucas silently snorted.
"Oh, this is nothing. Wait until you see the rest of the mansion", he quipped back.
Carson let out a sigh.
"I just hope I won't get lost", he grinned and Lucas shook his head as he smiled widely.
"It's good to have you here, my friend", he stopped in front of one room and opened the doors "These will be your quarters, Doctor", he said in a theatrical tone of voice, making Carson chuckle.
"Thank you, Governor", he smirked as Lucas playfully hit his shoulder.
Lucas looked down at asleep boy in his arms and silently said:
"I'm gonna put him in the bed. Just check on him while I'm gone, okay?"
Carson nodded and watched as Lucas slowly opened the doors near the main bedroom and how he gently caressed Jack's blonde hair as he carried him inside.
Lucas slowly put Jack in the bed and took his boots off, careful not to wake him.
He stayed crouched at his bedside, his heart calm and grateful for this opportunity.
Opportunity that he got his angel to thank for.
He gently kissed Jack's hair and tucked him in.
"Sleep tight, buddy", he whispered "I won't be long."
—--
Lillian was coming from the kitchen where the preparation for lunch was in full mode. The children were having a snowball fight in the garden so it was quite silent at the orphanage.
So, when a strong knock at the doors was heard, Lillian flinched a bit, but rushed to open it.
Upon seeing who was at the doors, she let out a sigh of relief.
"Oh, thank God you came!", she said and was about to say something more, but Lucas stopped her.
"Where is she?", he asked as he took off his coat.
Lillian quickly grabbed his coat and put it on a peg near the doors.
"At the nursery. She is putting Maddie to sleep…", she barely finished the sentence and Lucas was already crossing a few stairs that led to the living room.
Lillian quickly followed him only to see him rushing upstairs.
Lucas stopped at the top of the stairs to catch a breath before taking a few steps that kept him away from the nursery.
His heart felt like it was in his throat, desperate to reach Grace, to take her in his arms, to kiss her, to calm her fears and promise to love her until his last breath.
But, knowing that she was putting a baby to sleep he couldn't just barge in the nursery. Therefore, Lucas slowly pressed the doorknob and stepped inside, his breath getting hitched at the sight of the most wonderful woman on this world.
Grace looked up as the doors opened and her eyes widened in surprise.
"Lucas…what are you doing here?!", she silently asked as she put asleep Madelaine in a crib. Looking back up, she nervously wrung her hands and stammered "Lucas, I… I am sorry. I am so sorry if I crossed the line."
Four steps - that's all it took. Four steps to close the distance between them. Four steps that Lucas took in a hurry and pulled Grace in his arms, kissing her lovingly, breathing her in, pulling her closer and closer to himself as his lips worshiped her lips with love that grew inside him stronger than ever before.
He slowly unlatched his lips from hers, but still hovered close by as he looked at her beautiful brown eyes, his breath shallow.
Not closing his eyes, not breaking the eye contact, he brushed his lips against hers and he whispered into their gentle kiss:
"What have I ever done in my life to deserve you? How can I ever thank you for doing this?", his voice shivered "Nobody ever loved me like you do, Grace. What you did for me today cannot be described in words", he closed his lips on her upper lip, still looking straight into her eyes "You are the answer to all my prayers. You are the air that I breathe", he pressed his lips on hers, kissing her with desperation, making her whimper in relief, the sound she made sounding like a sob.
Lucas pulled back slightly to see that she was actually crying, sobs shaking her body.
"Grace", he whispered lovingly, his fingers touching her temples and sneaking into her soft hair "What's wrong? Something was wrong last night too and I cannot forgive myself for letting you go to sleep so upset", his forehead touched hers as his fingers traveled down her hair agonizingly slow.
Grace silently sobbed and shook her head.
"No…don't blame yourself for my foolishness", she looked down, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Lucas' heart ached in pain from seeing her distress and he moved his hands to her sweet face, cupping her cheeks, wiping her tears with his fingers.
"There is nothing foolish about you, my lovely, beautiful, endearing Grace", he gently kissed her eyelids "There is nothing foolish about your golden heart. You are the most amazing woman I have ever met. And I am so blessed to be the man you love so much."
At those words, Grace's sobs increased.
"I thought you would hate me for keeping Jack's visit a secret. I was scared that I crossed the line and that you will leave me…", she mumbled through her tears "But, I couldn't just stand by and watch you and Jack suffer and not do anything about it."
Lucas felt a lump in his throat, his own eyes burning with tears.
"And I left you with those thoughts last night. I am so sorry, Grace", he whispered "Please, forgive me, my love. Please, forgive me."
Grace placed her palms on his fingers that still cupped her face. She looked up at him, her smile wobbling, her tears washing his fingers.
Lucas shook his head, his lips pressed tightly together.
"I promise you that I will never again leave you alone to deal with being upset or scared or worried. I promise you that I will always love you, that I will never abandon you, Grace. NEVER", he kissed her wet eyelids, making her sobs increase, her palms on his fingers pressing gently, searching for his warmth "Thank you. So much. For coming up with that idea, for caring so much about Jack's and my feelings. And, please, I am begging you - never be scared that I will ever leave you, Grace. You will never be alone again, my Grace. NEVER", he gave her a soft kiss, trying to swallow a lump in his throat "I want to love you for the rest of my life. I want you to be by my side until I draw my last breath. And if I go before you, you can be sure that I will wait for you on the other side and kiss you when you come. Because you are my angel and you make me live in Heaven on this Earth…And I want you to be my angel for eternity…because Heaven wouldn't be Heaven without you, Grace."
Grace bursted to tears and hugged Lucas tightly, letting out a breath of relief.
And feeling her heart growing, filling with faith, hope and love.
She closed her eyes, her fingers splashed against his warm neck and strong shoulder.
And Grace knew - she will never be alone again.
—--
Come just as you are to me
Don't need apologies
Know that you are worthy.
I'll take your bad days with your good
Walk through the storm, I would
I do it all because I love you
I love you.
Unconditional, unconditionally
I will love you unconditionally
There is no fear now
Let go and just be free
I will love you unconditionally.
So open up your heart and just let it begin
Open up your heart and just let it begin
Open up your heart and just let it begin
Open up your heart
Acceptance is the key to be
To be truly free
Will you do the same for me?
Unconditional, unconditionally
I will love you unconditionally, yeah
And there is no fear now
Let go and just be free
'Cause I will love you unconditionally, oh, yeah
I will love you unconditionally
I will love you
I will love you unconditionally.
("Unconditionally- Katy Perry)