To have and to hold Chapter 146, a When Calls the Heart + When Hope Calls Crossover fanfic

The dining room was alive with chatter, silverware clinking mixing with polite chuckles and talks of high politics and home decoration.

Grace was sitting between Lucas and Minister of culture's wife Sonya whom she actually found quite amicable and easy to talk to. Lucas did tell her beforehand who was annoying and who wasn't and she did her best to make the dinner comfortable for both of them. So she put Carson next to Lucas and Lillian right beside her friend as she was worried that her sister would be bored out of her wits if she didn't have anyone normal to talk to. Next to Lillian was the Minister of social care's wife Diane whose husband Paul, by Lucas' judgment, was one of the rare sound heads in the Government. Both of them were very interested in the New Hope orphanage and so Lillian informed them about everything. They expressed the wish to come and visit which the sisters gladly accepted.

Lucas was discussing a Bill that was stuck in the Parliament with a member of Parliament Joshua that sat across from him while Grace chatted with Sonya about the upcoming theater season. Sonya invited her and Lucas to join her and her husband for some of the premieres this spring.

Sonya turned around to her husband James to tell him something and Grace took the opportunity to take a sip of delicious red wine that was served for the dinner.

She barely had wine touch her lips when she felt a gentle touch on her back, causing her to almost choke on her drink as her breath got hitched.

It was light as a feather and Grace thought that she must have imagined it because it hovered over the material…

But, in the next moment she inhaled sharply as she felt Lucas' fingers slowly, gently sneaking through the slit on her dress and her heart raced as she felt his palm spreading on her skin.

Oh my God.

Grace swallowed a sip of her wine and closed her eyes, trying to breathe properly. Opening them again she slowly placed a glass back on the table, hoping that she wouldn't spill it as shivers ran all over her body.

Lucas, for Heaven's sake!

She tried to keep her cool and took a knife and fork, cutting into her meat on the plate. She was about to put a fork in her mouth when she felt his fingers reaching her lower back.

A fork fell from her hand, clattering on the plate.

Sonya turned around and looked at her, her eyebrows slightly creasing in concern as she noticed Grace's flustered face.

"Grace? Are you alright?", she quietly asked.

Grace inhaled deeply one time. Two times. And let out a breath as she felt Lucas withdrawing his hand.

"I'm fine", she quietly replied with a small smile "It is just too hot in here."

Sonya watched her intently.

"You are quite flustered", she mumbled quietly "Perhaps you should go out to get some fresh air. Lucas!", she called out, causing Grace's eyes to widen. As Lucas turned toward them Sonya leaned in behind Grace and seriously told him "I think that Grace needs some fresh air. I can go with her if you are otherwise engaged."

Lucas' facial expression turned serious as he looked at Grace then back at Sonya.

"No, no, I will go with her. Thank you, Sonya", he looked back at Grace, his forehead creasing in concern "Are you alright, sweetheart?"

Grace took a deep breath in.

Oh, you are going to PAY for this, Lucas Bouchard!

She nodded as she started to get up.

"Yeah…I think I will just go to get some fresh air and splash some cold water on my face", mumbled Grace as she glared at Lucas and sweetly said "It is too hot in here."

Lucas quickly got up and offered his arm to her.

"Come on, hold onto me. I wouldn't want you to faint", he deadpanned.

Grace's eyes widened at hearing his words. But, she gave him a small smile in order not to let anyone know what was going on.

She took his arm and held onto it as he quickly explained to the guests close to them that he is only "taking his fiancée to help her as it got way too warm in here" and he told the servants nearby to open the remaining closed windows to let some fresh air in the dining room.

Oh, you play it cool now, Lucas Bouchard… you won't be this calm once I am done with you!

She wracked her brain thinking about where to go once they get out from the dining room. Deciding that it doesn't matter and that she will just pull him behind the first doors she comes across, Grace gently tugged at the crook of Lucas' arm to make him start walking.

The moment they left the dining room she was ready to pull him inside some room, but sighed in frustration as she noticed servants going up and down the long corridor.

Lucas, however, didn't seem to be fazed because of it. He nodded to each servant that came in their direction, with a small smile as he led her toward the small narrow stairs…

And she remembered where they led to.

And her heart skipped a beat, making it unable for her not to smile.

He'll pay later.

Now I just want to kiss him.

Lucas took her to the room that he showed her after he proposed to her, the room resembling a balcony and gazebo with magnificent arches climbing into the sky… The place where he suggested that they plant roses.

She stepped across the threshold first and turning around watched him as he closed the doors.

And before he even had a chance to turn around she started to walk toward him…meeting him halfway as his hands pulled her in an embrace and his lips descended on hers with so much love and passion that she felt her toes curling up in her shoes.

Grace hugged him back, her fingers holding onto his shoulders. She felt his fingers in her hair as he caressed her brunette waves with such tender loving care that made her mewl quietly, unlatching her lips from his to whisper playfully and breathlessly:

"Please, don't mess up my hair too much."

He breathed heavily as he slowly caressed her hair.

"Too late, my angel", he whispered into her lips.

Grace swallowed hard, feeling warmth pooling up inside her.

"And how do you expect me to explain that mess later on to our guests?, she asked quietly.

Lucas groaned as his fingers abandoned her brunette waves.

"Fine…I'll have to keep my fingers otherwise engaged then", and with those words one of his palms cupped the back of her head while the other sneaked through the slit on the back of her dress.

The second his fingers touched her bare skin Grace felt her entire body tingling. Her eyes fluttered close and she swore she saw the stars as his lips melted into hers while his fingertips brushed against her skin, making her shudder deliciously in his loving arms.

She kissed him back, every touch of his fingers causing her skin to burst into goosebumps, making her knees buckle and she moaned quietly.

"Lucas…", she whispered.

He kept on kissing her and she thought that she could sing and cry at the same time from the emotions he woke up inside of her.

As the desperate need for air made them break the kiss, he leaned his forehead on hers and whispered:

"To have you by my side like this… it just makes me hardly wait for all the other things we will do together, my sweet Grace. I can't wait to start our life together", he gently nuzzled her nose with his "When I saw you leaving the room and wearing that dress, I nearly broke down. You are an answer to all my prayers, Grace. I just had to feel you close to me, sweetheart."

Her thoughts from before came up into realization as she laughed through happy tears.

"So you decided to make me almost choke on my wine and drop my silverware in such a delicate moment where everybody could see it?", she quipped and her heart swelled with love and joy as his dimples came out in all their glory.

He closed his eyes and gently kissed her hair as he whispered:

"Well, you look adorable when you are flustered."

Grace placed her palm on his chest, laughing, feeling like she could fly.

"You are incorrigible, Lucas Bouchard", she said through giggles "And you better watch out because the payback is coming."

Lucas chuckled at her gentle teasing.

"Oh, bring it on. I cannot wait", and with those words, he kissed her again.

—--

Grace took a sip of her wine and gently swayed on her chair at the sound of the soft music. Dinner was almost done, they were waiting for dessert before they leave the dining room to go to the ballroom.

She glanced around the table and smiled to herself at the sight of people talking, laughing and genuinely having a good time.

Lucas' voice was heard and her ears perked up. He was discussing the Bill that Parliament still had to approve and she watched mesmerized as he brought out his arguments both passionately and diplomatically.

He could persuade me to approve any Bill he sends over to the Parliament.

She bit her lip slightly at the sight of him. His black suit fitted him perfectly, his dark hair was shining in the dim light of the thousands of candles and Grace's fingers itched to touch it.

A small devilish smile curled up her lips.

Or touch him somewhere else.

She leaned toward him as if she wanted to join in the conversation, leaning her chin on her palm. As the Parliament member acknowledged her with a small nod she smiled politely.

"Well, Mr. Jefferson, I am curious what makes you think that my fiancé's Bill wouldn't be successful?", she asked sweetly and let the annoying man drone on, explaining his reasons for the millionth time in front of Lucas who shook his head in disbelief at Jefferson's stubbornness and he reached for his glass.

Grace saw him move from the corner of her eye and, never stop paying attention to Jefferson's nagging, acting all curious and interested in his explanation, she took her shoe off under the table. The moment Lucas brought a glass to his lips and started to take a sip, Grace moved her foot up his leg, then back down, making him nearly choke on his drink.

She felt his eyes on her but she never stopped listening to Jefferson. The only sign she gave him was a twitch of her lips that told him more than the words ever could.

Payback time, my Lucas.

Her foot brushed over his calf and pressing gently, she dragged it down…and when she started to move it up again, her eyes widened.

He caught her foot between his legs and held it in an iron grasp making her almost burst to laughter.

Oh, you think you can beat me, Lucas Bouchard?

She let him have a few seconds of feeling all smug and victorious before she slowly placed her palm on his thigh.

Grace felt him flinch, startled and her smile turned smug as she pressed gently and slowly rubbed her fingers in circles, causing Lucas to close his eyes and inhale sharply.

Victory.

In the next moment, she pulled back and looked across the table, a happy lip closed smile on her face as she took the evening in. It was perfect.

They were perfect.

She got so lost in her musings that she didn't even realize that Lucas stood up until he clinked a small spoon against his champagne tube, causing everybody in the dining room to fall silent and turn their way.

Lucas smiled as the guests looked at him and he cleared his throat slightly before he started to speak.

"Thank you all for coming. It has been such an immense pleasure to have you all here. I would like to thank all my esteemed colleagues for the work they are doing. I truly believe that we are only starting and that we can pave our way forward and bring many good things to people who support us", as an applause boomed through the dining room Lucas slightly picked up his champagne tube in a toast to them.

Grace smiled as she watched him, so proud of him. Her heart warmed up as she noticed many of the guests murmuring with approval and smiles.

Lucas glanced down at her and as the applause slowly stopped, he spoke again:

"And most of all I would like to say thank you to my beautiful fiancée Grace", his dark eyes sparkled with love as he gazed at her "Thank you for always standing by my side. Thank you for the light you bring even in the darkest hours. Thank you for making me the happiest man alive."

Grace glowed with happiness, her skin flushing at his praise as she smiled happily and got up, meeting his lips in a quick, loving kiss that made the dining room erupt into applause.

Grace giggled into their kiss and Lucas chuckled before he turned back to the guests and saying:

"And now, we would like to invite you to the ballroom for dancing and enjoying the evening!", he picked up his glass and toasted once again to the guests.

As everybody picked up their glasses to toast the Governor and his beautiful fiancée before slowly starting to get up and move toward the doors, Lucas pulled Grace closer to his side and looked at her with a smile.

"May I have the first dance, Miss Bennet?", he asked warmly.

Snuggling into his side, Grace looked up at him, her smile widening as her heart thumped faster.

"I wouldn't want to dance with anybody else, Governor Bouchard", she replied, her voice laced with emotions as she gazed at his eyes, moved beyond words by what he said a few moments ago. She tearfully smiled and softly said "I love you."

Lucas' hand gently squeezed her waist as he kissed her hair, murmuring gently:

"I love you too."

—--

I don't want to be the kind to hesitate,

Be too shy, wait too late

I don't care what they say other lovers do,