Grace walked slowly, her eyes closed, Lucas' hands leading her down the path that took them away from the shore.

"Okay, we're going left now", she heard his voice gently leading her and Grace smiled as she took step after step, following Lucas as he led her to that final gift for today.

"We're walking for eternity. Why couldn't I keep my eyes open?", she teased him gently.

Lucas smiled as he carefully led her around a rock.

"Because you may be able to see it from a distance. And I wanted it to be a surprise", he replied, his lips curling up at her curiosity.

Grace exhaled in a mock annoyance.

"Fine. But if I fall, you're going down with me", she quipped, eliciting a chuckle from her handsome fiancé.

She felt Lucas turning left at the corner one more time and stopped. She stopped right beside him and grinned.

"Can I open my eyes now?", she asked.

In the next moment, she felt Lucas going behind her, put his palms on her shoulders and slowly turning her a bit to her right. She felt her heart speed up as she felt his arms wrapping around her waist and felt his cheek leaning on her hair and heard his whisper:

"Alright… Open your eyes."

Grace's eyelids slowly fluttered open and she gasped in surprise at the sight in front of her.

A little wooden cabin stood hidden in the woods that bordered around the lake. Wooden boarded path led to the secluded rest area on the shore. The cute little cabin was snuggled between pine trees, simply inviting you to come in and rest.

Grace felt Lucas' breath warming the skin of her cheek as he spoke directly in her ear:

"This was supposed to be my wedding gift to you…", he heard her gasp and turned in his arms, her eyes widening in utter surprise. He gave her a small smile and softly added "But, after what you did for me yesterday at that dinner, I couldn't wait."

Grace swallowed hard, her eyesight getting blurry as the tears formed in her eyes, slowly, but surely.

"Lucas, you spoil me too much", she whispered, only to be shushed with his fingertips as he inched closer to her, leaning his forehead on hers.

"Please, let me spoil you", he murmured quietly and Grace could feel small creases on his forehead and felt him swallow hard, like he was trying to pluck up courage and voice his biggest fear "It's who I am. It's what I like to do to people I love. And I love you, Grace. More than anything."

His eyes were practically pleading with her and Grace's heart went out to Lucas. She knew he was frowned upon in the past for his attention. She knew what Elizabeth did, how many times she belittled this wonderful man and mocked everything he did, belittling his truest, most beautiful and sincere feelings. Grace fought hard ever since she met Lucas to help him overcome that hurt and once they professed their love for each other, she was even more determined to assure him that she loves everything he comes up with.

Because she did. She truly did. She loved to shower him with love, attention and gifts too. She still remembered that evening when she organized their date and bought him presents…How he wasn't used to that. How he didn't know how to react.

"If you continue to hold me like this, we'll never leave this street", as both of them chuckled at her words, Grace added with a warm smile "And you'll never open your presents."

Lucas' facial expression turned puzzled, his eyebrows slightly creasing.

"Presents?", he silently asked. As Grace nodded, bubbling with excitement he slightly shook his head as he softly smiled in confusion "What for?"

Grace's eyes softened.

"And why not?", she gave him the car keys and quickly went inside the car. Opening the window, she leaned on its frame and smiled warmly "Can't a girl give some presents to the man she loves without needing a special reason or occasion for it?", she watched as he slowly smiled and rushed toward the driver's seat.

Grace still remembered how he kissed her and held her in his arms after she gave him the record and the books that were picked up especially for him…He knew that she listened to him, paid attention to his needs, wishes and feelings… And that she was the first and only one in his life who did that.

"What have I done to deserve all this?", he silently asked.

Grace's hands took a bag and placed three items from his lap back into the bag, before she turned back to look at him, her facial expression turning serious and gentle.

"You deserve even more, my Lucas", she slowly started to talk "You deserve to be loved and cherished. You deserve to know how much I love you. You deserve the best of everything…and you deserve more than you ever had. And why?", she brushed her fingertips across his hairline and cheek "Because you made me feel all those things", she silently finished.

Lucas' eyes softened and he pulled Grace close to him, hugging her tightly and gently kissing her soft hair.

"Thank you so much. I love it", he whispered "Thank you for being you", and with those words he kissed her gently, his heart feeling like it would burn from love she gave him so selflessly, openly and sincerely. As he pulled away he let out a breath "This is… I… I don't know what to say. Thank you, my angel."

Grace smiled gently at him.

"You're welcome, my love", she smiled.

Grace blinked twice, her mind coming back from the memory of that night to present. To Lucas holding her in his arms, his eyes pleading, his heart completely opened and vulnerable…and she felt love surging through her veins, causing her to sneak her hands across his chest and shoulders and join them behind his neck as she smiled at him.

"Okay", she whispered gently and her heart skipped a beat as Lucas exhaled in relief and smiled at her, his dimples showing up before he leaned down and kissed her passionately.

Her heart pounded wildly as he devoured her mouth, causing her to tremble most deliciously in his arms. She kissed him back with utter desperation, yearning so badly to be with him, body and soul…

Twelve more days.

And I'll never let him go.

As both of them gasped for air, their lips unlatching from each other, Grace placed her palm on the left part of Lucas' chest as she fought to inhale a normal breath.

Looking up at him, she felt her heart nearly bursting from love she felt for her soon-to-be husband.

Breathing heavily, she gave him a mischievous smile.

"Can I see how it looks inside?", she asked giddily, causing Lucas to smile happily and take her hand.

"Of course", he whispered, kissing her knuckles before gently tugging her hand and leading her to the cabin. As they climbed three steps, Lucas let go of her hand and took out the keys. He unlocked the doors and turning back slightly, he took her hand once again and they entered.

Grace was in awe. The cabin didn't have furniture, only a huge fireplace…with only carpets, pillows and blankets in front of it.

But it was breathtakingly beautiful.

Their little piece of Heaven.

Lucas let go of her hand and went toward the fireplace. He took a box of matches that stood on it and started to work on a fire. The moment the flame licked upon a few branches and paper, Lucas took some wood and pretty soon, warmth started to spread around the cute little cabin.

Getting up, he brought matches with him and in the dim light that came from the fire, Grace saw him lighting up a few candles, bringing in a bit more light to the room that was mostly dark from the night outside.

She smiled as he turned around and walked back to her. He took her in his arms and she melted against him, her lips curling up with a happy smile.

"What do you say about a picnic by the fire, my angel?", he murmured gently, causing her to let out a soft sigh.

"That sounds heavenly", she said quietly and leaning in, she kissed him gently, moving her lips lazily against his, causing him to let out a quiet sigh and she felt him pull her closer to him.

As they slowly break their kiss, he whispered:

"I wanted to bring you here on February 15th as a surprise, but since you are here now you should decide what you want for a makeover", he gently nuzzled her nose with his "Anything you want, just say it and we'll have it."

Grace's eyes sparkled and her lips curled up as she slowly pressed herself against him, her hands roaming around his shoulders and neck.

"Anything?", she asked quietly, a smile never leaving her face.

Lucas felt his heart skip a beat at her loving touch. His entire body burned from her closeness

"Anything", he whispered back.

Grace's smile widened and she murmured gently:

"Well, in that case…No. I won't do it", at his surprised look Grace cupped his cheek and hovering her lips close to his, she whispered "I want you to do it by yourself and surprise me."

Lucas inhaled sharply, his lungs constricting with emotions, his heart warming up at the way she gave him another chance to do what he loves to do so much…to surprise her.

His breathing fastened up and his eyes darkened a bit as he saw her quickly moistening her lips with a tip of her tongue…before he dived in and kissed her, pulling her body flush against his, earning himself a whimper of pleasure from Grace that nearly knocked him off his feet. She slightly gasped as their bodies collided against each other…only to let out a soft moan as Lucas deepened the kiss, his tongue lovingly caressing her mouth, his palm on the back of her head gently pulling her head closer. She hugged him more tightly, feeling her toes curling up in her shoes as their kisses grew more heated, more passionate…

More.

Hanging on the last thin thread of self-control Lucas somehow managed to pull himself back a bit, causing Grace to sway on her feet and she held tightly on his shoulders, her eyes slowly opening, her breathing turning into short gasps for air.

She breathed heavily as his fingers slowly caressed her waist and lower back. His eyes were dark as the night outside and she swore she could get lost in those dark orbs…

She smiled warmly as the dim light from the fireplace and candles bathed Lucas' handsome face in warm light.

"Thank you, my Lucas. This is such a beautiful gift. I love it", she said gently, her heart soaring at the happiness that showed up on his face at her words "And I love you. So much."

Lucas placed a short, gentle kiss on her lips and quietly replied:

"I love you too, my angel. More than you can imagine", his eyes sparkled mischievously as he quipped "I was thinking about taking you out for ice skating on the lake, but after our last experience I think it's better if we don't do that."

Grace's eyes widened and as if on cue, both of them burst to laugh.

Giggling, Grace managed to squeak out:

"As much as I like to swim, I'd rather skip joining the fishes in the lake at this time of year!"

Lucas chuckled and gently tightening his hold on her, he whispered, his tone of voice dropping down for one octave:

"So…you like to swim? Good to know."

Grace's eyes matched his sparkling ones and she leaned her cheek close to his hairline as she whispered directly to his ear:

"Yes I do. And I am very partial to a night swim…", as she heard Lucas inhale sharply, she added quietly, her lips brushing over the shell of his earlobe "And I'd love for you to join me in the summer, Governor."

Lucas closed his eyes and as he felt Grace's lips gently tug at his earlobe, he gasped in pleasure. She gently closed her soft lips on his earlobe before she kissed her way across his hairline, his forehead, his eyelids and finally stopped right in front of his lips.

Breathing heavily, Lucas opened his eyes and ghosting his lips agonizingly slow against the soft petals of Grace's rosy lips, he whispered:

"Oh, you can count on that, Miss Bennett!", and with those words, he leaned down and kissed her.