Author's note: Thanks to Avis Minter for suggesting that a certain scene happens in the library.

—--

The clock on the wall ticked the minutes away, the fire in a fireplace silently crackled sending flaming fireflies up in the chimney.

Grace was wide awake, sleep kept on eluding her. Her fingers rested against Lucas' leg as she laid in his arms, her head leaning on his chest.

He fell asleep about an hour ago and she didn't dare to move in order not to wake him up.

She looked up and watched him as he slept. His handsome features were relaxed in a slumber, his lips slightly opened, his thick, long eyelashes resting against the pale skin.

He looked so peaceful.

So handsome.

And so vulnerable.

She was able to talk him into taking a few bites of Henry's risotto, but not much. He just wanted to hold her.

Grace remembered how she took him back to the couch, ordering him to rest while she went back to the kitchen to do the dishes and put the food away in the fridge.

When she came back, Lucas was laying on the couch, wrapped in the blanket. But the moment she showed up, he lifted a blanket and she snuggled beside him, hugging him tightly, her face leaning on his chest.

He took a deep breath in and leaned his chin on her head.

And that's how he fell asleep.

Grace stared at the fire, absently caressing skin on Lucas' forearm as his hand was wrapped around her waist.

Henry came home while Grace was cleaning up the kitchen and by the look on his face, both of them knew that he ran at Elizabeth before he could even talk.

He nursed a glass of whiskey as he told them how she barged inside the saloon demanding from Mike that she speaks with Lucas. Not believing that he wasn't there, she stormed to his office, but came back with a look of confusion and defeat on her face.

Henry was playing poker with Bill, but both were playing the best poker game ever against Elizabeth. Both of them pretended that they had no idea where Lucas was.

Henry quietly told Bill about what happened and the judge agreed to keep Lucas' whereabouts a secret.

Grace raised her eyebrows.

"Being an undercover player can be a career choice in Hope Valley", she huffed, causing both Henry and Lucas to smile.

Grace blinked tiredly. It was dawn now, she could tell by the shadows on the wall growing thinner and lighter. Henry left to sleep just before midnight and her Lucas lost a battle with exhaustion around two o'clock in the morning.

Grace was alone with her thoughts for about four hours.

Around six o'clock in the morning, she finally gave up on trying.

Slowly, carefully, she put Lucas' arm away from her waist and sneaked a pillow under it so he wouldn't feel the emptiness and wake up.

Her whole body ached from the lack of sleep, but there was nothing to be done about it now.

She tiptoed to the bathroom to do her morning toilette and then walked quietly to the kitchen.

Cooking always calmed her down. And the least she could do is to make breakfast for Henry, a way of saying thank you for everything he did last night.

And hope against hope that Lucas will eat something.

She worked quietly, making a batch for pancakes and then flipping them over the stove.

She made some French toast and cut up some ham and cheese. She put all of it on the table and went to squeeze some oranges into a juice.

It was at that moment that Henry came into the kitchen and stood still, not quite believing his eyes.

"What's this?", he asked, his voice a bit hoarse from sleep.

Grace turned toward him and gave him a small smile.

"Breakfast. To thank you for everything", she picked up an empty cup "Coffee or tea?"

Henry looked at her, his face softening.

"I can do that. You've done enough already, Grace. This", he showed to the full table that was set up for breakfast and softly said "This is amazing. Thank you", as he limped toward her with a warm smile on his lips, he said "Come on. Sit down. What can I get you?"

Grace weakly smiled.

"Coffee, please. Thank you", she replied, but didn't sit down. Instead, she walked toward the window and looked outside into a crispy white winter morning.

Last night, Henry offered them to stay at his place as long as they are in Hope Valley. Both Grace and Lucas thanked him but decided not to let Elizabeth spoil their time with their friends. They won't hide away. So they declined.

Grace was staring in the yard covered with snow and thought of home. She missed her sister a lot, not to mention the kids.

But standing here, in someone else's kitchen, her dress and skin still carrying Lucas' scent from a sleepless night on the couch, snuggled into his chest…that also felt like home.

Anywhere where Lucas was, it felt like home. It didn't matter what town or whose place it was as long as he was there.

She looked down, crossing her hands as she remembered how he brushed his fingertips up and down her right arm in slow movements as they talked, or just sat in silence, staring at the fire.

His touch felt like home.

Grace heard soft, slow steps and turned around to see her Lucas slowly coming inside the kitchen. His eyes were still veiled with sleep, he ran fingers through his hair, his shirt crinkled. He was so disheveled and still not totally awake.

And he took her breath away.

She softly smiled as their eyes met.

"Good morning", she said.

From the table, Henry also greeted him.

"Good morning, Lucas", he said, taking a bite of pancake.

Lucas looked at his friend, his eyelids blinking slowly as his lips curled up in a small smile.

"Good morning", he said, his voice hoarse and an octave lower from sleep "Since when are you making pancakes for breakfast?"

Henry smiled as he finished his breakfast and getting up, he popped the last bite of pancake in his mouth.

"I don't", he grinned, putting his plate in the sink and on his way out from the kitchen, he passed by Grace and gently caressed her upper arm "Thanks for the delicious breakfast, Grace. I am going to get some things from my office while you two eat. Then we can head back to town", and with those words he left the kitchen.

Grace looked up as Lucas slowly approached her, his body warmth warming her chilled bones the moment he got closer to her.

"Good morning, angel", whispered Lucas, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning his forehead on hers.

She smiled weakly, gently rubbing her nose against his.

"Good morning, my love", she whispered and closed her eyes as he gave her a short, sweet kiss.

I could fall asleep now. Or melt in his arms.

Or both.

Lucas watched her closely, noticing black circles under her tired eyes and as he cupped her left cheek, he noticed how chilly it was.

"You didn't sleep at all, angel?", he asked, his voice etched with concern. At her slight shake of head, he brushed his thumb across her cheek "Why don't you get some sleep now?"

Grace shook her head again.

"It's no use. I won't be able to sleep. The walk would do me good", she said quietly.

Lucas watched her eyes, looking for any sign of distress.

"What's wrong, angel?", he silently asked.

Grace looked down at his crinkled shirt, noticing his four last buttons opened.

She carefully touched exposed skin with her fingertips before she inched closer and placed her lips on it.

Lucas inhaled sharply at the sensation and closed his eyes.

Grace leaned her forehead on his neck, listening to his racing heartbeat.

Lucas breathed heavily, but even in the haze of his mind, he sensed that she was looking for comfort. Reassurance.

"Hey", he whispered, slightly pulling away and looking down at her Grace, "It's alright", he gently cupped her cheeks "I am not going anywhere, angel."

She looked up at him and he saw it.

Fear of abandonment.

Fear of being unwanted.

And Lillian's words echoed in his mind.

Even after all this time, Grace can be so hard on herself. Like it's her fault nobody wanted to adopt her. That pain is still deep in her heart. I don't think that she will ever believe in herself completely.

Lucas leaned in and gently kissed Grace's forehead.

When someone threatens her or the ones she loves, she thinks it's her fault.

"Angel, listen to me", he whispered "What happened yesterday wasn't your fault."

Grace swallowed hard, looking down.

"I talked you into going to see her…", she mumbled silently, in a small voice.

"Hey, hey", he whispered "Look at me", as she slowly looked up at him, Lucas gently said "I love you. And I'm glad that you talked me into it. I can breathe again. I can live again. I can love again", he smiled softly at her "And it's all thanks to you, angel."

Grace swallowed, her eyes losing a battle with a few tears as she smiled shakily.

"I love you, Grace", he whispered as he gently brushed his lips over hers "I love you."

He watched mesmerized as her eyes brightened and her smile grew.

Lucas smiled.

"There's my Grace", Lucas smiled "There's the woman I love", his smile grew against her smile as he lazily kissed her again.

And again.

And again.

And felt her breathe freely again.

—--

Henry parked the car in front of the saloon and all three of them went out.

Lucas looked at Grace.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay with me? I hate to leave you alone…", he said, his forehead creased in worry.

Grace brought her fingertips to his forehead and caressed it until the lines of worry started to fade away.

"I am fine. Really. Go", she gently said "Mike needs you to sign those papers. I'll go to see Minnie."

Lucas nodded.

"I won't be long", he said and with one last kiss, he was gone.

Grace took a deep breath in and turning around, she started to walk down Main Street.

Looking to her left, Grace noticed a library and a soft smile curled up her lips.

A good book and silence.

That sounded perfect.

She slowly walked up a few stairs and opened the doors.

Elizabeth left the Mercantile, her basket idling on her forearm as she looked up.

And her face grew furious as she saw that woman entering the library.

Alone.

Elizabeth rushed downstairs and after crossing the street she stormed toward the library.

Perfect.

Grace took a book from the shelf and opened it, quickly diving into a world of imagination and written word.

She was about to sit at the table in the middle of a library when the doors opened.

Grace looked up.

Don't let anyone shake your self-confidence, Gracie, do you hear me?

Her sister's gentle voice echoed in Grace's mind and she held her chin up proudly as she looked at the person who just came in the library.

Elizabeth Thornton.