Author's note: Thanks to Avis Minter for another round of brilliant brainstorming!
—--
The crisp white of a winter morning combined with the golden suntracks played softly against Grace's eyes, making her stretch lazily.
Opening her eyes, she smiled as the memories of last evening played in her mind. They way he held her. The way he kissed her.
She could stay in his arms forever.
And then her dream came rushing back into her consciousness and she felt her cheeks flush red.
Is everything to your liking, Mrs. Bouchard?
Grace closed her eyes, rubbing her forehead, feeling her cheeks burn.
How on Earth am I going to look him in the eyes now?!
Letting out a sigh, Grace pushed the blanket away and got up. Opening her bag, she took a toothbrush and squeezed a bit of toothpaste on it. Grabbing a bottle of water and a small towel, she opened the doors of her compartment and peeked outside.
It was still early in the morning, she could tell by the sun in the sky. But, what time was it exactly, she had absolutely no idea.
"I should get a pocket watch too", she mumbled silently to herself, a small smile curling up her lips.
She looked toward the doors of Lucas' compartment and noticed they were still closed.
He must be asleep.
Good.
Grace left her compartment and went to the next wagon where she knew a small bathroom/toilette was.
She locked the doors and brushed her teeth, then poured a bit of water from the bottle on her palm, rinsed her mouth and drank a bit. She never liked to wash her mouth with the water from faucets on the train because it always left a metallic taste in her throat. She only used it to wash her face.
Grace turned on a faucet and splashed some cold water on her burning cheeks, welcoming it as her traitorous mind brought back that line again.
Is everything to your liking, Mrs. Bouchard?
Grace silently groaned, closing her eyes.
Great.
Wiping her face with a little towel, she left the bathroom and went back to her compartment.
And as she slid the doors open, a small envelope fell from it.
Creasing her eyebrows Grace knelt down and picked it up.
She put her toothbrush, towel and bottle down on the small table and opened a note.
Her heart skipped a beat and a happy smile brightened her face as she read the note.
Good morning, my angel.
Join me for a breakfast at the restaurant.
Love,
Lucas
Grace brought a note to her lips, kissing it gently, then twirled herself in a place, smiling as the golden suntracks danced around her dress.
She quickly brushed her hair and left her compartment, following a few other passengers as they headed toward the restaurant wagon.
Could these people move more slow?
Grace fought the urge to roll her eyes in a way it would make Lillian proud.
Come on, people! Move!
She tried to be patient but after a few minutes, she gave up and gently tapped a few shoulders, saying "excuse me", "sorry" and pushing her way through the narrow corridor.
A waiter opened the restaurant doors and a mouthwatering smell of coffee, tea and cocoa reached her nostrils.
She smiled gratefully to the waiter and stepped inside, leeting out a breath of relief.
Finally!
Biting her lower lip, Grace looked around the restaurant and her eyes collided with Lucas' across the room.
He was looking at her with so much love and gentleness that she couldn't hold back a huge smile on her face.
She quickly reached the table and he got up.
"Good morning, my angel", Lucas said as she came closer to him and he gently kissed her lips.
Grace smiled into his lips.
"Good morning, my Lucas", she whispered.
He pulled out a chair for her and watched with a surprised smile as she shooed his fingers away and pulled her chair closer to his.
Sitting down, Grace grinned.
"There", she said "Much better."
Lucas' heart soared at her public showing of affection for him. She was so heartwarming and opened in her love for him and it still made his heart grow a bit more whenever she did that.
To receive so much love from the woman he adored warmed his heart and he wished that she would always be close to him.
He sat down beside her, his eyes drinking in her lovely face, sparkling eyes and the sweetest smile.
What a way to wake up in the morning!
Both of them reached for each other's hands at the same time and laughed amazed at their connection.
Lucas gently caressed her knuckles, staring into Grace's smiling eyes.
She gently brushed her fingers against his hairline and bearded cheek, before snuggling into his side, letting out a small sigh as his arm immediately wrapped around her shoulders.
From the warm place between his neck and shoulder where she settled her cheek, Grace peeked at the Menu in front of Lucas.
"Did you order?", she asked silently.
Lucas gently kissed her hair and reached for the Menu so they could both look at it.
"No. I was waiting for you", he silently replied.
Grace looked up at him, grinning. He looked at her, smiling warmly.
"What?", he softly asked.
"What if I was still snoring away? You'd be hungry here", she giggled.
Lucas chuckled, his fingers caressing her shoulder.
"You are too adorable to snore", he whispered, giving her a look of pure adoration.
Grace giggled.
"And you are irresistible even this early in the morning", she snuggled into his shoulder, making him smile and gently kissing her hair. Grace looked back at the Menu and asked "What shall we eat?"
Lucas smiled mischievously.
"What's your favorite breakfast?", he asked.
Grace closed one eye, her facial expression turning into a thoughtful one.
She takes my breath away.
"Hmmmm…oatmeal with fruits? French toast with butter and ham?", she let out a small yawn and Lucas chuckled warmly.
"Well, you just answered your question", as she looked at him he smiled "Butter, ham, French toast and oatmeal with fruits for breakfast."
Grace grinned sleepily.
"Are we playing 20 questions again?", she asked.
Lucas creased his eyebrows in a mock confusion.
"What do you mean 'again'? We never reached 20 questions!", he quipped looking back at the Menu, his facial expression turning into a business like as he cleared his throat twice.
Grace giggled, enjoying the sight of him trying to stay serious, but she could see his lips twitching a bit.
"How much did we reach?", she asked, her smile widening.
Lucas looked back at her.
"I don't know. I just know that we didn't reach 20", he deadpanned.
Grace bit her lower lip, her eyes sparkling as their banter went on and on.
"So, what is your favourite breakfast?", she asked.
Lucas looked critically at his Menu.
"I would say… scrambled eggs, with a pinch of Mediterranean mix and some vegetables", he put the Menu down and looked back at Grace, his eyes smiling "Tea or coffee?"
Grace hid another small yawn behind her palm.
"Coffee. Otherwise I will be like a zombie", she blinked slowly.
Lucas looked at her, his forehead slightly creasing in concern.
"You didn't sleep well?"
Is everything to your liking, Mrs. Bouchard?
Grace grimaced as she felt her cheeks flush dark red as her traitorous mind brought that sentence back once again.
She rubbed her forehead, trying to hide her eyes from Lucas.
At the next moment, she fidgeted on her chair, looking around for a waiter .
"Grace?"
His voice was laced with so much concern that she felt like an absolute idiot.
Why, WHY did my stupid brain and even more stupid subconscious produce such a dream?!
"Grace, are you alright?", his palm rubbed her upper back in soothing, slow circles.
Great. Now I got him worried over my stupidity!
"Oh, I just kept having some dreams that kept waking me up", the words were out before she even realized what she said and her eyes went wide open in sheer panic!
Lucas turned completely toward her, his face a mix of concern and curiosity.
"What kind of dreams? Bad ones?", he asked.
Perfect. Of all the people in the world HE was asking THAT question.
Grace quickly shook her head.
"No, no, nothing bad! I just dreamed about a fancy dinner with white tablecloths and roses and Gustave asking me something…", she rambled on, but his voice interrupted her:
"I'm sorry, what?! Gustave asking you something?!", he asked, his eyebrows creased in surprise.
I didn't actually say Gustave… Did I?
Oh, for God's sake!
Grace grabbed a napkin from her plate and twisted it between her fingers.
"But I didn't understand what he was asking! But it keeps popping in my head!", she said weakly.
Is everything to your liking, Mrs. Bouchard?
Grace closed her eyes, creasing her forehead in order not to growl at herself!
No! Nothing is to my liking, you stupid brain, STOP IT!
She despondently hung her hands by her sides and let out a sigh.
"I just REALLY have to get some coffee in my system", she whined in a small voice "My head starts to hurt."
Lucas was certain that she wasn't telling him everything. She may have a poker face in front of the others, but that didn't work in front of the man who taught her how to make one.
He waved to the waiter and sneaked his fingers to the place where her neck met her head, his fingers slowly massaging it.
"I know. Dreams with Gustave in them give me a headache too", he deadpanned.
Grace let out a little snort.
Only he can make me feel better even when he doesn't know that he is the reason why am I so worked up!
She watched him as he talked with a waiter and her teeth gently chewed on her lower lip.
What would it be like to be married to him?
To have him there, by her side, day and night?
—--
From where you are
You see the smoke start to arise
Where they play cards
And you walk over softly moving passed the guards
The stakes are getting higher, you can feel it in your heart.
He calls you bluff
He is the ace you never thought he played that much
And now it's more than all this cards you want to touch
You never know if winning this could really be enough.
Take a look beyond the moon, you see the stars
And when you look around you know the room by heart.
I have never dreamed it
Have you ever dreamed a night like this?
I cannot believe it
I may never see a night like this.
When everything you think is incomplete
Starts happening when you are cheek to cheek
Could you ever dream it,
I have never dreamed, dreamed a night like this.
How many times have I been waiting by the door to hear these chimes
To hear that someone debonair has just arrived
And opened up to see my world before my eyes.
That silhouette creates an image on the night I can't forget
It has the scent of something special
I can't rest
If I resist temptation
Oh, I know for sure that I will lose the bet!
I walk away and suddenly it seems I'm not alone
In front of me he stands
I stop, before he goes.
I have never dreamed it
Have you ever dreamed a night like this?
I cannot believe it
I may never see a night like this.
When everything you think is incomplete
Starts happening when you are cheek to cheek
Could you ever dream it
I have never dreamed, dreamed a night like this.
I have never dreamed it
Have you ever dreamed a night like this?
I cannot believe it
I may never see a night like this.
When everything you think is incomplete
Starts happening when you are cheek to cheek
Could you ever dream it
I have never dreamed, dreamed a night like this.
(Caro Emerald - "A night like this)