Lucas felt Grace trembling in his embrace as they both tried to calm their breathing down.
He leaned his forehead on hers, never breaking eye contact with her. He couldn't say the words now, but he hoped that she could see it in his eyes.
That she could see their future together.
He watched as her eyes widened slightly and caressed him with a gaze so full of love and gentleness that he only wanted to lay down in her arms and hold her close to him.
His fingers traced the soft skin of her neck, reaching to her cheek and then sneaking in her hair.
She closed her eyes, enjoying his gentle ministrations.
Lucas slowly leaned in and kissed first one, then the other eyelid, making her sigh.
His lips touched her forehead and lingered there as he pulled her closer in his arms.
She snuggled into his chest, sneaking her palms under his vest and sending electricity shot through his spine as he felt only his dress shirt separating her warm fingers from his bare skin.
Grace felt him shudder under her bold touch and she bit her lower lip.
"I love you", she whispered, closing her eyes.
Lucas buried his face into her silky hair and gently brushed his lips over the softness that smelled like roses. He inhaled deeply, wishing he could bottle up that beautiful scent so he could always have her beside him.
Just a bit longer. And then, hopefully, she'll never leave my side.
"I love you, too", he whispered back.
—--
Next few hours passed by in talking, laughing, kissing and seizing the opportunity to just be together.
As lunch time was coming closer, they left the compartment and walked toward the restaurant. All the time, her small palm was intertwined with his fingers, making him feel warmth even when the gush of a cold wind would breeze through the narrowed corridor.
They sat down at the table and after perusing the Menus, ordered food and some wine.
As the waiter brought their order, they ate in comfortable silence for a while until Lucas looked up at Grace.
"I forgot to tell you that, while you were at Minnie's, I called Lillian and let her know that we are coming home. She said she'll meet us at the train station", he said with a warm smile.
Grace smiled happily.
"She always does. Whenever I travel to bring kids to their new families, she is always there at the train station or airport to welcome me back", her eyes glittered with fresh tears as she chuckled lovingly, thinking of her beloved sister "She says that she can't wait for me to drag myself from the station and airport because I can be slow as a snail on the crutches!"
Lucas chuckled warmly at that.
Grace smiled widely.
"And I get anxious once I arrive in Capitol City, I just want to hug her as soon as possible", she finished silently and playfully stole one French fry from Lucas' plate and quickly popped it in her mouth.
Lucas raised one eyebrow.
"I saw that", he winked at her and as she smiled, he cut his steak and asked "How did you two find each other after such a long time?"
Grace took a sip of her wine and smiled thoughtfully as she thought of that day.
"I was trying to find her as soon as I started to earn money. Apparently, she did the same. All the money that we had left went into that search. Then one day Lillian just bursted into the restaurant where I was working!", Grace smiled widely through her tears "To this day I never forgot how I felt when she appeared out of nowhere. I don't know how, but we recognized each other immediately", Grace wiped her tears and sniffed "I dropped the tray full of plates and glasses and we just ran into each other's arms", she let out a shivering breath.
Lucas gently wiped her tears and shook his head in amazement.
"That must have felt wonderful", he gently said.
Grace nodded.
"Yeah. It was out of this world", she sniffed slightly again and Lucas took a handkerchief from his suit pocket and offered it to Grace. She accepted it with a wobbling smile "Thank you."
He wiped one tear that rolled down her cheek. She looked down at the table.
"I always cry when I think about that day. Lillian is the only family I got left. She means the world to me", she mumbled silently.
Lucas nodded.
"Of course. I can't even imagine how hard all that was for you two. First losing your parents and then they separated you for so long", he shook his head and gently smiled "That's why it is even more remarkable what you two are doing nowadays. No kid should be separated from their siblings. Unfortunately, I am the only child, but I count that lunatic back at home as a brother, more than just a cousin."
Grace slightly snorted at Lucas' choice of words for Gustave.
"Yeah, you said so once we boarded the train, but never got to tell me why", she noticed.
Lucas' lips curled up a bit.
"If I remember well, it was then that you suggested that we play 20 questions and you distracted me from answering", he quipped, sending a warm gaze her way as he took a sip of his wine.
Grace smiled, her cheeks getting a nice shade of red at his sensual teasing.
"Stop changing the subject", she teased back "You know that Gustave will tell me if you won't", she laughed at his facial expression - completely flabbergasted.
Lucas shook his head and chuckled.
"Mon frère…sold me out for a box of cookies", he quipped.
Grace raised her eyebrows and pursued her lips, looking down at her plate.
"Those are fine cookies, I'll have you know, Monsieur Bouchard", she said haughtily as she cut in her chicken.
Lucas' eyes softened.
"Oh, I know", he whispered and she looked up at him, feeling goosebumps sneaking up on her skin at the husky tone of his voice.
Grace smiled as she leaned forward and kissed his lips. He smiled as he kissed her back, gently and lovingly.
As they pulled apart, she pressed her lips to keep the sensation of his kiss linger as long as possible and watched as he took her hand and brushed his lips across her knuckles.
How I love you, Lucas Bouchard!
He looked back up at her with a warm smile.
She smiled back and raised her eyebrows in expectation.
Lucas sighed in a mock exasperation.
"Fine", he huffed, then chuckled "We were the most mischievous of the four of us", at Grace's gasp, he raised his index finger, stifling a laugh "We never did some serious damage", he playfully sniffed "Only the tiny ones."
Grace's eyes widened, her mouth slightly opened in surprise.
"What kind of damage?", she asked with a huge grin on her face.
Lucas cleared his throat.
"Oh, nothing much…bringing in the puppies in my Aunt and Uncle's house even though it was strictly forbidden. Pouring some honey in the shoes of an annoying old man next door who kept on informing our parents about everything we've done", as Grace gasped and started to giggle, Lucas smirked "Hey, it was homemade honey! His feet never smelled THAT good!"
"Oh, for God's sake!", gasped Grace and bursted to laughter.
Lucas laughed along with her as he carried on.
"I remember our parents being so mad at us. They said that it will all come back to us when we have our own children. My Aunt's words were: I hope they embarrass you in front of your neighbors and that your house will also smell of puppies!"
Grace shook her head, wiping tears of laughter from her cheeks.
"But, puppies don't smell!", she squeaked out through fits of laughter.
Lucas shook from laughter.
"No. But, according to my Mother, their products do", said Lucas, sending Grace into hysterics.
"But, I love puppies!", she said, giggling like there's no tomorrow.
Lucas laughed.
"So do I", he said, his heart warming at the sight of her.
She was perfect.
"So you two were a force to be reckoned with?", she smiled.
Lucas nodded.
"Yes, we were. We still are. We always have each other's back. I'd do anything for him and I know he thinks the same about me. When the going gets rough, we can always count on each other", said Lucas and took a sip of wine "I can't wait to see the old nag", he said with a smile.
Grace smiled warmly as she stole another French fry from Lucas' plate.
He looked at her, his eyes smiling.
"Didn't I tell you that all you had to do was to ask and I'd do anything for you?", he whispered, leaning towards her.
Grace smiled happily.
"Even share your French fries?", she quipped.
Lucas smiled warmly.
"Even that. In fact", he took one French fry and brought it to her rosy lips "I would even feed you."
Her eyes sparkled.
"You would?", she whispered.
He held her gaze locked with hers.
"Mhm. I would", he said, his voice dropping down for one octave as he fed her another French fry. At the sight of tip of her tongue licking her lips, his eyes darkened and he leaned in, whispering to her ear "Although, I'd choose something more…delicious."
Grace felt her heart skipping a beat and she swallowed hard, her lips going dry at the tone of his voice.
"Like what?", she asked, only to gasp silently as his lips closed around her earlobe, sending electricity shots straight to her toes.
Dear God.
She quickly looked around the restaurant.
Nobody seemed to look at their way.
She let out a shivering breath.
"Lucas…", she mumbled quietly, her breathing growing heavy as she felt his lips moving toward her face.
He looked at her and whispered:
"Like strawberries", he kissed her cheek and she smiled "They would match your lips perfectly", he whispered as he gently kissed her eyelid.
Grace closed her eyes, feeling like she was floating.
As she sensed his warm breath warming up the space between their lips, she opened her eyes and cupped his right cheek with her trembling fingers.
He nestled his cheek in her palm for a moment and then dived in, kissing her lovingly.
She sighed, closing her eyes.
She will never get enough of his kisses.
Never.
—--
At the sound of the loud whistle Lillian turned around and watched as the magnificent machine pulled over at the train station.
A cloud of steam covered the platform full of people. The hiss of the engine shutting down pierced the air.
The doors on the train opened and Lillian held her breath.
And all of a sudden, she smiled widely.
"Grace!!", she exclaimed, running toward her sister.
Grace looked up at the sound of her beloved sister's voice.
Tears sprung from her eyes as she saw beloved red curly head.
"Lillian!!", she exclaimed, letting go of Lucas' hand and running toward her sister.
Lucas smiled warmly at the sight in front of him.
The sisters fell into each other's arms, hugging tightly, doing a silly dance of their own, laughing, squealing and crying.
It was such a lovely sight to see.
They were so close, it was heartwarming.
Just like sisters should be.
Lucas turned around to take care of their suitcases, giving Grace and Lillian a few moments alone.
Lillian kissed Grace's hair.
"I missed you, Gracie", she said warmly.
Grace tightened her hold on Lilllian.
"I missed you too, Lillian. So much", as she said that Lillian pulled away a bit to look at her little sister, then glancing quickly into Lucas' direction.
Seeing that he was talking to a porter, Lillian looked back at Grace, whispering confidentially:
"Oh, you're positively glowing! I cannot wait to hear everything tonight!", she smiled widely and Grace's face lit up with happiness as they squealed and once again fell into each other's arms.