Author's note: I'd like to thank everybody who review after reading. Your reviews inspire me to write more and I am thrilled that you all like the idea of Grace and Lucas as a couple!

—--

Pulling away from Grace Lillian turned toward Lucas with a warm smile on her face.

"Hello, Lucas! It's so good to see you again", she said as she hugged him.

Lucas smiled warmly as he hugged her back.

"Good to see you too, Lillian", as they pulled away he asked "How have you been?"

Lillian nodded.

"Good, thank you. Busy. We've got a new child while you two were gone", her smile turned to a sad one "She can't be older than three months. Somebody left her at our doors. I checked with the police, there are no records about the missing baby", she shook her head in disbelief "So, she is with us now."

Grace felt her heart clench painfully.

"Do we know her name?", she asked.

Lillian nodded.

"Only the first name. There was a note under the blanket with only one word. Madelaine. No last name", she said.

Lucas slightly creased his eyebrows.

"Is there anything else that could be done?" he asked.

Lillian shook her head.

"Unfortunately, no. I informed the Police, as well as the Social Care service. She is staying with us", Lillian looked around "We should find a cab, get away from this crowd", she frowned as yet another person bumped into them and rushed off without even apologizing.

Lucas nodded.

"Lets go. I just talked to a porter, he took our suitcases and went to get us a cab. He should be outside, near platform two", he stepped in front of them and lead the way.

Lillian raised her eyebrows as she looked at Grace, impressed.

"He thinks about everything, doesn't he?", she whispered in Grace's ear as they followed Lucas.

Grace smiled and nodded.

"Yes. That's my Lucas", she replied.

Lillian glanced lovingly at her sister and pressed her fingers on the crook of Grace's arm.

"You look different", whispered Lillian "Both of you do."

Grace looked at her sister, a bit startled and confused.

"Different? What do you mean different?", Grace whispered.

Lillian glanced at Lucas who almost reached the doors of the train station and then looked back at Grace.

"You both seemed so…comfortable and relaxed around each other. Like you've been together for years. It's like this trip strengthened your relationship", she grinned "And you're gonna tell me all the secrets and all the naughty details!", Lillian giggled as Grace gasped, tightening a hold on her fingers.

"Lillian!! Ssssh!", hissed Grace "He'll hear you!"

Lillian rolled her eyes full force.

"Yeah, right! He'll hear me and zillions of other people at this train station talking!", she huffed.

Grace jumped up, reaching her hand in her coat pocket.

"Oh, I brought you THE chocolate!", she announced, emphasizing the word THE as she pulled out two chocolate bars from her pocket and gave one to her sister.

Lillian's eyes widened at the sight.

"Ned Yost's nougat bars?", she gasped as she let go of Grace's arm to take the chocolate and tear it open.

Grace giggled as she did the same and the sisters clinked the chocolate bars like they were champagne flutes and took a bite.

Lillian closed her eyes in delight.

"Oh, that taste!", she gasped.

Grace giggled as she munched on her chocolate bar.

It was at that moment that they reached the exit and Lucas turned toward them to say something, but stopped at the sight of them chewing on chocolate bars with happy smiles on their faces.

He playfully raised his eyebrows as he glanced at Grace.

"And none for me?", he asked in a mock hurt.

Lillian rushed by him, biting a big chunk of her chocolate bar on purpose right in front of his nose, making Lucas chuckle.

"I'm out of here", she quipped "You're on your own, Gracie!"

Grace laughed as her sister disappeared through the doors and turned to look at Lucas who was now stepping into her personal space.

She felt his arms wrap around her waist and she smiled playfully.

"I wasn't aware that you are fond of that chocolate. There is plenty of it in my suitcase. Had I known, I would take one out for you too", she smirked "I guess you'll just have to wait", she quipped as she slowly bit a larger part of her chocolate bar and held it between her teeth.

Lucas' eyes darkened at her teasing.

"Or…", he inched closer to her lips "I guess you'll have to share until then", he whispered, his tone of voice dropping for an octave.

Grace smiled as her eyes sparkled with a bit of seductive light and she leaned in, offering him to bite on a chocolate from her lips.

She didn't have to offer twice.

Lucas gave her a smouldering look that sent shivers through her entire body before he accepted a challenge and slowly bit a piece of chocolate from her lips.

In the dim light of the train station, Grace noticed a flashlight of camera going off in their direction.

She swallowed her piece of chocolate and leaned in to whisper in Lucas' ear:

"Governor…it appears we're making a scandal story for tomorrow's newspapers."

Lucas chuckled as he swallowed his piece of chocolate and buried his face in Grace's hair. He inhaled her sweet scent and whispered in her ear:

"Something has to help newspapers to sell", as he felt his Grace shaking with laughter, he grinned and hugging her shoulders with one hand, he added "Come on, lets go."

—--

Lucas escorted Grace and Lillian to the orphanage, the three of them talking all the time. Lillian updated them on the news in Capitol City as well as what the kids in the New Hope orphanage were up to.

"They are so into decorating the orphanage for Christmas, there are papers and garlands everywhere!", said Lillian and laughed "But, they were adamant not to decorate the Christmas tree until you two get back."

Grace smiled happily at hearing that and looked at Lucas to see his reaction.

His composure almost crumbled, he was so moved, she could see it plain and clear.

As Lillian searched for the keys in her purse, Grace gently squeezed Lucas' hand.

"I told you that you have your own fanclub in there", she said gently.

Lucas let out a shivering breath and trying to hold his tears at bay, he took his pocket watch out and checked the time.

"They're probably asleep, right? I'd love to greet them, but if it's too late now…", he glanced from Grace to Lillian.

Lillian got the keys out and turned to look at him with a smile.

"Asleep? Are you kidding me? They're probably in the hallway waiting to hear me unlocking the doors!", she laughed.

Lucas smiled and looked at Grace.

His love smiled softly and lovingly squeezed his fingers.

Lillian looked at both of them and smiled as she slowly unlocked the doors.

Peeking inside she couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of approxiomatelly 15 kids sitting on the carpet in the hallway.

They all looked up at her in expectation.

Lillian's smile widened.

"Oh, munchkiiiiins…", she said "Look who I found!"

Lillian came inside and opened the doors wide open causing the children to jump up and squeal in delight!!

"GWACIE!!!! WUCAS!!!!"

Grace laughed as she knelt down and welcomed little Anna in her arms, hugging her tightly. She nearly lost her balance as more and more kids came in and rushed to her and Lucas.

Mia and Tess talked miles per hour, showing her what they had drawn while she was away.

Kneeling on the floor surrounded by the kids, Grace turned around to see where Lucas was.

And her heart melted at seeing him kneeling down to be at the children's eye level, as the little ones greeted and hugged him so warmly.

He talked to every child, caressed every single little head in front of him and even though he was smiling, she could see his eyes glistening with tears.

My wonderful man.

Lucas' heart felt like bleeding at the warmth and love these little ones gave him. He loved every single one of these kids so much.

All of a sudden, a baby crying was heard and Bertha showed up, carrying a wailing infant in her arms.

"I'm so sorry, Lillian, she just woke up and started to cry. Nothing I seem to do helps", she said apologetically.

Lucas watched as his Grace stood up and walked over to Bertha. She gently took a crying baby from their old cook and looked down at the whimpering bundle in her arms with a gentle smile.

"Hey, little one", she gently whispered "Hey. What's got you so upset, darling?", Grace gently rocked the little one in her arms and as one of her long curls fell within baby's reach, the little one grabbed it with its tiny fingers and held it, completely mesmerized by a new face in front of her.

Grace smiled, her heart swelling at the feeling of three tiny fingers clasping her curl.

"Yeaaah, that's it", she leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the baby's little head "You don't have to be sad anymore, Madelaine. You got all of us to love you. You are not alone anymore."

Grace's soothing voice, gentle rocking and a shiny brown curl were more than enough for little Madelaine to stop crying and watch the pretty lady who held her in awe.

Grace looked up with a smile and Lucas felt his heart and throat tightening with emotions at the sight of her holding a baby.

She was beautiful. So beautiful.

A misty veil fluttered in front of his eyes as he saw the same vision he had on the train…

He could see his dearest, sweet Grace rocking a baby in her arms as her soft brown eyes met his and she smiled warmly at him.

Just like she did now.

A baby whimpered quietly and Grace's attention was back to the little bundle in her arms.

"I'm going to put her to sleep", whispered Grace.

She walked across the hallway to three steps that led to the living room, most of the kids quietly following her, whispering how baby Madelaine likes to listen to the birds chirping and cuddle with Lillian and Bertha.

Lillian watched her sister as she walked away and quietly ushered the other kids to go brush their teeth and get ready for their beds.

As the little ones said bye to Lucas, he quickly checked to see if Grace was close enough to hear them talk. Once he was sure she wasn't, Lucas looked at Lillian.

"Lillian, I need to talk to you", he silently said.

Lillian creased her eyebrows as she noticed how unusually nervous Lucas was.

"Alright", she said "Come in."

Only to grow even more confused when Lucas shook his head.

"Not now. Tomorrow. Could you come to my place tomorrow around four o'clock?", he silently asked.

Lillian noticed that he once again looked after Grace and she felt a sense of dread and worry setting in.

"Lucas, is everything alright?", she asked, growing serious.

He quickly glanced back at her.

"Yes, everything is alright. I just…", he took a deep breath in "I really need to talk to you. But, please, don't tell Grace that you are going to see me", he silently told her, checking the area behind Lillian once again for any sign of Grace returning.

And completely missing Lillian's murderous glare.

"What have you done?", Lillian asked in a warning tone of voice "If you hurt my sister, Lucas Bouchard, I won't care that you are a Governor! I am going to make you pay for that, I…", she hissed causing Lucas' eyes to widen and he quickly caught Lillian's forearms.

"No! Lillian, I want to…", he stopped, then took a deep breath in and said "I want to do something for her. And I need your help. But, it's a surprise so you can't tell her…", he quietly rambled on until Lillian interrupted him:

"Oh, for Heaven's sake, Lucas, why didn't you say so at once instead of making me want to strangle you?!", she hissed at him and turned around to make sure Grace wasn't close by "Alright. I'll be there. I'll just tell her that I have something to do in town."

Lucas let out a breath of relief.

"Thank you", he silently said.

And it was at that moment that Grace came back.

"Thank you for what?", she asked as she went down a few steps.

Lucas and Lillian shared a look of panic.

"Oh, I was just thanking to Lillian for uhhhmm…", Lucas stammered and glanced at Grace's sister with a look that screamed 'Help me!'

Lillian turned around to face her sister.

"For inviting him to have lunch with us on Sunday", she smiled widely then turned back and grinned with a look of warning in her eyes "And he accepted it."

Grace watched them with a confused smile and her eyebrows slightly creased.

What were these two up to?

She came closer and stood beside her sister.

"That's a lovely idea", she smiled and then looked at Lucas "But, we'll see each other before that, won't we?", she asked, her nerves catching up with her as she mumbled "I mean, it's only Wednesday today."

Lillian took it as her cue to leave. She pressed her lips tightly together in order not to laugh at how adorable and nervous her sister was.

Grace looked after her sister in confusion.

And it was in that moment that she felt Lucas' fingers taking her palms and bringing them up, he kissed both of her knuckles, making her look up at his dark eyes.

"Of course we'll see each other until then", he whispered "I told you I never wanna be away from you for so long again. Never."

Grace felt her heart skip a beat and a slow smile sneaked up on her lips.

"You'll let me know about your schedule?", she whispered flirtatiously.

Lucas let go of her hands and slowly wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Why? Do you need to make an appointment?", he whispered huskily.

Grace bit her lower lip as she looked from his eyes to his lips.

"I most certainly need to do it. My man is way too important for people to just barge in his office whenever they want to", she looked back at him, her eyes twinkling.

Lucas' eyes turned nearly black at her words.

"You, Miss Bennet", he whispered, his voice deep and warm "You may barge in whenever you want. Those are the perks of being a Governor's chosen."

Grace smiled, her heart thumping fast.

"Well, that sounds downright scandalous, dear Governor", she whispered.

Lucas' eyes sparkled dangerously.

"Then we'll have to be very cautious, Miss Bennet, so we don't get caught", and with those words he kissed her smiling lips.

The kiss was slow, long and sensual, leaving both of them breathless.

As they pulled apart Lucas breathed her in and leaned his forehead on hers.

"I'll call you tomorrow. I have some meetings to attend to, but in the evening, I am all yours", he whispered.

Grace smiled, feeling her cheeks warming up at his words.

But in the evening, I am all yours.

She looked up at his eyes and whispered.

"I love you, my Lucas."

Lucas felt his heart skipping a beat at her words and the look of pure adoration in her eyes.

I hope you will say yes.

He gently kissed her forehead.

"I love you too, Grace", he slowly pulled away from her and opened the doors of the orphanage, his hand still holding hers "Good night, my angel "

Grace reluctantly let go of his hand as he stepped out into the night.

"Good night, my love."

She closed the doors behind him, big smile brightening her face.

She put up her hands in the air and did her ballerina twirl, giggling in pure joy before she rushed off to find Lillian.