A few moments later, Lucas pulled away and looked at Grace, his fingers trying to fix her disheveled hair.

He smiled at the sight and his heart warmed up to a feverish pont as he remembered her breathless teasing words.

Why, so you could mess up my hair and make me look an absolute fright in that photo?

Oh, she was far from looking an absolute fright!

She was beautifully disheveled, courtesy of his fingers loving her long, brunette waves. Her lips were pink and swollen from his heated kisses, her cheeks were tinged with a rosy tone and her pupils were dilated and shiny.

She was absolutely gorgeous.

And Lucas adored her.

With one last squeeze on her waist he whispered:

"I better go. Have to get up early to finish a meeting with the town's Mayor", he huffed out a breath "The old nag insisted we meet at 8.00."

Grace grimaced sympathetically.

"Will his wife be there?", she asked, barely holding her laugh in.

Lucas closed his eyes, his fingers rubbing his forehead.

"Of course. She is also the Mayor because her husband is Mayor, which she thinks allows her to stick her nose in everybody's business, scolding you over your decisions about your own private life and generally offering her advice even if you didn't ask for it", he let out a frustrated breath and opened his eyes.

Only to see his lovely Grace's eyes shining with humour, her lips twitching.

His lips curled up a bit.

"What?", he asked.

Grace's eyes widened a bit as she swallowed a laugh.

"Mrs. Valerie sounds so much like Rosemary that it is absolutely terrifying!", she said, feeling laughter bubbling up inside her "Perhaps she is her long lost relative? The resemblance in character is way too strong for it to be a coincidence!"

Lucas' eyes widened a bit and in the next moment, as if on cue, they both bursted to uncontrolled laughter!

He buried his face in her shoulder, shaking with laughter, as Grace leaned her cheek on his head, her giggles traveling through his glorious hair that still sparkled with a glitter or two.

"You better wash your hair when you get home, Governor. Otherwise you will have to explain yourself to Mrs. Valerie", she felt Lucas laughing even more and she giggled as she added "And you know she would want to hear all the dirty details!"

Her words made them both practically roar with laughter only to quickly pull away, with Grace's eyes widening and her index finger on her lips as she whispered "sssshhh!", still giggling.

Lucas shook his head, closing his eyes as he tried to control his laughter in order not to wake up the children.

And it was in that moment that he felt Grace's lips on his.

She kissed him passionately, sending his brain cells into a complete chaos and turning his laughter into silent sigh.

Slowly, she broke the kiss and leaned her forehead on his.

"Remember that the best way to stop the laughter is to kiss", she whispered, her eyes twinkling "We already established that rule, my handsome Governor."

Lucas's eyes sparkled.

"I should make it a Law", he quipped, making both of them chuckle.

Grace got up from his lap and, taking his hand pulled him up on his feet. They slowly walked toward the doors in comfortable silence before she looked up at him with a wide smile.

"Think of it like this; Mrs. Valerie still has no clue about our engagement. If she knew, she would never let you go until you tell her every single detail about it! So, you have an ace upon your sleeve against her. That should give you the strength to survive her interrogation", she giggled happily, her cheeks blushing.

Lucas pulled her into his side as they walked and grinned widely.

"I think that she will be the most excited one about our engagement beside my parents and your sister. She is always watching us like a hawk when she sees us together, as if she expects me to propose to you in front of her!", he chuckled and in the next moment he caught Grace's gaze and his eyes softened at the vulnerability he saw in those warm brown orbs.

She snuggled into his shoulder and looked up at him.

"You took my breath away, my Lucas. It was the most beautiful moment in my life. You made me feel like a queen", she murmured silently.

Lucas smiled gently at her as he placed a soft kiss on her hair.

"Good. Because you are", he stopped as they reached the doors and turned to look at her "You are the Queen of my heart, Grace Bennett."

Grace smiled, her eyes watering and she placed her palms on his chest, giving him a loving kiss. Lucas kissed her back, inhaling her sweet scent to keep it in his memory until tomorrow.

As they pulled away, he smiled gently at her.

"Promise me that you will always relax me like this when my jobs gets too much", he whispered.

Grace felt her heart melting in her chest. She nodded, her fingers pressing gently into Lucas' chest.

"I promise, my love", she replied, a soft smile on her lips.

Lucas leaned in and kissed her lips gently one more time before he unlocked the doors and stepped out in the night.

"Good night, my angel. I'll see you in the morning", he whispered.

Grace softly smiled.

"Good night, my Lucas", and with one last look and smile, she closed the doors and her eyes, letting out a breath, her smile never wavering from her face.

She walked back in the living room and inhaled deeply, Lucas' wonderful scent still lingering in the air.

As she walked through the room, her eyes caught sight of the phone at the table and Grace quickly turned around to glance at the clock on the wall.

In the next moment, she picked up a phone and chewed on her lower lip as she heard the ringing on the other side.

"Hello, Dr. Shepherd speaking."

Grace smiled happily at hearing her friend's voice.

"Carson, hi, it's me, Grace", she said.

Carson smiled as he sat down in his armchair.

"Hello, Grace. I was waiting for you to call", he said.

Grace grimaced apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Carson. Lucas just left and I went straight toward the phone", she said.

Carson smiled softly.

"It's fine, Grace, don't worry", he said.

Grace's teeth caught her lower lip once again.

"Lillian told me the news. I cannot begin to tell you how much I am grateful to you, Carson. This will mean the world to Lucas", her eyebrows creased slightly "How did you manage to talk Elizabeth's Father to do that?"

Carson took a deep breath in, shaking his head.

"Mr. Thatcher is a good man. He is grief stricken with everything that's going on, his daughter obviously not being well and his Grandson struggling", he slowly spoke.

Concern clutched Grace's good heart at hearing Carson's words.

"Struggling?", she whispered, closing her eyes "I was afraid that it would happen. His Mother sending him away from herself for Christmas and his birthday after everything that happened in the last few months must have affected little Jack", she exhaled in worry "How is he, Carson?"

Carson shook his head.

"He's not good, Grace. His heart and breathing are alright, but his iron level is very low. Remember, just like Spencer's was due to his grieving and not eating well. I prescribed the same medicine to Jack to boost his immune system", Carson sighed, his blue eyes misting over with sadness as he remembered the little boy's despondent behaviour "But, he is so sad, Grace.

Confused, melancholic, despondent. William, Elizabeth's Father, told me that he doesn't eat well and that he has bad dreams. He misses both Lucas and his Mum so much. And William told me that they tried to talk Elizabeth into coming to Hamilton at least for Christmas and Jack's birthday, but she didn't want to even think about it."

Grace closed her eyes, a few tears escaping through her eyelashes and she sniffed, wiping her cheeks with her shivering fingers. Her heart broke for that precious little boy.

"Carson, you have to bring him to Lucas as soon as possible. If he could have only seen him in Hope Valley, he would feel better, I am sure of it. Jack could grow seriously sick if this continues!", she spoke, her anger at Elizabeth growing stronger per every second.

Carson nodded.

"That's exactly what I told William and he agrees. He thinks all the best about Lucas and is aware that it was his daughter's fault that the engagement was broken off. He is worried sick about Jack and would try to do anything to help him", said Carson.

Grace fidgeted on her seat.

"Thank God for that", she mumbled.

Carson smiled sadly.

"And I recommended a doctor for Elizabeth, if they manage to talk her into looking for help", said Carson.

Grace shook her head.

"Somehow I think that she will not make it easy for them", she whispered.

Carson nodded.

"You are probably right. William said that he will go to Hope Valley to try and talk some sense into her. When they try that over the phone, she just hungs up", he said, shaking his head.

Grace got up, letting out a breath.

"Well, she definitely needs help. And Jack needs to be taken care of. I am glad that her family sees that", she nervously twirled phone cable between her fingertips "Will you be able to accompany Jack to Capitol City?"

Carson took a deep breath in.

"I will try. I will talk with the director of the hospital, ask if I could work more night shifts and then have a break during the holidays, so I could end a contract earlier", his eyebrows creased in concern "I would like to be present to make sure Jack is okay."

Grace smiled sadly.

"Yes, that would be good. You know him since he was born and he trusts you. Thank you so much, Carson, for everything", chewing on her lower lip, she added "I have one more favour to ask of you."

Carson frowned in concern.

"What is it, Grace?"

Grace took a deep breath in.

"Please, don't say anything to Lucas about this. I hate to keep it away from him, but I don't want to give him or Jack false hope. What if the Thatchers change their mind?", she shook her head "I can't put Lucas through that, Carson. He suffered enough already. They both did", she wiped her cheeks, sniffing.

Carson's eyes softened.

"I know, Grace. And you are right. It's for the best if we keep it a secret for now. Jack also doesn't know that he will see Lucas", he said.

Grace nodded.

"That's for the best. Poor child could say something to that… that…argh! I don't even have words for her! How can she hurt her son like that?!", Grace's voice broke into tears "Doesn't she know how blessed she is to have a healthy child?!", her voice shook "Carson, I would give my life for any child in our orphanage, let alone mine! How can she be so selfish?! Yes, she lost her husband, but Jack lost his Dad, never even met him! And then she goes and takes away the only Father figure Jack ever knew away from him, the man who loved him like he was his own son!", she put her face in her hand and tried to calm down "I'm sorry, Carson, I…", she spoke, but her friend interrupted her.

"There is nothing to apologize for, Grace. Quite the contrary. You are the one who moved things forward, you are trying to help their wounds heal", he shook his head in amazement "That shows how much you love Lucas. He is lucky to have you by his side."

Grace wiped her eyes and swallowed hard.

"Thank you, Carson", she whispered.

Carson smiled softly.

"I'll let you know the exact day and time when Jack, Agatha and, hopefully, I get on the train. Take care, Grace", he said warmly.

Grace nodded, pressing her lips tightly together.

"You too, Carson. Bye", she whispered and hung up.

She exhaled and turning around, she slowly walked toward the stairs to go to her room and turn in for the night.

Grace walked in her room and slowly closed the doors. As she got ready for her bed, she prayed that everything would turn out well. That William Thatcher doesn't change his mind. That Lucas and Jack reunite. That Elizabeth gets help.

With those thoughts on her mind Grace fell asleep.