Grace stood on her tiptoes, craning her neck and trying to find Carson's face in the crowd. People were still leaving the train and she was growing more and more impatient per minute.

All of a sudden, she heard her friend's voice behind her calling her name.

"Grace!"

She spun around and a big smile shone on her face as she jumped up slightly from joy and made a few quick steps to reach her good friend.

"Carson! Hi!", she greeted him happily as they hugged. As they pulled away, her smile grew "Welcome to Capitol City!"

Carson smile grew and he chuckled.

"Well, thank YOU for making that happen!", he said with a smile and turned around to an older, sharp looking red haired lady.

Grace smiled warmly as she followed his gaze and her eyes met the sharp gaze of Agatha Thatcher for the very first time.

"Grace, I'd like you to meet Mrs. Agatha Thatcher", he introduced two women "Agatha, this is my friend Miss Grace Bennet."

Agatha's eyes twinkled and she offered her hand to Grace.

"So…you are the friend Carson told me about?", her lips curled up slightly "I understand that you and your sister run the orphanage together?"

All nervousness was forgotten as Agatha, completely unaware, opened the doors to one theme Grace was always comfortable to talk about. Lillian always teased her that she turns into such a Mamma bear when the subject of the orphanage and the little ones comes around.

Grace accepted Agatha's hand and nodded.

"Yes, Mrs. Thatcher, we do. It's a pleasure to meet you. Welcome to Capitol City…and thank you so much for coming", she replied as her eyes moved to a little boy in Agatha's arms. Her lips pressed tightly together as she noticed the tiredness etched on his little face. Slightly bowing her head to be able to look at the precious boy's eyes, Grace gently whispered "That was a loooong train ride, wasn't it?"

The child looked up at her and after a moment or two he nodded.

Grace gave him a gentle smile.

"And you must be so tired. And sleepy", as little boy nodded again, Grace nodded too "I think it's time for us to take you somewhere nice and warm", as all three grown ups shared a secret smile, knowing all too well WHO will be at that place, Grace pulled out a stuffed Teddy bear out of her coat, making a little boy smile sleepily as she gave it to him "Why don't you and Mr. Teddy Bear get some sleep while we get home?"

She was about to straighten up when a little boy's voice stopped her.

"What's your name?", he whispered sleepily.

Grace smiled softly at him.

"My name is Grace. I am Doctor Shepherd's friend ", she said gently "And what's your name?"

Little boy rubbed his left eye with his little knuckles before replying.

"Jack", little boy said silently "I am also Doctor Shepherd's friend", he gave her a small smile "My Grandma's name is Grace."

Grace pressed her lips together, fighting the tears back.

"Nice to meet you, Jack", she gently caressed his soft, blonde hair and the boy snuggled into Agatha's shoulder, holding a Teddy bear close to him, his eyes slowly, but surely losing a battle with sleep.

Grace straightened up and looked at Agatha and Carson "Come on, lets get you settled. Stephen is waiting for us."

Agatha raised her eyebrows.

"Stephen?", she asked.

Grace's mouth opened a bit and she stammered as she looked at Carson, then back at Agatha.

"Uhm, yes, uhm…the driver. Friend's driver", she swallowed as she realized she almost said whose driver he was in front of Jack.

As Agatha nodded and headed in the direction where the exit was, Grace let out a breath.

Carson gave her back a friendly pat.

"You were great, Grace. Don't worry", he signaled to the porter that they are ready to go and he looked at Grace who was walking beside him "How did you get Lucas' driver to come with you?"

Grace grimaced.

"I told Lucas I had to run an errand and take some heavy stuff for the orphanage, and that I will have both Stephen and car back by 13.00", she huffed out a breath and shook her head.

Carson nodded as he walked.

"We sure got ourselves quite tangled up in changing the facts like time and cause of my arrival!", he quipped and chuckled as Grace groaned.

"I hate lying to him, Carson!", she silently mumbled.

Carson's facial expression turned sympathetic.

"I know, Grace. But this was for his own good. What if William really changed his mind? Can you imagine how would he feel then?", he looked pointedly at his friend.

Grace was lost for words for a few seconds, and it was good that she was silent because Agatha stopped outside the train station and turned toward them, which meant that Jack was in their earshot now.

And that meant no talking about Lucas. At least for a little bit longer.

Grace took in the little boy's cute face as he dozed off, his little cheek pressed gently into Agatha's shoulder. She could see how pale he was and that he had dark circles under his eyes. Her good heart ached in pain and she was more sure than ever before that this was the right thing to do.

She sprung into action, directing the porter to the car, leading Agatha and Carson to get to the vehicle that was kept warm all the time.

"Lets get you out of this cold", she got inside the car and took a deep breath in as she smiled nervously at Stephen "Take us home, Stephen."

She swallowed hard as they drove down the streets of Capitol City.

Was it just me or is this drive taking longer than usual?

It may look like an eternity until Stephen finally pulled the car over in front of the mansion, but it actually took the usual 20 minutes.

By the time they arrived and went out of the car, Jack was wide awake and wiggled his feet to be put down on the ground.

Agatha slowly put him down on the ground.

"Stay close, Jack. And hold my hand", said Agatha as they followed Grace in the magnificent garden and reached the stairs that led toward the entrance to the mansion.

Jack started to climb up with child's eagerness and Carson quickly took his little palm in his, saving Agatha from Jack's much quicker walk than hers.

Grace was in front of them and already reached the doors. She looked at Jack as a precious boy looked around, then glanced at Carson with a quizzical look.

"Is this a castle?", he asked, causing both Carson and Grace to smile.

Carson looked down at Jack and chuckled gently.

"It certainly looks like it, doesn't it?", by now, they reached the doors and waited for Stephen to help Agatha upstairs.

Grace knocked three times on the doors, causing Jack's eyes to widen.

"Are we going in?", little boy asked with a tinge of excitement in his voice.

Agatha swallowed hard as she heard the change in Jack's voice. She tried to hide her tears, but at that moment she felt a friendly squeeze on her hand.

Looking up, she saw that it came from young lady that waited for them at the train station.

Agatha swallowed hard as she noticed understanding and sympathy in Grace's eyes. Agatha gave her a small nod, trying hard not to cry.

Grace stepped down two steps until she reached Agatha.

"Are you okay?", as Agatha quickly nodded, blinking tears away, Grace took her hand in hers and gently said "Come on, lets go inside."

At that moment, Simon opened the doors.

Grace helped Agatha up the last few stairs, nodding in thanks to Carson who took over bringing Jack in and talking with him.

Little boy gasped as they entered and, still holding Carson's hand, he looked up and slowly started to spin around, letting out a "wooow!" as he did.

Carson looked around the hallway too and had to admit that he shared Jack's feelings.

He knelt down to be on Jack's eye level.

"You are right, Jack. It certainly looks like a castle", he held his hand gently against little boy's back, careful for any reaction that may come with a certain someone showing up any minute now.

Grace quickly looked at Simon and whispered:

"Is he here?", at butler's nod and slight turn of head toward Lucas' office, Grace nodded and was just about to walk toward the office to get Lucas out of it when they heard the footsteps coming from the long corridor.

Simon quickly went to meet his boss to inform him that he has guests.

And suddenly, all of them heard Lucas' calm voice.

"Who is it, Simon?", Lucas asked as he rounded the corner, carrying an empty tea cup in his hand…

Jack was about to try and climb the grand staircase when he heard the footsteps and a familiar, very familiar voice…

The little boy turned his head in the direction from where that voice came from…and his little pale face split in a wide smile.

"BUDDYYYY!!!!"

Lucas froze as he turned his head toward the hallway and the tea cup fell from his hand.

Not even noticing it, Lucas fell down on his knees and opened his arms wide as Jack catapulted into him!

Lucas wrapped his arms around a darling little boy and hugged him tightly as tears broke him down.

"JACK!"

And just for a moment that lasted like an eternity, time stopped as Lucas and Jack held onto each other, both of them crying in each other's embrace.

FINALLY!

Grace stood near the doors, her eyes losing a fight with tears as she watched Lucas and Jack hug each other, Lucas kissing little boy's cheek and hair, both of them crying.

She slowly walked backwards and reaching the doors, she opened them.

Carson felt the cold wind on his feet and looked at the direction of the doors.

And saw Grace trying to leave the mansion.

He quickly followed her.

"Grace, what are you doing?", he whispered.

Still not looking away from Lucas and Jack, Grace smiled sadly as tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I am going home. Let me know how everything is going when you can", she silently mumbled as she left outside.

Carson quickly followed her and holding the doors with one hand in order not to close them, he silently said:

"Grace, you should stay!"

Grace quickly wiped her tears and gave him a shivering smile before replying:

"No. They should have this moment for themselves. Who knows when will they be able to see each other again", she let out a shaky breath "Just, please…tell Lucas I only wanted what was best for him and for Jack too. And tell him that I love him", and without even giving Carson a chance to reply, Grace ran down the stairs and flew from the garden in a blink of an eye.

Not even aware that Agatha heard everything behind the half closed doors.