Grace cried into Lucas' shoulder, feeling tremendous relief as his love lifted her up and chased all her fears away. She clung onto him, his strength making her feel protected, loved and cherished like she never was before.

Lucas cradled the back of her head in his palm while the other hand wrapped her in his embrace, pulling her closer to him. He kissed her hair once, twice, slowly moving toward her cheek. He wanted to kiss every part of her darling face. He wanted to pour out his heart to her, to let her know how special she is to him.

She shivered from crying as his lips kissed her eyelids, her cheeks and slowly, very slowly brushed over her lips, making her let out a silent sob.

"I didn't think it was possible to love you more", she heard his deep, warm voice whispering to her between their gentle, longing kisses "And then you do this", his palms cupped her face and he felt her hands wrapping slowly around his waist, making him shiver deliciously at her touch "Once again, you put my happiness above everything else."

Grace's fingers roamed across his strong back, her lips hovering close to his.

"You deserve nothing less, my Lucas", she whispered through her silent crying, making his heart ache.

"Don't cry, my angel. Please, don't cry", he whispered as their lips melted into each others "I know you were hurt before, I know that you never had anyone there for you until recently when Lillian found you, but those days are over. You will never be alone again, my sweetheart. Never", he kissed her lovingly, making her sigh and shudder deliciously as their kiss deepened, his warm tongue caressing her mouth with love and passion, making her press her fingertips into his back and she dragged them down his suit jacket.

Lucas groaned in pleasure from her loving touch and in the next moment, he felt her hands pulling away, leaving him feel cold…only to gasp into their kiss as she sneaked them under his suit jacket and her fingers made a fast work of the buttons on his vest.

Before he could take in a proper breath to react, her palms pressed against his dress shirt, somewhere between his chest and stomach, causing him to gasp and their kiss to break as he fought for air.

Grace quickly placed her fingers on his back and pressed her fingertips into his dress shirt, her mind going blurry as she felt the muscles on his back riple at her touch, and she kissed him again…and again…and again.

Her heart sang as she felt him shiver deliciously in her arms. He gasped in delight as her fingers caressed his back, his lips unlatching from hers, his eyes closed as his breath grew shallow.

She opened her eyes and watched emotions playing on his face as he struggled to keep his composure. Her heart thumped faster as she saw the effect she had on him.

And Grace knew that this man is her forever. She knew that she will love him until the day she dies. And she was absolutely sure that she was anchored in his heart for eternity.

And it made her smile, let out a sigh and lean her forehead on his forehead.

She watched mesmerized as his dark eyelashes fluttered open and his eyes, black as a midnight starry sky sparkling on the surface of water, looked at her with so much love that she felt warmth pooling deep inside her.

She gently kissed his eyelids, causing him to sigh.

"You are my forever, my Lucas. You are my eternity. I thank God every day for bringing you into my life. I never thought that I will be so lucky in my life. I never thought anyone could love me the way you do…", she whispered and whimpered in delight as his lips kissed her, interrupting her words.

After a few moments Lucas broke the kiss and gently nuzzled his nose against hers.

"How they didn't is beyond me… It is impossible not to love you, Grace. My life would be so empty without you in it", he shuddered slightly as she dragged her fingers slowly, so slowly down his back. His eyes bore into hers, his voice dropping down for an octave "Even when you are driving me mad with your touch…like you do now…", his voice cracked, he creased his eyebrows in concentration, trying not to loose it as he felt her palms gently squeezing his lower back.

Grace could see he was slowly loosing control and she reluctantly pulled her hands away, dragging them across his waist and stopping on his chest where she felt his heartbeat grow wild.

Her hands cupped his cheeks, her fingers gently caressing his beard as she nuzzled her nose against his.

"When we're married, I am going to keep you locked up at home", she watched as his lips started to curl up in smile and she smiled "You won't be allowed to leave the mansion until your wife allows you to."

Lucas chuckled as his eyes caressed her with such warmth that she wanted to shout out her love for him to the entire world.

"Not even if Prime Minister comes to see me?", he teased her.

Grace closed one eye before smiling devilishly.

"Not even if President asks for your presence", she whispered, her fingers sneaking into his glorious dark hair.

Lucas sighed, his eyes half closed as he enjoyed her touch, his smile growing.

"Not even if Mayor himself asks to see me?", he quipped.

Grace grinned.

"Not even if Mrs. Mayor herself barges in", she quipped "I will be more than happy to throw her out of our home in the most diplomatic way you could ever imagine!"

Lucas' shoulders shook from suppressed laughter.

"Such as?", he managed to ask.

Grace raised up her nose in the air.

"By telling her that I am in need of her services on a matter of great importance", she giggled as a chuckle escaped Lucas' throat.

The dimples revealed themselves in their full glory as Lucas smiled widely.

"And what kind of matter would that be, my dear?", he asked.

Grace bit her lower lip to stifle her laughter.

"Oh, you know… To ask her to help me with my knitting and send her to go get knitting material and needles…and simply ignore her banging on the doors once she returns", she deadpanned, making Lucas lose a battle with laughter and she giggled along as she tried to shush him with her fingertips on his lips.

"Ssssssh, you'll wake Maddie up!", she whispered and in the next moment, she silently gasped in a mock apology, her eyes opening widely "Oh, I'm terribly sorry, dear Governor", she said, her voice dropping to a whisper "I forgot about the Rule", her eyes bore into his, holding his gaze as her lips melted into his, shushing his laughter.

He kissed her back, their lips moving lazily against each other for a few moments, their hearts peaceful and happy.

As they slowly pulled away from each other's lips Lucas gently nuzzled her nose against hers.

"I want you to go home with me", as he saw Grace was about to protest, Lucas spoke, not letting her to start "I am not going to hide my love for you. You are the most important person in my life."

Grace smiled happily.

"I know, my Lucas. But, you shouldn't kiss me in front of Jack. He could misunderstand. Wait until you see how much he understands what is going on with his Mum and Nathan", she spoke gently.

Lucas took a deep breath in.

"Alright. That does make sense", he replied, his fingers putting a stray curl behind her ear. He smiled softly at this amazing, good hearted woman "But, you ARE still coming over for lunch?", he asked. Seeing Grace hesitate, he looked pointedly at her "I won't leave until you say yes."

He watched her with a small smile until she smiled.

"Alright", she whispered.

Lucas smile widened and he brought her hand up and kissed her knuckles.

Looking back up, he whispered:

"Until later, queen of my heart."

Grace let out a breath, her heart skipping a beat and she smiled.

She watched as he slowly pulled himself away from her and left the nursery.

A happy smile shone on Grace's lips as she walked towards the crib to check on little Madelaine. And as she watched precious baby sleep peacefully, Grace took a deep breath in and sent a prayer of thanks for having her beloved Lucas in her life.

—--

Lucas opened the doors of the mansion, finding it quiet. He took off his coat and went toward the living room.

Only to find Carson sitting in an armchair, reading a medical journal.

"Working already?", Lucas quietly spoke, causing his friend to flinch a bit.

Carson looked up and smiled.

"I couldn't sleep. Had some breakfast with Agatha and then she turned in too. I checked on Jack a few minutes ago. He is still sleeping like a little log", Carson said with a soft smile.

Lucas sat down on the sofa, his palms dragging over his face.

"What do you need? To help him? If there's anything you need to get, just tell me", Lucas said, concern getting the better of him.

Carson put his medical journal away.

"Just your time. Jack needs you now. Just try to spend as much time with him as you can", he said.

Lucas nodded and got up.

"I am going to check on him. You get some rest", he pressed his lips together "Thank you, Carson. I am eternally grateful to you for doing this."

Carson smiled sadly.

"You are welcome", he stood up too and two friends left the living room and slowly climbed up the grand staircase. Carson looked carefully at Lucas "Is everything alright with Grace?"

Lucas' eyes softened at the mere mention of his love's name.

"It is. She will come for a lunch today", he smiled softly as he whispered "What she had done for me is just…", he shook his head, that lump in his throat growing.

Carson nodded.

"A love of a goodhearted woman can lift you up like nothing else", he looked down at his shoes as they reached the first floor "That's how I felt with Amber."

Lucas looked at his friend, his face turning sympathetic.

"Your late wife?", at Carson's slight nod, Lucas took a deep breath in "I am so sorry, Carson. I cannot even imagine how you felt when she died."

Carson exhaled as he rubbed the corners of his eyes with his thumb and index finger.

"I guess I had my chance at love and it was amazing", looking up, he shrugged "And it's ridiculous to expect another chance at it", he smiled sadly "So, I concentrated on my work for the last few years. That way I won't get hurt again."

Lucas stopped in the middle of the long corridor and put a hand on Carson's shoulder, making him stop.

"I can't imagine how it feels to lose someone you love the way you lost Amber. But, I know what you went through in Hope Valley, Carson. I know how it hurts when a woman you love pushes you away", he spoke slowly and gently, careful not to upset his good friend "I know how it hurts when all you do is frowned upon. But, don't lose hope, my friend. I am sure that there is somebody special out there for you. Someone who won't toy with your feelings the way Faith did", as Carson looked away, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he swallowed hard, Lucas gently added "I think that you will have another chance to be happy and in love", he smiled softly "Just look at me."

That did the trick - a smile chased away the tears in Carson's blue eyes.

"You know, I want to hear everything. It just didn't feel right to ask Grace about you two", he said, his smile growing as Lucas' face visibly relaxed and he chuckled.

Lucas nodded as he grinned.

"I can tell you that she saved my life twice. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be standing here", at Carson's shocked look, Lucas swallowed "But, lets leave that talk for later. You need to get some rest and I am going to check on my buddy."

Carson took a deep breath in.

"Fair enough. Thanks, Lucas", he said as he opened the doors to his room.

Lucas nodded at his friend and as Carson closed the doors of his room, Lucas walked fast toward Jack's room.

He slowly pressed the doorknob and entered.

Jack's soft snoring filled the room and Lucas' heart. He stood by the little boy's bedside and just watched him for a while.

He was so pale, his cheeks weren't rounded like before and he looked quite thin.

Lucas took off his suit jacket and vest before picking the blanket up and laying beside Jack.

In the next moment, a precious boy moved in his deep sleep and snuggled up to Lucas, his Teddy bear clutched tightly to his chest as he mumbled something incomprehensible into Lucas' shoulder.

Lucas wrapped him in a hug and gently kissed the little boy's soft blonde hair.

"Sleep, buddy. I am here", he whispered, closing his eyes.

And in the next few moments, both of them were fast asleep.

—--

Good night, good night...

Look at that moon shine so bright.

And tonight he smiles

Especially for you.

Sleep tight, sleep tight.

Know everything is alright.

And tonight I will be here

Watching over you.

For tonight I will be here watching over you.

Tonight I'll be here watching over you.

Sweet dreams, sweet dreams.

It is never as real as it seems.

And in the morning when you wake up

I will be right here.

Sleep on, sleep on.

For no matter how dark or how long

It may seem that your night is

I will still be here.

I will still be here watching, watching over you.

So sleep, little darling, sleep on through.

So be still, be still

For you know that I always will

Tonight and forever

Be watching over you.

For tonight and forever, be watching over you.

So sleep, little darling, sleep on through.

I will be watching over you.

("Watching over you" - Emerson, Lake and Palmer)