Author's note: Thanks to Avis Minter for brainstorming about Allie's answer to Elizabeth!

—--

The hours flew quickly and it was nearing dinner when Grace stood up to leave. There was lot of things to do at the orphanage, preparing for the Christmas and she couldn't let Lillian and Bertha do it all by themselves.

She greeted Agatha and Carson with a smile.

"You are all invited to our place for Christmas Eve and Christmas, of course", she said warmly.

Agatha couldn't help but smile.

"How many children do you have right now at the orphanage?", asked Agatha.

Grace smiled softly.

"Around 30. We had more than 50 children with us, but ever since Lucas started his project to help the orphanage, the number of adoptions doubled", she smiled happily "There is nothing better for those children than to have new lives with their new families. New chance for happiness."

Agatha's respect for this young lady grew the more she talked to her. She nodded with admiration.

"I thank you kindly for your invitation. I accept, but I don't know what these three fine gentlemen will say", quipped Agatha.

Carson chuckled as he got up to say bye to Grace.

"That is a fine idea. Grace, if it's alright with you and Lillian, I would be more than happy to examine the little ones, see how are they doing", he suggested.

Grace's eyes widened.

"Really? Oh, Carson, that would be wonderful! Thank you!", she said, her smile growing.

Carson smiled and nodded.

"Don't mention it. It will be my pleasure. Whatever you need", he said warmly.

Agatha glanced at Lucas who stood between her and Grace.

"And what about you, Lucas?", she asked with a mischievous smile.

Lucas smiled.

"Oh, I am in! We already have it planned", replied Lucas.

Grace looked at him.

"You are bringing that thing we bought for the kids tomorrow, right?", asked Grace.

Lucas nodded.

"Just like we planned. I will have it installed in the backyard when the munchkins fall asleep", he said with a smile.

Grace smiled and bounced a little bit on her feet.

"Oh, I can't wait to see their faces!", she let out an excited giggle.

Lucas smiled warmly at Grace's sunny countenance and then looked at the little boy in his arms.

"What do you think, Jack? Would you like to go and play with the kids at Miss Grace's place?", he asked warmly.

Jack looked curiously at him, then at Grace.

"How many kids?", he asked.

Lucas smiled.

"About 30", he replied.

Jack's eyes widened.

"Wow! It's like five classrooms!", he grinned, then looked at Grace "Are they all yours?"

Grace smiled softly.

"No. I just take care of them, together with my sister until they get new parents", she replied gently.

Jack creased his eyes in confusion.

"What happened to their old parents?", he asked.

Grace pressed her lips together, deciding that it would be too much for the little boy to hear that some parents abandon their children.

Especially with how Elizabeth was behaving lately.

"Their parents died, honey", Grace gently whispered.

Jack's face turned sympathetic.

"My Daddy died too", he mumbled silently, looking down at his fingers "I thought buddy will be my Daddy, but Mummy now likes Uncle Nathan more."

Grace and Lucas shared a surprised and concerned look. Lucas placed his warm palm on Jack's little fingers and gently said:

"I think that it's time for us to have that talk, Jack. You kept your promise and ate, now I will keep my promise and explain everything to you. Okay?"

Jack nodded, still not looking up.

Lucas gently kissed Jack's forehead and whispered:

"I am going to see Miss Grace out while you go with Agatha and have a bath and then we'll snuggle in a warm bed and talk. Okay, buddy?"

Jack looked up at him and Lucas' heart shattered to pieces as he saw tears in the little boy's eyes.

"Okay, buddy", whispered Jack.

Lucas hugged him tightly, swallowing hard, trying to stay strong for Jack and not let tears fall. Jack pressed his little cheek against Lucas' cheek and they stayed like that for a few moments.

Barely holding his tears back, Lucas gave the precious boy to Agatha and she gently talked to Jack as they walked away toward the bathroom.

Lucas quickly took his coat and opened the doors. Grace understood his hurry and followed him without a word.

As she closed the doors Grace turned around to see Lucas rushing down the stairs and stopping by the gate, his palm covering his mouth.

Grace quickly followed him and hugged him from behind.

"Do you want me to stay?", she asked softly as she placed a gentle kiss on his upper back.

Lucas removed his palm from his mouth and blinked a few tears away.

He exhaled heavily before saying:

"No. This is something I have to do on my own", he put his fingers on her palm that rested on his shoulder "Please, don't think that I don't want you here, Grace, I just…"

But, before he could continue, Grace interrupted him:

"Lucas, I understand. Please, don't worry about me. Jack needs to hear it from you without anybody else around", she said gently.

He turned around and Grace's heart broke as she saw a few tears running down his cheeks.

"I don't know if I can do it, Grace", Lucas mumbled silently.

Grace cupped his cheeks, making him look up at her. She gently wiped his tears with her thumbs, looking warmly at his eyes.

"Yes, you can, Lucas. Yes, you can. You love that boy. You are the only one who can clear the confusion and heal the pain in his heart", Grace leaned in and kissed his eyelids.

Lucas shook his head.

"It should have never come to this. Elizabeth should have never allow for Jack to suffer this much. She should have explained everything to him and not push him away!", his voice broke in anger and tears.

Grace nodded, pressing her lips tightly together.

"I know. And you are right, she should have. But, she didn't. And what if she never does? You can't take that risk, my Lucas. You have to help Jack", she gently caressed his cheeks as she leaned her forehead against his.

She felt Lucas' fingers covering her palms and heard his silent sob…and that was when she leaned in and gently kissed his lips.

He responded immediately, kissing her back. She could feel salt drops from his eyes reaching her lips and she kissed him more lovingly, moving her lips against his lips in a slow, lazy motion,

trying to comfort him with her unconditional love. She felt his hands leaving her palms and going down her back pulling her closer to him.

Grace felt Lucas sigh into their kiss and she slowly deepened it, her warm tongue caressing his mouth with love that she felt for this wonderful man. Her fingers sneaked into his hair and pressed gently, making him groan in pleasure. In the next moment, he dived in, kissing her with all his heart, drinking her in, his fingers roaming against her back, trying to pull her even closer so her heart would forever be imprinted in his heart.

After a few moments, their kiss broke away as both of them gasped for air. Lucas leaned his forehead against Grace's and she cupped his cheeks, hovering her lips above his lips.

"I won't go to sleep. Let me know how did it go. I am here for you. Remember that", she whispered as she kissed him once again, gently and longingly.

Lucas exhaled tearfully, closing his eyes.

"Thank you", he whispered.

Grace smiled sadly and let him go. He watched her leave and as the gate closed, he took a deep breath in and walked back into the mansion.

—--

Allie stood in front of the rowhouse, holding a big envelope and taking a deep breath in.

This was it.

She went inside and looked up, her fingers nervously pressing on the envelope.

Nathan looked up from the table where he was cutting onions.

"Allie."

Elizabeth turned around at hearing his voice calling the young girl. She wiped her hands on her apron and nodded.

"Good, you're home. You can do the dishes", she clipped coldly.

Allie looked at her shortly, but then turned back to Nathan.

"Dad.. .I need to talk to you", she said as she approached the table.

Nathan creased his eyebrows and stopped cutting the onions.

"What is it, Allie?", he asked, concerned.

Allie took a deep breath in.

"Dad…I want to be a pharmacist. Mei Suo was helping me to get ready for the test and I passed it…", her lips curled up in a smile.

Nathan raised his eyebrows surprised.

"Allie, that's a…that's great…I…", he stammered, but before he could go on, Elizabeth threw a tablecloth on a counter and stormed toward Allie.

"And you didn't ask us?! There is no money for that right now!", snapped Elizabeth.

Allie took a step back from the angry woman in front of her.

"If you would let me finish, I would tell you that I got a full scholarship! I received a letter from the College informing me about that this morning…", Allie tried to explain.

But, Elizabeth was out of control. She turned toward Nathan and gasped:

"Are you going to let her talk to me like this?!", her face was furious.

Nathan tried to calm the situation down.

"Elizabeth, calm down, Allie has just…", he started to talk, but Elizabeth snapped once again

"And what is this I hear you studying with Mei Sou?! Why not with me?! I am the teacher, not her!", she yelled.

Allie's eyes went wide opened.

"Mei Suo knows the subject, you don't!", she barely finished the sentence when Elizabeth tried to storm toward her, her eyes filled with hatred.

"How dare you?!", she yelled.

Nathan jumped between them, protecting his niece.

"Elizabeth!! That's enough!!", he exclaimed in a warning tone of voice.

Allie's eyes lost a battle with tears.

"Study with you?! I don't even recognize you anymore! What happened to the caring, sweet teacher I used to look up to? You've chased your son away, so now, I will leave too!" , Allie yelled and stormed out from the house in tears.

Elizabeth gasped in shock.

"Well, good riddance, you spoiled brat!", she screamed.

And that was when Nathan lost it.

"I said that's enough, Elizabeth!! You have no right to talk to Allie like this! And she is right! I also don't recognize you anymore, Elizabeth!", he exclaimed and ran out of the rowhouse to find Allie.

Elizabeth shook with anger and it was at that moment that telephone rang.

She grabbed the phone and practically yelled:

"What?!"

Bill frowned at the tone of her voice.

"Elizabeth?", he said carefully.

She exhaled nervously.

"I am busy, Bill. What do you want?", asked Elizabeth.

Bill frowned at her rudeness.

"Well, you are expected to show up at the Town Council meeting today at five", he barely said the words before Elizabet snapped:

"What?! Why?!"

Bill took a deep breath in.

"About your position as a school teacher in Hope Valley."