#I can’t tell what’s sadder: Lucas reading the letter or Lucas being the only one who refuses to | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

asdfghjkl1x1 · 4 years

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There’s No Place like Home | Grace & Lucas

Grace was walking fast and away from her place, still charged with a mix of different feelings she had no idea how to let out, when she felt a presence behind her. The ginger stopped in her steps and turned with her fist clenched only to find a surprised Luke behind her "God, Luke, you could tell me it was you"

"I'm sorry, I didn't think you would act like that"

"I'm in a very bad mood, so I'm no available for a talk"

"It's okay, I just... want to go away"

Grace blinked a few times, then pointed at Chase's place "What happened?"

Luke looked down "I got into the Army, and Chase barely cares about it"

The ginger took a deep breath "I see. I don't think he doesn't care, though"

The young man looked at her "How can you say that? I told him I was going in January and he only asked how fast I could pack, and that I took a decision so there's no turning back. I mean... fuck!" he walked away and went back to her, a bit more calmed "I feel like I die he wouldn't even be there, unless it's for administrative reasons"

Grace felt bad for him, and felt angry at Chase, but being the latter her best friend, she couldn't help to be bit more inclined to his side "Maybe he's still processing... then again..." she pointed at her own place "not everyone is what you hope they are" a sad expression drew on her face.

"Where are you going?" Luke asked not wanting to dig into it.

"Home. My hometown, I mean." Grace sighed.

"C-Can I go with you? I don't think my family would like me around"

"Who said they don't?" The ginger messed with Luke's hair and giggled softly "You're my family too, kid. Even if you act as Lucy's spy" wrapping an arm around her shoulder she walked along with him until the bus station.

Once they were at the airport and about to get on the plane, she decided that it would be a good idea to share her secrets with him. So, she gave him her journal.

Luke took it and read the life of a young Grace who wasn't much happier than she was now, however, the shiny moments really shone. He found himself smiling at her short stories, her love for Arthur and Camelot legends, her adventures with her cousin William, and a particular summer with a girl named Claudette.

Then, he found a certain page that scared him. Luke almost dropped the journal at how scary the words written were, he closed the journal and looked at Grace "So, you're Marion Grant?"

The ginger was surprised at the question "I don't know what you're talking about"

Luke got out a familiar book "I've read this in secret. I particularly took interest on this verse:

I say goodbye to

the lover I'll never have,

the sun and the hay.

A golden romance

became a bloodshed, and I

must stay far away.

I've become the child

of the sanguine moon, as I

am born with the flesh.

A sole lavender

field put us apart, yet that

slap divided us.

Loneliness walks with

me, I say goodbye to the

lover never had.

"You read her books?"

"I'm not into that... sadism and lust she started to write later, well, more like I don't get it because is not like my sexual life is very active, but this first book was really meaningful. I actually wrote her letters" Luke looked down feeling shy.

"So you're her fan?"

"Your fan."

"Why I never got your letters?"

"What do you mean? You replied to them"

"I did?"

"Yes, I have this one. You wrote me a verse after I asked you a lot of questions" Luke quickly took a letter out of the book and handed it to Grace who read the verse written.

Lucas was a good

prophet, the kindest amongst

Jesus' followers.

I can sense your kind

nature in these letters you wrote,

wisdom beyond age.

However, a fan

of puzzles is also here.

Detectivesque.

Lucas may be love,

but all I see, is one grand

Hercule Poirot.

Grace giggled "Agatha. She's brilliant. Marion, I mean"

Luke beamed a smile "I know" then blushed. "But are you her or not?"

The ginger surrendered "I am, but it's not easy to explain. She's as you can see my alter ego, but right now I'm not her, I'm Grace"

Luke tried to make sense of that without success.

The Welsh noticed that and tried to explain him again "You've read Jekyll and Hyde? Well, I'm Dr. Jekyll and she's Mr. Hyde. Yes, with all and the lust, and she gets violent when she's not satiated in that sense. But I don't have to take a formula and I'm not crazy, she also comes out when I'm in danger both physically and-or emotionally, or when someone forces her to come out. Then, I have to drink a lavender tea for her to make me take over my own body. Do you get it until there?"

Luke had trouble processing all that information, but relating Jekyll and Hyde was enough, then he came out with a realization. "So, you're not running away from Lucy because you hate her, you're going away because you're afraid you hurt her, right? Does that mean you're in that much of a bad position?"

Grace sighed "Yeah, you know that scary page? And the newspaper articles? I had no idea I did that, it startled me, it made me panic, but... Lucy and I also didn't have a good night, so that made me more afraid to sleep next to her" she bit her lip, thinking about that, but also feeling guilty for leaving her just like that.

Luke held her hand "Is Marion that bad?"

The ginger shook her head slowly "No, but others think she is. Also, she hated Lucy for what she did to me, though in the present time, she doesn't feel like that towards her anymore. I just need answers from the person that was with me."

"Claudette, right? The lover never had."

Grace nodded.

They took a nap together even thought the flight wouldn't be that long, but they needed some rest and to process everything.

When they made it, William was by the entrance, in his usual plaid shirt, brown pants and boots, waiting for them. He hugged Grace and this one introduced him to Luke, who was somehow slightly blushing while looking at his turquoise eyes. "Hey, laddie."

"H-Hey. I mean, hi, I'm Lucas. Nice to meet you."

They went to William's truck and after a few minutes under a starry sky they made it to his place.

Lucas looked around "So, this is your hometown? It's so quiet" he gazed at the lake in front and smiled, then got a tad sad because he thought it was bad he couldn't swim to it or even sit by with Chase. He frowned then at the thought. He probably wouldn't care anyway. It'll be just a lake like any other for him.

For Grace, glancing at the lake was sadder. It wasn't just a place for past adventures anymore, but the place Lucy asked her to marry her, and she asked the Irish to marry her as well. She swallowed a knot that formed and got inside the house. It was warm. A fire was on. The she noticed something—/someone/ missing,

"Where's Claudette?"

"She went home with her family." William's face was a mix of sadness and disappointment.

Grace got alarmed "Why did she even go there?"

He sighed "How to tell you this, Grace..." then sat on a nearby chair "I don't know, but she doesn't want to come back. After the baby was born, she just... I don't know, she just didn't want her, nor me. She took a few of her things and left. I'm still trying to think what could have happened."

Luke sighed and mumbled "So, it's a day for leaving everyone, isn't it?

William heard and looked up "You guys left home, too?"

Grace nodded "We did. Lucas wanted to get away from his boyfriend, and I'm trying to seek answers, but also to protect Lucy from.. well, me.

William frowned and asked with a cold tone "Why you still consider that monster as a part of yourself?"

"William, please, don't. I'm not here to fight you about Marion."

"Then why you don't get rid of her already?"

"I can't! What you think Claudette was trying to do?"

Luke turned to Grace "Wait... you were trying to get rid of her? As in kill her?"

The Welsh stood mute for a while. "It's not like that, Lucas"

"Why?"

"I can't be fully myself if she gets in the way between me and Lucy!"

Luke sighed "Look, Lucy's my best friend and I want her happy, but not at the cost of... killing a part of yourself. I don't know, maybe I'm just stupid, but that's not right." He took his book out "There's... there's a life here... living and breathing and how could you two just treat her like she's something that must be killed because she's different? Why not just live with her? She shows up in times of danger, I'm pretty sure that you two have some things to thank her about."

Grace was speechless, Luke was indeed as Marion said, wiser beyond his age. She had no answer for him, but deep down she knew he was right.

William, was equally speechless, both surprised at the wisdom he showed in his words, and then slightly angry at how passionately he defended Marion. What's worse, he reminded him somehow of his wife, when defending Grace.

After some minutes of silence, Grace spoke up, "Why is this town so extra quiet?"

William stood up, and went for his mug then poured hot chocolate in it, and then took two more cups and served some for Grace and Luke. "Some time after you left, those wolves came back, and they kept coming any other week, so now we don't go out at nights." He handed both cups to his guests.

"That's not possible. Wolves don't come here around this time, at least not so frequently. And a pack?"

"I know, back then, in the forest, we used to cross with one wolf or two around winter, but now, the entire pack takes some days to walk in the town for food. So, now, we're in a constant lock up."

Grace suddenly stood up "Is my mother okay?"

"She is, she's at home now. Don't go out so frequently as before. Though the neighbors visit her in the mornings a lot, they somehow feel safe with her."

Grace blinked, it was some new info she never thought she would received, then again, she found out last year her mother was bisexual, and a woman was the reason she was not around her during her childhood, so she should expect the surprises often.

Luke felt interested and asked "Are we going to meet your mom now?"

The ginger hesitated but gave in "Yes, but let me make sure there are no wolves around and that she's awake first. William, keep an eye on him, I'll text you."

Grace went out, looked at her sides, her home was at the end of the lake, so, if the thing was a dangerous as her cousin said, she would need Marion, especially if she found her mother in danger.

She looked for a broken glass and cut herself close to the wrist. Then everything went black.

The ginger woke up a few minutes later, looking around, finally making it home after a short run, everything was quiet and dark indeed. Taking her keys, she went in, and then was received by an awake and smiley Adelaide Morgan wearing her usual faded blue dress, in the kitchen, making tea.

"Good evening, mom" she greeted in a soft voice. Only to be taken aback by the woman's reaction.

Adelaide Morgan stopped in her steps, as she noticed something she couldn't say yet, and her gray eyes just filled with fear, making her smile vanish. "You're not my daughter."

Marion was shocked "How do you know?"

"Your posture, Grace would usually come to me with a somehow defeated stand, you, look too proud of yourself, and Grace would never greet me with 'mom'. Also, you opened the door with your left hand, my girl is right-handed. You're Marion, right?"

Marion nodded.

"Are you going to hurt me?"

The ginger shook her head "No, ma'am. You're Grace's mom how could I?"

"I don't know, for sending the journal or for making her life difficult?"

Marion sat "I'm not going to hurt you, Grace wanted me to check if you were okay."

"I am" Adelaide sighed "You want some coffee?"

"No, I just had chocolate at William's?"

The blonde woman's face turned into an expression of worry which made Marion laugh "And you're alive?"

"I wasn't me when I was with him. But I'm pretty sure he wouldn't mind shooting me on sight."

Adelaide sighed "You two need to make amends"

"How? He hates me for scaring him in the tunnels."

"Look, young lady, whether you're Grace or not, I don't care, that's my daughter's body, and he's the cousin of that body. Therefore, he's also your cousin. So, you should apologize for whatever happened."

Marion smiled, the woman was the bravest she ever met, here she was always despised by everyone, but Grace's mom spoke to her completely unafraid, more than that, she cared about her.

"Does that mean you're also my mom?"

"Of course, unless you don't want me" she said as she walked to the table with her cup of tea. "What are you doing here?"

"Grace read the journal, and she's trying to get some answers."

"Claudette's gone."

"I know. William told Grace she went to her family and something about not wanting her baby?"

Adelaide took a sip of her tea and put the cup down regally "Claudette's being acting's stranger. At first I thought it was because of the pregnancy, but this seems to be something else, I don't know what is it, but when I went to her place, I saw your journal there, and got it without her noticing, then sent it to you, after reading a few things, of course" She held Marion's hand "I'm sorry, about everything you've gone through. I'm sorry for not being there" her voice cracking at the last phrase.

The alter was moved by such consideration, she felt like tearing up, but avoided that, resting her hand on top of her mother's, she smiled "I got some love after that, and I'm popular with girls."

The old woman laughed "Like your mother, huh?"

"Of course, who do you think I take after?"

"Well, you're ginger. That's not from me." Both ladies laughed for a few seconds, until a babies cries came out from upstairs.

"That's the baby. Wait here" Adelaide stood up from her chair and went upstairs. A few seconds later, she came down with a baby in her arms.

Marion, curious, went over her "She's ginger"

"Like her father"

"This is William's and Claudette's daughter, right?"

"Yes, I'm taking care of her for a while. Claudette doesn't want her around, but William feels like not being around her either."

"What?"

"I really wish to know what's going on between those two" then gave Marion the baby "Hold her for a moment, I'll get her milk."

"Hey" Marion said to the baby, then sat slowly on the chair, holding her gently. "I wonder what are your parents up to. I'm sorry in advance if it was because of me. I'm Marion, your worst nightmare."

"Marion, don't scare her" Adelaide said from the kitchen.

"Yes, ma'am."

Marion told her mother about everything about her travel to the village when she came back and started to feed the baby with a bottle. She told her about Lucy and about Luke.

"Well, your room is free, you should bring him now. Go, we'll be here."

"I'll text him as Grace said" Marion texted Luke, who replied with "I'll go there."

She waited outside to look for any dangers, until she spotted him, as he went towards her.

Luke felt something different about her, he couldn't put a finger, but there was something indeed. He entered the small house and greeted Grace's mom.

"Sorry for the intrusion, ma'am."

"Don't worry, I'm up at this time, lately." then looked at Marion "Marion, let him sleep in your room and you can sleep in mine, if you want"

"I'm not letting you sleep down here with that baby."

"First, I never said I was sleeping down here. Second, it's not a suggestion, it's an order." Adelaide arched an eyebrow at her.

Marion could almost jump out of excitement with this woman. Why I didn't meet her sooner? Fuck you, Grace. She started to take Luke's bag up when the boy held her shirt "What's going on?"

"You're Marion" Luke said while his eyes were literally glittering when being in front of her.

"Hello, Poirot" she smiled at him. It was definitely a good night. Fine. Thank you, Grace. The alter took Luke to Grace's room "Well, it's yours for the night or however long we are going to be here. Have a good night, kid" she patted his back and left downstairs.

She took a look at the blonde woman cradling the baby and frowned "You sure you're good with me sleeping with you?"

Adelaide looked at her "Look, I'm not going to really force you into anything, I just don't want you to feel lonely."

"Okay" Marion nodded and followed the woman upstairs, they put the baby to sleep, and slept.

There's no place like home.

#self para #sp:tnph #m:grace #m:luke

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