Harry sat on his bed, composing his weekly email to his family although he found it hard to concentrate, his mind beginning to wander to the final conversation he had had with James as they had walked back to the house together.

He had alluded to so much and it left Harry's head spinning.

"Try not to judge her if she reveals her secret.

I was able to stop her but if it had been myself in her place...

Well I doubt anyone would have been able to have stopped me.

It's just fortunate I was there.

For her anyway...

She still struggles with the guilt and the anger of what happened.

She still blames herself.

Just don't let it cloud your opinion of her..."

Even though James had opened up to him, he still felt more confused than ever. It was like he had revealed something so important yet Harry still had no clue, absolutely no idea what he was alluding to.

What could have transpired with Grace that was so terrible he would look at her differently?

He honestly had no idea.

One unfinished sentenced played on repeat in his head.

"Please don't let what she did to my bro-"

James had stopped short of revealing what Harry eventually thought to be at the heart of this family.

What kept them together, but also made them despise one another.

Sighing, he turned his attention back to his laptop and continued typing.

~~~~~~

James was busy changing into something a little more appropriate for lunch.

And by appropriate, that meant what his mother wouldn't bust his arse for wearing certain colours to their luncheon.

Yes, she really was that controlling.

He recalled what he had said to Harry during their final conversation that morning.

"I've been waiting for you to come along..."

For years, the lie that James and Grace had been forced to live was like a permanent blanket of darkness that hung over them, one that he felt would never be lifted.

The only shining light they had in all of this was their girls.

Their beautiful, precious girls.

The thought of harm coming to them...

He pushed down the feeling of guilt as he ran his hand through his hair, smoothing it even though it didn't need it.

It was already perfect.

Looking at his reflection in the mirror he let out a humourless chuckle.

Yes, he looked perfect on the outside.

Everything around him was perfect.

But sooner or later, the high price of living such a perfect façade was that eventually, it was bound to break.

He just wasn't sure who would be the first one to break it.

And the price they would pay for doing so.

James gave himself one final lookover in the mirror, though he really didn't focus on his presentation.

He just stared at the hollow shell that he had become.

As he turned and made his way towards the kitchen his thoughts turned to Harry again and the moment he had seen he and Grace together.

Harry was now her shining light.

~~~~~~

Joan swept into the house, shrugging her coat off as she entered the kitchen, missing the glaring eyeroll from Rosie as she did.

"Are my grandbabies prepared?" she asked to no one in particular but expecting an answer.

"They are in their rooms I believe Mrs. Joan," Rosie replied as she took a pan out of the oven.

"Well I shall see them in the sitting room immediately," she commanded before sweeping out of the room.

"Well I shall see them I the sitting room immediately," Rosie mocked in an uptight tone, "I should like to see the back of you, permanently," she added.

"That could be arranged," someone said, almost making Rosie drop a saucepan.

"Harry!" she scolded, "you're a terrible boy!"

Harry cheekily winked at her.

"One dozen brownies and my lips are sealed," he quipped, leaning on the kitchen counter.

Rosie glared at him as she stirred the contents in the saucepan.

"Admit it, you love to cook for me," he said as he popped a piece of carrot into his mouth.

Rosie shook her head at him.

"Stay out of her way if you know what's good for you," she gestured her head in the direction Joan had just walked.

"Maybe I should just hide in my room," he said, not relishing the thought of running into the dragon lady.

They could hear the girls coming down the stairs with James and being led into the sitting room.

"Go now," Rosie urged him, "while there is a distraction for you!"

Harry didn't need to be told twice, he quickly and quietly bolted down the hall and up the stairs, almost running Grace down as she came out of her room.

"Morning," he said, his voice low as he admired the outfit she was wearing.

"Good morning Harry," she replied, almost nervous in his presence.

She noticed he was breathing slightly faster as they both stood there.

"Why are you puffing?" she asked curiously.

"Just bolted up here to hide," he replied, "Joan's here."

"Ah," she smiled, "smart man."

"You uh...you look nice," he said, gesturing to her pantsuit.

Nice.

Way to go Harold.

Instead of complimenting her he really just wanted to kiss her.

Unsure if his expression gave it away but he noticed that Grace's breath hitched slightly and her tongue darted out to wet her bottom lip.

"I should go..." she said, but found her feet made no movement to take her.

"You don't want to keep them waiting..." Harry offered helpfully, "I'm sure she hates tardiness..." amidst everything else he thought as he tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear.

"Yes, that's true," she said as she watched him walk to his room, opening the door and entering.

Harry let out a heavy sigh as he walked into his room and stopped, running his hand through his hair as the scent that Grace was wearing seemed to cling to him, overwhelming his senses.

He turned around and found that the scent was so strong because she was standing right behind him, her bottom lip being firmly bitten by her teeth.

He was about to open his mouth and speak when Grace moved forward and pressed her mouth to his, her hand moving around to the back of his neck.

Surprise gave way to want as Harry returned her kiss, eager to have any moment with her, to feel her body against his.

He reached down and carefully unbuttoned her jacket, sliding his hand around her lower back, pressing her against him.

Grace felt herself melt against him, tingles shooting through her body as his other hand trailed up and cupped the side of her face, before he pulled away just enough to rest his forehead against hers, his eyes still closed.

"As much as I don't want to stop, you need to go love," Harry breathed, moving to button up her suit again, "don't poke the bear so to speak."

"You're right," she straightened herself up, "I don't know what I was thinking..."

"Love," Harry leaned down and placed his hands on her shoulder, "you've got a lot on your plate, clearly, and if kissing me helps alleviate your stress in any way, my lips are always available," he tried to ease the tension with some humour.

To his surprise, instead of putting up the wall he was so used to seeing, Grace stood up on her toes and hugged him around his neck.

"Thank you," she whispered before turning and leaving his room.

Harry stood rooted to the spot, surprised but happy before remembering where she was going to.

And he hoped that nothing would go wrong for her.

~~~~~~

Grace met James and Joan in the sitting room, only to find Joan looking at her watch the minute she walked in.

"Are you purposely trying to make us late dear?" she asked in a patronising tone.

"It's a couple of minutes..." Grace began but was cut off by Joan.

"You know I abhor tardiness for these functions, I need to be seen there early," she scoffed, "have you not learnt anything after all this time?"

Grace bit her tongue, especially as her girls were still in the room.

"Lesson number one my dears," Joan turned to the girls, "never be late like your mother here!" and with that she turned and began to walk out the room before stopping, "tell me you're not wearing that?" she asked Grace.

"I am," Grace replied.

"Well clearly you've put a lot of thought into it, maybe you need to put some more into it though," she raised an eyebrow as she eyed her up and down before leaving the room.

James' mouth was drawn in a thin line as he moved to place a hand on Grace's arm, only for her to shrug it off.

"Mama?" Dottie's small voice broke the suffocating tension, "I think you look pretty," she said, coming over to hug Grace around the waist.

"Me too," Tilly did the same, "you look like a princess without a crown," she paused, "and if she wore pants."

Grace couldn't help but let out a laugh.

"Thank you babies," she said, leaning down to kiss them both, "mama has to go now, be good for Harry and Rosie okay?"

"Yes mama," they chorused.

James also gave the girls a kiss each as well before following Grace out the room.

"Grace..." he began.

"Please...don't," she cut him off, "let me get through today okay?"

He nodded in understanding.

It was her way of coping with Joan's harshness.

They entered the car, Joan making sure to glance at her watch again and letting out a scoff as the driver took off.

Grace settled back and bit down on her lip hard to keep from crying.

Not in sadness.

But in anger.

She had had enough.

She was finally done.

~~~~~~

The ride to the venue was quiet, save for Joan dishing out her usual expectations of what she expected from each family member.

The only thing Grace was thankful for was that Lucy was not with them but was meeting them at the venue.

Hopefully she played the game along with the rest of them and kept her mouth shut in front of Joan.

The last thing Grace needed or wanted was a confrontation with her.

Thank God for James though, he kept chatting with his mother the entire time, leaving Grace alone with her thoughts and not having to converse with Joan.

Once they arrived, they exited the car and made their way inside, saying their hellos to everyone they encountered.

The great van Otten's had arrived and anyone who mattered made sure they spoke with them.

They were just about to make their way into the formal dining area when another person joined them.

Lucy.

Grace stared straight ahead, not making eye contact with her, even when she heard Lucy clear her throat.

"Grace," she said quietly.

Grace shook her head and moved away from her.

She wasn't doing this with her anymore.

Lucy made sure of that when she went after Harry and then Grace.

"I'm sorry..." she heard from behind as she continued to walk into the dining area and it almost made Grace stop.

Almost.