Luke walked into the Thomson house. He was family he didn’t need to knock. Serena was in the kitchen putting up lunch leftovers.

"Hello, Luke. How are you today?"

"Fine. How’s Meg?"

"In her room. She stormed in here and went straight to her room. I couldn’t get her to come down for lunch."

"Why is she so upset? "

"I’m not sure. I know it has to do with Corey being transferred, but I don’t know what happened that made her lock herself in her room."

"Maybe you could get her down here to eat."

"Doubt it."

"Luke, have you told her how you feel?"

"What are you talking about, Serena?"

"Have you told Meg how you feel about her?"

"I love her like a sister, Serena. I’m sure she knows that."

"No, you don’t. You sure don’t look at her like a brother looking at his sister."

"What are you talking about, Serena?"

"I’m talking about how you feel for Meg and have since ‘that day’ you brought her home."

Luke knew which day she was talking about. It was a day that they didn’t mention and when they had to they referred to it as "That Day."

"Luke, have you even admitted to yourself that you love her? Because if you don’t admit it to yourself and tell her how you feel you will lose her before you even gain her."

Luke just looked at Serena. He realized that she knew him better than he knew himself. "Meg is my sister, Serena. I can’t allow myself to think otherwise. She’s just a child."

"She was child when we met her, yes, but she’s all grown up now. She’s 17, most ladies her age are married and have families of their own. Daniel is holding onto her yes, but she is grown up now."

Luke thought about this. "And Daniel would kill me, if he knew how I felt." God did I just say that?

"You let me deal with Daniel. Don’t lose Meg just because you don’t tell her that you love her. Don’t have that on your conscious."

What Serena didn’t know was that he had already lost one woman because he never told her how he felt. Or was it that I thought I loved Serena, so that I could meet Meg? "I can’t live without her, Serena, I’d rather have her friendship than nothing at all. I don’t want to lose her friendship because of my feelings."

"If you tell her, you could have something greater than her friendship, and if you don’t you’ll won’t know what you missed."

"How do I tell her?"

"I tell you what, take these leftovers and take her on a picnic. Tell her while you are alone how you feel. Tell her today, Luke." Luke nodded. "Go get her, and I’ll get this ready for you."

After seeing Luke and Meghan off Serena thought about how she was going to approach the subject of Luke courting Meghan with Daniel. After all Meghan is only 17 and Luke was 25.

"That was nice of Luke to take Meg on a picnic to cheer her up." Daniel’s voice cut into her thoughts.

"He’s going to tell her that he loves her, Daniel."

"What are you talking about?"

"Luke is in love with Meg and has been for a while."

"He’s so much older the she is."

Serena walked over to him and said, "Luke is just 8 years older than she is. You are 15 years older then me, so I don't see the problem."

Danielle turned to her and said, "She’s my only child. I don't want to lose her like I did her mother. But I do want her to be happy though."

Kneeling next to him she said, "This would make her happy. Besides the only other fella she thinks about is Buck. I know how you feel about her being with Buck. I know you like him and all, but you’re afraid he will take her away from you."

Danielle stood, went to the window, looked out and said, "Buck is a nice young man, but I am afraid if they marry he will take her away from me. And I can't handle that. I am also worried about if she tries to have children. I am afraid she will die during childbirth. I don't want that to happen."

Standing Serena said, "Daniel Thomas, You know you can't protect her the rest of her life. She's growing up. You know Luke. You know he wouldn't hurt her."

Trying to stay calm Daniel said, "I know that, but Luke will want a family someday. And Meghan is so small. I don't think she would survive bringing a child into this world. I am also worried that he might take her back to Australia with him."

Getting mad Serena walked over to him and grabbed his arm turning him to face her. She said, "Now you listen to me, You have to let her go some time. Luke is a good man. He would treat her right. If you’re worried about her having a child, then ask them to wait till she is older to have a family."

Daniel looked at her and could see that she meant what she said. Daniel thought about it then said, "She does deserve to be happy. That would work I think. If Luke asks me for her hand, then I will talk with him about it. Thank you for making me see the light, My Dear." He wrapped her in his arms and smiled at her.

Smiling back Serena said, "You know your doing the right thing for Meg." Daniel nodded and kissed her. Serena wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss.

Serena was in the kitchen when Luke brought Meghan home. Coming into the living room just as they were. She noticed the look on Meghan’s face and knew she was confused and needed an older sister. After showing Luke to Daniel’s study she made her way up to Meghan’s room. Slowly opening the door, Serena said, "Meghan, Honey, can we talk?" Meghan sat up, looked at her and said, "You set the picnic up for me and Luke didn't you?"

Sitting on the edge of the bed Serena said, "Yes, I did. I see how Luke looks at you. He wanted to take you to the dance, but he didn't ask because all you could talk about was how much you wanted Buck to ask you to the dance. Honey, Buck has a lot of girls eyeing him. He is a very handsome young man, but he just doesn't really know who he likes right now."

Meghan said sadly, "He went with Caly Johnson. I don't like that Caly girl. I think she’s a man stealer. I don't see what he sees in her. What does she have that I don't have? I did show up at the dance, but when I got there and saw Buck and her laughing and having a good time, I just couldn't go in."

Serena smiled and said, "Well, Honey, knowing both of them. I think they have a lot in common. They both lost their mothers at a young age. They love to be outside and love to ride. There is just a connection between them. I know you like him, but Buck doesn’t know who he wants right now. You know that. Are you willing to pass up someone who genially cares for you and loves you with all his heart, body and soul just on a maybe?"

Meghan looked hurt but then said, "I didn't even know Luke liked me."

Serena looked at her, feeling her pain and said, "Honey, he has for a while. He wants to be around you all the time. That’s why he’s over here a lot. He may be the only person your father lets court you. Now don't get me wrong. Your father isn't judging Buck. He is afraid of loosing you. But I think we can convince him that he is gaining a son and not loosing you."

Feeling confused, Meghan looked at Serena and said, "I didn't know Luke liked me and wanted to court me."

Serena nodded and said with a smile, "Yes he does. He has just been afraid to tell you his feelings. He didn’t want to lose your friendship."

Meghan nodded and said, "Just because he told me that he loves me that wouldn’t lose my friendship. Even if I didn’t love him back." Meg realized what she said. Did I just say that I loved him? With the first smile on her face in days, Meg hugged her stepmother who she thought of as a sister and said, "Thank you, Serena."

Serena saw Meghan’s face light up. It made her heart warm with love for her.

Hearing the front door shut, Serena said, "I need to go get supper ready."

"Ok. I got to go talk to Luke. He was honest with me, I need to be honest with him now."

Serena just smiled. When she first saw that her step daughter liked Buck she had resolved to help to get them together, but she soon realized that she had to get both Luke and Meg to admit to their feelings and now, she felt certain that they all would be happy.

When Serena had went upstairs to talk to Meg, Luke went into Daniel’s study. He knocked on the door and opened it, "Daniel, can I talk to you?" Luke had never been more nervous in his whole life.

"Sure, Luke come on in." Luke sat down on the opposite side of the desk. "What can do for you?"

"Well, I, uh just wanted you to know that I told Meg today that I love her. And I would like to court her if she’d let me." Luke had his legs crossed and was tapping on his boot with his hand.

"Luke, Serena and I were just talking about that." Daniel paused and sighed, "Courting is just a formality before marriage. Is that what your intentions are?"

"Yes."

Daniel nodded, "What about Serena? I thought you were in love with Serena."

Luke knew from what Meg had said that afternoon that she and her father knew that at one time he thought he was in love with Serena. "I only thought I was in love with Serena."

"What if you only think you are in love with Meg?"

"Daniel, I can’t live without Meg. I can’t explain it. I don’t know when it happened, but I do know that I have been trying to deny it to myself for over a year now. I’m through with lying to myself and others. I love Meg with everything that I am. And I would do anything to make her happy."

"What about Australia? Are you planning on going back?"

Luke sighed. "I love Australia, but my home is here now."

"What about children, Luke? Meg is so small . . ."

"Daniel, I’m sure that Meg would want to wait before having children. I know I do. I don’t think I’m ready to have children right now."

"Luke," Daniel looked into Luke’s eyes and saw that Luke had been telling the truth. "I’m not ready to let her go yet," Luke’s eyes clouded over, "However, I know that with a husband like you, she will be happy and I just want you take good care of her, and protect her as I have tried to protect her."

Luke nodded, "I swear to you I would lay down my life for hers." As Luke spoke those words, Daniel knew they were the truth.

A few minutes after Luke left, Serena walked in, "Hey, Sweetie. Is there something wrong?"

"Luke just asked for Meg’s hand in marriage"

"What did you say?"

"I gave my blessing."

"Then why so sad?"

"I’m losing my baby girl."