Lucy was running. She didn't dare to look behind her. The family she had wanted for so many years were back there, and she had hurt them so much. She had to get out now to minimise the pain she was causing those good people. It was a hard decision, but the right choice.

She was running through the busy Chicago streets trying to thread her way through the post-New Year savings crowds. After running what felt like a marathon, she reached her block and slowed as she neared her block of flats. And there it was! Firmly nestled between the surrounding floors, the mere sight of her flat eased her fluttering heart.

'Hey, Lucy!' came a familiar voice. Lucy came to a stop, slipping slightly on the melted snow as she did so. She looked down at her feet, composing herself, before turning to see the friendly face of Joe Fusco Junior.

'Joe. Hi.'

'You okay? You look a little…er…upset.' He intimated. 'What 'appened? 'As that pretty guy been nasty to ya?' He sidled over, swaggering in his usual chilled out manner. His shirt front was wide open even during the midst of winter and it was so very Joe.

'No. No, it wasn't him. I'll be fine. It'll blow over in a week or two.' She smiled, but the wind chill was starting to creep into her system as the adrenalin of her run home began to calm down. She wanted to get inside and away from the world just for a while. 'Um…It's getting kinda cold, Joe. I'm gonna head on in, if that's okay?'

'Lucy, anythin's okay with me. An' if you need anythin' sortin' out, rememba I know karate.' He held his arms out as if to welcome coming applause. Lucy stifled a laugh as she knew that Joe was being completely sincere. She thanked him and headed to the door which led up to her flat. Every step closer was one away from the consequences of her actions.

Lucy yanked the door open, aware that Joe Jr had turned away and was sauntering back to whatever business her unexpected arrival had interrupted. She ran up the stairs as fast as her steadily freezing legs would carry her. She rummaged around in her coat pocket to find the key to her flat, fumbled the lock of the door and stepped in to her sanctuary. She kicked her shoes from her tired feet, not caring where they landed; only hoping that they hadn't hit anything like a vase or the cat. She made her way carefully through the darkness towards the sofa. She fell back into the seat, feeling like she wanted to fall through it and into another world. A place where she could be free of the guilt of causing such pain to that dear family. To Peter, Ox, Midge, Mary, Elsie, Saul and…

*KNOCK KNOCK*

It was Joe, wasn't it? Just when Lucy didn't need someone encroaching on her struggle to deal with what she had just done and certainly not anybody wanting to try on her shoes wherever they were. Lucy picked up one of the couch pillows and screamed into it before composing whatever inner strength she had remaining to sit upright on the sofa.

'It's going to be fine. Just get over this and it'll be fine. Remember…keep cool and calm and try not to bite his head off. Right…calm…' She repeated this to herself as she neared the door. Her hand lingered on the door handle as she composed herself to fend off any of Joe's deductions. Right. Three, two, one…

Lucy flung the door open.

'Joe, like I said…' But her voice gave out. Her hand dropped from the door handle and she stared into the eyes of the man in front of her. He was leaning against the doorframe with his hair flopping down in front of his face, like she had always liked it to do. His eyes sparkled in the cold and her heart warmed to him. Who else could it have been but Jack? The man she had wanted to be with since she ran from the wedding to his brother, but this wasn't the right time. She was still reeling from what she had done today and over the last few weeks. It was too soon. He should have stayed with his family and left her alone, but she was so glad that he was here, and she wanted him to stay.

'I thought I'd…' Jack stuttered. Now that he was stood in front of her, he realised that he didn't know what he was going to say. All he knew was that his overriding thought was that she loved him, and he needed to know what that meant. 'Wanted to make sure you'd gotten home safely.' Lucy suddenly realised that she'd been gaping at him since she'd laid eyes on him stood at her door. 'Can I come in?' he finally asked. After processing what he had just said, she stepped back and ushered him in.

'And why wouldn't I get home safely?' She enquired trying to project a sense of confidence that she simply didn't have. She watched his every step as he cautiously stepped in to her flat. 'Maybe you should be more concerned for Peter. Your brother.'

'Peter wasn't the one who ran from his own wedding and through the streets of Chicago in mid-winter…in a wedding dress.' He added. Lucy suddenly remembered that she was still in the dress. A memory of the day that would haunt her forever. 'Or at least I hope he didn't. Not again.' Jack joked, trying to lighten the mood. He watched as Lucy smirked a little and in that smile, he saw the woman he loved.

'So, what are you really doing here, Jack Callaghan?' Lucy asked accusingly, turning on Jack. He stood in the centre of the living room and felt like he was standing in a line up where no one else had bothered turning up.

'I wanted to give you the reason not to marry my brother.' Jack smiled shyly, thinking of the words she had used only a few evenings previously. He couldn't have given her an answer back then. He respected and loved his brother and the situation as it had been then. But now he could tell her the truth. He could tell her he loved her and had done since they met at the family home so long ago.

'No, Jack.' A silence fell. Jack stood somewhat taken aback. He hadn't expected much of a reply, but the sharpness of her response had caught him unaware.

'What?' Jack questioned.

'Why do you have to do this now? If you loved me, why couldn't you have told me a few nights ago before this whole thing blew up in my face?' Lucy's voice was rising. She didn't mean for it to do so. It was just the fact that she was standing in her wedding dress, listening to the brother of the man she was meant to marry tell her that he loved her less than an hour after she'd ran away.

'Because you were engaged to my brother.'

'Why did you think that?'

'I had no reason not to.' An excuse he'd used only days before when Mary had declared that Lucy had been pregnant. Of course, it had all turned out to be a lie. 'Lucy, what matters is that now I know the truth and I still love you for it.' Jack stared at Lucy. He did love her, more than he'd ever loved anybody before. He couldn't quite explain it. All he knew was that it felt wonderful and he knew that she would need some time. It was just that rejection always hurt, no matter the parameters.

'Don't do this.' Lucy looked down to the floor, anywhere but Jack's eyes which drew her in like a moth to a flame. 'If you loved me you wouldn't swoop in like this. I love you, but I can't let you do this and lose your family in the process. They're too precious! God Jack, we've talked about it often enough. You know what this could do to your family and I can't be responsible for that. Please, don't let me be the reason for tearing your family apart. I've hurt them enough already. ' Jack looked at her. She was right of course. Up until now, Jack hadn't focused on what would happen to his family, but in all the times he had spent with Lucy, he had discovered that family was the most precious thing in the world. He loved his family more than words could permit, but recently he'd been focussed on Lucy. He knew how much his family meant to Lucy. But now wasn't the time to ruminate. Jack looked once more into Lucy's eyes. They sparkled like diamonds even in her distressed state. He walked forward, leaning in, took her hand and kissed it. Then, not turning back, he left the apartment and walked back to his family, completely unaware that Lucy watched him until he stepped around the corner and out of sight.

She loved him. She did so very much, but it couldn't happen like this. Not after the wedding. Now she wasn't sure if she'd ever see him again. Had the man she loved just walked out of her life forever? She'd never know.