**Chapter 10: Dorothy's Gratitude**

As the door slammed shut behind Lucas, Dorothy let out a breathless sigh, her eyes shining with tears. Stan immediately wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft with concern. Dorothy nodded, her face buried in his chest. "Y-yes," she stammered. "Thank you, Stan. Thank you for stopping him." Stan held her close, his arms wrapping tightly around her. "You're welcome, Dorothy," he said. "I'll always be here to protect you." As they stood there, Dorothy felt a sense of safety wash over her. She knew that she was lucky to have Stan in her life, and she was grateful for his presence. The tension in the room began to dissipate, replaced by a sense of calm and security. Dorothy knew that she was safe, and that Stan would always be there to keep her that way. She pulled back, looking up at Stan with tears in her eyes. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't shown up when you did," she said, her voice shaking. Stan's face softened, and he gently wiped away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. "You'll never have to find out," he said. "I'll always be here for you, Dorothy." Dorothy smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Stan. She knew that she had been through a lot with Lucas, and that their divorce had left emotional scars. But with Stan by her side, she felt like she could face anything. She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "I'm so sorry you had to deal with that," she said. "I know how much you hate confrontation." Stan chuckled. "I don't mind confrontation when it comes to protecting the people I care about," he said. "Besides, I've dealt with worse than Lucas Hollingsworth in my day." Dorothy raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh?" she said. "What do you mean?" Stan smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Let's just say that I've had my fair share of run-ins with difficult people over the years," he said. "But I've learned that sometimes, you just have to stand up for yourself and the people you care about." Dorothy nodded, feeling a sense of admiration for Stan. She knew that she was lucky to have him in her life, and she was grateful for his support. As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, Dorothy felt a sense of peace wash over her. She knew that she could face anything, as long as Stan was by her side.