"Oh my God, Sarah...you're early!" said Liz as she pulled her sister into a
bear hug. "I thought you guys weren't supposed to be here for another 2 days!"

Liz grinned from ear to ear. For once in her life she was happy to see her
sister. Sarah smiled and returned her little sister's enthusiasm.

"Well there was a slight change in plans. So I got an earlier flight."

Liz looked over her sister's shoulder and peered outside.

"Well, where's mom and dad? Is he still parking the car? I know how long it
takes dad to find the 'perfect' spot," Liz joked.

By this time, Lucky had joined Liz at the door.

"Hey Sarah," he said flatly. With about as much enthusiasm as he would have
mustered upon seeing Helena Cassidine.

"Hey Lucky," returned Sarah, her smile brightening.

"So, Sare....where's mom and dad?" Liz asked again, a bad feeling already
beginning to materialize in the pit of her stomach.

"Lizzie, um...that's what the change of plans were."

Liz's smile dropped.

"They're not going to be able to make it to the wedding."

At that very moment, Liz went deaf to the rest of Sarah's words. She had
already heard enough to know that she didn't need to know the "reason" that
they just couldn't make it. Lucky placed a hand on Liz's shoulder and she
snapped out of her trance-like state.

Sarah walked into the foyer and placed her coat on the coat rack as she
explained the rest.

"They really, really, really wanted to be here Lizzie. But you see...Dad got
invited to this really huge medical conference in Milan...and well...you know
Mom...she just had to go with him. But they wanted me to tell you that they
love you and that they hope you have a really, really fantastic wedding."

Sarah waited for some type of response from Liz.

Liz simply nodded her head," Hmm. You used one too many 'reallys' Sarah."

"Huh?" asked Sarah in confusion.

Liz sighed.

"Nothing Sare...just go enjoy my party okay."

Liz stood and watched as her sister walked into the Quartermaine family room.
Lucky had been standing behind her the entire time, he now gently turned Liz
around by the shoulders and stared deep into her eyes. He knew she was
hurting.

"What?" asked Liz. She knew that Lucky was reading her mind, and in that very
moment she found it very unnerving. "I'm FINE!"

"Eliza - "

"I'm fine." Liz said, calming her voice when she realized that it wasn't Lucky
she was mad at. "I'm going to follow my own advice, and go enjoy our party.
You coming?"

"Yeah," Lucky sighed placing hand on the small of Liz's back,  and guideing
her into the family room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LATER~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sarah was the life of the party and she was even getting along with Emily and
Nikolas, despite of the fact that they were obviously flirting with each
other. Lucky watched as Sarah laughed and joked with everyone, and as Liz
plastered on a smile for everyone. Two hours had gone by and he knew that Liz
wouldn't be able to keep up the charade for much longer. He decided to call it
a night. He walked over to Liz and wispered in her ear.

"Baby are you ready to go?"

Liz looked at Lucky and for a brief moment he would have sworn that he saw
relief pass over her eyes.

"Yeah, just let me say goodbye to everybody," she said.

"Ok. I'm gonna go get our coats," Lucky said as he walked out into the foyer
with Sarah hot on his heels.

As Lucky grabbed his coat off the rack, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Leaving so soon?" asked Sarah in a sickeningly sweet tone. "The party just
started."

"Yeah," said Lucky taking one step backwards from Sarah, she was totally
invading his personal space. "Elizabeth and I have a lot to do tomorrow. We're
gona get out of here and get some sleep."

"Oh. Ok," said Sarah. "Well, I have a little present to give you before you
leave."

Before Lucky could even protest, Sarah's mouth was covering his. Her tongue
desperately trying to seperate his lips. Lucky shoved her off and she stumbled
backwards. Sarah looked shocked.

"SARAH! What the hell are you doing!? Did somebody spike your punch?!" yelled
Lucky, trying yet failing to keep his voice down. He was thoroughly disgusted
by Sarah's advances.

Sarah acted as if she hadn't heard him.

"Lucky," she began, pawing at him again. "Why are you marrying her? I could
make you so much happier than Lizzie ever could."

Lucky grabbed ahold of her wrists so she could no longer touch him.

"Let me show you just how happy I can make you Lucky. Why don't we go
somewhere right now...just you and me?"

Suddenly a voice came from the doorway.

"Why don't you go to hell?" said Liz.

Chapter 4

Sarah turned around and gasped upon seeing her sister in the doorway. Lucky
walked over to Liz, immediately grabbing ahold of her hand. He wondered if Liz
had seen and heard enough to know that it had been her sister persuing him and
not the other way around. When Liz did not reject his hand, he knew the
answer.

Sarah giggled nervously. "Lizzie, I didn't see you there," she said in her
attempt to change the subject.

"Oh, I know you didn't Sare...I mean how could you have, with your tongue down
my fiancee's throat and everything?"

"Lizzie, I -"

"Save it, Sarah!" yelled Liz as she stepped closer to her sister.

Lucky looked at Liz and knew that she was furious. He wondered whether or not
he should intervene before things got out of control. Although he couldn't
help but be delighted over the idea of Liz letting Sarah have it. He decided
to stay out of it for now, unless things got out of hand. Besides he thought
it would be good for Liz to get things off of her chest.

"Lucky," began Liz, still glaring at Sarah. "Would you please give Sarah and I
a moment alone."

"Elizabeth, I don't know..."

"Lucky," said Liz, turning to him. "Please. Nothing's gonna happen okay? I
just need to speak to my sister for a few minutes."

"Alright," Lucky hesitantly agreed. He excused himself and walked back into
the family room. Sarah was silently begging him to stay. She was horrified at
the idea of being alone with her little sister at that moment.

"Lizzie before you say anything, let me explain. I think maybe you
misinterpreted what you saw - "

"Shut up Sarah," Liz said flattly. "For once, I'm gonna talk and you're gonna
listen."

Liz paused for a moment trying to calm herself and gather her thoughts.

"How dare you come to my engagement party and hit on my fiancee?" She began,
her efforts to remain calm already beginning to fail. "I mean what did you
think? Did you actually think that Lucky would fall for it? For YOU?... Sarah
you just can't stand it can you?"

"Can't stand what Liz?" asked Sarah beginning to get annoyed with Liz's
attitude.

"You can't stand the fact that I finally have something that you don't...I
have Lucky."

"Oh please Liz. I don't want or need your precious Lucky."

"You know what Sarah? I almost believe you. But it's only because I remember
how you treated Lucky before he and I started spending time together...you
never gave him the time of day. But all that changed. Didn't it Sarah? The
minute you saw the chemistry that Lucky and I had, you wanted him. Why?
Because I had him, and you can't stand me having anything that you don't. Our
whole lives it's been - Oh, Sarah's so beautiful, Sarah's so smart, Sarah's so
nice. And I was always the one being compared to you. Always trying, but never
quite reaching the high standard of excellence that you set." Liz said
sarcastically.

"Liz - "

"I was jealous Sarah. I'll admit it. I really was. But you know what? I'm not
anymore. What do I have to be jealous about? You are a PATHETIC, VINDICTIVE,
SHALLOW excuse for a human being....AND in 5 days, I am marrying the most
wonderful man in the world."

"Oh, I'M pathetic Lizzie?" Sarah asked, insinuating that it was Liz who held
that title.

"Yeah, Sarah you are. And I hope that you bought a round trip ticket because I
don't wanna see your pathetic ass at my wedding. Get out Sarah. Go join mom
and dad in Milan - or wherever they are."

Sarah rolled her eyes as she put her coat on. "Bye Liz."