Chapter 45

Liz wrapped her arms around Lucky's waist, pulling him closer to her. She
shivered in the moonlight.

"You are so gorgeous," Lucky sighed as he ran a hand through her curls.

Liz grinned. After all this time he could still make her blush. "You don't
look so bad yourself," she sighed, running her hands up and down the length
of his lapels. "Have I told you how good you look in this suit?" Liz asked
pulling away to admire him fully.

Lucky smiled widely. "Baby come back here, your holdin' up traffic," he
laughed eyeing her in the tiny black dress.

They were outside of Luke's club and from the sounds coming from inside, the
place was already jumpin'.

"Well, Mr. Spencer what do you say we blow this popsicle stand and go
home...where we can have our own little private celebration," she said moving
her hands down his back.

"Oh no you don't," Lucky said, capturing her roving hands in his. "I spent a
LOT of time putting this party together for you my dear."

Liz gasped in mock indignation. "Well...I am thouroughly insulted, my very
own husband turning down a blatant sexual advance!"

"Oh...believe you me...a few hours from now..."

Liz smiled broadly. "What? What about a few hours from now Lucky?" She asked
cozying up to him seductively.

Lucky took a deep breath. Hearing her enthusiasm and seeing her in that dress
was definitely making her offer difficult to resist. "Let's go inside...NOW,"
he sighed.

Liz giggled and grabbed his hand, following him inside. The place was packed.
Practically everyone in Port Charles had shown up, and Lucky had spared no
expense on decorations. There were balloons and streamers everywhere. One
streamer read "Happy 18th Birthday Elizabeth!" Liz had to laugh at the fact
that she was having her 18th birthday in a place where she ordinarily
wouldn't have been allowed in, but since she was married to the owner's son,
it wasn't a problem.

As she looked around at all the smiling faces of her extended family and
friends she was suddenly struck with a feeling of panic. 'I forgot to tell
Lucky about Kyle.' He had not arrived yet, and Liz didn't even know for sure
that he was coming, but she had invited him, so there was always a chance.
She couldn't believe she'd forgotton to tell Lucky. In her hurry to get
ready, it had simply slipped her mind. 'Ok!' she thought. 'I have to tell him
before he gets here.'

Suddenly Liz's thoughts were interrupted by Luke's booming voice over the
microphone. "Ok ya'll..I think that since the birthday girl has finally
arrived it's about time we get this party started! What do you say?!"

Hoots and hollars of "YES!" Were yelled from the audience. Lucky ran his hand
up and down Liz's bare arms and grinned as everyone in the room smiled at
them. Liz looked from Lucky to Luke wondering what they had planned. By the
look on Lucky's face there was definitely something going on that she was not
aware of. Her thoughts were quickly answered.

"Ladies and gentlemen...well some of you are gentlemen..but that's besides
the point..." Luke chuckled in self amusement. "Without further ado...I
present to you Mr. Jonny Lang!"

Liz gasped out loud and the crowd cheered as she watched her favorite blues
singer walk out on stage, followed by his band.

"Happy birthday baby!" Lucky said leaning down to her ear, due to the blaring
music.

Liz looked up at him, her mouth hanging open. "How did you - "

"It pays to have connections," Lucky said, pointing to his dad as he made his
way towards them through the crowd.

Luke stopped and gave Liz a peck on the cheek. "Happy birthday sweetheart."

"Thank you Luke," Liz said smiling brightly at him. She then threw her arms
around Lucky's neck. "I love you!!!" she yelled as he rubbed her back. "And,"
she continued leaning closer, to speak right into his ear, "You are going to
get so extremely lucky tonight..."

Lucky grinned from ear to ear. "I already am baby, I already am...now what do
you say we do a little dancin'?"

"I thought you'd never ask," Liz replyed as Lucky led her out on the floor.

Liz was in heaven as Lucky wurled her around the floor, dipping and turning.
She was having the time of her life as she danced to her favorite Jonny Lang
song in the arms of the man she loved more than life.

Little by Little
Bit by Bit
I'm fallin in love all over again...

Here I come,
I'm back for a taste of your love
Here I come now baby
Because I like what you do for me...

Liz and Lucky finally sat down after a few songs, and a couple of rounds of
"let's go mingle." Luke had even come over to offer them drinks, regardless
of their age. Liz had asked for a Shirley Temple, and Luke tried talking her
into something a bit stronger. She then asked for white wine, only to be
teased by her father-in-law and husband both chiming in with "princess!"

Emily laughed at how bubbly Liz had become after 2 glasses. Lucky downed a
Tequila shot with his dad and Sonny before bowing out of what he knew would
soon become a contest. Laura just shook her head at the bad influence that
Luke had always provided for his son.

The band began playing a slow song and once again, Liz and Lucky were back on
their feet. This time the pace was much slower, and the gap between them was
much more narrow. They were lost in each other, staring into each others'
eyes. Lucky had totally forgotten all of the stress of the past week, and Liz
had completely forgotton her minor chore of telling Lucky about Kyle. "I love
you baby," Lucky said, wispering in her ear.

Suddenly, Liz felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked up at the person before
her and her mouth gaped open for the second time that night. She couldn't
believe what she was seeing. Same little black dress right down to the
spagetti straps, same black, strappy heels...her twin.

"Happy Birthday Elizabeth!" Sam said cheerily throwing her arms around her.
"I'm sorry I couldn't make it here sooner, but something came up...are you
having a good time?" she asked pulling away from Liz. "Lucky put so much time
into planning this party for you," she said running a hand down Lucky's arm.

It took Liz a few seconds to get her bearings. She hadn't even heard
everything Sam had just said. "Um...yea-yeah," Liz stammered.

Lucky bit his lip as he looked at Liz. He knew this was NOT going to be
pretty. If there was one thing he had learned from Elizabeth it was that
women could not stand it when another woman had on the same thing they did.

Liz, still half way stunned, stared at her own reflection. 'This cannot be a
coincidence,' she thought to herself. 'She was with me when I bought those
shoes...but the dress...what the Hell did she do, follow Em and I to the next
store?!' This tramp has got some nerve! Ok..ok, calm down. This is YOUR
party, don't flip out...you look way better in it anyways damnit!'

Liz forced herself to pay attention as Sam started talking again. Suddenly
Emily approached them. Liz caught her out of the side of her eye and grinned.
'Oh, I love this girl,' she thought. Emily reacted instantaneously,
accidentally spilling her coke all over Sam's dress. Sam gasped in horror at
the cold liquid that stained her dress.

"Oops. My bad," Emily said faining wide eyed innocence. "I'm sooooo sorry
Sam."

Sam sighed. She knew the little witch wasn't sorry, but at the moment she had
bigger fish to fry. She'd would ignore her for now. "It's ok Em, I'm sure you
didn't mean anything by it," she said through gritted teeth, wiping at the
quickly setting stain. She got back to business.

"Oh! Liz, I almost forgot...um, I was walking past you room earlier today and
the phone kept ringing and ringing...I guess you forgot to put the machine
on..and Lucky," she said looking at him. "I guess you forgot to lock your
door...anyways I didn't think you'd mind so I answered it for you. It was
some guy named Kyle...he told me to tell you that it is absolutely imperative
that have your application for that museum job ASAP. He said he wants you to
fax it...gosh, Lizzie, that sounds like an awesome job, I'm sure your gonna
do great..."

Liz took a deep breath as she felt Lucky's arms drop from around her waist.
She could not believe Sam had just done that. Liz ran a hand through her hair
and looked up at Lucky, knowing this wouldn't be pleasant. He wasn't even
looking at her, he seemed to be staring off over her head, at some fixed
imaginary thing or person, his jaw clenched. Liz looked down at the floor.
Suddenly, the tension was thick enough to be cut with a knife. 'Jeez, he's
not even looking at me,' she thought.

"Oh well," Sam continued. "I just wanted to make sure I gave you that message
before I got too bombed to remember," she said laughing and tossing her hair
behind her shoulders. "Well...if you two will excuse me...the night is still
young, so I'm gonna go mingle...Happy Birthday Liz."

And with that she was gone. Liz looked up at Lucky, waiting for him to make
the first move. She didn't have to wait long.

"I think we need to talk...right now," he said sternly, still not looking her
in the eyes. He headed for the door.

Chapter 46

Liz followed Lucky outside and into the cold, waiting for the question that
she knew was coming. When they were completely out of earshot of the door he
asked it. "Are you out of your mind?!"

She sighed. "No, I'm not out of my mind Lucky...jeez, I can't believe her
nerve..she comes in here looking like she rummaged through our closet and
then starts rambling about who called me and wh - "

Lucky rolled his eyes. "Elizabeth, I think maybe Sam is the least of our
problems right now!"

Liz couldn't believe her ears. 'Sam is the least of our problems?' she
thought.  Her voice suddenly rose a few octives. "Excuse me Lucky, but the
woman is a MAJOR problem..she wants to be ME Lucky!"

Lucky shook his head in disbelief. "Elizabeth this is about YOU not telling
ME that you're planning on working with some guy who actually came right out
and admitted to me that he planned on stealing you away!"

"Lucky I told you that he apologized for that."

"Oh, well that makes it alright then Elizabeth," He said sarcastically. "I
think he's my new bestfriend!"

"Lucky, please don't be like this," Liz sighed.

"Don't be like what Elizabeth? Don't be upset that my wife wants to hang out
with some guy that's got a crush on her...I guess suddenly you need a little
extra attention huh?"

Liz sighed inwardly. This was the side of Lucky that she'd seen with other
people. With Luke, Laura, Nikolas, but she'd never seen it first hand. He was
being spiteful and a bit cold.

"Lucky! I don't want to hang out with hang out with him, I want the friggin
job."

"Yeah, Elizabeth but you know as well as I do that he could care less about
your art judgement."

Liz shook her head in anger. "Oh, Lucky is it really that impossible, that
unfathomable to believe that maybe, just maybe he could actually think I have
some talent?!"

"Elizabeth, you know that's not what I meant...I just don't want you workin'
with this guy."

"So what are you saying Lucky? Are you telling me I can't?"

"Yeah," he said flattly. "That's what I'm tellin' you."

Liz mouth gaped open in disbelief. "You can't be serious. Lucky what the Hell
has gotton into you?! When did you get like this? You're so, so...possessive.
You're totally overrea - "

Suddenly Liz's words were interrupted. She bit her lip as she spotted Reese
and Kyle rounding the corner in front of the building. 'Not now!' she
thought. She wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole. This was
going to be bad. Very bad.

Lucky turned around, wondering what had caused Elizabeth to stop midtirade.
Lucky shook his head and licked his lips, not believeing his own eyes. He
advanced towards Kyle, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him up against
the brick building so fast that Kyle has no time to react. "You have some
kind of problem man?!" Lucky screamed. "I want you to stay the Hell away from
my wife!" Lucky pulled his fist back, slamming it hard into Kyle's face.

Liz screamed for him to stop, while Reese stood in stunned silence. Suddenly
Nikolas and Emily came running out, they had both heard Liz screaming outside.

Nikolas managed his way in between Kyle and Lucky, pushing Lucky away from
Kyle forcefully. He held Lucky back with one arm while he asked Kyle if he
was ok. Lucky didn't have a scratch on him so he was not worried about his
little brother.

Kyle wiped at the blood gushing from his lip and glared at Lucky. "Yeah, I'm
fine...I think somebody needs to put a leash on him though," he continued,
pointing at Lucky.

Lucky tried to get around Nikolas and was quickly met with opposition. "Get a
hold of yourself Lucky!" he screamed. "Emily go inside and call the
paramedics for our friend Kyle here," he continued now glaring at Kyle. He
wondered what the guy had done this time. He sure had some nerve showing up
at Liz's party.

Suddenly Luke came outside, hearing the commotion. "Lucky," he said walking
over to his son. Luke wasn't aware of the situation, but he knew by the look
in his son's eyes that he had to get him away from this guy. "Let's go
inside," he demanded.

Lucky began to protest, "Dad - "

"NOW!" Luke said, interrupting and grabbing him by the shoulders to push him
towards the door. Lucky looked at Liz for a second and she immediately
averted her eyes. She didn't now what to say. She was confused, angry, and
shocked all at once. What in the world had just happened?

Once Lucky was inside, Liz sighed and walked over to where Reese stood, now
tending to Kyle's lip with a tissue. "I am soooooo sorry," she began, looking
at Kyle. "I...he just...I'm sorry. There's really no excuse," she said, her
voice guilt ridden.

Both Kyle and Reese assured her that it was ok as the ambulence pulled up in
the drive. Liz decided that she would ride in the back with Reese and Kyle.
She felt it was the least she could do under the circumstances. She knew it
would only uspet Lucky more, but at this point she was so angry at him that
she didn't care. It wasn't like he wasn't already furious anyways. She just
hoped that if she gave him the night to cool off, he'd come to his sense by
morning.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Walk it off son, walk it off," Luke said, as he watched his son pace the
floor, fuming.

Laura wispered something to Luke behind the bar, and Luke wispered back,
telling her to go on home.  The club was clearing out quickly. "I'll watch
him," he said reassuring his wife. Laura left and Lucky sat down at the bar.

"Line 'em up dad," Lucky said flattly, slapping the bar.

Luke looked at his son skeptically. 'This has to be their first big one,'
Luke thought, pulling out 3 shot glasses from underneith the counter. He
slammed them down on the bar. Luke knew that getting wasted wasn't the
answer, but he wasn't about to deny his son the temporary pain reliever. He
would have had to have the word 'HYPOCRITE' tattoed on his forehead if he did.

As the night wore on, the club emptied, except of course for the man at the
bar. Luke had long since retired to his office. He wouldn't be going home
tonight, but he promised Lucky that he'd leave him alone as long as he
promised not to try and drive home and to stay the night in the upstairs
bedroom.

Suddenly Lucky heard the door open and the click of her heels on the hard
wood floor. He'd get up and beg for her forgiveness. He'd admit what an ass
he'd been. "Elizabeth?" he said turning around to look at her.

"Oh, it's only you," he said, realizing it was only Sam.

She slowly walked over to him and sat next to him. "How ya doin?" She asked
softly, rubbing her hand gently along his knee. "I heard you had a rough
night."

Lucky leaned his head on his palms atop the bar. 'What's that smell?' he
thought. 'Something smells like Elizabeth...she smells like Elizabeth.'

"Do you want another drink?" Sam asked interrupting his thoughts.

Lucky grinned lopsidedly looking at all the shot glasses he had already
accumulated. His head was spinning, yet he didn't care. He tryed to count the
glasses and he couldn't. Too many for someone in his current condition to
comprehend. "Sure," he answered. "Why not?" he said sluggisly, throwing his
hands up and laughing.

Sam walked around behind the bar and slowly poured Lucky another shot, while
he placed his head down upon the bar....