~*~Christmas Eve.......around 10:30 pm~*~

Elizabeth paced the floor of her living room, nearly wearing a hole in the carpet after the many times her feet tread over the same small area. She felt like she'd been on her feet for days. Pacing, walking, jumping at the sound of the telephone. Leaping at the sound of the doorbell.

Anytime she had spent sitting down, had been spent thinking of him. Looking at pictures, holding Laura's hand as they thumbed through momentoes, or simply playing his tape over and over again. Torture? Yes. Anything she could put a stop to? No.

Ever since Luke and Roy had taken off for God only knew where she wasn't able to think straight. She ate and breathed the thought of Lucky coming back to her. Her beautiful, beautiful Lucky. She hadn't slept. Elizabeth couldn't even remember the last time she'd closed her eyes. No, that wasn't true. She had dozed off for a fraction of a second the night before, a second before the phone rang. She could still hear Luke's voice, as clear as if he were speaking to her now.

'Darlin'....I'm on my way home....WE'RE on our way home.'

A simple sentence. A simple declaration. A simple tone of voice. But the words had been anything but simple to her heart. A heart that had been silently breaking for months. A heart that had neared the point of no longer being able to break anymore. Only small pieces of what used to be, remaining.

She sighed now as a hard lump formed in her throat. She sat down on the couch, wringing her hands. "God, I can't wait anymore," she said aloud looking to the sky. She knew she should have been grateful. Grateful for the angelic stranger that had entered her life so abruptly and had left just as quickly. Grateful for a second chance at happiness. But it was so very difficult. So difficult to sit there and not know. She had no idea how Lucky was. If he was ok. If he had been hurt all these months. Where he had been all of this time. I should have asked to speak to him when Luke called, she mentally chided herself. If only I could have heard his voice...I would be alright.

Elizabeth shook her head, knowing she had made the right choice. She didn't want to hear him over a phone. How could you possibly think someone dead for months and then pick up a phone and hold a normal conversation? No, what she should have done was gone with Luke and Roy! That's what she should have done! That's what she wanted to do!

However, the two of them had forbid it. They had even gone so far as to tell her that if she tried, they would tie her to chair on the plane and have it turn right around when they reached their destination. Their destination. God where is it? Siberia...why is this taking so long...it's been hours!? Elizabeth thought.

She had imagined this moment so many times. In her dreams. In her fantasies. How would she handle it? What would they say? She laughed as she remembered her journey in time. How stunned she had been. How completely unable to form a coherent thought, let alone a sentence. How she had trembled at his touch. How she had scared him. Would she be that way now? Or would she just throw her arms around him and never, ever let go? She brushed away her thoughts. It was all an exercise in futility. He wasn't even home yet.

~*~

Lucky looked backwards towards the car, shifting his wait awkwardly on the doorstep. He nodded towards his father. His father and his mother. Next to each other. In a car. A car that sat outside of Elizabeth's house.

The surrealism of it all hit him then, and his legs felt weak beneath him. The world seemed hazy. How was this possible? How was this a reality?

He had dreamed of it so many times. So many nights lying awake, alone in that cold, steel room. Reality had far surpassed the dream. The reality of having his father burst through the door. The silver door that had opened for no one but Faison and countless guards for the last 8 months of his life. The moment itself was a blur now. A blurry happiness that would forever reside in his heart. He breathed in the cool night air as he thought about how narrowly they had escaped. How Faison would never be able to hurt them ever again. Never hurt ANYONE ever again.

He shook it off, remembering what he had felt a few days ago. A feeling of goodness that had washed over him. He could never have pinpointed it. Could have never given it a name, but when his father had called him cowboy for the first time he knew what it had been. It had been salvation.

Lucky took a deep breath, steadying himself as he balled his fist, raising it to knock against the wooden door in front of him. The thought of standing on her porch and seeing her for the first time made him hold his breath. He didn't want to breathe. He didn't want to move a muscle. This moment. This perfection, was everything.

~*~

Her head shot up at the sound of the knock. Twice. Twice quickly. That was the way he had always done it. When he had bothered to use the door at all.

She took a deep breath, standing slowly. He's right outside that door, she told herself. You know that's him.....it's not the mailman this time...it's him...you know it is....just walk...just breathe...

The brass handle slipped through her hands. When had it become so slippery? When had it become so cold? She gripped it again with more force this time....Open.

What was the sound at that moment? What was the air like as the world began turning again? As these two people, at this doorway, at this space and time embraced? As she sunk into his arms and he sunk into hers.

Two people whose souls had journeyed to be together after one fateful August night outside of a local diner. Or maybe even before that. Maybe since the day of their births. Maybe they had always been destined for each other. Maybe if his name hadn't been Lucky Spencer, and her name hadn't been Elizabeth Webber their souls would have still found each other. Regardless of obstacles. Regardless of distance. Maybe.

One thing was certain. On this night. In this town, she was in his arms and he was in hers. THIS was the way the universe had intended. THIS was reality.

"I don't want to let you go," he whispered. His voice thick, yet breathy as he spoke into her ear. His arms wound even tighter around her waist.

"Don't," she said simply. Her nose brushing softly against his neck. Oh, to be buried there. To live and breathe every breath she ever took in her life in his arms.

Her hair..... the smell...the feel. He wanted to drown in it. To inhale her scent forever and just drown. Until there was no him and no her. No separate entities that could be separated. But one. One being that could never be torn apart, ever again.

Lucky leaned back slowly, taking her face in his hands and brushing her hair back. Smooth. So smooth. He kissed her forehead and she closed her eyes. God, had there ever been a time when his lips on her skin hadn't felt like the beginning of life?

They moved to her nose. Then pressed softly against one of her damp cheeks. His head moved slightly, his lips beginning to drift over to the other cheek, when suddenly she caught them with hers. No longer able to wait. No longer able to withstand the delicious torture of having him near. Having him hold her and not kiss her full on the mouth.

His fingers gripped her skin through the back of her shirt and she knew that he needed it as well. Knew that this kiss would truly bring him back to life. Bring them BOTH back to life.

A kiss anymore passionate, anymore hungry would have hurt. But as they pressed their lips together now, there was no pain. No sorrow. No regret. Just love. Pure and understanding. Sweeter than chocolate and now completely unrestricted.

Elizabeth pulled away, gasping for air, only to be pulled back. Smothered once again by his lips. His hands. His very being.

He never wanted to stop. Never wanted there to be another moment where her lips weren't on his. Yet he knew he had to stop. He knew there would be time. He slowly, reluctantly pulled away, leaning against her forehead as he did. His lips still hovered feverishly over her lips. She shivered when certain words caused his lips to brush against her swollen mouth.

"How did you know?.........My dad told me that you just finally....remembered....but I think he might've had things jumbled...or......I don't know....." His words were separated by long pauses. His breath coming out quick and shaky from his lack of oxygen. He needed to be able to speak. He wanted to talk to her forever. So much to say.

Liz pulled away slightly brushing her hands through his hair. A few strands had gotten in his face. She gently pushed them aside as she stared into his eyes. Those incredible eyes.

His arms continued to hold her. She smiled at him and he thought he would die. "It's a long story Lucky....and I'm not sure you'd believe me."

Lucky licked his lips, and she instinctively moved closer, wanting them. Him. "I think I'd believe anything at this point," he whispered.

Elizabeth watched his eyes as he talked. As he wondered how, after all these months she had remembered. She wondered if he blamed her.

He watched her as she turned away, walking towards the couch. The sadness in her eyes when she finally looked up, hurt him somewhere deep in his soul. "I'm sorry Lucky."

He walked over to her slowly, never breaking contact with her eyes as he sat down next to her. He understood the guilt. He didn't have to question why she felt the need to say sorry. His father had already set the stage for all the apologizing in the world. Lucky didn't want her to feel that way. He didn't want to see the same sorrowful look in her eyes that he'd seen in his fathers the entire way home. The look that had nearly killed him in his mothers eyes. "You didn't remember," he said simply, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's not your fault."

Liz shook her head slowly. He had obviously bought the story Luke had sold him. Or the one she had sold to Luke. Thank God Luke had been so anxious to believe that his son could be alive. "You don't understand Lucky....I didn't know."

Lucky's brows furrowed. Indeed he didn't understand. "What do you mean you didn't know."

"Lucky....I lied to your father....I thought you were dead...just like everyone else....I'm so sorry...I - "

He shook his head. If she thought he was dead, how had he been rescued? How had they figured it out? "I don't understand Elizabeth.."

Liz stood up, running a hand through her hair. She wanted to tell him so badly. Tell him about the man that appeared out of nowhere. Tell him how a miracle had occurred. She knew she could. Knew that now that time had passed her by, she could safely tell him, but would he believe? Would he think she was lying? Wouldn't she be lying by NOT telling him. She swallowed hard as she turned towards the mantle. "Lucky.....something.....something very strange happened to me the other day......." her voice dropped off as she turned to face him. He was watching her every move. Her every step.

"I was sitting on a bench.....I had just gotten done Christmas shopping....shoes for Em...a sweater for Gram....and I was feeling....ugh...God, Lucky I missed you so much. I missed you so much I couldn't breathe."

Lucky bit his lip as he sat on the couch, his eyes glossing over. "Don't cry," she whispered, smiling weakly.

He wiped at the corners of his eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm not sure I can help it," he said softly.

Elizabeth continued. "So...I was sitting on this bench...waiting for the bus to come and pick me up and....and this guy appeared out of nowhere.....Lucky....he knew things. Things no one else knew. Things about me. Things about us.....but somehow I wasn't afraid - "

Lucky stood up quickly. "Elizabeth he could have been working for Faison."

"No," she said shaking her head. "See, that's just it....he wasn't....he wasn't some spy, or someone sent to check up on me or anything like that...Lucky he wasn't dangerous.....He brought you back to me."

"What?" He asked bewilderedly, staring into her eyes. Where was this conversation going?

"Lucky....I don't know what to call him. I don't know if he was an angel or just some miraculous stranger...but Lucky....he made it possible for me to travel backwards....in.....in time Lucky."

Lucky tilted his head to the side, licking his lips. "Elizabeth...have you been letting someone else make your brownies lately?"

She laughed. The most glorious, beautiful sound that his ears would ever behold. She latched onto his hand and intertwined their fingers, still smiling from his comment. She knew this wouldn't be easy and if he never believed her, she guessed it would be ok. But she knew she owed it to him to be honest. Whether the truth was a believable truth or not.

"Lucky," she said sliding her fingers between his continuously. "I know it sounds crazy...It IS crazy....but I swear to you....I went back to that night Lucky....the entire day...all over again....and I did everything I could to go back and change things...to make sure that by the end of that night you were not in your apartment....that you wouldn't die in that fire..."

Lucky reached out brushing a fallen tear from her cheek. Something had happened. That was certain. He wasn't sure he could completely understand what she was saying, but whatever had happened, it was very real for her.

"But Lucky....I failed....I tried so hard...and I still failed...........but....see, this time....this time I was able to see that you WEREN'T in that building. That you had been taken....kidnapped.........Lucky, I tried so hard to make them stop. I screamed...I yelled at the top of my lungs...I went after you but you couldn't see me. They couldn't see me........" She watched as his eyes changed. Did he believe her? "There were three of them right?" She asked. "Three men took you?"

"Yeah....yes," he whispered, his mouth dry. How could she know this? She hadn't been there that night. At least not HIS night.

"Lucky...I TRIED SO hard to get their attention...but no one could hear me.........That guy....he suddenly appeared and told me that my time was up.....I had gone past the 24 hour time limit and I had to go back....I had to come back to.....come back to now."

Lucky shook his head, trying to process everything she was saying to him. Trying to make sense of it all. He turned around slowly, heading back to the couch. He suddenly needed to sit down. Her eyes followed him as he did. What was he thinking? Probably that she was crazy.

He looked up after a few moments, tears in his eyes once again. Unable to stop them from falling this time. "You were so beautiful that day."

Liz grinned slightly and shook her head. "When?"

"Four days ago," he said. His eyes looking into her exquisite sapphire eyes. He continued at her confused expression. "I saw you on that bench....in the snow....the shopping bag in your hands," he paused, trying to think of a better way to explain. "You see....I used to get videos of you....sometimes pictures....Faison used to like to torture me by letting me see everything I was missing out on............don't cry," he added, whispering as she flicked a tear from her eye.

"I'm not sure I can help it," she said, repeating his words. "Go on," she said, walking over to sit next to him. She took his hand in hers.

"Anyway....I had this gaurd....He was actually pretty nice....The ONLY nice one," Lucky chuckled bitterly. Elizabeth's lip trembled slightly. Another conversation for another time.

"Sometimes he would bring me other things....things that Faison kept from me....See, Faison liked to show me things where you were having fun...or just going about your daily life.......which....God help me Elizabeth, I wanted to see....believe me...I wanted you to be happy.....but..."

"You don't have to explain," she whispered, placing a finger to his lips. "I understand................and I missed you. I loved you every single day."

He pressed his lips to her finger for a long moment and then continued, pulling her hand back into his lap. He breathed deeply. "Andrew....this guy...the guard...he would bring me stuff....you just painting....or just sitting down somewhere. Something where I could just watch you....and sometimes....sometimes I could actually FEEL what you were feeling...thinking......I would know just by watching your expressions."

Elizabeth smiled, and he brushed a strand of silky hair behind her ear once again. She leaned into his touch, his hand grazing softly against her cheek. He sighed as he continued. "So...anyway...he showed me a video of you sitting on the bench the other day.......I guess even bus stops aren't immune to Faison's cameras............you know.....Andrew said something to me that day....when he gave it to me.....I remember him saying, 'Here's an early Christmas Gift.....It won't be your only one...'.....and at the time I thought that maybe Faison had some special torture all picked out for me for Christmas....but now....Gosh, now I wonder if he somehow knew..........he always seemed to know stuff even before I told him. It was kinda eerie how he could just read my thoughts sometimes...and he had these crazy crystal blue eyes that seemed to just look right through you....he just KNEW everything.'

Liz took a deep breath, her mouth dropping open. There was no way she could be thinking what she was thinking. "Wait...wha -.....Lucky.....did.....what did he?....Did he have hair that was.......was it almost silver?"

Lucky shifted his weight on the couch, looking directly into her eyes. "How did you know that?"

Elizabeth sighed. She sighed and smiled at the same time. Almost laughing at the strangeness of all of this. "That's.....that's exactly what....what.....that guy....the guy on the bench....the guy on that night outside of your apartment....Lucky that's exactly what he looked like....The man you just described..........." she shook her head as she continued. "No...I mean it couldn't be right? I mean....I'm sure there are a lot of guys out there that fit that description.......crystal blue eyes, silver hair, dark - worn out looking coat......"

"I didn't say anything about his coat," Lucky said almost silently. Watching her as she watched him. Both of them searching for answers to an ever widening puzzle.

Elizabeth placed her hand to her lips, then lowered it as she asked timidly, "Did he Lucky?....Where a coat?"

Lucky took a deep breath. This was completely and totally unreal. "Brown...nearly black.....holes in it....it looked like he'd had it his entire life.....he never took the damn thing off.....I used to wonder how much Faison paid him.....used to wonder why he worked there at all......."

They stared into each others eyes. Each finally aware of the miracle that had occurred around them and for them. Each of them conscious of the million swirling questions in their heads. Elizabeth leaned forward, placing her forehead against his. She whispered suddenly, "Lucky how di - "

"Ssh," he said cupping her face in his hands. She felt so wonderful. She felt like a miracle. "Don't question it."

He kissed her then, pressing his lips softly to hers. None of the earlier hungry, passion present. Only slow, languid, cherished bliss. Poetry personified in their lips. In their gentle caresses of each other's faces and necks.

She pulled away gently, noticing the twinkling of lights outside. Reds and greens and whites from across the street. How had she not noticed how beautiful it all was until now? He watched her as she looked backwards over her shoulder at the clock. Midnight. Christmas.

Her hand eased over his cheek and her thumb slid across her perfect lips. "Merry Christmas Lucky," she said softly, tenderly. "I love you."

He turned his head slightly, placing butterfly kisses to the inside of her palm and to the gold band that she still wore. "I love you too Elizabeth........Merry Christmas."

~*~The End~*~