Evergreen, New York
The Hart Mansion

Elizabeth moaned aloud as his mouth smothered hers. His body inching it’s way over her once more. A tinge of orange sunrise battled with the pale night stars outside her window, beginning to frame him in the light above her.

His lips met the heated crease of her neck and shoulder and his name escaped her lips on a lingering sigh.

Lucky groaned. The sound of his name, whispered on her lips in the dim light only making it harder for him to stop. Literally.

Not certain how much longer he could hold out, he ground against her to relieve some of the pressure building within the boxer-briefs that confined his massive erection. "God…" he moaned. Sinking his teeth into her soft shoulder. The small strap of her tank top slipping off of her skin just a bit.

Her hips rose to meet his. Desperate to relieve the ache that her conscience was causing them both to endure. But maybe they could…no, not now…not when –

"Aaah," she hissed. His tongue having found her breasts hidden beneath the light cotton that covered them. "Lucky…"

But he had disappeared beneath the comforter and she held her breath in anticipation. Knowing when she felt her thighs being parted what was com –

Ing.

"Oh my God…….Lucky."

There was no answer. Only an eagerness to please as his tongue and teeth did wicked things to her heated center. Wrecking havoc, on every muscle and sense in her body as he found his way into her depths.

Lucky held her in place as her body began to twist this way and that under the sweet insanity that his ministrations brought. He could hear her panting breathlessly above him. Her fingers, knitting themselves throughout his messy hair. Unable to contain herself as he ceaselessly worked his tongue in and out of her moistness.

Lucky heard her whimper his name…over and over again as he continued. Delighting in the nearing of her inevitable, incredible end. And as horrible as it was the idea of his name on her lips …the idea of touching her like this…in her ‘husbands’ house, turned him on more than anything.

Every primal instinct within him reacted to it in a way that he never thought possible. In a way that became more aggressive and alive when she started to come against his mouth. When her hips rose higher and higher off of the bed and her shouts of his name reached an all time high.

She hadn’t given up totally on that ‘no sex clause’, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t make her feel damn good in the mean time. Didn’t mean he hadn’t spent the better part of the last hour making her wish she’d give up all notions of abstinence.

After the orgasm had ricocheted throughout her entire body, she trembled. Still shaking as he crawled up along side of her. Scooping her up and pulling her to him as they both struggled to catch their breath. He trailed his fingers over the moist skin of her arms and smoothed a hand over her back.

Elizabeth felt her entire being grin with momentary satisfaction as he kissed her cheek and allowed her to nestle within the groove of his head and shoulder. Returning the gesture of affection, she pecked at the smooth skin of his chest. Propping her self up on weakened arm muscles to kiss and lick him until she reached his tight nipple, grazing it lightly with her teeth when she found it.

He hissed beneath her and drew his fingers through the damp stands of hair that stuck to her forehead. Moving the loose strands away from her eyes to watch her for a moment, before beckoning her back up to his lips. Having to haul her up by the shoulders to get her to stop after a moment.

Still panting, she kissed him full on the lips. Relishing the way their ripeness gave against hers when she pressed against them. The way his strong fingers pressed into the small of her back to hold her against him. Yet she allowed herself only a few minutes’ relish, before laying her head on his chest once again.

Lucky licked his lips. His throat, dry and parched from the last hours’ activities. "Sleep," he mumbled. Stroking her hair and then the thigh that draped over his hips.

Snuggling closer, Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his waist and positioned her leg between his. Realizing that they needed to stop, but not wanting to. That this was her rule…a rule that she’d thought of…

But God, they had the entire house to themselves.

They’d heard Alex leave at the break of dawn, and the silence and solitude was too good of an opportunity to be wasted upon sleep.

Nodding she tried hard to take his advice and close her eyes for sleep. Ignore what they both knew was not a gun in his boxers. "Ok," she whispered. Opening and closing her eyes once more.

She felt Lucky shift restlessly beneath her and glanced upwards into his eyes. "Do you want me to move? I can just –

"No – no," he said quickly. Tightening his hold around her slender waist. "I want you to stay right here…I’m ok."

Elizabeth licked her lips. Trying and failing to move out of his reach again. He had to be uncomfortable. "Lucky this is killing you. Why don’t I just –

"I’m fine," he repeated again through grit teeth.

Running a hand through her hair, Elizabeth finally rolled away. Staring up at the ceiling as she did so. Next to her, Lucky mirrored the action. Staring at the very same spot in the high ceiling.

Elizabeth cleared her throat. "Everytime I think I’ve built up my courage…it goes away again."

Lucky turned to her. His eyes narrowing a bit as he watched her continue to gaze up at the ceiling as she talked. Her courage for what? To tell him what it was she couldn’t seem to speak of?

"I’m afraid of being unfair to you…yet that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m afraid of telling you something that will make you never want me like this again. I’m afraid of being with you when I’m not being completely up front with you…

She laughed suddenly. As a tear rolled down the side of her face and on to the pillow. "Seems I’m afraid of everything these days."

Closing his eyes, Lucky turned towards the ceiling once again. A huge rock having, lodged itself within the confines of his throat and settled there. He swallowed hard against it and lost the battle with his own tears as they clouded his vision.

"You know what I’m afraid of?" He asked suddenly. His voice a hushed whisper.

"What?" She asked genuinely. Turning to face him as he now stared at the ceiling above.

"I’m afraid of you not being able to confide in me…and I’m afraid of never fully getting that trust back…I’m afraid of messing up again. I’m afraid of breaking promises –

"And most of all, I’m afraid of us not being able to be afraid TOGETHER…We can’t do this separately Elizabeth. Whatever it is…whatever it is that’s got you so scared – I want you to let it scare me too. I can take it." He said sternly, turning towards her finally.

Elizabeth shook her head slowly. Closing her eyes. He was stronger than anyone she’d ever met, but he would NOT be able to take it.

‘Take it,’ was some arbitrary phrase that meant nothing. That said nothing of the strength that one needed to get through the loss of a child. Even one they’d never met.

‘That’s it,’ she thought suddenly. Blinking against tears. If she could only introduce him at the same time…

Her voice was hushed, yet thick with emotion when it finally emerged. "I want to go to Italy."

"What?" Lucky asked. Staring blankly at her in return. Not understanding how they had just jumped topics so quickly. He was talking about a matter of trust and here she was talking about vacation plans?

Elizabeth placed two fingers to his mouth and continued. Reaching up to wipe away the remnants of tears on his cheeks. "In a couple of days when all of this is over…after the Gala – I want to go to Italy with you."

Lucky blinked a few times to clear his head. "You want to go with me to investigate Nikolas’ stolen inheritance? You want to go to Helena’s villa with me? Elizabeth, I thought it was a good idea at the time, but I don’t know if –

"No," she said, interrupting. "It’s not about that. It’s about me…It’s about us.

A fist seemed to reach inside Lucky’s chest and twist every muscle and sinew connected to his heart. "Something about…when I was there and you were there?…that first assignment of mine……………Something bad happened there…didn’t it? I could feel it. I felt it then, I felt it now!…Damnit," he sighed, turning to his side. "Elizabeth wh -

He mumbled something sinister to himself. Slamming his fists down on the sheets beneath him. "I shoulda left. I shoulda told her to Hell with her God damned plan! I shoulda checked on you…I shoulda told my father to check…I should have been there for you. Damnit, why was I such an idiot to think that –

"Sssh," Elizabeth said, cutting him off as she rolled over to his side. Laying partially on top of him to press her fingers to his lips. She shook her head and stared into the beautiful, tortured eyes that seemed to have no end. No end and no beginning – like their love.

She would love him forever, even if all of their fears turned out to be founded. Even if every apprehension was true. "No more," she whispered sternly. "No more of this today…In a few days you’ll know everything. There will be no more stalling…no more of me being too scared. We’ll go there, and we’ll both talk about our time away from each other…there are things that we simply need to experience…together, ok?"

Lucky nodded and sniffled roughly. "Ok."

Elizabeth lay her head on Lucky’s chest. Stroking the soft skin that stretched against taut muscle. "Are you tired," she asked, after a few moments. Knowing that neither one of them would be getting anymore sleep before the sun reached it’s full potential outside.

"No," he whispered. Stroking the back of her head.

"Would you walk with me?"

"What?" Lucky asked. Staring down at her for a moment. Sun and moon reflecting off of her beautiful face at once. "Where do you want to go?"

"Just for a walk," she said. Propping her chin up on his chest to get a better look at him. "Lucky, while you’ve been here, you’ve made me realize that this place isn’t ugly…Last night it was beautiful…it’s been beautiful since you got here…it’s only him that makes it ugly.

"I wish the guesthouse could be our house," she commented. Closing her eyes for a split second as the roaring fire of the night before came back to her. The beautiful melody that laced itself with the words of his gorgeous song. "I wish it was just us…just our land…and we could live there forever, and never have anyone come in…never have anyone bother us."

A weak grin pulled at Lucky’s lips. "You wouldn’t get bored with just little ol’ me hanging around?"

"Nuh-uh," she said. The same tired grin spreading over her lips. "I could never, ever get tired of you…Ever."

Lucky sighed and closed his eyes for an instant. He remembered what it was like to live with her. To come home to her everyday. It had been the closest thing to heaven that he’d ever experienced. He wanted that back.

"You know what I’m gonna do today…after our walk of course," he added.

"What?"

"I’m gonna see if I can’t find some work…I was thinking about the same things you were last night. Our future…how things are going to be even BETTER this time. Even more wonderful than we were before…and I knew for sure that it was time to find something for myself…I can’t continue to live off of the money that I earned with Helena…

"I swallowed my pride at first because I needed a place to live and was too angry with myself to think about where it came from…but it’s dirty. It was dirty the whole time, I just let myself believe I didn’t deserve any better than what I was getting from her…

"I want a new start."

"A new start," Elizabeth repeated. "Exactly…that’s exactly what we need."

"It’s exactly what we’ll have," he murmured. Kissing the top of her head and rubbing a circle across her back. "As long as we’re both willing to make it happen."

Elizabeth sighed as the first true sunlight began it’s stream through the window. "It’s going to be a beautiful day Lucky……How bout that walk?"

~~~~~~~

"Maria insisted on wine," Lucky said. Pulling the bottle out of the brown basket as they headed down the hill towards their enchanted forest. "And Angela….I guess this is another one of your housekeepers – pushed a bunch of cheese on me." Lucky said as he continued walking. Their steps getting faster as they descended further down the hill. He took a healthy bite of the cheese as the sun filtered through the trees in a flickering array of light.

Elizabeth nodded and smiled. "You ARE getting chummy with the help aren’t you…have they asked you to be their new boss yet? Elected you King perhaps?"

"Nooooo Smartie Pants," Lucky said. Letting his leg swoop upwards in back, to kick her lightly on the rear.

"Well I know neither one of us is too big on wine," She giggled. Scampering away. "But I’m afraid you’ll have to have my portion too. I’m not sure my stomach can handle it today."

One of Lucky’s eyebrows rose to attention. "You feeling ok?"

"Yeah…I’m fine," Elizabeth shrugged. "I think it’s just all the stress you know…………but let’s not talk about that," she added quickly. Taking his hand in hers as she dragged him further along. "The sun is almost completely above the lake…and if you catch it at exactly the right moment, it looks like a giant pool of sparkling diamonds."

Lucky smiled at her and willingly let himself be dragged. "Artists…"

"Yeah, yeah…quit your yackin’ and follow me."

Yanking her backwards, he caught her suddenly by the forearms and placed a firm, strong kiss on her lips. Catching her completely off guard.

Elizabeth stared into his eyes like a dazed kitten as he pulled away an instant later. Breathless as he answered her. "Anywhere."

Biting her lip, she tugged him onward with both hands now, before letting herself become distracted again. "You showed me something beautiful here last night…so now I want to show you something…come on. I’m tired of looking at this alone."

Lucky’s breath caught in his throat a moment later. All of the tugging and pulling well worth it. "Damn," he sighed under his breath.

"I know," Elizabeth mumbled. Lacing her fingers in his as she brought him closer to the shimmering water in front of them.

They’d stood here the other day in front of their tree, but it hadn’t been this time of day. This precise moment when the sun peaked through the very tops of the Evergreens to spotlight the water’s rippling dance recital.

Elizabeth closed her eyes for only a moment when Lucky’s arms wrapped around her from behind. The birds were just starting to chirp here. The earth waking up from it’s nightlong slumber.

"It looks warm," Lucky mumbled. Nibbling a small spot on her neck as he tightened his hold around her. A soft breeze blowing through his hair.

Elizabeth turned a bit to kiss the side of his face. And cocked one eyebrow. "There’s only one way to find out for sure."

Stepping back, Lucky tilted his head to the side. "Are you suggesting what I THINK you’re suggesting Miss Webber? Because need I remind you that I don’t have any trunks here?"

Elizabeth let her eyes travel over his lean form. Imagining him out of those clothes, with nothing but that long, lean torso and a nice pair of fitting trunks.

"I think those boxerbrief thingies I saw you put on this morning, will do nicely enough Mr. Spencer."

"Oh really?" He smiled, putting one hand on his hip. "And what about you Missy? What are you gonna wear?"

Elizabeth shrugged and took a step up the hill. "Well I DO own a bathing suit that happens to be –

"Oh, no you don’t," Lucky grinned widely. Grabbing her arm before she took even one more step. "Fair is fair…if I’ve gotta swim in my fruit of the looms, so do you."

Elizabeth pursed her lips and shrugged nonchalantly. "Fine then."

Lucky swallowed hard against at the two words and the gesture that followed. The sudden dryness in his throat too much to handle as she yanked her shirt over her head and threw it next to their tree. The light of the sun shifted towards them, sparkling over the lace that encased her breasts, turning both pales shades golden.

Biting her lip, Elizabeth let her eyes travel down to the already growing bulge inside Lucky’s pants. "Your turn."

Lucky reached down for his fly and shook his head. Was she trying to kill him? How exactly did she think he was going to get through this little adventure in skinny dipping without ravishing her right here on the spot?

"You’re enjoying this aren’t you?"

"Immensely…and you will too if you hurry up."

Lucky’s eyes narrowed. What did that mean? "Elizabeth, what are you -

"Just hurry, while the water’s still warm," she said. Pulling off her pants before he’d even finished unbuttoning his.

He continued to watch her as she sauntered backwards towards the lake. Her eyes on his frantic hands the whole time.

"Hurry up," she said again. Now beckoning him with her finger.

Lucky licked his lips and hurriedly unfastened the last button. Leaving them in a heap on the ground and ripping the buttons off his shirt as he heard her splash into the water. He was in the crystal blue liquid before she even surfaced.

"Eeek!" Elizabeth squealed, surfacing as he dove into the water. His long form cutting through and disappearing just moments before she felt herself suddenly float upwards from beneath her legs.

Elizabeth giggled as she escaped. Ducking beneath the water again to escape the Jaws theme that Lucky was already starting to hum.

Treading water in circles, Lucky craned his neck to look for her. "Come out, come out wherever you are….You can swim but you can’t hide Elizabe - Ooomp!"

Lucky’s mouth fell open when he felt his boxers pulled from his waist and down his legs. Watching in slight admiration as Elizabeth surfaced a few feet away with the soaked material in hand. Waving them like a white flag. Though she showed no signs of surrendering to anything.

"You want ‘em?" She giggled. Swimming farther away now that he’d seen her. Knowing that the expression in his steel blue eyes meant war.

Lucky shook his head slowly. Calmly, treading water in a small semi-circle. "Nope."

‘Uh-oh,’ Elizabeth thought. This was really bad. He wasn’t even coming after her. Elizabeth’s grin slowly faded into a subdued panic. "Should I be afraid?"

Lucky grinned widely and nodded. "Oh very."

With those words, Elizabeth took off. Having played chase enough times with Lucky on land in the old days to know that he was quicker than she’d ever be. He was immediately on her tail, his arms breaking through the water with powerful strides. She’d gotten only a couple of feet away before he was almost on top of her.

"No fair," she whined as he grabbed her around the waist. Hauling her backwards through the water with one arm. "You’re legs are longer….oooh," she added. Feeling something she was becoming reacquainted with behind her. "They’re not all that’s long."

Grunting, Lucky dipped his head to her shoulder. Licking the cool droplets of water off of her skin before using his tongue to push her soggy bra strap off of her arm. She felt his fingers unclasp the elastic at her back and the warm rush warmly around her breasts.

She turned slowly in his arms. Facing him for only an instant before Lucky pressed himself against her. Shivering as her nipples made contact with his hard flesh. He kissed her hard and deep. His large hands smoothing their way down her back and to her bottom and then cupping her to bring her still more tightly to him.

Elizabeth felt him through her drenched panties. Knowing without a doubt that it was not only the water that had her soaked to the core. For the heat she felt burning within was not influenced by the water temperature at all.

She ground against him, urging him with silent request to remove the only physical barrier that separated them. She would remove the rest.

Lucky closed his eyes and kissed her again. Not sure he could stand it if she were completely naked under the water. If he were that close and unable to have her. His fingers slipped underneath the flimsy elastic at her hips. Meeting her femininity in a split-second.

Her head dropped back as his thumb found her pulsating desire. Beginning to stroke her beneath the saturated panties. The slow rise and fall of her body against his began to create small waves in the waters’ surface.

She arched against him and he dipped his head to take one rosy bud into his mouth. His fingers continuing their torturous dance all the while.

Elizabeth grabbed at the back of Lucky’s head bringing him closer to her chest and trying to reach the satisfaction that his talented fingers wanted to bring her as well. Her body bucked against his hands, and she moaned in desperation when he removed them for just a moment. Simply to bring her tighter into his lap.

Her thighs locked around his waist a second later.

Lucky bit his lip against the throbbing within his own sex and found hers once more. Separating the ripe flower between her legs to bring her to the point of no return.

Gasping, she searched for his lips. Beginning to rock against him with such fervor that he had no choice but to kiss her or become completely lost in the act of burying himself inside her. His thick fingers pressed tightly into her backside bringing her as close as humanly possible.

Lucky moaned as she sighed his name and called out for God and whoever else was capable of understanding such ecstasy.

Elizabeth shook her head, and gasped. Unable to take it any longer. "Stop!" She shouted suddenly. Too insanely aroused to form a complete sentence. "I –

Lucky pulled away quickly, his eyes wide. "I’m sorry, did I –

"No, no…" Elizabeth panted. Reaching out for him again before he got too far away. Clutching his fingers. "Don’t go…I don’t want you to stop…I want – God I want you," she sighed breathlessly. "Lucky I need you…I need you now. I can’t do this. I can’t wait anymore…Don’t hate me. Don’t hate me for –

Any words of rambled nonsense were stuffed back down her throat by his tongue and lips and re-ignited passion.

Hate her? Was she crazy? All he wanted to do was love her until neither of them could take it anymore. All he’d wanted more than anything at that moment was for her to say that she wanted him.

And she had…she had.

Lucky continued to ravish her mouth. Holding her face in place as she fought to remove her panties quick enough.

"Now," she panted around his lips. Finally free of the last constraint. "Now!"

She needn’t have commanded it twice, as he was already thrusting inside of her as she repeated the word. She cried out at first. Fighting to hold on as they twirled in the water,

wrapping her arms around his neck to secure herself as he pushed inside her sweltering depths.

Groaning in sheer ecstasy, Lucky pressed his fingers into the small of her back. Holding her against him as she writhed. His need moving him incessantly inside of her. His heart speeding up so fast it could have rocked the water up to the shore on it’s own.

The contrast of the cool water against their heated skin, and her scorching core made him hiss as he lodged himself deeper within the midst of her body. She seemed endless just then, and he wanted to fall forever.

He felt her teeth sink into his shoulder and he hoisted her up higher along the length of his body. Her fingers now weaving themselves through the dark, wet strands of his hair as she rode him. Lucky’s fingers digging homes for themselves in her thighs as she moaned loudly and undulated against him over and over again.

When they’d decided to hold off on having sex he’d thought he’d lose his mind…and now, even as he buried himself to the hilt inside of her – he thought surely he would go insane as well.

Realizing he would not be able to hold out much longer, he knew he had to bring her to her end quickly. Still wanting to come at the same time. Wanting to explode as one. Once again he reached between them. His thumb and forefinger mingling where their bodies were connected.

The walls of her narrow body contracted around him and he knew it was only a matter of seconds. He entire body was pounding and she was moving so fast she would surely explode soon. If one of them had to be first…He wanted it to be her.

His fingers and penis continued their exploration in pleasure as he leaned in to take one taut nipple into his mouth and suck. She came then and there. Not minutes or even seconds later, but right then and right there.

Oh yes, I see the waves come and crash into me.

Unabashedly and unashamed she came. Loud and untamed writhing against him and around him until his entire body shot torrents of unimpeded liquid passion into her body. And she accepted him willingly, clutching and unclutching as her body adjusted to coming down from it’s high.

Lucky’s head fell to her shoulder, as her feet slowly uncrossed around his waist. Her legs cradling him limply in their weak state. He smoothed a tender hand along her back. Panting against her as she stroked his drenched strands.

She’d forgotten how dark his hair looked when wet.

Taking a long, deep breath, Lucky smiled against her skin and she shivered with deep satisfaction. "And I’m supposed to go find a job now?"

Guffawing with laughter, Elizabeth threw her head backwards they started to spin slowly again in the water. "Well you don’t haaaaave to."

Lucky bit his lip and then playfully nipped at hers. "Yes I do…Our ‘new and improved’ future is on the way…and I need to start preparing for it."

Elizabeth smiled weakly and leaned against his shoulder once more. So in love she could barely see straight. This had been the right thing. She was sure of it. Nothing that felt this good could be wrong.

"Well, I should probably start looking for one too then, right?"

When he pulled away slightly in silent question, Elizabeth straightened a bit and grinned sardonically. "He’s not going to let me keep the gallery Lucky…there’s no way –

"Uh-uh," Lucky interrupted. Shaking his head in opposition. "Elizabeth I’m not letting him take that away from you – as far as I can tell that’s the ONE good thing you ever got out of this marriage…you enjoy it, and you’re good at it."

"That may be so," Elizabeth shrugged. Not caring to talk about Alex just then, but knowing since it had come up, that they might as well discuss it. "But I don’t OWN it Lucky and I already told Alex once that he could take it…Lucky, I don’t care – as long as I get to be with you – I don’t care where I work or live or…pretty much anything."

For the first time in his life he knew that what she said was absolutely true. If only he had known it all those years ago when he’d decided that he needed to be able to afford all the luxuries in life. That he needed to give her every shiny thing that caught her eye in a store window. If only…

But now he knew, and he’d never make the mistake of thinking otherwise every again.

Gazing into her eyes, he drew his fingers through her long, wet strands. Tired from their activities, but already wanting more than anything to do it again. "We’ll find a way for you to keep it…you’ve been the one to put your heart and soul into that place for the last two years. You’re the reason it’s a success - the reason this gala is happening…we’ll find a way.

"I think I’ll swing by Alexis’ office while I’m in Port Charles this afternoon and see what she has to say about it…there’s gotta be some kind of clause or loophole in the ownership agreement." he finished.

Elizabeth smiled and pressed her lips to his cool forehead. "I love you…but I haven’t even asked Alexis to represent me in the divorce yet."

Lucky pulled back. "Well what are you waiting for?"

"Well, I can’t very well go announcing to everyone that I’m getting a divorce when Alex still thinks that we’re staying married can I?"

Rolling his eyes, Lucky looked down "Yeah…that."

"Hey," Elizabeth called softly, lifting his chin with her forefinger. "It’s all gonna be over soon, ok?…This entire charade and this sham of a marriage will be a thing of the past. And then I’ll tell Alexis and the entire free world that I only want to be with one man for the rest of my life…and that I want our life to start together – like yesterday!"

Lucky looked up to kiss her softly. His lips tender upon hers. When he finally pulled away he sighed. "I should get going."

Elizabeth nodded hesitantly. "Ok."

Forcing themselves to disengage, they swam side by side through the shallow water to the shore.

"I don’t think we brought any towels," Elizabeth giggled. Shivering a bit as the breeze blew past her. "That’s the problem with spontaneity."

Lucky moved in and kissed her again. Pulling away when he felt his body stir once more. "I didn’t see ANY problems with your spontaneity…you should be spontaneous more often…in fact, if I didn’t know any better I’d say you actually planned that spontaneity."

Elizabeth grinned. "What would make you think that?"

"Nuthin’," he mumbled. Before closing the space between them again with a lingering kiss. "Nuthin’ at all……I thank you for your spontaneity."

"You’re welcome," she smiled bashfully. "I’ll try and be spontaneous more often."

"You do that," Lucky grinned. Pulling a blanket from the confines of the basket. "This should warm you up a bit.

"And what are you gonna use?"

"Ha!" Lucky chuckled. "We’re both warming up under there woman."

Elizabeth giggled as he came to huddle beneath the soft blanket with her. "Ok," she laughed. "But only until we’re warm."

Lucky licked his lips before kissing her. Lying her down beneath him moments later. "Yeah," he mumbled. "Only until we’re warm."

~~~~~~~

Alex sunk down to the floor beneath him. The elaborately designed Italian tile, cooling his overheated skin as he sat against it, beginning to rock back and forth in panic.

There had to be a key somewhere. There had to be. She had promised him the world. She’d promised him love, and money, and happiness, and if there were no key than none of it made any damn bit of difference. Whatever was in that damn box had the power to prove unequivocally that he was her son. That he had a blood right to that money. To the legacy of his family.

A right that Nikolas Cassidine had forfeited years ago when he’d denied his own grandmother. Alex deserved it and he would have it.

Pushing himself up on his weary legs once more, Alex pushed aside the painting that he was sure his father had done. It was an early work, so it didn’t bear the small heart-like signature in the corner, but he could tell by the strokes and the passion that it was his fathers. His father who had died from his love for this woman.

His obsession with a woman who would only spurn him. Just as she was doing to her own son now. But his father hadn’t known any better. He’d been a naïve shmuck.

"No," he muttered quietly. "It’s here…it has to be…She promised."

Banging against the safe, he tried once again to crack the combination. Leopold had taught him once many years ago how to do it, but he never had been as good. It never had been a skill like it was for the old man.

Of course the old man was out of his life now, he’d made sure of that. Certainly it had hurt to let him go. A man that had been a father to him for years, but it had been necessary. Leopold had been starting to get soft. Starting to lose…loyalty.

Even now Alex thought about his inevitable course of action once he found the key. Something would have to be done about Leopold. He knew too much. Held too many secrets in the palm of his hand, and with that loyalty waning it would be all too tempting for the old man to spill his guts to Elizabeth or to anyone else.

Everything Alex had always wanted was about to be his, and he would not let anyone spoil that. Not even Leopold.

Alex grunted aloud and slammed his first against the large safe again. Scraping the side of his hand as the metal slipped against his flesh. The key was here…somewhere.

It hadn’t been on her yacht…It had to be here. It had to be.

~~~~~~~

Leopold smoothed his fingers over the two golden keys in his palms. Each of them capable of unlocking the secrets from years of deceit. Each of them capable of changing lives forever with a single click of the lock.

The lock of a rather small chest that had remained hidden for years. In the possession of a demented woman who’d gotten her kicks from torturing others for too many decades to count.

Yes, it was time. Past time.

One key stolen from Alex’s office. The other stolen from the library long ago and replaced with a fake that he’d made. He could only guess that the boy, Lucenzo, had made copies of that key.

Leopold weighed the dense pieces of metal in his palms. He had the power to give them the right one. To give Elizabetta all the information she needed to know.

He should have done this long ago. Long ago when it was still possible to save his soul from the peril that it lie ensconced in now. All that he could hope for now was the possibility of her forgiveness. Not Alex’s, never Alex’s.

Forgiveness was something that would never come from Alex once the deed was done. In fact, he’d probably be better off waiting for a threat upon his life. Better off waiting to be

cursed a thousand times to death.

The keys glinted against his fingertips as the afternoon sun shown in through the car window. Yes, forgiveness from her was about all that he could pray for. Of course he didn’t deserve it. He never deserved another kind word from the girl, but if she found it in her heart…he would find a way to repay her. If he could do that before he left this Earth, he would consider it an accomplishment.

~~~~~~~

Elizabeth quietly pulled a chair up to her grandmother’s bed. Sitting as closely as she could before reaching out to take her cool hand.

She grimaced at the temperature of the older woman’s skin. "Is it too cold in here for you Gram?"

Of course, there was no answer. There hadn’t been for about two years now. Almost 2 years to the date.

After checking the thermostat on the wall, Elizabeth returned to her post by the bed. Taking her grandmother’s hand in hers once more. She glanced up towards the ample amount of sunlight that filtered in through the blinds.

Perhaps Alex had been right about this one thing. Perhaps this place had been the best idea for Gram. She’d wanted her with them at Evergreen at first, but this seemed better. Seemed good for her.

If she had to pick between this spacious, airy suite or her own home, she probably would have picked this as well.

"It’s a beautiful day Gram," she whispered. Placing her cheek against her grandmother’s hand. She froze for a moment, thinking she’d seen her grandmother actually glance at her through the corner of her eye. But she hadn’t.

The day had been going so well, her brain must have caused her to imagine it. On a day like this, it was hard not to think that maybe…that maybe the doctors were wrong, and her gut about her grandmother getting better at some point had been right all along…but no.

No, the doctors had made it clear over a year ago that Audrey’s condition was virtually permanent. That short of a medical miracle, she would not be waking from the near catatonic state that the sudden stroke had brought on.

But Elizabeth had never fully believed it. All the specialists in the world couldn’t tell her that her grandmother didn’t hear every word she spoke to her on their visits. That she didn’t give her advice through mental telepathy all the time.

If it wasn’t so sad, Elizabeth would have laughed at the fact that they’d actually become closer since Audrey’s lapse into this state. Irony at it’s best.

None of it had ever sat right with her. The way it had just ‘happened’ that night. Her grandmother had been in perfect health. They’d had a conversation about Alex and how awful Audrey thought that he was for her, just moments before…she’d said there was something they needed to discuss. It had sounded important…

Of course she hadn’t wanted to hear it. Hadn’t wanted someone else to reiterate every word that she’d spoken to herself in the darkness when no one was listening.

Elizabeth sighed. She would have given anything to hear her grandmother’s soothing voice now, but it was nowhere to be found. She would have even swallowed her pride and told her grandmother that she was right all along.

Anything to hear ‘drink a glass of warm milk,’ just one more time.

"Gram," Elizabeth began, scooting forward. "I’m happy."

Giggling, she wiped away the sudden tear that sprang to the corner of her eye. "For the first time in years…God, I feel like – I feel like there is something truly wonderful just waiting for Lucky and I around the corner.

"I KNOW that there’s still so much left to do…so much left to say and to repair…but Gram, I can feel it you know? I mean, when you found your way back to Gramps it must have felt that way too, right? Like everything was new again…and that if you just kept reaching that everything would be fine?"

Elizabeth nodded as if knowing that’s what her grandmother would have done. "In a few days this entire thing with Alex will be over…I know I won’t be able to forget him, or forget everything that’s happened between us…but I’ll get past it. I will…just like everything else right?…Lucky and I will get through all of it together.

"I think I’m finally learning to trust him again…he’s so wonderful Gram. I didn’t think it was possible to fall for someone that you never fell OUT of love with…but it is – God, Gram I’m so in love with him I don’t know what to do with myself. Every thought…every breath…

"Wow," Elizabeth sighed. "I’m really babbling aren’t I?…You know Gram, you should just tell me to shut up."

‘What was that?’ Elizabeth thought, narrowing her eyes just a bit. ‘Was that a hint of a smile?’

Taking a deep breath she continued. It couldn’t have been right? Two wonderful things didn’t happen in the same day. At least not in her world…not in years.

Maybe if Lucky came and played his guitar for her or something…sang for her…maybe…that voice could do anything.

"Gram," Elizabeth said softly. "I asked you once what you thought about me…I mean what you REALLY thought about my character, and who I was as a person…and you used a word that I had never actually heard applied to anyone before…you said I was indomitable…Do you remember that?"

Elizabeth breathed deeply once again, and looked her grandmother straight in the eye. "Do you still feel that way? Am I still that person Gram? Because I haven’t felt that way in a long time…but I have to be now. I have to know that Lucky and I can be…indomitable together, because I have to tell him about the baby Gram. I’m going to tell him…and show him where I used to see her…Maybe that will make him feel…

"I just have to know Gram…I have to know that we’re indomitable together and that we can get th…"

Elizabeth’s voice trailed off, and she smoothed a hand across her grandmother’s wrinkled and warm skin. She was being silly. There would be no answer. She’d have to take the advice as it had always come…by hearing it in her own heart.

Smiling, she leaned over to kiss her grandmother’s cheek. "I love you Gram…I’ll be back in a few days ok?"

As she sighed and closed the door behind her, Elizabeth leaned on it for a moment to get her bearings. Too bad her grandmother’s voice was still too quiet to penetrate through the thick wooden door.

But Audrey closed her eyes and willed the word to her granddaughter anyway, for it had always been true, and it always would be…"Indomitable."

~~~~~~~

Lucky ran his fingers through his hair as he descended the staircase. "Wow…it looks exactly the same."

At Jason’s crooked smile, he continued. "Not that I thought it would be different…it was just strange to see it…All her murals are still there…everything…accept all the stuff we took with us of course – to Greenwich," he added, a touch of wistfulness in his voice.

Jason nodded stoically. "Why would I take the murals down? They make the place look cool. Before that it was a dump."

Lucky smiled. Remembering the very first day he and Elizabeth had seen it together. An empty, dusty room with the blinds falling off of the rack. They’d shared their second kiss that day…right upstairs…too bad they’d never gotten to do anything else in -

Shaking himself from the daydream, Lucky nodded. Though the temptation to come here had been to strong to ignore, had hadn’t originally planned on reminiscing about old times.

"Yeah it was," Lucky sighed. "But I’m glad you didn’t change it. It’s funny how many things are exactly the same as before we left…well before everything with Helena.

He paused momentarily to look a man, who he hoped was still his friend, in the eye. "I need to apologize to you man."

Jason made a face as he pulled a wrench from his toolbox. "For what?"

Lucky’s eyebrows rose in shock. "For starters? Lying, putting your business in danger, putting your employees in danger…DISAPPEARING…not –

"Look," Jason interrupted holding up his hand. "Lucky I know why all of that happened. I don’t need you to come here and apologize for something that wasn’t your fault. Something you had no control over."

Lucky shook his head. Unable to believe the ability the whole world seemed to have in forgiving him and absolving him of guilt. He supposed his parents really had given him the right nickname.

"Well, I wouldn’t go as far as to say I had no control…but I appreciate your understanding. I just wanted you to know that I never intentionally did anything to put your business in jeopardy. I loved my job…I never wanted to do anything to –

"You want it back?"

"Huh?"

Jason gestured outwards with his hands. Saying the words slowly. "Do you want it back?…The job I mean…’Cause, I never really found anyone that was as good at handling and explaining all that computer crap for me, so if you want it –

"You gotta be kidding me," Lucky commented. Not believing what he was hearing. Was he actually offering him a job? Now? After what he’d done? After all this time?

"Do I look like I’m joking? Lucky you were a damn good employee – regardless of your extended vacation."

Lucky shook his head. "Jason, I didn’t come here looking for a job…I mean…I’ve been searching for something – I don’t really know what – all day long…and my feet kind of led me here, but it was only to apologize…and to take a look at my old place," he said gesturing towards the staircase. "I didn’t come here to try and get my old job back."

Jason shrugged. "Well if that’s the case…it’s fine then. I understand…You probably want something completely new anyway. Something fresh right?"

Lucky tried not to agree too vigorously. "I mean it’s not that I don’t appreciate the offer man, REALLY, I do," Lucky added. Finding the need to explain himself more thoroughly.

Chuckling, Jason held up his hands once more. "Look, man I get it. It’s ok – really…What would you say to me keeping my eyes open for you though?…I mean if I hear about something that sounds right up your alley can I give you a ring?"

Lucky’s mouth dropped open a bit and he took a breath. "Yeah…yeah. I mean as long as it’s…I mean I’m looking for something that’s completely –

"On the up and up?" Jason allowed. Filling in the rest of the sentence as Lucky nodded awkwardly in admission.

"Yeah," Lucky said slightly nervously. "Not that I think you’re –

"Lucky," Jason said quickly. "Honestly, you don’t have to explain anything to me."

"I know," Lucky nodded. "I know you don’t expect me to…but I feel like I owe you – a lot, I mean if it weren’t for you Elizabeth and I never would have found this place and I never would have been able to afford our apartment in Greenwich either…so, please know that I’m grateful for everything you did.

"It’s just that Elizabeth and I are going to make a fresh start…and I think that means…I think it means everything," Lucky said. A slight smile spreading over his lips for reasons he didn’t fully understand. "I just feel like it’s a totally new beginning…and I want to cherish it…This time I’m not gonna let it slip away."

Jason stared at him for a moment and then nodded. "Alright then…I’ll keep my eyes peeled, and I’ll let you know what I see…in the mean time don’t be a stranger, alright?"

Lucky reached out and shook Jason’s hand. "I won’t…Thanks a lot man."

"Anytime."

"Bye."

"Bye."

Lucky was not two steps from the door when he collided with a tall, slim female mass.

"Hey," said grunting. Stepping backwards and chuckling as he saw whom his fellow crasher was. "What’s up Em?"

"Lucky!" Emily panted. Stepping back to catch her breath as well. "I didn’t expect to run into you…What are you doing here?"

He scratched the back of his head and turned towards the store window behind him. "Just having a talk with your brother…What are you doing here?…You look…crazed? Is there something wrong?"

Emily bit her lip. She could either tell him, or go in there and ask her brother’s advice, as she had been about to do. "I…yeah…"

Lucky tilted his head to the side, and gently led her over to the side of the building.

"What’s wrong Em?…Is there somethin’ goin’ on with Nikolas?"

She shook her head and brushed her fingers nervously through her long locks. "No…I…Well, yes kind of – I mean, it’s more to do with…Ugh," Emily grunted. "I’m just not sure this…I don’t want to be wrong about this. I mean I WANT to be wrong about this, and I don’t want to say anything until I know that I’m right and I know that I’m –

"Emily!" Lucky broke in. Lowering his voice a moment later. "Just spit it out, ok…you can tell me."

Inhaling deeply, Emily closed her eyes and then slowly reopened them. "The other day…at the yacht –

Lucky tilted his head to the side immediately frustrated. "Helena’s yacht?!"

His voice rose this time with a bit of anger. "I thought I told you two that I would take care of that?! I don’t want you guys getting involved in all of this for me. Whoever is out there with Nikolas’ fortune has it because I gave it to him – it’s my responsi –

"Lucky, I know you said you wanted to handle it on your own, but you have to understand that this is Nikolas’ families’ legacy. He feels he has an obligation to find out what happened and why, even if you are the one who…took it," she added sheepishly.

Lucky sighed. "And he brought YOU with him?"

"Hey, I can take care of myself," she countered, looking him in the eye. "Do you really think I would have let him do that alone?"

Lucky shook his head. "Of course not. What was I thinking? Either one of you listening to anything I say?…I must’ve lost my head." Forcing himself to set aside that issue for a moment, he spoke again. "So what happened at the yacht? Did you two find anything?…Anything at all about the connection with the paintings?"

"Paintings?" Emily asked, chuckling somewhat. "Lucky there were no paintings…there was no ANYTHING. The entire place had been ransacked. Completely torn apart. There was nothing at all to find there."

Lucky groaned loudly and shoved his hands through his hair as he kicked at a large rock in on the curb. "Shit!"

Emily bit down hard upon her lip. "I’m afraid it might get a little worse." She continued when Lucky looked up. His full attention on her words. "Lucky I think…No, I don’t think – I KNOW that I saw someone pull away right as we were disembarking from the yacht…and they pulled away in a hurry."

Lucky’s eyesbrows furrowed together. "Did you get a good look at the car? The driver?"

"Well up until about a half-hour ago, I didn’t know for sure if maybe I was just imagining things…Or maybe I knew the car, but I couldn’t place it. But then I remembered something…I remembered when I first saw Elizabeth’s house."

Lucky’s entire body grew still as she continued telling a tale that he somehow knew the ending to already.

"We went on a tour of the grounds…and I saw everything – even the multi-car garage that they have. Alex had just bought a new car and he decided that he needed to take us out for a spin…I thought it was a very pretentious looking car for a man in his early thirties…I mean, it was old looking, but NOT old and it was this silver, sort of grayish –

"It was a Bentley." Lucky filled in. Suddenly turning around to face the street. Cars whizzing by as the day slowly began to fade into night. The sun giving way to darkness.

Emily’s voice seemed distant now. Soft. "I can’t be sure Lucky. I never got a good look at the car that pulled away…but it’s been nagging at my gut…and then – then I remembered that day in Evergreen. It was one of the few and LAST times I ever visited the mansion.

Lucky turned to her. His breath having left his body somewhere between the words of her monologue. "It was a Bentley……thank you Em."

"Lucky, why would –

He shook his head as if begging her not to say another word and her voice instantly trailed away. "I have to get back to Elizabeth……listen, Em did you talk to Nikolas about this?"

Emily sighed. "Yes, but…he thinks – I don’t know…he thinks it’s crazy. He thinks there’s got to be about 10 million Bentley drivers in the country or something…I guess we’re both kind of at a loss as to why Alexander Hart would have any reason to be at Helena Cassidine’s yacht…I mean he couldn’t possibly be a - "

She quieted once more. His sheer silence scaring her.

Seeing her fear, Lucky gazed into her eyes. "It could just be a coincidence…Nikolas could be right."

"But you don’t believe that," Emily added, staring back into his somber eyes. "What do you need me to do Lucky? I wanna help."

"Em, right now what you can do to help me is stay as far away from this as you can for the time being, and try with all your strength to get Nikolas to do the same."

Emily scoffed. "And just how am I supposed to do that."

"I don’t know," Lucky said shaking his head. "But I’m sure you can come up with something…use your powers of persuasion," he finished, beginning to quickly stride away.

"Lucky!" Emily called, getting his attention. "How long? I mean, Lucky if this is what we think –

"If this is what we think, then Nikolas isn’t going to have much to worry about any longer. Alexander Hart is going to pay back every damn thing he ever stole from anybody…Nikolas AND…everybody."

~~~~~~~

Elizabeth smiled to herself and rearranged the blankets that lay in the grass once more. Making sure everything was just right for when Lucky arrived. She was going to surprise him with a night under the stars. Just the two of them away from everything, but the heavens that shown down on them.

It would be beautiful. They would lie here and make love and then fall asleep in each other’s arms. Happy in the knowledge that it was ‘almost’ their time.

"A pre-celebration," she murmured to herself. "That’s exactly what this is."

Elizabeth closed her eyes in thought. She couldn’t and wouldn’t allow herself to regret what had happened between them just a few yards away this afternoon. She’d been silly to think that her telling him about the baby would change his love for her. Silly to believe Alex’s lies.

Silly to believe in the omen of a thrown rock.

Looking up, she glanced towards the guesthouse in the distance. She’d already ordered the glass to be fixed, but it still gave her the shivers. Who HAD thrown that rock? Alex hadn’t, most of the servants had already been gone for the evening, security at the mansion was like the friggin’ White House…who the Hell…

"Ahem."

Elizabeth whirled around in the midst of the trees. Shaken by the sound of a throat being cleared behind her. She clutched her own throat in shock. She silently stood for a moment to catch her breath. "You shouldn’t sneak up on people like that….especially this person."

Nodding, Leopold offered his apologies for what would be the first time in a series

of many ‘I’m sorrys,’ tonight. "You are right…I apologize. I didn’t mean to scare you Elizabetta."

"You didn’t scare me," Elizabeth lied bluntly. "What are you doing here? Didn’t my husband fire you?"

Leopold tilted his head to the side, not certain why he deserved the cold shoulder at this point in the conversation. And suddenly Alex was her ‘husband,’ again? She knew she didn’t have to carry on the charade for him, didn’t she?

"Yes," He answered finally. "He did…It is probably a good thing too…since I am having now to betray him."

Paying no attention to his words, Elizabeth turned back around. Pulling a few tapered candles from a box that she’d brought outside with her. "Oh you mean like you betrayed me?"

His silence caused her to turn to face him once more. Anger burning in her eyes.

"Oh you thought I didn’t know? You thought your ‘son,’ would have the presence of mind not to share that particular little detail with me? That minor detail about how you told him all about Lucky? How you told Alex, EVERYTHING I told you in confidence about why he left? About Helena? About everything she did to us?

"God!" Elizabeth continued. Fury dripping from her words like venom. "I can’t believe I trusted you! I really have been a complete idiot all these years! Thinking you were anything more than Alex’s ‘father,’…thinking you were actually my friend. Ha! Jokes on me, huh? Again? As usual?…Damn, you and Alex must get quite a kick out of me, huh? I spill something to you in some teary little scene and then you just go running to him?…Is that how it works? Wow, that must be very entertaining.

"So tell me, how long does it usually take for you to spew everything I say to Alex? Do you report to him immediately by phone or email, or do you have to write up a formal type of essay? 12 point font, double spaced? Am I warm? Because I really am curious as to how these little conversations go –

"Elizabetta!" Leopold shouted. Cutting in mid-tirade. She deserved to go off. She deserved to call him dirty names and shout at him as much as she wanted. But at least she should know exactly what she was shouting about.

More than anything she deserved the truth…finally.

He took a deep breath. "Elizabetta, I had no need of telling Alessandro anything about Lucky……………he already knew…and I did too."

Elizabeth’s mouth contorted, not sure of what he was saying exactly. "What the…what are you talking about? How?"

"We knew because we helped to get Lucky out of your life…we knew because we helped Helena."