~~ But he who kisses the joy as it flies, lives in eternity’s sun rise ~~ William Blake

Audrey watched from her place on the couch as they giggled about something in the kitchen. Unaware of what it was that made them laugh so, but smiling none the less at the look on her granddaughter’s face. Lucky chuckled to himself as he came around from behind her in the small kitchen. Placing something on her neck and then trying to dodge her hands.

But she caught him despite his efforts. Whacking him on the behind and then wiping her neck clean with a grin. He dodged out of her way once more before she could reach him this time. But then came willingly a moment later. Easing up to her when she grabbed his face to kiss him.

Feeling for a moment as if she were eavesdropping, even though they both knew very well she sat only a few paces away, Audrey turned her head. Watching some old soap opera that she no longer remembered the name of.

Many things were missing from her memory. But she still remembered things like being young and in love. And if she’d ever forgotten they had just reminded her. They were still so young. They’d gone through many trials, and would most definitely go through more, but for now they were young and in love, and happier than even she could have imagined.

Yes, she remembered what that had been like. But there were other things that had emerged from her memory as well once she’d waken from the semi-comatose state that she’d been in for so long.

Things that had emerged far too clearly.

Her granddaughter’s laughter from inside the kitchen caused her to shut her eyes to the memory. They were happy. They were happy and they deserved to stay that way – at least for a little while. What a fragile emotion happiness was, especially for them.

Every time Elizabeth had spoken to her lately, she’d seemed just on the teeter-tottering edge of something else – something very far from happiness.

So, how in God’s name could she tell them that the most profound sadness that they’d ever gone through had other emotional companions? One called Fury and the other called Rage. How could she tell them something that could potentially destroy the happiness that they felt this very instant?

She couldn’t. She simply couldn’t.

Silence had enveloped her for the longest time now. She could continue to keep silent about certain events couldn’t she? It wouldn’t be that hard. She would simply keep what she knew to herself, and keep both of them away from that evil monster.

Whatever it took, her granddaughter would not be hurt by anyone ever again – especially not that man – again. She would make certain of that.

"Gram," Elizabeth’s voice called out from inside the kitchen. Screwing up her face as she wiped mayonnaise off of her neck once again. "Lucky made some pretty good sandwiches here…If he DOES say so himself," she giggled. Glancing over her shoulder at his cocky grin. "Do you want one?"

"Of course she wants one," Lucky cracked. Standing in the open refrigerator door. "What were you planning on doing? Eating those 2 by yourself?"

Elizabeth reached out and smacked him on the butt once more. Positioning her self so that her grandmother wouldn’t see.

This living arrangement was already turning into something…interesting.

‘Last night was HELL,’ Her brain remembered silently. In an instant she felt guilty for thinking such a thing. She’d waited for years to be with her grandmother again, and now…

‘Now what?’ She thought. ‘You resent her for infringing upon your time with Lucky?! What kind of person are you?! You really can be selfish sometimes!’

‘No, no…it’s not selfish,’ another voice countered. ‘You’re simply a high-strung, extremely horny individual right now! And besides you ALSO have waited YEARS to be with Lucky! There’s no reason to feel guilty for not wanting to share your time with him. And you’re PREGNANT for God’s sake – and ENGAGED and…ugh…so IN LOVE with him,’ she thought. Biting her lip as she turned to watch him bend over and pull a coke from the fridge.

That ass of his was just CALLING her name for God’s sake! It was his own fault for looking so damn good all the time.

She sighed openly.

"What?" He asked quietly. A sly grin tugging at the corners of his mouth as he turned to look at her. With the expression on her face, it didn’t take actual words to explain the ‘what’.

He felt the same damn way.

He glanced towards a quiet Audrey on the couch. Her gaze focused solely on the television now. When he looked back at Elizabeth, he mouthed the word, ‘later.’

Even if they had leave the apartment to get a little crazy…they would!

Elizabeth pouted at that ‘later,’ and turned back towards the counter to bring Audrey her sandwich. Chewing on a rather large piece of turkey as she went.

Lucky hid a smirk. The girl had some kind of oral fixation these days. Always something…in her mouth.

‘Alright, alright…get a grip,’ he silently warned himself. His brain already having traveled to dangerous places. He called it back and took a deep breath as he turned his head. Maybe if he weren’t constantly staring at her, he wouldn’t be having all these lewd thoughts.

‘Yeah right, Spencer. Your brain has become accustomed to lewd thoughts simply to GET BY!’ He thought. Almost laughing at the honesty of the thought. He remembered many a-night spent dreaming about Elizabeth in various obscene positions.

"Ok," he heard her mumble from inside the living room. Sitting down next to her gram and gulping down that hunk of turkey. She apologized for her horrible breath and quickly smacked a kiss on the woman’s cheek.

It had occurred to Lucky over the past week or so, that the Elizabeth that he’d first met outside of his aunt’s diner, years and years ago was coming back. She made strange jokes and flitted around like she constantly had some important date to keep. Like a little buzzing bee. He bit his lip and tried NOT to get turned on inside the kitchen.

"I gotta go," she smiled. "But I’ll be back in a few hours, ok?"

Lucky caught her eyes from his place in the kitchen. They locked for just a moment before he grinned. He knew what she was going to go do, and he also knew that in just a few short hours they’d be finding out the first ‘facts’ about their baby.

Something inside of him literally jumped up and down like a five-year-old. And if nobody had been there, he was certain that he WOULD have jumped up and down like a five-year-old.

Yet a little part of him, a part he didn’t really want to recognize…was simply scared shitless.

He nodded from inside the kitchen. His hands suddenly clammy at the thought of what would happen in a few hours.

"I’ve gotta go in to work in a little bit," he announced. Inhaling through his nose. "Work on that project," he paused. Watching as she smiled back at him. Each of them knew what the little ‘project’ was.

The secret project that belonged to THEM.

But for now they’d decided not to tell anybody about their house. That could be their secret for now. Even Audrey didn’t know.

"But I’ll see you soon…" Lucky said softly. Letting his voice trail away as Elizabeth nodded and bit down on her lip to keep from grinning like an idiot.

She rose from the couch slowly and walked towards him. Leaning over the bar that separated the small living room from the even smaller kitchen, to give him a kiss.

"I’ll see you soon," she grinned. Saying the words quietly.

Lucky licked his lips and forced himself not to grab her and smother her right then and there. Not to flip her over on to the countertop and just take her. "Ok," he nodded…Soon."

Elizabeth turned and grabbed her purse from the coat wrack, with her eyes still glued to his. "Soon."

As the door closed behind her, Lucky glanced down at his uneaten sandwich. He didn’t know how she could eat. Not at a time like this! Not when everything in the world was absolutely nuts! It was all he could do to remember to breathe, he was so anxious inside.

He braced his arms against the tile counter and pushed his weight back on his heels. Shaking his head as he looked down at the floor. It was simply one of those things that you couldn’t really wrap your mind around.

‘Well you better learn to wrap your mind around it by this afternoon kid,’ his brain silently advised. ‘You’re gonna be a daddy. Some actual child’s…DAD.’

"H – how a – are you Lucky?"

He looked up, a bit startled as the question crossed the living room. Having pushed through his thoughts. Collecting himself, he slowly came to sit on the edge of the chair that was next to the couch.

"Hey," he said softly. A smile, lighting his face. "I’m good – how are you? Are you enjoying your stay here so far? I know it’s pretty small but –

Audrey placed a hand over his. "It’s beaut – beautiful."

"Oh, only since you showed up."

It was the biggest smile he’d seen grace the woman’s face in the last 24 hours and it made him smile as well. Lucky leaned down to kiss her hand softly before he stood. "I guess we know where Elizabeth gets that from huh?"

If he didn’t know better, he would have sworn she blushed. So he figured it was better to leave well enough alone.

"Listen," he said suddenly. "I just wanna tell you how wonderful it is to have you back. I mean especially now with…well you know…I think when we go see Alexis tonight she’s going to tell me I need to get in the habit of not saying certain things…so I’m gonna have to start with you," he paused.

"But," he grinned. "You and I both know what’s going on, don’t we?"

Audrey smiled once again. "We do."

After the smile came the sadness and she found herself quickly turning back to the television. Elizabeth had always said that Lucky had this way of looking at you that made you believe he could read every thought in your head.

With the way he was staring at her now, Audrey figured it was better to be safe than sorry.

"Do you wanna talk about anything?" Lucky asked after a moment of silence. During the last few hours it had been all he could do not to push her. But it was getting harder and harder not to ask about the other night. He wanted confirmation. He needed to know that it was Alex who had broken into that room.

"About what happened?…I can be a pretty good listener," Lucky said quietly. Watching as her eyes flitted nervously about the television. Not really watching. Just sort of looking at the pictures as a source of distraction.

Her silence prompted him on. But he broached the subject lightly. Not wanting to upset her. The last thing he wanted to do was cause her to have any sort of setback, but if she knew something about Alex – something that could incriminate him…how could he not ask her? Especially when the asshole felt it his job to make their lives a living hell?!

Wasn’t it time he returned the favor? Past time?

"Mrs. Hardy it was Alex the other night – wasn’t it?"

She continued to remain silent. Turning to him only for a second before glancing back at the television. If she told him…if she told him, what then?

Lucky got down to his knees in front of the couch. Taking her hand in his. "Mrs. Hardy I’m not really…not really very well versed," he said. Trying to find the words to explain to her why he needed to know everything. "In what kind of relationship you had with Alex. I mean…maybe you got along with him just fine. Maybe you never saw his mistreatment of Eliza -

"No," she said quickly. Turning to him. The fierceness in her eyes and voice, causing Lucky to simply nod after a moment. He hadn’t heard her voice that strong in years.

Had NEVER heard her that angry.

"Ok," he said, nodding still. "So you’re like the rest of us. Not too………fond," he said. Searching for a word that was acceptable to say in front of his fiancée’s grandmother. "Of Alexander………Good, neither am I.

"That’s why," he continued. "I need to know exactly what happened the other night, Mrs. Hardy. I need to know if there’s any possibility that the man in that mask…that he could have been Alex……This is not a witch hunt," he explained. "But Mrs. Hardy…this guy has no intention of getting out of Elizabeth’s life. He’s contested her petition for divorce. He’s made her life a living Hell for the last few years…and I can’t let that go on anymore. Can you?"

Audrey shook her head.

"Then tell me," he whispered. "Was it him?"

She licked her dry lips and stared down at her old hands. "I can’t…I can’t be…certain."

"What did it FEEL like?" Lucky pursued. Needing desperately to know that it had been him. That they had something else. Yet another thing to go on when the time came. "Did you hear his voice at all before the other person…pulled him off of you?"

The question was innocent enough but it made her think of a night long ago. A night when he’d clamped his hand over her mouth just the same way he had this night, and dragged her to his office. Drugging her. Destroying her life.

"Leopold," she whispered. Suddenly. "I’m sure…I heard the other voice – Italian and…strong…the voice that pulled him…away."

Lucky inhaled through his nose. He’d already known that. And since she’d confirmed that suspicion, the suspicion that Alex had been the one to attack her in the first place had to be correct too. For some reason she just couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Was she afraid of him?

"Mrs. Hardy, I won’t let Alex hurt you. I’m not going to let him hurt anyone ever again. He can’t –

"He can," she said suddenly. Hoarsely. Clearing her throat when her voice ripped through it so harshly.

Searching her eyes, he saw something deeper than fear, resonate there. Some kind of…knowledge. A deep-rooted understanding of something, that he had no idea about.

"How?" He began slowly. "Mrs. Hardy is there something…something you know about Alex or –

Realization started to dawn and his voice simply disappeared. Recollections of every conversation he had ever shared with Elizabeth about the night of the first anniversary gala coming back to haunt him.

They’d found Audrey on that night. Elizabeth had found her lying in the master suite. Alex informing her with a guilt ridden voice moments later, that he’d told Audrey to go upstairs and lie down when she’d complained of not feeling well.

The "stroke," of course, had occurred sometime during her sleep. That had been the party line.

But Audrey had been a vibrant older woman. There was no way she would have let feeling a little ‘under the weather,’ cause her to leave a party that was important to Elizabeth. No way she would have gone upstairs to sleep while her granddaughter’s gallery was declared a success.

No way. Not after everything Elizabeth had been through prior to that year.

He’d thought something weird about the story then. He KNEW something was weird about it now.

"He did this to you didn’t he?…You’re stroke? It was him - he did this," he surmised. Standing to his feet as he watched her look up at him.

At first, when she opened her mouth it had been to deny it…but she couldn’t. She was incapable of it. If she couldn’t tell him all that she knew – she could tell him this. This one thing would be enough to convince him of just how dangerous the man was.

"It was dark," she began. Her mind fogging as the cold night came back to her. Causing her to shiver a bit even now. "I’d gone…out – outside for some fresh…air. But I heard voices. Two of them…they seemed to…to be bick-bickering about so – something."

"Who was it?" Lucky asked. His brow creasing immediately. "Alex and who? Leopold?"

Audrey looked up with wide eyes. Remembering the moment so clearly. "Helena."

The world came to a screeching halt around him. A halt that made a horrible, horrible kind of sense.

"You knew," he said slowly. Instantly thinking of all the years Elizabeth would have been saved if Audrey had been allowed to tell. All of the years he and Elizabeth could have had together, had Elizabeth somehow been told that Alex and Helena were in on it together – from the beginning.

Lucky sat down next to her on the couch when the weight became too much to bear standing up. "You knew," he said again. "So they thought that by drugging you they’d be getting rid of the problem for a little while. At least until they found a way to cover their tracks!

"Son of a bitch!" Lucky shouted. Shooting up to his feet once more. Too much energy moving through him to sit now. He felt like a live wire.

He couldn’t sit. He couldn’t stand. He couldn’t even seem to walk right.

Walking didn’t help anyway though. Not when it brought you smack dab into a memory. A memory that had been marred by the very people you were already so boiling angry at.

Millers Pond stared back at him from the living room wall in all its colorful glory. A younger version of himself and Elizabeth nearly moving now on the small, froze pond. The promise of what was to unfold still palpable in the air around it.

But that hole…that tiny hole in the center still remained. A hole he’d never even fucking noticed. The anger for himself burned hot in his gut all over again.

They’d invaded his life, and had ruined the life of the woman who sat behind him on the couch. His blood threatened to boil straight up through his throat before he pushed it down. Turning back to her.

"I’m sorry," he said sincerely. His voice thick with emotion. "I’m am so, so sorry that you had to go through this because of me. I should have never brought these people into your life. Into Elizabeth’s life…You will never know how sorry I am for that. For all the pain I’ve caused everybody."

Audrey shook her head and stood slowly from the couch. Getting to her feet in stilted movements. "It’s not…not your fault…Alex is an…an evil man Lucky. So evil."

There was still a knowing in her eyes. A lingering sense of knowledge that seemed to tap him on the shoulder and say ‘look here, I’m waiting…you’re still blind. Still very much in the dark.’

"They drugged you," he began again. Stepping away from the hand she’d placed on his shoulder. "Intravenously?"

She shrugged. "I don’t…it could have been…any – anything. I felt someth – something," she stammered. The feelings of that night becoming too much for her. "It felt like some – something pierced my – my skin…but it could have been h – her fingern - nails or…an – any- anything."

Lucky reached out for her. Leading her quickly back to the sofa. She looked faint. "I’m sorry…I don’t mean to push you," he apologized. "I just…ok…" he said, looking down and trying to collect himself. "Ok, they drugged you. You’re not sure if it was intravenously though right? It could have been…some oral drug as well – given to you after you were knocked out…or…" His mind reeled with the possibilities.

But the words he had just spoken came back to him like a sock to the gut. "Oral drug…some kind of…a prescription."

Audrey stared for a moment from her place on the couch. Not sure of what he was thinking. She could literally see the wheels in the boy’s head turning.

"Lucky?"

He rose immediately from his kneeling position on the rug. "I have to go."

"Wh – where? Don’t – don’t tell Elizabeth…she doesn’t – she doesn’t need the st – stress."

Lucky froze. It was true. She didn’t need the stress. But he…he had to. He couldn’t keep anything from her ever again. That was the deal. That was what they were rebuilding on. He couldn’t take the chance of messing that up now.

Besides, telling her would help her guard against him. It would be warning to never get in his face again – no matter how badly she felt like it.

He shook his head softly and went to her. "Audrey, I can’t keep this from her. I know," he said quickly, when she tried to interrupt. "I KNOW she doesn’t need to hear this right now. And believe me when I tell you that the VERY LAST thing I want to do right now is do anything that is going to cause her any stress…PLEASE know that," he explained. Tears in his eyes. "But I have to tell her this. We have to deal with this together."

As her mouth shut, Audrey clamped her hands together in her lap. This couldn’t be good…it couldn’t. Why hadn’t she just kept her mouth shut?!

"I’ll be back," Lucky said gently. "Nothing’s going to stop me from being with her today. From being with my FAMILY today…I just have to do something – quickly…Audrey thank you for this. Thank you for telling me. I know it wasn’t easy."

He leaned down to quickly kiss her cheek…and then he was gone.

~~~~~~~

For someone who refused to give her a divorce, he sure had taken her portion of the ‘Hart,’ off of the sign outside and the front door, fairly quickly. What had been Hart & Hart Art Gallery was now simply…the Hart Gallery.

‘And that’s EXACTLY WHY he’s contesting, Elizabeth…because he knows you still want a piece of this place. Because he knows you’re still attached.

‘Not after today,’ she thought quickly. Biting down on her lip when it started to tremble. She had to give it up. She’d told him it didn’t matter what he took, so she had to stick to that...no matter how difficult. No matter how much of her heart and soul she’d put into the managing of this place.

It didn’t stop her from hoping though, that when they took the sign down they shoved it right up his ass and through his mouth.

‘How DARE HE! How FUCKING DARE HE!? I RAN THIS PLACE! I’m the one that made it a success not him! He doesn’t know ART from his ASS! And yet HE gets to keep this? Shit! I mean sure – take the house, the cars, the clothes – I don’t give a DAMN…but this – this was my…

‘Your baby?’ A usually silent voice in her head asked. And when it did, she instantly knew it to be true.

Her arms slipped around her middle as she remembered putting her every waking hour into this place. It was the only thing that had ever succeeded in taking her mind off of her real child for more than 2 seconds at a time.

The only place where the pain subsided for almost an hour sometimes. And now…it was gone.

‘That’s because you don’t need it now,’ she thought quickly. ‘You don’t need any of it. You have Lucky. You have a family,’ she thought. Closing her eyes as she rubbed her belly yet again. ‘That’s all you need.’

"Aside from a little income," she said aloud. Taking a deep breath.

Without another moment of hesitation she pushed the glass doors open and strode inside. Confidence in her steps as she moved towards the familiar redhead that sat with her head down. Doodling incessantly on a yellow note-pad as she gossiped with someone on the phone. Her plans for that night obviously more important than an incoming costumer.

There were still some things that never changed.

"Excuse me, could I possibly get some service?"

Suzanne looked up in annoyance, but it shifted instantly into a bright smile. She flung the phone to the desk and took off out of her seat like a shot. Embracing her x-boss with a tight hug.

"Oh my God! Hi Mrs. Hart how are you! It’s been so long!"

Elizabeth smiled as she pulled away. "I’m good…I just. Well first and foremost I’m gonna need you to call me Liz. Ok?"

A slow nod, registered with Suzanne. "Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t even think…it’s just been so long that I’ve seen you and…Ugh…how are you DOING I mean – really. Are you completely devastated Mrs. Ha – Liz?"

Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth suddenly felt the urge to sit down.

A wave of nausea passing over her as she paused for a moment to glare at the locked door of her former office. She couldn’t get sick here. Couldn’t risk the rumors. Hence, the huge blazer jacket over her shirt. The untucked shirt over her jeans.

Silently she glided around Suzanne’s desk and sank into her chair. It was the second time in her life that she’d had to hide being pregnant and it suddenly pissed her off so badly that she really did feel like throwing up.

She breathed deeply through her nose once more.

"Liz?" Suzanne asked. Suddenly concerned at the expression on her face. "Gosh this is really tearing you up inside isn’t it?"

"Yes," she admitted quietly. "But not for the reasons you’re thinking."

Confusion slipped over the redheads’ features. "I don’t understand."

Elizabeth glanced around the gallery and looked up at her former receptionist. The one SHE had fought to hire because she’d liked her right off the bat. The second she’d come in for an application.

"What’s tearing me up," Elizabeth began. "Is the fact that this is mine," she said gesturing around at all the pieces. "I made this happen. Not him. Yes…his money built this place, but I’m the one who ran it. I’m the one who was here every damn day…yet…" she said. Shrugging. No longer able to put words to what she was feeling.

‘Shit,’ she thought suddenly. Shaking her head. ‘No, you are NOT going to feel this way today. NOT today.’

"But that’s ok," she said after a moment. Taking another deep breath to collect herself. When she’d run this idea past Lucky, he’d given her a hardy ‘go for it,’ and she knew that’s what she had to do. She would no longer be guided by sadness or the low self-esteem that Alex had constantly tried to browbeat into her. "Because, that’s actually why I came here today."

Once again, confusion laced Suzanne’s features. "I don’t understand. Did you come here to talk to Mr. Hart? He’s not –

"No," Elizabeth explained quickly. Standing up. "I came here to talk to you…Because aside from myself you are the one person in this gallery that seriously KNOWS HER ART. That may sound cocky, but it’s true.

"Therefore, I’m asking you if you’ll take a chance with me. I’m asking…if in a few months from now, you might be ready to make a move. A new job – a new opportunity – a new gallery…with me. We’d be co-partners…and the only decisive action I’d ask for right off the bat would be total creative control over the name."

Elizabeth rose and Suzanne quickly took her place in the chair. Completely flabbergasted. "Ex – excuse me?"

"I know it’s sudden. I know it’s completely out of nowhere," Elizabeth continued. Biting her lip. "You wouldn’t be getting paid as much – certainly not as much as you are here. You won’t get to work in a multi-million dollar complex. And you won’t have the luxury of getting your double half-calf almond mocha next door….and I know this sounds like a pretty crappy offer so far…BUT, I can promise you that you’ll never be sorry. You’ll have an equal stake in the company, and…your own phone."

Suzanne’s mouth dropped open.

"Now," Elizabeth continued yet again. "This isn’t something you have to decide right now. Not like – right this minute. BUT, it is something that I’d like you to consider and think about…and get back to me on it when you get a chance to think it over. I mean, I know you love working for Mr. Hart, and I would never want to mess that up or -

"My own phone?" Suzanne interrupted.

"Several if you like," Elizabeth nodded soberly.

The receptionist’s head shook slowly as she tried to take it all in. "Why? I mean…what brought this on?"

Elizabeth shrugged. "A lot of things that I really can’t go into right now….but, I’ve been thinking about it for a few weeks now, and I finally just got the courage to do it.

"I’m feeling the need to make something for MYSELF, and make my own income…you know – just have something of my own. But I know I need help. And I need people I trust to help me…so I pick you. If you wanna be picked," she grinned nervously.

"I…yes."

"Yes?" Elizabeth asked. Half shocked at the answer. "You’re sure? I mean. I know you like it here…and did I mention the money thing?"

Suzanne nodded again. "I do…and you did. And Mr. Hart has always been very good to me…but – well, you know Mrs. Ha…I mean Liz – it’s been very difficult here since you’ve been gone. Mr. Hart doesn’t exactly…you know –

"No shit about art? Yes – I know."

The woman nearly fell out of her chair, before clamping a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. Never in her life had she heard Elizabeth say something even remotely derogatory about Mr. Hart.

First news of the divorce and now this!

"I –

"That’s ok," Elizabeth said. "You don’t have to agree or disagree with that. In fact…you don’t have to say anything at all." Elizabeth smiled. "It’s going to be awhile before I have the means to actually DO this thing …So in the meantime I want you to be able to keep your job."

Suzanne stood up as Elizabeth grabbed her purse and readied herself to leave. "Thank you so much. I can’t believe this."

Elizabeth turned and smiled. "Don’t thank me…I actually didn’t come up with this idea myself." At the look of bewilderment that crossed Suzanne’s face Elizabeth shrugged again.

"Let’s just say I’ve been sort of…talking to someone who gives me advice sometimes," she said looking up. "And for a kid…she’s really smart."

~~~~~~~

Lucky yanked open the closet-door and quickly pulled down the shoebox that he’d stored various ‘Alex paraphernalia’ in. Searching through its contents for the item that had somehow slipped from his consciousness in the last few weeks.

With everything going on he’d forgotten to take it to the lab. Forgotten to have it tested to find out what kind of drugs had been present inside the bottle.

As he sifted through the contents of the box, it rolled out of a dark corner. Lucky lifted it from the box and turned the small, brown bottle over in his hands. Inspecting the old, empty prescription bottle with the worn label.

It had been a bottle found in the bottom drawer of Alex’s desk. One that Elizabeth hadn’t recognized. One that had obviously been emptied of its contents long before Lucky stumbled upon it.

Even then he couldn’t quite understand why he’d felt the need to take it. To steal it from Alex’s office…But he had.

Maybe this had been why. Maybe it had all been leading here.

Could it be that they’d drugged Audrey with something that came out of this container? The prescription date showed that it had been filled before Audrey’s stroke, but it could have been a refilled, right?

With Helena and Alex you couldn’t rule out any possible scenario.

Lucky licked his lips and put the small container in his pocket. He’d take it to the lab today and get them started analyzing it.

If it turned out that this had been the drug given to Audrey, he’d find a way to prove it – and Alex would need his lawyers for more than just a divorce proceeding. He’d need them to save his ass from a lifetime in jail.

One could only hope.

~~~~~~~

Dr. Allan phoned the medical offices of Dr. Barty Kellerman once again. How did the man stay in practice and never return a single phone call?

She’d been trying to get into contact with him ever since she’d first taken on Elizabeth Webber’s case. Needing information on the supposed Salpingostomy she’d undergone during her miscarriage.

Either the man was an extremely talented surgeon, or the surgery in question had never occurred. The question was – why was her patient so extremely certain that it had? It didn’t make sense.

Yes, she’d seen a bit of scarring during the initial exam but not the kind that a procedure of that nature would leave behind.

It was a mystery, and with this case in particular she couldn’t allow for any ambiguity. She remembered how excited she’d sounded on the phone that morning when they’d confirmed their evening appointment today.

Terrie had to be sure. She had to make certain that everything went right for them this time.

Dr. Kellerman’s exchange answered the phone once again and she sighed in frustration.

"Shit," Terrie muttered. Hanging up. She’d already left a message with the exchange AND his receptionist. She’d simply have to send Elizabeth down to Evergreen, New York for her file, or go down and get it herself.

Either way, she would find out what happened in that emergency room.

~~~~~~~

Lucky felt a little woozy now as the day caught up with him. He rubbed his suddenly clammy hands on his jeans and took hers inside of his again. Trying not to think about the day, and just think about this.

He’d just run up from the lab. Having paid off a young technician to run some tests on a prescription bottle of unknown origin. He’d then ran down the hall, gotten into the elevator, ran down another hall, and through the office to get here.

To make it – on time.

And all that mattered now, was this. Being here with her. Holding her hand, and looking into her eyes as they talked about their baby….THEIR BABY.

He had to close his eyes for a long moment to catch the breath that seemed to allude him.

Elizabeth silently jiggled his hand for reassurance just as the doctor walked in.

They hadn’t been waiting that long, but it already seemed like a lifetime had passed since they’d been led back to an exam room. But finally, she was here.

And they were going to find out all about their baby – for the first time…THEIR BABY.

Elizabeth had to close her eyes for a long moment to catch the breath that seemed to allude her. Even when she’d been sitting down the entire time. Watching as Lucky shifted his weight nervously from foot to foot.

Dr. Terrie Allan smiled and said hello. Extending a hand to Lucky when Elizabeth introduced him. It was a firm shake. A shake FULL of effort. Which translated – in new fatherspeak – into, ‘I’m nervous as all Hell, but I’m gonna be as steady as a rock on the outside.’

She smiled once more as she pulled Elizabeth’s file from under her arm.

"Ok...well it looks like you two are gonna be parents," she grinned. Watching as the gamut of emotions ran through both of their expressions in the time span of a split-second. From happiness, to fear and then back to happiness at warp speed. "And you’re going to be parents in just about 6 months."

Lucky’s mouth dropped open a bit and Elizabeth turned to him with a wide grin. Letting the air out of her lungs in a giggle. "See, told you...Didn’t I tell you?"

He could only nod as she jiggled his hand again. "Uh-huh."

"We can narrow down your due date, once we’re able to run some more tests. Like the ultrasound next week."

Elizabeth’s face fell and Lucky squeezed her hand. "Next week? I was hoping maybe…maybe it’d be today."

"Well you’ll get to HEAR your baby today – definitely," maintaining an upbeat attitude for the parents. "I’m guestimating from what you told me about your cycle, that you’re nearly 13 weeks along. But I like to wait until at least the 14^th week to get a picture of things. It’s just clearer that way…and the baby is usually more cooperative about having his...or her picture taken," she explained with a smile.

"But we...we get to HEAR h-her...or him today?"

Dr. Allan nodded. "Yes sir...would you like to do that now?…I’ve got my handy dandy Doppler all ready to go."

"Wait!" Elizabeth exclaimed before Lucky could comment. Fear surfacing in her eyes.

Lucky bent down with concern in his voice. "Sweetie what is it?"

"We’d...we’d like to discuss the chances of...the chances of something going wrong – first," she said suddenly. The air almost literally sucked out of the room upon her words.

Lucky bit his lip and looked down. Kissing the top of her head after a moment and nodding towards the doctor.

She wanted to know if it was safe to get more attached then she already was, and that knowledge split his heart in two.

Before hearing the most beautiful sound she’d ever hear in her life, she needed to know the chances of hearing the voice that went along with it someday.

He silently took his hand from inside of hers, and wrapped it around the outside.

The doctor nodded in understanding. Wishing to God she’d been able to talk to her doctor!

"With your history, I can understand your concern. BUT, I have to reiterate that when I examined you I found no evidence that this pregnancy could not be carried successfully to term. All of your tests showed great results –

"What about that drug? What kind of drug was it that Alex had me on? Could it harm my baby in any way?"

An eyebrow rose on the doctor’s face. Yet another oddity of the case had surfaced.

"On the contrary actually," she began slowly. "I think this drug – however experimental, may have been...actually what CAUSED you to conceive."

Elizabeth and Lucky both narrowed their gaze in confusion.

Dr. Allan further explained herself. "You were on the pill…and this drug, was indeed some kind of rapid detoxification from birth control…….but it’s also a fertility drug."

After a moment of complete silence, Elizabeth’s mouth fell open. "I can’t believe this."

Lucky shook his head and looked down. "Well...I guess we got the last laugh on that one, huh?" He said. A weird combination of anger and humor coursing through him at once as he continued to shake his head.

Elizabeth nodded absently and turned back to the doctor. "What about the procedure that they had to do after Luna? After my...the miscarriage...The specialists told me that the odds were extremely high that I’d never be able to carry a child again. I mean I don’t understand how I could be healthy or –

Lucky ran his hands down her back. Her attitude having gone from extremely calm to extremely agitated in less than two seconds.

"In most cases, after a Salpingostomy is performed there is a high risk when carrying another child. BUT," she said. Holding up a hand when Elizabeth went to interrupt. "But, the unusual thing is that I’ve found no evidence of that procedure."

"What?" Lucky said. Tilting his head. "What do you mean no evidence of that procedure. I mean she almost died in the hospital. What –

The doctor was at a loss. She took a deep breath. "What I’m saying is that she either had HIGHLY capable physicians – which may in fact be the case - I do know that you were admitted to one of the best hospitals in the New York area. OR, another procedure was performed. Either way I plan on talking to your former Ob/GYN to further familiarize myself with your case…just as soon as I can."

Elizabeth stared at her hands. ‘No evidence?...Had she imagined it all?’

Dr. Allan continued at their silence. "There is some SLIGHT scarring – SLIGHT," she emphasized when they both looked up. "Nothing I would be extremely worried about. However, for all of our benefits I’d like to treat this as a high risk pregnancy."

"Why? You just said I was ok," Liz snapped suddenly.

Lucky tightened his grip on her hand. "Sweetie I think she’s just wanting to be safe...for our own peace of mind…isn’t that right Doctor?" He asked. Trying to sound as calm as he possibly could. When fear prickled through him as well.

"Exactly," the doctor sighed. "And I have to say...that at this point in your pregnancy there really is a SIGNIFICANT drop in the risk of miscarriage. You’re already approaching your second trimester."

Elizabeth bit down on her bottom lip. "I’m sorry...I’ve been like this lately. My emotions – up one minute, down the next. I didn’t mean to snap at you like that...I know you know what you’re doing."

"That’s quite alright." The doctor smiled. "That’s to be fully expected.......Are there any other symptoms you’d like to talk about?" She asked. "Since I have both of you in the room, it might be helpful to discuss them together."

Biting her lip, Elizabeth sighed. "Is the nausea going away any time soon? I mean I have no idea why they call it morning sickness. It seems to hit me throughout the day."

"Yes," the doctor answered with a smile. "Actually it should be lessening a LOT in the next couple of weeks. Pretty much non-existent soon. Keep me up to date and let me know though, if you’re still experiencing that."

"Ok," Elizabeth nodded.

"Anything else?" The doctor prompted.

Elizabeth glanced at Lucky, and Lucky wiggled his eyebrows. Smirking as he looked down.

"Oh...oh yeah," Elizabeth smiled awkwardly. Turning back to the doctor. "Um...we have...well I have...an extremely active um...

"Libido?" The doctor filled in. Suppressing a grin. They both nodded slightly. "Also – extremely normal. In fact," she continued. "As you get further into the second trimester that’s likely to increase."

Elizabeth glanced at Lucky and each of them widened their eyes at the same time. Was she kidding?!

Lucky scratched the back of his head and tried not to dwell too much on that ‘increase,’ for the time being. "So how come we can’t SEE him – or her today?"

He was suddenly so anxious. Maybe his emotions were going through some sort of pregnancy upheaval as well! It was all just…crazy. Absolutely beyond anything he’d ever dreamed he’d be talking about.

Of course he’d dreamed. But this was the most surreal experience he’d ever had.

Dr. Allan grinned. That was more like it. This was the fun part – when the parents started to get that ‘beyond excited,’ glow about them.

"Well – theoretically we could – BUT," she said. Emphasizing it once again when they both seemed ready to burst. "At this point your baby is 3-4 inches long, and doesn’t weigh more than about an ounce. Which means you’re not gonna see a lot of action – IF we get a clear picture at all. Whereas," she paused again. "If we wait a little over a week your baby could make an AWESOME debut. You’d be surprised at how much they grow in just a small amount of time."

"Well what’s she gonna do during this…debut? High-kicks?" Elizabeth grinned.

"Your child?" Lucky commented. "I’m sure she’ll be adding a little splash of color to the womb or something – redecorating – you know?"

"Oh yeah, of course," Elizabeth grinned. Kicking her legs against the table. "Or composing a symphony…a song about life in a warm, yet…mushy place."

"Hey there’s no limit to what this kid can do," Lucky sighed with a smile.

The doctor grinned from the other side of the bed. Feeling that familiar, ‘outsider’ sensation that came over her, right around this time with most couples. That was ok though...they’d need her back in a second.

"So," Elizabeth said. Turning back to her doctor right on schedule. "What WILL she be doing – within reason when we see her?"

"Actually she WILL be kicking – not so much that you can actually feel – you’ll probably mistake it for indigestion actually," she laughed.

"Especially after one of your shakes," Lucky grinned. Smiling even wider when she stuck her tongue out at him.

The doctor continued through a smile. "She’ll be sleeping, swallowing, her eyebrows will be growing, the heartbeat will be much stronger...heck she’s even gonna be peeing."

Lucky covered his mouth with a hand and laughed. This was just so...’out there.’

"So, you wanna hear this kid or what?" The doctor asked finally. Preparing her special sound-wave stethoscope for action.

Elizabeth nodded vigorously and lay back on the bed. Covering her face with her hands as she tried to get a hold of herself. Lucky breathed deeply and scratched the back of his head.

He shifted towards Elizabeth after a second and laced his fingers through hers as the doctor, told her to lift her shirt and unbutton the top portion of her jeans.

Neither of them realized they were holding their breath. Waiting with the biggest sense of anticipation they’d ever had in their lives. Even the process of getting pregnant hadn’t been filled with this much…impatience.

Lucky locked eyes with Elizabeth as the doctor slid the microphone like instrument over her swelled belly. His eyes narrowing on it a moment later. Watching to make sure it wasn’t going to hurt her.

But she didn’t seem in pain. She seemed on the verge of sheer ecstasy. Pleasure that she was just barely managing to hold back.

"Oooh, what’s that?!" She asked quickly. Upon hearing the first sound.

The doctor chuckled knowingly. "That’s just the speaker sliding against your skin...we’re not there yet – I’ll let you know."

Lucky felt Elizabeth digging her fingernails into his skin and grinned. His entire body, itching to hear his child’s heartbeat. He bit his bottom lip and closed his eyes. Waiting for the sound they were ‘supposed’ to be hearing.

A strange kind of whirring filled the room. It sounded like something from the soundtrack of some Alien movie and Lucky’s eyes shot open. "What…what’s that?"

Elizabeth’s eyes widened as well. "Is that it? Is that our baby?"

Her eyes grew wider at the doctor’s silence. At the look of intense concentration on her face. "What’s wrong? Is there something wrong? What is it?"

Lucky glanced at the doctor and then back at Elizabeth as dread coated his throat. "Nothing’s wrong Sweetie…lay back………Doctor, what are you -

"It’s ok," Dr. Allan looked up. Flustered for a moment when she’d been trying to listen. "Just one second…I’m just……just listening here…there’s something…

"Something WHAT?" Elizabeth asked sharply. Propping herself up on her elbows now as the doctor listened to whatever it was that had her so concerned.

Lucky tried and failed to get her to lie back down as his own heart beat just as wildly as the weird sound he heard coming from the speaker! Was that normal?! What the -

"It’s ok," Dr. Allan explained after a second. Her expression changing to a relaxed one. "It’s nothing to be worried about – I’m sorry. I just.……Gosh, I don’t know why I didn’t anticipate...

"You didn’t anticipate WHAT?" Lucky continued. Meeting the threshold of his patience.

"The reason the heartbeat isn’t as clear as it should be...the reason for that rich…whirring…it’s because they’re all mixing together."

Elizabeth’s brow creased. Confusion causing every muscle in her body to tighten. "WHAT’S all mixing together?"

"Your heartbeat and…the babIES."

Lucky’s brow furrowed. Shit, this was getting to be too much for HIS heart to handle. "Isn’t that normal? I mean obviously there’d be two heartbeats. Elizabeth’s and the baby’s."

Realization was already beginning to dawn on Elizabeth and she tightened her grip on Lucky’s hand to that of a vice. He looked down at her and then quickly towards the doctor when she didn’t say anything.

"She’s not saying that Lucky...she’s saying –

"I’m saying there’s more than one heartbeat...because there’s more than one baby. And if I’m making the beats out right – I’m really good at that," she smiled. "There are three..........

She was already listening again when their eyes widened to saucers and their hearts stopped. "We’ll have to wait for the ultrasound to be sure...but I’m almost positive…that’s THREE heartbeats in there…aside from yours."

Elizabeth looked at Lucky. Unable to speak. Barely able to breath.

He wasn’t moving either. Wasn’t speaking. Wasn’t breathing.

The doctor gazed at both of them in their stunned states and felt it her duty to explain in case they were no longer comprehending simple logic. "That would mean triplets…three babies."

"Th – three babies?" Lucky asked. Not sure if he HAD asked that just now. Not sure if he was even standing upright. Not sure where he was.

Elizabeth wiped rapidly at the tears that streamed silently down her cheeks and reached up for him. Throwing her arms around his neck when he absently bent towards her. He nearly fell over and Dr. Allan grinned from behind. The guys eyes weren’t even blinking!

She’d learned not only how to calculate heartbeats, but she was also damn good at gauging a new father’s reaction…and if her estimation was correct – in just about 2 seconds, Lucky Spencer was going to need a cot…and an icepack.

When Elizabeth let him go, he took one step back, and then another…and promptly fell to the floor with a thud.

"Don’t move," the doctor instructed Elizabeth when she looked up in shock. "I’ve got a freezer and a double occupancy just down the hall."