‘Thee, Mary, with this ring I wed,’
So, fourteen years ago, I said.
Behold another ring! ‘For what?’
To wed thee o’er again – why not?

Elizabeth sat down at the vanity she hadn’t sat at in ages and ran her fingers along the wood. Remembering all the times she’d daydreamed in that very spot. Fantasizing about Lucky. Wishing that one day he’d love her just as much as he’d loved Sarah.

A sly smile slipped over her lips.

Lucky and Sarah…the mere thought of it was laughable now. She knew now that, that hadn’t been love. It’d been an immature infatuation.

‘This,’ she thought. Placing her hands on her belly. ‘This is love.’

And Elizabeth suddenly knew she had something that Sarah would never have. The love of a lifetime. Someone who would do anything for her. Would stand up in a court of law and say he’d killed a man that he hadn’t. Someone who would marry her at midnight in a place that they held sacred, and someone who would run to the ends of the Earth with her simply because she’d asked.

No, she’d never have Lucky.

At the first sweep of Emily’s hands through her hair, Elizabeth slowly fell back to reality, but still not too far from heaven. Emily twisted her hair into various haphazard shapes only to let it fall to her shoulders again.

"You know, it’s looking so shiny and healthy these days …it’d be a shame to put it up. Maybe we’ll just curl it…what do you think?"

Elizabeth grinned slowly. A melancholy smile as she caught her friend’s expression in the mirror. How many times were they going to have to do this? Would there ever be a time when they could be the kind of friends that could go to a movie or shopping and not worry about one of them disappearing the next day?

Emily continued on with a chuckle to cover the sadness. "Those pregnancy vitamins are a damn good thing aren’t they? Maybe I could get my doctor to put me on them even though I’m not pregnant."

Reaching up, Elizabeth clasped Emily’s hand at her shoulder. Ignoring Emily’s comment. "I want you to do something for me."

Their eyes met in the mirror and Emily’s expression sobered. Yet still she tried for a joke. "Elizabeth I already told you there’s no possible way I can go through the labor FOR you."

"I want you to be my children’s Godmother."

Emily’s words stilled in her throat and her eyes instantly welled up with tears. She turned to sit on the bed behind them. Elizabeth rose slowly, smiling as she walked towards her. She reached out for her friend’s hands.

"Hey…I didn’t say it to make you cry," she said quietly. She grinned when Emily reached for a tissue.

She sounded like a foghorn before she began blubbering again. Elizabeth laughed. You could always count on Emily to turn on the waterworks…snot and all.

"And here I was thinking I was supposed to be the emotional one."

"All three?"

It took her a minute to absorb Emily’s sudden question, but a second or two later it sunk in. Elizabeth laughed out loud and shook Emily’s hands in hers.

"YES – of course, all three! Unless you want to pick one or something! But I’m thinking the other two might feel a little left out, don’t you! What with ONE of them getting cool gifts from Emmie, and the others NOT getting the cool gifts……I really don’t think that’s particularly fair."

With a trembling mouth, Emily nodded. "Of course…of course I’ll be your – your three babies’ Godmother…" she sighed then and shook her head. "Of course."

Standing up then, Elizabeth placed her hands on Emily’s shoulders. "Good…I’m going to need someone else to send pictures to. Yap with about a first tooth or first step or the first time they go to school or…"

Her throat started to constrict and she quickly moved away. They weren’t going to be gone THAT long. No way. They’d find out who killed Alex, or the police would finally get their heads on straight, and that would be that. There was no way in the world, they’d still be living on the run once the kids started school. That was…that was unfathomable…wasn’t it?

"Why don’t we finish my hair huh?" Elizabeth said suddenly. Not wanting to discuss it anymore. "Gosh it’s already 10:35…we don’t have much time. Lucky wants to get hitched at exactly midnight," she smiled.

Emily took a deep breath and tried to collect herself before standing up. It wasn’t fair. She was happy for them. That they were taking this step to be together. But it wasn’t fair. They’d been back in her life for less than a year, and already she was losing them again.

She sniffled and lifted the curling iron on the vanity. Slipping a few strands of Elizabeth’s hair beneath the clip.

"So," she said clearing her throat. It’d be better to talk technicalities at this point. "Is Lucky busy telling Luke and Laura that –

"No."

Emily’s eyes widened. "What? Why wouldn’t he tell them that you’re leaving and –

Elizabeth looked down and then back into her friend’s eyes. It was killing Lucky, and it was killing her too.

"He’s going to tell them. Just not…just not now," she began awkwardly. "Lucky thinks that the fewer people that know about where we are right now…the better. That’s kinda why he wanted me to use my gram’s house to get ready……"

At Emily’s blank expression she continued. "Listen, the first people the police will go to is Luke and Laura. They’ve got a history of running, and they’ll think that Lucky’s made a lot of contacts through them. The less Luke and Laura know at this point – the better…or at least that’s what Lucky says."

Emily sighed. "He’s probably doing that whole expected-unexpected thing."

Elizabeth smiled. "Exactly…You know the drill."

With a sad smile, Emily nodded. She did indeed know the drill. But the drill only reminded her of better times. Times when the only reason you ran away was because you wanted to find your aunt Cory and patch your parents marriage up in the process. Not because you were being accused of murder.

"And you don’t know ANYTHING either by the way," Elizabeth continued at Emily’s silence.

Emily nodded swiftly. She’d been schooled in that part of the drill as well. "I’m absolutely clueless," she concurred. "Nikolas left his car in the driveway and I purchased that red-eye flight for Los Angeles just about hour ago…Lucky says he’s got someone checking in under my name at a hotel in Beverly Hills, just to cover the bases."

Smiling, Elizabeth nodded as she looked down. "That’s my Lucky."

Placing the curling iron down, Emily held Elizabeth’s gaze. "You two are going to be alright…right?"

Elizabeth nodded resolutely. She had to.

"Right."

~~~~~~~

Lucky nodded and shook Nikolas’ hand. "Thanks man. That’s perfect."

Nikolas shrugged. He had no idea what the heck was so damn perfect about it. As far as he was concerned it was a plan with a whole lot of holes.

"Listen Lucky, are you sure that’s all you need? I mean why don’t you actually take the jet instead of having it fly off without you. It still doesn’t make sense to me to take a bus instead of my jet. You two could get out of here much quicker and still –

His brother shook his head. "Listen…If your jet is reported stolen, and I’m missing…the first thought that the will pop into the cops heads is that Elizabeth and I are on it. They’ll go on a wild goose chase, and all the while we’ll have gone in a completely different direction."

"So when is the bus leaving? Right after the ceremony or –

"No, we’re gonna wait till morning…and we probably won’t take the bus…We’ll catch the train out."

Confusion set in again. "Excuse me? Why would you wait till morning?"

Lucky grinned. "Again man – it’s all about throwing them off the scent. You have to make the unexpected, what’s expectable."

Nikolas tilted his head. "What the Hell are you talking about? This is some kind of Spencer-speak that I wouldn’t understand right?"

Lucky’s grin grew wider and Nikolas got the sinking suspicion that his little brother was actually enjoying this little game of cat and mouse. Planning it. Strategizing. Eluding authority…it all seemed to give him some morbid rush.

It made Nikolas both happy and sad at once. Happy for his brother. Sad that he was losing him again.

"They’ll think we’ve fled the state," Lucky continued through Nikolas’ silence. "When we’ll really be right under their noses. Then we’ll take the next big opening to get out of dodge……Does that make sense?"

Nikolas just shook his head again. "Yeah…I mean I guess."

Lucky smiled. "Anyway, you did exactly what I asked you to do…so thank you…I really – I appreciate it man."

Nikolas looked at his shoes. "You’re sure you’re not going to tell Mom or Luke or…I mean what about Leslie Lu –

Lucky looked down at his own shoes. "It won’t be like last time Nikolas. I don’t have Helena breathing down my back. Monitoring my phone calls and emails. I’ll find a way to talk to all of them…to Emily……you. I’m gonna get in contact with them as soon as possible."

"Yeah, but the cops –

"The cops are a hell of a lot easier to get around than your grandmother ever was, believe me."

Nikolas bit his lip. "I guess I’m glad to hear that…Damn it," he added suddenly. "If it wasn’t for Helena, none of this-

Lucky shook his head. "Don’t go there man. It’s a lost cause…believe me, I’ve been down that road just over a billion times before and it doesn’t lead anywhere but in circles."

Nikolas sighed. "If I find out that my uncle did this –

"He didn’t," Lucky interrupted once more. "I’ve developed a bit of a spidey-sense when it comes to your Uncle being behind something…and it ain’t sending up any signals. Hell…my dad hasn’t even suspected him."

"He wanted to kill him. He pretty much admitted to me today that he planned on it."

"Yeah well, I hear there’s an online group starting up about that. Tell him to join," Lucky deadpanned.

Shaking his head at his brother’s attempt at a joke, Nikolas sighed. "I can’t believe how calm you are about…about this entire situation."

Lucky tilted his head. "Come on man…You saw me earlier. I nearly ripped that guy Frank’s head off…Calm? I don’t think so."

"Yeah well," Nikolas responded. "At least you’re still doing something. At least you know you’re not about to let yourself go down without a fight."

Lucky licked his lips. "Nikolas if this was just about me – fighting – I would stay here and do it…The fact is, it’s not about me anymore. It’s about Elizabeth, and my kids…I’ll do whatever I have to do when it comes to my family."

Nikolas nodded. Thinking of everything he still planned on doing to bring the real murderer to justice. Lucky and Elizabeth would not have to be gone as long as they thought. He wouldn’t allow it.

"So will I."

Lucky shoved his hands in his pockets then as an awkward moment of silence passed. There was something he needed to ask. Something he and Elizabeth had discussed, but he didn’t quite now how to bring up with Nikolas.

"Um…listen – before we go get this show on the road and things get even more crazy, there’s something I need to bring up…something I need to ask you."

"Shoot!……You need me to get some false passports or –

"No, no," Lucky said holding up his hands. "All that’s covered."

Nikolas was a hoot. He wouldn’t even know where to begin to get that stuff. Lucky grinned though. It was nice of him to offer. Nice of…nice of family to care.

"No, it’s something a little more…personal than that."

His brother’s brow knit together. "What’s up?"

"Well first you have to promise not to take this as an invitation to send ugly relic-like gifts to my kids…That’s crucial."

Nikolas’ brow knit even further.

Lucky laughed. It was a great feeling.

"Ok…I’m asking you – I’m asking you if you’d like to be my children’s Godfather – now," He continued quickly. Rambling once he saw the look of complete shock and sentiment on Nikolas’s face. "Elizabeth is already asking Emily, so it really hinges on her answer. I mean I figure Emily’s gonna be a great Godmother, so that’s the only reason I’m really trusting you here. I mean I figure she’ll keep you in line and –

Lucky’s words broke completely off when Nikolas enveloped him in a hug. It was tight and fierce and Lucky didn’t quite now how to respond at first.

Slowly his arms came up around his brother in a lose embrace. Then it tightened.

Nikolas nodded at his shoulder. "Yes…Of course I’ll be your children’s Godfather…I’d be – I’d be honored…I’d be absolutely honored."

Because he sounded choked up, Lucky slowly moved away and nodded. His own throat tightening just a bit.

"Ok then…good – good. Glad that’s settled," he nodded. As if they’d had a disagreement of some kind.

Nikolas nodded too. Knowing they needed some levity, he threw in a joke of his own. "If they ever need a cash advance or the use of good computer equipment…I’ll be there in a jiffy."

Lucky shook his head. "My kids will be fine without 500 dollar allowances thank you very much."

"I don’t know Lucky – kids these days are expensive…"

Lucky looked towards the sky and shook his head. "Don’t I know it."

The sudden heaviness of his tone made Nikolas reach out and place a hand on his shoulder. "Hey…I’m just kidding man. You’re not gonna need any of that. Your kids will just be lucky to have…to have you and Elizabeth as parents. You’ll do a great job. A fantastic job," he said earnestly.

They locked eyes for a moment. "Thank you."

Nikolas gave a subtle nod and looked down at his watch. "Well we better get in there. That ‘discreet’ reverend you hired probably isn’t gonna wait around forever."

Lucky laughed. "Yeah probably not…Let’s go inside."

~~~~~~~

Taggert sighed as Alexis poked at his arm again in the darkness. If he’d thought she was waking him up for anything remotely fun, he wouldn’t have been so reluctant to open his eyes.

But he’d JUST gotten the chance to close them after her long narrative about how she was going to make things right for Lucky and Elizabeth. Yes, she’d stopped long enough to give him a little lovin,’ but right afterwards it had gone back to the Lucky and Elizabeth saga…he was starting to get a complex.

"Marcus….Marcus wake up."

"I’m UP," he groaned. "And not that fun kind of ‘up’ I was before, either."

Alexis sighed. "Listen this is bigger than THAT right now, ok –

She saw his eyebrows wiggle even in the darkness. "Ok, nothing’s bigger than THAT…but still – this is pretty big, so listen."

Reaching over towards the nightstand, Taggert flipped the switch and shielded his eyes from the bright light in the midst of darkness. "Ok," he yawned. "Shoot."

Propping herself up on her elbow, she spoke bluntly. A light gleaming in her eyes. "What if I could get it declared a mistrial?"

Taggert sighed and let his head fall against the pillow. She was going to drive both of them crazy, and with his luck he wouldn’t be the one taken away in the straight jacket first.

"Alexis, you’re on a recess. The jury hasn’t even gone OUT for deliberations yet…they’d have to be deadlocked, and they haven’t even gotten the CHANCE to be deadlocked yet……I know you like to think ahead, but this is ridiculous."

Alexis nodded in irritation. "You think I don’t know what it takes to declare a mistrial for God’s sake? I’m the lawyer here Commissioner…how about you listen to me and quit butting in."

"I don’t believe I butt in the first time…but go ahead – continue," Taggert sighed once more. Lifting himself on his elbow to face her. Unfortunately this looked like it could turn into one of those long conversations that she liked to have in the middle of the night.

"There are various other causes for mistrial," She explained then. "The prosecutor could say something so damning during summation that the judge would be forced to declare a mistrial, someone could -

This time Taggert really did look at her as if she’d lost her head. "Woman are you working a different case from the one I’ve been seein’? Earl Watson hasn’t even said anything! If I remember correctly, you held the floor for most of the day today until your little surprise witness put everybody in such a tizzy that the judge had to call a rather long recess."

"Yes, but I was just lying here and I started to think -

"Always dangerous."

Alexis elbowed him before she went on. "I was THINKING about something he SAID! He said my client was guilty!"

Taggert scratched at the back of his head. "Alexis, it’s nearly midnight, you’re gonna have to explain what you’re talking about in a rational –

"He called Lucky GUILTY. It flew right over my head at the time! I wasn’t paying attention to Watson! I was too busy trying to get Frank to spill his guts!

What he said didn’t register until RIGHT NOW. He put the opportunity before me and if it’s not too late…I’m taking it."

Taggert sat up now against the headboard. "Ok…so let me get this straight – you wanna go to the judge now and tell her that Watson called your client guilty –

"Thus, tainting the jury’s perspective at a crucial point in the proceedings. He was obviously so enraged that I brought Frank to the stand as a surprise witness that he wasn’t using his brain." Alexis finished as if it was the most logical thing in the world.

"Your jury didn’t seem tainted Alexis. They seemed ready to let your client go…What could you possibly have to gain from this now? At this point?"

After a moment of gazing into his eyes, Alexis turned away and stared up at the ceiling with a sigh. There was nothing to gain. Not when they were already so close to having the charges dropped against Lucky.

Calling Frank as a witness had been the smart thing to do…legally.

The only thing she possibly stood to gain was Lucky’s respect again. If she got him completely off and then worked on turning the suspicion away from Elizabeth as well…

Taggert sighed. This time in sympathy. He ran a hand through her hair, brushing it against the pillow. "Sweetheart, this isn’t gonna help anybody. Lucky’s pissed that you allowed that jury to see a little bit more of the picture. He’s worried about Elizabeth having to take the fall for this…and I can’t say that I blame him. It doesn’t look too good for her –

"Well that’s why I’m trying to help –

"Again I ask, how exactly will this help?" Taggert continued softly. "Baby you’re grasping at straw when you don’t even need to…Nobody’s gonna appreciate it."

Alexis bit her lip. "If I did everything in my power to get Lucky acquitted…then, maybe then he’d see that I could represent Elizabeth too. The evidence against her isn’t that strong…I’ve won far more difficult cases."

"Alexis, I know you mean well and I don’t doubt that you could do exactly what you’re saying – you’re a damn good lawyer…..but Baby, Lucky ain’t seein’ it that way right now. He already completely nixed your idea of representing Elizabeth."

She groaned and uttered an expletive under her breath.

"Alexis, that boy is not gonna take the chance of anything else happening to that girl…It’s just that simple."

Another sigh escaped her. But somehow this one sounded a bit more defeated. Taggert wished he could have been more supportive, but right now there simply wasn’t any point of going the extra mile when her client would have rather her eat a bucket of nails.

"So what does that MEAN then?" She asked finally.

At Taggert’s meaningful silence, she shook her head. Her eyes slowly widened at what he wordlessly implied.

"Don’t even think that. He can’t AFFORD to do that. Neither one of them can. Everything that I’m doing to get him off will be a mute point if he runs. That whole jury will lose every confidence I may have built up in them when it comes to Lucky. They’ll start thinking he’s just as guilty as the prosecutor said he was!

Still upset with herself she shook her head. "I still can’t believe I let that one fly right past me. The dimwit said he plead guilty…that Lucky plead guilty so if I wanted to pass the blame than I should have advised him to plead not guilty…

"Asshole," she finished. "He doesn’t even know how to implement sarcasm in its proper place. He DID plead not-guilty."

Taggert sighed as he enveloped her in his arms. She pouted like a little kid as he reached behind him briefly to turn out the light.

"Guilty – not guilty," Taggert whispered, kissing her temple. "It doesn’t matter either way. I got a gut feeling Lucky won’t be around to see the end of this thing anyway."

Alexis shut her eyes. How the Hell was she supposed to fall asleep with THAT on her mind?

"Don’t go to sleep yet," she said suddenly. "Now we’re having sex."

~~~~~~~

Leopold moved slowly through the dark mansion. His flashlight bouncing from black wall to black wall. Off of furniture that was already coated with the lightest sheen of dust.

It would have killed Alex to know that his home was no longer immaculate. If he hadn’t already been dead.

He’d thought, on the way over, that he was too old to believe in such things as ghosts. Spirits from the great beyond that hadn’t yet found their final rest. But Leopold could have sworn that sounds echoed through the empty house like a chamber. That something nipped at his heels, like sharp teeth as he made his way down the hall to that office.

Away from the still taped off kitchen. Away from the memory of blood…watching it spread. The memory of her lying there beneath him…

The memory of leaving her there.

She wasn’t dead, thank God, but she would forever haunt him too.

And now they threatened to place her under the same suspicion that Leopold figured they would all along. Only now she couldn’t call it self-defense. Not now…not after so much had been tainted. Not after so much time had passed.

Elizabeth’s tendency to block out traumatic experiences was both a blessing and a curse…on so many levels.

Sighing, Leopold moved down the hall and halted in front of the door. This was taped too. Even though the inept police had yet to find the poison. Even though the coroner’s report still called what had happened to Alex, an ‘inconsistency.’

As far as they were concerned Alexander Hart had died from multiple gun shot wounds. Nothing more – nothing less. No trace of poison had been found during autopsy therefore a little bit of swelling around the neck was inconsequential.

Only Leopold knew that it was far from inconsequential.

***

Without announcing himself, Leopold let himself in and let his eyes adjust to the man that sat before him. A broken, pathetic excuse for a man that no longer deserved to call himself one.

Once he’d been beautiful. Once he’d been a boy with too many dreams on too small a pair of shoulders, but he’d still been precious. He’d still carried so much potential.

What good was potential if it was squandered? What good was ambition if it stole your soul – your humanity?

It was no good. It had turned the boy he’d thought of as a son, into a man he didn’t want to know. A man that didn’t deserve to live.

Silently he turned towards the portable bar that his surrogate son had obviously seen fit to wheel right into his office so that he wouldn’t have to travel far to get a hold of it. Leopold poured two glasses of Bourbon, pretending not to have seen the one that already sat on Alex’s desk.

From behind him, the man’s voice was both roughened by over consumption and stretched by it. Giving it a sound of something tough that was quickly beginning to melt.

"What’re you doin’ here old man?…It seems every – every time I look up you’re in my fucking face…when I thought I told you to – to leave. I thought I told everybody to just….leave."

‘So, on top of everything else,’ Leopold thought. ‘On top of killing a child and making it’s mother suffer like no woman should, you’ve become an alcoholic…Well, since you were on a role I guess it was only fitting.’

Leopold emptied the contents of a small clear package into the liquid. Watching the white powder disintegrate like sugar granules did into iced tea as he swirled it around. He opened another and dropped it into the decanter that sat half full to the side.

He turned around with two glasses in hand. Faced his son and watched to see if there was even a hint in his eyes - a hint of the boy he’d once been. Because if there was…if there was he wouldn’t go through with this - he couldn’t.

There was not even a hint…and some part of Leopold died. Some part of his heart that hadn’t been broken, shattered into a thousand tiny fragments of sharp glass.

Tonight he would not be able to sleep. Tomorrow and the day after that would be filled with insomnia as well, but in spite of the fact that he may never be able to look at himself in the mirror again…this was the right thing to do. The only thing.

Sitting down in front of Alex, like he had countless times before to talk about money, schemes, the latest piece of property that Alex currently had his eye on, Leopold let out a sigh and placed the two glasses down between them. Sliding one towards him.

Alex smirked at his empty glass and pushed it aside, tugging the next one forward like a thirsty man in the middle of a barren desert. He chugged the first few gulps down as if the booze were more refreshing than any glass of water could have been.

And it was that simple, Leopold thought. That simple to kill off a part of you.

Maybe he was no better than Alex was. Actually…there was no maybe about it. He was watching as the man he’d called ‘son,’ many times in his life, drank to his own death.

"You come just to fill my cup?" Alex slurred. Drinking again. "I know you couldn’t have come all this way…just for that. Musta come to give m - me…some kind of…..some kind of lecture on something or…something or other," he laughed. So obviously amused with him self.

Leopold sat back and drank hard from his own glass. Sitting it down after long seconds. He wanted to gulp the whole damn thing down and get out of this place. This dirty, filthy place with all its secrets.

"I know," he said finally. Meeting the bloodshot eyes across from him. "I know what you did."

"You’ll have to be a little more specific Leopold, as you can see I’m DRUNK here."

"Avete ucciso il bambino! Voi figlio d'una femmina!" Leopold shouted suddenly. The taste of such wickedness coated his own tongue, being expelled violently. "You killed Elizabetta’s child! That beautiful girl…you killed her baby…"

His Italian wasn’t exactly what it used to be, back when he’d lived with the man in front of him, but it was still sharp enough to know that he’d been called a son of a bitch.

Interesting turn of phrase, considering whom his mother had been.

When Leopold heard the chuckle emanate from some deep place in Alexander, he stood up. Unable to contain the rage inside the small chair anymore.

"What kind of…what kind of animal is this? Did I raise this?…You sit here," he said shaking his head. "Laughing…like you are proud."

Alex shrugged and took another drink. And right at that moment, Leopold wished he’d just finish the whole damn glass. Drink it down and let it burn a hole straight through him. He wished it with all his heart and knew that in about an hour he’d receive something close to that. There may not have been burnt holes, but the poison would slowly cause his throat to swell. His trachea to constrict. His breathing to shut down…and then slowly…his heart.

He would literally suffocate to death, but most would think it had been some freak accident. Even the doctors, unless extremely well versed in the effects of various poisons, would think that the heart of a man in his prime…had simply stopped ticking.

Natural causes. Poetic justice.

"I don’t think it’s funny," Alex said, continuing to chuckle. "Not the killing the baby part…just the fact that you’re just NOW figuring it out. Here I was…afraid – all these years that you’d put two and two together…but you never did…..senile old bastard."

Leopold shook his head. Not able to speak a word in response. What could he say? What could he say now that would make one damn bit of difference?

"Oh Leopold," Alex continued. "Don’t look so shocked. You knew…somewhere deep down you knew I’d do anything to have her. You even worried about me a little bit didn’t you? Worried that I was becoming too obsessed with her. Worried it was becoming unhealthy the way I watched her…and then I told you about my mother – about Helena and you really started to worry…" he laughed again. "Well she helped me. I didn’t really ever need you again because she helped."

"I tried to tell you," Leopold said softly then. Bitter misery moving into his heart. "I tried to warn you about her…but you wouldn’t listen to me. You let her in…you let the devil in…Sold your soul."

"Devil or not," Alex sighed. "I got what I wanted - I got Elizabeth away from him…and then – then after the baby was no more, I got him out of her head for a time too…It all worked out."

With a slow glance, Leopold looked around. "It all worked out. Funny how you have absolutely no one…yet you still think it all……worked out."

Alex smiled the kind of smile that only Satan himself would find attractive, and lifted his glass, gesturing towards it. "I have this," he said. Then threw a glance to his surroundings. "I have my house…and in a little while I’ll have my money…the Cassidine money…Along with the comfort of knowing that the little whore won’t ever see a dime…

"She wants her divorce," he said then, his evil grin fading into a scowl. "She wants her divorce – she’ll get one…only this will be a little more permanent than what she’s thinking. A permanent divorce from life. I hope she’ll be happy then."

The threat wasn’t empty. Leopold knew that. He knew that any man who could kill an unborn baby could kill anything – anyone. Even someone he proclaimed to love once upon a time.

But because he knew that the man before him would never get the chance to carry out the threat, he didn’t let it strike him the way it could have. Didn’t let the anger burn too viciously.

Alex would be dead in approximately one hour. The permanent divorce would be his and no one else’s.

And she would be the better for it. They all would.

Because he had nothing left to say, and didn’t wish to stay long enough for the poison to take effect, Leopold simply shrugged at Alex’s last words and nodded as he opened the office door.

"Goodbye Alessandro………I loved you."

He could hear the madness in his laughter even as he made his way out of the house.

***

That laughter ricocheted through the house even now – weeks later - as Leopold walked slowly through the office that overlooked the garden. An office that he’d situated in such a place simply so he could keep watch over her as she moved through the only place on the property that gave her any solace.

Add to that, that the studio she never actually used was right nextdoor and you had the perfect location for 24 hour surveillance.

She’d been living with a monster for years and all Leopold could figure was that she’d finally snapped. Finally come to confront him when she could no longer take it.

So had he.

Once he and Elizabeth had been kindred spirits. He supposed in some way they still were. Even if she never wanted to see it again.

Leopold shut his eyes. No, Alex’s maniacal laughter wasn’t ricocheting through the house…it was living in his brain. Creating waves that would never cease.

He was certain that he’d hear them…even from his cell.

~~~~~~~

"Happy Wedding Day," that’s what the reverend said and it took Lucky back to a time when he’d thought of marrying Elizabeth from the inside of a cell.

It’d been just a few weeks ago when he’d fantasized and dreamt about being here at this very alter. Marrying the woman who would show up in just a few minutes. It wasn’t the same of course, as that wonderful dream that had gotten him through the night he spent in jail in Evergreen, but it was…

Beautiful.

He wished of course that his parents could be here to see it. That everybody in town could listen as he made vows to Elizabeth, but he knew they would all understand. And he knew that they didn’t need any of the frills that went along with a big wedding.

They had made promises in this very spot before and they’d been more sacred than anything he’d ever seen or heard of with any other couple. Their love didn’t need a lot of bells and whistles to herald its existence. They knew and God knew. That was all that mattered.

Nikolas cleared his throat once more and leaned towards Lucky from behind. "You nervous?"

Now THAT question was the same. He remembered dreaming about his mother asking him that a thousand times. Nikolas always had been a bearer of her maternal traits.

Of course he’d never tell HIM that.

"No," he sighed. "I’m not…I’m not even the slightest bit nervous actually."

And it was the absolute truth. He wasn’t nervous…not all. Maybe that should have made him nervous, he thought with a smile.

Nikolas shook his head. His little brother really did amaze him sometimes.

Of course he’d never tell HIM that.

"How can that be, exactly?" Nikolas asked. "You’re getting married. You’re going on the run from the police in a matter of hours……AND on top of it all you’ve got 3 kids on the way…and you’re not nervous? Not even in the slightest?"

Lucky turned to him and grinned. A shrug came a moment later. "I don’t really know how to explain it Nikolas…but I’m – I’m more calm at this precise moment, than I’ve been in years…

"Everything about this makes sense," he finished. "I don’t have any doubts."

Nikolas sighed. Well he had enough doubts for everyone concerned, so he supposed that was enough.

This was different too of course, Lucky thought now. At this point in his dream he’d begun to feel nervous. At least a little anxious as Nikolas had suggested…but there wasn’t a butterfly to be found in his stomach. Not a trickle of sweat rolling down his back…nothing. Not a sign.

Lucky sighed in contentment as the soft sounds of music began to play and Emily came into view.

She moved slowly through the door carrying a single white rose and plain white satin draped long and pooled at her feet. Moving down the aisle, she smiled at her friend.

It made Lucky wonder if that’s what Elizabeth looked like. He hadn’t given her any time at all to find a dress, but of course she hadn’t complained about it. She’d simply said she’d make do. Lucky relished her positive attitude. As soon as they gotten home to pack, she’d sprung into action with a smile on her face the entire time.

He already knew Elizabeth was a trooper. He’d learned that long ago…now he was about to find out even more about her. The thought made him smile secretively to himself.

Lucky wasn’t a fool though. He knew this wasn’t going to be some wonderful honeymoon-like adventure, and he’d told her that. Had made sure she’d known that before they put even one bag together. But she didn’t care. And from the happy expression on Emily’s face when she hugged him…Elizabeth was still up for this.

"Congratulations Lucky…" Emily whispered it at his shoulder with tears in her eyes. "I’m gonna miss you guys…God, I’m gonna miss you so much."

Lucky pulled away and shook his head. Reached up to knock a tear from her cheek. "Hey…none of that ok, sis?"

Emily blinked and then grinned. Realizing that he was referring to the time she’d thought about just a few hours ago – the time they’d gone on the run to find her aunt Cory. They’d pretended to be brother and sister so many times during that little adventure.

Lucky continued at her watery smile. "This isn’t gonna be like what I did before, ok? We’re gonna keep in touch with you…but only if you promise not to sock me in the gut again when you see me next time."

The comment took the edge off even more, and Emily laughed before kissing his cheek. "I’ll think about it…but, you better not give me any reason to."

He shook his head soberly. "I won’t."

Emily stepped to the side and took Nikolas’ hand in hers. They sat down in the front pews. Normally the best people remained standing, but they were more witnesses to this ceremony than anything else. They wanted to be as minimally intrusive as possible.

Just like in his dream, the music changed then. A slow melodic instrumental that Emily played from a small radio next to her. The first few notes of something that meant the world to he and Elizabeth… ‘The Very Thought of You.’

Dear God, how far they had come from that precious moment in time.

She’d gone from being the chain smoker he couldn’t stop thinking about, to the best friend he couldn’t stop thinking about in a matter of months. Then, seemingly in the blink of an eye she’d gone from the best friend he couldn’t stop thinking about, to the girlfriend he couldn’t stop thinking about. And with the snapping of fingers, she’d gone from the roommate that he couldn’t stop thinking about…to a lost love he couldn’t stop thinking about.

There was a through line that remained constant throughout his life, and that through line’s name was Elizabeth. The bride he couldn’t stop thinking about.

And he wouldn’t be able to get enough of.

She appeared in the door of the church like an apparition at first. A mirage of beauty that slowly convinced him of reality when she took that first step inside.

No, there was no way he’d be able to get enough of her anytime soon.

White satin skimmed her body, just as Emily’s had, but the sheath didn’t quite reach the floor. It swam in a gentle hemline against her calves. Lucky’s eyes traveled upwards where the waistline gathered just under her breasts. Breasts that were covered in a thick lace of tightly woven roses.

Baby’s breath formed a crown over her chestnut ringlets And curls cascaded over her spaghetti strapped shoulders.

If again she felt like someone was taking her picture…..somebody was. The picture of her magnificence would burn in his mind and heart until death did them part.

She looked better than any dream could have been. More beautiful, more lovely, and more angelic. The candles that flanked each side of the aisle flickered and cast her in a nearly ethereal glow as she moved forward. Light bounced off the walls in the same way it had the very first time they’d made love.

That night he’d been nervous. Nervous about being perfect, about not hurting her.

Right now the feeling that danced through him was close to that…but not. It was more like anticipation. Excitement over everything that awaited them. The sweetest sort of waiting that there was.

Lucky forced himself to breathe in and out as she came near. When her hands reached out for his, it was all he could do not to hold it once more. Not to reach out and hold HER.

He couldn’t seem to tear his eyes away from hers. She was glowing. More radiant than ever. Finally his eyes glanced down to her stomach. The roundest part of her abdomen pushing the satin sheath out just a bit.

Elizabeth looked down at their joined hands and then back up into Lucky’s eyes. They’d met hers again and she didn’t dare look away. He was more beautiful than she’d ever imagined him being on this day.

His hair had grown back wonderfully. The tuxedo he wore skimmed over his shoulders with the perfect fit. She’d dreamt of this day for what seemed like her entire life. All she’d ever wanted was to be Lucky Spencer’s wife…and finally – it was happening.

There were no memories of other weddings in her head…there was only this.

The reverend said something and slowly, reluctantly, Elizabeth drew her eyes away. Lucky followed suit. Almost annoyed that the man had the nerve to speak when he and Elizabeth were so busy communicating wordlessly.

But he supposed it was for the greater good. The quicker they let this man have his say, the quicker they would be married. Once and for all…and for good.

Lucky licked his lips as the reverend began. He welcomed all four people in attendance. Gathering them before God and asking that two of them be witnesses to the marriage that was about to take place.

Just a few hours prior they’d admitted to one another that each of them had already written their own vows. Not knowing exactly when they’d get the chance to use them, but knowing that one day they would.

That one day was here.

Elizabeth smiled as Lucky started to speak. He’d told her that he’d started writing his vows the day she’d told him she was pregnant. The same day he’d proposed for the first time. As they’d made love in the boxcar, the right words had suddenly blossomed in his mind.

Lucky cleared his throat and shut his eyes for just a moment. Sealing it to his memory. The way she looked. The way she smelled. The way she smiled.

When he opened them, they were a pool of tears. Elizabeth’s quickly followed suit and he squeezed her hands.

"You’re so beautiful it hurts my eyes."

A watery smile was her only response.

He shook his head and a tear fell to his cheek. "I’ve dreamt of this moment…so many times," he sighed. "So many times this dream has been my only solace over the years. Years when I couldn’t touch you, hold you, look at this beautiful face," he paused. Caressing her cheek with his thumb.

"Thank God for you…" he whispered. "Thank God for your heart. A heart that doesn’t give up….even when," Lucky stumbled. His throat constricting. "Even when it should."

Elizabeth shook her head and reached out for his face as well. "Never."

Lucky inhaled through his nose and kept going. "You’re my love, you’re my life, you’re my hope…you’re every grace that no man deserves…

"And I plan on spending the rest of my life…TRYING to deserve some small portion of it – even when I can’t.

"You’ve got my heart…that’s a permanent lock. Everything I am is in love with you. My soul, my mind, my body, my spirit…And that will never change. I pledge myself to you Elizabeth – all over again…today – forever."

The tears that she’d tried to control, fell freely and openly. Elizabeth looked down and sniffled. She was already so over emotional lately, and this…this was enough to drive anyone over the edge.

Her voice shook as she began. "You – you wonder so much how it is that we’re together. How it is that my heart is open to you……Lucky, what you’ve never understood is that you created this heart. If you feel like my ability to love is unfathomable…you should look at where it came from. Where I learned to love."

Her hand fell against his chest and Lucky looked down at where it covered his heart.

"Everything I know…it all came from right here," she added. "Lucky you have loved me with every beat of your wonderful, wonderful heart and there is no way that I could ever deny myself that feeling.

"So," she whispered. Taking a deep breath. "If you feel like my letting you back into this heart was some completely selfless act on my part, Lucky Spencer…think again. It was a necessity……I need you to breathe."

Lucky exhaled at that very moment and grinned through tears.

"You are the only person in my life that has ever accepted me without question. You may not have always agreed with that girl you met outside of Kelly’s one summer night, but you never ever tried to change me. Not once…

"It’s you, Lucky Spencer, who has given me back my heart over and over again…and for that it belongs to you…forever.

"For that," she added. Taking his hands and placing them on her belly. "For that we belong to you forever."

"You have our hearts – that’s a permanent lock. Everything I am is in love with you. My soul, my mind, my body, my spirit. That will never change. I pledge myself to you Lucky, today – forever."

Each of them smiled through the tears that fell as the reverend spoke up once more. Knowing that they were anxious to be together. To start their lives as one. Both of them having admitted to cutting their vows down from what they had originally been.

Everything that hadn’t been said, they would say…in private.

The reverened turned to Lucky first. "I believe you have a special ring?"

Elizabeth smiled as Lucky reached into his pocket. The woven ring of fabric that she wore was already on her finger. He’d had to re-braid it just a few days before, due to the swelling of her fingers. She worried silently over how in the world she would fit an actual wedding band on now.

She caught her breath when he produced the ring. It’d been so long since she’d gotten to wear it. Even look at it for longer than a few moments. She’d tried desperately to hold it in her hands again just months ago, but Alex had not allowed it.

It was the ring Lucky had slipped on her finger the first time he’d told her that he loved her.

It sparkled from it’s place on a dainty gold chain, and next to it was another shiny golden band. Lucky read the words as he unclasped the chain.

"It says Today – Forever on the inside…And when your fingers…" He smiled at her grin. "When you can wear them…we’ll have them put together."

Elizabeth turned for him. A grin of surprise and satisfaction gracing her face as Lucky gently swept her hair off of her shoulder and secured the chain around her neck. When she turned around it fell to her chest and he sighed.

"Back where it belongs."

Elizabeth nodded. "I’m never letting either of these get away from me again…not ever."

Lucky smiled as Elizabeth slipped her hand inside a small satin pouch that she carried around one wrist. When she produced his ring, he grinned as she chuckled.

"Proof that we’re always on the same wavelength………I had it engraved right after you asked me……Today – Forever."

Smiling, she slipped it down his long finger and over his knuckle until it rested in the right place. Lucky took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. Paying careful attention to each one.

Once more he was faced with the task of tearing his eyes away from hers as she watched him, but he couldn’t this time.

"Reverend…you wanna finish up here?" He asked. His eyes still locked with Elizabeth’s.

Laughing the Reverend nodded quickly. "Of course…

"By the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife………Mr. Spencer you may kiss your bride."

And he did.

He kissed her for every moment they’d yet to have, and every moment they’d missed sharing along the way. For every time he couldn’t be there to hold her and every time she’d need to be held in the future. For every moment they should have been together, and for every moment yet to come.

His lips communicated all of this and more. So much that they’d never be able to say with words or even a glance.

Elizabeth felt her knees turn to jelly under the heat of his kiss. At the promise of things to come. At the wonderment of what tomorrow held for them. She suddenly felt 15 again. Young again, with her whole life ahead of her.

She hadn’t felt young in years. There had been times during his absence and even when he’d first come home that she’d felt so unbearably old. Now…it felt like rebirth.

Just as the thought rolled through her head, she jolted away from Lucky. Her hands flying to her stomach.

Lucky’s eyes widened just as hers did. Never in his life had he felt anything…anything like that…

"Oh My God…oh my God what was that?" He said quickly. His eyes moving rapidly from her face to her abdomen and rapidly back again. Completing the circuit several times.

Nikolas and Emily stood from their seats at the prospect of something being wrong. "What is it?" Nikolas asked, reaching for Emily’s hand.

Elizabeth’s smile broadened and she started to laugh. Softly at first and then uncontrollably. Lucky shook his head and his own grin began. It grew bigger the more she laughed.

"Wh – was that…was that what I thought it was?" He asked. His body had been pressed against hers and he could have sworn he’d felt…God, could it have been!

Biting her lip, she nodded vigorously. Squealing suddenly. "It wasn’t indigestion! I knew it wasn’t…this afternoon in the department store when I was trying on all of those suits and lingerie and…

"Lingerie?"

Elizabeth laughed at Lucky’s expression. He looked so blessedly confused. Quickly she clasped his hands in hers and brought them to her tummy once more. "Come on guys," she whispered to her children. "Do it again…Daddy’s gotta feel it again."

It was the first time she’d referred to him as that. It shot through him like a rocket and his eyes widened once more. He held his breath and tried to quiet his heart in order to feel only the small pounding that his children might make.

He felt paralyzed even as his blood raced like lightening through his veins.

And suddenly it came again like the fluttering of a thousand butterfly wings against the inside of her stomach. Lucky jumped and Elizabeth squealed in delight again. Emily and Nikolas rushed up, wanting to feel it as well.

Pretty soon there were 4 sets of hands on Elizabeth’s belly and she laughed as each of their faces lit up. She took each one in and devoured their expressions. It could be awhile before she saw Emily’s face again. Before she saw Nikolas’……

"Your Godchildren wanted to say hello," she whispered. Emily misted up and quickly kissed Elizabeth on the cheek before pulling Nikolas away. She gestured that they step back. It was really a moment that Lucky and Elizabeth should have been able to share together…alone.

Wanting at least one picture of it to hold in her hands for the rest of her life. Emily moved towards the last pew and snapped the shot. One of Lucky kneeling down in front of Elizabeth with his lips pressed to her stomach. Her hands on his head as she smiled.

The flash went off and the Reverend took that moment to introduce them. "May I announce to you Mr. and Mrs. Lucas Lorenzo Spencer Jr…and family."