~~ We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time. ~~ T.S. Eliot

Elizabeth grimaced at her reflection in hideous florescent light. Pulling off the stupid blonde wig. She looked like an idiot. She looked like Madonna circa ‘Papa Don’t Preach,’ when a platinum head and dark brown eyebrows were an acceptable eighties combination.

"You look like a big, fat Madonna…having three Lourdes’ at once, with no personal trainers in sight," Elizabeth muttered under her breath.

Her three little Lourdes’ were currently doing the 3 a.m. show: A Weekend at the Circus. And as it turned out, Elizabeth’s stomach was the big top. Tonight under the big top were three triplets performing their routine from ‘Stomp’.

Elizabeth tried maneuvering in the tiny closet of a bathroom and her belly knocked one of the wigs to the floor. She contemplated picking it up. That deep contemplation lasted only about 5 seconds. When even the toilet seemed a little too far away, a wig on the floor was not a priority.

Bending slightly, she caught the next wig between her fingertips and smoothed her hair back. She’d always wanted to try red. Maybe after the babies were born, she’d die her hair this color…A new ‘do’ would take attention away from her still huge stomach.

A sigh escaped her as she fit the wig onto her head. Pulling from the back and then tightly down towards her ears. It wasn’t the most convincing of wigs, but at least it didn’t make her look like a total idiot. The color worked with her skin…it was actually kind of nice.

That of course was reason to start crying…Why in the world was she crying?!

Elizabeth yanked the wig off and threw it down to the floor with the other stupid blonde one. She almost stomped on both of them but decided that would take too much energy and sat down in a huff on the toilet instead.

Quietly she placed her hands on her belly. A belly she could no longer distinguish from her chest. She was just one big roll.

One big roll who had a young stud for a husband. A man who seemed to get better looking with every passing day, with every town he rolled his big roll of a wife into.

He was so beautiful.

She’d thought briefly of waking him. Seducing him in the quiet night hours before morning. But then she remembered she wasn’t in the mood.

It’d been a few days since they’d done anything and he looked so delectable lying there in only his shorts. The sheets pulled up to just around his navel, because she got so hot when she slept now.

Even though he liked a lot of blankets when he slept, he put up with her kicking the covers off of her overheated body. He was so considerate and thoughtful and lovely.

Enough to make you sick….ugh, she hated him.

Elizabeth instantly cried harder at this. She didn’t hate him! God, she was an awful, awful person to even have such a thought. And here she sat whining about how big her stomach was? And being kept up at night? When she should have been grateful to have the wonderful blessings growing inside her womb.

Growing was right. It was like playing resident advisor to a group of college football players. HUNGRY college football players.

Her stomach growled and her tears intensified once more. God, what was WRONG with her? She’d just eaten a few hours ago! They didn’t have the money for her to eat 9 meals a day.

Stupid asshole Leopold! What a dumb bastard!

Even now, weeks later, her blood boiled over what Lucky had told her that morning when they’d left the department store in Delaware. After all this time…it had been Leopold.

Leopold who poisoned and later shot Alex and left him for dead. Left him bleeding on top of her in that kitchen. Trying to soften the blow, Lucky had told her that the old man said he was trying to protect her, but she could tell that even Lucky hadn’t bought it completely.

He’d been in it for himself. Just like he always had been. He’d simply wanted to murder Alex and had used protecting her as an excuse. If Leopold had wanted to protect her so badly, why hadn’t he come forth earlier? Why hadn’t he ‘protected’ her by standing up and telling the truth about what he’d done? By doing that he could have protected her from weeks of worrying about Lucky and a possible prison fate.

If it weren’t for Leopold’s belated claim of trying to ‘protect’ her, they could have been in Port Charles. Getting ready to move into their new home. They could have been shopping for baby clothes in broad daylight instead of waiting until department stores closed. She could have spent more time with Emily. Spent more time getting her ideas of a new gallery started. And Lucky could have spent more time with the family that he’d already missed out on so much with.

As it stood now, they might not have had a home to come back to. Arnie couldn’t possibly hold Lucky’s job for him indefinitely, and construction wouldn’t continue on a home for a man who was on the run.

"On the run," Elizabeth sighed as she looked down at the frock she wore.

If it weren’t for Leopold…just maybe she could buy something pretty to wear instead of the stupid Mumu looking thing she wore now. She felt like a beached whale in blue Hawaiian print.

The sudden knock on the door had Elizabeth sniffling hard. Reaching up quickly to dry her eyes with the puffy backs of her hands. Now her eyes were red from both lack of sleep AND crying.

And her gorgeous husband stood on the other side of the door…Life just wasn’t fair.

"Puffy, big and fat….." she muttered the words, and then spat the next. "What?"

She knew exactly what, but she couldn’t seem to control herself sometimes. Lucky had probably awoken to find her place in bed next to him cold and had gotten worried.

He was always like that. Sweet and loving and tender and unable to sleep without her right next to him.

‘Well he should try having three linebackers fighting over the Super Bowl title in HIS stomach….THEN we can talk about not sleeping.’

Just on the other side of the door, Lucky placed one hand against the wood and tried turning the dingy golden knob with his other. It was locked. His brow knit in concern.

"Sweetie are you ok?" He asked, his voice groggy. She wasn’t the only one running on empty. Sleep had been hard to come by for him as well.

She could tell by the quality of his voice that he hadn’t slept and suddenly she felt extra guilty about everything she’d thought about him. Elizabeth bit down on her lip to keep from crying again.

"I’m…fine."

Lucky leaned against the door at the sound of her wobbly voice. "Elizabeth I think we both know you wouldn’t be up at…" he paused to glance at the watch that he wore at all times now. Several different time zones displayed on it. "3:15 a.m. if you were fine…"

Not with the way she’d been sleeping lately. And even though she gave him the silent treatment now it was much better than the alternative…that quick chill that had run up his spine when he’d first woken up. It had been so intense that he’d nearly gotten sick.

He’d have to impress upon her once again, how important it was for him to know where she was at every minute right now. He hated being so anal about that. Especially when he knew she’d just gotten out of a relationship where her every move was monitored…but right now he had no choice.

They were on the run. If she’d had gotten up to go out and get something at the vending machine. Someone could have seen her and…

He didn’t want to think about what could have happened.

"Babe are you not feeling well?

What a loaded question. She was fairly certain she wouldn’t be feeling quite WELL again for months.

"I had to pee."

‘Again?’ Because he was a wise man, he hadn’t voiced that particular question aloud. But the silence, and complete absence of trickle put laughter in his tone and he knew before his entire question escaped his mouth that he was doomed.

"Are ya still goin’?"

Growling, Elizabeth stood and wrenched open the door. Lucky took a step back, before moving into the small quarters. She faced the mirror and he saw the tracks of numerous tears. His heart fell.

He started to wrap his arms around her from behind, and she halted him with words.

"Don’t even try it…I’m too fat."

Lucky’s shook his head. She wasn’t fat. You could barely even tell she was pregnant if you looked at her from behind. But of course, she couldn’t exactly SEE herself from behind.

"Elizabeth you’re not fat. You’re pregnant."

"I’m fat BECAUSE I’m pregnant – yes…Still FAT."

Not thinking clearly because of lack of sleep, he took another step towards doom. "Elizabeth come on. I’ve never known you to be so –

"If you call me vain, so help me God I will have to hurt you…and it won’t be in that pleasant ‘oooh hurt me baby’ way that you like."

He managed to turn her around. Taking stalk of all the wigs on the floor. They looked like she’d kicked the crap out of them. Lucky placed his hands gently on her face.

"Baby what’s wrong?…You couldn’t sleep? The kids doing their song and dance act again?"

She sniffled hard and Lucky knelt in front of her stomach in the small confines of the bathroom. "Hey Frank, Deano and Sammy…you’re gonna have to let your mom get some sleep here."

When he looked up into Elizabeth’s eyes they weren’t the slightest bit amused at his rat pack reference. They were only sad. She sniffled again.

"Sweetie what is it?"

"I look like a big blue flower exploded all over me."

Lucky bit hard on his tongue. He would NOT laugh. He wouldn’t. Oh, but she looked so cute and pitiful.

"Babe, we’re inside the hotel. It’s not like you wore it out or –

"What I’ve been wearing out isn’t any better! Big tent shirts and huge overalls…Look at this!"

She lifted up a magazine that she had sitting on the bathroom counter, and a woman who was supposedly pregnant and loving it – by her expression - stared back at Lucky from in between the glossy pages. She wore something slinky that skimmed sexily over her belly. She looked great…and this he assumed was where the problem lay.

"Look!" She said again. Ripping the magazine away from him, so he couldn’t really follow that order, from Colonel Elizabeth. "It’s not fair! Look out how gorgeous she is!" She turned towards the mirror and pointed to her own cheeks. "Her cheeks don’t look like mine! And her clothes –

"Elizabeth the only thing big on you is your stomach, and if you want new clothes we can get you –

"Are you kidding me?!" She shouted. Cutting him off.

His first instinct was to shush her because it was the middle of the night and they were supposed to be trying to be discreet. But he thought better of it. She looked mad enough to slam his head into the wall.

"Elizabeth you are SO beautiful…and this," he said. Pushing her hands away as she tried to cover her belly. He placed his own on top of it. "It only makes you more beautiful.

He lifted her hand to his mouth. "Right along with your puffy little fingers."

A grin tried to pull at one corner of her mouth at his joke, but she wouldn’t allow it. Fighting her laughter for everything it was worth. He deserved the silent treatment for telling her she wasn’t fat. He was lying. A big, fat, liar –

No, he was skinny. Her lip trembled.

"I can’t believe Leopold."

"Huh?" Dear God she went from zero to sixty, in 2 seconds flat. He couldn’t keep up with her conversation shifts.

"Leopold!" She declared as if he should know exactly what she’s talking about. She sank down on the toilet. Lucky stood in front of her and waited for her to continue. If she even knew how cute she looked at this precise moment she wouldn’t have worried about her appearance.

He knelt down before her as she spoke.

"I can’t believe he let you suffer like that…I can’t believe he never came forward…Lucky I’m SO sorry." She said the last on a whimper, as if she’d done it.

Incredulous, Lucky leaned forward. "Elizabeth you have nothing to be sorry for."

"I brought him into our lives and I’m the one who stayed so blind to him for so long…just like Alex. Just like everything else. It’s like I walk through life with blinders on. I didn’t even realize when we lived in Greenwich that you weren’t being honest with –

He cut her off by taking her face in his hands. "We both know that if there’s anything that ISN’T your fault – it’s that…

"Elizabeth," he added. "Look at me and know I’m being nothing but truthful……You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life. Pregnant – not pregnant. Walking or sitting…hands-down you are IT.

"This," he concluded. Prying the magazine away from her clenched fingers. "If you want something like this, we’ll find it. I’ll give you anything you want. You want a new dress…new maternity stuff – it’s yours. We’ll go looking first thing tomorrow morning –

She kissed him then. Leaning forward and taking his mouth. It was hungry and deep as her tongue swept inside to meet his.

"Thank you…" she moaned into his mouth. Nearly biting him as she tried to speak and kiss him all at once. Her mouth moved over stubble and lips and everything as she continued. "Thank you for loving me when I’m so crazy…I’m sorry for saying such awful things about you."

Lucky pulled back. "When did you say awful things about me?"

Elizabeth brought him back to her mouth. "Before…in my head…while you were sleeping."

He would have battled at the injustice of being talked about without the opportunity to defend himself, but her kisses and the slide of her hand down to his bare abdomen to his crotch made him forget the insult.

And besides, she’d said them all in her head anyway. A person was aloud to a few negative…

He groaned as her fingers tightened around him through his boxers. He moaned into her mouth when her hand slipped inside. He hardened in her hand, instantly.

Elizabeth hand slid up his shaft and back down. Loving the sound that came up from his gut and vibrated inside her mouth as she continued to kiss him. She placed her other hand inside his boxers and slid it just under his balls massaging him slowly.

His breath halted and then came back heavier a second later.

"That feels so g - good…"

"I know," Elizabeth grinned, stroking him. "Why don’t we go back to bed and I’ll make you feel even better."

He was reluctant to move even the slightest muscle when everything felt so exquisite and her moods changed on a dime, but he heeded her suggestion. Rising wobbly to his feet when she removed her hand. He took it in his and led her out of the bathroom. Shutting off the light and walking in the dark, back to the small bed in their room.

Lucky smiled in the dark as they lay down together and her hand found it’s way down his bare chest and inside his shorts once more. He could have pitched a tent with the pole he had going inside them right then, and her hand slid with expert precision up and down. Slow and tight.

It felt wonderful, but still not as amazing as being inside her.

Lucky started to roll over, to separate her thighs. Elizabeth clenched her hand over his and pushed them away. Easing hers back to his erection once more.

"Elizabeth…" he mumbled against her neck. His lips moving along cool skin. He was burning up and she was still as cool as a cucumber. This was a problem

"I want you…"

She shushed him and slid her hand back inside his shorts. Trying to pull them down from around his slim hips. "Let me just…do this for you tonight…"

He tried to concentrate on how good he felt with her hands on him, but her words didn’t sit right with him.

"Baby…." He panted the word. Breathless as he neared the point of ecstasy. "Baby I want to make love to you…are you ok?"

In a flash, her hand was gone. His dick left screaming for her love and affection. It stood irate and waiting for it’s playmate to come back! ‘Come back! Come back!’

It silently reenacted that final Rose and Jack Titanic scene.

Only right about now he wished his member was frozen in a cold sea. If it were, he wouldn’t be throbbing so incessantly now.

"Elizabeth?" He said breathlessly into the dark.

She rolled onto her side. Her back to him now as she settled against her pillow.

‘What the’…Lucky bit his tongue. Trying to find his voice somewhere…pull it out from where all his common sense congregated in his crotch. Instead of reaching for himself and finishing the job she’d started, he reached for her shoulder.

"Elizabeth –

"What?!" She said finally. Turning back around to face him. "I have to be SICK or ILL or something not to want to have SEX?!"

Did she want an honest answer to that question?

"I know you thought that little nickname you gave me back in Florida was funny…but it’s NOT………"

He thought back, wracking his brain for the Florida aliases they’d used. "Nympha? Nympha and Francisco Delacruz? You didn’t like those?…You seemed to like them at the time."

"Nympha," Elizabeth muttered. "Like all I want everyday is sex," she huffed. Turning back around violently. She fluffed her pillow and stewed with her back to him.

Gathering his faculties, Lucky turned over on his painful erection – though lessened it was – and flipped on the old 1970’s style lamp.

"Elizabeth you thought it was funny…and forgive me but it was well deserved."

She huffed loudly at that. Well it most certainly wouldn’t be ‘earned’ tonight! He wouldn’t be getting any NYMPH action this evening that was for sure!

Her silence drove him crazy. "Elizabeth will you please look at me?"

Her spine stiffened.

Lucky drew a hand down her back and felt hope over the fact that she didn’t flinch. "Baby, you KNOW we don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to. If you’re not in the mood that’s fine…I just like touching you. You know that."

Oh God, he was so wonderful. So perfect. Why and when had she turned into such a bitch? She wasn’t being fair to him…she knew that.

Elizabeth turned to look mournfully at his flaccid state and shook her head. "I’m sorry…Oh I’m sorry Lucky, does it hurt?"

He smiled softly. "It’s starting to go away now."

Her bottom lip started to tremble and Lucky’s brow creased. "Hey…it’s ok."

"Will you just hold me?"

Confused, bewildered, and totally enchanted, Lucky nodded slowly and reached up to turn out the light before he rolled towards her. Spooning up against her when she turned.

He’d read about this. Sometimes at this stage of the game, an expectant mother had a deep need to be cuddled. And with the way she was squirming back into him, he figured that’s what this was all about. Lucky brought his legs up towards hers and held tighter.

Trying to send messages to other parts of his body that had recently been disappointed that this wasn’t a second chance. This was ‘cuddle time’ not ‘cock time.’

There had to be at least one thing, that he could get right tonight as her husband. If she wanted cuddling, she’d get cuddling.

He rose slightly to kiss her temple and caressed her stomach from behind as Elizabeth’s breathing started to deepen. Maybe what she needed was a few good hours of sleep.

Lansing, Kansas had been good to them so far. They’d been in town for over a week. Longer than they’d stayed most places, with no sign of trouble. The police scanner hadn’t picked up anything irregular among the local authorities and he had yet to spot any suspicious looking cops in weird locations.

Maybe they could stay another couple of days. Just so Elizabeth could get the rest she needed.

And tomorrow afternoon they’d find someplace that sold clothes for mom, instead of just clothes for baby, and he’d buy her some pretty things. It made his heart hurt that she wasn’t getting exactly what she wanted or needed.

If they were home…

Lucky inhaled through his nose and calmed himself down before his anger even started. In a few more weeks the cops would hopefully have the proof that they needed, and then they could return to Port Charles, clear of murder charges.

Of course there’d be a price to pay for evading the law, but that was nothing. That he could do, if he knew Elizabeth was at home setting up a nursery. Flipping through baby books with her feet propped up in her own house instead of some motel or a damn public store.

He could deal with anything, once he gave her that. Once he gave her a little peace of mind and some safety. Before his kids arrived they’d be settled. That was for certain.

The weight of it all weighed heavily on Lucky’s eyes. Forcing them closed as he snuggled into the side of her neck, breathing her in. She smelled of shampoo and fabric softener. It was a wonderful scent to fall into.

He finally fell into the deep sleep he needed.

~~~~~~~

Lucky felt her reach for him in his sleep. The caressing of his chest making him smile as his eyelids began to flutter. Maybe she’d felt bad for leaving him high and dry before.

And though he was tired…he wasn’t dead. He wouldn’t be turning down apology sex just for a few more minutes of shut-eye.

Reaching down he drew his fingers through her hair and she placed a kiss smack dab in the middle of his chest.

"Lucky?"

"Mmmm…." Lucky sighed in answer. Opening his eyes finally. "What can I do for you Elizabeth?"

She kissed him in that same spot again and he wrapped his arms around her. She bit her lip and eased her way up his chest. Finding yet another sensitive spot on his neck. The tickle of her teeth caused him to hiss a bit.

Oh yeah…this was gonna be good.

"Hungry huh?" Lucky asked. Lust thickening his voice, among other things in the darkness.

Elizabeth popped up and he watched her eyes widen with a brilliant sparkle even in shadow. "How did you know?"

Lucky’s brow tightened. "Huh? How did I know what?"

"How did you know I was hungry?" Her voice was full of glee, and she smiled widely. "God, I love you…….I’m so awful to you and STILL you manage to wake up with me in the middle of the night and read my mind."

His eyes shut. Deciding it was better just to not get his hopes up anymore. Maybe this was a dream. Yep…that’s what it had to be.

But when she tugged on his arm in anxiousness, sadly he knew it wasn’t. This was reality. A reality where your wife woke you up at 4:20 a.m. to tell you that she was hungry.

"Could you maybe pick something up for me, please?…I know it’s early but –

Correction – where your wife actually wanted you to go out and GET something for her at 4:20 a.m.

Lucky lifted himself from his pillow. Reminding himself that she was carrying three of his children. It was the least he could do, right?

Still the idea of going out into the Kansas cold wasn’t at all appealing.

"Babe, I don’t think anything’s open right now," he explained groggily. Rubbing at his eyes.

Elizabeth nodded in the darkness with wide eyes. "Yes there is. Remember that Taco Bell we went to two days ago, and then yesterday too? The one on the corner of 5^th and Temple? It’s 24 hours – I checked."

She checked.

"You want Mexican food right now?…Sweetie, you’re not gonna be able to sleep afterwards."

"I’m not sleeping NOW," she whined. Cozying up to him. "Please Lucky…pleeeeeeeeeeeee –

"Ok…ok," Lucky gave in quickly. Holding up his hands. She giggled and kissed him loudly on the mouth, followed by an even louder smacker on his cheek and his forehead.

"Thank you! Thank you! You are the best husband and the best father a woman could ever, ever ask for and I love you so much and –

Lucky nodded as he rolled to the side of the bed and looked for his shoes. "What do you want me to order?"

"Mmm.." she sat for a moment, and he could have sworn that when she looked at him she was envisioning a giant burrito. Like some cartoon where the starved talking animal pictured his foe as a chicken leg. If she said she wanted a Lucky Supreme or a Lucky Bell Grande, he was going to take off running. Babies or no babies.

Finally she came to a conclusion. "Um…get two tacos, one double-double decker taco, and a Burrito Supreme –

"Ok," Lucky nodded. Starting to unlock the door.

"Wait…um, oh! And those cinnamon thingies they have! Those are so good!…For dessert," she added. As if that rationalized it all.

"Ok," Lucky opened the door and started to step through it.

"Oh you know what…could you ask them for hot AND mild sauce Babe, because I can never choose lately."

"Ok," he stepped over the threshold.

"Oh!"

Lucky stopped once more. "Yes."

"Baby," she smiled. Perching on the end of the bed. "Make sure you get something for you too ok?"

"Ok, Sweetie."

"Oh…"

Lucky turned…slowly. "Yes Sweetheart."

"Remember that you like the Nacho Bell Grande."

He didn’t like the Nacho Bell Grande at all. Never had. But apparently SHE liked it.

"Anything else?"

Elizabeth grinned wide. "Yes….I LOVE YOU."

Lucky only smiled tiredly at her and shook his head. "Yeah you better be glad I love you too.

"Lock up after me."

She giggled as he closed the door. "I will!"

~~~~~~~

Lucky placed the two large bags of food on the seat next to him and pulled over to the side of the road. That car that he’d borrowed from a vacant lot in Oklahoma told him in no uncertain terms that it was on it’s last leg as it clunked loudly at the cutting off of it’s engine.

But it was the flyer on the telephone pole that made his skin crawl.

He didn’t get out of the car. The lights from the Taco Bell behind him still shown too brightly, and chances were that the night clerk that had taken his order had already placed his face to some vague memory of seeing this flyer earlier in her day.

"Shit."

He wasn’t a criminal damn it, but someone who saw this flyer couldn’t help but think he was. Lucky inched the car closer. Reading the print beneath the black and white photo. It read that he may have been traveling with a petite, pregnant woman.

Right ‘may have.’ Dumbasses.

Lucky started the ignition and pulled back onto the road. Driving back towards the motel. Elizabeth would have to scarf her munchies in the car…and for that, he felt like an ass.

~~~~~~~

Laura barely heard Luke when he came down into the living room. Sitting next to her on the couch. He rambled on about something that she could barely make out over her grief and worry.

"Last I checked it was still vacant…so they should be fine for at least a few weeks."

It was the ‘few weeks,’ part that caught Laura’s full attention.

"They’re going to be home in a few weeks Luke. They won’t need that ranch in Texas for long."

Luke had been biting his tongue most days about the help he offered his son and his new wife. Laura was glad they’d gotten away from the spuds down at the PCPD, but she wanted them home now. For her, being on the run had been romantic. But for her baby…for her baby, she hated it.

"He just got married Luke…he should be at home, picking out baby clothes and –

"I thought Elizabeth told you on the phone two weeks ago that they got some really nice things for the ba-

"I don’t mean from a department store overnight, Luke! I mean shopping HERE in their HOME in the DAYLIGHT…I mean picking out baby names. I mean a nice sterile environment for their kids to be born in."

"Our son wasn’t born in a nice sterile environment, he was born right there on that ranch in Dallas and he turned out just fine."

She wasn’t in the mood for his flippant comments. Even if he was right.

"I want them HOME Luke."

"They will be," Luke sighed, draping an arm around his wife.

She pulled away. "BEFORE Thanksgiving."

Luke cocked his head to the side. Thanksgiving was only about a week and half away. If all went well with Alexander The Frozen’s new autopsy, that could happen. But if not…

"Well maybe –

"No, not MAYBE. They have to find something Luke! They have to. I want my son home. I want Elizabeth and the babies safe. Luke, they would die if anything happened to-

"Nothing’s going to happen to those kids. You and I both know that our son won’t let that happen. He’s bound and determined to keep his family safe. That’s why he agreed to go on the run in the first place."

"Lucky and Lizbet are on the run? Where?"

The question came from the foot of the stairs.

Luke and Laura both turned towards the little voice at once. Their daughter standing in her pajama’s. Rubbing morning sleep from her eyes. Her hands perched on her hips then in immediate annoyance.

"So they’re NOT on their honeymoon?"

Laura bit her lip and stood up. Walking slowly over. Slowly, to try and come up with some way to explain why they’d told her that her brother had not ‘exactly’ gone to Niagra Falls.

"Honey, I know we told you that your brother and Elizabeth went on their honeymoon…which is," she added quickly before the little girl burst with anger. She already had her brother’s desperate need for the truth. "It’s halfway true…and halfway not."

Folding her arms, she peered around her mother to where her father still sat on the couch. "What’s that mean?"

Luke turned to her. "Sugar it means they’re on their honeymoon but they’re spending it dodging the cops instead of –

"It MEANS," Laura stepped in before things got R-rated. "That the police are after them Sweetie. But," she added when her daughter covered her mouth. "It’s ok, because it won’t last for long…you know that the police think your brother did something that…something that he didn’t. Well…pretty soon they’re going to know, just like we do – that Lucky didn’t do it. That he’s innocent.

"We talked about what innocent means, right?" Laura added.

"Yes, it’s when you didn’t do nuthin’ bad."

"Anything…right."

Lulu seemed to mull this over in her mind. When she glanced up again, she met her mother’s eyes. "Is he going to have to start sending me letters again?……I liked my letters, but…but I’d rather have him here, you know?"

Laura nodded. "Yes, I know exactly what you mean…And no, he’s not going to have to start writing you letters again. Isn’t that right Luke?"

Luke licked his lips and nodded. Hoping that he was being honest with his child.

~~~~~~~

Lucky turned away from the starry night displayed through the window. Smiling at a much better view. Elizabeth asleep with her head on his shoulder. Her lips parted slightly as she breathed deeply. He brushed a strand of hair away from her forehead and she fidgeted.

Thinking his gesture had caused the movement, he pulled his hand away. Watching as a slight grimace slid over her face. She mumbled something into his shoulder and slid her hand along her stomach. Her hand lingered on her right side and Lucky smiled to himself.

Whoever it was that occupied her right side, had some hyperactivity issues. The same little bambino had woken her up countless nights. The others got in their fair share during the day, but this one was their night owl.

Gently he lifted Elizabeth’s head from his shoulder and placed it against the seat. She grimaced again, but fell back inside her deep slumber once more. Thinking of an idea, he rose inside the small cabin and stretched out on the bench seat. Laying his head in her lap.

He’d tried chatting with his child before, but that hadn’t worked. Maybe he…or ‘she,’ Elizabeth had reminded - just needed to relax. Maybe if he sang really softly…so as not to wake Elizabeth…

Lucky got close. His lips almost touching his wife’s belly as he mulled over song selections. He went quickly through his lullaby repertoire and decided against choosing one of those. Much too cheesy, and something told him his kids weren’t into cheese.

Offspring of Lucky Spencer and Elizabeth Webber? Please…cheese would be the LAST thing they were into.

Lucky shut his eyes and thought again and then came up with something he thought perhaps suitable. Something as soft as a lullaby but still had a slight edge.

His voice was a mere whisper as he began.

"Oh I could hide ‘neath the wings of a bluebird as she sings. The six o’clock alarm would never ring…"

As Lucky sang, the thumping against his hand started to slow. His voice was calm and clear and it seemed as if he might actually be calming the little tyke down.

"But it rings…and I rise. Wipe the sleep out of my eyes, shaving razors cold and it stings…Cheer up, sleepy Jean, oh what can it mean…to a Daydream believer and a homecoming queen?"

The lyrics might not have been ideal but his child obviously thought the melody was pleasant. The thumping was almost non-existent now.

Lucky sang one more verse and quieted. Not wanting to wake mom, when the baby was finally calm inside her tummy. Luckily her sister and brother hadn’t decided to join the action and all was quiet on the Spencer front.

"Mmm…don’t stop."

Her soft voice almost startled him right off of her lap, but he looked up with a smile. Elizabeth reached down to trail her finger along his chin and cheek. Stubble trailing beneath her finger once more.

He brought her finger to his lips and kissed the tip. "Sorry to wake you."

She shook her head with heavy lids. Only this time they seemed laden with something else besides fatigue. "No…I liked your singing."

Squinting, he sat up slightly. "So you were listening huh? Conning me into singing some corny song?"

Elizabeth smiled wide. "I do believe you sang of your own volition. With no encouragement from me…except for keeping my eyes closed."

"I think it worked," he said quietly. Turning back to her stomach he pressed a kiss against it. Smoothing his open palm along the roundest part. Just then the train jolted a bit and Elizabeth covered his hand. The baby having kicked again.

"It DID work."

Lucky kissed her stomach once more and the sudden kick subsided. He sighed and glanced up at Elizabeth. "Only a couple more hours until we’re settled again."

She only nodded, and Lucky sat up. "I’m sorry."

Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak and he pressed a finger to her lips. "Before you tell me I have nothing to be sorry about……DON’T. I do, Elizabeth. I shouldn’t be getting you up in the middle of the night and dragging you to God knows where –

"Hey," she interrupted. Removing his finger. "It’s not your fault. You aren’t the reason we’re running……and," she added slyly. "If I remember correctly, I’m the one who got YOU up in the middle of the night first with my Taco cravings."

He failed to see the humor and righted himself against the seat. Staring outside once more. When he leaned forward on his knees. Elizabeth leaned forward as best she could and pressed her lips to the center of his back. The muscles of his back were so tense that they made her ache.

She pressed her fingers into his shoulders and massaged. "Lucky, this was my idea remember?"

"I would have suggested it sooner or later," he admitted. Turning slightly to meet her eyes. He turned back to the glass. "You didn’t even get to eat your food."

Elizabeth laughed. "Lucky…

"No, it’s not funny Elizabeth. It’s just fast food in the middle of the night in a town we didn’t know…Lansing, Kansas of all places – but you should be able to eat whenever you want. I shouldn’t have to yank you out of bed and rush you to pack things."

"You didn’t yank."

He turned to her. Meeting her eyes with a ‘stop joking - this is serious shit,’ expression. She shut her mouth.

Lucky looked straight ahead and shook his head. "All those things you talked about last night…wanting nice things to wear and…I want all that for you. I want to give you a place to sleep at night and security so badly that I can’t stand it."

Silently, she rubbed a circle along his back. Covering it with her hand over and over again.

He sighed. "I want it for our kids…Hell, I want it for MYSELF, you know?…And I don’t wanna fucking wait anymore."

Quickly he turned around and placed his hand on her stomach. "Sorry."

She smiled softly. He’d remembered her thing about ‘language’ around the belly.

Without a word she lay her head on his back. "It’s not going to take much longer. In a couple of weeks they’re going to find that poison in Alex’s system and you’re going to be off the hook. Then we’ll get to have everything we want."

Lucky shook his head. "I think I’ve become a pessimist. Every time I think about Leopold’s confession…I think – that’s it? That’s all now? The autopsy with turn up this mysterious poison, and that’ll be that? I’ll be free? You and I will be free to be together and raise our family?"

"Well you’ve done your fair share of raising my spirits…so it’s my turn to raise yours," Elizabeth began. Pausing to turn his head towards hers with her hands on his chin. "YES, Lucky. In a few weeks we’re going to have everything. And before that…we have the most important things – we have us…and we have THEM," she said, taking his hand in hers and placing it against her stomach.

"And here’s one more thing to help raise your spirits…I don’t know If you know this or not, but hearing you sing to our babies……" she shook her head. "That’s gotta be the biggest turn on…like EVER."

"Ever?"

He uttered the word in disbelief. She hadn’t been turned on in days. Longer than that it seemed.

"Ever," she sighed seductively. Turning him around towards her. She lifted one hand to unhook the latch of her left overall strap. He grinned at her. The overalls reminded him of a time long ago when she never would have told him she was turned on…but he’d been in a perpetual state of hard-on, covered only by long t-shirts.

"I’m not sure if you singing a soft little lullaby to our kids should turn me on but –

"Not a lullaby," Lucky said soberly. Suppressing a smile. "Lullaby’s are cheesy. Daydream Believer…that’s not so cheesy, kinda edgy actually. And very cool."

Elizabeth grinned and bit her lip and she grabbed his collar. Pulling him towards her mouth. "Yes…very edgy and cool…"

Removing the top of her overalls, Lucky lifted a bit to pull the shade on their compartment window, and locked the door.

She giggled as his fingers reached the bottom of her shirt and pulled it upwards. He still caught his breath a little at the sight of her. The bigger she got, the more awestruck he seemed to be. As if he realized a little bit more each day that she was indeed pregnant, that it wasn’t a dream, but reality.

No wonder all the stress of the last few weeks was catching up with him. Every time he looked at her it must have felt like a profound amount of responsibility.

Well this evening, she’d be helping him to relieve some of that stress.

She placed his hands on her bare stomach. "Kids, meet your edgy…and oh so cool daddy."

Lucky laughed deeply and laid down as she started to crawl towards him. Pushing his head back towards the seat of the bench.

He smiled the first big smile she’d seen all day as she unzipped his pants. "I think our motto should be…good things come to those who wait."

Shutting his eyes, he nodded. "Ok…I’ll try and remember that."

"And since you’ve waited so patiently for me to get back in the…mood…let’s just say you’re about to get your good thing."

His brows wiggled as she bent before him. Taking his firm erection in her hands. "Or MY good thing," she growled before taking him in her mouth.

Lucky squirmed against the seat and blew out a breath through his mouth. His hips rising to meet her anxious depths. He shuddered at the feel of her tongue just beneath his tip. Running over his shaft in long caresses.

He was seconds from coming when she finally pulled back. Releasing him from her warmth, only to replace it with another kind. The sheath of her womanhood coated him as she came to straddle his hips. She sunk down on him with a heat that made both of their breath’s catch.

Gazing up at her through his lashes, Lucky couldn’t help but think of how wonderful it was being with her like this. Not just ‘like this,’ as in sex, but on the road. For all of its negatives, there were positives if he focused his eyes to see them.

They were alone together. For the first time in years, finally alone and able to be together whenever they wanted. They hadn’t had that since Greenwich Village. And although it wasn’t under the most ideal of circumstances, it was theirs. This time belonged to them, and they owed excuses to no one.

Not friends, not family, not Alex…No one.

She was finally his wife, and he was her husband. And regardless of mood swings or cops, it was all…wonderful. Lansing, Kansas had been good to them for a few days. The next place would be too. And the place after that. Because it didn’t matter where they were. Only that they were together.

She made him believe that. She could make him believe anything.

As Elizabeth rode them both towards bliss. The train rocked again and Lucky locked his hands around her hips. Rubbing her smooth skin as she threw her head back. Her long hair skimming over her bare back. She stretched one arm behind her and leaned back a little as her hips began to rock faster against his.

The bra that she still wore showcased beautiful full breasts and he let one hand roam as the other hand held her. She moaned and shut her eyes to the sensation of his hand atop of the satin. The tension between her legs mounted so quickly that she was glad he held her so tightly.

She leaned forward to run her fingers along his abs. Dancing between each of the six separated contours as her inner walls began to clench around him. She felt the translation in his stomach. His muscles clenching in accordance when she squeezed him tight within her.

His brow creased with trying to hold out. Trying to maximize his wife’s pleasure as she

drew nearer to the point of no return. He’d been so close when she’d taken him in his mouth that coming now was just a heartbeat away.

Elizabeth gasped as his hips lifted effortlessly towards hers. Plunging further into wet heat. It took her by surprise that he could still maneuver her so expertly with her quickly growing body, but he did. And the surprise set off sparks inside her. Causing her to tremble around him.

Lucky reached between her thighs. A finger keeping the orgasm going as he felt himself took one step closer to the precipice. Elizabeth cried out as he rocked against her again. Grunting with the force of it. She leaned over. Clinging to his slick chest. Her fingers dug into his shoulders and his continued to work her clitoris.

When she cried out and fell against him, he finally came. Bursting inside of her like the breaking of a damn. She continued to move slowly against him. Squeezing out every last drop as they lay panting.

Breathless he combed his fingers through her damp strands and lifted his head slightly to press a kiss to her forehead.

"Wow," he said breathlessly. "Remind me to whine about things more often………Thank you."

Elizabeth laughed, and all that was round, shook beautifully against his skin. She twisted sideways and curled her legs against his as they disengaged. Determined to stay lying there with him as long as she could.

"No, thank you Sir……We left so quickly I didn’t get a chance to buy a book. You’ll provide me with hours of entertainment."

Suggesting that he was simply a way to pass the time sparked a tickle assault. Elizabeth laughed until she cried at his fingers fury. And then of course she had to make love to him again.

It was going to be a long ride…and she had a few days, and a couple of sleepless nights to make up for.