Chapter 21

Laura knocked on the door of Stephan's study, wiping at the tears on her cheeks. She'd been crying for hours now. She just couldn't stop. As soon as she thought she had it under control, they would come flooding back. It had taken every once of strength that she had to leave the hospital. To leave Lucky. She knew she couldn't stay forever. He needed this time with Elizabeth. They needed each other.

"Lasha," Stephan said, as he opened the door. He enveloped her in his arms immediately.

Laura stepped away after a moment, continuing to try and pull herself together. "You heard?" She asked as his eyes traveled over her. He seemed unshocked by her current state.

"Yes," he smiled weakly. Reaching for her shoulder and pulling her back to him in an embrace. "Your son is alive...Laura...that's, that's wonderful."

"How did you know?" Laura asked smiling in unmeasureable joy.

"Nikolas was here earlier. He shared the news with me....it really is most unbelievable Lasha."

Laura's smile fell a bit as she listened to Stephan's controlled tone. Did he not realize that her son, her baby, had just been returned from the dead? He acted as if he'd just found out that Sheba was having twins. "Stephan what's wrong?" She asked quietly, almost afraid to know the answer.

"Nothing is troubling me Lasha. Why would you think otherwise? Lucky is alive...that's a miracle."

"Yes, it is," Laura said quietly, sitting down on the plush couch. "He was taken Stephan...by a man named Cesar Faison...and your mother," she finished, looking up. Her eyes cold.

"Yes," Stephan said gravely, sitting down next to her. "It seems mother was able to do this right under my nose. That is what troubles me so Lasha. I feel so foolish."

"Oh...you didn't know Stephan. How could you?" She asked, placing a comforting hand on his cheek. "Your mother is evil. The devil...you couldn't have known....but don't you worry. She'll be taken care of."

Stephan looked up, wondering for the first time if Laura knew of his mother's whereabouts. "Lasha...are you aware of my mother's location? Has she fled the country?"

Laura snickered. "Ha! That bitch will never leave this city again...at least not alive. Don't worry Stephan she's being held in a safe place...until Luke and I decide what we want to do with her."

'Luke and I?' Stephan thought. 'Ugh...damn Spencer...already it begins...I knew finding that damned boy would bring them closer...but...this will have to be taken care of.'

"I'm sorry, " Laura said, noticing the scowl that laced Stephan's brow. "I'm being insensitive. "She is your mother afterall."

"Lasha, please do not feel as if you must censor your emotions and words with me. I'm not Luke...you no longer have to do that....My mother has brought nothing but misery into your life since the very minute she layed her eyes on you. Say whatever you wish."

Laura smiled slightly. "Uhh...I hate to leave Stephan, but I have to go now," she said, rising from her seat.

"Where are you going?" Stephan asked, panic rising in his voice.

Laura sighed and smiled again. "I have to go home. My son is liable to come home tonight and he's going to need clean sheets, a home cooked meal...and maybe even his mother...I want to be there when he does."

"But Lash - "

"I'm sorry Stephan," Laura apologized, kissing his cheek. "I have to be with my son today...can you understand that?"

"Of course," Stephan replyed taking her face in his hands as he kissed her quickly upon the lips. "Do what you must."

"Thankyou," Laura said. "I'm going to go upstairs and wake LuLu first...uh...I have no idea how I'll explain all of this to her...but I can't wait to see the look on her face."

 ~~~~~~~~~~~

Liz sat down on the couch slowly as Lucky held her hand, sitting just as slowly as she did. She still ached pretty badly from the accident. "You, ok?" He asked, his voice full of concern. She had just been released from General Hospital.

"Yeah," Liz said softly, smiling at him. She looked over at her grandmother who was busy putting away their coats. "Gram...would it be ok if Lucky stays tonight?...please."

Lucky looked at Elizabeth as she stared intently at Audrey, just waiting for an answer. The answer she so desperately seemed to need. The panic in her eyes scared him. He gave her hand a quick, reassuring squeeze.

"I don't know Elizabeth, I have to work tonight - "

"Gram please!" Elizabeth shouted. Tears stinging her eyes. "Please just let him stay...just for tonight...please."

"Uh...Audrey,"Lucky said, piping up suddenly. "I promise to stay on the floor if you're worried about that."

"Fine," Audrey said, unexpectedly.

"What?" Elizabeth asked, shocked at her grandmother's change of heart.

"Well, don't look so surprised Elizabeth, it's not everyday your boyfriend comes back from the dead, you know?"

Elizabeth's smile grew to huge proportions as Lucky nearly doubled over in laughter. By the time he was done laughing he had tears in his eyes. She found it hard to believe that he had actually found the comment that humorous. A lump grew in her throat as she realized it was the first time she'd heard that laugh in months.

Liz smiled at him as he wiped tears from the corners of his eyes. "I'm gonna go upstairs and take a shower. I'll also get that pink blanket out for you," she added grinning, although she knew there was no way she was letting him sleep on the floor that night. The pink blanket comment was meant solely for Audrey's benefit.

"Ok, " Lucky whispered, rubbing her hand. "I'll be up in awhile."

Lucky waited for Liz to disappear up the stairs before addressing Audrey.

"Thank you for letting me stay," he said looking at her as she took the chair opposite him.

"No..." Audrey said smiling. "Thank you...Lucky I haven't seen her smile like that in..." her voice trailed off, her own eyes filling with tears. She spoke around the thick lump in her throat. "Lucky it is truely wonderful to have you back. She's missed you...I've missed you as well."

"Thank you Mrs. Hardy," Lucky said softly. "May I ask you something before you go?"

"Yes, Lucky what is it?"

"What happened the other night...with Elizabeth. She doesn't seem to want to talk about it...but, I can tell there's something there you know? I see it in her eyes."

Audrey sighed. "Lucky I wish I knew...from what I was able to gather from Nikolas, she attended a New Years' Eve party. Nikolas nor I knew about the party. She tricked the both us into thinking that she was with the other, but instead she went to this party. I assume from her hospital records that she has been drinking when she drove home....I really don't know any more than that, I'm afraid. Hopefully, you'll have more luck."

"Hopefully, " Lucky whispered looking down at his hands.

Audrey stood and grabbed her purse as she headed out the front door once again. She stopped suddenly placing a hand on Lucky's shoulder. "Don't be discouraged Lucky..she's been through...well....let's just say you are exactly what she needs."

She bent down and placed a small kiss on his cheek. A lot could change in eight months.

Chapter 22

Lucky walked hesitantly towards the bed as he watched her turn the sheets down, entranced by even the slightest movement. She was so beautiful it hurt to look at her. He inhaled deeply and thanked the Lord above that he was here, in the same room with her, breathing the same air. He suddenly longed to touch her, wrap his arms around her and never let go. He knew he had to quickly put a stop to whatever plan was hatching in her head. At that moment, sleeping in that bed with her seemed a bad idea.

"Alright," he said, nearing her. "So where's your uncle Tom's mat and my pink blankie?...I'm beat."

Elizabeth turned around swiftly and grinned widely. "Oh no you don't Lucky. There is no way I'm gonna let you sleep on the floor tonight."

Lucky sighed. This was exactly what he'd been afraid of. "Eliza - "

"Lucky," she said, cutting him off. She paused momentarily, collecting her thoughts. "Lucky...I just want to feel you next to me tonight...I don't wanna be without you...I can't..." Her voice trailed off as she looked down at the rug beneath her.

Was she being too clingy? She knew she was, but she couldn't seem to help herself. Leaving him to come upstairs and take a shower had been a task.

Lucky wrapped his arms around her waist, as all previous caution dissipated from his mind. She shivered at the mere contact of his skin. Were these really his arms? Was this truly happening? 'God, yes it is,' she thought to herself as his forehead leaned against hers. She closed her eyes, as she listened to the sound of his voice.

"I don't wanna be without you either," he whispered.

 ~~~~~~~~~

They'd turned off the lights hours before, yet neither one of them had closed their eyes even once. Both minds reeled with events of the past few days. Each eager to know where they stood with one another. There seemed to be this huge thing between them that neither one of them wanted to confront.

"Are you awake Lucky?" Liz asked in the midst of the darkness, her head pillowed by his chest. She hoped he wanted to talk. Suddenly she was very anxious to hear his voice.

"Yeah," Lucky said aloud, running a hand through her silken strands. The unconscious action had continued since she'd laid her head on his chest some time ago. It was the very reason she had dared not move since. Her arm had stayed glued around his waist, protectively since they'd gotten in bed.

He'd known she was awake the entire time, feeling the fluttering of her eyelashes against his T-shirted chest. He wanted to talk, but was almost afraid to bring "it" up. The eight months they had spent apart. The eight months in which they'd lost so much time together, that even now it stood between them.

"Lucky," she said again, running her finger down the center of his chest. "What was it like?" She asked softly, hesitantly.

She regretted the question as soon as it was asked, feeling his entire body tense underneath her. 'You're so stupid,' she thought, grateful for the darkness at that moment. Grateful that she couldn't see his face. "You - you...don't have to talk about it if you don't - "

"No. No...it's ok," Lucky whispered, combing his fingers through her hair once again. "We gotta talk about it sooner or later right?"

Liz grinned weakly and she knew that he was too. She listened intently as he begun, her ear pressed against the rumbling music of his chest as he spoke.

"It wasn't...I don't want you thinking it was horrible for me all the time ok?...I mean, know that it wasn't ok, Elizabeth?" He paused, feeling her nod against his chest. Her lip had already begun to tremble.

Lucky sighed, searching for the right words as he continued. She seemed so fragile. "I spent most of my time in this...this steel room," Lucky said, stopping when he felt her wince. "No...no...it wasn't like a dungeon or anything...it was this - this bedroom...everything stainless steel. I had a stereo, the latest CD's....the computer that basically saved my life..."Lucky's voice trailed off. "He brought me Eli's from time to time.

He was totally sugar coating everything, yet he didn't know if there were any other choice. 'Am I supposed to tell her how miserable I was?! I'm gonna be crying my eyes out in a matter of seconds if I even go there with her!'

"Did you ever...did you ever try and escape Lucky?" She asked. 'Is that another stupid question?' She thought, awaiting his answer.

Lucky licked his lips. "Yeah," he answered nervously. "But he...he threatened...my family you know?...I couldn't' take the chance of anything happening.......to them," he added swallowing hard.

It wasn't a total lie. Faison had threatened Elizabeth, and she WAS family, but that didn't stop Lucky from silently berating himself in the dark. 'Why don't you just tell her the truth, you idiot?...Because if she knew you stayed in that Hell hole for her sake, she'd never get over it. That's why...ugh...I hate this.'

His thoughts ceased as he felt the small hand on his chest travel up and around the back of his neck, stopping at his nape and fingering the smooth hair there. He took a deep breath, a lump forming in his throat from the simple gesture.

"Did he hurt you?" She whispered, afraid of the answer.

"No, Elizabeth...not physically," he said. His voice hallow. A moment later he grasped her roaming hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her palm. "So," he began, turning the tables. "Tell me what's been going on with you...and DON'T just say 'school'...I want details Elizabeth."

Liz laughed nervously, trying to think of something she could say, anything to stall him from finding out the things that would undoubtedly drive him away. All she wanted was one night. One night to pretend that nothing had changed. That the world was divinely perfect and that they were the only two living souls on Earth. For one night she wanted to be the Elizabeth that Lucky Spencer fell in love with.

She laughed again as she drummed her fingers against his chest. "Well," she said, her voice laced with artificial glee. "I'm afraid I've taken up the nasty habit of smoking again."

'Bad,' Liz thought. 'But by far the tamest of things you could admit to him.'

"Are you serious?" Lucky asked, his voice unreadable.

"Yeah," she said quietly. "Funny thing I haven't had the urge for one since I saw you in my hospital room."

"Guess, you can just call me the Lucky Patch then, huh?"

Liz took a deep breath, realizing that he wasn't disgusted by the thought. "Yeah," Liz giggled. Her laugh faded as she continued. "I just needed something to look forward to, you know?..."

Silence fell upon them again as Lucky pondered this new revelation. 'At least she told you something,' he thought. Yet, he wanted to know more. Everything. He wondered if now was the time to broach one of the many subjects that loomed over them.

"Something to look forward to," he repeated her words softly, stroking her back. "Was that what the New Year's Eve party was all about too Elizabeth?...something to look forward to?"

He breathed in deeply as he felt her roll away from him. The cold air rushing against his side and chest. He shivered. He reached up turning the lamp that sat by his side of the bed on. He needed to see her face.

It broke his heart to see tears in her eyes. Tears that he had obviously put there. 'Damn Faison! Damn Helena!...If it weren't for them..none of this would be happening right now. Elizabeth and I would be in New York City...just like we planned..' He moved closer to her, and slowly smoothed the back of his hand over her damp cheek.

"Lucky," she choked out through her tears. "I really don't - "

"Elizabeth...please," Lucky whispered, wiping the tears away from just under her sad blue eyes. "Honey I can tell that something is wrong here...something...Elizabeth you're hurting and I wanna fix it...you can tell me anything."

Her crying turned to sobbing immediately as he lay closer to her, wrapping his arms around her. "Let me help you Elizabeth," he whispered in her ear. "Please..."

Liz fought for words as they seemed to lodge in her tightening throat. "I - I ..." she shook her head as she continued to struggle. "Lucky I...I just got lost...Lucky I got so lost...I didn't know what I was doing anymore...I wasn't thinking....and I missed you so much," she rambled her words barely distinguishable in her agony.

Lucky didn't understand exactly what she was trying to tell him and at that moment he didn't really care. The only thing he wanted was to ease her pain. Both of their pain. He silenced her then, as he pressed his lips firmly against her quivering mouth, evoking a small moan that mixed with her body-wracking sobs. His hands found either side of her face, as he pulled her closer, deepening their kiss.

Their tears intermingled as their kiss evolved into a slew of kisses. Hungry, fast kisses. Kisses that neither one of them had ever experienced. Each of them felt as if they might devour the other in a matter of seconds. No fears. No regrets. Just a passion that had been denied for far too long.

Lucky's body reacted quickly to hers, his hands roaming up and down the sides of her body. He suddenly couldn't get enough of touching her. He placed warm kisses on her collar bone, as his hands frantically searched for the few buttons that closed the top portion of her T-shirt. He pulled back a bit when her hands begun pushing his T-shirt up and off of his chest first. He aided her, raising his arms. He then continued his task, her shirt rising to just below her breasts. He leaned down kissing her stomach and burning the soft skin there. Liz writhed beneath him.

She ran her fingers restlessly through his tousled hair, bringing him back up to her face level. Every inch of her face and neck had been kissed before her T-shirt finally came off by her own doing. She sighed in ecstasy as Lucky's palm covered her breast and then the other, all the while kissing her breathless.

She ran her hands over the strong muscles of his back, pushing him down, closer to her. She needed to feel his skin against hers.

Lucky groaned as he felt her hands slide down his back and begin to curl over the waistband of his boxers. "Elizabeth," he panted, some subconscious portion of his brain telling him to stop this before it went too far. That now was not the right time for this.

"I love you," she murmured, before his words found the way from his mouth. Her words were muddled with her constant kisses. She repeated herself. "I love you."

His thoughts were lost as her gave into her soft, full lips and unbelievably satin-like skin. Her hands were everywhere. He couldn't even think anymore. "I love you," he said aloud kissing her next to her ear as he felt his shorts being drawn down his legs by her feet.

She lifted her hips as he began to withdraw the pajama pants that covered her followed by her panties. Every cell in her body wanted this. She couldn't have stopped if she wanted to, it was as if she had been taken over by some other force beyond both of their control.

Her mouth dropped open slightly as he entered her, slowly and gently. His pace had significantly slowed since he'd first touched her only moments ago. The feeling was indescribable. The warmth he created within her as he thrust a bit deeper inside of her was incredible. Elizabeth's head fell back on her pillow as she heard him moan her name. She was incapable of responding.

His hands found her face once again as he brought her back to him, kissing her tenderly upon on the lips over and over again. They both neared the point of supreme pleasure. Mere seconds passed before he pulled away just far enough to look deeply into her eyes, seeing nothing but love for the first time since he'd been back. No fear, no anxiousness. Just love. Their bodies reached complete bliss at that very moment.