Lucky breathed in deeply as he rolled to his side, bringing Elizabeth with him. Had that just happened? He felt her arms tighten around his waist and knew that it had.

He ran his hand along the side of her face continuously, as she lay her head upon his chest. He struggled for the words that did not seem to be coming. What had he just done? His hand stilled on her cheek as his breathing slowly returned to normal.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice nearly inaudible. His lip beginning to tremble.

Liz bit her own lip and shook her head slowly. Her eyes quickly glossed over with tears. "I don't understand," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. "You're sorry?"

Lucky licked his lips and shook his head furiously, realizing what she must have thought. "No...no, Elizabeth...I'm not sorry for...for...God, Elizabeth that was....that was so incredibly amazing," he said swallowing. He had never in his life felt this much in love with her. How was it even possible to love her more than he had yesterday or the day before that? His chest felt tight, as if his heart would explode at any moment. She had to know that.

"No...I'm just sorry that it wasn't what you always wanted it to be...no candles, no light bounceing off the walls. You deserve all that Elizabeth...you deserved so much more than - "

"Ssh," Liz interrupted, placing a gentle finger to his lips. "Lucky...it was perfect. It was beautiful," she said, smoothing her finger across his soft lips. "Was it...was I....how...."

"Perfect," Lucky answered, as he cupped her face in his hands, kissing her softly and tenderly. His body partially covering hers. 'How could she think she was anything other than perfect?' Lucky thought, just before another more plaguing thought crossed his mind. "Are you ok?" He asked suddenly, feeling like the world's biggest ass for not having made sure she was before.

"Better than ok," she smiled, kissing him back firmly.

They kissed for long minutes before Lucky returned to reality, suddenly pulling away slightly as if frigtened by his own memory. "Elizabeth," he began, searching her eyes. "We...I didn't use anything...I didn't even think...I wasn't thinking....I just - "

"It's ok," Elizabeth said, smiling weakly as she brushed strands of hair from his eyes. "I know."

"You know?" Lucky asked, not quite understanding her meaning.

"I thought about it," Liz admitted, her voice small. "When we...when you were about to...but I didn't say anything...Lucky I didn't want you to stop," she said, a tear escaping down her cheek. "Are you mad?"

"No," Lucky whispered, brushing her tears away. He placed tiny kisses where they had been. "I could never be mad at you...we'll just have to be more careful next time," he smiled, hoping to coax a smile from her too. He succeeded as he watched her grin and close her eyes drowsily.

"You tired?" He whispered, rolling to his side and bundleing her up in his arms.

Elizabeth nodded slowly as his arms encircled her bare form. She snuggled against his chest. It was the saftest and the most loved she'd ever felt in her entire 18 years. She never wanted it to end. "I love you," she murmed.

Lucky inhaled the sent of her hair as he placed a kiss on the top of her head, closing his eyes too. They didn't have to talk tonight did they? It could wait right? Neither of them were going anywhere. There would be more than enough time to talk about everything that had happened during the last months."I love you too....Good night sweet angel."

~~~~~~~~~

"I want my mother found!" Stephan ground out as he leaned over his desk. His eyes bulged as he held the receiver closer to his ear. "I don't know where she is! If I knew where she was would I be asking you?!.....No.....Yes....FIND HER!" Stephan finished, slamming the phone back down upon the cherry wood in front of him.

He paced his study over and over again. He had to get to Helena before Luke Spencer returned from whatever idiotic mission he was on, trying to find Cesar Faison. Stephan sighed as he sank down in his chair.

How had it come to this? He was suddenly more than willing to work with his mother if if meant keeping Laura with him forever. If it meant getting rid of Luke Spencer for good.

"Damnit Mother!" Stephan said aloud. "You're plan almost worked....but you got careless didn't you?! You underestimated the Spencer boy!....I will not let you make the same mistake twice!"

Stephan groaned aloud wondering which of the Spencer men he hated more. No matter. He'd do whatever it took. He wouldn't lose Laura now. He couldn't.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Don't you think you oughtta slow down sir?" Taggert said as he leaned back against his seat, holding on for dear life.

Mac's grip on the steering wheel tightened, as his foot became even heavier upon the gas pedal. He could not believe that this was happening...Cesar Faison, alive? How could it be? Hadn't the boat exploded, killing him. Along with Robert and Anna? Was there a chance that his brother and sister-in-law had survived as well? 'Ugh! So many questions...not enough answers,' thought Mac, his knuckles turning white.

"Taggert...this man killed my brother and his wife...he's supposed to be dead! He's supposed to be in Hell!"

"Commissoner," Taggert began, sighing. "Are you absolutely sure that - "

"No Taggert! I'm not absolutely sure. I won't be ABSOLUTELY sure until I lay eyes on that bastard...but until then I'm going to take my wife's word...Luke Spencer told her to be careful. He told her that this man...that Cesar Faison kidnapped Lucky. She showed him a picture and everything Taggert...." Mac's voice trailed off, trying to make sense of it all. His family was suddenly in danger again, from a man that should have been long dead. "Luke wouldn't just make all of this up...I just hope we get there in time...there's no telling what Luke will do to this guy...but he's gonna have to get in line behind me...Faison is mine."

~~~~~~~~

Lucky woke with a start, hearing the low moaning beside him. He'd thought it a dream at first. Since when did anyone sleep beside him in that small bed? The fog cleared as he opened his eyes. He was no longer in the steel room that he was so used to waking up to. The vision beside him ended his confusion.

He lay there for a moment, trying to make out her words. They were jumbled, but definitely words. He reached out to her, anxious to wake her up and end whatever torture she was putting herself through. When a lone distinguishable word escaped her lips, causing his hand to recoil.

"Nikolas..."She moaned, clear and loud in the silence of the room.

Her head moved from side to side, as if trying to shake whatever dream encased her mind. Her eyebrows furrowed in pain, her lip beginning to tremble. "No...love...Nikolas...no..."

Lucky breathed in deeply and licked his lips, determined not to let her words plague him. Hit that spot he had no desire for them to hit. They didn't mean anything. He shook of the picture that entered his mind of the love of his life and his brother in each other's arms. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out Faison's voice: "Awww...don't they look cozy."

'That's shear insanity,' Lucky thought as he sat up slightly. 'You're letting what Faison did make you paranoid...this is exactly what he wanted to happen...she's just dreaming...it's no big deal...it doesn't mean anything...wake her up you idiot.'

Liz opened her eyes, startled. She quickly calmed as she looked into the eyes above her, the hand caressing her face. Her eyes filled with tears as she realized once agian where she was and who she was with. The dream already a faded memory that she'd never fully recall.

"You ok?" Lucky asked, laying back down and taking her in his arms.

"I am now," she whispered, sleep already beginning to overcome her once again.

"Goodnight," Lucky said for the third time that evening, knowing that the sandman would not be coming for him that night.

Chapter 24

Lucky bolted straight up in bed, hearing the doorbell ring once again. He'd thought it a dream at first, but realized he hadn't even been asleep long enough to begin dreaming. He looked at the clock that stood on the nightstand beside her bed. '7:30,' he thought. 'Who's coming by at 7:30 in the morning?...Audrey's got a key...she doesn't even get off until noon...shit...no can't be her...calm down...' His thoughts were cut short by the sound of the doorbell chiming once again.

He sighed as he rolled out of the warm bed, her beautiful body still asleep and naked beside his. He drew the covers up to her neck, caressing her cheek and quickly turning away. He'd never leave the room if he didn't. He threw on his jeans from the night before and the flannel shirt that had hung on the back of Liz's chair.

Lucky still couldn't believe that he and Elizabeth had actually made love in that very bed only hours ago. He quickly shook off the wondrous images that played over in his mind. 'God, I love her,' he thought as he slowly descended the stairs. He wasn't exactly anxious to face the outside world. He never wanted to leave this house.

"Hey," Lucky said as he opened the door, shocked to see Nikolas standing outside in the morning frost. "Those for me?" He asked, noting the bouquet of pink roses that he held.

Lucky cracked a smile then, forcing himself to forget the words uttered in the darkness of the night before. Forcing himself to forget Nikolas' weird behavior at the hospital only days ago. 'He was surprised to see his dead brother standing in front of him....it's that simple,' Lucky thought. 'Get a grip...how would you act in that situation...probably the same way he did.'

Nikolas smiled and chuckled lightly. "No...they're for the patient...How's she doing by the way?" He asked, moving past Lucky's rigid frame and into the living room. He looked towards the stairs.

Lucky turned around slowly, pushing the door closed with one hand and following Nikolas' gaze.

"Good," Lucky said, his voice hallow. "She's good."

Nikolas stood near the couch, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Is she...is she awake?" He asked, not understanding why he suddenly felt so nervous. 'Damnit,' he thought. 'Last week I would have come over here without a second thought...and now...all of a sudden, you can't come see her?! Why? Because he's back?!'

Lucky's eyes narrowed as he watched Nikolas shifting back and forth, listened to his measured words. 'What the Hell is he so nervous about?' He thought. The idea swiftly dissipated as he paid heed to his own odd behavior. 'Well, maybe because you're watching him like a hawk, you moron!' He silently chided himself.

"No," Lucky answered, finally piping up as he walked towards Nikolas. He bit his bottom lip. "She's still asleep...it's still early you know," he added, giving Nikolas a quick grin.

Nikolas looked towards the stairs once again and then back to Lucky, taking in his disheveled appearance. 'Did he spend the night here...with her...' The thought made his stomach flip-flop. "Yeah," Nikolas answered, grinning back. "I just...you know...wanted to see how she was doing after the accident...I was worried...and you know...I just wanted to give her these," he added raising the bouquet.

Lucky nodded, biting his lip even harder. A faint taste of blood apparent. "Yeah," he said smiling, and reaching for the flowers. "Ok well, I can give them to - "

"No!" Nikolas said, his voice involuntarily raising a few octaves. "I'm sorry," he said, quickly correcting his loss of control. "I just...I just want to give them to her myself it that's alright with you..." his voice trailed off as he sat down on the couch. His eyes seeking refuge from Lucky's piercing gaze.

A sound resembling a sigh and partially a laugh escaped Lucky's throat as the realization of what was going on sunk in. 'He wants her,' he thought. The other voice in his head telling him it couldn't be true, but being drowned out by the one that needed to be heard. 'He wants her....Nikolas wants Elizabeth.'

"Nikolas," Lucky began, absently shaking his head and interrupting his own stream of consciousness before it got the better of him. "I just told you she's asleep...she probably will be for quite awhile...she's had a tough couple of days, you know?"

"She's had a tough few months Lucky!" Nikolas spat out, unable to stop his words before they'd flown from his lips.

Lucky's mouth dropped open slightly, shocked by the outburst. 'What in the Hell is going on here! He's gonna wait...he's gonna wait until she wakes up...this shit is unbelievable...once a Cassi...'

"I know that," Lucky said, almost whispering. His voice controlled. "We all have."

"Humph," Nikolas grunted. An unintelligible nothing to most, but unmistakably sarcastic as he turned his head away from his brother.

"What was that?" Lucky asked, cocking his head to the side. He suddenly felt as if something was ticking inside of his head.

"What was what?" Nikolas asked, faining innocence as he turned back towards Lucky.

"That...that 'humph'...that sound you just made...What the Hell was that Nikolas, huh?!" Lucky asked, his voice raising. "I don't know where you think I've been for the last few months Nikolas, but I can assure you it was no picnic! I wasn't on some damned extended vacation!...You should maybe ask your grandmother and find out about the accomodations....yeah...nothing like your fancy home in Greece I'm sure, Prince Nikolas."

Nikolas stood up, Lucky having stricken a nerve. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to imply that you had been ...it's just that...Elizabeth and I have been through so much together you know..."

'Elizabeth,' Lucky thought, glancing down at the floor quickly. 'Since when does this ass walk around calling her Elizabeth?....Elizabeth..God, I hope she's still asleep...asleep....wait...what she said...no...this is bullshit...this is all Nikolas...this is...'

"Yeah, she's been through a lot," Lucky said, looking up. "I mean that's what you keep saying right?...I mean that's what everyone keeps saying..." his voice trailed off as he plopped down in the Lazy Boy, placing his hands firmly against the arm rests. His fingers dug into the upholstery. "So...Nikolas...why don't you do me a favor since your so eager to tell me something here...why don't you just do it...get it off your chest already."

Nikolas sighed and shook his head as he sat back down on the coach opposite Lucky. 'Haven't heard this tone in awhile Lucky...'

"She wasn't the same Lucky...she hasn't been the same since you left - "

"Kidnapped!," Lucky corrected. "Try and keep that straight Nikolas. Kidnapped...and yeah Nikolas...she was grieving...what did you expect a ticker tape parade?"

Nikolas chuckled bitterly. "You think you know everything don't you?...You think you know every damn thing there is to know about Elizbeth...well let me fill you in Lucky, cause you don't know anything!...Do you know what happened the night you came back Lucky?! Do you!...No. You don't....let me tell you Lucky. Let me tell you what your girlfriend really got into that night...She got really drunk Lucky...yeah, you know that part from the hospital report right? Right....well, guess what else...did you know she almost had sex with some random guy at the party that night...Yeah, Lucky..that's right. And guess who saved her Lucky?...No, not you..ME, Lucky..Me! Did you know that Lucky?!"

Lucky jumped out of the chair at that very instant, his forearm pressing against Nikolas' neck in an effort to shut him up. He couldn't take it any longer. His head felt as if it would explode in a matter of seconds. "Shut up!" He hissed, holding Nikolas against the couch as his forearm continued to press relentlessly against his windpipe.

Nikolas couldn't breathe. He couldn't move. He couldn't fathom how strong Lucky had become in the past few months. In the old days this show of aggression would have caused him to laugh out loud at his little brothers weakness, but at that very moment, he was scared. He'd never seen that look before. A look of pure rage flashed before Lucky's eyes. He'd never seen him this angry...never this unhinged.

Suddenly Lucky let go, releasing Nikolas from his chokehold. Nikolas hunched foward, gasping for breath as Lucky backed away slowly.

Lucky's eyes stared blankly at the floor as his feet moved, seemingly glued to their foundation. He said nothing as he turned, nearly stumbling over the small step. He had to get out. Had to breathe.