Lucky stared up at the ceiling unable to sleep, unable to secure a moments peace. He rolled over, bringing his legs up to his chest in an effort to warm his ice cold feet. The small bed he'd slept in throughout much of his adolescence, no longer accommodated the length of his body. He sighed frustratedly in the darkness thinking of the days events, thinking of her. Thinking of how she'd lied to him.

After he'd left Emily's he'd thought of going to her, confronting her, telling her he knew the truth and forcing her to own up to it. Yet he realized just as quickly that he couldn't. Not then. Not when he was so angry. So hurt. Not when she was so fragile.

He thought back to when she'd awaken in the hospital room and he remembered thinking even then how crazy that was. How completely insane they were not to have let her into that school. Were they blind? Did they not see how talented she was? But it turned out that he had been the one who was blind. He had believed every word. She was his Elizabeth, the one person he could count on not to lie.

As his anger resurfaced, he tossed again, remembering how small she'd looked lying in that bed. Like his angel. An angel whose wings had been broken. He thought about how she looked now and realized that her wings had yet to be mended. His resurrection hadn't been the miracle to turn that around, and he still lacked the tools to know how.

No. The last thing she needed was him accusing her of lying, even though it was eating him up inside to know that she had.

He had walked home then, after visiting Emily and adding it to the list of conversations for another time. A time when she wasn't so raw, a time when he wasn't so completely bitter at the world and the hand he'd been dealt.

Tonight had been a time to come home and solemnly eat dinner with his mother and LuLu. A barbecued feast, that he'd promptly thrown up as soon as he could. His stomach growled now at it's lack of nourishment. It had been a night of old photographs, and trips down memory lane. A night of cold sheets in some innocent child's bed. A night of noticing that all of your childhood memorabilia really had been stripped from the walls and furniture, and that once again Faison had been right.

Lucky closed his eyes as flashes of his wicked home videos raced through his mind. Their lunches outside of Kelly's, their talks on his porch and on the docks.

The docks. The place that would forever remain shrine-like in his eyes. The place where their eyes had met at the stroke of midnight. Her disbelieving, untrusting eyes. Did she still not believe him real? Did she still believe him an apparition of some kind, was that what the problem was?

Was that why she couldn't bring herself to open up? To tell the truth? Probably something she had shared with Nikolas while he'd been locked up. He was probably there when she got her acceptance letter. Probably their to congratulate her, to hold her, to see her smile.

Lucky turned over yet again, blindsided by the glowing numbers of the clock that sat next to him. It was exactly 1a.m.. He jumped halfway out of his skin when he heard the old door creak open.

"Lucky?" she whispered, walking slowly over to the foot of the bed.

Lucky exhaled and smiled, when he realized it was LuLu. 'You gotta stop doing that!' he thought, silently berating himself for his fear. "Hey princess," he said, sitting up against the headboard. He patted the side of the bed next to him, and she quickly jumped atop the covers. "What are you doin' up so late, huh?"

"No reason," she said shyly, as she picked at fir on the brown and white stuffed dog that she carried. "I just wanted to make sure you were ok," she whispered looking down.

Lucky's throat tightened as he leaned forward, placing a kiss on her rosy cheek. "I'm great...now that my little sister is here...I'm great. Thank you," he fibbed.

He looked down at the toy she had in her arms, smiling. "Hey...do you know who gave that to you?"

She smiled sweetly and tilted her head to the side, pointing her tiny finger at him. "Lucky did."

He smiled broadened. He could not believe she remembered after all this time."That's right...for your birthday."

"I remember, 'cause Lizbet got me one too...except hers was a small one...and you said yours was that one's big brother."

Lucky sighed at the memory coming back to him. The summer they'd tried to trap Murty. The summer Elizabeth had stabbed him. Ironically it all brought a smile to his face.

"That's right, " he said as he ran a hand across the dogs fir. LuLu continued telling him her story.

"The big brother went away for a while...so, I only had the small one to play with...but the big brother came back now...so the small one is happy."

Lucky bit down on his lip quickly and blinked back his tears, determined not to cry in front of his baby sister. He pulled her down to lie beside him.

"Lizbet doesn't come around much anymore...Mommy says it's cause she's too sad."

Lucky smoothed his hand across her silky brown hair, as she snuggled under his arm. "Mommy says she's sad?...Was she LuLu?...Was she sad a lot?" He asked quietly.

"Yeah," she said, her eyelids beginning to flutter with the weight of sleep. "Right after you flew to heaven...Lizbet used to come over and play with me...she would come over with Nikki...she smiled...Lizbet smiled all the time...but she was sad."

Lucky licked his lips. "Well, how did you know she was so sad then...if she smiled all the time?"

LuLu's eyes closed as she began to lose her battle with the sandman. "Her eyes...her eyes didn't smile no more."

Lucky turned his head, wiping at the tears that streamed silently down his face. He couldn't seem to stop them. He turned back to her as she continued. "One time...one time Mommy sent me upstairs to put away...put away my toys...and I seen Lizbet crying...in..." her voice trailed off as she yawned, "In here.."

"In here?" Lucky asked, swallowing against the lump in his throat. He looked down when no response came. She was sound asleep.

~~~~~~~~~

Elizabeth stared up at the ceiling, unable to sleep. Unable to close her eyes.

Why hadn't he called? Why hadn't he as least called to say goodnight? Did he realize how much she worried? How alone she felt right now?

'Oh God,' Elizabeth thought. 'What if...what if, me telling him all that stuff about the car accident...about that night...what if he just couldn't take it and he doesn't want to deal with me anymore...oh God...please, just let him come back. Please let him love me still.'

She rolled over, coming face to face with the photo of them that was taken at the No Name. It was illuminated by the light from the moon streaming in through the window. 'We were so happy then,' She thought.

She looked up then, as the tapping on her window startled her. The most beautiful sight she'd ever seen staring back at her. The most beautiful eyes she would ever encounter looking straight into her soul.

Chapter 34

Elizabeth sprang up from her bed instantaneously, throwing the covers off of her. She ran to the window, practically throwing it open in her haste.

He watched as she smiled. Her face glowing as the moonlight shown against it. The light sprinkling of snow upon the window sill seemed to reflect the glow as well, framing her in it's magic. Her eyes sparkled like two beautiful sapphires and her skin seemed almost luminous. She took his breath away.

Lucky placed his hands gently over hers and she looked almost surprised. Surprised by the gesture, surprised he was even there. "Can I come in?" he asked softly.

"Of course...of course," she nodded, stepping away from the window to allow him entrance. "You must be freezing."

She could tell he was smiling as his words floated to her in the darkness. "I'm not cold...it's beautiful outside."

Elizabeth smiled awkwardly. There was something different about his voice tonight. Something had changed. Once he was fully inside the room, she reached around him to switch on the lamp. She stopped when his hand gently grasped hers.

"Wait," he whispered, narrowing the space between them.

Before she could question his action, she felt his hands at the sides of her face, tilting her head upwards. His lips were soft. So incredibly soft against hers that she thought for a moment that she may have fallen asleep afterall. Maybe this was all a dream.

He pulled away a few moments later and slowly, almost methodically brushed his thumb over the fullness of her lips. Back and forth, back and forth as they stood in the dark, mere inches apart. She could feel the warmth of his body and his breath on her skin, he was so close. Everything in the world had stopped. There was no sound and no one else in the world but them. She wanted to lose herself in his touch. Lose herself forever.

Lucky's voice barely made a sound when he finally spoke, the nearness of her parching his throat. He pulled his hand away. "Elizabeth...I love you."

She nodded slowly. He had said those three words as if he were saying them to her for the very first time. "I love you too Lucky," she said aloud, in a reassuring tone. Surely he didn't doubt it, did he?

Lucky realized it was still dark. He needed to see her face for this. Needed to know she understood everything he was about to say. He turned around and flicked the lamp on.

Her eyes searched his as he faced her once again. They were different as well. He looked...he looked as if he'd been let in on some big secret. Some secret that he was about to share with her. A secret that would change both of their lives.

He breathed deeply, looking down for a moment an entwining his fingers with hers. He looked up and caressed her cheek lovingly. "Elizabeth, do you realize what we've been given?" he asked, staring into deeply into her eyes. "Do you realize we've been given something that nobody gets?...A second chance...For some reason, somebody saw fit to give us one..."

"Yes, Lucky...of course," Elizabeth nodded. She smiled awkwardly. "What brought this - "

"I don't know Elizabeth," he interrupted, beginning to pace the room. She followed him with her eyes. "I don't know...I was talking to my sister tonight and when she fell asleep...something just...something just hit me Elizabeth...this is it!" He said walking back towards her. "We promised each other forever in that church, and God was listening! Elizabeth this is our chance but we have to make the most of it...we have to...we have to take this opportunity to have everything we wanted...but baby," he said, lowering his voice. "We have to nurture it, and take care of it...and the only way to take care of it, is by taking care of each other...and the only way to do that is to be completely honest with each other....even when it hurts."

Elizabeth was completely quiet now as he stared into her eyes. She knew what he wanted. She knew he needed the truth, and she knew she needed to tell him but, it was just so difficult.

"Elizabeth....." he began softly.

"The Art Academy accepted me," she said quietly, looking down.

Lucky involuntarily let out a breath he had been holding, as she continued. 'Thank you, God.' He thought.

"They offered me a full scholarship...twice. But I turned them down," she continued, finally meeting his gaze.

Lucky swallowed hard against the lump in his throat as he neared her and she sunk down upon the unmade bed. Her chin began to quiver and she quickly looked downwards and away from his eyes once again. "Why?" she heard him ask softly.

She shook her head, unwilling to answer. Unwilling to hurt him this way.

"Elizabeth....even when it hurts," he said, repeating his earlier words.

She looked up then, her voice exiting her throat completely riddled with emotion. "Because I couldn't go without you!" She said, her voice rising several octaves. She quickly tried controlling herself. Not wanting to yell at Lucky, not wanting to wake her grandmother that slept only feet away. She rose from the bed, walking past him and toward her dresser. She could not face him. "Lucky..." she began, staring at the carpet, at the wall, at anything but his eyes. Anything not to see his soul crumble at her hands. "I couldn't go without you...I couldn't pick out an apartment, go for walks on the street, and curl up in front of our fireplace without you! I couldn't go to that little restaurant where the owner would know our names and give us seconds without you! I just couldn't," she uttered, her shoulders trembling under the weight of her own despair. "I just couldn't............I just couldn't."

Lucky wanted to go to her, wanted to wrap his arms around her and tell her that he understood. That everything was going to be fine now. That they would be alright. But he knew there was so much more to be said.

"It's ok," he said, his voice nearly inaudible. His own tears running freely down his cheeks. He wiped vigorously at them as she turned to face him finally. "Elizabeth...I understand that...I mean, I wish...I wish...you had gone. I wish you had pursued your dream of being an artist...I wish...I wish I hadn't been the one to make you put that off - "

"But you weren't Lucky," she said, quickly cutting him off as she walked towards him. "It was me. I'm the one that wasn't strong enough to do it alone...it was all me," she sobbed.

Lucky grabbed her then, pulling her into his arms as she they both cried silently upon each others shoulders. Lucky nestled his head between her neck and shoulder and ran his hand through her hair endlessly. "You're so incredibly strong Elizabeth," he sniffled. "So incredibly strong."

She shook her head, disbelievingly as he rubbed her back soothingly. He pulled away after a few moments and lightly brushed the tears from under her eyes. "There's something...something I need to let you know. Something I didn't tell you about the last eight months...something I didn't tell you because I was afraid of hurting you too."

Liz placed her hands on top of his as they still covered her cheeks. "Go on," she whispered. "I wanna know everything Lucky...I want you to feel you can share all of that stuff with me."

Lucky tilted his head to the side and stared at her. This beautiful creature before him that had been through so much pain already. So much pain because of him. How could he do this to her? How could he break her heart time and time again?

He squeezed her eyes shut and looked towards the carpet. "I lied...about why I stayed. Why I never tried to escape again...after the first few times...it wasn't because he threatened to hurt my family, Elizabeth.......it was because he threatened to hurt you."

Elizabeth's mouth dropped open slightly, as she brought her hand up quickly. Trying to stifle the uncoming flood. She couldn't do it. She shook her head as she began to sob again. "I'm sorry," she said looking into his eyes. She placed her hand on either side of his face and said the words over and over again. "I'm sorry Lucky...I'm so sorry."

"Ssh," Lucky whispered as he brushed at the tears that fell rapidly down her face. "It's not your fault...it's his...it's his." He pressed his lips to her forehead, holding her head in his hands. He licked his lips as he retreated. There was no way he could continue this while staring into those eyes that were so pained. He walked away from her. "I couldn't take the chance Elizabeth...I couldn't let him hurt you...I wouldn't let him touch you...ever. It tore me up inside not being the one with you when you got your acceptance letter. Knowing I wouldn't be the one you'd marry. Or the one you'd love for the rest of your life..."

"But you were Lucky!" Liz exclaimed, turning to look at him. "You are! You always have been...forever."

Lucky looked down at his shoes, sniffling. "He...he used to show me tapes...videotapes of you at Kelly's or on the docks...or at Nikolas' place....." His voice trailed off and suddenly Elizabeth realized what he was getting at.

"I know.....Elizabeth," Lucky whispered looking up and into her eyes as she stood across the room. "I know about Nikolas and and how he feels about you."

Elizabeth swallowed, unable to form a complete sentence. "How?"

Lucky sighed and looked away. "Faison always tried to make me think something was happening between the two of you...he always made little comments you know?...but I never believed him...I never did...until..."

"Until?" Elizabeth questioned, stunned that he would even think it was a possibility that Nikolas had ever been more to her than a friend.

"Until...I got back and Nikolas...well Nikolas made it abundantly clear that he wasn't glad to have me back...that he had feelings for you."

"He said that?" Elizabeth asked, walking closer.

"Not in so many words...no...but he got his point across, believe me...that morning. That morning after we...after we made love, he came by the house and we almost tore each other apart Elizabeth...there was all this hostility and now I know where it came from...he hated the thought of you and I back together. And he hated it because he loves you!"

"But I don't love him!" Liz said, practically shouting as she grabbed his hand. She placed her finger under his chin and forced him to meet her gaze. "Lucky I don't love him...nothing EVER happened between us! Whatever Nikolas feels for me is ONE-sided....Lucky," she said whispering to him as she rested her hand on his cheek. His eyes brimmed with tears. "Lucky...it's always been you...always."

Lucky closed his eyes and leaned his head into her hand. Liz felt the moisture of his tears hit her palm as they escaped from under his moist lashes. She leaned in, kissing away the tears that still lingered on his face. "I love you...and only you...forever," she mumbled as she placed light kisses upon his eyelids. She pressed her lips softly to his and she pulled away finally as he opened his eyes, staring at her.

She looked into his eyes and she smiled when he smiled at her. He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips and held it there as he spoke. "I love you...and I would do it all over again Elizabeth."

Liz narrowed the space between them once again, resting her forehead against his. She opened his eyes as he spoke again, feeling his breath on her lips. "Come with me somewhere."

"Where?" she asked, looking up.

"Come on," he said pulling her by the hand. "You'll see."

 ~~~~~~~~~

It's undeniable that we should be together It's unbelievable how I used to say that I'd fall never The basis of need to know, if you don't know just how I feel Let me show you now, that I'm for real If all things in time, time will reveal.......

Liz laughed as Lucky pulled her through the recent snow on the ground. It had snowed just hours earlier and it was so white against the moonlight that it hurt to look at it. She looked around, taking in the huge world around her as she realized where they were headed.

"Lucky why are we going to the boxcar at 3:00 in the morning?"

"You gotta problem with the boxcar now?" He asked still trudging through the thick ice at their feet. His breath hit the air in clouds of fog.

She laughed, as the boxcar came into sight. "No...not at all."

Lucky stopped suddenly as they stood right in front of the car. More precisely in front of the door.

One - You're like a dream come true. Two - Just wanna be with you. Three - Girl, it's plain to see that you're the only one for me. And Four - Repeat steps one thru three. Five - Make you fall in love with me. If I ever I believe my job is done. Then I'll start back at one.

"Lucky...what are we doing?" she smiled.

"Do you know where we are?....Do remember what happened in this exact spot?"

Liz licked her lips, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Yeah...I remember...you kissed me, for the first time...right here."

"Oh, I kissed YOU?"

"Yeah," she said socking him playfully in the shoulder. "YOU kissed me."

"Oh," Lucky said, significantly narrowing the space between them. Their noses brushed against each others. "Well...that's good......'cause I'm gonna do it again."

It's so incredible The way things work themselves out And all emotional Once you know what it's all about, hey And undesirable For us to be Apart 'Cause you know you got the keys to my heart

He leaned in then, pressing his lips tenderly against hers. As a moment of complete clarity and bliss washed over them, the heavens opening up as the flakes of white ice began to fall around them. He pulled away slightly looking into her eyes, knowing that she felt it too. Things were different. They were different.

Say farewell to the dark of night I see the coming of the sun I feel like a little child Whose life has just begun

The magic that started with their first moment here had been tarnished. A little less than golden now, but now...This second, this moment in time contained it's own magic. A new magic, a stronger magic. A magic that would get them through the rest of their lives together as one. Come what may.

You came and breathed new life into this lonely heart of mine You threw out the lifeline Just in the nick of time

He kissed her again, as his arms encircled her waist and her hands sought out his hair. They were a little less timid this time around, a little less afraid of things to come, and more in love than ever before.

One - You're like a dream come true Two - Just wanna be with you Three - Girl, it's plain to see that you're the only one for me And Four - Repeat steps one thru three Five - Make you fall in love with me. If ever I believe my work is done. Then I'll start Back at one.

Song: Back at One by Brian McKnight