"No Gram," Elizabeth said, rising from the couch in frustration. "I'm NOT crazy!"

She had been sitting in her grandmother's living room for exactly 5 minutes, and already she had been accused of temporary insanity. She was strongly beginning to doubt the wisdom of coming here. Of telling her grandmother anything at all. 'You should have just left Elizabeth,' she thought silently. 'Just walked out, and not told her a damn thing!...Yeah, and how fair would that have been Elizabeth?...You owe her this much.'

Audrey shook her head in disappointment. She understood her granddaughter's need to be with Lucky, but this was simply not the way she had imagined. She was too young to be on her own. Too uncertain of where her own life was headed. Only a few weeks ago, she'd been so lost. So unbelievably, lost. "Elizabeth, darling...I know you love Lucky...and I KNOW you want to be with him...but this....this....darling, you don't have to move in with him to BE with him."

Elizabeth shook her head. She had to make her grandmother understand, even if she didn't completely understand herself. She knew it was crazy. She knew that moving in with Lucky wasn't sensible. She hadn't even agreed to it at first, but now....now, she couldn't think of anything that felt more right. She sat down again, taking a deep breath before she spoke. She tried her best to calm down. "Gram, I KNOW you don't think I'm ready for this, and I understand why. I understand that I haven't exactly been the picture of sanity this year...but, you have to believe me when I tell you that I KNOW what I'm doing...Gram, Lucky and I need each other."

"And you feel that in order to help each other, you have to LIVE with him?...Elizabeth you're so young. So - "

"Gram! I'm not young! I'm not!....Yeah, sure my birth certificate tells you that I'm 18 years old...but Gram....I don't FEEL young. I haven't felt young in SO long. Don't you see Gram, I grew up a long time ago...........and when Lucky died....when Lucky was kidnapped....I grew old...............Gram, I NEED to do this."

"Elizabeth....dear, I understand that you feel as if your youth has been taken away from you....and I am more sorry for that then you will ever know....but Elizabeth, this is not the way to get it back. What do you think you can possibly accomplish by moving in together? Shouldn't you try living on your own before living with Lucky?"

"Gram, I already HAVE lived alone!"

Audrey's breath caught in her throat, taken aback by Liz's comment. Her face twisted into a painful scowl. Elizabeth realized her grandmother had taken her comment out of context.

"I....I didn't mean it like that Gram. I love you Gram, and I know that you have done your very best to make sure that I had a good home, and that I never felt lonely without Lucky......but Gram, I WAS lonely. I have never been so alone in my life...........Can't you understand that I don't HAVE to be that way anymore? That I've gotten a second chance to be with the man I love, and that I don't want to take any moment for granted? I don't want to waste a minute Gram.......We have lost so much time Gram. I don't wanna lose anymore. Can you understand that?"

Audrey looked down at her feet, suddenly remembering what it felt like those first few months without Steve. The first few years. The ache in her heart came flooding back, and she was finally able to understand her grand daughter's reasoning. If Steve came back today, there would be nothing, no one that could stand in the way of their being together.

When she finally looked up, she smiled wanly. "Yes dear, I can understand that."

~~~~~~~~~~

Lucky slowly pushed open the door, shoving his key back into his pocket as he crossed over the threshold. "Elizabeth," he called out quietly making his way over to the bed. The now, made bed. Where was she?

He walked into the bathroom, noticing the remnants of steam that still clung to the mirror. Wherever she'd gone she hadn't been gone for very long.

Lucky sat down atop the bed, bracing his hands on his knees and leaning forward. The words 'ignore him' had been replaying themselves in his head the entire walk home. Yet, Nikolas' words would not leave him alone. He kept thinking about what he had said. What he had implied. What had silently, yet brutally ripped through his soul in the middle of the condom section of the local supermarket.

"Ugh...Elizabeth....where are you?" He said aloud, looking around the room for a sign of where she had gone. He looked down towards the carpet once again, searching for some type of answer.

'Why wouldn't she tell me about this?' He thought to himself. 'If this was true...if what Nikolas said really happened...she would have told me....She would have.....unless, God unless something really did happen between them...Unless Nikolas just didn't tell you the whole thing...Unless something BIG really happ -........No....It didn't..Of course it didn't!...You know exactly what Nikolas was trying to do...He was trying to get under your skin, just like he always does. You know that...and you LET him do it. You let him do it every, single time...if Elizabeth had really thrown herself at Nikolas, she would have told you. Especially after you promised to be honest with each other...no matter what. Don't let him get to you Spencer....it's just another way for him to make you crazy.'

Lucky's hands covered his face as he sighed. "Come home Elizabeth."

~~~~~~~~~

Nikolas looked up at the door as his sister came toddling in, Laura in tow. "Hey Leslie Lu....how are ya honey?" He asked, as he lifted her up to the sky. She smiled shyly as he lowered her to the couch. "Whatcha doin' here?...Did you come to see your big brother?"

Laura smiled awkwardly as LuLu fidgeted in her seat. She smiled at her son. "LuLu and I are gonna be moving in here. Aren't we honey?" She asked, forcing a smile.

Nikolas' gaze traveled from his sister to his mother. "But...wait...I thought...Well, I know you'd been spending a lot of time here, but I thought that since Lucky was back...."

"That we'd be staying at the old house?" Laura finished, a wistful sound cloaking her voice. "Well...we were, but....well...things -"

"Lucky don't wanna live wid us no more," LuLu said. Her small voice coming out of nowhere. Laura looked down and Nikolas' gaze fell upon his sister. She continued at their silence. "He too sad."

Nikolas shoved his hands into his pockets, the little girl's soft words shooting through his gut like a hot knife. His own words immediately resurfaced in his mind:

'Oh my God....Lucky, I thought you knew about that afternoon...she had to have told you about that right? Don't worry....nothing really happened...but it was....it was Christmas....I thought...Oh man, I thought she told you.'

He knew damned well that Elizabeth probably hadn't shared that bit of information with Lucky. Why should she have? It had been nothing. A less than nothing incident. A less than nothing encounter that he had made seem torrid and deceitful. A story that he had overexaggerated for the sole purpose of hurting his brother.

Nikolas turned to his mother, who was just now looking up from some interesting spot on the rug. "What's wrong with Lucky?" He asked casually.

Laura tilted her head to the side, a bit taken aback by the question. A bit disturbed. "Faison and Helena stole 8 months of his life, that's what's wrong with him Nikolas."

Her son looked quickly towards the opposite wall, and Laura felt immediately guilty for having been short with him. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "I know you're only concerned about him....I guess I'm just having a harder time with this than I thought....and......," Laura continued lowering her voice, in worry that LuLu would overhear."I also heard about your altercation at GH the other day."

Nikolas nodded slowly and once again looked towards the floor, anticipating a lecture of some sort once his sister was out of the room. Not that his mother had ever been very stern with him. She'd be completely understanding of course. The way she always had been. Completely diplomatic.Yet, he was fairly certain that in this instance he did not deserve any understanding or diplomacy.

Laura's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Come on honey," she began, extending her hand to the small girl on the couch. "Let's go get you situated....I'll bet Mrs. Landsbury will make you some of that chocolate mousse that you love so much huh?"

"Yeah," Nikolas said, shaking off the self pity that would get him nowhere. "I'll go ask her right now, ok?"

LuLu nodded solemnly, and Nikolas quickly spoke up again, remembering his sister's quirk. "And yes, I remember...no chalky mousse. Mrs. Landsbury was very sorry for the last time. It was a fluke accident."

He continued to talk as Laura and LuLu ascended the stairs. "And maybe later we'll go take Sheba for a ride....that sound good?"

LuLu simply nodded.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Helena speared a piece of crisp lettuce with her fork, placing it daintily against her tongue. She looked up as a throat cleared in front of her table. "Ahhh....Stephan. Nice of you to finally join me.....it's not nice to keep mother waiting, dear."

"Spare me the unpleasantries mother," Stephan stated quickly, taking a seat across from her. "To what reason did you have me summoned?"

"Oh, Stephan...loosen up a bit dear. "You are far too formal. I had you paged...not summoned."

Stephan lifted the glass of water in front of him, sniffing it first to make certain it was not laced with any poison. At least not one he would notice by any distinct aroma. Helena chuckled to herself. "I repeat," he said lowering the glass after his first and only sip. "Why am I here?"

"I ask myself that question almost everytime I see you, dear one.....however, that is not the matter that presently concerns me.............my present concern is Lucky Spencer and what we are going to do about him."

Stephan smiled amusedly. "Mother...you already had the boy kidnapped. What more do you want to do with him?"

Helena smiled wickedly, and took a drink of the Merlot before her. "Stephan...in spite of the many years I've been your mother, your density still manages to astound me."

"Mother -"

"I need your assistance in ridding the world of Lucky Spencer."

Stephan leaned back in his chair, unsurprised, but amused that his mother needed his help once again. "Why would I care about Lucky Spencer?"

"The same reason you cared when you found out I had him kidnapped months ago. The same reason you didn't tell Laura that you knew where her beloved son was long ago. That you knew her son was alive........Luke Spencer."

"Luke Spencer is of no consequence to me."

A grin pulled at corners of Helena's mouth. "Oh dear...you are even farther into denial than I previously suspected. Stephan...as long as Lucky Spencer is on this Earth...you will never have Laura. You will never fully have her heart. Her heart will always belong to Luke. As long as they share the bond of their son."

"Mother, you're forgetting that Laura and I share a child as well."

Helena quickly stifled the laughter that threatened to spill forth from deep down in her gut."Oh, quit kidding yourself Stephan. Nikolas has never meant as much to Laura as her precious, Lucky has."

Stephan toyed with the silver fork lying to the right of him. "What is it you want me to do, mother?" He asked, anger lacing his voice. It wouldn't hurt to humor the old bag. He would not further jeopardize his relationship with Laura by dealing with Helena again. Not unless it was absolutely necessary.

"I want you to help me get rid of the Spencers. Once and for all."

Chapter 44

Elizabeth unlocked the door, allowing herself into what was "officially" her new home. Now that she'd told Gram about her decision to move in with Lucky, everything seemed more final. More real. "Lucky?" She called out, making her way into the room.

She sat her purse down on the dresser and nearly gasped when she caught his reflection in the mirror. His wet, half - naked reflection emerging from the bathroom. She slowly let out the breath she voluntarily held as she turned around, leaning against the dresser behind her for support. Elizabeth bit her lip as he got closer.

Lucky ran a hand through his wet hair, and grinned awkwardly. "You're back," he said softy, adjusting the towel at his waist.

"Yeah," she sighed, her heartbeat regaining it's normal pace. "So are you....did you um...did you get what we needed at the - "

"Yeah!" Lucky said, his voice raising as he interrupted her. Not in anger, but in avoidance. "Yeah," he said again, his voice softening. "I got 'em...Um....where'd you go?" He asked, quickly changing the subject as he walked over to the tiny cubby hole they called a closet.

Elizabeth watched as he yanked a white T-shirt from it's hanger. The hanger still swayed back and forth as he pulled the shirt roughly over his head. "Did I say something wrong?" She asked timidly, following him with her eyes as he now searched through his drawers for a pair of boxers.

He turned around quickly. "No...I'm sorry, I think I'm just a little tired or somethin'...you know...didn't get a lot of sleep last night."

She noticed him smile. She knew he was trying to make a joke, but something was off. She had slept like a contended little baby after they'd made love. Hadn't he too? 'Oh God..maybe he's still angry with himself for saying all that stuff to me last night...'

"Lucky," she said moving closer to him as she sat on the bed next to him. "Are you still upset about the other night?...Because I swear...it's ok. You had every right to be upset, and I underst - "

"It's not that," he said, sharply cutting her off once again. He stood up quickly to avoid her eyes as he pulled his boxers up around his waist. "I'm just tired...that's all."

'Translation: change the subject Webber,' Liz thought. 'He'll tell you later....he obviously has no desire to talk about what's got him so wound up...don't push.'

"So," she cooed sweetly as he sat down beside her once again. "Are you too tired to go out and have some fun tonight?"

"Fun?" He asked. His voice taking on a hallow quality, as if the concept were foreign. He couldn't think of the last time he'd actually had any "fun" in the true sense of the word.

Liz swung her legs atop the bed and moved behind him. Kneeling, she wrapped her arms around his bare shoulders. His cool, damp skin sent shivers up her spine. "Yeah...you know....fun???.................I was on my way home from Gram's and I got to thinking about how we haven't gone out and actually done anything since you've been back...and I think we could use that, you know?.....What do you think?"

Lucky took a deep breath. Something about the thought of actually going out and being social with anyone besides Elizabeth seemed terrifying. Although the prospect of staying in with her was almost equally as daunting. Staying here would mean having to talk. It would mean having to talk or engaging in a nonverbal activity. He couldn't do either of those things with the inner battle being waged in his head right now.

"What did you have in mind?" He asked suddenly.

"I don't know...anything," she smiled, kissing the spot she'd recently discovered on his neck. She didn't notice his small flinch. "How 'bout dancing?" You wanna go dancing?..............I missed dancing with you Lucky," she whispered, her voice filling with emotion suddenly. He silently rubbed her arms with his soft hands and she swallowed the lump in her throat. "So what do you think?"

"Where?" He asked, his voice low.

"Luke's!" She blurted, wishing she could take it back the moment it escaped her lips. 'God, you are so stupid! You know that he's having problems with his Dad right now! You are such an idiot!' She closed her eyes tightly, when she felt him pull away from her a bit.

"I - "

"No...it's ok Lucky...I'm really....ugh, I didn't think. We can just go somewhere else...or we don't have to anywhere at all....whatever you want to do."

"Luke's is fine," he stated quietly, nodding his head, as if he were reassuring himself. He saw her shake her head in disagreement. "No...really Elizabeth...it's fine...I mean I'm gonna have to talk to my dad sooner or later right? I mean, no time like the present."

"Really?" she asked, taken aback.

Lucky licked his lips and nodded. Pushing Nikolas' earlier confession to the furthest corner of his mind. The dark corner where all the other secrets lie. "Yeah baby...put on your dancin' shoes."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elizabeth took another sip of her Cherry Coke and sat back in her chair, eyeing Lucky as he eyed everything in the room except for her. "Lucky.....why don't you go talk to him?" She finally asked, as he shifted in his seat uncomfortably. She knew he was busy looking for his father.

He looked down at his cheeseless fries and then looked up at her. "What am I gonna say Elizabeth?...I have no idea how I feel about anything right now....the least of all my father."

'The least of all your father, huh Lucky?....What else is going on? You've been acting strange all night...and you've looked at me a total of two times since we sat down.'

"Well, maybe you should tell him that Lucky. Maybe you should just walk up to him and tell him that you have no idea where to start...but you know that you WANT to start. That you want to be close to him again. That you want to try and understand what's going on between the two of you...........He loves you Lucky. We all do........we're all just trying to understand everything that has happened in the last few months, and we can't figure it out alone."

Lucky looked into her eyes. REALLY looked, for the first time that night. The softness and understanding that he saw there, made his breath catch in his throat. He knew he had to ask her the question that had been knawing at him all day long. He knew his problem tonight consisted of much more than just his issues with his father. "Elizabeth.." He began, not really knowing how to ask the question.

Why was he even attempting to ask her this? He already knew what her answer would be. He already knew it was a ridiculous thought. And most of all he knew that Nikolas was indeed the Cassidine bastard he had first took him for. 'Always go with your first instinct Spencer.'

Elizabeth, stared at him, following his eyes. He had called her name and then quieted. "Yes, Lucky?"

Her voice woke him from his thoughts. "I....ugh, Elizabeth I don't really know how to....I guess, the only way to do this is to come right out and ask it, huh?"

"Ask what Lucky?" Elizabeth said, a nervous grin tugging at one corner of her mouth.

Lucky swallowed dryly. "Wh - when I was away.........did anything......did anything ever happen with you and Nikolas?"

There. It was out. There was no calling the words back now. They were out there in the atmosphere. Just hanging in the air like a thick patch of fog.

Elizabeth tilted her head to the side. "What do you mean Lucky?"

"I mean, did you ever......or......I mean, I know he has feelings for you. That's pretty clear. I guess what I'm asking you is: did you ever return th - "

"No!" Elizabeth blurted, amazed that he had even had to ask her such a question. Hadn't she told him everything that had ever happened? The whole sorted story of how she had nearly lost her mind when she thought he was dead? Why would he ask her this now? Why would he ask her a question like this at all? She toyed with the gold band on her left hand.

"No," she said again, her voice calming as she took a deep breath. "Lucky...I NEVER, EVER returned Nikolas' feelings for me. I was still in love with you.......I am still in love with you. I will ALWAYS be in love with you........Lucky I thought you knew that...I thou - "

Lucky quickly placed his hand over hers atop the table. "I'm sorry....I don't even know why I asked you that.........I know you love me. I know you don't feel anything for Nikolas. I know that.....I do. I just....."

"You just what?" She asked softly. "Lucky, what brought this on?"

What was this why he had been acting so strange all day long? Because he thought something had happened between she and Nikolas? The idea sent a shiver up her spine. What would make him question her love for him?

Lucky looked down at the tablecloth, wondering whether or not he should just leave it at that. She didn't really need to know the vicious lie that Nikolas had told him. It would only hurt her.

"Hey Cowboy!...I heard you were in my joint tonight, but I didn't believe it." Luke said sauntering up to the table. Trying his damndest not to look or sound the least bit awkward. The last time he'd seen his son he'd looked at him like he hated him.

Lucky looked up, startled by his father's voice. "To what do I owe this honor?" Luke continued.

Lucky gestured towards Elizabeth. "My girl wanted to dance," he said, a slight grin pulling at his lips. 'Come on Elizabeth...smile.....I'm sorry.'

Elizabeth looked at him from across the table and thought about the very first time he ever called her that. She suddenly realized that it was at this very table. A smile spread slowly across her lips. She almost wished they could go back there. Back to a time when they'd been so beautifully innocent. She nearly laughed at the thought. Had they ever been innocent? 'In comparison to now?' She asked herself. 'Yes.' She wished she could take away all the pain she had just seen in Lucky's eyes. All the doubt.

Luke flashed a grateful smile at Liz. "Well....I always knew the little lady had good taste. I owe her one."

Liz smiled back, and nodded slightly in response. She knew what he meant, but he certainly didn't owe her any kind of payment for bringing his son to him. She turned back towards Lucky. "Lucky...why don't you go talk to your dad for a little while...I'll be fine.......I think I'll order the Blues Brownie and have fun devouring it before you get back," she teased, trying to bring a little levity to the electrically charged space between them.

Lucky nodded slightly at her, praying that she was really ok. That he hadn't just messed things up royally. "If all the icecream's gone when I get back there's gonna be Hell to pay."

Elizabeth raised her glass and smiled lovingly at him before placing the red straw into her mouth. "Ya better hurry back then."