"Breakfast is served," Lucky grinned. Settling the tray of food over her legs. Elizabeth’s eyes grew to the size of saucers and she quickly folded her legs beneath her. Her mouth had begun to water about 20 minutes ago…and now – finally.

The funny thing was that she’d never been a ‘breakfast person’ before she moved in with Lucky. But the guy was a genius in the kitchen.

‘He’s a genius on the couch too,’ she thought silently. The thought joining the slew of others she’d had about him since the night before. Most of them x-rated.

Her every glance towards him was filled with a certain kind of knowing now. A kind of understanding of the kind of pleasure he was capable of making her feel, and it made her blush even now as he sat down next to her.

She quickly cleared her throat. "You know when you said we were having breakfast in bed, I kinda thought you meant cereal or something…I didn’t know you meant…blueberry pancakes."

Lucky pulled the sheets up to his waist and got comfortable. "Have I EVER made you cereal?"

Elizabeth smiled and sipped at her freshly squeezed orange juice. She never really liked orange juice before Lucky either. She was strictly a coffee kinda girl. But the way he made it…perfect – not too tangy – not too sweet.

Perfect. Just like him. Not like her.

Glancing down at her food, she felt a wave of heat overtake her. Thinking about just how perfect he’d made her ‘feel,’ last night.

From the time her eyes had opened this morning, it seemed impossible for her to think about anything other than fooling around. And impossible for her eyes to focus on anything other than his hands, and her ears - on the sound of his voice.

Who knew you could do all that…with just your hands – with your voice?

Lucky grinned as he watched her. Wondering if she were thinking what he was. That he wanted desperately to continue what they’d started a few hours ago. That he wanted to touch her again. He wondered silently if she wanted the same.

‘Just say so,’ he thought to himself. Willing her to hear him. ‘I CERTAINLY wouldn’t mind starting the day with having YOU for breakfast.’

This time he’d watch her though. This time he’d be in a position to see her face. To watch her as she hit the peak of ecstasy.

Feeling the heat of his gaze on her, Elizabeth once again cleared her throat. Hadn’t he asked her a question a moment ago?

"No…you never have. But don’t get too cocky their Spencer – I’ll be the judge of whether or not this is a culinary masterpiece, capice?"

Spearing a piece of blueberry pancake with her fork, she realized she’d just said the word ‘cocky,’ in a sentence. ‘Eat Elizabeth…just EAT,’ she thought quickly.

Lucky shrugged and sat back against the cushions on the sofa bed. "Be my guest."

Before the food even made it all the way into her mouth, Elizabeth’s eyes rolled heavenwards. "Oh…WOW…wow."

Nodding as if he’d expected nothing less than excellence, Lucky simply held out his hand. "Pass the remote please. I think whoever cooks – should get to chose the cartoon selection."

Elizabeth mumbled around a mouthful of food. "Who made up that rule?"

"Ru-ru-ru-ruuuu-ruuuuuuuuu…?"

Foster glanced up from his corner of the room. What had Lucky just instructed him to do? Pee on the floor with both legs up? That was impossible. What a wacko. Foster merely placed his head back down on the floor.

His hand brushed over hers when he reached for the remote and she felt the current of electricity that she’d felt so many times before. The same current she’d felt when they’d first hung out together in Vegas. But now it was stronger. Now it felt…she didn’t know exactly…different.

Her food went down hard and she gulped against it. "How – how did you learn to make these?…Is this something your mom taught you during your years on the run?" She asked, biting her bottom lip.

She loved hearing about all of his adventure stories. Sometimes she wished she could have grown up in HIS family.

‘Well…not really,’ her mind corrected with humor.

Lucky shook his head as he bit into his own stack of pancakes. "Well, yeah kinda…but -well… if you ever repeat this I’ll deny it – but my aunt Ruby made better ones. They would just melt in your mouth you know? So I pretty much just used to watch her when I was working at her diner…I learned a lot…STOLE a lot."

Elizabeth kissed his cheek and went back to chewing. Remembering how he’d learned how to make Jillian’s brownies so quickly. "You’ve got a talent for that."

"It’s a gift," he sighed. Watching her chew for a moment before turning his gaze towards the television. He cleared his dry throat and tried not to think about touching her again.

‘Let her eat, let her eat, let her eat…’ Lucky repeated the mantra in his head as he clenched the remote control a bit more tightly in his hands to keep his fingers occupied.

He quickly scrolled through the stations. Looking for something – ANYTHING!

"Oh my God the Carebears?!"

Lucky shifted his eyes towards her without turning. Her voice, having reached a fevered pitch in a split-second. Disbelief colored his expression when he finally turned to her.

"Oh my God! You gotta leave it there! Leave it on that station!"

Tilting his head slightly, Lucky smiled in amusement. "You’re kidding me right?"

"No, I’m not kidding! Leave it!" She demanded. Placing her hand on top of his as it held a finger poised over the channel up button. She hadn’t seen this cartoon in SO long!

He looked down at her hand on top of his and sighed. They’d be watching the Carebears that was for sure. When she touched him he was no longer capable of putting up any kind of a fight.

Besides she watched as if caught up in some other time and dimension. This must have been part of the whole teddy bear obsession.

"Eliza –

"Ssssh, look they’re doing the Carebear Stare," she informed. Pointing at the TV.

Lucky grinned to himself. "The Carebear what?"

She turned towards him in annoyance. Rolling her eyes. "The Carebear STARE for God’s sake! Didn’t you ever watch?"

He chuckled to himself as she turned back towards it. Simply riveted again. "I’m sorry I musta missed this episode."

"They only did it like EVERY episode," she sighed. Completely baffled over the fact that he’d never seen such quality television.

Biting down on his tongue, Lucky shrugged. "Sorry. I guess the penis and testicles part of the deal pretty much cancelled out my need to watch little bears with colorful emblems on their tummies."

Elizabeth grinned before hurling her pillow at him. Accidentally spilled her O.J. all over his sheets in the process.

"Oooops…" she said. Grinning still as she covered her mouth with her hands.

Lucky sat silently for a moment. "Ooops?…Ooops? You spill juice all over my bed – the bed I have to sleep in, mind you…And all you have to say for yourself is ‘ooops?’

"Well," he sighed. "Maybe I oughtta just go spill my juice – on YOUR bed? See how YOU like it? Huh? Whatdya say?…You know I think that might be a good idea…"

She laughed uncontrollably at the mock fury on his face. He was sort of a neat freak – stain removal was his life! He wouldn’t do that would he?

Oh my gosh…

He rose from the bed, and Elizabeth leaped off of her side. "No…don’t do it!"

Without a word he traveled towards the hall with a controlled grin on his face. Silently shaking his head. Elizabeth ran around the back of the sofa before he could get to the hall that led to the bedroom.

"You try and do something nice for someone…make them breakfast," Lucky grumbled under his breath. "Fresh squeezed orange juice and look what they do? They won’t even let you watch your own cartoons…they spill juice all over your bed…"

"Stop! Stop!" She squealed jumping up and down in front of him. "Tell me what you want! I’ll do anything, just don’t spill that stuff on those beautiful, soft sheets…PLEEEEEEASE."

Ah, so suddenly they were HER beautiful, soft sheets huh? He thought to himself. Trying to suppress the grin that wanted to take over. He placed one hand on his hip, and held the tall glass of juice out in front of her with the other. Yanking it backwards when she tried to grab for it.

"Hmm…" Lucky sounded. Pretending to consider his options as he stood poised in front of the hallway. Her small form, pitifully blocking the entrance. He could probably have moved her aside with one hand. "You’ll do…..ANYTHING huh?"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Yes, especially since I KNOW how NOBLE you are…and how you’d never really take me up on that offer and all that it might entail…No matter how…WILLING of a participant I might be."

Lucky folded his arms. The glass of juice sitting nicely on the widest part of his forearm as he held it between his fingers.

"Oh really?…You think I’m THAT noble huh?" Lucky asked leaned against the door jam with one arm. The air suddenly growing thick around her. That feeling circulated again. That, burning electricity in the air.

"Well Elizabeth, what would you say if I told you that - right this minute – I’m picturing you naked and sprawled out on that bed down the hall with this juice all over your body…I’m picturing myself licking it off."

Her arm slid slowly from the door jam.

Score!

Lucky swooped past her and took off down the hall at warp speed. Juice sloshing out of the sides the entire way down the hall. He whooped and hollered as she squealed ‘no fair!’ behind him.

Panting, Lucky came to a standstill in front of the unmade bed. Placing one hand on top of the lid so that he still had a full glass of ammunition when she finally arrived behind him. Shaking her head.

"You are SO not fair."

He looked around at the room – what a mess……it wouldn’t matter much anyway what he did.

Completely disregarding her comment, Lucky raised his arm over his head. Holding the glass like the Statue of Liberty held her torch. He inched backwards towards the bed.

Elizabeth scrunched her lips and narrowed her eyes. "You wouldn’t dare."

"Oh, but I would……and fair is FAIR my dear."

"Well where would I sleep?" She asked in a near childlike manner. Lucky laughed at her wide-eyed stare.

Lucky grinned and bit his lip. "Guess you’ll just have to sleep with me – every night."

Elizabeth mouth tilted upwards at the corner, but she wasn’t giving in yet. "But your sheets will be in the washer too. We’ll have no bedding."

A suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows had her quieting. "The floor…in a tiny little sleeping bag."

That sounded like more fun than she could handle, but she had to win the battle. And it suddenly struck her, in a way that it never had before, that THIS was fun. That living with someone that always wanted to win as badly as she did was what made her day – everyday.

She’d win today though.

Trying a different approach, Elizabeth stepped closer. Letting her eyes travel over his t-shirted, flannel pants-d body. Her voice smoothed out of her throat in a seductive tone.

"I’m willing to…bargain – if you are."

Lucky brought the tall glass down a bit. Letting it totter precariously on the palm of his hand. His eyes locked with hers and he licked his lips. "And what kind of bargain would that be?"

As if he didn’t already know! The oldest trick in the book…he wasn’t falling for it.

She sighed slowly. Her hands slipping their way up his chest.

When she rose to her tip-toes to kiss him, Lucky caught her hand just in time! The sneaky move having already been anticipated.

Falling to the bed, when she pushed him – they wrestled for the glass. Each of them laughing so hard that their own vibrations caused it to slosh out everywhere.

On to the bed, on to their clothes, on their skin.

It felt cool, when things were quickly heating up in the room.

Lucky chuckled deeply as Elizabeth giggled beneath him. Letting his finger travel from her wet nose down to the droplets on her collarbone. He licked his lips as he she began to talk.

"See! Now look what you’ve gone and done."

He looked down at her moist glow and the way her t-shirt stuck to her. Satifaction filled his voice. "Ooooh……yeah….I know."

She adjusted her position underneath him. The exact position she’d dreamt about the night before. Feeling the pressure of his weight on top of her. "Oh are you proud of yourself now?"

"Mmhmm," he sighed. Nodding his head as he took his first lick of her moist skin. Her neck even tastier than usual. A little tangy – a little sweet. "Very."

When he moved against her, his hips slid against hers and she sighed. Listening as he started to mumble something against her neck.

"I think I forgot to put something in this juice," he mumbled. His lips wet as they slid across the part of her chest exposed by a wet, drooping collar. "You."

God, he hadn’t even done anything yet and already she was trembling with anticipation.

"This is all…wet," he sighed as his hands slid up the sides of her T-shirt. Inching down again to slip beneath it after a few seconds. Her stomach was moist beneath it…and her…

Oh, a bra huh? When had happened? Well…no matter – that was moist too. "You should probably take this shirt off…I wouldn’t want the stain to…set or anything."

She nodded against him as he sucked on her full bottom lip. "Or……or anything," she concurred nearly inaudibly.

His kisses descended the length of her body as he inched lower and lower until he was at her waistband. Pushing her shirt out of the way until she got the hint and pulled it off the rest of the way by herself. Exposing her sticky skin. She moaned as he began to tug at the elastic of her pajama pants. Thinking of how wet she was there too…already.

Lucky licked his way back up from her knee. The task taking longer than expected when he arrived at the inside of her thigh. Taking a moment to inhale her scent on the way back up to her stomach.

He’d spent all last night dreaming of her undulating like this beneath him while his tongue tasted her for the first time. He wanted to make that dream come true now, but he had to ask permission first.

Had to know that it was ok, before moving forward.

"You taste like…"

"Oranges?" She asked breathlessly. As his tongue licked her navel. She wound her fingers through his hair as that same tongue danced its way towards the underside of her bra. Rimming each soft cup.

"Better than oranges," he whispered. "Much better." His breath swooshed against the trail of moisture he’d created and made her shiver.

Elizabeth wiggled and used her hands to pull him back up to her face. "I wanna taste you too," she sighed. Suddenly tugging at his collar.

Swinging a leg over one of her hips, Lucky sat up to straddle her and quickly pulled off his shirt. Revealing golden stained skin. His own hue mixing with the nectar of the fruit.

She sat up rapidly. Wanting desperately to feel his flesh against her tongue. Wanting to bring him the same pleasure that he brought her. Wanting to -

The thought made her hands freeze instantly on his chest.

Lucky looked down at her suddenly expressionless eyes. "Elizabeth…What is it?…What’s wrong?"

She wouldn’t hear it now. She wouldn’t give into his voice now. Not now – not again. He was gone now. She’d said goodbye for the last time, last night.

So if she wanted to give her boyfriend the kind of exquisite physical pleasure that he’d brought her – than so be it. She would…and she wouldn’t feel guilty about that.

Or dirty…

"Elizabeth," he whispered. Combing his fingers through her hair.

He hissed through his teeth a moment later, as hers sunk into his chest with a bit too much fervor. His fingers tangled in her hair and he gently pushed her away.

"Woah…Wonder Woman, calm down – there’s more orange juice where that came from…I can get another glass," he chuckled.

Her eyes were glassy and wild when she came up for air. Instantly he took her face in his hands. "Baby what is it?…Do you wanna stop?"

Elizabeth shook her head and silently pulled him towards her once more. Lying beneath him on the bed. Her leg inched up his thigh as she quietly asked him to kiss her again.

He willingly did as she bid him. Kissing her softly and then for a bit longer, a bit more deeply. Letting her lead it. His hands slowly moving along her thighs, hips and then up towards the beautiful mounds still covered in satin.

Sometimes he truly believed that if he didn’t have her soon, he’d die. But moments like these, when she was obviously still so vulnerable and unsure, he knew he had to take all the time she needed.

That even when she said she was ready, willing and able to do ‘anything,’ to please, that she really wasn’t. That her heart was still broken inside. Still in need of mending after whatever that asshole she’d called a father, had done to her.

The numbers from the address he’d found lying half burnt up on the roof last night came swirling through his head and he pushed them as far away as he could. They’d already succeeded in waking him up much earlier than he’d planned.

Allowing him enough time to get himself together before she woke up. Enough time to cook breakfast and act like nothing was wrong. Enough time to think of making her happy for the time being, instead of whole for a lifetime.

Feeling her need for him intensify as she writhed beneath him, Lucky moved lower. Her legs shifting incessantly against the sheets.

With the tip of his tongue, Lucky rimmed the edges of elastic that formed the ‘v’ of her panties. Feeling his body twitch beneath his pajama pants as she sighed above him. Letting her thighs fall wide upon the bed.

Complete abandonment as her body began to trust his.

But he once again reminded himself that it was simply her body that fully trusted – not her heart. For if it had been her heart, he would have taken. He would have taken and given all day long if he knew her heart were as willing to give as her body was.

If he knew for sure that the whimpers and sighs that he heard coming from above him were expressions of love and not just the exclamations of a woman who desperately needed to feel pleasure. A woman who’d been starved for true affection for most of her life.

He reached for her. Letting his hand slowly massage the warm mound hidden by her panties for a few moments, before his tongue moved against that cotton. Slipping gently through the folds that made her a woman.

So intense was that first sensation that it brought tears to her eyes and her thighs immediately jerked towards center. Confusion causing her body to close off, when she honestly longed to feel it. To feel it all.

Lucky looked up at her. Her tears scaring him. "Baby are you –

"I’m ok," she said breathlessly. Her head falling back against the sheets as Lucky tentatively petted her. Pressing his lips to every available expanse of skin from her navel to her knees and them moving upwards again.

She watched him through hooded lashes. Not sure of what to do. Not sure of what to say…She wanted him to…she really did…

"I won’t do anything you don’t want me to," he said soberly. Catching her eyes for a long moment as he continued to ease his hands over her skin. "You just…you just have to tell me what you want Elizabeth…" he whispered. Kissing her navel once more. "I only want to do what you want."

She bit her bottom lip as her thighs fell open for him once more. Moving her hips towards him as he touched her like he had the night before, with hesitance at first. One gentle finger sliding through the moist space where his tongue had just ventured and then slowly caressing her once more.

Their body’s lay horizontal to the line of pillows and her head rolled against the sheets. Lucky’s feet hanging off the side as he continued to use his fingers to pleasure her.

Her hips slowly gyrated beneath him and Lucky took a deep intoxicating breath once more as he lay his face against her belly. Inhaling the deep scent of his dream woman as his fingers played against her ever moistening body. It felt like heaven, and he slowly trailed his lips over the warm covered heaven.

Elizabeth’s hips rose higher to meet the potential pleasure that his mouth had to offer, and he mumbled against her.

"Tell me what you want to feel Elizabeth," he breathed quietly. Watching the skin on her thighs prickle under the air of his voice. "Anything at all…"

She tried to form the words to tell him that she wanted him to. But they kept getting blocked on their way out of her throat. Blocked by other thoughts! Blocked by a small voice that told her it was wrong to want to feel such things. That whispered silently in her ear that she was nothing but a…

Elizabeth begged her own mind to let her alone…for once.

"I want," she panted. "Your mouth…your mouth on me…"

Lucky quickly complied. Easing his hand over her thigh and placing it atop his shoulder as he lapped at the moisture already present on her panties. He heard her loud whimper from above and felt her shift against his mouth.

Her body too full of energy to quit moving. He gently held her hips in place as he licked her once more. His tongue moving inside.

It was incredible. More incredible than she’d ever imagined anything could be, and she couldn’t catch her breath. Couldn’t slow down her heart or the pounding in her ears.

‘You want this Lizzie? Of course you do. I always knew what you were. You say you’re a good girl but everybody knows differently. You’re just a whore.’

"St – stop," she panted desperately. "I want…I can’t…just…just stop."

Her legs had drawn all the way up to her chest and she was huddled in a ball near the pillows before Lucky could even get his senses back. He was quickly scrambling up next to her when they did return.

Smoothing a hand along her back. He shivered at the way her breath move rapidly in out of her lungs.

"It’s ok," he whispered. Kissing her center of back before going to loop his arms around her from behind. "It’s ok…we don’t have to do that. There’s tons of other things we can –

"No," she moaned. Curling up even tighter in front of him.

When he went to hold her again, the gesture was interrupted. Her body jerking upright as she swung her legs around the side of the bed. Rising from in one quick motion. Lucky grabbed her wrist. "Elizabeth, don’t go! Please, don’t leave…just come back to bed – let’s talk about this…Come on," he urged quietly. His voice thick as she stood staring at the wall behind his head. Her eyes blinking back tears.

"Sweetie, just come back to bed," he said again. Tugging gently on her hand.

Elizabeth bit her lip and reluctantly did as he asked.

He guessed that was progress. Just a couple of weeks ago she would have left. He was sure that she would have gotten dressed and made some bogus excuse about having to run errands. Something that was obviously a lie but would have gotten her out of the apartment none the less.

She didn’t do that this time. She sat slowly back down on the bed.

Lucky wrapped his arms around her and brought her down to lay against his chest. Letting his fingers trail lightly through her hair. He pressed his lips to her forehead. "Elizabeth, we can just lie here together…there’s no law that says we have to do anything……I mean we did it all the time when you first moved in here, right?"

Her head shook against his chest. "But that was then. I…I’m sorry Lucky. I WANT this. I do…I WANT YOU."

He kissed her forehead once more. "I believe you. You don’t have to convince me of that…but I also know that there’s a part of you that’s not ready Elizabeth. There’s a part of you that’s afraid of me."

She rose before him and shook her head vehemently. "No I’m not."

"Elizabeth," Lucky countered. "Sweetie a BIG part of you wants US and everything that goes along with that…but there’s another part," he paused. Thinking of every time he’d seen it. "There’s another part that IS very much afraid of me – Honey I can see it in your eyes," he said quickly before she cut in.

"You say that you’re not…but then there’s this flash of something – this flash that does NOT want me anywhere near her. It’s not often…but I can see it in your eyes and Sweetie it breaks my heart……and I can’t be someone that puts you through that. I just can’t be."

Elizabeth wiped harshly at a tear that tried to make its way towards her cheek. So angry with herself that she wanted to scream. "So what are you saying? Are you saying this is over?"

Lucky closed his eyes and inhaled through his nose, before he opened them and pulled her face towards his. Kissing her long and deeply. "What do you think?" He asked breathlessly. "Do I look like a guy that wants this to be over?"

She silently shook her head.

"All I’m saying is that we should continue to take things slowly. Just because we did something new last night doesn’t mean we have to do something new everyday does it?"

"But HOW SLOW!" She snapped. Furious not with him, but with everything about herself. Where she’d come from, what she’d done, who and what she was.

"I don’t – Ugh!" She groaned unable to verbalize her frustration as she covered her face with her hands. When she looked up her eyes seemed desperate. "I’m sorry. I’m SO sorry that I’ve put you through all of this complete nonsense. I should just pack up and leave here because –

"Shut up," he said quickly. Pulling her towards him and back down towards the bed. He positioned her in front of him as she continued to ramble. Spooning behind her and looping his arm around her waist like he’d tried to before. "Would you please just shut up and let me hold you…just shut up," he continued, kissing her shoulders.

Elizabeth bit her lip and finally allowed herself to cry. Silent, hot tears that slid fiercely down her face. Shame, anger, sorrow, and regret forming one tight ball of madness in her stomach.

He made no comment. Said not a word, as she cried. He only held her tighter from behind and combed his fingers through her hair.

He just held her. Just like he said he would.

~~~~~~~

"So we should throw him a party or something!" Lucinda said excitedly, pushing at a long, dark strand that tried to ease up on her shoulder. "I mean…THEM," she corrected quickly.

Jack and Lucky were BOTH nominated. Which meant she had to be happy for BOTH of them. Yet somehow she was finding it hard to be happy for her own boyfriend…go figure.

Wallace nodded. Silently begging her to stop talking about every mutual friend that they ever shared, and start talking about…them.

‘Well for all intents and purposes McKenzie, there is no ‘them,’ – no ‘us’ or yeah…’us,’ Wallace silently corrected himself. Following her walked inside the cage. She eagerly picked up a bat and started practicing her swing.

‘See she’s happy to be here! She seems enthusias….’

His eyes followed that ass on their own accord. His head tilting a bit as her hips swayed from right to left and then right to left again, right before she turned around and bit that lip of hers. She was constantly doing that.

‘Stop GAWKING at her you moron,’ he silently chided.

"Yeah," he stammered suddenly. Realizing she’d said something like eons ago, that he was supposed to respond to. "We should…Maybe…I don’t know maybe like next weekend or something. I think he and Elizabeth were wanting some…I don’t know – alone time or somethin’ this weekend."

Lucinda nodded and smiled. That Elvisy thing happening with her mouth.

Maybe she WAS an actual direct descendent from the King. Wouldn’t THAT be cool? He’d have to trace her family history.

"That’s cool," she grinned. "I’m so glad things are starting to work out for them. I mean Elizabeth is really a nice girl. I like her a lot. I mean it seems like she’s got a lot of…you know – STUFF – from her past to work through…but she’s very cool, and ya GOTTA love anybody who tells Stephanie where to shove it."

Wallace sighed. Lucky, Elizabeth, Stephanie…all she needed to do now was mention his favorite person in the world and they’d be set.

"You know Jack used to always stick up for that girl? I remember once I thought that maybe they were –

"Lucinda!"

She looked up at Wallace with those huge brown eyes, and he nearly melted on the spot.

He bit his tongue and rapidly thought of something to cover his idiotic outburst. "Helmet!"

"What?" She asked quizzically. Following him with her eyes as he started to walk briskly around the back of her. Pulling something from a huge bin behind them.

"A helmet – for your head – yeah…I didn’t want you to forget that. It’s very important."

Wallace yanked one from the bin and brought it over nervously. He tried pulling it over her head. "Shit…I think maybe this is…yeah this is a kid’s one…sorry."

Lucinda smiled softly as he turned. Watching as he rifled through the box to find the perfect size. She bit her lip.

He was awfully cute sometimes…Like now.

‘What are you doing girl?…You HAVE a boyfriend. Sure…he’s an ass but…ok – NO – you’re not going to do this. Wallace asked you out on a date and you are ON a date…So, just relax and for the love of God PLEASE stop talking about everything and everyone else….JUST RELAX and enjoy your date.

‘A date,’ she repeated silently to herself. ‘Jack is gonna kill you…What? STOP IT! Screw Jack!’ Her other voice shouted internally. ‘You think he gives you a second thought when he’s out banging all the skanks that he fools around with? Hell no!…Just concentrate on having a good time and forget about that dumbass. Believe me girl – he’s probably out ‘forgetting’ about you – right this minute.’

Wallace sat another helmet on top of her silken strands and felt them brush against his hands as he pulled it more snuggly around her head. Their eyes met and held for a long moment. "You ok?" He asked suddenly. "You look…sad."

Nobody had ever looked at her like that. With that much…tenderness…concern.

"No, I’m…I’m fine. What would I be sad about?" She asked quietly. Tugging on his hand. "Let’s play ball shall we?…I think it’s time you showed me that fastball you’re so proud of."

Nodding sheepishly. Wallace picked up a ball and smiled. "Alright,"

~~~~~~~

She was still lying in his arms when he woke about 2 hours later. Blinking hard at the way the afternoon sunlight filtered in through the blinds. He didn’t even remember having fallen asleep.

He remembered rubbing her back, whispering that it’d all be ok when he wasn’t sure that it would be. Wasn’t sure that THEY would be. He loved this woman more than he’d ever loved anyone, yet he was starting to think that maybe love wasn’t enough.

Maybe when Elizabeth expressed her doubt in her sanity, he should have been expressing doubt in his own. Maybe he WAS crazy to think that this would work. That love could conquer all.

‘It can and you know it,’ he thought to himself. Loosening his grip around her waist. ‘Your parents are living proof of that right?’

He’d been thinking a lot about them lately. Ever since the moment he’d had his first inkling of what had gone on during Elizabeth’s childhood. What happened to her had not been the same thing as what had happened to his mother…but if his suspicions were right – it was close enough.

Close enough, so if his mother ever had any advice to give someone about anything…maybe now was that time. Or maybe it wasn’t.

Hell he didn’t know!

Frustration nearly made him groan aloud so he rolled away from her instead. White knuckling the edge of the bed that he came to sit on. His thoughts fueled on nothing but emotion.

He glanced over his shoulder when she moaned in her sleep. Carefully he leaned and kissed her shoulder. She quickly quieted.

Quiet. That was all she could ever hope for in sleep these days. All her mind seemed able to allow her.

An anger like one Lucky had never felt before was beginning to course through his veins like blood. A deep, black goo that was beginning to feel like a poison that he had to get rid of.

He no longer felt capable of sitting on his hands. No longer felt capable of sitting around and waiting for her to open up.

A few hunches and an address – that was it – that was all he had to go on. But he’d found out information on less than that in the past. He could do it again.

Carefully, Lucky rose from the bed. Closing the door to the bedroom before heading towards his office. It was time that Elizabeth got some peace. Time to heal. And if she wouldn’t pursue that endeavor herself – he’d pursue it for her.

Swinging open his office door, Lucky immediately grabbed a sticky note and quickly jotted down the address that had been stuck in his head since last night. Not wanting to take even the slightest chance of forgetting it. He sat down behind his desk and reached for the phone – shit.

It was ringing before he even touched it.

Sighing, he lifted the receiver to his ear. If it was somebody from work they were about to get chewed out. "Hello?!"

His son’s bark did nothing to squelch Luke’s enthusiasm at hearing his voice. It’d been too long since they’d talked to worry about his son’s surly attitude.

"Cowboy! Long time – no hear from!…What’s goin’ on huh? Your mother wanted to send out the cavalry to look for ya…and your sister forgot your name the other day – it’s a sad, sad thing."

Lucky inhaled deeply through his nose. His first instinct having been to snap, his second having been a sigh of relief at hearing his father’s voice. He hadn’t realized until that very moment how much he missed it.

"Yeah…I was gonna call her this week, but things got busy. I’m sorry about that."

The sense of fatigue in his son’s voice was unmistakable. Sure he’d sounded tired before, but work problems usually gave him a charge instead. "What is it son? Problems with the girlfriend we haven’t met yet? She start strippin’ again?"

Closing his eyes, Lucky dropped his head to his free hand. "Dad could you not say things like…" he paused for a moment and sighed. "You’ll meet her soon. I think actually…I was going to suggest that maybe we come down there for a visit next weekend you know? How’s that sound?"

Luke leaned back in his chair. Concern for the sound of his son’s voice creasing his forehead. "What’s the matter son?"

Lucky shrugged and lied. "Just work stuff. I got a VP nomination yesterday."

He said it so matter of factly that Luke almost missed it. "What? Well try to contain your enthusiasm! Congratulations Cowboy!"

A slight smile tugged at Lucky’s mouth. "Thanks Dad."

"Alright, what gives?" Luke sighed. Leaning closer to the telephone. "You’ve wanted that job for as long as I can remember. You wanted to get in there and be in a position to change the way things are run over there…and now it sounds like you couldn’t care any less about it.

"You’re all tied up in knots over somethin’ son. I can hear it in your voice…Is it the new girl?"

Lucky shook his head. "She’s not…the ‘new’ girl, Dad…She’s the ONLY girl. I love her."

Never in his life had Luke heard his son talk about a woman like that. Not ever.

"Well this sounds serious," he sighed. "Even more reason for your mother and I to meet her, don’t you think? I mean I’ve gotta give her the blues test before you can REALLY be serious about her."

It felt like a couple of weights had been lifted from his shoulders, as Lucky grinned. "She’s got really GREAT taste in music. I mean she’s a dancer – you know. Sure she blasts rap music and boybands while she works out…but – I tend to make allowances for that. When you’re doing the treadmill you gotta listen to whatever gets you through."

On the other end of the line, Luke smiled. That was more like it. The hint of joy in Lucky’s voice made him feel better.

"Dad would you do me a favor?" Lucky asked suddenly. "Would you tell Mom to give me a call at the office when she gets a chance?"

Folding his arms, Luke nodded stoically. "Ok…anything I can do for you? I mean I have been known to solve a female problem or two in my lifetime."

Lucky bit his lip in order to hold back the biting comment that threatened. He didn’t need to fight with his dad right now. Not now.

"Not this time Dad ok?…Could you just do me that favor and tell Mom to call me?"

"Ok," Luke sighed again. "I’ll see you soon huh?"

"Yeah," Lucky said softly. "See ya soon. Bye Dad…tell Mom and Lu I love ‘em."

"Will do…Take care son."

"Take care," Lucky repeated to him self as he slipped the phone back into its cradle. He was going to do exactly that. Take care.

He was going to take care of everything. He was determined to fix whatever hurt Elizabeth, and to begin fixing it today. No more waiting.

Pulling the sticky note that he’d been staring at throughout the entire conversation, towards him. Lucky read the title atop the numbers, numerous times.

The Mountainside Substance Abuse Center…what did it have to do with Elizabeth?

It wasn’t about her. Whatever was going on – she wasn’t the one with the problem. That had been his gut reaction to seeing it the night before, and it was still prevailing feeling. Whatever connection Elizabeth had to this place was through someone else.

And whatever that connection was, it bothered her enough to want to burn the entire envelope – contents and all.

An envelope that had been sent from Jillian. Maybe she knew what was…’No, you thought of this before remember?’ Lucky asked himself. ‘You’re not gonna involve anyone else in this. If Elizabeth is going to be mad at anybody for interfering – let it be YOU, not someone who took her in when she had no place else to go – don’t do that to them.’

Lucky ran his fingers through his hair and then turned towards his computer. Logging on to the Internet and typing in the name of the center as he began to search. There was information in mere seconds. It seemed the Mountainside Substance Abuse Center was a huge complex nestled in the heart of a beautiful mountain range in Colorado.

It was an extended stay, inpatient care program for individuals with severe addictions to alcohol, cocaine, Heroine, Marijuana…

The list seemed go on and on. ‘That really narrows it down,’ Lucky thought silently. Letting his eyes travel down the screen. The phone number appeared in the right hand corner and he quickly wrote it down on the sticky note that still remained on his desk.

Who would he ask for? Was it her mother who had the problem? Another relative? A friend? Would they even allow him to speak to them if they were in treatment?

‘Hell, it’s not like you know any names Spencer! How the Hell do you expect to make any sort of progress without names?!…Stop that…that’s just fatalistic thinking….Ok, lets go with Webber. What is Webber? Is Webber, Elizabeth’s biological father’s last name? In which case her mother probably wouldn’t have the same one if she were re-married right?…But is she still married to Elizabeth’s stepfather?…Elizabeth never said she wasn’t – she never said she was. BUT, would she stay married to the asshole that was at BEST verbally abusive to her own daughter?…Did she even pay attention to that though? From what Elizabeth says it sounds like her mother wouldn’t listen to a thing she had to say…Shit. I’m getting nowhere fast here.’

The questions circulated through Lucky’s head without end.

Boxes that had been stored in the closet of their bedroom seemed to call out to Lucky from their hiding place. The box he’d made the mistake of going through just a week or so after Elizabeth had moved in – the one that had revealed to him that Elizabeth had been a straight-A student for what looked like her entire academic career.

He wanted IN that box more than he could say. Maybe this piece of the puzzle didn’t relate to that one at all, but they were still the pieces of the SAME puzzle. Pieces that could come together to complete a whole if he only had access to them.

If she only allowed him access.

If she’d only just come right out and TELL him.

Lucky minimized the window for the substance abuse center and pulled up a yellow pages site. Doing a search for Webbers in the Denver, Colorado area.

There were only about 300. "Great."

He sighed aloud and leaned back in his chair. His thoughts from earlier managing to make their way out of his mouth. "What are you so afraid of?…Just tell me, tell me, tell me…"

Elizabeth yawned from her place by the door. "Tell you what?"

His father would have shaken his head at the way Lucky nearly jumped out of his skin. Startled by her sudden presence. "Hey..." he greeted breathily. Discretely closing out the window for the site. "What are you doing up?"

"You mean aside from the fact that it’s past noon?" Elizabeth asked with a grin. "I don’t think I was sleeping very well with you not there anymore."

Lucky rose from his chair and rounded his desk. "Well let’s go back to bed then, I could deal with a little more shut-eye."

She shook her head and leaned against the door jam. "That’s ok. I don’t really wanna go back to sleep………What’re you workin on?" She asked. Moving into the small office.

"Oh nothing," he said quickly. Leaning on the desk. He swept his fingers over the small sticky note that lay there. Hoping that she hadn’t seen it.

‘Oh Spencer you are in deep shit aren’t you? Don’t start hiding things from her now – that’s not good for anybody – what the fuck are you doing? You’re gonna show her that it’s ok not to hide things from you, by hiding things from HER? Great logic.’

Elizabeth couldn’t make out what he’d just hidden beneath his fingertips, but she’d seen the slide of his hand. ‘Well Lizzie dear it’s not like you’re telling him everything is it?…It’s about time he started keeping things from you. You knew things had to go like this eventually.’

She cleared her throat and sat down in the chair in the corner. "Were you on the phone earlier? I thought I heard your voice from the bedroom."

"Yeah," Lucky sighed. Nodding as he sank down on top of his desk, facing her. "I was talking to my dad…He and my mom are giving me shit about not coming to visit more often."

"Oh," Elizabeth said quietly. "Well you know…I mean you can go down there anytime you want. I mean as long as you’re not worried about me making a complete mess of the apartment, I’m perfectly capable of staying here by myself," she grinned.

Lucky took a deep breath. The last time he’d even come close to bringing this up, she’d looked about ready to freak out.

Well – today had been about taking chances right? Why stop now?

"That’s not what I meant," he started softly. "I was actually gonna suggest that maybe we could get away next weekend. Drive down there – hang out? We could make it kind of a road trip…Then you could meet some of my friends, my family…Mary," he smiled. Hoping to bring some levity to the intensity that had suddenly settled on the small room. "I just…I just thought it’d be nice to get away. That’s all. No biggee."

No biggee? It certainly sounded like a biggee to her. A really BIG biggee. A HUGE biggee.

"You want me to meet your parents?"

Lucky licked his lips nervously. "They’d LOVE to meet you, Elizabeth."

She took a deep breath. "They…they KNOW about me? I mean…what I am."

He shrugged and gazed into her eyes. "You mean that you’re a beautiful, talented, smart, funny woman?…Yeah – they’ve heard – plenty of times."

Elizabeth looked down at her hands. "That’s not what I meant. I meant do they know I used to take my clothes off for money?"

"Yeah they do actually. My dad wants to hire you for his club. Can you play blues guitar while you do it?"

Her smile, made him grin and kick his feet against the desk. "YES – Elizabeth they know that you used to strip. They don’t care…They only care you make me happy – that’s all."

That was hard to believe. How could any parent not care that their son. Their WONDERFUL son was dating someone so awful for him? Of course they cared. They probably wanted to meet her just so they could convince him to kick her out of his life!

And as for ‘making him happy,’ – what? When? When did she make him happy? All she did everyday was make his life completely miserable! Even looking at him now she could tell that he was tired. SO tired.

"I don’t know," she said finally. Her voice soft as she shrugged. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. God it was the one thing she didn’t want to do. The one person who didn’t deserve it. Yet she always found a way to do it anyway. "Can we maybe…can we play it by ear? I mean…"

"Sure," he interceded. The comment emerging in a very ‘short’ tone. He hadn’t meant it to come out like that.

"I’m sorry," she said quickly. Remorse filled her eyes. "Really I’m –

"It’s ok…no, I’m sorry. I just……" He paused. Trying to change the subject, at least a little bit. "You know who I REALLY think would get a kick out of you?…Well two people actually," he said suddenly. Trying to make her smile again. "My sister and my oldest friend – Emily. They’d both love you."

Elizabeth smiled softly. He was the most wonderful human being she’d ever met. "How do you know that?"

"Oh you’re just their type of chick that’s all," he grinned. "I guess you’ll just have to find out though, when you come huh?"

She looked down. "I guess."

"You know," Lucky said after a moment. Sighing as he looked at her. Those big blues eyes the most amazing thing he’d ever seen. "You’re like a puzzle I can’t quite figure out……and sometimes it’s frustrating as all Hell…but other times – like right this second," he paused. Pushing a strand of hair off of her forehead. "It’s the most beautiful thing in the world."

A bashful smile graced her lips, and then something happened. Something seemed to slip away. Whether it was a barrier within her self, or between them, she didn’t know. But she was speaking to him about things she never had and not knowing exactly where it had come from.

"I always wanted a little sister…I mean at first – I did. And then…well I didn’t," she paused. "I guess that’s why I got so attached to my teddy bears. I was kind of lonely you know? So I used to…I used to just pretend they were real. Like they had actual personalities and they would talk to me. We’d have parties and sleepovers and all sorts of things," she grinned.

When their eyes met she shook her head. "I don’t know where that came from…that’s silly."

Lucky continued to gaze at her. "It’s not silly….please," he paused. Her voice, like water to a thirsty man. "Continue."

She bit down on her bottom lip. "After you won that teddy bear for me? After that first night?" She paused, watching as he nodded in remembrance. "I slept with it every night that month before you came back…It meant more than anything. I kept thinking ‘how did he know?…how did he know?’…When I know now you were just trying to show off and beat me at Road Fury."

Lucky laughed out loud. "But hey, it worked out – I mean you love teddy bears right?"

"Right," she sighed. He literally watched as her mind traveled back to another time and place. "My very first teddy bear – the one that started my love for them, was one my dad – Daddy gave me when I was first born…Of course I don’t remember that," she chuckled. But I had it for years…and it’s the first recollection I have of any toy…his name was Mr. Woahbly.

Lucky grinned at her. "Mr. Woahbly?"

Elizabeth chuckled to herself. "He was made out of terrycloth…beige, although I never let him be washed so he was nearly brown. Mom had a fit when any of the neighbors saw it," she sighed momentarily before resuming the story.

"Anyway, the terrycloth reminded me of this bathrobe my mother had…and of course I could never say ‘Robe’ with an ‘R,’…I always said it with a ‘W,’…Wobe…therefore…

"What was actually Mr. Robey came out - Mr. Woahbly?" Lucky asked. Completing the story.

She nodded with a smile. Barely taking a breath before a flood of more information poured out. "And Our neighbors had this dog," she continued. "His name was Brute…and he looked much like our Foster there," she said. Gesturing towards their napping dog. "But he was the furthest thing from a brute. He was the gentlest dog….except for that one time he got a hold of Mr. Woahbly…oh man I wailed and wailed when that happened…but Daddy got him back for me.

"It didn’t take me long to forgive Brute…I’d go over their after school and play with him every chance I got."

Lucky leaned forward as if he were hearing the most fascinating thing in the world. "What was your favorite subject in school?"

Elizabeth eyes rolled around in her head and she bit her bottom lip. "Anything Science."

Folding his arms, Lucky he leaned back.

"Does that surprise you?" She asked with a smile.

"Not at all. You’re both left brained AND right brained.…you are an interesting woman Elizabeth Webber."

"Well you are too…not the interesting WOMAN part," she smiled. "But I mean…you’re this Computer Techie of the Year guy," she giggled. Pointing up to his face on the magazine that was covered in glass. "But you also write your own music…play your own music…you’re…you’re wonderful," she shrugged.

Their eyes met and held once more. And he knew his next question could be the one that caused her to clam up. That he might be just about to ruin a very good thing. But he plunged ahead anyway.

He had to.

"Did you ever think about…I mean I know you’re dream was to come to the city and dance…did you want to go to school while you were here? Juilliard? Even NYU? I mean I hear they’ve got an awesome dance program…Did you ever think about that at all? Was it an option?

Her body tensed before his very eyes but she nodded after a moment. "I – yeah…I actually had this huge – LIST of schools. But I – well things happen you know? Plans change sometimes."

Lucky followed her eyes. "That’s true. But I also know you – and how determined you are about things. I mean if you really wanted that –

"If I really wanted it - what?!" She snapped suddenly. Staring at him. "I would have gotten a scholarship? I would have applied for loans? I would have maybe saved a big chunk of change that my dad left me in his will and worked my ass off scooping ice cream and flipping burgers during high school to add to that fund? I would have hidden that money in an a little white envelope and changed the location of that envelope every week so that my drunken, asshole of a stepfather wouldn’t find it and spend it on booze or whatever the Hell else he was spending it on?! Would I have found a way to what – REIMBURSE myself when he DID finally find it? Is that what I would have done Lucky?! Huh?"

Shit.

She was on her feet and stepping out of the room when Lucky jumped off the desk and clasped her wrist. "I’m sorry…I’m sorry, I didn’t know. Wait, listen," he pleaded. Tugging her backwards. "Sweetie I’m SORRY. I didn’t know that."

Her eyes avoided his gaze. Darting to the floor, to his hands, anywhere but his face. "There’s a lot you don’t know."

He followed her gaze. Looking down at the top of her head as she looked at her feet. "I’m trying," he whispered. "I’m trying to know…I don’t wanna hurt you, I’m just trying to LEARN you."

Her head hurt. It pounded so hard and voice mixed inside her head. Just like it had that morning when he’d touched her. When he’d been so close to giving her the kind of immense pleasure that she’d never known.

Every single time she got close to something. Every time her heart started to feel a little lighter…

‘What are you going to tell him everything now Lizzie? You think loverboy’s gonna wanna marry you THEN? But I’m not TRYING to marry him,’ her inner voice countered. ‘I just wanna be with him! Why won’t you just let me BE with him!’

‘Because he’s a stranger. He’s not me,’ the other voice countered angrily. ‘You belong to me and you always will. Whether you like it or not. Now quit this nonsense and leave this boy alone.’

And the Lucky’s fingers suddenly felt far away as they slid through her hair. She could barely feel it anymore.

"Elizabeth…Sweetie you have to talk to me. Ok?" Lucky pleaded quietly. Looking for her eyes when she kept staring at the floor. "I can’t be in the dark anymore…alright?"

She shook her head. "But you can’t. You can’t know…everything," she almost moaned. The throbbing in her head increasing. "I was wrong to tell you that."

Lucky shook his head, and tilted her chin upwards. Needing to see her eyes. "No it wasn’t. It was perfectly RIGHT to tell me that. Elizabeth, you want to tell me. You want to talk to me. You sat right in that chair and lit up like a Christmas tree when you told me about your teddy bear and the neighbors dog and your favorite subject in school! Why is it wrong to tell me other things too?

"What did he say to you?" He continued. "What did he say to make you think you can’t tell anybody anything?"

Elizabeth shook her head and covered her eyes with her hands. "What are you talking about? No one said anything."

He reached up and gently pried her fingers away from her face. "Sweetie look at me. Just say it…I swear to you that I won’t judge you, or think any less of you……Elizabeth, please," he begged.

She rubbed her hands over her face. "I don’t want to talk about this…please don’t make me talk about this."

"Elizabe –

"Please!" She said looking up at him. "Please?…Can’t we just…I just want to be with you. Can we just go somewhere? And get out of the apartment for awhile? I swear I’ll be better once we’re out of here."

Lucky glanced around. It wasn’t the fucking apartment that was driving her crazy. It was her own head, and she couldn’t run from that. Although she’d been trying her damndest since she was a kid.

It was his turn to have a headache. He covered his eyes with his hand and then looked up. "Where do you want to go?"

"Anywhere," she said desperately. "We can go to the park or…oh I have an idea. It’ll be dark in a couple of hours – maybe we can get something to eat and then we can go dancing!" She said almost desperately. "Remember that place I wanted to try? The salsa place? Let’s go there – it’ll be fun."

She was almost crying. Wringing her hands and desperate to not say one more word about IT. Whatever IT was. He’d never felt so completely helpless in his life.

Nodding silently, Lucky shoved his hands in his pockets.

Elizabeth smiled awkwardly and stood to her tip-toes. Holding his face as she kissed him firmly on the lips. "I’m gonna take a shower…and dress up real nice ok? Just give me an hour and then we can go. Why don’t you make reservations somewhere nice, ok?"

He nodded again as she turned away. Something told him he’d be waiting for a lot longer than an hour. He’d already been waiting for months.