Elizabeth eyed Wallace with sheer disdain as Lucky guided – no – shoved him into the elevator. They guy was seriously biting into her quality time here. When they got back to New York, he wasn’t allowed over to the penthouse for a month!

First, he’d insisted on playing another 4 rounds of pool at Luke’s – on a pool table that could have been used for bigger and better things – she thought, remembering their interruption bitterly.

Then after he’d knocked one too many back, the guy had decided that he was hungry – and wanting to prolong such wonderful togetherness - insisted that they all go find some grub.

Lucky, feeling guilty that he’d invited his friend all the way down to Port Charles and than wanted nothing more than to abandon him at the earliest possible moment, gave into Wallace’s need for food and company. Hence postponing the carnal impulses that throbbed incessantly inside both him and his wife.

Carnal impulses that Elizabeth couldn’t help thinking about fulfilling right here in the elevator. Of course she’d have to push Wallace and Lucinda OUT of it first…

They’d ended it up at Jake’s that night - the only place in town that was still serving greasy finger foods at such a late hour.

20 minutes after walking into the dive bar, Lucky’d been dragged into breaking up a fight. One of the not-so-friendly patrons had decided to hit on Lucinda the supermodel. Wallace in his drunken state - hadn’t taken kindly to it, and had proceeded to nearly get his face bashed in…

***

"He didn’t mean that," Lucky said quickly, stepping in between Wallace and a guy roughly the size of a linebacker. If the guy breathed too hard, Wallace might just die.

The linebacker, who Lucky dubbed ‘Bruno’ in his head stepped closer. Lucky put one hand on each of the men’s chest, pushing them apart. He removed it from Bruno’s chest instantly at the heat of the big guy’s glare.

"Oh really?" Bruno said. "What did he mean then? How exactly do you take ‘big-giant-dumbfuck wrong’?"

Lucky chuckled nervously. "Really…that’s just Wallace – it could have meant anything. It could have meant ‘have a nice evening.’ See, that girl over there…the one you were taking a grab at…that’s his girlfriend…and you know," Lucky said in almost a whisper now. Conspiratorially – as if it were just between two guys. "It’s a new relationship…and Wallace here," he said patting his buddy. "He’s a little insecure…I mean look at him compared to her……You’ll have to excuse his insecurity –

"I’m not insecure! This guy’s an asshole!"

Lucky inhaled deeply through his nose and turned to face his friend. He spoke through his teeth. "You wanna have kids with that woman some day? Grow old with her?"

"Yeah."

"Well then shut the fuck up."

"What did he say!" Bruno roared, reaching around Lucky. "I think he just called me an asshole!"

Lucky replaced his hand on Bruno’s chest, but the guy kept coming. "Look man, he’s drunk and he wasn’t that sharp to begin with. He doesn’t know what he’s –

"That’s right Buddy!" Wallace said, sticking out his chest with all the bravado that alcohol afforded. "You heard me. I called you a big – giant – oversized – asshole. You got that or do you need me to spell the big words for you Einstein? That’s A-S-S-H- "

Lucky turned to glare at Wallace and when he turned back, his face met smack dab with a fist the size of a small country…things had gone black for awhile.

***

Wallace was a pretty fast runner, Elizabeth thought as she narrowed her eyes at the site of him.

Her poor baby on the other hand, was sporting a shiner now. If there were any justice in the world, Elizabeth thought – Wallace would have one hell of hangover tomorrow morning.

"Come on Man," Lucky said through a grunt. Maneuvering an arm around his friend’s body. He hauled him up against the wall of the elevator and pressed two hands against his chest. Sighing at the effort.

"20," Lucky said, throwing glancing over his shoulder at the two glaring women across from him. His eye hurt like hell, but sometimes – he reminded himself - you had to take one for the team.

Wallace would have done the same for him, he was sure. The guy slurred something unintelligible and Lucky turned to look at him. A wobbly grin surfaced as he laid his head against the wall. Lucky sighed again.

If the guy blamed him for not getting laid tonight, Lucky would take him back to Jake’s and let that guy finish beating him to a pulp.

By the looks of things, Lucinda wasn’t about to give her super champ of a boyfriend the time of day…or night, as it were. She punched in the number 20 and shook her head furiously.

Lucinda folded her arms. A part of her was proud or touched…or something. Finally she was with a man who was willing to defend her honor…but just looking at him in his drunken state made HER stomach queasy. And poor Lucky and Elizabeth, they’d ruined their evening.

She’d known the moment Wallace said they were coming down to Port Charles tonight that it wasn’t such a good idea. They needed their time alone right now. And here they were…with Wallace looking green and ready to puke all over Lucky’s shoes.

Well, better Lucky’s shoes than her new Donna Karan’s.

Each of them watched in silence as Wallace grinned widely at Lucky. Gazing at him as if he were the Second Coming.

"Man…have I ever told you how lucky I am to have you as my friend?…You’re the best…really…just…A number 1 in my book pal," he finished slapping the man he was so lucky to know, on the back.

Lucky nearly fell over at the force of the gesture, and then righted himself. "Thank me when your sober ok?…Listen, Lucinda’s about to take you to your room. I want you to stick your head in the ice bucket and sober up for her. She didn’t come all this way just to babysit, you got me?"

Wallace found the last part of Lucky’s statement extremely funny and broke into the chorus of a once famous Sonny and Cher tune. "Hey….du-du-duh-duh-duh-duh I got you babe…I got you ba…"

"You will have absolutely nothing if you don’t shut up - BABE," Lucinda spat, folding her arms in imitation of the same stance Elizabeth took. "You know – in fact…I think maybe you should just stay with your best friend there. Lucky can take care of you, because I’m not going to."

Lucky and Elizabeth exchanged horrified glances. No, no, no, no, no…

"Oh nooooooooo….Baby," Wallace whined. Lucky kept him standing and away from Lucinda. He was fairly sure the guy was going to be puking his guts out sometime within the next 20 minutes. God help everybody if the elevator doors weren’t open by then.

He thought quickly. If there was any hope of he and Elizabeth getting down to business tonight, he had to keep Wallace from doing anything else to piss his girlfriend off.

"Oh come on Lucinda…I mean he did if all for you, you know? That guy was being really rude and obnox –

"He was being an ASSHOLE!" Wallace cried out as if struck anew by the nerve of Bruno. He pumped a fist in the air, forgetting that there was no army to lead into battle.

Lucinda sighed.

Lucky pulled Wallace close to his face in order to talk to him, but quickly released him. His breathed reeked like some hellish torture chamber from the medieval period.

"Listen," he said from a few inches away, that should have been more like feet. "Stop talking about that guy. You’re in a wonderful – 5 star hotel with your girlfriend now…don’t waste the opportunity by being an ass."

"But I –

"SHUT UP and do as your told."

Wallace nodded and looked as if he were about to cry. He glanced over at the woman he loved with puppy dog eyes and then tried to move out of Lucky’s grasp, but his friend wouldn’t allow him to leave.

"Baby…don’t be mad at me," Wallace whined. "I just couldn’t let that guy say those things about you…he had it coming." He said, smacking one fist against the opposite palm.

Lucinda tried not to let her mouth quirk up into a smile. In spite of himself, he was so damn cute…and sincere.

"And you sure gave it to him didn’t you Honey?" She joked lightly.

"I woulda gave it to him REALLY good if Lucky hadna stepped in," he said, suddenly throwing air jabs. Lucky ducked. Missing Wallace’s fist by just a hair. Everyone in the elevator gasped at the near miss. Lucky had nearly gotten a matching set of shiners.

"Mmhhm," Lucky said then, rising to his full height again. He couldn’t let his best friend be shown up right? Even if he did have events a bit screwed up in his head. "That’s right…Wallace was ready to pummel the guy. But I didn’t want Bruno to get too hurt…so you know – I had to do something."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and yawned. "Right because Bruno looked scared."

Lucky glared at her and then started to smile.

"But you got hit for all your trouble," interjected apologetically. "Lucky, I’m so sorry about that. Next time…" she paused and waited till she caught her boyfriend’s eyes. "NEXT TIME, Wallace will be far more careful with who he opens his mouth to…or better yet – there won’t BE a next time…will there Honey?"

He shook his head but then muttered under his breath to Lucky. "Somebody else comments on her sweet patootie and I’m gonna let ‘em have it no matter who they are."

"As well you should my friend…" Lucky said patting him on the back. "As well you should."

Elizabeth had to stifle laughter. Covering her mouth with her hand as Lucky placated Wallace like a child.

Lucinda covered her mouth as well and looked down. "Please don’t encourage this behavior."

Elizabeth finally spoke. Moved by the moment of course. "I don’t know Lucinda…Someone defending your sweet patootie is a little…you know – noble. Even if they do only have a Buffalo wing and a chicken finger to defend it with."

"Hey!" Wallace said then, pointing across the elevator to Elizabeth. He nearly jabbed Lucky in the eye once more. "You be quiet…you’re mean and your jealous…and you’re just mad that I was Lucky’s friend FIRST."

Elizabeth’s cocked an eyebrow. "Bet I’m a better friend."

Wallace laughed uproariously at that. "Ny-uh. You can’t even…cook!" He said indignantly. "I know how to make his favorite meal…so THERE!" he added, sticking out his tongue.

Elizabeth leaned back. This was almost too easy.

"Wallace, I AM his favorite meal."

"Get rid of her Lucky," Wallace pouted at being one-upped. "She’s mean. I don’t like her."

Lucky bit down on his grin. "That’s tough luck Pal…She’s not mean to me. She stays."

"Ok," Wallace said suddenly in deep thought. "I’ll still be your bestest friend though and put up with her because I love you man."

Lucky took a deep breath and shook his head. Was this the longest elevator ride in the history of all elevator rides or was it his imagination? He turned to watch the numbers light up. Damn it…only 15? He was going to have to talk to Edward about service around here.

"I said I LOVE YOU," Wallace repeated when he got no answer from a distracted Lucky. He was too busy thinking about his favorite meal now and how his favorite meal looked in that sweater. He already knew how it felt, from his explorations at the pool table. All fury and soft and what lay beneath was even more soft. If he could just…

I mean, God she had to be hot in that thing right…

"Lucky!"

"Oh yeah man…yeah…of course…feelin’ the love too – totally."

"You know…I think I was right the first time," Lucinda said suddenly from her side of the elevator. "You seem to want to spend a lot of time with Lucky…So Wallace, why don’t you go ahead and follow them to their room tonight and I’ll just be sleeping by myself. How’s that?"

Elizabeth and Lucky both exchanged horrified glances once more. She couldn’t possibly be serious! Was she crazy?! What had they ever done to her to deserve this?!

Was this finally Lucinda’s revenge for the time Elizabeth had kissed Wallace? Dear God in heaven, anything but this! This was cruel and unusual!

Lucky took a deep breath to steady himself. It was all going to be ok. The longest night in history hadn’t stretched on this long only to leave him sitting in a hotel room with WALLACE of all people. A cold wash cloth in his left hand, a waste basket in the other…no, no…

His hands had other things to hold on to tonight and both of them were under Elizabeth’s sweater.

If he just concentrated on the last time he and Elizabeth had sex he’d be ok. It wasn’t as if they’d been abstaining or anything. They’d had it on the couch the night before they’d left. They had it the following morning. Hell, they’d even gone at it on the train a bit…

But damn it all to hell, he still needed her like he needed his next breath!

"Listen Lucinda," Lucky began calmly…rationally, as Elizabeth’s eyes still stood wide open in panic. "Wallace is sorry. In fact, he’s VERY, VERY sorry. He’s never been more sorry in his life…He’s a sorry, sorry excuse for a human being."

"Hey…layin’ it on a little thick, Man. I’m not that ba -

"Quiet," Lucky shot. "He’d rather be with you ANY day of the week Lucinda." Lucky grit his teeth and held his friend’s chin up and tilted it towards the tall woman to the side of them. "Tell her your sorry for embarrassing her Wallace."

"I’m sorry for embarrassing her Wallace," He repeated then started to sing again. "I’m sorry….sooooooooooo sorry…."

"Oh for the love of God," Elizabeth sighed, shifting her weight against the elevator wall. Now she was never going to get laid.

Two months. Two months till he could show his face at the penthouse again.

She glanced up at the numbers as they lit. 17…ok – almost there. If Wallace tried to come with them, she’d throw his ass down the elevator shaft.

"You should just say you’re sorry for embarrassing YOURSELF," Lucinda corrected him, shaking her head.

"But Honey…Sweetums…Lollipop," he said, sticking a finger in his mouth and making a popping sound with his mouth. "I did it for you….I wanna be liiiiiiiving…for the love of youuuuu…"

Lucky shut his eyes. When Wallace got plastered he turned into a human jukebox and Wallace could carry a tune almost as well as he could have thrown Bruno on his back and carried him.

Lucinda had seen him like this before, but that had been before they were a couple. "Wallace!" Lucinda hissed. "Stop it!"

Lucky took a deep breath, suddenly struck by an idea. It was a desperate move, but he was a desperate man.

"Wallace since you’re serenading her already…Now would be a good time to tell her about…you know – your special song."

Lucinda’s brow knit. "His special song?"

"Oh yeah," Lucky said holding back laughter. When Wallace was sober, he’d kick his ass for sure. But after he was done kicking it, he’d be kissing it for making Lucinda forgive him. "Yeah, he’s got a song for you."

"You wrote me a song?"

Wallace finally wiggled out of Lucky’s arms and made his way towards his girlfriend. "No…um…not exactly, but do you remember that song?" He slurred. "That Elvis song…Return to Sender?"

Lucinda shrugged. "Yeah…Wallace what does that have to do with –

"The way your lips quirk like that," he said pointing at her mouth. His fingertip slid across her top lip and she blushed.

‘NICE,’ Lucky thought. One step closer to getting laid. Him – not Wallace. Even if Lucinda forgave him, Wallace was too green to take any chances with sexual situations.

"When I was a kid," he continued. "I used to think the real words were Retuuuuuurn LUCINDA…address unknown."

Elizabeth cracked up so loudly and so suddenly that Lucky had to help stand back up when she doubled over.

"Sssh," he said as she wiped tears from her eyes. "Oh my God…" she said, still dying.

Lucky shushed her again out of the corner of his mouth and pursed his lips to squelch his own need to laugh.

When Lucinda looked at her boyfriend with that ‘aw you’re so sweet,’ grin Lucky knew his bestfriend had been absolved.

"So now…" Wallace went on, still tracing her mouth with his fingertip. "When I see your little mouth do that thing…I think to myself – it musta been fate. All those years as a kid I thought Elvis was singing your name……Oh, who am I kidding, I thought those were the words up until last year."

Lucinda smiled then and Wallace nearly giggled with giddiness when he saw the Elvis grin he adored. "See," he nearly squealed. "There it is!"

Lucinda cracked up. "I love you," she whispered before taking his own mouth in a fierce kiss.

Lucky glanced at the carpet and scratched at the back of his head as he thought about how badly Wallace reeked. Damn, she really did love the guy.

Elizabeth fastened her eyes to the glowing numbers and cleared her throat. "Ooh!Ok!20!" She said quickly, grasping Lucky’s hand in her own. She spoke through her teeth so only he could hear. "Let’s make a run for it."

Lucky smiled and glanced quickly over his shoulder as his wife tugged him out of the elevator. Lucinda and Wallace were still kissing. They’d probably end up missing their floor…oh well.

Lucky laughed as he and Elizabeth tumbled out into the foyer between the elevators on the 20^th floor. "Well, I think they’ll be ok tonight…I was a little worried he’d throw up on her, but he hasn’t gagged with her tongue in his mouth so…"

Elizabeth’s laughter subsided into flirtation. "You’re not…tired are you?" She asked, slowly easing her lips against his. Slipping her own tongue into his mouth. Her hands slipped into his back pockets.

When she squeezed his cheeks tight, his hips met hers. "No…not very tired at all…in fact, I’m feeling more energized than I have in a month…I might be up all night long," he added suggestively. "Really…up," he sighed as his tongue found her neck.

On instinct, the side of her face tried to shield her neck and he sucked at the flesh more deeply. She trembled everywhere and began to melt against him. Her bones, complete mush.

"And what do you propose we do with all that energy? There’s probably a replay of the Knicks game on ESPN…they do get ESPN in this hotel, do they not?"

"I don’t give a damn what cable stations they have," Lucky growled against her ear. He took her lobe between her teeth and she nearly jumped right out of her skin it felt so good.

"And….and your eye doesn’t hurt too badly?" she said between gasps.

"What’s an eye?" Lucky said absently. He looked up from her ear just long enough to see which way the arrow pointed to their room number.

"That thing you can barely see out of," Elizabeth informed him. "Oh God…" she moaned as his hands clasped her butt. Bringing her tight to him. Yes, he definitely seemed…up.

"No I’m good," Lucky said, beginning to maneuver her down the hall.

"I already knew that."

"Good…and damn hungry for that favorite meal of mine…"

Elizabeth jumped up so that her legs circled his waist and he grasped her around her thighs. Chuckling when he nearly stumbled backwards.

"Damn…I’m sure glad the thing you love best is the one thing I know how to cook…"

~~~~~~~

"Have I told you how much I love this sweater?" Lucky asked his voice muffled by it as he pushed it away from her skin. Nuzzling her breasts. The white, furry piece of material gathered beneath her chin as he kept talking. "Such a shame it won’t be much use to you for the next few hours."

Elizabeth laughed at the feel his stubble against her skin. "Yeah…you told me about a 100 times how much you love it."

"Well then…I should apologize for inviting my friends…not being able to enjoy this sweater a whole lot more."

"I’m more upset we didn’t get to do it on the pool table."

Lucky glanced up at her. "Damnit…me too. One of these days Elizabeth…in fact," he said getting an idea. He sat up abruptly. "Sweetie I’ve got the key to the club. It’s after hours, let’s just go and –

Elizabeth sat up and shut her husband up with a long, deep kiss. "We didn’t get to do it on the pool table last time either," she finally said, panting as she pulled away. "Better luck next time lover boy…We are NOT leaving this hotel room now and taking a chance that we may end up stranded in the cold outside or chased down by Bruno the linebacker."

Lucky smiled at her and finished pulling her sweater off when she lifted her arms. She was right. Why take any chances? That pool table would be there’s eventually…or, he thought suddenly – he’d just have to buy one.

Yeah…that’s the ticket.

Elizabeth recalled in detail exactly how turned on he’d been by that pool table. What he’d felt like behind her…hard and wanting. She remembered how turned on SHE’D been.

How turned on she was NOW. She reached for the hem of his sweater. Yanking it up and over his head and he shook out his hair like Foster would. She laughed.

"We’re definitely going to try again. But for now…Mr. Spencer why don’t you just have your way with me."

"Don’t have to tell me twice."

Lucky wound his hands around her and deftly unhooked her bra, watching with rapt attention as it fell away from her shoulders. The second his palm touched her, the phone rang.

Elizabeth covered his hand on top of her breast. Holding it there. Someone out there had to be kidding.

"Do NOT answer it."

He nodded and scooted closer to her. Fondling her softly as his mouth met hers in a hot, steamy kiss. It traveled from her mouth to her jaw and Lucky shut his eyes tightly at the continuous sound of the phone ringing wreaked havoc on his libido.

His mouth tried to busy itself with her collarbone.

Elizabeth sighed an expletive and pulled away. Her body becoming too distracted by the annoying sound. "Go ahead…."

Lucky jerked away and rolled towards the phone on the nightstand. "If it’s fucking Wallace I’m gonna shove the most oddly shaped bottle of liquor up his ass the next time."

"What do you want!" Lucky shouted as greeting into the phone.

"No! The question is, Cowboy…WHAT does your DOG WANT FROM ME?! I’m only ONE MAN!" Luke shouted.

Lucky sat up. Good gracious…What now?

"Huh?"

"Your dog – that devil that you let BACK into my house – Satan’s pet – who I thought I was long gone – has been sniffing around my kitchen without ceasing ALL NIGHT LONG. I went to BED and the dog pawed me right out of it. He grabbed me by the shirt with his fangs bared and dragged me down to his lair to find….God only knows what! I already FED HIM…THREE TIMES!"

"Who is it?" Elizabeth asked, curling into Lucky’s side. She slid down and kissed his chest. No reason she couldn’t give him a little satisfaction in the meantime. A little appetizer before the meal.

No reason she couldn’t have a snack.

Lucky blocked the mouthpiece with his hand. "My Dad. Having some fit about Foster…SEE, I knew it was a bad idea to bring him."

Elizabeth grimaced. It had been HER idea. She hadn’t wanted to leave Foster all alone for the holidays. Well, good thing she was down here anyway, she thought – her fingers on his zipper – she’d start making it up to him right now.

"Dad, just go back to bed. He’ll leave you alone once he figures out you mean business. Growl at him a couple of times if he keeps sniffing around the kitchen."

"Oh," Elizabeth said. Glancing up from her task suddenly, a thought occurring. "Oh…it’s probably the burnt gingerbread…remember?"

"Oh," Lucky said then, remembering what had happened before they’d left the city.

He cleared his throat as Elizabeth drew him out of his pants. "Oh Dad…Yeah…um… Elizabeth made some gingerbread cookies and they didn’t come out…well they…

"They were BURNT," Elizabeth filled in loud enough for her father-in-law to hear. She giggled afterwards and lowered her voice. "But what I’ve got here is mighty tasty…perfect really."

"So, F- Foster’s been finishing up the batch one by one every nigh – night," Lucky explained, trying hard to keep his voice in check as she licked and kissed teasingly…

"That’s probably wh- what he’s looking for. It’s like a midnight snack."

Luke’s sigh was loud enough for Elizabeth to hear.

"So let me get this straight…your dog will not allow me the REST I need because he wants his midnight snack?…LUCKY YOU COME OVER HERE AND GET THIS DAMN DOG RIGHT NOW!"

Lucky covered his eyes with his forearm, wilting before Elizabeth’s very eyes. His father’s voice was like an ice cold shower.

He pulled the phone away long enough to curse a blue streak and then brought it back to his mouth. "Dad just watch him TONIGHT, ok? That’s it! Tomorrow night’s Christmas Eve and Elizabeth and I will be staying at the house…You won’t have to worry about watching him anymore!"

"I’m not WORRIED about him now! Get over here and get him."

"Daaaaad," Lucky said through his teeth. "I’m kind of busy -

"Oh yeah…busy? Like you were busy in my billiards room? The felt’s too fine for that Lucky. If I walk in tomorrow and find that you’ve ruined the felt you’re paying for it! You can afford to ruin a perfectly good table – I can’t!"

"Huh? How did you –

"Oh EVERYBODY in the damn club knew Lucky. You don’t wear that kind of grin just at the prospect of knockin’ a few shiny balls across a damn table. Now put some pants on and get down here."

"Dad just give me about a half hour…

Elizabeth sighed and rolled away, covering her eyes with her arm as well. Never…it was never going to happen tonight. And she blushed at the thought that her father-in-law now knew what they needed a half hour for.

"Quick worker, huh?" Luke said to Lucky. "Well I guess you couldn’t be blessed with ALL my genes. Too bad for Elizabeth."

"DAD!"

"Just hurry up! I won’t responsible for what I do to this dog!" Luke shouted over the phone and then hung up.

Lucky dropped the phone back into the cradle and rolled over instantly. Without warning he smothered her with a hard and fast kiss. His fingers found the waistband of her miniskirt and gave it a swift tug.

She gasped and took his hands in hers. Finding a way to speak around his persistent mouth. "Wait…wait…Didn’t your Dad say…

"Mystupididioticmoronicfather wants us down there in half an hour to take care of the damn dog." He explained shortly. Tugging then at the tights she wore. "I can be ready to go before that…God, how do you wear these things? They’re too damn hard to get off."

She literally heard the run, tear it’s way down towards her knee. "Thanks…these WERE a really good pair."

"I’ll buy you new ones…several," he said apologizing at her neck with kisses. His hands held tight to her hips.

Elizabeth pulled back. "Lucky even I could tell your father sounded kinda pissed. Maybe we should just wait until after we get –

"Nooo…nooo…" Lucky whined. He sounded like a child being told he could have no more cookies. The thought of cookies made him think of Foster. "That dumb dog! You know what he’s doing right? This is all a conspiracy! He doesn’t want you and I to have sex!"

Elizabeth bit down on her bottom lip to keep from laughing at him, because the poor thing was actually serious. He was so distraught. So damn horny and desperate.

"Lucky, I doubt our dog is trying to keep us from having sex. He can’t exactly know that’s what we’re –

"You’re kidding right? That dog’s a lot smarter than he looks. He knows exactly why weren’t not at the house right now. He knows we’re staying in a hotel to have our privacy. He knows Elizabeth," Lucky said ominously. "Just like he always knows at the penthouse and then comes in and starts sniffing around. Jumping on the bed…sniffing my ass…all in an effort to keep me away from you…he’s jealous."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and pushed some hair away from Lucky’s face. "He’s jealous?"

"Yes…Ever since you moved in things have not been the same."

"Well I’m sorry to come between you and your dog…and you and your Wallace."

"Don’t be sorry…it had to happen….Oooh and don’t mention Wallace or you and I will have no hope at all tonight," Lucky continued rambling. He took a breath and finally got her tights off of her legs.

He was starting to perk up again and didn’t want to risk it with other potential cold showers.

"See," he said. "What we have to do when we get home is find Foster a woman. Maybe we’ll have to buy another dog…..That dog looks at you and sees a bone he wants to chew on, you know."

She lifted an eyebrow. "I don’t know whether to be complimented or not."

"It doesn’t matter…let’s just get back to what we were doing, shall we?"

Lucky lay on top of her, kissing his way down her body. Trying to get back to the state he’d been in before they’d been so rudely interrupted by Wallace, his dog, and his father.

"W – well" Elizabeth began again. Her mind traveling to other places now. "Do you think we could fit another dog into the penthouse? I mean…it’s a huge place, but it really isn’t practical. We have to take Foster on walks so frequently because he’s got no place to go…it’d be nice – for the dogs I mean," Elizabeth said, thinking of what could possibly be growing in her body right then.

"If we had…you know…like a house. For the dogs."

"I like my apartment," Lucky said growling as he came into contact with skin. His fingers finding her center. "You like it too."

"Oooh…" Her body jerked to meet his hand. "I…do like that," she panted. "But for F- foster I mean. And m – maybe when we have ki…" her voice trailed off.

Kids…

Holy Shit…she’d had a drink tonight. One drink because she was such a lightweight…but still – none the less – she’d had a drink. A rum and coke…her favorite. She hadn’t even been thinking…

Cold panic ripped through her and she quickly pulled her legs together and sat up.

Lucky sat up too. Horrified at being cut off before he’d even started. "Wh – what’s wrong?" He panted.

He’d made it back to full mast and now he had a feeling that was all the action he was going to get.

Elizabeth swallowed hard and shook her head slowly. "Nothing…nothing. I just…I think we should go home. To your house. To take care of Foster so your Dad can get some sleep. Ok?"

"You gotta be kidding me."

"No…I’m not kidding you," she said quickly. Hopping off the bed. She searched for her bra and sweater and skirt…she’d be throwing the tights away. ‘Oh God, oh God, oh God,’ she thought.

Lucky reached out for her hand as she passed by the end of the bed. Stilling her in mid stride. Something was indeed wrong.

"Hey…what’s up? What just happened here?"

Elizabeth pulled her hand away and cupped his face in her hands, rubbing her thumb along his jawline.

‘Nothing,’ she thought. ‘Just the fact that I’m already a horrible mother…if there’s a God, he won’t let me be pregnant.’

"Not a thing," she lied. Her eyes filled a bit. "I think I just want…you know…to take things a bit slower. I just wanted to be with you tonight and…" she sighed. Not wanting to make things worse by making things up.

Lucky hung his head and then nodded. "You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m over here mauling you. I rushed things and –

"No…no," Elizabeth said shaking her head. "Don’t feel bad, I want you too…really badly," she added. "Just maybe when we’ve got some more time to ourselves…ok?"

Lucky licked his lips. "Yeah…of course it’s ok. I know exactly how to make it up to you too."

Elizabeth shut her eyes before she stepped towards the bathroom. She suddenly felt like being sick. "Ok."

Lucky watched as she walked away and lifted his hand to his face. Cradling it on his knee as he thought about what had just happened. Man, he was going to kill his Da…

The thought dwindled away as his fingers rubbed across the spot on his face where her fingers had just been…

Stubble.

Shit. Was that it? Had she had some kind of flashback or…No, that hadn’t happened in so long.

‘Not really,’ his brain reminded. ‘You’re a putz. You haven’t been married long enough to call anything ‘a long time.’

But they’d made love before with his face a little less than smooth…it hadn’t seemed to bother her at least…for awhile. Or least it hadn’t visibly bothered her. Most of the time he made an effort to keep well shaven. But during this last month with all the stuff going on with Stephanie there’d been a few times when he hadn’t…and she’d never said anything.

Had she just been putting up with it because he’d been so down in the dumps? Had she just not wanted to say anything for fear of causing him more pain?

God, maybe so. Or maybe he’d done something else to her tonight…touched her in some way that reminded her of that bastard…

Lucky hung his head again and sighed. That had to be it. He’d been a little rough with her just then in his haste to have her. That paired with the stubble…and his deliberate disregard for what she’d been trying to say about the penthouse…What had she been trying to say?

Damn, he might as well have just told her to shut up because he couldn’t remember a thing. All he’d been thinking about was his dick. Hence, thinking WITH his dick.

He should have taken his father’s advice in the first place and put his pants on while he had the chance.

Lucky rose from the bed and glanced at his discarded pants…He’d follow that advice now.

~~~~~~~

It was now or never. Elizabeth took the moment alone to call home. Check their phone messages. Lucky was busy talking his Dad out of killing Foster in the kitchen…

Her hand shook as she dialed. Pressing the numbers of their password and then listening for the beeps. She skipped through all the non-important ones and got the one of the moment. The one she’d been waiting for, that she’d been secretly hoping hadn’t been left yet. But it had.

Elizabeth shut her eyes and took a deep breath at the words, and when the words were finished, she willed herself to press the star key so that all the other messages wouldn’t be erased. Then she hung up the phone. Her hand seemingly detached from her body.

"Who on Earth are you calling so late at night?"

Elizabeth jumped at the sound of Laura’s voice behind her. She turned around, a hand to her mouth. A horribly shaking hand.

Laura’s brow knit. "Honey, what is it? Are you ok?"

Elizabeth’s bottom lip began to tremble and when she heard the rumbling of male voices getting closer on their way out of the kitchen, she turned around abruptly as to not be seen when they emerged. If he saw her face he’d know something was wrong. Then she’d have to tell him how horrible she was. How terrible.

What a horrendous choice in wife he’d made.

Laura’s eyes widened as she took in Elizabeth’s body language. The shake of her shoulders.

"Ok…let’s go upstairs," she said turning her daughter-in-law around by the shoulders. "Come on."

Elizabeth followed her mother-in-law quickly. Going upstairs. She was ushered into the bathroom and the door was shut before she could even protest.

"What’s going on? Is that woman bothering him again? I knew this was too good to be true…did she leave a message for you? Does she want money or something? In order to keep quiet?"

Elizabeth didn’t understand what Laura was saying at first and then shook her head through her tears. It wasn’t Stephanie. Stephanie she could deal with better than this.

Her voice came out so distorted, Laura barely understood her in return. "No…she’s…she’s still in the hoooos…hooospital."

Laura grabbed Elizabeth’s hand and they sat on the edge of the bathtub. "Oh Honey, what is it?"

She started to sob and Laura’s eyes widened. "Did you and Lucky have a fight?"

"Nooooo" she moaned, holding her head in her hands. "I’m just a horrible, horrible peeeeeersoooon."

"You’re not a horrible person…come on. Tell me. You can trust me."

Elizabeth knew she could. Laura had come through for her – understood her – when she could have turned her back. The last time they’d been in Port Charles, Laura had listened with an open heart even after she’d hurt her son so badly.

Well this time she may have just hurt her son even worse. By hurting his child.

"I had a drink," she said suddenly. Sniffling through her fingers. "A rum and c- coooooke," she said sobbing again."

Laura’s brow knit. "Huh?…Honey, I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about."

"I had a drink tonight…a rum and coke…I didn’t even THINK about it…I just did it. Everybody was having a good time and everything and I was just so happy and my mind just wasn’t where it should have been and…

"Did you kiss someone again? Did you kiss Wallace?"

Elizabeth looked up into her mother-in-law’s eyes, more than slightly horrified. "No! Not that!"

"Oh…ok…Well then Honey, I’m afraid I don’t know what you could have done under the influence of one measly rum and coke that was so unforgivable."

"I’m pregnant."

Laura’s eyes widened and filled with tears. "W – what?"

"I just found out…I mean," Elizabeth sniffled again. "I suspected…maybe. But I just got the test results when I called home for our messages…the hospital called. They said the test was positive…I’m pregnant and a horrible, horrible mother because I DRANK…and now I’m horrible because I’m telling you first instead of him!"

The tears in Laura’s eyes turned to laughter.

Elizabeth turned slowly to stare at her in disbelief. "You find this FUNNY? I may have just given my child fetal alcohol syndrome and you think it’s FUNNY?"

Laura wrapped her arm around her daughter-in-law again. "I’m sorry…I don’t mean to laugh at you, but…Elizabeth…Honey…do you know how many times Luke plied me with liquor before we knew Lucky was on the way? He always had some cheap box wine when we were on the road…he thought it was romantic."

Elizabeth stared at her in desperation. This was about her!

Laura understood the look in Elizabeth’s eyes and quickly steered the conversation away from nostalgia. "Honey, what I mean is…as long as you don’t continue to knock them back like it’s Mardi Gras your baby will be fine…you can’t be very far along…Honey…really," she insisted as Elizabeth’s face twisted in pain and disbelief.

"Elizabeth," she continued. "Come on…imagine for a minute, how many other women in the world have been taken by surprise with pregnancy and had a glass of wine or…..and God forgive me, but a Rum and Coke? Honey, that’s not strong enough to give anybody any kind of syndrome…what kind of lightweight are you anyway?

"We’re gonna have to build your tolerance if you’re gonna stay in this family……After you have that beautiful, completely healthy baby of course," she finished, touching Elizabeth’s stomach.

Elizabeth found the eyes of the woman next to her and quickly wrapped her arms around her neck. "Really?"

"Really," Laura said softly.

For the first time in forever, Elizabeth thought about how nice it was to have an older female to talk to. To comfort you.

"Thank you…" she whispered. "Thank you….Laura."

Laura rubbed her back in slow circles. "Why don’t you try calling me something else now that you’re married to my son? Why don’t you call me…I don’t know…Mom or something."

Elizabeth nearly started crying again. She wiped her nose pathetically with the back of her hand. "Ok."

Laura giggled and reached for a tissue. "Here you go."

"Thanks Mom."

~~~~~~~

It was almost time for the sun to come up, but Lucky didn’t care. He was going to make all of this crap up to her, and he was going to make it up to her before they saw the beginning a of a new day.

The snow crunched below their boots as they came upon the location he’d been looking for. The place they’d been together only once before.

"The boxcar," Elizabeth sighed, as it came into view. There was something about this place that had been almost magical the last time they’d been here. The laughing voices they’d heard…the initials that were their own…yet someone else’s from another time.

They stepped inside and Lucky quickly got to work. Lighting all the candles that he’d carried over in his backpack and spreading blankets everywhere.

"Somewhere no one will come looking for us…or calling," he said. Switching off his cell phone.

When he came to her finally, he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her softly. Tenderly. She touched his face and then pulled back.

"Hey…when did you shave?"

Lucky reached up. "Oh…just a little bit before we snuck out of the house. When you were holed up with my mom…talking about – whatever women talk about…Is this better?"

Elizabeth’s brow knit. "I like you either way…I thought you knew that."

Lucky licked his lips and pulled back to see her eyes. She was serious. In fact she looked happy about something. Very happy.

"But I thought…Nevermind."

"Oh my God," Elizabeth said suddenly as understanding dawned. "Oh Baby did you think I stopped us earlier in the hotel because you were a little scruffy," she said this as she touched him again. "Honey, I’m sorry you thought that. That’s not why…I was just being silly is all –

"Sweetie it’s not silly if you have a problem with my –

"I have no problem with your ANYTHING," Elizabeth assured him, kissing him to seal the promise. "You’re absolutely perfect."

He lifted her hands to kiss her knuckles. "No that would be you…and I’m about to show you how absolutely perfect you are…and how absolutely perfect you make me feel."

He kissed her then and she knew with complete certainty that they would not be interrupted again tonight. His touches were slow, and he took his time with her. He must have known the very same thing as he lay her down on a cushioned pile of blankets and quilts. A firm pillow beneath her head.

Candles flickered through his hair as he lay on top of her. Providing her even more warmth with the covering of his body as he removed one item of clothing, one slow move at a time.

She smiled when he kissed the skin on her stomach. Thinking of how she was going to tell him. Relishing the fact that she wanted to share it with him. That they’d get to share the rest of their lives together…and that she wasn’t horrible.

The best thing about thinking she’d been horrible in the first place was knowing now how much she wanted this baby. She hadn’t been sure at first. In fact the prospect of raising a child when her parents had been anything but stellar examples was terrifying. But she’d been so deathly afraid that she’d caused her baby some harm just an hour ago…that was enough to let her know that she never would.

That she would love this child with all of her heart…She already did.

Now she would love his or her daddy with all of her body and soul as well.

She kissed him and it was so achingly sweet that Lucky had to pull back, catching his breath at the sight of her naked and bathed in candlelight.

"You look…You’re so beautiful I can barely breathe…and somehow…somehow you’re more beautiful tonight."

Elizabeth smiled coyly. "It’s the candlelight. That’s good close-up lighting for anybody."

Lucky whispered as he pushed her hair away and slid inside her. "No…I don’t think that’s it…you’re so…lovely," he whispered, moving inside her for what seemed like the first time in ages.

Her legs lifted seemingly of their own accord, coaxing him further. Inviting him to take and receive to both of their hearts content. His hands slid across her skin like the wings of a butterfly as something more powerful took control of her every sense. Building within her so quickly that she was almost sad.

She’d complained before about the night lasting too long…but now neither one of them wanted it to end, and both of them would reach their end too soon.

"Don’t worry," Lucky said breathlessly against her cheek. As if reading her thoughts. "We’ll start again…and then again," he said kissing her jaw. "And then again…God, I love you."

"I love you too," she said, her breath catching. It hitched again when he rocked into her, making her burn from the inside out. "Oh…oh I l – love you so much…thank you…thank you…"

Lucky came to the tune of her voice. Shuddering inside her, whispering her name. Wanting to feel this for the rest of his life. This…complete.

"Elizabeth…"

She lay there beneath him as they each came back to themselves, having been lost in one another. They’d get lost once more, once they could catch their breaths. Grab hold of reality long enough to speak.

His huge thumbs found her cheeks, smoothing across warmed skin. Though there was snow on the ground just outside, she was warmer than she’d ever been and so was he.

He tugged the blanket more tightly around them both and found her eyes again. "What?" He said softly. "What were you thanking me for?"

Elizabeth’s brow knit. "I thanked you?"

Lucky grinned and kissed her. "When you were…"

"Oh," she blushed. Remembering then. But she didn’t want to tell him just then…it was a perfect moment, but tomorrow would be perfect too. The perfect Christmas gift. "I guess I was thanking you for making me feel…like I feel right now.

"For giving me 100 perfect moments like this in such a short time…that when I think about the future, I can’t even imagine it being more perfect than this."

"I can," Lucky whispered. "I imagine some more of this," he said kissing her neck. "And some more of this," he said lowering. "And this…"

She laughed.

"And I imagine that laugh…and the laughter of our children. That’s what I imagine…so thank YOU…for giving me beautiful dreams and making them come true one perfect moment at a time."

Elizabeth smiled as they found each other beneath the covers once more. Ready to get lost again.

One more dream coming true…tomorrow.