Lucky pressed his head against the cool wood of the door. Letting it linger there against his heated skin as he knocked softly. ‘Such an idiot!’ He thought, shaking it back and forth. ‘Complete and total idiot!’

"Elizabeth, can I come in?…Please," he called softly.

Feeling the surface of the door jiggle beneath his head, Lucky looked down. The small inch of space he’d failed to notice in his haste, increasing when he knocked on it. Slowly, he pushed the door open and entered.

"Elizabeth. I’m SO sorry about –

Somewhere in the middle of his throat, his voice came to a halt. His breath catching sharply when she came into view in the dim room. There were no lights, just the small shaft of moonbeam that illuminated her small, hunched figure on the edge of the bed.

"Elizabeth!" He whispered quickly. Practically running to her side as a shiver prickled over his body.

He dropped down to his knees in front of her. Unable to see her face, through the tightly closed fingers that covered it. "Sweetie, look at me please…I’m so sorry. Can I do something for you?…I’m sorry that I upset you like this…I didn’t realize that saying that I…" his voice drifted off, not wanting to say it again. Realizing in the short moment that he’d stood shocked from her outburst in the lobby, that it must have been the words ‘I love you,’ that completely freaked her out.

‘The way you said them out of fucking NOWHERE!’ Lucky thought. Silently berating himself.

"That I would make you…angry…or…

"Just be quiet," she mumbled suddenly through her fingers. Her voice garbled and thick with emotion.

Lucky bit his lip and tried to push her hair away from her face, still unable to see her because of her cupped hands. "How bout this?" He began softly. "I promise to be quiet if I can see your eyes…"

"No," she mumbled again. Tightening the grip she had on her face. "Just go away."

His fingers itched to pry hers apart. "I know I should probably listen to that…and just do ask you ask…but I really, REALLY don’t want to leave you like this."

Tentatively he smoothed his palms over her knees. She was shaking. "Come on…I promise to shut up…if you just let me see those beautiful eyes of yours…and I KNOW you want me to shut up.

She wasn’t saying anything. ‘Zero response to lame attempts at levity – check,’ Lucky thought, taking mental note. "I just wanna see your face Sweetie."

"No!" She screamed fiercely through her fingers. Her voice was shrill and strained from crying.

Lucky bit his lip and smoothed his hands down her shins. "Why not?"

"Because I’m crying!" She yelled.

He forced himself to bite down extra hard on his lip to keep himself from laughing. "Elizabeth, that’s ok…what’s wrong with crying? I do it."

"When!?" She demanded. Slamming her hands down on her knees.

"Aaaah…there we go."

When she realized she’d dropped her hands from her face, they flew back upwards. Unfortunately she didn’t move quick enough. Not nearly fast enough to avoid Lucky’s grasp.

"No…no…now that I see that gorgeous face, I’m not letting you hide it from me again."

"What do you mean gor – hic – eous?" Elizabeth asked. Scrunching her face as she hiccuped. "I’m all wet and I’ve – hic – probably got mascara tracks all over the place…I probably look like some drunken hooker."

Licking his lips, Lucky grinned and reached up to smudge away the black streaks under her eyes with his thumb. "You DON’T look like a hooker…more like bozo."

"Oh thank you!" She said. Her hands trying and failing yet again to make it up to her face.

"Sweetie, what is it?" Lucky asked sobering quickly after a soft chuckle. She obviously wasn’t amused at all. This was serious.

She was hurting.

He fell back on his haunches as he whispered to her. She was still shaking all over the place.

Elizabeth sniffled and glanced away. "I…I just panicked."

Nodding slowly, Lucky rose to his knees again. "So you had…like a panic attack?…Does that happen to you a lot?" He asked. Concern filling his eyes as he once again rubbed her knees through the pants that she wore.

Elizabeth shook her head slowly. How could she tell him that nothing like this had ever happened to her before? And that she was pretty sure it was the words he had said that had brought it on. "No…not a lot," she admitted softly.

Lucky shook his head and lifted himself to his feet. Adjusting his pants as he came to sit down next to her on the bed. He hesitantly placed a hand on her back and rubbed in a small circle. "I’m sorry that I made that happen…I honestly didn’t mean to upset you – or, or scare you…I’d never want to do that. Not EVER."

A tired grin pulled at the corner of Elizabeth’s mouth as she turned towards him. "I know…and I’m sorry that I freaked out on you like that."

"It’s ok," Lucky sighed. "I think most people would have…I was a little…forward," he finished. Searching for a word when there was none that seemed quite appropriate. "I guess sometimes I get a little overzealous…my friends tell me that all the time."

Yet he knew deep down that it wasn’t zealousness that had caused his proclamation of love for Elizabeth. It was the truth; it was honest to God, unequivocal love. And for the first time in his life he knew what all those fairytales and mushy romantic flicks were talking about.

It really did happen the way they said it did – falling in love. It really did run you over like a baseball player rounding third, and once you’d fallen over it kept on running until it crossed home plate. Whether you went willing or not.

When Elizabeth’s grin spread all the way across her lips Lucky smiled in return. "Now there’s a nice smile."

She looked down bashfully at her trembling hands at the exact moment that he took them in his. "Do you understand what I was saying before Elizabeth?" Lucky asked quietly. "I’m just asking because it’s important to me that you KNOW that I want you – I mean…ugh," he grunted. "You see? You get me all flustered," he joked.

"What I mean is – GOD HELP ME, I want you…but I want more than your body…I want…………," His words dwindled away. What was it that he wanted?

"I just want it to mean more," he finished. Knowing that wasn’t what he was going to say at first. He was going to say that he wanted her heart, her soul.

But the last thing he needed was for her to go screaming down the hall again.

Elizabeth looked away and he gently brought her chin back towards his face with his pointer finger. "It’s ok…you can just talk to me…You can say whatever you wanna say…I don’t offend easily," he grinned lightly. "You can tell me to get a grip if you want."

Biting her bottom lip, Elizabeth shrugged. "I just…I’m just not used to…to things going like – like this," she said. Gesturing haphazardly with her hands.

"Like what?" Lucky asked. Brushing his fingers absently through her hair.

The soft skin of his fingertips smoothed against her cheek and everything inside her fluttered like leaves on a tree, being carried by a gentle breeze. When her breath caught she tried to speak around it. Hoping she wouldn’t fall like one of those leaves if shaken too hard…yet knowing it was too late.

"Like that."

He stared at her for a moment, not sure of what she was telling him, and she closed her eyes to revel in the feeling of his hand on her face. When she opened them she tried her best to explain without completely embarrassing herself.

"Like that…like when you touch my face or…look at me – the way that you do…

"I mean, I’m a stripper…that’s what I do – I get guys to stare at me – for money…but you…when you look at me…it’s almost…it’s almost scary."

"Scary?" Lucky asked. Pulling his hand away from where it sat nestled between her shoulder and jawline. Some guy in a strip joint gawking at her while she dances around naked is ok…but HE was scary? Oy vey.

"See, I’m not explaining this right…not scary like I’m afraid…but like…like you expect me to say or do something…like you expect something out of me that I know I just can’t live up to."

Lucky shook his head and found her eyes again. "Elizabeth everything that I ‘expect’ from you, you’ve ALREADY lived up to."

Her entire face contorted in confusion. "How? How is that possible Lucky?…I mean you must have very low standards because I can think of a thousand women who would be better suited, more –

The world came crashing to an abrupt halt when his lips met hers once more. Her eyelids blinking in rapid succession as both of his large hands rose to cup her face. Though it caught her off guard in its surprise execution, his kiss was slow and quiet. Almost innocent…yet it was the most sensual feeling she’d ever experienced.

When the kiss came to it’s own natural pause, Lucky left his swollen lips against hers. The lingering sensation of tingling, dancing its way through both of their mouths.

"I’m sorry I had to do that again…but sometimes you start talking crazy and I have to shut you up somehow."

When she only grinned, he sighed and tried to catch his breath. "Listen to me," he began. Reluctantly pulling away. "I don’t WANT any of the ‘thousand women’ that you’ve already got selected for me…I’m staring at the person that I want right now. And she doesn’t have to live up to some magic pedestal that she thinks exists.

"Elizabeth I lo…I really, REALLY like you," he corrected, before he made the same mistake twice.

"Why?"

"Why?" Lucky repeated. His eyes going wide. Never in his life had he been asked WHY he liked someone. Never had he been asked to explain.

"What’s not to like?" He began slowly. "You’re smart, you’re witty, you make me laugh more than anyone I can think of – aside from my father – and believe me, you’re MUCH, MUCH prettier…Aside from all that you’ve got excellent taste in video-games and food……that sounds like more than a complete package to me.

"I think the question is," Lucky continued after a pause. "Do you like me?"

Elizabeth looked down. Turning red from her neck to the roots of her hair. She was so friggin cute sometimes he couldn’t stand it.

"You know I like you," she mumbled. "I wanted to ravish you in the lobby remember?"

"Well," Lucky smirked. "That could have been a bout of temporary insanity."

Elizabeth shook her head slowly and gazed longingly into his perfect blue eyes. "I don’t think so."

After a short moment, Lucky lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. Letting his lips travel slowly over her knuckles and then down the length of her fingers. Making sure to visit all five, before moving on to the tips…all five.

Her eyes watched. Riveted as his ruby red lips skipped along from finger to finger and then on to her next hand.

How could someone kissing your hands make you feel so good? So exquisitely warm inside. As if someone were setting fireworks off in your heart. Before she had the chance to contemplate her thoughts any further, his lips were on her face. They were everywhere but on her lips at first.

Cheeks, nose, chin, forehead… She reached for him, and wove her fingers throughout his hair. Bringing him closer as he began to caress her lips. The sensation was not so much like a kiss, as it was like a fluttering of butterfly wings against the skin.

She bit down on her bottom lip. It was like he just wanted to feel her. His hands combed gently through the strands of her hair as his face still hovered over hers. Inhaling her scent…Wild flowers and honey.

Elizabeth pushed back slightly, her eyes heavy with intoxication. Lucky held his breath as she wrapped her fingers beneath the waistline of her sweater and pulled it up and over her head in one motion.

Thankfully she wore a tank top underneath it. A white, no frills, cotton tank that was as sexy as hell, and as far away from Stephanie’s "camisoles" as you could get.

Lucky licked his lips. His mouth suddenly, completely parched. He bent to press his lips to the warm, supple flesh of her shoulder. His shaking fingers holding her flimsy strap in place as he did so. For he knew she wore nothing beneath the tank…and if the strap fell – so would be the end of him.

His mind wandered, and reveled in her skin…

So incredibly soft.

When her hair swept over the side of his face it felt like silk. Her skin already the texture of satin. Never in his life had he kissed anyone so tender or warm, and he wanted to kiss her all over.

Wanted to do more than kiss…

Elizabeth’s head rolled to the side as his lips traveled from shoulder to neck and back again. She moaned, waiting for him to remove the cotton barrier between them. But he simply shifted his weight and moved on to her next arm. Kissing her down to her elbow and then back up again. Her entire body shivered as he pushed her hair out of the way with his chin.

His eyes traveled dangerously over the sweet swells of her breasts beneath the shirt, and he kissed her naked collarbone slowly. Inhaling her euphoric scent once more before forcing himself to collect his thoughts.

"Elizabeth," he whispered. His lips slowing to a complete halt. "Elizabeth…let’s – I think now would be a good time to stop."

She stared longingly at him as he pushed himself back. Far enough away that his mouth couldn’t reach her. That her hands couldn’t touch.

Lucky swallowed hard as the moonlight shown in through the side window. Casting her now smoky blue eyes in shadow. "You are so beautiful."

Elizabeth fidgeted against the comforter at the compliment. "You don’t…you don’t want to…finish?"

Biting his lip, he let out a puff of air through his nose. She just didn’t get it…‘Not yet,’ he thought silently. ‘But she will.’

"Like I said before Elizabeth," he panted. "I haven’t earned that right."

Swallowing hard, she sat on her knees. "When do you think you will?"

He paused for a moment, staring into her eyes. "You’ll let me know."

She stared back at him for a moment. Long after he’d turned away.

Let him know? Wasn’t that just what she’d been trying to do? God…was he trying to drive her crazy?

"What I want to do more than anything right now," Lucky began. Wisely rising to his feet. "Is fall asleep tonight with you in my arms…that is - if you don’t mind me being in your room."

"Just," she said swallowing. "Sleep?"

Nodding, Lucky started to pull down the comforter down on the bed. "Aren’t you tired?…I know I am."

He watched her nod as he patted the spot that now lay uncovered by the blankets, and then watched her climb between the crisp, white sheets.

After removing only his shoes and belt, Lucky climbed in beside her. Moving tentatively at first. Realizing that she’d said it was ok to hold her, but not sure how to go about it.

Sometimes when he touched her it was almost like she was afraid of him…unless they were kissing.

"Good night," she whispered, before turning her back on him.

Lucky nodded and nervously said the same. "Night."

Just as suspected, when his arm reached out to drape across her waist from behind, Elizabeth jolted a bit.

She was unsure of what he wanted. Unsure of exactly how this part was supposed to go. How did you just lie with someone all night long?

"Is this ok?" Lucky asked. Gently tightening his hold around her waist. His fingers fidgety and anxious.

"Y – yeah," she stammered. Placing her hand atop his when it lay against her belly. She squirmed. Trying to adjust her other arm beneath her and get comfortable. Lucky quickly caught her drift and inched his free arm under the side of her neck and around her shoulder.

"Like this," he instructed on a whisper. Quietly helping her as he moved in from behind to sculpt his body to hers. God…she was – she felt perfect.

Like she’d been made especially to lie in his arms every night.

A deep sigh escaped Elizabeth’s lungs when she felt his body mold against hers. Relief, contentment, drowsiness…

God it felt…good…good and scary.

The hand that had been snug around her waist reached up now to brush a few strands of hair behind her ear and she shivered again.

"Are you cold?"

"Yeah…kinda," she lied.

Immediately, Lucky grabbed the blanket. But he paused for a moment to lightly kiss the back of her shoulder before bringing it all the way up to her chin. He snuggled against her and inhaled that sweet scent of her hair once more before speaking in the comforting darkness that surrounded them.

He would keep her warm…They could keep each other warm.

"Tell me what your biggest dream is."

"Huh?" Elizabeth smiled. Staring out into the deep woods that sat outside their room in quiet vigilance. The moonlight broke through the trees in mild white shafts of light.

Lucky chuckled and she felt it move through her body. "See…I really wasn’t lying when I said I had trouble falling asleep in foreign beds…My ramblings are gonna have to take the place of our usual late night phone conversations now."

"Turn the TV on Spencer – I’m tired."

"Come on!" He laughed again. Shaking the entire bed as he moved against her.

Elizabeth giggled, and he felt it move through her body and into his. A dangerous sensation indeed.

"I already told you," she said. Giggling once more.

‘Gonna have to stop that giggling, Webber,’ Lucky thought biting his lip. Sending a mental restraining order down to his partner in crime instantly.

"Ok," Elizabeth sighed. Spewing out the words quickly to avoid embarrassment. "My greatest dream is to dance on Broadway – but it’s ludicrous."

"Did I ASK if it was ludicrous or not?…Jeez, woman. That’s the point of a DREAM – it can be as crazy as you want it to be."

"Ok," Elizabeth said. Rolling her eyes as his arm tightened around her midsection again. She bit down on her lip as he rolled somewhat to his back and used both of his arms to hold her now.

"So what kind of show?" Lucky continued much to her chagrin. "Don’t say Cats."

Elizabeth smiled and closed her eyes for a moment. Letting her self believe that there was no harm in simply TALKING about dreams. That maybe getting them out in the open would even make her want them a little less. If she could hear for herself how idiotic they were…and if he could just agree with her that they were stupid…then maybe…

"Anything," she sighed.

Lucky instantly noticed the somewhat dreamy quality her voice had taken on. He held his breath. Afraid that if he said anything, she would slip back into cynical land.

"Like…I don’t know. Have you ever seen a Fosse show? God, I love his choreography."

"Like Cabaret?" Lucky gasped. His eyebrows shooting upwards.

"No – he’s done OTHER shows Lucky…ugh – men!…Just like a MAN to know only that one…and besides – that was just the film version."

Her sock to his arm, caused him to jolt and chuckle again. "Ok – ok…which other one was there?"

"Chicago!" She blurted. "You live in the theatre capital of the world and you don’t know this stuff?"

"Well maybe you’ll just have to expose me to more…I live a sheltered life," he joked.

Elizabeth held her breath and tried to pretend she had no idea what he was saying. What he was silently NOT asking.

"So what’s yours?" She said quickly. Trying to change the subject. Trying to shrug off the fear that suddenly wrapped itself around her like an icy blanket. She was telling someone her dreams. She was lying in this person’s arms as if everything in life were ok. As if he would never hurt her.

Someone who, if given the chance would swear up and down that he never would.

"The ultimate? Work wise? You mean?" Lucky asked, allowing her to change the subject. "Well, eventually I want to own my OWN video-game design company – but for right now, it’s just enough to move up as far as I can possibly go at Game One, that’s the start. If I can gain the respect of all my peers…that’ll help a lot too.

"Why wouldn’t you have their respect?" Elizabeth asked. "You designed the most popular video game on the market…I mean I don’t exactly KNOW much about it. But it’s in every arcade and…all the stores – it’s everywhere…I know this one kid in my apartment building who plays it like crazy with his friends…they’re over ‘till all hours of the night…it’s a GREAT game Lucky."

Smiling sheepishly to himself he let his fingers dance idly through her hair. It wasn’t often that he got embarrassed over his success. But she seemed able to humble him all the time.

"Thank you…that’s really sweet of you. But, the bigwigs in the business don’t really see THAT part of it…they just see some cocky little freshman kid with too much money on his hands."

"So basically you just have to kick all the old farts to the curb before you can attain this dream of yours?"

Laughing out loud, Lucky bit his lip and then nodded slowly. "Yeah…maybe something like that.

"But there are some ‘not so old’ farts at the company that could be up for the same position that I’m going for…so…"

"It’s in the bag," Elizabeth sighed. Her eyes, beginning to get heavy.

"How can you be so sure?" Lucky asked. Noticing the way she was suddenly stroking his forearm that lay across her waist. Her hand kept moving back and forth…back and forth as her eyes started to close. It didn’t even look like she was aware of what she was doing.

But he sure was.

"You’re passionate about it," Elizabeth yawned. "You love it…that means it’ll happen for you."

Lucky looked towards the ceiling and then closed his eyes as she started to fall asleep in

his arms. At that very moment, video games were the least of his passions, and he could think of something – someONE in particular that he loved far more.

The words fell on a whisper as they exited his mouth. "Will you happen for me too Elizabeth?"

The hushed question would go unanswered that night. The person asked…already fast asleep as he stroked his fingers through her glossy strands. Her hand having noticeably stilled in it’s consistent slow drift along his arm.

He pressed his lips to the top of her head, before closing his own eyes. "Dreams of Gold Elizabeth."

~~~~~~~

~~ Hours Later ~~

Elizabeth buried her face in something broad and warm, and it made her grin as the last minutes of sleep began to dissipate. What was it? It didn’t feel like any of her teddy bears.

Well…maybe her big one…but no – they usually felt cold by morning time…and this surface was much firmer than Rex’s tummy.

Her eyelids began to flutter as the sun replaced the shafts of moon that had shown through the window last night with red bursts of light behind her lids. When finally they opened she saw the dusted patterns of sparkling gaiety all over the room. Everything glittered.

Especially his slightly bronzed face. A face that still lay above hers.

She tried not to gasp. Tried not to let the surprise that only a really good night of sleep could bring, wake him from a slumber he was obviously still deeply entranced in.

Maybe she could just get up before he –

‘Nope,’ she thought. Feeling the weight of his arms. She glanced just over her left shoulder, noticing how his arms were wrapped tightly around her waist. Everything was still perfectly in tact…

The blankets, his arms, their clothing.

They honestly hadn’t done anything the night before? Nothing at all but talk?

It didn’t seem possible. But she knew that it was true.

Elizabeth glanced upwards at his sleeping face. Noticing the tan that their romp in the forest had given him and the small scar at the bottom of his chin that set her eyes twinkling upon first sight.

She wondered silently where it had come from. If he’d gotten it in some game of rough and tumble as a boy or in some kind of teenage fight?

It was small, but deep. Definitely the kind of scar you got chasing someone, or climbing over something when you were a little kid. While having too much fun to worry about falling down or getting hurt.

Her fingers itched to touch it. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to just…

Soft.

Like his lips and his cheeks, and his hair, and his hands. Like his voice when he spoke to her in the darkness the night before.

It was that very softness that scared her. She’d become accustomed to the harder parts of life, and soft – soft was something she didn’t know much about or how to react to. How to talk to or relate to.

If only he could be a little more normal. A little less perfect…it would be far easier saying goodbye.

She would just touch that tiny, delicate scar once more and then –

"Hey…mornin."

Her hand retracted promptly at the sound of his voice. It was hushed and gravely with morning fog. And entirely too sexy.

Lucky watched her still, and her hand freeze against his chest. "Hey…it’s ok, you know?…You can touch me if you want."

Elizabeth shot up, breaking the circle of Lucky’s arms. She quickly scrambled up from the bed. Immediately started to scour the carpet for her sweater. Where had it gone? Why had she taken it off anyway? What a complete idiot she was.

"I think we should get up now…Jill’s bound to have breakfast or something ready…and we need to get a move on. I have to work tonight, so I should get back soon. And you have your conven…oh, no…you don’t. But still –

"Hey," Lucky said. Realizing at once that he sounded like a broken record with the amount of times he’d said the word ‘hey,’ since he woken up. "Elizabeth," he said. Rising from the bed.

He caught her hand in his for only a moment before she pulled it away and bent over to pick up her sweater. Her hands were shaking again.

‘Alright Spencer, what just happened here?’

Lucky wracked his brain as he watched her move about the room. Gathering her things. ‘Everything was…it was beautiful last night…wasn’t it? There wasn’t any -…everything was fine after that thing that happened in the lobby…why is she….’

"Elizabeth…can we…"

BAM. The bathroom door slammed before he got a chance to grasp her hand again.

"Always were too light of a sleeper Spencer," he mumbled quietly under his breath.

As he lifted his hand to knock, the shower turned on at full blast and he sighed. "Mental note: kill parents for training you to wake up if someone is TOUCHING you."

~~~~~~~

~~ A Few Hours Later ~~

Lucky had driven them back because she’d said she was tired. She’d wanted to sleep on the way home. She had a long night ahead of her at work.

‘More like, you don’t want to discuss why you’re acting like a psycho,’ Lucky had thought, during the drive. Realizing immediately that she hadn’t been asleep. After watching her sleep that first night, and after having slept in the same bed with her while they held each other the night before – he knew her sleeping patterns.

She breathed deeply when she slept and didn’t fidget nearly as much as she did when she was awake. And while her eyes had indeed been shut during their entire journey back to her apartment – she hadn’t been asleep.

And though he’d allowed her to get away with avoiding the issue at hand while they drove. Now that they were standing on solid ground and unloading her backseat of both of their bags, he wouldn’t allow her to continue brushing him off.

She’d done enough of that at the inn. He remembered how quiet she’d been. How aloof as Jillian and Walter had seen them off. Each of them giving Lucky patronizing smiles as they’d loaded up the car. Even with them, she’d been distant. As if breaking off communication once again.

‘A pattern, huh Elizabeth?…People get too close, you show them the door.’

Walter had patted his shoulder sympathetically as they left. Giving him some encouragement, as Jillian had given him an extra long hug. Once again she’d whispered for him to be patient.

That he could do. But being ignored was something totally different.

Lucky watched her quietly as she removed her bag from the backseat before he could wrap his fingers around the handle. And then as she turned her back on him to head for the stairs that lead to her apartment.

Sighing, he hung back for a moment before following. Pausing to gather his thoughts. Mull over the crazy idea that had plagued his mind as he drove through the desert. She would indeed think he was crazy.

Hell, he thought he was too.

But it didn’t matter. At this point he had nothing to lose.

‘Nothing to lose but her,’ he thought silently. Hefting his bag from the seat. ‘And you’re not about to let that happen are you Spencer? You don’t just give up on things do you?’

"Crazy or not, here goes," Lucky muttered as he followed the path she’d taken up the stairs now.

Her door was already open and he watched silently as she moved towards the kitchen and opened the refrigerator to pull out a large pitcher of Kool-Aid.

Elizabeth looked up as Lucky crossed the threshold and sat his bag on the carpet near the couch where he’d slept that night. The night, he’d come back for her.

‘Come back for me,’ the words tumbled through her mind slowly. Not for a convention, or for any other business matter, but for her. It didn’t make any sense. No one in her life had ever gone anywhere, or done anything for her. Why him?

Why someone who was perfect and good and sweet and could have anybody in the world that he wanted? Why would someone like that, want someone like her?

Well, it didn’t matter what the reason was. She would just have to convince him otherwise. She would just have to convince him that he didn’t want her at all.

Not because she didn’t want him back…but because it was the best decision for everyone involved. He’d be better off for it.

"Thanks for driving," she sighed nonchalantly. Sipping at the cool red liquid inside her glass. Weighing his expression, she set it down against the countertop and continued. If she stayed distant…stood behind her wall, it would work.

"I appreciate it…I guess I didn’t get as much sleep last night as I thought I did – restless, you know?"

Lucky watched silently, as she rounded the counter and rubbed her hands together. Setting up to give him the boot. The same physical gestures that guys made at business meetings when they were about to shoot your idea to Hell, or tell you that you were just some kid playing ‘I’m the papa at work.’

‘Oh no you don’t Elizabeth,’ Lucky thought. ‘I’m not gonna let you do that.’

"You weren’t restless," he said soberly. Staring as she went about some tedious task.

Elizabeth looked up from her bag on the table. Her hand stilling against the zipper track. "What?"

"I said you weren’t restless…You slept like a baby. I oughtta know – I held you like one all night."

She hoped to God, he hadn’t seen her shiver at his words. How they got to her. How they made her want to fall into those very arms right then.

Elizabeth shook it off. "Listen Lucky…Let’s not do this. Why don’t we just agree that –

He cut her off. "I don’t want to agree that this won’t work, or that we’re different, or that there was a full moon last night - or any other lame ass excuse that you’re about to come up with as a reason to get rid of me."

"Lucky! I don’t want to do this with you!" Elizabeth shouted. "I thought that maybe we could just end this now, and still be friends but if you want me to be rude, I can do –

"End WHAT now, Elizabeth?" Lucky countered. Throwing up his hands. "You’re not even giving it a chance to become a ‘THIS!’

"What IS it?" He asked. Lowering his voice as he neared the spot where she stood next to the dining room table. A small wooden circle next to her box of a kitchen. He didn’t like it when he started to yell. That’s how he’d gotten himself in trouble the night before. Instead he got control of himself and whispered. "Why are you so afraid to let this happen?"

Elizabeth closed her eyes and shook her head slowly. "I’m not afraid."

"Do me a favor and open your eyes when you say that."

"I’m not afraid," she repeated. Eyes open. Full of all the false bravado that she pulled off so damn well.

But not well enough to fool him. ‘Let’s up the ante then,’ Lucky thought silently.

"Then move in with me."

"What?"

Her eyes went wide. Her perfect mouth dropping open incredulously.

Lucky swallowed. Dry skin rubbing against dry skin in his throat. Yes, this was the idea that had occurred to him in the car. The idea that was crazy, insane, ludicrous…

"You heard what I said," he repeated. Moving closer. His fingers lacing into the hand she held at her side. It trembled. "Move in with me."

Elizabeth tried desperately to process what he was saying, and how near the edge of insanity that he had to be to say it. "Lucky, I’m standing here telling you that we aren’t going to work. I’m essentially kicking you out of my apartment…and now you’re asking me to move in with you? To travel thousands of miles away from here to a city I’ve never been to – where I know absolutely NO ONE - and MOVE IN WITH YOU?"

"Yes," he nodded vigorously. A sudden smile bursting over his face. "You moved HERE and knew no one…and this time you’d be going to a city you’ve always DREAMED of living in – don’t deny it!" He added quickly, noting the way she opened her mouth to disagree.

She shook her head wildly. "Lucky that may be true, but that doesn’t mean we should LIVE together…I don’t just move in with a guy because I like his geographical location!"

Lucky took a deep breath and looked down. Searching for anything. Anything at all to make her say yes.

Oh boy, he’d live to regret this one if she took him up on it. "Ok…ok…what if I said that this would stay…platonic?"

Placing her hands on her hips, Elizabeth drew backwards. She rolled her eyes. "You’ve got to be kidding me…It’s not even platonic NOW. What are we supposed to do? Go back in time and forget all about yesterday? That’s nonsense."

"It’s not nonsense!" Lucky said shaking his head. He didn’t want to bring up how she had been completely willing to forget all about what happened between them, just moments prior to this. "Men and women are FRIENDS all the time…My best friend from Port Charles is a girl."

"Well go ask HER to move in with you."

"I think my brother would have a problem with his wife moving in with me….and besides, I don’t wanna live with her," he added quickly. "I WANT to live with you."

"Lucky you’re INSANE."

Secretly he agreed with her analysis, but he decided to disagree for the sake of strategy.

"Who says? Why is it SO crazy? I mean, we get along great. We have a good time together. I’m not messy…Well, I’m not THAT messy………You wanna live in New York, and I WANT you to live there…Don’t you wanna see if you can make your dreams come true?

"I honestly don’t see what’s so insane about this idea," he finished.

She sighed. "If you don’t, then you’re in worse trouble than I previously thought."

Lucky took a deep breath and closed the space between them. Running his fingers through her hair. He pushed a few strands behind her ear and gazed longingly into her eyes. "What in the world could be crazy about me not wanting to leave here without you?"

Elizabeth closed her eyes and leaned into the palm that still lingered against her skin. "THIS makes it crazy, Lucky."

He allowed the gesture of her head tilt and the smoothness of her skin against his hand to tell him what she meant. "You mean the fact that we’re attracted to each other beyond belief?"

She nodded.

Instead of taking his hand away, he added the other. Using both hands to caress the softness of her cheeks now. He held her head in place as he stared into her eyes. "No…that only makes us trying to stay ‘platonic,’ crazy…Not the moving in part.

"But," he continued. Pulling his hands away now, though they fought the mental instruction like crazy. "I can do that too Elizabeth. I’m willing to keep my hands and lips and any other parts in line if you just say you’ll come home with me."

"Lucky," Elizabeth sighed.

"Don’t say no," Lucky whispered. Pressing a gentle finger against her lips.

She backed away. "I can’t."

Lucky closed his eyes and looked down after a moment. "Well, at least it wasn’t a ‘no,’ huh?"

He took a deep breath and steadied himself against the table that stood thigh high to him. Tapping his fingers against it, he looked up at her and smiled. His voice was tinged with a sadness he wouldn’t allow himself to fully show.

"You realize what you’re gonna be missing out on right?" He smiled weakly. "Kick ass pasta, and nightly Road Fury tournaments…oh gosh, and meeting my dog."

Elizabeth swallowed hard against the lump in her throat, and wished she could just for once in her life, give in. But she couldn’t.

It wasn’t Lucky she was afraid of. It was herself. Afraid of being out of control. She needed control. She needed it like she needed air, and when she was with him…it was the very last thing she had.

"I realize," she whispered.

Lucky locked eyes with her and noticed the light sheen of tears there. The ones she was so damn afraid to shed in front of him. "Well as long as you know that," he said. Chuckling just a bit to lighten the situation.

It didn’t work.

He wished he could make a joke. Wished he could just say adios and be done with it. Chalk things up to bad timing and desert fever or something. But he knew it wasn’t any of those things. He knew – like he knew his own name – he was in love with this girl.

And he knew that she was in love with him too damn it.

His hands reached out then. Half on their own accord, half because part of him knew that if this was the last time he was going to see her, that he needed to feel her lips against his just once more.

Elizabeth stepped backwards for a second. Shaken, by the sudden kiss, but yielding to it after the short moment it took to adjust. And then instead of just yielding, she kissed back. It would be the last time. It was just a goodbye kiss…

And she started to kiss him with everything that she had. Parting her lips to let his tongue inside. Pushing through his perfect mouth with her own. Her knees began to weaken and instead of simply holding tight to the table, she grasped his shoulders instead.

His strong, capable, firm shoulders. Because he was solid and warm…something wonderful to hold on to. Because it was the last time she’d ever allow herself the pleasure of being in his arms.

Lucky ran his fingers through her hair as he stole her breath from her. As he tried to pull her very soul from her, and pour his inside. Tried begging through the caress of his mouth. He wasn’t above it. Wasn’t too proud to show that he was weak and wanted more than anything to have her in his life at any cost.

As it slowed, his kiss moved to the corner of her mouth. For he couldn’t just pull away completely. Couldn’t seem to just end it. There had to be a slowing down period. A lessening of contact. A few seconds to come to terms with the fact that this kiss would be their last.

Lucky lay his forehead against Elizabeth’s as his lips finally retreated. His fingers still tangled in the chocolate mass of her hair. "Since we no longer have any need to be platonic, I thought I’d end things on that stellar note."

A slight giggle moved through her, and it stole the very last breath that the kiss hadn’t. God, she already had a lock on his heart. How much was he supposed to give her?

How was he supposed to leave here without knowing he’d see her again? Hold her again?

‘Tonight, Spencer…and don’t look back,’ he thought somberly.

"Thank you," she mumbled. Their heads still leaning into one another’s.

"For kissing you?" he joked. "Believe me, the pleasure was all mine."

"No," she sighed. Pulling away. Closing her eyes as his hands dropped away from her hair. "For coming back that night. For saving me," she continued. Gesturing towards her room.

Lucky smiled weakly and nodded. "I’d do anything for you."

Elizabeth knew that in one more second she would change her mind. That she would go with him and there would be no turning back. No saving her self from more heartache and pain than she could even imagine.

She was about to cry, so she bit down hard on her lip and then said what she had to say. "Would you walk out that door right now……for me?…Please."

Scratching the hell out of the back of his head, Lucky nodded. He didn’t understand this. It wasn’t supposed to go this way.

"Ok."

Breathing in deeply through a trembling mouth, Elizabeth walked behind him as he made his way to the front door. When he placed his hand on the doorknob and turned around one last time she felt a surge of déjà vu. Remembering how he’d done the same thing right before the first time he’d asked her out on a date.

Only days before, but seemingly a lifetime ago.

But there would be no ‘asking out’ now. This was it. The end.

"Good-bye Elizabeth," Lucky said. Swallowing around the rock that lodged itself tightly within the confines of his throat. Jesus, it hurt. And oh how desperately he wanted to kiss her again. "It was beautiful knowing you."

She could only smile. Any words would come out as a sob.

So she nodded.

Lucky took a deep breath and hoped it wasn’t a mistake to clasp her face in his hands and press his lips to her forehead. But he was ok…he pulled away and whispered good-bye again and that was that. He didn’t grab her and kiss her senseless. He didn’t pull her to the floor and make wild, passionate love to her.

Because she didn’t want those things. She didn’t want him.

Or even if she did – she wasn’t willing to let either one of them do anything about it.

So when he closed the door behind him, and pressed his hands tightly against the railing of her balcony, until his knuckles turned white – he wanted to weep.

Weep like someone who’d lost something. SomeONE. It felt like cutting off a part of your self. It felt like death.

But he didn’t weep. He simply looked up into the clear desert sky and breathed deeply. The sun was starting to set, and when the sun came up again he’d make sure it was in another time zone.

He’d make sure he was home.