8

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon. A day for relaxing and parties. It was also Lucky and Elizabeth’s last day in Port Charles. The couple were in Elizabeth’s room, fisnishing their packing. That was the plan. Stay in and finish packing, so they can just pick up and leave tomorrow. But those plans changed at the ringing of the phone.

"Hello?" Lucky picked up the phone, watching Elizabeth fold up the shirt she had brought him for their first trip to New York that they had taken only a few months ago.

"Lucky man, you and Liz have to get down here," Nikolas said, sounding distracted.

Lucky frowned. This wasn’t a good time to go anywhere. "Nikolas, we’re busy. We have to finish packing. Where are you anyway?"

"I’m at Kelly’s. Come on you two. Take a break. You can finish later," Nikolas begged.

Lucky sighed. He knew that they shouldn’t. That they should stay and finish. But Nikolas sounded so eager and determined. Lucky turned to Elizabeth who took down her Titanic poster. Lucky inwardly smiled at her small Titanic obsession. He knew that Jack and Rose was going to end up on some wall in their apartment. "Nikolas wants us to come to Kelly’s. What do you say? Can we afford to take a break?"

Elizabeth’s eyes lit up at the prospect of getting out of the house for a while. "Sure. Tell him we’re on our way," she grabbed a nearby jacket.

"We’re on our way, man," Lucky sighed, hoping that this break wouldn’t take too much time away from their packing.

~*~

When they arrived, the restaurant looked dark and deserted. Lucky frowned as he read the closed sign. "What the…" he stared at the sign in amazement.

"Are you sure he said to meet him here?" Elizabeth asked, looking through the window. She gasped as she thought she saw something move inside. "Lucky…I think someone’s in there. I saw something move."

"Come on. We’re going in," Lucky pulled her away from the window and door. Tightly holding each other’s hand, Elizabeth and Lucky entered. Suddenly they were immersed in light and cheers of surprise. Lucky felt tears in his eyes as he looked around the room. All his friends and family were there. A tear escaped as he saw the good-bye and good luck banner hanging over the counter.

He looked at Nikolas, who just stood in front of the crowd, smiling sheepishly. "You did this yourself?"

"Em helped," Nikolas blushed.

"But it was Nikolas who brought the food, did the decorations, and the music. I just got everyone together," Emily grinned happily at her friends.

"What can I say? Thank you," Lucky hugged his brother, wiping away the tears that threaten to spill forth.

"Yes, the prince did a good job if I do say so myself," Luke came up behind Nikolas.

"You guys are the best," Lucky smiled. "I’m really going to miss you."

"This place looks great," Elizabeth smiled. She to was going to miss everyone in the room. In the short time she’s called Port Charles home, she’s made all kinds of friends here and Audrey has become an important fixture in her life, more so if she had never came to town.

The party was in full swing. Lucky stood at the counter, watching people talk, dance, and eat. All the people in the room were people he loved and cared about…well all except Stefan, who was near the jukebox with his mother and Nikolas.

"Hey Cowboy," Luke joined him. "This is quite a gathering going on here."

Lucky nodded. "Sly’s the only one missing. I wish he could’ve been here."

"Oh he is Cowboy. He is," Luke squeezed his son’s shoulder. "He’s here with the rest of us, wishing you and Lizzie well."

"How about you Dad? Do you still feel like I’m abandoning you?"

Luke looked at his son in surprise and dismay. He was hoping that Lucky had forgotten about what he had said the night of he had gotten drunk at the graduation party. Luke swallowed and looked at Lucky seriously. "I’d like to apolagize for that night Lucky. I was in a very bad place. It was the first time I saw your mother and Stefan together and I handled it badly. I’ve never felt like you were abandoning me. In fact, I’m very proud of you Cowboy. And I always will be."

"I love you Dad," Lucky hugged his father tightly, regretting that there weren’t more of these moments. That his anger over the past year had gotten in the way. "I’m going to miss you most of all."

"I love you too son," Luke wiped away his tears before pulling away. "You have grown up to be a fine young man. Much better then I could ever hope to be. You really are the role model in this family."

"Lucky?" Laura and Nikolas join them.

"Mom, Nikolas," Lucky blinked away the rest of his tears.

"We thought we’d come over and tell you how proud we are of you and Elizabeth. Going out into the world, making it on your own," Laura pulled Lucky into her arms, tears spilling from her eyes. "I am going to miss you so much."

"I’ll miss you too mom," Lucky smiled sadly. "But I’ll be back to visit you guys. It’ll be like I never left."

"Laura, how about a dance?" Luke held out his hand, seeing how Laura’s tears were making their son uncomfortable.

Laura looked at Luke skeptically. What if he was drunk? He was so hard to control when he was full of vodka and scotch. Slowly, she accepted the offer, not smelling any kind of alcohol on his breath. "Sure. Just behave yourself."

Luke winked at Lucky as he led Laura out onto the dance floor.

"Stefan’s not going to like this," Nikolas chuckled, causing Lucky to laugh too.

Lucky’s laughter faded as he watched Stefan watch his parents dance, to ironically, one of their favorite songs: Will You still love me Tomorrow. "Nikolas…do me a favor. While I’m gone, look after them. Especially my Dad. If he tried to do something stupid…stop him. I know I’m asking a lot here, with how you two feel for one another. But I won’t be around to pick up the pieces, so it’s best if someone stops him from falling apart in the first place."

"The man hates me Lucky. He’d rather kill me then look at me."

"He won’t. He knows that I’d never forgive him if he did."

Nikolas opened his mouth to object again, but decided not to. Lucky needed him to do this one thing for him and so Nikolas would. "Ok. Fine. I’ll watch after them…especially Luke."

"Thank you," Lucky hugged his brother, knowing that he’ll miss him greatly. It seemed kind of sad that now they were just getting to be real brothers, Lucky was leaving town.

~*~

Elizabeth stood outside the building, smoking one last cigarette. Of course she had quit, but every now and then she would light up to calm her nerves. She couldn’t believe that this time tomorrow, she’ll be in New York City, the only person she’ll know will be Lucky. It was going to be a whole new world for her.

"Elizabeth?" a familiar voice stepped out into the warm air.

She quickly dropped the cigarette and stamped it out. She turned and smiled at her grandmother, hoping that she hadn’t noticed the cigarette. "Gram. Hi."

"Oh Elizabeth. You’re smoking again. Why?" Audrey crossed her arms, looking very concerned and a little disappointed.

"I only smoke once in a while Gram. Just to calm my nerves. I don’t do it all the time anymore."

"Why are you doing it at all?"

Elizabeth sighed and turned away from her grandmother’s concerned stare. "I’m just nervous I guess. I mean…this is a big move for me Gram. New York is a big city. Lucky will be the only person I’ll know. New York Art Academy is the best in the world…what if I’m not good enough? Or I can’t make it out in the real world on my own? What if I’m a total failure?"

"Oh my dear Elizabeth, you’re being silly. Of course you’re good enough for the academy. They accepted you didn’t they? And as far as the real world goes, I have every faith that you will do just fine. Both you and Lucky are very resourceful young people. You’d do fine."

"I wish I had your faith," Elizabeth sighed, wishing that she still had her cigarette. The toxic vapor seemed to soothe her worries so well…

"You do. And much more," Audrey smiled, gently touching Elizabeth’s arm. "My sweet girl…leaving home and going out into the world," a tear leaked from Audrey’s eyes.

"I love you Gram," Elizabeth hugged the older woman tightly. "I’m going to miss you so much."

They stood like that for a few minutes before heading inside, hand in hand.

~*~

Everyone was gone except for Lucky and Elizabeth. They just stood in the middle of the diner, absorbing the atmosphere for the last time. It was going to be a while before they would ever see Kelly’s again.

"I’m going to miss this place," Elizabeth sighed sadly. "This has been like a home away from home."

"I’m going to miss it too. This was the place where we first met,"" Lucky sighed, moving to the door to look out at the patio, not noticing Elizabeth turning the jukebox, until the first strings of their song frilled the restaurant. He turned around and Elizabeth was in his arms and they were swaying to the music

Yeah....
Oh yes
Ohhh..yeah..
Can this be true?
Tell me, can this be real?
How can I put into words what I feel?
My life was complete
I thought I was whole
Why do I feel like I'm losing control?
I never thought that love could feel like this
and you've changed my world with just one kiss.
How can it be that right here with me
there's an angel?
It's a miracle...

"What’s your name?" Elizabeth asked, leaning her forehead against his.

"Lucky," he smiled, almost laughing as he remembered her reply.

"We’ll see," Elizabeth laughed.

"You little Harlot you," Lucky grinned.

Your love is like a river
Peaceful and deep
Your soul is like a secret
That I never could keep
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true
God must have spent...
A little more time
On you...
(A little more time, yes he did baby)

In all of creation
All things great and small
You are the one that surpasses them all
More precious than
Any diamond or pearl
They broke the mold
When you came in this world
And I'm trying hard to figure out
Just how I ever did without
The warmth of your smile
The heart of a child
That's deep inside
Leaves me purified

"You changed me so much Lucky. I was a mess when we first met and then the rape…I don’t know if I could’ve gotten through that without you."

Your love is like a river
Peaceful and deep (and deep)
Your soul is like a secret
That I never could keep
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true
God must have spent...
A little more time
On you...
(on you, on you, on you, you....on you, on you, on you, you..) ohhh...
(on you, on you, on you, you....on you, on you, on you, you..) yeah

"When I met Sarah, I thought that what I was feeling for her was love. But it wasn’t. What I feel for you Elizabeth…it’s so much more stronger and real."

"Me too Lucky. I mean…when I first met you… I was immediately attracked to you because of your looks, mainly. You were the cutest boy in Port Charles after all," she giggled, blushing at her confession. "But it wasn’t real love. I don’t know how or when it did turn to real love, but it did. It wasn’t about your looks anymore. It was about your soul, about who you are. I love you Lucky. Now and forever."

Never thought that love could feel like this
and you changed my world with just one kiss.
How can it be that right here with me
There's an angel?
It's a miracle...

"I love you two sweetie," Lucky pulls her into a deep kiss. That night they knew for a fact that their love was forever and whatever the future held, they’d face it together.

Your love is like a river
Peaceful and deep (peaceful and deep)
Your soul is like a secret
That I never could keep
When I look into your eyes
I know that it's true
God must have spent...
A little more time
On you...
(on you, on you, on you, you..)
God must have spent...
A little more time
on you
(on you, on you..you....you..oooh..yeah)
A little more time
on you...ohhh

~*~

The next day, Lucky and Elizabeth visited both Kelly’s and the boxcar for the last time. It was time to leave Port Charles and start a new life in New York. Taking one last glance at the town they had called home, they drove off into the horizon, looking forward to whatever the future held.

God Must Have Spent A Little More Time on You- N’sync

THE END

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