Dedicated to Emily, for keeping me smiling. :)


**
You know that I want you babie
You know that I need you
and you know that I love you
just say it

Am I giving enough
Is this all that should be?
when water gets rough
will you still swim with me
so afraid to come close
and maybe to slow
and maybe to much
for you to consume

(chorus)
And I wanna know if I could live inside your world
and I wanna know if I could give it to you girl
You know that I want to say it
You know that I need to say it
You know that I love to say it
our love just go on and on and on
You know that I want to say it
You know that I need to say it
You know that I love to say it
my love just goes on and on and on

(verse)
I gave you all that you need
there's no better place you can be
and I know that in time
you will believe in me
so please hold out your hand
and lets just changes golden band
cause I want you in my life
I want you to be my wife

(repeat chorus)

(bridge)
My girl is so special
I want to give it all to you
Loving you on and on
My girl is so special
I want to give it all to you
Loving you on and on

(repeat chorus)
(Voices Of Theory "Say It")
**



Lucky flashed a blinding smile. "Hi!"

It was Liz's softer presence that caught the woman's attention. "Hello," Liz mustered, along with a smile. "Uh, Andy sent us?"

The front door was opened completely. "Come in!" the woman said enthusiastically. She ushered the two into the surprisingly modern home. Liz's shoes clicked against the dark wood floor. The walls were a light white, navy highlights made the home very...homey.

An eight year old boy and five year old girl darted past, followed by a toddling two year old. The latter was scooped off o f the floor by a fifteen year old boy in passing. He offered Liz and Lucky a kind smile before continuing on his way, the baby tucked safely in his arms.

The woman led the teens into a kitchen, where they found a ten year old girl slumped over the table, staring at a blank sheet of paper.

"Annie!" the woman scolded, "Move out of the way and let these people sit down." The girl slithered to the floor, taking a math book and pencil with her. "Please, sit down," the woman offered kindly. "Oh! How rude of me, I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Amanda Sweeney. And you'll probably meet most of my children, but then, you've already met my eldest!" she added as an afterthought.

A sound similar to a telephone ringing erupted in the room. Amanda jumped and whirled to face the stove. She hit a button and the ringing stopped. Then she opened the oven and pulled out a sheet of cookies, barely taking time to slip on a cloth glove.

Immediately, the eight- and five-year old skidded to a halt in the doorway. The fifteen year old and his baby sister slipped in through the back door, and stood against a wall. All looked expectantly to their mother. She sighed in mock-exasperation and doled out two cookies to each child. The rest, she spatula-ed onto a clean plate and placed on the table in front of Liz and Lucky. She sat down in a chair across from the smiling pair.

"I suppose I should introduce you. Here goes: Against the wall, holding my youngest, is Joey; the gorgeous baby he's holding is Gabbie; this hoodlum," she rubbed the eight year old's shoulder, "is Erick; my second youngest, Addie," pointing to the five year old, "and finally, the one on the floor, doing her homework like a good girl, is Abigail." Amanda finished her narrative, and sat back to catch her breath.

"Well, I'm Lucky," Lucky said. "And this is Elizabeth." The family nodded. Amanda leaned forward.

"Now, what can I do for you?"

Lucky glanced to Liz. "We heard that you rent out a house on the beach."

"Yes, that's true."

Lucky went on, fidgeting slightly. "Would you rent it out to us?"

Amanda's eyes sharpened. "I don't know if I can do that."

"Why not?" Liz's hand on Lucky's under the table caused his voice to squeak a bit.

"Well, how would I know that nothing...inappropriate...would happen? I can't condone the kind of behavior young people engage in-"

"Mrs. Sweeney?!" Lucky made himself heard over the low din that filled the room. His voice grew serious. "I can guarantee to you that *nothing* like that will be going on."

"You know," Amanda said softly, her eyes losing their hawk-like quality. "I believe you. But if I find out you've been-"

"Mrs. Sweeney!" Liz and Lucky's synonymous exclamation caused the woman to grin.

**

The headlights of the sport-utility vehicle lit up the pathway to the house. Joey walked slightly in front of Liz and Lucky, holding a key. He stepped over the hundred or so crabs that littered the cement sidewalk. Liz groaned. Her grip on Lucky's arm was making him wince. Joey unlocked the front door and handed the keys to Lucky. He gave the two one last shy smile and jogged up the path to his mother's car.

Liz peered inside the open front door. Lucky quickly grew impatient.

"Do you want to stand here all night, letting crabs into the house?"

The mention of the c-word startled Liz into action. She hustled Lucky into the interior of the house. He ran his hands along a wall, finally locating a light switch, which he flipped. Lights all over the cottage lit up. Liz's breath caught in her throat.

The floor was a light wood tone. Sparse furniture showed off a lot of it. A wall of windows let loose a view of the sand that led down to the beach. An archway led off to another room, while a hallway led back to what must have been the bedrooms. Lucky walked in and released the duffels. They thudded to the floor. He stretched his arms above his head and his back popped sickeningly. He rolled his neck around twice and went off in search of a bathroom. Liz was still rooted to the spot. She roused herself and slowly walked to the couch, lowering herself into a sitting position.

She still couldn't believe it. Here they were, in Australia, no less. She and Lucky. They had unlimited time here, thanks to the courier service, who had left the tickets with open ends. And now they had a cottage on the beach for a month. Liz closed her eyes, trying to make sense of everything, but her mind was already in overdrive, and she simply let it all go, falling back against the couch.

Lucky walked in a few minutes later. He spied Liz on the couch, asleep, and a tender grin lit his face. He went to her, scooped her up, and took her into the bedroom he had just passed. He settled her on the bed and went for her duffel. After placing a quick kiss on her cheek, he went to find his own room.

---

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