Dedicated to those wacky gals over in the L&Lamposters staff room...Anna, Carrie, Rose, Maria, and any others that got added to the staff last night while I was working.
=) Never lose your funny bones, girls!

Special note: If my day tomorrow goes as planned, I might not have a lot of time to work on "Free", and I apologize. But IF I have to delay, it'll be worth it. Also, the next part is part 30...and I promised you all a celebration, so I have to do a little extra work. =) Bear with me, please.

**
I was standing
All alone against the world outside
You were searching
For a place to hide
Lost and lonely
Now you given me the will to survive
When we're hungry... love will keep us alive

Don't you worry
Sometimes you've just gotta let it ride
The world is changing
Right before your eyes
Now I've found you
There's no more emptiness inside
When we're hungry... love will keep us alive

I would die for you
Climb the highest mountain
Baby, there's nothing I wouldn't do

Now I've found you
There's no more emptiness inside
When we're hungry... love will keep us alive

I would die for you
Climb the highest mountain
Baby, there's nothing I wouldn't do

I was standing
All alone against the world outside
You were searching
For a place to hide
Lost and lonely
Now you given me the will to survive
When we're hungry... love will keep us alive
When we're hungry... love will keep us alive
When we're hungry... love will keep us alive
(Eagles from Hell Freezes Over; "Love Will Keep Us Alive")
**



Liz woke to a light-filled room and the smell of pancakes. She yawned and crawled out of her bed. She looked down, and her eyes told her she was wearing her same clothes from yesterday. She groaned.

**

In the kitchen, Lucky flipped a pancake with the expertise gathered from years of Sunday morning breakfasts. His thoughts were never far from the girl still sleeping a few rooms away. Now was not an exception.

Liz had seemed so much better lately. Even after that scare with her stalker. Lucky had such faith in her. Recently, though, it had seemed she didn't need him for anything. She'd stood up to Bill Sr., and she hadn't even flinched when strangers spoke to her.

"I think maybe I need to back off," Lucky muttered to himself.

"I didn't catch all that, could you repeat it for me?" Liz asked from the doorway.

Lucky whipped around, sending a pancake flying to the floor near Liz's feet.

"You've resorted to throwing things at me now?" Liz asked, a light teasing smile on her face. Lucky stared at her. "What?" she asked. She looked down at her clothes, thinking maybe she'd forgotten something important, like a top. Nope. All there. She was wearing a short, but not too short, pair of cutoff shorts and an oversized t.

"What?" Liz repeated, moving to Lucky. He cleared his throat uncomfortably.

"Nothing, nothing. I was just wondering how you can just throw on whatever you want and still manage to look absolutely breathtaking."

Liz flushed. "That was a really sweet thing to say," she said. She found Lucky's eyes to be masked, not revealing his emotions to her, as they usually did. She cautiously stood on her tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss on his mouth. He kissed her back gently, but pulled away after only a few seconds.

"The - the pancakes," he explained, rushing to the stove and hurriedly scooping the disks of batter off of the skillet.

"Where did you find the stuff to make them?" Liz asked. Her curiosity about Lucky's strange mood was heightening at a rapid pace. She turned to the tiny table by the picture window that was set for two. A pitcher of milk graced the center, with a dish of butter nearby, while glasses and plates held their customary places amongst the silverware. Outside, rain clouds obscured the sun, and a light mist hid most of the scenery from view.

"Oh, it was here. Evidently, Mrs. Sweeney keeps the provisions stocked up."

"That's nice of her. I didn't know you cooked."

"Oh." Lucky paused, turning from the stove with a platter piled high. "Well, I do. Just so happens pancakes are one of the things I do well."

Liz seated herself at the table. She wondered if she was imagining things. Lucky seemed to be pretending levity. Why did his smile look so forced to her? Liz moved a syrup container out of the way, as Lucky lowered the plate of 'cakes. He sat down in his own seat, and reached for the milk.

"Lucky?" Liz's mouth formed the familiar word before her brain had approved 'Operation Find-Out-What's-Wrong-With-Lucky'.

"Yeah," Lucky replied absently, busy smothering his 'cakes in butter.

"Uh, could you pass the butter when you're done?" Liz mentally screamed. If she didn't find out soon, she was going to go crazy. She searched her brain for a thread of conversation that sounded half-literate. "Wow. It's really icky outside," she finally said. Lucky placed the butter in her hands, and took a peek out the window.

Rain was falling in sheets now. "Uck. Oh, that's right though," Lucky said to himself. Liz waited for him to clarify for her, and when he didn't she coughed, her face posing the question.

"Oh!" Lucky fought for concentration. Liz would surely ask what was wrong if he wasn't acting normal. "Uh, it's monsoon season right now." [author's note: normally Nov. is monsoon season, one of the inconsistencies I mentioned]

Liz nodded her understanding, eating a big bite of her 'cakes. She "mmmed" and smiled around her bite. She swallowed.

"Lucky, these are fantastic!" she gushed.

"Thanks," Lucky replied, shifting in his seat. His stack of 'cakes was already halfway gone. "Do you always eat this slow?"

Liz looked up at him. Her mouth being full, she held one finger up. Lucky blew air out his nose in an almost-laugh. He shoved another forkful into his mouth and waited.

"I'm not really a morning person...in case you couldn't tell after that morning with the horse and carriage," Liz managed finally, taking a gulp of milk.

"Ah, me neither." Lucky placed a hand on the tabletop. Liz watched it for a few seconds before reaching out and placing her own on top of it. Lucky looked up at her. He saw the questioned she wasn't asking, and the slight hurt that she would not admit to herself. He pretended ignorance, but turned his hand palm up underneath Liz's, allowing her to lace their fingers together. She smiled a beautiful smile at him.

Her eyes gained a watchful quality.

---

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