**
And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in you lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know your alive


And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
(City of Angels, Goo Goo Dolls, "Iris")
**




Liz freaked and jumped up onto the couch, staring like a frightened child at the three crabs that scuttled in the open front door. A chuckling Andy and Joey Sweeney followed them inside.

The two boys grinned at Liz, who was hopping anxiously from one foot to another, still standing on the couch. They chased down and caught the crabs, then carried them to the door and let them outside.

Liz smiled in relief and sank down in a cross-legged position. "Thank you, boys!" she said sweetly. Lucky nodded his hello to them, moving to stand behind Liz.

The two boys stood awkwardly in the center of the room.

"Oh, sit down if you want," Liz offered kindly, wondering to herself about Australian customs.

The boys sat. They fidgeted a little uncomfortably.

"Can I get you something to drink?" Lucky asked, ever the gentleman.

The boys shook both of their heads. They looked at each other. Andy finally spoke.

"Mom sent us over, to - to invite you to a party we're having this Friday," he said, a smile finally coming to his face.

"A party?" Liz asked curiously. Lucky touched her shoulders with gentle hands. She relaxed back into him. This did not go unnoticed by the brothers.

"Yeah," Joey cut in. "It'll mostly be a bunch of our neighbors, eating, dancing, talking, that sort of stuff."

Liz nodded enthusiastically. "What time?"

"6." Both brothers said at the same time. They laughed at each other.

Liz nodded again. "We'll be there. If that's ok with you?" she turned to Lucky, her eyes pleading with him. He gave an indulgent half-smile. Liz jumped up and hugged him over the top of the couch.

The boys took their leave.

Liz stood on tiptoe and kissed Lucky's mouth.

"Where were we?" she asked with a mischievous smile. Lucky sobered.

"We were talking about me being a burden." Lucky went to the window again. He stood with his arms spread, looking like he was doing a bench press with the wall. Dark clouds still covered the sky, and in the distance, a curtain that was rain descended on the earth.

Liz followed him, and stood behind him, only inches away.

"Lucky, you are not a burden. How could you even think that?"

"Because it's true."

Liz grew tired of not being able to read his expressions, or make eye contact with him. She slipped around his side and ducked under his arm, plastering herself against the wall in front of him. Lucky sighed and started to back away.

"Don't walk away from me," Liz commanded, an edge to her voice.

Lucky stilled. His eyes didn't meet Liz's.

"Lucky. Listen to me." Liz spoke slowly. "You are not a burden. You support me so much more than what little help I can give you. If we were keeping tabs here, I'd be so in debt to you, I'd never get out." Her voice lowered. "If anyone is a burden here, it's me." She lowered her eyes, suddenly finding Lucky's collar very interesting.

Lucky's sharp intake of breath almost surprised Liz. When he reached down and chucked under her chin, she obeyed his unspoken request to meet his eyes.

"Don't say that," Lucky begged, his throat catching. "Don't you ever say that!"

Liz closed her eyes briefly, then reopened them upon feeling Lucky's light touch on her cheek.

"Even if I don't say it, it's still there, in my mind." Liz's soft words fell in the silence, thickening it, if that was possible.

Lucky leaned his forehead against Liz's. He felt as if he were being torn in two.

---

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