**
There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are
There's an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away


And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you


It's a long road
When you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand
For you to hold
You can find love
If you search within yourself
And the emptiness you felt
Will disappear


And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you


Lord knows
Dreams are hard to follow
But don't let anyone
Tear them away
Hold on
There will be tomorrow
In time
You'll find the way


And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you
(Mariah Carey - "Hero")
**




****Lucky pulled her close, settling her right next to him. Her head lolled on his shoulder. He swallowed roughly.****




Liz found breathing a difficult task. She was breathing Lucky. And he smelled awfully good. She yawned in spite of herself.

Lucky brushed Liz's hair away from her face. He struggled to keep his breathing even.

"You should try to get some sleep, if you can," he said softly, leaning back against one wall. He moved his left leg. It was falling asleep.

Liz's eyes opened, her lashes flicking against Lucky's bare skin. He shivered.

"I don't think I can sleep," Liz said, turning her head slightly, to get a better view of Lucky.

"Why not? Are you still cold? Am I making you uncomfortable? I can move-"

Liz cut Lucky off by kissing his shoulder lightly. He jumped.

"Lucky, will you listen to yourself?"

A sigh whispered its way past Lucky's lips. "What do I sound like?"

"What do you think you sound like?"

Lucky's face lit up with a half-grin. "I think..." he began slowly. "I think that I sound afraid. Afraid that I'm going to lose you before I even have you. I *hope* that I sound supportive of you. And I think...I think I sound stupid right about now."

Liz sat up a little, still holding firmly to Lucky. She pressed her palm against his cheek when he tried to avoid her gaze, and brought his face around toward her. Her eyes burned into his, showing a fire that had been missing for so long.

"Lucky Spencer, you listen to me and you listen good."

Lucky's jaw was inclined to go slack, but he controlled himself at the last second. Liz went on.

"Lucky, you are the most supportive person I have ever known. And nothing - *nothing* you say is ever stupid, do you hear me? When you speak, it's as if the world disappears, and there's only you. You're voice is soothing and gentle and strong and at the same time, the most beautiful sound in the world. When I...have nightmares, and I wake up at night, all it takes is your voice to relax me enough to get me back to sleep. And in the mornings, when your voice is the first thing I hear, my day never goes wrong. I *love* your voice, and..." Liz didn't go on. She drew a shaky breath.

Lucky was staring intently into her eyes, almost feeling she was baring her soul to him. He could see her emotions in her eyes. And what beautiful emotions they were.

He rubbed a finger down her cheek. "Did I ever tell you that your eyes shine when you get all passionate about something?"

Liz flushed, lowering her gaze.

"Don't look down," Lucky commanded sweetly, chucking her under the chin. "Don't you ever look down. Ever."

Liz's eyes raised to his. She hiccoughed, stifling the sobs that rose in her chest.

"Why do I feel like crying, everytime you say something sweet?"

Lucky smiled, a hint of white showing through his lips.

"Why is that?" he mused. "Better question: why don't you go ahead and cry?"

Liz laughed, another sob escaping her lips in her strangled laugh.

"I'm afraid, Lucky. Afraid that if I start crying, I won't stop. And I don't know why I want to cry...I can't fix my feelings...I just feel awful doing this to you..."

Lucky tilted his head towards Liz, bringing their faces closer together.

"You don't need to be fixed. You're just fine the way you are."

His whisper echoed in her mind, as she closed her eyes to stop the flow of tears.

"Lucky, I'm so sorry. I've ruined your whole day. First, falling asleep, then hurting my ankle and getting us stuck here, and now weighting you down with all my problems. I'm so sor-"

She was interrupted rudely by his lips on hers. Her eyes flew open, releasing the tears they had held prisoner. Lucky pulled away almost instantly.

"Don't apologize to me!" he whispered furiously, tears now in his own eyes. His grip on Liz's shoulders gentled, and he kissed her face. "Just cry it out, baby, I need you to do that for me."

Liz swallowed back her tears, but they resurfaced before she could bite them back again. She sobbed once, covering her face with her hands and leaning away from Lucky.

He would have none of it. He pulled her hands away forcefully and pulled her into his lap, all in one fluid motion. He rocked the both of them back and forth slowly, until Liz's cries grew softer and finally ceased. She was breathing slowly and evenly against his neck, her hot breath sending prickles down his spine.

Lucky held her tightly, his embrace a safe haven for her. She started to pull away, and Lucky immediately stopped the comforting circles he was rubbing on her back.

Liz seemed to change her mind, and the two remained like that, rocking back and forth on the cold floor, a fire burning in front of them, and in their hearts, that would etch this moment into their minds forever.

---

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