For Tracy, b/c she requested an interlude type chapter, Britt, b/c she's cheered me up, and Jera, b/c I still can't believe I did that...

**
She's taking her time making up the reasons
To justify all the hurt inside
Guess she knows from the smiles
And the look in their eyes
Everyone's got a theory about the bitter one

They're saying

2-Mama never loved her much
And daddy never keeps in touch
That's why she shies away from human affection
But somewhere in a private place
She packs her bags for outer space
And now she's waiting for
The right kind of pilot to come
(and she'll say to him)

She's saying

1-I would fly you to the moon and back
If you'll be, if you'll be my baby
Got a ticket for a world where we belong
So, would you be my baby?

Ooh-ooh
She can't remember a time
When she felt needed
If love was red then she was colorblind
All her friends they've been tried for treason
And crimes that were never defined

She's saying

Love is like a barren place
And reaching out for human faith is
Is like a journey I just don't have a map for
So baby gonna take a dive and
push the shift to overdrive
Send a signal that she's hanging all her hopes on
the stars

(What a pleasant dream) just saying

Mamma never loved her much
And daddy never keeps in touch
That's why she shies away from human affection
But somewhere in a private place
She packs her bags for outer space
And now she's waiting for the right kind of pilot
To come (and she'll say to him)

She's saying
(repeat 1, 2, 1)
(Savage Garden - "To The Moon And Back"
From the Album - Savage Garden)
**


**** "Dance?" he asked, as the music began in a slow ballad. She glanced back swiftly, looking for Andy's approval. He was nowhere in sight. Liz shrugged and turned back to Lucky, taking a step and meeting him in the middle.****


(From Liz)


The air around us shivered and shimmered.

< Like magic. >

The rest of the world faded away, and I found myself whisked into a world of my own.

< Mine and Lucky's. >

I closed my eyes tightly, clinging to Lucky's shoulders.

< Broad shoulders. >

I willed my pounding heart to slow down. I moved slightly closer.

< I need to feel close to him. I need him. >

My chin rested near Lucky's shoulder. Not knowing what to do with my hands, I settled them behind his neck. The ends of his hair tickled my fingers.

< So soft. >

Lucky's body was swaying, I was simply following his movements. He went left, I went with him. He stepped with his right foot, I stepped with my left.

< Just don't step on his feet. >

I could feel his breath on my forehead. His palms rested against my spine at its base. The rise and fall of his chest lulled me.

"You're not sleeping, are you?" he asked softly. His voice rumbled in my ear.

< I like him from this angle. >

"No."

< Did that just sound as nervous as I think it sounded? >

I took a deep breath.

< Steady, Elizabeth, steady. >

"Are you okay?" Lucky asked, concern giving an edge to his voice.

< Gentleman. As always. >

I nodded, my hair rubbing against his chin. My eyes were still closed.

< He'll guide me. >

"This feels so good..." I cooed, turning my face into his neck. I inhaled deeply, the scent of his cologne tickling my nose.

< Lucky's cologne. >

I released my breath slowly. Lucky jumped.

< He's nervous? >

I could feel his pulse racing beneath his skin.

< He's nervous. >

"Do you mind if we go into the garden, get out of the public eye?"

< Did he just insinuate what I think he just insinuated? >

"There are other people here?"

**

(From Lucky)


Elizabeth's words echoed my feelings exactly. Except for the fact that my eyes were wide open and I could see the milling crowd, many of whom were hiding smiles.

< Got to get out of here. >

I began maneuvering Elizabeth and I toward the edge of the dance floor nearest the brick walkway covered by an archway, overgrown with ivy, that I was sure led to a garden.

Liz didn't protest, she simply continued following my moves. The feel of her in my arms sent my stomach plunging.

< Am I getting the wrong signals? >

When I stilled at the edge of the dance floor, she stirred and her beautiful blue eyes were looking up at me. I practically fell into them.

< So blue. >

Liz's lips curled upward in a smile. I followed their movements with my eyes, mesmerized, tantalized, tempted.

< I'd die to kiss her right now. >

"I want to kiss you," I mumbled, forming at least one coherent sentence.

< I just said that? >

Liz's teeth flashed, as her smiled widened and grew slightly predatorial.

< Uh oh. >

"What's stopping you?" Her whisper brushed against my lips, along with her breath. I know my face betrayed my confusion.

< What's going on? Stall. >

"Maybe it's all those people staring at us."

Liz's smile grew teasing. "You don't like to be watched?"

< No. >

"Not when I'm sharing something as special as a kiss."

I didn't wait for Liz to reply. I released Liz and stepped off of the edge of the dance floor, down about a foot and a half and into the dewy grass. I immediately sunk a few inches into it. I reached up for her, but she was already stepping down towards me. Our bodies collided, and I was sent back a few steps. Liz had thrown her arms around my waist, therefore she followed. I supported her weight.

< So close. >

Liz inched away from me and looked up. She seemed unsettled.

< I don't get it. >

I made a move to go into the garden. Liz tried to follow, but stopped moving before she took a step.

< What now? >

**

(From Liz)


A searing pain in my ankle froze me to the spot where I stood. Lucky turned back to me, confusion showing in his eyes.

< Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow. >

I found a pained smile.

"I think I probably shouldn't have tried jumping off of that platform."

< Um, duh? >

Lucky's eyes showed his usual response of concern.

"I just twisted something wrong, I'm sure," I tried for levity.

< That worked. >

Lucky rolled his eyes.

"Come here."

He contradicted his own words when he stepped to my side and slipped his arm about my waist. His hand rested casually on my hipbone. I tried stepping forward.

< Ouch! >

The pain in my foot made me stop almost immediately. Lucky looked to me anxiously.

"Here, let's do this," he said, half to himself. He took my arm and slid my hand around his neck. His other arm remained around my waist. He pulled me close to him.

< I could get used to this. >

"You okay to go?"

I nodded, gritting my teeth anyway, as we awkwardly moved into the garden.

We passed under an archway, covered with vines. The fragrance of roses assaulted my nose.

"Mmm," I hummed unconsciously. I saw Lucky smile, from the corner of my eye. We found a stone bench not too far inside the closed off garden, and Lucky lowered me carefully down to it.

< Don't let go of me. >

Lucky sat down next to me, removing his arm from around my waist.

< Oh, no, you don't. >

I laced our fingers together.

< That's better. >

"Is this okay?" Lucky asked worriedly.

My brows puckered.

"What?"

"This...place. The bench, the bushes-" Lucky swallowed. "I didn't even realize until we sat down. Are you okay?"

< Sigh. >

"Truthfully, I didn't notice until you said that," I whispered, wondering if he'd heard me. The breeze was rustling the leaves around. The music from not so far away was muted now, but still could be heard clearly.

**

(From Lucky)


< She didn't notice? >

Her words sent a thrill through me.

< Maybe we can get through this. >

I quickly amended that thought.

< She'll get through it. >

Liz was saying something. I struggled to hear her soft voice.

"...this whole trip, this running away thing, has been really good for me. It's taken my mind off of...things. I feel so much more...oh, I don't know, alive, I guess."

My head told me to shut up and listen to her. My mouth told a different story.

"I don't want to-"

"Pry, butt in, or change the subject, right?"

< Told you to keep your mouth shut. >

"But you just have to know what's going on tonight, still right?"

My heart plummeted. My suddenly sandpaper dry mouth refused to work. I coughed lightly.

"Yeah. Something like that."

Liz and I were facing the same direction, talking at each other more than to each other. I couldn't take it any more. I jumped up and began pacing in front of her.

< Oh, now look what you've gone and done. >

"I know that you probably don't want to talk about this, now or ever, but it's driving me crazy, eating me up inside, and I have to know-"

I had turned, my rapid steps taking me back toward Liz. And suddenly she was in front of me, in all her splenor, taking my face in her hands, and bringing her mouth to mine.

My heart stopped.

When the world stopped spinning, she was standing back, looking up at me. I felt torn in two.

< What do I do now? >

Liz answered that question for me. She reached up and brushed my hair off of my forehead.

"I don't suppose that helped you at all?"

I couldn't find any words. They were all escaping me.

Liz wobbled on her feet, all of a sudden grabbing for my shoulders. I instinctively snaked my arms around her waist, unintentionally moving us closer together. Her breath was a whisper on my face.

"I love you."

< Was that me, or her? >

A deafening scream pierced the night air. I looked up first, then down on Liz, my first instinct to protect her. The fright in her eyes didn't surprise me, but the uncertainty there did.

< Was that there a second ago? >

---

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