Elizabeth was sleeping peacefully, a soft smile on her face. Lucky had finally gone home, although it was hard for them to part, even for a few hours. They had made the decision to wait until their wedding night to consummate their relationship, believing that since they had waited this long, a few days wouldn't make much difference. That resolve had been tested when Lucky had kissed her goodbye, and she had ended up literally pushing him out the door, both of them laughing.
She was sleeping so deeply that she didn't hear the door open and the soft footsteps that made their way across the room, or notice that someone was standing by her bed, watching her thoughtfully. She didn't hear the low laughter or the voice that said, "Lucky Spencer will be sorry he double-crossed me."
At that moment, at the Spencer home, Lucky was blissfully unaware that his fiancee was in jeopardy. He had told his parents about he and Elizabeth getting married. They had called Elizabeth's parents, who seemed happy that their daughter was settling down, but not too concerned with whom, and they didn't show much interest in coming home for the event. Lucky could tell that Elizabeth was hurt, but she told him that she was used to her parents behaving that way, and she wanted to concentrate on her happiness with Lucky.
Laura's eyes filled with tears as she came forward to embrace her son. "Oh, Lucky, you have no idea how happy this makes me. She was remembering the time in the boxcar when she had imagined Lucky marrying Elizabeth, and had thought it would never happen. Now he would be able to live the life that was, she'd thought, taken from him at such a young age.
Luke slapped him on the back and shook his hand. "Man, you couldn't have picked a better one. I already love that girl like a daughter. He had already mentioned to Lucky how close he and Elizabeth had gotten in the last months. "When's the big day?"
Laura grabbed a pen and a notebook. "We have plans to make...a dress, invitations, catering..."
"A couple of days. As soon as possible." Lucky blushed at the sly look Luke gave him.
"Not wasting any time, eh Cowboy?" he said with a chuckle.
"A couple of DAYS?" Laura was appalled. "How can we plan a wedding in a couple of days?"
"Mom, we were just planning on seeing a justice of the peace or something. No big deal."
"Lucky, it is a big deal. I know that you two are just concerned with being together right now, and you don't want any delays, but Elizabeth needs this. She needs to walk down the aisle in a white dress and carry flowers. She needs to see the man she loves waiting for her by the minister, and stand in front of everyone and say her vows, knowing that this is the man she is going to love for the rest of her life, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, til death do they part." Laura's gaze was locked with Luke's. Her voice trailed off and she took an unconscious step toward her husband.
"Uh, mom?" Lucky had the feeling his parents had forgotten he was in the room. It reminded him of when he was a kid, and they would drop everything sometimes, just to look into each others' eyes, and remember something that had happened in the past.
Laura gave herself a little shake and turned back to Lucky, but not without smiling mistily at Luke first. "How about a week, Lucky? Between Audrey and Elizabeth and me, I'm sure we can put together a decent wedding in that amount of time. She won't ask for it, but it would mean a lot to her."
Lucky glanced at Luke, who raised his eyebrows and shrugged. "Your mother's the expert here. Maybe you should listen to her."
Lucky considered. Maybe they were right. One week wouldn't make too much of a difference, would it? "Okay, I'll talk to Elizabeth. It's up to her."
Laura nodded and smiled. "Fair enough. Now, I'm going to have to get to bed, because I'm going to have to get up early and call Audrey before she goes to work. We have to get hold of the florist, the caterers..." she was still listing things as she disappeared up the stairs. Lucky and Luke watching after her in bemusement.
Elizabeth could feel the eyes on her, and she slowly started to wake up. "Lucky?" she murmured, seeing the shape of a person in the darkness
"No, my dear, I'm not Lucky."
Now fully awake, Elizabeth sat up. She recognized that voice. "What are you doing here?" she demanded angrily.
"Now, now, there's no need to get yourself excited. I have a little unfinished business to attend to. Don't take this personally, dear. You're only part of the big picture.
Unbeknownst to Helena, Elizabeth had her cordless phone next to her pillow. She had called Lucky right before she went to sleep to say goodnight to him, and she hadn't put the phone back on the desk. Now she tried to keep Helena distracted while she pushed the redial button. "What are you talking about, Helena? What are you going to do to me?" Suddenly Lucky's voice came loud and clear over the phone. "Hello?.....Hello?" Helena reached over and switched on the bedside lamp, her eyes darkening with fury at the sound of the voice. That was when Elizabeth saw Andreas standing in the doorway holding a gun, and she screamed before Helena took the phone from her and hung it up.
"Elizabeth!" Lucky yelled in to the phone, but the line was dead. He spared one panic-filled glance at Luke before he made for the front door and tore it open, his father hot on his heels.
"Call the cops, Laura!" Luke tossed over his shoulder before he slammed the door behind him. Laura hurried to obey, punching 911 on the telephone.
Andreas advanced into the room, holding the gun steadily on Elizabeth. "Do exactly as madam says and you won't get hurt."
"Let's just say you won't feel a thing," corrected Helena. She directed Elizabeth to a chair and had her sit down. Andreas put the muzzle of the gun to her head.
"No, please," she begged.
"Such a tragedy, really," Helena mused. "You and Lucky just found each other, and now you'll be seperated again." Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "But this time it will be permanent. I'm leaving nothing to chance. I am sorry, my dear, but young Lucky must be taught a lesson." Helena turned her attention to Andreas. "You know what to do darling. Goodbye Elizabeth." With that, she left the room.
"Please, Andreas, you don't really want to do this!" Elizabeth pleaded desperately.
"No, Andreas, you don't" A new voice came from the doorway and Elizabeth and Andreas both swiveled their heads toward it.
"Nikolas!" Liz shouted, for that was who it was. He had a gun himself and it was jammed into the small of Helena's back.
"Back away from Elizabeth, Andreas, and drop the gun. If you don't..."
"Don't listen to him, Andreas. Nikolas could never kill his own grandmother." Helena pasted on a fake smile for Nik's benefit. "Darling, put the gun down, and we'll discuss this like civilized people. I wasn't going to hurt your little friend, I just wanted to scare her--"
"Shut-up, Grandmother!" Nikolas shouted. "You've caused enough heartache on this earth. It's time someone finally put an end to it."
Helena honestly didn't believe that Nikolas could kill her, but she had underestimated his fury and his loyalty to Elizabeth. As she jerked away, the gun went off and Elizabeth's scream cut through the air.