**
That's a good question, why am I standing out here alone
I guess I don't know enough to come in from the rain
I was watching your window from here below
I think I just might stay here all day cause I gotta do something

(CHORUS)
If I can't love you, I don't want to love you
If I can't hold you, I don't want to be thinking of you
And if you don't want me, I don't want to want you
And if you won't see me, I don't know what to do
But oh keep watching you until I see right through
Oh I keep watching you

You could throw me down a cigarette
I smoked my last one quite a while ago
No, I gave it to the man that swore he had no need
You know sometimes if I listen real close
I can hear the dark side of the moon
And there's always yesterday's Times if I care to read
And I gotta do something

(CHORUS)

Sure I'm alright, no I'm not very cold
Every now and then I can feel the subway heat
So go on inside, I'll leave you alone
Anyway Bogart's on in the window down the street
And I gotta do something

(CHORUS)
(Melissa Etheridge "Watching You")
**


The steam rising from the hot water clouded the bathroom and condensed on the mirror. In bubbles up to her neck, Liz was trying to relax her particularly jumpy nerves. It was late afternoon, and with the party rapidly approaching, Liz was becoming increasingly agitated.

"I can handle this," she told herself softly, rolling her shoulders under the water.

Lucky's absense from the cottage for the larger part of the day had caused her to be curious and strangely stressed out. He'd returned after she'd eaten lunch, with a paper sack which he'd quickly hidden in his room. Liz had questioned him about it, but he'd remained closed-mouthed, telling her only that he was saving his secret for later.

Liz sighed into the humid bathroom air.

"I can handle this," she said again.

**

Lucky swallowed nervously, wiping at his eyes.

When he wasn't pacing the length of his room, he was standing in front of his mirror. He knew he should be getting ready to go out and party, but he just wasn't in the mood. He was half dressed, wearing a pair of khaki slacks. His feet were bare, as was his upper body. His white shirt was lying on the bed behind him, ready to be put on.

He fidgetted in front of the mirror again, shoving a hand through his hair.

"What have I gotten myself into?"

**

The water in the bath was tepid by the time Liz felt ready to face the evening. She stood up, and stepped from the tub carefully, supporting herself with the wall. Her foot had actually been better today, and she could now stand on it with a minimum of pain.

Liz towel-dried herself off, and blindly reached for the spot where she always sat her clothes, near the sink. Her hand encountered the coolness of the tiled counter and she snapped out of her daze. It was then that she remembered she'd been in such a hurry to get away from Lucky's presence that she'd forgotten to grab something to wear before running into the bathroom.

She groaned.

**

Lucky was pacing his way down the hall when the bathroom door opened a crack and Liz's nose peeked out.

"Oh, good, you're done! I need to get my comb..." Lucky was in the bathroom and rustling through one of the drawers, before he even thought. He looked up into the mirror and froze.

Liz had the biggest towel she could find wrapped around her, but she still felt nude. She felt heat rising to her cheeks. One hand was flat against the wall, holding herself up. The other clutched at her towel, willing it to stay in place. She stayed perfectly still, praying Lucky would just leave without a word.

No such luck. He found himself short of breath, he seemed to be holding it. His eyes were glued to Liz's flushed skin. He then realized he was only half dressed himself.

Liz seemed to realize this fact at the exact same moment. She blushed even more, and averted her eyes.

"Oh, I-" Whatever she had started to say, she forgot it, as she tried to slip through the door.

Lucky seized her arm and brought her to a halt.

"I think you need to do some thinking tonight," he said quietly, ominously. He walked around Liz, so he could see her face.

"Thinking?" Liz stalled, becoming totally unnerved by his closeness. She fought to hold onto her question. "About what?"

Lucky dipped his head, bringing her gaze to his face. "About us. Me and you."

Liz found her eyes drawn to his lips. She was unable to look away. Lucky groaned lightly and lowered his head the few inches that separated them. Their lips met, and mingled. One of Liz's hands found its way to Lucky's shoulder, the other kept her towel in place. She jumped when her palm met bare skin, but soon forgot everything but Lucky's kiss.

He pulled back, drowning in her eyes, now wide and unsure.

"Me...and you?" Liz asked, her voice raspy. She inched backwards, needing to put distanc between herself and Lucky.

"That's right, Elizabeth, baby. Me and you. Us. Are we still an us?"

Lucky backpedaled out of the bathroom, releasing Liz. He left his question hanging. He retreated into his room, his skin still tingling where Liz had touched him. He ran his palm over his face.

"What have I gone and done now?"

**

Liz leaned against the bathroom counter, shaking like a leaf. She pressed one hand to her mouth. Her pulse raced.

She took ahold of herself and moved from the bathroom into her room. A plain white dress was hung on a hanger on the front of the closet door. Liz walked over to it, and fingered the edge of it.

"Not tonight," she murmured to herself, pulling open the closet and reaching for a pale blue number near the back.

---

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