Recap: Liz stabbed Lucky. She didn't go and see him in the hospital because she was afraid that he would hate her now. Lucky has just explained to her that he doesn't, but that he was to talk about their relationship.

Chapter three

"You want to talk about us?" Liz asked

"Look Elizabeth, I like your room and all....but can we go somewhere and sit down?" Lucky asked....smiling at her

"Of course," Liz paused a moment. "Do you just want to go downstairs or to Kelly's, the docks? Where should we have this talk about 'us' ?"

"We could go sit out on the patio" Lucky suggested. "It's a beautiful day, and you did say that I look pale, so I guess I could use some sun." Lucky grinned and held out his hand. "C'mon, you look a little pale yourself, I bet we could both use the sun."

Patio

"Are you sure I can't get you something to eat?" Liz asked him nervously "It really would be any problem."

"Elizabeth, you said I look pale, are you now saying that I look skinny too?" Lucky asked with a raised eyebrow

"No....no.....I just....I know how hospital food can be" Liz finished lamely.

"I'm fine Elizabeth....we just need to talk" Lucky said

"When did you start doing that?" Liz asked him, cocking her head to the side.

"Doing what?" Lucky asked, confused.

"Calling me Elizabeth. You used to call me Liz"

"Oh....um...I guess it was after." Lucky trailed off

Liz continued to look at him, perplexed

"I guess you just didn't seem like Liz anymore, you seemed so grown-up. Elizabeth just seemed to fit you" Lucky tried to explain, but sensed that he was just making it worse.

Liz bowed her head "I guess he is still winning, because you're right. I'm not Liz anymore"

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about." Lucky said....looking urgent. There are times when I still see that spark in you. That touch of attitude. Elizabeth you are an amazing person. And if you never change I won't ever care. But I had a lot of time to think while I was in the hospital, and I came to the same conclusion as you. As long as you continue to live in fear, and as long as finding this guy is the center of your world, he is going to control your life." Lucky smiled gently at her to ease his next words "Elizabeth, we may just have to deal with the fact that he may never be found."

Liz smiled sadly at him "I know that you don't want to help me anymore Lucky. I'm sure that if I had been stabbed in the quest for someone's attacker, I would want to cut and run too."

"NO! Elizabeth.....I love you, and I would and will do anything to help you find the guy that did this. But we have no clues, no leads, nothing. And I really think that what is most important now is healing." Lucky stared beseechingly at her.

Liz was looking at Lucky with her mouth hanging open. "What did you say?"

"I said that I think the most important thing for you to do now is to heal and try and put your life back together." Lucky said. Not comprehending the look Liz was giving him.

"No, no....before that." Liz said....still looking stunned.

"Umm...." Lucky paused, running his words over again in his mind....slowly his eyes widened, as he realized what he had blurted out in his impassioned speech.

"I said that as long as you live in fear this guy is going to control your life?" Lucky said hopefully. Praying that she had missed it, or that he really hadn't said it.

Liz shook her head....still looking stunned "No Lucky, after that, but before moving on and putting my life back together."

Lucky turned around and ran his hand through his hair "Man, I can't believe that I just said that." He turned back around and found Liz with her head bowed and her hair hiding her face.

"Elizabeth, what is it?" Lucky asked, knowing he had just made a major mistake

Liz looked up with tears in her eyes "I can't believe you said it either....why would you say something like that when you couldn't possibly mean it?"

"Not mean it?" Lucky asked incredulous "I know that it wasn't the best time in the world to blurt it out, but surely, you must have had some idea of how I felt about you?"

"Lucky, what you feel for me is friendship, mixed in with a little compassion" Liz smiled tearfully "no guy could love damaged goods." Liz looked down at her lap, twisting her fingers only to find her hands pulled apart and held in Lucky's hands

Lucky kneeled in front of Liz. "I do feel friendship for you Elizabeth, you are my best friend. And I do have compassion for you. But DON'T confuse those feelings with pity! I know the difference between love and pity. And this is definitely love. I know it's not the right time and I know that you aren't ready. But I will wait until you are ready. And if you decide at that time that you just want to be friends. Then I will always be your friend. But I love you, and I don't want to ever hear you say that you are damaged goods again!" Lucky had tears in his eyes and they spilled down his cheeks as he said the last words with force.

Liz smiled at him and brushed his hair off his face "I've had a crush on you since the day I walked into Kelly's. And for months, as you've stood by me though every thing, I've known that it was more than a crush. I love you too Lucky. But you are right that I'm not quite ready for a relationship. Before I can start a relationship I have to heal myself, because that is the only way I can beat him. But if you think that there would be anyone else that I would want to be with you are crazy!" Liz smiled at him, and half laughed through her tears. "You are the best friend I've ever had, and if you are willing to wait, I hope that we can be so much more. But I need to become whole again first. Because I want you to be in love with all of me, and I want to be all of me."

Lucky smiled at Liz and cupped her cheek in his hand. "You are so special and so beautiful. And I want to be whole for you too, I thought about some other things while I was in the hospital. Elizabeth....I think that I want to try and work things out with my parents, I'm still very angry at my dad for what he did. But as everyone keeps telling me, they got over that long before I came along and it has little to do with me. I think that it will take some time. But I think we can do it."

Liz smiled brightly at Lucky "That makes me so happy Lucky, not just for you, but for your mom." Liz paused. "and for your dad too. Lucky he always looks so sad when I see him. I know that what he did was wrong, but he did it to your mother, and if she could forgive him. Then maybe you could too."

"Did I mention that you were smart too?" Lucky asked rising to his feet and pulling Liz after him. "I know that we are going to have to go slow with this thing between us. So how about we start slow this Saturday?"

"What do you mean?" Liz looked curious

"Elizabeth Webber.....will you go on a date with me?" Lucky asked with a smile in his eyes.

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