Reclaiming Forever - Chapter 3

The next morning Elizabeth awakens and slowly lifts her head from Lucky's chest and looks up at his sleeping face. She stares at him, convincing herself that it is not a dream, she's truly in his arms again, finally. Keeping one arm around Lucky's waist, she lifts the other and lets her fingertips trace his face rememorizing its curves and finally she softly traces his lips. Lucky was awake the second she touched him but let her do what she needed to do. As she traced his lips, he smiles and opens his eyes. He whispers "Hey" as he slowly begins to rub her back.

"Good Morning", Elizabeth whispers too, not wanting to break the magic of the moment.

"You're really here". Lucky says as he touches her cheek. Tears are forming in his sapphire eyes. Lucky pulls her closer to him, wrapping his arms securely around her.

"I never thought I'd see you again. I thought……"

Lucky doesn't know how to continue, so Elizabeth just holds him for a few moments before asking… "What did you think Lucky?"

He gives her a tight hug before slowly pulling back so he can look into her eyes.

"I thought that if I ever did get out of that Steele trap, you'd be gone. He threatened you if I tried to escape. So I couldn't, I'd have rather died. After a while, I didn't even allow myself to believe dad would figure it out. The only thing I could do was hope that you'd find a way to move on and be happy.

Lucky, if I had really lost you and did somehow find a way to move on it would be because of you. You taught me to believe in myself and to believe in the future. Do you remember what I told you last night? How I realized that the reason I couldn't grieve was because somehow I knew that you were alive?

Yeah?

Lucky, your dad felt the same thing; he had visions of you. One day we talked about what we were feeling and started putting the pieces together. I don't want to talk about the specific details right now though. I just want us to have time to be together without any thoughts about this nightmare.

I can definitely agree to that.

Then Lucky notices the light catching a chain around Elizabeth's neck, he hadn't noticed before because it was hidden under her shirt. He already knows what it is. He gently reaches over and pulls out his subway token chain. Elizabeth looks down and remembers she put it on when she found out Lucky was alive so she'd have it with her when they rescued him. It gave her hope during the search for him. Lucky sees that the token is burned and knows without asking that this is what made her believe he was dead.

Elizabeth, I am so sorry that he used this to hurt you. It was the first thing I noticed missing when I woke up.

Lucky, you're right, this is what made me believe you were dead. I'll always remember Taggert showing it to me and knowing you'd never take it off so it must have been true.

Tears have slipped down her cheeks and Lucky gently brushes them away. He feels her pain and wants to kill Faison all over again but knows its over now. Slowly she smiles and continues.

Lucky, it also made me feel close to you and reminded me of our dreams. Now that you're here it belongs with you. I know it was burned but I had the jeweler clean it and you can barely tell. Now it is not just a symbol of our future but what we've survived to have our future. So if you still……

You know I do.

They are both smiling now. She reaches up and removes it from her neck and fastens it around Lucky's where it belongs. She rests her hands around his neck; softly caressing his neck and letting her fingers play in his hair. For a while they just enjoy being this close then slowly their lips connect and they share a kiss that reaffirms their commitment to each other. Elizabeth leans backwards, pulling Lucky with her until she's resting on the pillows and he is on top of her. Because he's following her lead Lucky knows she's ok, and let's her explore. They both need this reassurance that they are together finally. Her hands are massaging his back and his are bracing his weight so he won't crush her. Elizabeth slips her hands under Lucky's shirt and enjoys the new feeling of her hands on his bare skin. Lucky looses himself in the feeling of Elizabeth hands on his back. When he feels himself wanting more, he softens the kiss, not wanting to break away yet but knowing they need to slow down. Elizabeth feels the change and loosens her grip but doesn't want to let go yet either. Lucky reaches up and caresses her cheek as he slowly breaks the kiss. Elizabeth opens her eyes and looks into Lucky's, drowning in the love she sees there. She slowly removes her hands from his back and Lucky leans back and takes her hands in his own and pulls them into a sitting position. They are reclining against the pillows holding each other.

Elizabeth, I….

Lucky, thank you for not pulling away. There's something I haven't told you because I didn't get the chance.