Here's Hoping It Rains!
A Lost World Story
by Danielle :)
1/7/01

Disclaimer: "The Lost World" and it's characters and the dialogue from the episode "Skin Deep" belongs to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Coote/Hayes Productions (I think, the Lost World website is really unclear about ownership). Elizabethe belongs to the author of this work.

~~~~~
At the end of "Skin Deep"
In the treehouse

Challenger was checking over Roxton and Marguerite to make sure they were alright after having been trapped in that cave. Ned and Veronica returned from Assai's wedding and the conversation turned to another wedding. No one noticed Elizabethe slip into the elevator and disappear into the jungle darkness as soon as it was brought up. She didn't hear Marguerite's indignation and strong claim that her clone was in no way related to her.
A few minutes later, everyone had calmed down and Marguerite asked, "Where's Elizabethe?"
"She was here a few minutes ago." Said Challenger.
Ned glanced around, his eyes coming to rest on the elevator shaft.
"I think she went down to the jungle." He hypothesized.
"At this time of night?! Is the girl mad?" Roxton questioned, upset at the possibility of having to go after her.
"She couldn't have gone far, I'll go find her." Marguerite offered.
The men started to protest but she held up her hand.
"If she's not nearby, I'll call you down so we can look for her." With that, she left.

Marguerite found Elizabethe leaning against a tree looking out over the shimmering pond.
"Elizabethe?" She asked softly.
The young woman turned around, her face streaked with tears.
"What's wrong?" Marguerite asked in alarm.
"You were going to marry him!" Elizabethe cried.

~~~~~
Three Years Earlier
A Park in London

Elizabethe was in the park walking her dog. It was almost dark but she walked slowly, enjoying the cool breeze and quiet nature of the area. Her Sheltie was walking calmly in front of her until for no apparent reason she let out an excited bark and pulled away.
Elizabethe wasn't expecting this and the leash slipped from her silk-gloved hand.
"Shanta!" She cried out, before picking up her long skirt and hurrying after the dog. She recklessly turned to go around the shrubbery Shanta had run behind and tumbled over a figure bent on the ground.
She gasped in shock as she flipped over the person and landed on her back with a thud. Her long, full skirt flew up and covered her face. Once she got her breath back, she hurriedly pushed her skirt back down and angrily turned towards the person who was now standing. Her sharp comments died as her eyes came to rest upon a beautiful, richly dressed dark haired woman. They stared at each other in shock for a second before Elizabethe quickly got up off the ground.
"What were you doing there?" She demanded.
"That dog," The woman gestured to Shanta, "Came running up to me, I was simply bending down to pet it. Is that such a sin?"
"It is when you trip someone!"
"You're the one who came hurtling around that corner and ran into me!" The woman replied hotly.
"Shanta, come here." Elizabethe took a firm hold of the leash.
"Are you alright?" The woman's voice still held a trace of hostility.
"Yes, I think so. Just a little bit shaken up, that's all. I'm Elizabethe."
"My name's Marguerite." The woman replied in a softer tone.
"It's nice to meet you." Elizabethe replied with a small laugh.
Marguerite smiled slightly before joining in the laughter.
"I don't know why Shanta decided to run off so quickly but the leash just slipped right out of my hand."
"Well, she just came running up to me. She's a gorgeous dog. I would like to get one." Marguerite confessed as they began to walk back the way Elizabethe had run.
Elizabethe nodded, "You should. She's lovely and great company."
Marguerite opened her mouth to say something, but instead gasped as a big drop of rain landed on her forehead. Soon it was pouring.
Marguerite looked around in shock, causing Elizabethe to laugh.
"It's just rain, it's not going to kill you! It's really very fun to be out during a storm."
"Oh yes, catching your death of pneumonia is extremely fun." Marguerite replied dryly.
"I'm not dead yet!" Elizabethe retorted and laughed, leaning her face into the storm. "It's so freeing!"
"Is it?" Marguerite was skeptical.
"Oh, it is!" Elizabethe twirled around with Shanta jumping at her heels.
Marguerite stared at her for a moment before tilting her head up into the rain. She closed her eyes and let the water run over her perfect features.
"There you go." Elizabethe murmured.
An hour later they collapsed breathless on a park bench.
"I can't believe I've been running around in the rain!" Marguerite's voice was full of wonder.
"I told you it was fun." Her companion grinned at her, "I should probably go before my mother sends out the calvary though."
"Thank you." Marguerite said sincerely as they went their separate ways.

As the two women slowly walked to their houses, they wondered about the other.
Marguerite was amazed at how freeing playing in the rain was. She laughed out loud, Marguerite Crux dancing around in the rain like a schoolgirl! No one would believe it! For the first time in a very long time, she had felt natural, that she didn't have to play a carefully controlled part. Elizabethe felt like a true friend. She didn't know who Marguerite was, simply liked her as a person. Marguerite couldn't remember the first time that had happened. As she entered her mansion, she thought it was a pity she'd never see the girl again.
Elizabethe and Shanta walked home slowly. The rain had ceased for all but a light drizzle. She felt so relaxed, renewed; whereas earlier this evening she had felt like she was losing her mind. She knew her mother was going to reproach her for having gotten thoroughly soaked but it didn't matter. She had needed this rain walk and had made a friend in the process. As she and Shanta noiselessly slipped in the kitchen door of her parent's mansion, she thought that she should have found out more about Marguerite so that they could continue their friendship. 'Well,' she smiled, 'maybe I'll see her next time it rains.'

~~~~~~
A Month Later
Elizabethe's House

Elizabethe looked into the mirror and sighed quietly before getting up and heading downstairs.
"My dear, you look lovely." Her father greeted her at the bottom of the stairs.
"What took you so long? Our guests shall be here shortly!" Her mother's disapproving gaze roamed over her dark green and fine lace dress searching for anything amiss.
"I'm sorry Mother." Elizabethe forced her voice to be apologetic as she swept past them into the ballroom. She noticed that her mother had gone to extra trouble to decorate the room. The revelation settled in a tight knot in her stomach. That, coupled with her father's compliment, was not a good sign.
Her mother had invited over two hundred guests who began to arrive within moments. Elizabethe pasted a smile on her face and greeted everyone at the door, acting the perfect hostess.
When her beau, James came in, he gave her a kiss on the cheek, "You look simply ravishing my darling."
She smiled and dipped her head with the proper show of embarrassment. Inwardly she groaned. This man was getting too serious and she was worried that he would ask her father for her hand. Added to everything else that was happening today, her completely unromantic beau's unusually sweet greeting made her feel nauseous. She smiled sweetly, however, when he swept her onto the dance floor, silently cursing the fact that she had to act so much.
James was an accomplished dancer and thought his conversation was extremely witty. Elizabethe half listened and managed to laugh at all the right places while her eyes roved over the crowd for an interesting face. People were still arriving and she sincerely hoped one of them could help amuse her. After the dance was done, she asked if he would get her some punch. She fanned her face slowly with her delicate silk fan as she made her way towards the open patio doors for some cool air.
Suddenly she saw a familiar face and called out with surprise, "Marguerite!"
Marguerite was dressed in a gorgeous deep blue silk dress. The neckline was so low as to be almost scandalous, and Elizabethe had to stifle a giggle when it occurred to her that she wouldn't be surprised if Marguerite fell out of her dress if a dance partner twirled her around the wrong way.
"Elizabethe! What are you doing here?" Her voice registered her surprise, yet was warm.
"This is my parent's party." She replied, "Walk with me?"
They headed out into the garden, breathing sighs of relief to be away from the crowd.
"I know my mother had invited Marguerite Krux... is that you?" Elizabethe questioned, eager about the chance to get to know her rain dancing friend.
"Yes." Marguerite answered after some hesitation, which Elizabethe noticed and didn't understand.
"Are you enjoying the party?" The younger woman asked instead of dwelling on who's who.
"Yes, it's lovely." Marguerite's smile was perfect, yet nothing like the genuine ones Elizabethe had seen in the park.
"Liar. It's simply horrid!" Elizabethe blurted.
Marguerite's eyes widened in shock before she laughed in accordance, "It's your party, I didn't want to insult the hostess."
"It's my mother's party." Elizabethe corrected. "Trust me, I wouldn't be here if I didn't have to be."
"Oh?" Marguerite raised a delicate eyebrow.
"Oh, definitely not, everyone in there is so boring! It's like everyone is acting, I hate it! I hate this life."
Marguerite stared at her, not quite sure what to say, how to express that she felt the same way, "And you always have to act too." She said softly.
"Yes." Elizabethe said as understanding flowed between them.
Just then the butler came hurrying towards them, "Miss Elizabethe, your mother would like you to come to the ballroom for an important announcement by your father."
"I'll be right there." She replied calmly.
Once he was gone, however, dread covered her fine features and her shoulders slumped.
"I know what the announcement is going to be. James has asked my father for my hand in marriage."
"James?"
"Lord James Stanley."
"He's very wealthy." Marguerite commented.
Elizabethe turned towards her, eyes wide and full of trepidation, "I couldn't stand to be married to him!"
"Why not? He is extremely well off and respected throughout all of London."
"Yes, but he is a man!" She faltered for a second before continuing, "He is the most boring person I've ever met! He's not romantic at all... And he's got to be in his thirties!" Her voice broke and she bit her lower lip.
"Elizabethe..." Marguerite couldn't think of anything to comfort the girl.
She took a deep breath and Marguerite could see the mask ascend over her face. Elizabethe smiled brightly, the perfected actresses' smile, that on the surface appeared sincere but didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Let's get it over with." She said with one last sigh.
They entered the ballroom and sure enough, her parents and James were standing in front of the orchestra. Marguerite smiled encouragement and strength. Elizabethe's mother saw them come in, hurried over and whispered angrily under her breath as they made their way to the men.
"Can I have your attention, please?" Her father raised his voice once his daughter was standing next to James and the room had gone silent in anticipation. "I am very pleased to announce this evening the engagement of my daughter, Elizabethe, to Lord James Stanley."
As the room clapped and called congratulations to the couple, Elizabethe managed to smile at James and their guests while the knotted feeling in her stomach got worse.
Later that night, Elizabethe tore off her dress and collapsed on her bed with a groan. She crawled under her covers without removing her undergarments, dreaming of faraway lands and adventures she knew she'd never have.

~~~~~
The Next Day

Elizabethe woke up the morning after the engagement to a feeling of being suffocated. The feeling intensified over breakfast as her parents went on and on about how wonderful the engagement was and how lucky a girl she was to be engaged to Lord James Stanley. Her mother already had the majority of the wedding planned and her father commented on how well off and respected James' family was. By the time she fled the table, the tight feeling in her chest was nearly unbearable.
After she had gotten changed into a dress suitable to pay visits in, she hurried out the door to the one place she felt she could relax.
Marguerite was pleasantly surprised to find Elizabethe in her drawing room. She closed the door behind her and the newly engaged woman sighed and slumped her shoulders.
"I can't breath. And I can't marry James."
"Is there another man you would like to marry?" Marguerite figured that could be the only explanation.
"No. I don't want to get married. It's going to be so unbearable, party after party, even more of the dreadful things than I go to now! Loosing my figure having children! And James is so boring. I have to get out of it," She began to lose composure, "If I marry James I think I shall die." Her eyes filled with tears though she tried hard to stop it.
"I've seen you dancing in the rain Elizabethe, you don't have to act around me." Marguerite assured her only friend softly as she wrapped her arms around the trembling body. That was all the distressed woman needed for her tears to fall freely.
"There has to be some way to get out this marriage, doesn't there?" She pleaded.
Marguerite longed to be able to tell her there was, but wasn't going to lie to her.
"Unless you simply refuse to marry him, I don't think you can get out of it..." Her voice trailed off as she thought, "But there might be a way for you to put the marriage off for a while."
"How?" Elizabethe sat up and looked at her, hope shining in her wet eyes.
"Well, recently I was approached by a man named Professor Challenger, who was looking for financial backers for an expedition he is forming to try and find some lost world or something. If I supply the money, it wouldn't go on this expedition alone."
"I've heard of him and his living dinosaurs, he's said to be crazy. You wouldn't honestly give this man money to find a lost world- and go with him?!" Disbelief written all over the tear stained face.
"There's no telling what riches a lost world could have, Elizabethe!" Marguerite's eyes shone with greed at the possibility.
"So what would you having a minuscule chance of getting richer have to do with my marriage?" Since they were talking about getting her out of her engagement, Elizabethe decided to go along with it, though she wondered if the Professor wasn't the only insane one.
"You could go on the expedition as well. At the very least, it could put your marriage off half a year and you could have some adventures before you have to settle down with him. At the most, your James could get tired of waiting for your return and marry someone else."
"Hmmmm... What about my parents though?" She worried.
Marguerite was momentarily stumped as well.
"Well, they know I'm not exactly thrilled to be marrying James, although they both tell me a hundred times a day how wonderful he is, maybe they would let me go if I promised to come back and marry James?"

~~~~~

It took some convincing and pleading, but Elizabethe's parents finally agreed to let her go on the expedition after Marguerite had promised to look out for her and as a last resort the girl had threatened not to marry James. They were afraid that if they refused the request, Elizabethe would indeed back out of the engagement. They had always known their only child had a taste for adventure and didn't enjoy the confines of society life. Hopefully this expedition would get their daughter's rebellion out of her system so she could settle down and be someone else's problem for once. Lord Stanley was a great catch and if their daughter did not marry him, it was unlikely that anyone else would want such a fickle girl for a bride.
They had heard stories about Marguerite Krux, but felt that she would watch out for their daughter. After she told him that the Great Game Hunter Lord Roxton was going, their daughter's safety was more than guaranteed. And so Elizabethe signed on to the expedition.
As Marguerite was leaving, Elizabethe walked her to the door.
"Thank you!" She said and gave Marguerite a grateful hug.

~~~~~
Planning for the trip
London

"If James was anything at all like that Lord Roxton we met this afternoon, I would do everything in my power to move the wedding date up, not stop it!" Elizabethe grinned as they headed home from the expedition meeting.
Marguerite laughed, a beautiful sound that not even Elizabethe heard often, "If James was anything like Lord John Roxton your whole life would be full of more adventures than even you could handle!"
"How's that?" Elizabethe was unaware of the Lord's reputation.
Marguerite, like most everyone else, knew of him and filled her young friend in, "He's one of the biggest Game Hunters in Europe. Almost always traveling to some unexplored landscape after some creature or another."
Elizabethe took this information in, nodding, "It sounds like we should be lucky to have him on this expedition, then." Her smile said that having an accomplished hunter among them wasn't the only reason.

~~~~~
The plateau

Not long after landing on the plateau, everyone was trekking through the forest looking for a good place to stay. Elizabethe's heart was still racing from the balloon ride. She had found hanging off the ladder as they made their way to the plateau exhilarating and almost as freeing as a good romp in the rain. Roxton had shown her how to fire and load the rifle he had loaned her for the trip but as yet no one had needed to fire. Marguerite and Elizabethe were in the middle of the line of explorers heading through a thin grove of trees. Somewhere ahead of them, God only knows what kind of animals seemed to be fighting. The sounds floating down to them made everyone glance around nervously, even Roxton. The sounds were like nothing any of them had ever heard before and everyone instinctively tightened their grip on their respective firearm.
Suddenly a raptor jumped out onto the path in front of Challenger and Roxton, who were leading the group. It screamed angrily as it charged for the group. Elizabethe reflexively raised her rifle and shot the raptor through the heart as it was just about to jump off the ground and onto Challenger. Everyone looked in shock at the fallen raptor for a moment. Elizabethe was as much in shock as everyone else and her gun was still pointed at it. Roxton, Challenger and Marguerite turned around to stare at her, and Summerlee and Ned were looking at her from behind her as well.
"Should I not have shot it?" She asked self consciously, lowering the rifle.
"If you didn't it could have hurt someone!" Challenger told her.
"I'm just amazed because you had told me you'd never shot a gun before." Roxton was flabbergasted as he moved back to stand next to her.
"I haven't!" She said, "It just seemed so natural I didn't even really think about it."
"Hm!" Ned said appreciatively.
"Well we're certainly glad for that, Elizabethe." Summerlee told her.
"You've never shot a rifle before?" Roxton questioned.
"No. I've never even held one until you gave me this one." She looked up at him unflinchingly.
"Hm!" He echoed Ned's earlier remark, "Looks like we have a natural shot here with us." He smiled appreciatively down at her before heading back to the front of the group, asking as he went, "What should we do with it? Keeping in mind that there will be plenty more of them and that we need to find a place to set up camp before nightfall".
"And taking it with us could only lead others straight to us." Challenger cautioned.
"Then I don't see why it's not obvious that we just leave it here and get moving." Marguerite had been silent thus far but now her tone was caustic as she glared around her.
"But, should we just leave it here or move it somewhere else? Bury it? What?" Ned ventured.
"It doesn't seem harmful to leave it here for something else to eat." Summerlee said.
"And we don't really have time to do anything else with it." Challenger spoke up.
"All right everyone, watch your step." Roxton called out cheerfully as he started down the path again.

~~~~~
The Treehouse
A Couple Weeks After the Group's Arrival

It had been raining all day, confining the seven people to Veronica's treehouse. It looked like for the time being though, it was going to be everyone's treehouse- Veronica, Ned, Roxton, Challenger, Summerlee, Marguerite, and Elizabethe's. And on this rainy afternoon, no one was happy about that fact.
Ned was writing in that ever-present journal of his in his room and Challenger and Summerlee were off doing something scientific downstairs. Everyone else was upstairs- Roxton cleaning his guns, the three women getting on each other's nerves. Marguerite was pacing quickly, an intimidating scowl on her lovely face that dared anyone to go near her. Elizabethe was aimlessly walking around the room, and Veronica was sitting at the table near Roxton, lost in memories.
Elizabethe sighed loudly and looked out at the rain.
"Must you keep doing that?!" Marguerite glared at her.
"As long as you keep up that infuriatingly childish stomping!"
Roxton and Veronica looked up in shock. They were used to Marguerite's complaints but had all pegged Elizabethe as the quiet, agreeable one. She was also the first person to voice a complaint about the formidable Miss Krux's behavior.
Roxton placed his rifle carefully on the table thinking 'This should be interesting.'
The two English women stood with hard gazes locked on each other until Elizabethe turned towards the balcony, causing Marguerite to smile triumphantly. Their onlookers were both dismayed: one that it had ended without physical violence, the other that Marguerite had won.
Elizabethe looked out at the rain, a mischievous smile lighting up her whole face.
"Marguerite..." She said slowly, alluringly.
Still upset at being challenged, Marguerite stared at her wordlessly for a minute before understanding dawned.
'Is Marguerite smiling?!' Veronica wondered.
Before she had a chance to properly study the dark haired woman's puzzling expression, the two were rushing towards the elevator. Roxton and Veronica looked at each other, trying to figure out if the other knew what was going on. Summerlee and Challenger rushed up to see what all the commotion was about.
"Why did they leave so quickly?" Summerlee asked.
"What happened?" Challenger's tone was accusatory.
"What's all the ruckus?" Ned was still holding his pen.
"They were having a fight, and suddenly they got the strangest looks on their faces and rushed down the elevator!" Veronica explained.
Roxton held up a hand for silence, listening intently. Everyone else paused to listen.
"What's that?"
"It sounds like..."
"Laughter?!"
The group rushed to look over the balcony. To their shock, Marguerite and Elizabethe appeared to be dancing on the forest floor. Their movements were irregular but appeared to be based on the waltz. The women occasionally twirled each other around, laughing so much so that it interrupted the dancing.
"Have you lost your senses?" Summerlee called down.
"What?" They stopped dancing and looked up, still giggling.
Challenger repeated his colleague's question.
"No, we're keeping our sanity!"
"Dancing in the rain is so relaxing, you have to come try it!" Elizabethe added.
Five heads disappeared from the railing and the elevator creaked it's way down. Roxton, Veronica and Ned came out slowly, still under the canopy of the treehouse, interested in the activity yet hesitant about joining in.
"Ladies, come inside and dry off before you catch your deaths of pneumonia." Ned coaxed.
"We're not dead yet!" Marguerite and Elizabethe said in unison. "Come on!"
"Would you care to dance, Lord Roxton?" Elizabethe asked regally.
The Lord shrugged his broad shoulders and swept her into his arms. Ned and Veronica tentatively danced out into the storm, gaining confidence and pleasure as they got used to their dance partner. Marguerite, meanwhile, stood with her eyes closed and head back, letting the rain wash down over face.
"Do you think we should do anything?" Summerlee asked his dry companion from his place at the table.
"It sounds like they are enjoying themselves," Laughter and lighthearted banter floated up to them, "And it's a rather warm day, I don't believe anyone will take ill from the experience."

~~~~~
Back at the pond
End of "Skin Deep"

"That wasn't me and Roxton who were engaged Elizabethe!"
"Well, not exactly, but it was a part of you! A part that obviously wants Roxton!" Elizabethe crossed her arms over her chest, biting her lower lip to stop it from trembling.
Marguerite searched the air for something to say, "I have no memory of anything that happened these past couple of days. I don't know why our clones got engaged."
"Because a part of you must be in love with him." Elizabethe's voice was so quiet but radiated such pain that Marguerite felt like she had been punched.
"Yes, I am attracted to Roxton, but so are you! It means nothing." Marguerite could tell Elizabethe wasn't being moved so she continued haltingly, "It's nothing because.. I... I love you Elizabethe."
They looked at each in surprise for a moment before Marguerite got uncomfortable with all these naked emotions. She turned and walked a short distance away. She was shocked that she was the first one to say it even though it felt right.
Elizabethe came up behind her, wrapping her arms around Marguerite's waist and resting her chin on Marguerite's shoulder so that their cheeks touched gently. Neither woman spoke for several minutes until Elizabethe whispered, "I love you, too."
Marguerite gasped softly as Elizabethe took her by the shoulders and gently turned her around. She kept one hand wrapped around the slim waist while the other traveled up to wrap itself in the thick hair at the base of Marguerite's neck. They both moved their heads closer together until they couldn't get any closer. The kiss was light, barely more than two sets of lips meeting for a brief instant. But for Marguerite and Elizabethe, it seemed to go on forever and conveyed more meaning and feeling than anyone could imagine. It was a kiss full of complete and total understanding and acceptance of the person they were sharing it with, overflowing with promise for the future. A fish dove out of the water catching a bug. Marguerite turned towards the sound and Elizabethe once more wrapped her arms around her slender waist, their glowing cheeks softly resting together as they silently watched the sun set.

THE END :-)