Back to Your Heart

Author Note: I have no talent for actual plots – my strength lies in individual scenes and dialogue. (At least, I think so anyway.) Therefore, this will be a random collection of scenes between Lucky, Elizabeth and their friends. It has definitely become AU – since my definition of "Let's take it slow but let's get back together" is OBVIOUSLY different from the definition the writing staff has. Anyway, enjoy! 

"If I only knew, the words to say, the road to take, to find a way back to your heart…..give me one more chance, to give my love to you, 'cause no one on this earth loves you like I do……these arms of mine are open wide, from now until the end of time, you are my world – what can I do? This heart of mine belongs to you…"*

How Do I Get There?

"Here you go," Robin said, passing an already-condensation-covered Coke can to Elizabeth.

"Thanks," Elizabeth replied as she opened the can and took a sip. "And thank you again, so much, for inviting us over tonight."

"Please. We're neighbors," Robin said, waving a dismissive hand. "It was about time – we should have done it long ago, but between the fire at the hospital and me being sick, it was just never the right time."

"Well," Elizabeth said with a smile, leaning back in her chair, "When you finally got around to it, you certainly picked the right night." She took another sip of her drink and gazed around Robin and Patrick's backyard. It was a perfect summer evening – not too hot at this time of day, the sun hanging low in the sky, which was still a gorgeous shade of blue. Both women smiled as they watched Cameron run around like a crazy child, while Emma took a few tentative steps – clinging to Patrick's hands for dear life, of course – and Jake watched her with interest.

"Jake looks fascinated," Robin commented and Elizabeth laughed.

"I guess maybe he's not sure what to think of someone that much littler than him?" Elizabeth shrugged. "Or maybe," she added, grinning, "it's a glimpse into their future – maybe we'll be in-laws one day, Robin!"

Robin glanced in Patrick's direction. "Shh, don't let him hear you say that!" She was smiling, but shaking her head too. "You just don't know – you're lucky to have boys."

Elizabeth smiled. "So people say, but a girl might have been nice."

"Might have been?" Robin said quizzically. "You don't think you'll have anymore?"

Elizabeth shook her head. " Probably not. At least not any time in the near future." She laughed, a little ruefully. "You kinda have to find someone to have them with, you know?"

Robin looked confused. "But – I thought – "

Elizabeth groaned, cutting her off. "Aw, come on, Robin, not you too?"

"What do you mean 'you too?'

Elizabeth sighed. "I feel like every time I turn around, someone's asking me about me and Lucky. I think I need to take out an ad in the Herald – 'Lucky Spencer and Elizabeth Webber are currently just friends.'" Robin giggled and Elizabeth laughed as well. "Okay, so maybe it's not that bad, but still."

"So – are you really just friends?"

"More or less," Elizabeth replied, shrugging. "I don't know – sometimes I think he wants more – sometimes I think I do too – but we've agreed to take things slow this time. Neither of us wants to risk imploding again and dragging the boys – especially Cam – through all of that." She sighed again and Robin smiled sympathetically.

"I understand. Is he going to make it for dinner?"
Elizabeth nodded. "He said he would try. He had to meet up with Cruz this afternoon – needed to get him up to speed before he's back from vacation on Monday."

Even as she spoke, Cameron suddenly stopped running, yelled "DADDY!" and took off for the back edge of the yard, where Lucky was walking from Elizabeth's yard. Jake was soon following as fast as his little toddler legs could carry him.

Robin smiled as she stood up and waved. "Hey Lucky!" she called across the yard. "Can I get you a drink? Coke, Sprite – "
Lucky glanced up from hugging his sons hello. "Coke would be great, thanks," he called back.

"You got it," Robin said, turning towards the house. "Wouldn't it be nice," she said quietly, yet pointedly to Elizabeth, "if it was as easy for adults to show their feelings as it is for children?"

Elizabeth just laughed and shook her head as Robin walked in to her kitchen. Sooner or later, Elizabeth reflected, the matchmaker came out in everyone, didn't it?

However, Elizabeth had to concede Robin's point. Children had it much easier – they didn't worry about hurting anyone or being hurt – they just loved.

What was stopping her and Lucky from being together? They knew where they'd screwed up in the past – they'd go into it smarter this time – was she afraid they were settling? For what was comfortable and familiar? It was possible – she could admit that to herself – but somehow, she didn't really believe it. Something kept pulling them back to each other. Something –

"Elizabeth! Earth to Elizabeth!" Robin's laughter-tinged voice broke into her thoughts and she jumped.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly. "Just thinking."

"Yeah, thinking so hard in Lucky's direction I'm surprised there's not a hole burnt in his shirt," Robin teased.

Elizabeth blushed. "I – well –"

Robin shook her head. "Don't worry about it," she grinned, setting a plate of hot dogs and hamburgers down on the grill table. "I'll never tell. C'mon, let's get the kids off their hands so they can get our dinner cooked."

Elizabeth laughed and got up, following Robin to the middle of the yard where Patrick, Lucky & the kids were.

"C'mon, Emma," Robin said, scooping her daughter up. "Time for Daddy to do some grilling!"

Patrick rolled his eyes, yet looked pleased as he & Robin headed back towards the patio, laughing and teasing all the way.

Lucky laughed and then turned to Elizabeth. "Hey!" he grinned.

"Hey yourself," she replied, bending down to fix Jake's shoe. She glanced up at him and then turned back to Jake. "All set buddy, go on and play with your brother some more," she smiled, sending him off in Cam's direction.

Lucky held his hand out to her, helping her back to her feet. "Thanks," she said, actually meeting his eyes for the first time since his arrival. "Glad you were able to make it."

He nodded. "Yeah, me too," he said, smiling. He glanced back at the patio, where Robin was directing Patrick in placing food on the grill. "Guess I better go help him out, huh?"

Elizabeth laughed. "If you want to actually eat sometime soon, yeah, probably."

Lucky laughed too and headed for the patio. Elizabeth watched him walk off, unable to take her eyes off him. It wasn't just comfort and familiarity – it had hit her the second she looked in his eyes. Hit her like every cliché you could think of – bolt of lightning, ton of bricks – take your pick. With sudden clarity, she knew how much she loved him. The question was – how did she make him know too?

"How do I get there from here – how do I make you see - how do I tell you what my heart's been telling me…" **

Lyrics

* "Back to Your Heart" written by Kevin Richardson, Gary Baker & Jason Blume. Appears on the 1999 Backstreet Boys album "Millennium."

** "How Do I Get There?" written by Deana Carter & Chris Farren. Appears on the 1996 Deana Carter album "Did I Shave My Legs For This?"