1 Love Is Patient, Kind and Above All True
1.1
1.2 Chapter One
Elizabeth stifled the sob welling up with in her chest. A sudden breeze displaced a lock of her light brown hair. Her fingers tucked the loose strand behind her ear. Her thoughts were jumbled, few and far between. Elizabeth hugged her knees against her chest, braving herself against the wind and the other tempests that swirled around her that seemed to want to blow her away. She thought sitting by the docks would help clear her mind, get her away from her thoughts, her feelings, but it didn't.
Why! Why is this happening to me?
Lucky had kissed her with so much passion the night he had found her in his bedroom.
He never said a word.
She was reassured of his love as his hands explored her body. She knew his love had returned as he held her in his arms and cooed soothing words of love and forever.
"Were they all just lies?" she asked herself. She had been so sure of herself, of them when she jumped off the boat and rode back into town. Everything was fine. Everything was going to be all right now that Helena was behind bars.
Just fine.
"But they weren't…" her voice trailed off as her mind wandered to memories of them dancing at Kelly's, kissing each other on the docks. She thought about their vows at the church during the blizzard.
She had clung to those promises. Throughout the past two years, during the war of words and deceitful lies, she had held on to those promises Lucky had spoke. Elizabeth clung to the love she held locked away in her heart, put away for safe keeping, until one day Lucky returned and she allowed herself to believe that they would once again share what they had. But his words sung a different tune. "I don't love you Elizabeth. You belong with Nikolas. Go be with Nikolas."
Elizabeth hadn't believed him then. She'd seen the love that remained in his eyes every time she was with him, and the jealously that raged within him if she was found with another man. She'd even had a couple of moments with him where he'd let his guard down, told her that he did love her, cared for her. He told her he didn't understand why he kept hurting her with the words he spoke. Lucky kept telling her to be with Nikolas, but then doing a 180 turnabout and telling her that she belonged with him.
Elizabeth knew even then that he loved her. And after sorting out through Helena's programming, he'd changed. Yes, he wasn't exactly the same. His behavior had changed throughout that ordeal. But he still loved her and she, him.
Now she didn't know what to do. Nikolas and she had planned to rid Lucky of Helena's control. The control that kept Lucky from her. Liz and Lucky thought they had broken free of it because their love was so strong, but they were wrong. Now, Nikolas and Elizabeth knew that would never be. They watched Lucky's behavior change from time to time and knew it was Helena's doing. She had something planned, and Elizabeth and Nikolas had been determined to find out what that was. Unbeknownst to her, it would be the catalyst that destroyed forever the love that they once shared, lost and found again.
"Excuse me?" a girl's voice interrupted her thoughts, "Are you okay?"
Elizabeth felt a shift in weight on the bench where she sat. She hid her face behind her knees, wiping away the tears that somehow had formed against her cheek. "I'm fine," she muffled.
"Are you sure? I mean, I'm sure I could help in someway? Please let me help." The girl's plea was sincere and urgent.
Elizabeth chuckled, she probably thinks I'm going to hurt myself. She chuckled again, a bit louder this time.
"Seriously, are you okay? Can I call someone for you?"
Elizabeth lifted her head and found an Asian girl, she estimated her to be around 21, maybe 23 at the oldest, sitting beside her. She had long black hair and wore a black leather jacket. She put on her best fake smile and told the worried girl, "No. Really. I'm okay."
The girl hesitated. She didn't know if she could believe the blotchy-faced girl or not. "Are you sure?" The girl tried to look straight into Elizabeth's eyes and read her thoughts.
Elizabeth lowered her legs until they met the docks. She took a deep breath and tried to reassure the girl, "Really. I've just got a few things on my mind. I'd just like to be alone please."
The girl looked like she was satisfied by Elizabeth's answer. "Okay. I'm sorry to bother you like that. It just seemed like you …you were hurt and I thought maybe I could help?" She went to get up but Elizabeth stopped her.
"I was…am hurt. And I'm grateful that you did stop and wanted to help. Really. I just don't think that this is something I'm willing to share with, well, someone I don't know. Or even someone I do know." Elizabeth's hand was on the girl's arm. "Thank you for caring." She felt the tears welling up in her eyes.
No! She was not going to do this in front of a total stranger. She wouldn't.
"Well, what else could I do?" she shrugged. "I'm Jaime." She held out her hand and in it was a tissue.
Elizabeth took it gratefully. "Elizabeth. Thanks," she mumbled.
Jaime watched as the girl wiped the threatening tears in her eyes. "Well, I don't want to overstay my welcome," she hedged, "I'm glad to have met you Elizabeth…"
Elizabeth finished the girl's thought, "Webber. Elizabeth Webber." She held out her hand.
Grasping the newfound friend's hand, she smiled, "And I'm Jaime Nam."
"Well, nice to meet you too." Elizabeth smiled and watched the girl get up from the bench. "Maybe I'll see you around?" she offered.
"Maybe!" Jaime smiled.
***
Elizabeth looked through the stacks of mail that had compiled at the feet of her studio door. Unlocking the door, she threw her backpack on the couch and slumped down on the couch. Bill, bill, bill, college…
She had forgotten in all the events of the past months that she had informed the college that she would be coming back next semester. She opened the envelope that contained a semester schedule and application forms to reenter the college. Elizabeth closed her eyes and laid the papers down. She had been anxious to apply because she knew that she wanted to start school right after Lucky and she finished honeymooning in the Caribbean. Honeymooning…that was the last thing she wanted to be thinking about right now.
Knock. Knock.
"Who is it?" she asked, getting up from the couch to open the door.
"It's me. Lucky," a voice trailed off on the other side of the door.
Elizabeth panicked. She felt the uncertainty of the situation well up inside of her. What is he doing here? I don't want to talk to him right now! God! What am I supposed to say? How are you? How's life? All these questions flew through her mind as she went to answer the door. "Uh, hi," she whispered as she opened the door a crack.
Lucky let himself in. He had to set Elizabeth straight. It wasn't his fault. He was going to marry her. He would have if Gia hadn't open her big fat mouth or if Nik hadn't either for that matter. "Elizabeth, how are you?" he asked. He needed to start out slowly. Feel out how Elizabeth's thoughts were at that moment.
"Fine," she forcefully smiled. Plaster on a smile. If it will get rid of him faster.
"You don't have to pretend Elizabeth. I know I've hurt you bad. Real bad. Let me make it up to you. Please!" Lucky pleaded.
"Make up for what? Not loving me?" Elizabeth asked. She covered her mouth with her hand, and then slowly lowered it. She wasn't sorry for it. She wasn't going to apologize for being angry. Not this time.
Lucky stood there stunned. He didn't know what to say. Slowly he began to respond, "Elizabeth, you know I love you. I…it's…it's just that I somehow don't really know that." He was fumbling with the words.
What is it he's trying to say? How can he make her understand? He was in pain too!
"Thanks. I hadn't heard that explanation," she said dourly. "Are we done yet? I thought I'd left you a note and told you I need to be alone for awhile?"
"Yeah, I know you did. But Elizabeth, we have to work this out. I can love you again. I will love you again!" he pleaded.
She'd heard enough. Her heart couldn't take much more of this. How much more was she expected to understand? Elizabeth understood that Helena controlled him. She understood that Nikolas took the chance of wiping out his memory so that maybe one day Lucky would be safe. They had talked about that. Elizabeth pledged her everlasting love to him, gave him her first time, promising to be by his side because she knew deep down that he loved her. He'd just forgotten that part. And when she sacrificed herself, willing to risk the chance that the drug she took to fool Helena would or might kill her, she loved him. She had loved him through all of that. Knowing that because of that, there would be a payoff. Elizabeth bet the barrel and she came up empty-handed. She had lost him. Again the tears flooded over her and she couldn't handle it. She couldn't handle losing him again.
"Enough! Please leave!" she sobbed.
Lucky watched her body tremble, her body collapse upon itself. He moved to hold her, to comfort her. She shoved him away.
"God! Just leave!" she screamed.
He backed away, mortified at the pain he'd caused, angry with the woman who had caused it all. Lucky loathed Helena. And he would make her pay. He would make her pay dearly!
***
1.1
1.2 Chapter One
Elizabeth stifled the sob welling up with in her chest. A sudden breeze displaced a lock of her light brown hair. Her fingers tucked the loose strand behind her ear. Her thoughts were jumbled, few and far between. Elizabeth hugged her knees against her chest, braving herself against the wind and the other tempests that swirled around her that seemed to want to blow her away. She thought sitting by the docks would help clear her mind, get her away from her thoughts, her feelings, but it didn't.
Why! Why is this happening to me?
Lucky had kissed her with so much passion the night he had found her in his bedroom.
He never said a word.
She was reassured of his love as his hands explored her body. She knew his love had returned as he held her in his arms and cooed soothing words of love and forever.
"Were they all just lies?" she asked herself. She had been so sure of herself, of them when she jumped off the boat and rode back into town. Everything was fine. Everything was going to be all right now that Helena was behind bars.
Just fine.
"But they weren't…" her voice trailed off as her mind wandered to memories of them dancing at Kelly's, kissing each other on the docks. She thought about their vows at the church during the blizzard.
She had clung to those promises. Throughout the past two years, during the war of words and deceitful lies, she had held on to those promises Lucky had spoke. Elizabeth clung to the love she held locked away in her heart, put away for safe keeping, until one day Lucky returned and she allowed herself to believe that they would once again share what they had. But his words sung a different tune. "I don't love you Elizabeth. You belong with Nikolas. Go be with Nikolas."
Elizabeth hadn't believed him then. She'd seen the love that remained in his eyes every time she was with him, and the jealously that raged within him if she was found with another man. She'd even had a couple of moments with him where he'd let his guard down, told her that he did love her, cared for her. He told her he didn't understand why he kept hurting her with the words he spoke. Lucky kept telling her to be with Nikolas, but then doing a 180 turnabout and telling her that she belonged with him.
Elizabeth knew even then that he loved her. And after sorting out through Helena's programming, he'd changed. Yes, he wasn't exactly the same. His behavior had changed throughout that ordeal. But he still loved her and she, him.
Now she didn't know what to do. Nikolas and she had planned to rid Lucky of Helena's control. The control that kept Lucky from her. Liz and Lucky thought they had broken free of it because their love was so strong, but they were wrong. Now, Nikolas and Elizabeth knew that would never be. They watched Lucky's behavior change from time to time and knew it was Helena's doing. She had something planned, and Elizabeth and Nikolas had been determined to find out what that was. Unbeknownst to her, it would be the catalyst that destroyed forever the love that they once shared, lost and found again.
"Excuse me?" a girl's voice interrupted her thoughts, "Are you okay?"
Elizabeth felt a shift in weight on the bench where she sat. She hid her face behind her knees, wiping away the tears that somehow had formed against her cheek. "I'm fine," she muffled.
"Are you sure? I mean, I'm sure I could help in someway? Please let me help." The girl's plea was sincere and urgent.
Elizabeth chuckled, she probably thinks I'm going to hurt myself. She chuckled again, a bit louder this time.
"Seriously, are you okay? Can I call someone for you?"
Elizabeth lifted her head and found an Asian girl, she estimated her to be around 21, maybe 23 at the oldest, sitting beside her. She had long black hair and wore a black leather jacket. She put on her best fake smile and told the worried girl, "No. Really. I'm okay."
The girl hesitated. She didn't know if she could believe the blotchy-faced girl or not. "Are you sure?" The girl tried to look straight into Elizabeth's eyes and read her thoughts.
Elizabeth lowered her legs until they met the docks. She took a deep breath and tried to reassure the girl, "Really. I've just got a few things on my mind. I'd just like to be alone please."
The girl looked like she was satisfied by Elizabeth's answer. "Okay. I'm sorry to bother you like that. It just seemed like you …you were hurt and I thought maybe I could help?" She went to get up but Elizabeth stopped her.
"I was…am hurt. And I'm grateful that you did stop and wanted to help. Really. I just don't think that this is something I'm willing to share with, well, someone I don't know. Or even someone I do know." Elizabeth's hand was on the girl's arm. "Thank you for caring." She felt the tears welling up in her eyes.
No! She was not going to do this in front of a total stranger. She wouldn't.
"Well, what else could I do?" she shrugged. "I'm Jaime." She held out her hand and in it was a tissue.
Elizabeth took it gratefully. "Elizabeth. Thanks," she mumbled.
Jaime watched as the girl wiped the threatening tears in her eyes. "Well, I don't want to overstay my welcome," she hedged, "I'm glad to have met you Elizabeth…"
Elizabeth finished the girl's thought, "Webber. Elizabeth Webber." She held out her hand.
Grasping the newfound friend's hand, she smiled, "And I'm Jaime Nam."
"Well, nice to meet you too." Elizabeth smiled and watched the girl get up from the bench. "Maybe I'll see you around?" she offered.
"Maybe!" Jaime smiled.
***
Elizabeth looked through the stacks of mail that had compiled at the feet of her studio door. Unlocking the door, she threw her backpack on the couch and slumped down on the couch. Bill, bill, bill, college…
She had forgotten in all the events of the past months that she had informed the college that she would be coming back next semester. She opened the envelope that contained a semester schedule and application forms to reenter the college. Elizabeth closed her eyes and laid the papers down. She had been anxious to apply because she knew that she wanted to start school right after Lucky and she finished honeymooning in the Caribbean. Honeymooning…that was the last thing she wanted to be thinking about right now.
Knock. Knock.
"Who is it?" she asked, getting up from the couch to open the door.
"It's me. Lucky," a voice trailed off on the other side of the door.
Elizabeth panicked. She felt the uncertainty of the situation well up inside of her. What is he doing here? I don't want to talk to him right now! God! What am I supposed to say? How are you? How's life? All these questions flew through her mind as she went to answer the door. "Uh, hi," she whispered as she opened the door a crack.
Lucky let himself in. He had to set Elizabeth straight. It wasn't his fault. He was going to marry her. He would have if Gia hadn't open her big fat mouth or if Nik hadn't either for that matter. "Elizabeth, how are you?" he asked. He needed to start out slowly. Feel out how Elizabeth's thoughts were at that moment.
"Fine," she forcefully smiled. Plaster on a smile. If it will get rid of him faster.
"You don't have to pretend Elizabeth. I know I've hurt you bad. Real bad. Let me make it up to you. Please!" Lucky pleaded.
"Make up for what? Not loving me?" Elizabeth asked. She covered her mouth with her hand, and then slowly lowered it. She wasn't sorry for it. She wasn't going to apologize for being angry. Not this time.
Lucky stood there stunned. He didn't know what to say. Slowly he began to respond, "Elizabeth, you know I love you. I…it's…it's just that I somehow don't really know that." He was fumbling with the words.
What is it he's trying to say? How can he make her understand? He was in pain too!
"Thanks. I hadn't heard that explanation," she said dourly. "Are we done yet? I thought I'd left you a note and told you I need to be alone for awhile?"
"Yeah, I know you did. But Elizabeth, we have to work this out. I can love you again. I will love you again!" he pleaded.
She'd heard enough. Her heart couldn't take much more of this. How much more was she expected to understand? Elizabeth understood that Helena controlled him. She understood that Nikolas took the chance of wiping out his memory so that maybe one day Lucky would be safe. They had talked about that. Elizabeth pledged her everlasting love to him, gave him her first time, promising to be by his side because she knew deep down that he loved her. He'd just forgotten that part. And when she sacrificed herself, willing to risk the chance that the drug she took to fool Helena would or might kill her, she loved him. She had loved him through all of that. Knowing that because of that, there would be a payoff. Elizabeth bet the barrel and she came up empty-handed. She had lost him. Again the tears flooded over her and she couldn't handle it. She couldn't handle losing him again.
"Enough! Please leave!" she sobbed.
Lucky watched her body tremble, her body collapse upon itself. He moved to hold her, to comfort her. She shoved him away.
"God! Just leave!" she screamed.
He backed away, mortified at the pain he'd caused, angry with the woman who had caused it all. Lucky loathed Helena. And he would make her pay. He would make her pay dearly!
***