Chapter Two
Livvie waltzed into the Recovery Room as though she were on cloud nine. She had Rafe eating out of the palm of her hand. It was great. Life was going to be so wonderful. By the time Rafe remembered anything about his past, if he ever did, he would be completely in love with Livvie, and he would never go back to Alison. Alison would be alone and miserable while Livvie rubbed it in her face that she had managed to steal Rafe right from under her nose.
Livvie approached the bar and gave her to-go order to Victor. They talked for awhile, mostly about how great it was to have Kevin back home. Victor was the only one who didn't give her grief about wrongly accusing Alison of murder. It was nice to talk to someone who didn't do that. Everybody seemed to be on Alison's side anymore, especially Jack. That was why Livvie had to make sure that Rafe would be forever hers.
"Thanks, Victor," Livvie grinned as he gave her the food. They said their goodbyes and Livvie turned around to leave and ran straight into Alison, who was coming up.
"Livvie," Alison greeted a bit coolly. Livvie returned the cold greeting. "So, how are things with Rafe?" Alison asked her. "I hope you are enjoying it while it lasts, because trust me. It won't last much longer."
"You are so confident of yourself," Livvie sneered.
"No, I'm confident of Rafe. We both know that he's an angel, Livvie. How long do you think you can trick an angel? Did you honestly think he would never get his memory back? That you would get away with this? Come on. You used to be smarter than this."
"Rafe and I are happy together," Livvie defended herself.
"Don't give me that," Alison retorted. "I can see in your eyes that you are not happy. You are too paranoid about getting caught in your lie to enjoy this. I've seen you happy before, and that was when you were with Jack. Livvie, you and Jack were so happy together, I don't understand what happened!"
"I do not want to talk about Jack, especially with you!"
Alison shrugged. "Fine. He's moved on anyway. But you know that what you have with Rafe will not last. Because he will remember what we had together and he will know what you are, just like the rest of us already do. A psychopath just like your mother."
Livvie slapped Alison hard across the cheek at that comment, smoke practically coming out of her ears. Alison brought her hand up to her cheek and she glared at Livvie, and then she slapped Livvie back. Livvie retaliated by shoving Alison to the ground, but Alison took Livvie down with her. They rolled around on the ground, pulling each other's hair, both swearing that neither would get away with this.
*********
Elizabeth and Zander stepped into the grill together, and all it took was one look before Elizabeth realized this was the wrong idea.
"This doesn't feel real right," Elizabeth grabbed Zander's arms. "All of these people having a good time... while three years ago..." she felt so guilty being here, trying to have a good time. She really felt she should be mourning Lucky alone tonight, though she knew she would go crazy if she did. And she also knew Lucky wouldn't want that for her.
"Elizabeth," Zander gently spoke to her, he smiled at her, "Don't think like that. Lucky wouldn't want you to be mourning alone today, feeling sad for him. He'd want you to remember the good times, and celebrate his life. That is why we are here. He'd want you to spend time with loved ones. We are here for you today, Elizabeth."
"I know you are," Elizabeth went softly, she sighed, knowing he was right. She forced a smile on her face, "I guess we should go find Nikolas & Gia... we are already late as it is."
Zander laughed, "Yes, we are. Let's go-" he started to pull her, yet stopped, "Actually, I see them right there-come on."
"All I have to say is," they heard Nikolas saying as they came closer, "Thank God I get a break from your cooking tonight."
"Would you stop teasing me already? If it weren't for me burning food, you wouldn't have been able to have your Chinese last night, and you know you loved it, so don't complain," Gia snapped.
Nikolas was about to make another teasing comment, but he immediately stopped as he spotted Zander and Liz.
"Hey guys," Elizabeth went, trying to be cheerful.
"Hey Elizabeth," Gia greeted, looking relieved they were here, "Hey Zander. Please, come sit and save me from Nikolas over here."
"What did Nikolas do now?" Zander teased, as he pulled up a chair for Liz, and then sat down on the chair next to hers.
"He will not stop teasing me about my cooking!" Gia complained.
"You mean, you're burning," Nikolas corrected. Gia glared at him, and then hit him hard on the shoulders.
"Ouch!" Nikolas exclaimed.
"You deserved it," Gia muttered.
Elizabeth had to laugh, "Don't feel bad, Gia. I used to burn things left and right. I was a terrible cook!"
Nikolas grinned, "But at least you made those WONDERFUL brownies all the time. Remember the ones you made the night we had dinner at Kelly's? That was like eating a slice of heaven!"
"Yeah..." Elizabeth suddenly felt even sadder, "Little did we know what would happen after that." she looked down at the table, feeling a tear fall from her eyes.
"Oh Elizabeth," Nikolas sighed, "I guess I shouldn't have brought up that night... not on this night, I'm so sorry, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth brushed away a tear from her cheek, "Nikolas," she quickly said, "Please, don't feel guilty. You know I used to always hate that... you editing every sentence to make me feel good. It's ok, really." she tried to say brightly, "That was a really good night, before the fire I mean. We were having the best time at Kelly's- the four of us, you, me, Emily and Lucky-the best of friends. That night started out perfect."
"Your right," Nikolas nodded, "It did start out perfect. I mean, who would of thought Lucky and I would ever be friends? I never even dreamed the four of us would become friends... that's why it was all so wonderful." he sighed, "I just wish I had taken the time to get to know Lucky before the blackmailer came along. I wasted so much time..." Nikolas looked down, starting to feel incredibly sad.
"Boy, I wish I would have known Lucky," Zander complimented, "He sounded like a guy everybody loved."
"He was very loved," Elizabeth agreed. "By me the most." she choked back a tear.
Gia noticed how depressed everyone was starting to look, and immediately decided to change the subject, "And here we are- three years later- the four of US having dinner together. How weird is that?" She stated, "I mean, you guys used to HATE the BOTH of us at first!"
Elizabeth had to grin, "I have to admit it is pretty weird." she smiled innocently at Gia, "I mean, you and I may still have our problems but we have gotten along better lately."
"Well, and look at you and Zander," Gia complimented, "Who would have ever thought you would have fallen in love with Emily's kidnapper?"
"And who would of ever thought I'd fall in love with Emily's blackmailer?" Nikolas teased.
"See what I mean?" Gia laughed. "This is all so weird!"
"Weird huh?" Nikolas repeated. "Gia I think you are the only one who is weird here."
"HEY!" Gia exclaimed, "If you think that hit I gave you on the shoulders hurt, you'd better watch it!" she warned.
"Oh yeah?" Nikolas grinned innocently at her, "Why? You gonna try and do something like this?" Nikolas teased, taking Gia by surprised she jumped over to her and started tickling her like crazy. Gia shrieked.
"Hey!" Gia exclaimed, laughing hysterically, "Stop it! Nikolas!" she started hitting his arms, struggling to get him away from her.
"Lucky you are," Nikolas teased, "Fortunately for you, I know all your secret soft spots!" he continued tickling her like crazy, nearly causing Gia to fall off her chair and crash onto the floor. Gia shrieked louder, causing people to start looking over at them.
"You guys!" Zander exclaimed, noticing the stares from others. "Quit trying to make a scene. We are in PUBLIC!"
"Yeah, Nikolas," Gia grinned, she jumped up, and got back in her sitting position, "He's right-thank you Zander."
"Yeah, I guess he is," Nikolas agreed, he pulled away, yet he turned to look at Gia, "But I demand that we continue this later. in private if you get my drift."
Gia winked at him.
They were fortunately saved as the waiter arrived with their Champaign that Nikolas ordered before Zander and Elizabeth arrived.
"May I do the honors of pouring the glasses?" Nikolas offered; everyone agreed.
He quickly poured four glasses and passed them around.
"Let's make a toast," Nikolas suggested. They all raised their glasses.
"To Lucky," Elizabeth went quickly.
"Lucky," Nikolas held his up farther. "To the best brother and best friend of all."
"Amen," they all finished. They tapped their glasses and started to drink.
Elizabeth smiled, knowing Lucky would be happy they were celebrating like this.
Livvie waltzed into the Recovery Room as though she were on cloud nine. She had Rafe eating out of the palm of her hand. It was great. Life was going to be so wonderful. By the time Rafe remembered anything about his past, if he ever did, he would be completely in love with Livvie, and he would never go back to Alison. Alison would be alone and miserable while Livvie rubbed it in her face that she had managed to steal Rafe right from under her nose.
Livvie approached the bar and gave her to-go order to Victor. They talked for awhile, mostly about how great it was to have Kevin back home. Victor was the only one who didn't give her grief about wrongly accusing Alison of murder. It was nice to talk to someone who didn't do that. Everybody seemed to be on Alison's side anymore, especially Jack. That was why Livvie had to make sure that Rafe would be forever hers.
"Thanks, Victor," Livvie grinned as he gave her the food. They said their goodbyes and Livvie turned around to leave and ran straight into Alison, who was coming up.
"Livvie," Alison greeted a bit coolly. Livvie returned the cold greeting. "So, how are things with Rafe?" Alison asked her. "I hope you are enjoying it while it lasts, because trust me. It won't last much longer."
"You are so confident of yourself," Livvie sneered.
"No, I'm confident of Rafe. We both know that he's an angel, Livvie. How long do you think you can trick an angel? Did you honestly think he would never get his memory back? That you would get away with this? Come on. You used to be smarter than this."
"Rafe and I are happy together," Livvie defended herself.
"Don't give me that," Alison retorted. "I can see in your eyes that you are not happy. You are too paranoid about getting caught in your lie to enjoy this. I've seen you happy before, and that was when you were with Jack. Livvie, you and Jack were so happy together, I don't understand what happened!"
"I do not want to talk about Jack, especially with you!"
Alison shrugged. "Fine. He's moved on anyway. But you know that what you have with Rafe will not last. Because he will remember what we had together and he will know what you are, just like the rest of us already do. A psychopath just like your mother."
Livvie slapped Alison hard across the cheek at that comment, smoke practically coming out of her ears. Alison brought her hand up to her cheek and she glared at Livvie, and then she slapped Livvie back. Livvie retaliated by shoving Alison to the ground, but Alison took Livvie down with her. They rolled around on the ground, pulling each other's hair, both swearing that neither would get away with this.
*********
Elizabeth and Zander stepped into the grill together, and all it took was one look before Elizabeth realized this was the wrong idea.
"This doesn't feel real right," Elizabeth grabbed Zander's arms. "All of these people having a good time... while three years ago..." she felt so guilty being here, trying to have a good time. She really felt she should be mourning Lucky alone tonight, though she knew she would go crazy if she did. And she also knew Lucky wouldn't want that for her.
"Elizabeth," Zander gently spoke to her, he smiled at her, "Don't think like that. Lucky wouldn't want you to be mourning alone today, feeling sad for him. He'd want you to remember the good times, and celebrate his life. That is why we are here. He'd want you to spend time with loved ones. We are here for you today, Elizabeth."
"I know you are," Elizabeth went softly, she sighed, knowing he was right. She forced a smile on her face, "I guess we should go find Nikolas & Gia... we are already late as it is."
Zander laughed, "Yes, we are. Let's go-" he started to pull her, yet stopped, "Actually, I see them right there-come on."
"All I have to say is," they heard Nikolas saying as they came closer, "Thank God I get a break from your cooking tonight."
"Would you stop teasing me already? If it weren't for me burning food, you wouldn't have been able to have your Chinese last night, and you know you loved it, so don't complain," Gia snapped.
Nikolas was about to make another teasing comment, but he immediately stopped as he spotted Zander and Liz.
"Hey guys," Elizabeth went, trying to be cheerful.
"Hey Elizabeth," Gia greeted, looking relieved they were here, "Hey Zander. Please, come sit and save me from Nikolas over here."
"What did Nikolas do now?" Zander teased, as he pulled up a chair for Liz, and then sat down on the chair next to hers.
"He will not stop teasing me about my cooking!" Gia complained.
"You mean, you're burning," Nikolas corrected. Gia glared at him, and then hit him hard on the shoulders.
"Ouch!" Nikolas exclaimed.
"You deserved it," Gia muttered.
Elizabeth had to laugh, "Don't feel bad, Gia. I used to burn things left and right. I was a terrible cook!"
Nikolas grinned, "But at least you made those WONDERFUL brownies all the time. Remember the ones you made the night we had dinner at Kelly's? That was like eating a slice of heaven!"
"Yeah..." Elizabeth suddenly felt even sadder, "Little did we know what would happen after that." she looked down at the table, feeling a tear fall from her eyes.
"Oh Elizabeth," Nikolas sighed, "I guess I shouldn't have brought up that night... not on this night, I'm so sorry, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth brushed away a tear from her cheek, "Nikolas," she quickly said, "Please, don't feel guilty. You know I used to always hate that... you editing every sentence to make me feel good. It's ok, really." she tried to say brightly, "That was a really good night, before the fire I mean. We were having the best time at Kelly's- the four of us, you, me, Emily and Lucky-the best of friends. That night started out perfect."
"Your right," Nikolas nodded, "It did start out perfect. I mean, who would of thought Lucky and I would ever be friends? I never even dreamed the four of us would become friends... that's why it was all so wonderful." he sighed, "I just wish I had taken the time to get to know Lucky before the blackmailer came along. I wasted so much time..." Nikolas looked down, starting to feel incredibly sad.
"Boy, I wish I would have known Lucky," Zander complimented, "He sounded like a guy everybody loved."
"He was very loved," Elizabeth agreed. "By me the most." she choked back a tear.
Gia noticed how depressed everyone was starting to look, and immediately decided to change the subject, "And here we are- three years later- the four of US having dinner together. How weird is that?" She stated, "I mean, you guys used to HATE the BOTH of us at first!"
Elizabeth had to grin, "I have to admit it is pretty weird." she smiled innocently at Gia, "I mean, you and I may still have our problems but we have gotten along better lately."
"Well, and look at you and Zander," Gia complimented, "Who would have ever thought you would have fallen in love with Emily's kidnapper?"
"And who would of ever thought I'd fall in love with Emily's blackmailer?" Nikolas teased.
"See what I mean?" Gia laughed. "This is all so weird!"
"Weird huh?" Nikolas repeated. "Gia I think you are the only one who is weird here."
"HEY!" Gia exclaimed, "If you think that hit I gave you on the shoulders hurt, you'd better watch it!" she warned.
"Oh yeah?" Nikolas grinned innocently at her, "Why? You gonna try and do something like this?" Nikolas teased, taking Gia by surprised she jumped over to her and started tickling her like crazy. Gia shrieked.
"Hey!" Gia exclaimed, laughing hysterically, "Stop it! Nikolas!" she started hitting his arms, struggling to get him away from her.
"Lucky you are," Nikolas teased, "Fortunately for you, I know all your secret soft spots!" he continued tickling her like crazy, nearly causing Gia to fall off her chair and crash onto the floor. Gia shrieked louder, causing people to start looking over at them.
"You guys!" Zander exclaimed, noticing the stares from others. "Quit trying to make a scene. We are in PUBLIC!"
"Yeah, Nikolas," Gia grinned, she jumped up, and got back in her sitting position, "He's right-thank you Zander."
"Yeah, I guess he is," Nikolas agreed, he pulled away, yet he turned to look at Gia, "But I demand that we continue this later. in private if you get my drift."
Gia winked at him.
They were fortunately saved as the waiter arrived with their Champaign that Nikolas ordered before Zander and Elizabeth arrived.
"May I do the honors of pouring the glasses?" Nikolas offered; everyone agreed.
He quickly poured four glasses and passed them around.
"Let's make a toast," Nikolas suggested. They all raised their glasses.
"To Lucky," Elizabeth went quickly.
"Lucky," Nikolas held his up farther. "To the best brother and best friend of all."
"Amen," they all finished. They tapped their glasses and started to drink.
Elizabeth smiled, knowing Lucky would be happy they were celebrating like this.