Melana

Spring 2007

She had found him at the box car. Her pretty boy bar singer. His eyes were devastated, which was nothing new.

Melana wondered if that was what made him different than the other men she knew before. Lucky wasn't one of the happy, shiny people in the world. Like the types she met when she was modeling. They had been 100 percent fake- on dope or pills or just strung out from lack of food- but still they smiled as if everything in the world was ideal. Yet it wasn't- then or now.

It was all messy and compromises.

Lucky understood that, and that made Melana feel comfortable around him. Maybe even safe enough to not need to get drunk just to have a conversation with him.

She held his hand as they walked into her apartment.

Melana didn't say a word to try and make him feel better. Instead she wrapped her arms around his neck and brought her lips to his. Lucky devoured her mouth, taking it as the gift it was, greedy to not think but only feel, and she reveled in the power she felt to be able to give him that relief.

He lifted her up, her legs wrapped around his back, and they made their way to her bed. Everything moved quick, just bare skin coming together and kisses that made her moan, till she was saying his name over and over.

XXXXXX

Two Hours Later

"I can't do this," Lucky said as he lay next to her in the bed. His voice was hollow. He stared at the ceiling.

Her eyes closed. That was all she could manage to do. She wouldn't beg him to try. They were good together, in more ways than just sex. He opened up to her. Only five minutes before he had been in tears over his divorce, through he tried to not let her see that.

Melana would not cry. This was not new territory for her, being left. When her fiancee did it, she quit her modeling career, gave up her role of Cover Girl Extrodinarre, and hightailed it home- back to Port Charles, where none of her family lived anymore but where she had once been happy.

She would not scream at Lucky. He hadn't promised her anything. But still she had hoped.

His hand lightly moved over her bare stomach. She bit her lip.

"Melana..." he whispered "Talk to me."

She asked, not opening her eyes, "You can't do this? Us?"

"Not right now," Lucky admitted "No, I can't. I need time..."

Melana rolled onto her side, facing him, still naked and more exposed than ever. She looked at him and said, "I know that you're not over Elizabeth and that is fine with me. You wouldn't be the man you are if you could easily turn on and off your emotions. But either can I. I don't want to sit here, home alone, always thinking and waiting for you, Lucky, and then have you never come back. So I think we should call this quits right here and right now. I helped you get through the storm, you helped me get some back some faith. Because now I know that men like you- who can love with all their heart and who can fight to the death for the one they love and never give up- they exist. You don't have to feel like you let me down. You lifted me up, even if you never meant to."

Then she slipped from the bed, dragging a sheet with her, wrapped herself in it and said "I'm taking a shower. Don't be here when I come out."

With her gorgeous dark hair swinging behind her she started to leave the room.

Lucky said, "I will be back."

She shook her head and threw over her shoulder, "Save it, Officer. Promises are for suckers. Just like happy endings."

Lucky hated the bitterness he heard in her voice, but smiled at the way she was pure steel in the face of heartbreak. Sure it only covered up a fragile and tender heart, but it was a Spencer way to behave, and once again he thought, like he often did, that she would fit in well in his family...and in his life...but right now, he couldn't do much about that.

Because, whether he liked it or not, he stilled loved Elizabeth...just a little more than he could love anyone else. Maybe in time that would fade...he prayed it did...because the ache he felt in the center of his chest, like a ball of acid floating there, was too much to bear, too much to carry for the rest of his life.

He made sure he was gone by the time Melana came out of the bathroom.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Summer 2007

The months passed without Lucky seeing Melana. He kept playing the Outback every Friday and developed quite a fan base among the regular customers. He saw Cameron as much as he could and over time he was able to hurt less and less when he saw Liz. Though the sight of Pete still left a bad taste in his mouth.

The worst moment of seeing his ex-wife with her new boyfriend had happened a week before. Lucky went over to her apartment to drop off Cameron and just happened to be there when the phone call came from a publishing company in New York to say that they wanted to buy Pete's novel.

Lucky had watched as Pete picked Liz up and spun her around. Their excitement and bond was almost too much to witness, though he gave them a strained smile and listened to her describe All is Fair.

He had thought, All is fair in love. But is it? Is it really?

Now Lucky stood on the stage of The Outback, getting ready to sing his last song of the night. This was the first time he ever put on a full concert. The audience was packed with his family and friends.

Lucky hadn't even wanted to invite anyone but Lulu saw it different. She sat at the closest table to the stage with Luke, Nikolas and Kelly. Bobbie and Lucas were sitting at the next table with Carly and Jason. Cruz and some of the guys from the station had taken off just to come here and show him support.

The song he decided to close the show with was inspired by the fateful day he saw Liz and Pete in their moment of unbridled joy. He decided that tonight he would finally say his goodbye to Liz, and their love. It was time. They were done. Fair or not.

He sang, "All is fair in love, love's a crazy game.

Two people vow to stay,

in love as one they say.

But all is changed with time, the future none can see.

The road you leave behind,

ahead lies mystery."

He watched as Pete slipped his hand into Liz's, though he eyes stayed on Lucky, as she seemed to say good bye in that moment too.

Lucky went on, " But all is fair in love, I had to go away.

A writer takes his pen to write the words again-

that all in love is fair."

He moved to the middle of the stage, and didn't bother trying to hold back the tears. They didn't fall but were clearly there in his eyes.

"All of fates a chance,

its either good or bad.

I tossed my coin to say

in love with me you'd stay.

But all in war is so cold,

you either win or lose.

When all is put away, the losing side I'll play..."

He imbued every word he sang with forgiveness, friendship and acceptance of all him and Liz once were and all they could never be again.

Lucky's eyes drifted to the back of the club and locked on Melana's, who he was sure was trying to go unnoticed by him.

"But all is fair in love,

I should have never left your side

A writer takes his pen to write the words again

that all in love is fair

A writer takes his pen

to write the words again

that all

in love is fair (Stevie Wonder)

As soon as he sang the last word, Melana stood up and headed for the door. A man was walking next to her. The crowd was still clapping as Lucky jumped off the stage to follow her. He found her outside, standing next to a limo. She gave the man a quick hug and then he climbed inside the car and drove away.

Lucky hurried across the parking lot to her side. "Hey Mel..."

She turned slowly at the sound of his voice. "Pretty boy."

He asked, "How are you doing?"

Her eyes answered for her mouth, I miss you.

She said, "You just missed meeting my friend from NYC. He's works for a label and I asked him to come and hear you. He got a call and had to jet back to the city before a big deal fell apart but he gave me this," she reached in her pocket and pulled out a business card "to give to you. Get a demo together and send it to him."

Lucky was awed by the fact she went out of her way like that. "That was great of you to do but... I can't run off to New York. I have family here, a child to think about." And you are here, he added silently.

She said, "I wouldn't expect you to leave Cameron ever. There is a label here in town. L and B. You could rent studio time to record there. Just think about it. The world should hear your music."

She forced the card into his hand. He held her hand a moment longer than necessary. She eased away and started to walk off. "Don't waste that beautiful voice of yours, Lucky."

"Take care of yourself, Melana."

She called, over her shoulder, "But of course. Who else is going to?"

He watched her climb into her car, still the prettiest woman he had ever seen and the most bitter too, and then she peeled out of the parking lot. Lucky wondered if she would have any use for him by the time he was ready to try and win her back.

He couldn't control his heart, which recovered at the rate a snail moves, but he knew it was letting go of the past, little by little, with every second that went by.

XXXXXXXXX

Late Fall 2007

He knocked on her door as he thought Try not to screw this up this time, Spencer.

She opened the door and her eyes immediately lit up but her mouth said, in a annoyed tone, "And what brings you here?"

He held up his demo. "I have a meeting in New York City. I'm driving down there tonight and I could use someone to read the map, change the radio, tell me I'm not crazy for even going after this music dream of mine...you up for the job?"

Melana motioned him inside. "What would make you think I would want to go anywhere or do anything with you?"

Her words were sharp but her lips curved into a slight smile.

He leaned close to her and said, "I don't . But I know that I want to stop doing something- missing you."

Melana's eyes searched his. "Its been a while, Lucky."

"I know that," he said softly "It takes me a while when it comes to stuff like this...if I could have came here sooner I would have. If I could have stayed away forever, and spare you and me both the day when it might all hurt worse than it does now, I would have done that too. But, see, I have this problem, Mel. I think about you...I laugh at old snarky jokes you told me months ago... and I remember the way you looked that first morning when I was sitting by your bed, watching you sleep, the smile you had before you even opened your eyes,...that was one hell of a smile, girl I had to come back and try and see it another time."

Her eyes crinkled, going from tough to tender, and she said, "You think you deserve to ever do that again?"

"No. Let me anyway, though," he begged her softly.

Slowly, she started to smile and move closer to him. "Don't think I am going to fall in love with you. Ever. I don't do that."

He titled his head and teased "You'll love me by the time we hit the city limits."

"So full of yourself, pretty boy."

And then she was gently kissing him, giving him another chance to love her better.

Lucky got lost in her kiss, in how it felt as good as it had before and how it was taken to a new level now- as they both let their walls fall down and their hearts start to creep open, just enough to let love slide in.

"Mel," he breathed out as he looked in her eyes. "I need to tell you that I am sorry for putting you through all this..."

"Don't be sorry, Lucky. Just don't you dare break my heart twice."

"I won't," he promised as he gave her another sweet and soulful kiss. "Because you aren't going to love me, right?"

He smiled at her, knowing they were well on their way to that already. He had dreamed of her and ached for her and worked his way back to a place where he could be here with her. Lucky wasn't about to walk away from this woman again.

"Never," Mel lied, wearing a devilish grin.

"No, never," he whispered as he kissed her neck.

"Never, never, never," she whispered back.

Melana took his hand and led him to the bedroom.

The minutes passed, they moved as one, and in his ear she whispered "I'll never fall in love with you, Lucky...unless I do...oh..I just might...oh.." and then she was saying his name over and over.

He really liked when she did that.

As he held her later, she could see in his eyes something that was never there last Spring. Her pretty boy singer was no longer wearing a heartbroken expression. This time he was looking at her like she was a treasure, his treasure, and his joy. His.

Melana would tell him years from now that when she saw that exact look come into his eye that day, she broke her own rules, and did what she always wanted to before but never really had, Melana Carson went and fell in love- for good, forever.

And Lucky finally started to get a life that matched up to his name.

Coming up- Epilogue