Elizabeth begins to stir. She opens her eyes, yawning. She glances embarrassed from Lucky to Nik. "I guess I fell asleep."

"I guess so," Lucky laughs. "Feeling better?"

Liz nods. "A little."

"Do you want to talk about what happened," Lucky asks softly.

She shakes her head. They lapse into silence.

"I can’t believe Dr. Baldwin didn’t say anything to me in sessions about her husband sponsoring Murty," she bursts out, suddenly angry. Nik stares at her, shocked by her outburst.

Lucky tries to calm her down. "What are you talking about," he asks.

"Remember I told you about the session where Murty came up? I got really upset and I knocked the water glass over?" Lucky nods. "Why didn’t she say anything? I mentioned Murty’s name to her! Her husband must have done the same. She left me to believe all these months that Murty could’ve been the one."

"Elizabeth, honey, calm down," Lucky urges.

"No! How could she do that to me? How could she let me hate him all these months if she knew?," Elizabeth cries. "How could she let me suffer like that?"

"Even if she knew, she couldn’t say anything," Nikolas says slowly.

Elizabeth and Lucky turn to him, having forgotten he was there. "What?," they say in unison.

"She can’t mention your case to her husband by law, and he can’t discuss AA issues with her. Both are protected by confidentiality agreements. Even if she did know that Mr. Murty wasn’t the one, she couldn’t really say anything. It’s an ethical dilemma," Nik states. "The only way for you to get the alibi information from Lee Baldwin was to have Murty grant him permission to release it to you."

Elizabeth sighs. "I know you’re right, but that doesn’t make this any easier! I’ve spent all this time hating him. Loathing him for what he did to me. But he didn’t do it," Liz says, simply. "I don’t know who to blame or who to hate anymore. This was my chance." She turns to Lucky. "Tonight was the night that I should have ended this. Murty was going to confess, and then this would all just fade away. The hurt, the anger, the resentment… and I could finally be Liz Webber again, not ‘Liz Webber, rape victim’. I don’t want to be scared, and I know I’ve said it a million times, but I don’t want to be a victim anymore."

"You’re not a victim, Elizabeth! You’re a survivor."

"Am I? Come on, Lucky! Let’s be realistic, for a second, okay? I pull away when you hold me too tight, I get scared if our kisses become too intense," Liz says softly.

Nikolas flushes with embarrassment, awkwardly listening to the details of Liz and Lucky’s love life.

Lucky clasps Liz’s hands in his, gently stroking them with his thumb. "I told you before. I love you, and I’m patient. You can pull away a million times, honey, and I won’t care as long as I can stay by your side. I need you in my life more than anything else. That other stuff will come with time."

"I don’t know how you can be so understanding," she says softly. "I’m such a burden, me and my problems."

"A burden? Do you really think that? I love you Elizabeth, and if that makes you a burden, I’m proud to carry it," he says softly, intensely staring in her eyes.

"You are too good to me," Liz smiles. "I don’t know why you’re so good to me. I’m such a mess."

"A beautiful mess," he laughs. She laughs with him. "Isn’t that right, Nik?," he asks, turning to Nikolas.

Nik looks up, startled. "What?"

"She’s beautiful, isn’t she?," Lucky states, prodding

Nik smiles. "Yes. She is." He continues to smile. Lucky glares at him. "Don’t worry, Spencer, I have no intentions of stealing her away from you."

"As if you could," Lucky mutters.

Liz laughs. "I don’t know if I should be offended, or pleased, Mr. Cassadine."

"Be pleased," Lucky says, shooting Nik a look. He turns back to Elizabeth, who’s still giggling. "It’s nice to see you smile," he says softly.

Liz grins. "It’s nice to see you two in the same room together and no punches have been thrown." She gives Lucky a quick kiss on the cheek. "I’m tired. I’m going to bed."

"Take my sleeping bag," Lucky offers.

Liz glances quickly at Nik, who turns his eyes away. "Would you hold me ‘til I fall asleep?"

Lucky feels his heart pounding in his chest. "Are you sure about this?"

Elizabeth nods. "I need… I need to be close to you. After tonight, more than ever. Could you hold me, or just sleep next to me?" she asks softly.

Lucky can feel his blood rushing through his veins, his head light at the prospect of one whole night lying beside the girl he loves. He licks his lower lip, nervous. "I—I’d love to," he stutters. He slides his hand into hers. She smiles, silently thanking him.

Nik stands up, suddenly feeling as though he’s intruding. "On second thought, I think I’ll go back to Wyndemere tonight. You need your privacy."

"You can stay," Lucky says. Nik and Liz stare at him, shocked. "Elizabeth wants you here," he quickly adds. Nik and Elizabeth share a knowing smile. "I don’t like him," Lucky mutters under his breath, unrolling his sleeping bag. Nik smiles, shaking his head.

Elizabeth slides off her shoes and hops into the sleeping bag. Lucky lies on top of it, next to her. Nik grabs a blanket and wraps it around himself, lying across the boxcar from them.

Elizabeth snuggles close to Lucky, resting her head on his chest. She feels his heart beating rapidly beneath her. "Are you sure this is ok?"

"Yes," Lucky croaks. He lightly places his arm around her. "Let me know if you want me to move," he says softly.

"We’re fine," she says softly. "Good night," Liz adds, sleepily.

"Good night," Nik replies.

Lucky looks at Nik thoughtfully. "Night, Nikolas."

Surprised, Nik smiles. "Night Lucky."

Her head still on Lucky’s chest, Liz smiles. I didn’t capture my rapist, she thinks regretfully, But Lucky and Nikolas are slowly becoming friends, whether they like it or not. That’s something. She places her arm across Lucky’s waist, trying to get comfortable. She feels him suck in a deep breath. She smiles again. I think somebody’s nervous, she laughs inwardly. I didn’t get my closure, but maybe I can start over anyway. Maybe this is the new beginning I’m looking for. Elizabeth drifts off as the rhythm of Lucky’s heart lulls her to sleep.

Lucky lies very still, loving how it feels to have Elizabeth so close to him. He gently strokes her hair. I actually ignored her for months because I was too busy obsessing over Sarah, he think incredulously. What was I thinking?

Nikolas watches Lucky and Liz from across the room. Who’d have thought Lucky Spencer would fall in love, let alone with Elizabeth Webber? He shakes his head. I really underestimated him. And her.