Lucky nervously watches Elizabeth, who’s staring back at him, her mouth hanging open. "Well, are going to say something…." His voice trails off. Frustrated, he stands up and starts pacing.

Elizabeth stands up, walking over to him. "Lucky?"

Lucky turns around and looks at her, his face unreadable. "Elizabeth… I—"

"I love you, too," she says shyly. Lucky’s face warms over, relieved. "I don’t even know when it happened, or when I realized it, but it was like one day someone flipped a switch and I suddenly realized that you were more to me than just a friend. And then when you told me that time that you wanted to kiss me….," Liz continues softly, "I thought maybe you felt the same way. Then when I heard your song—"

"It was just a dumb---" Lucky laughs nervously, albeit relieved that she shares his feelings.

"---No, no it wasn’t! Don’t ever say that!," Elizabeth chides, interrupting him. "It was the kindest, sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. No one has ever created something for just for me. You have no idea how much it means to me that you would do something like this." She smiles. "I’ve listened to the song a million times since you gave me the tape. I listen to it in the morning so that I can hear your voice while I’m getting ready for the day. I listen to it when I get scared or sad because hearing your voice calms me down and makes me feel safe." She takes his hands in hers. "And I listen to it every night before I go to bed so that the last thought I have is how truly ‘lucky’ I am to have you in my life."

They stand there for a moment, before Lucky gently takes her hand into his. He clears his throat, nervous. "Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Can I kiss you?"

Liz blinks, slowly bobbing her head up and down. She smiles. "I’d like that." She places her hands on his shoulder, leaning up and meeting his lips. Lucky slowly pulls Liz closer to him, sliding his hands around her waist.

Elizabeth suddenly pulls away. "Let me go!," she cries, her eyes blazing.

Lucky releases her, stunned. A look of anguish crosses his face. "Elizabeth, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t—"

Elizabeth starts to cry. "Damn," she says softly, between sobs. "Lucky, you didn’t do anything wrong…" She shakes her head, not knowing what to say or do next.

Lucky stares at her, helpless. "I’m so sorry," he repeats.

"No, don’t be! It’s my fault… I panicked--"

"---Because I held you too tight," Lucky interrupts.

Elizabeth sinks to the floor. "Are we doomed to go through this everytime we get close?"

Lucky falls to the floor, taking a seat beside her. "Elizabeth, it’s only been five and a half months since you were raped. It makes sense that you’d still feel nervous about getting close to someone."

"But you’re not just ‘someone’ to me, Lucky! You’re ‘the’ one!," she exclaims.

Lucky fights back a smile. "And you know I feel the same way about you, right?" She nods, sniffling. "But that doesn’t change the fact that this is too much, too soon for you."

"I thought you said I was strong."

"You are, Elizabeth! But that doesn’t mean you’re invincible, honey. You’re still healing, and you will be for a long time. I’ll be by your side every step of the way. I want you to know that I love you and that we’re playing this by your rules. You call the shots."

"That’s not fair to you! You shouldn’t have to wait around for me to get past this, because with Murty still out there, I don’t know if I ever will."

Lucky shrugs. "Do you see me complaining? I love being with you, Elizabeth, and I would wait forever and a day for you. I’m not running on a schedule here. I’m patient."

"What if one day you suddenly decide that my tears and my pain aren’t what you want in your life?"

"It’ll never happen," he retorts, adamant.

"Why are you so sure?"

"Like I said before: we’re soulmates," Lucky grins. A smile reluctantly creeps across Liz’s face. "I think I should be getting you home. I know how much Mrs. Hardy worries about you."

Elizabeth nods. "Lucky?"

"Yeah?"