by Jera
RECAP: Jeff Webber showed up at the Spencer house unexpectedly, and just told Liz that he knew about the rape.
"Lizzie, I know about the rape"
The words swirl around Liz's head for a few minutes. All she could do was stare at her father. She couldn't comprehend what the words meant for what seemed like an eternity. What did he mean by that? Liz's eyes were of those ghostly emptiness, and shocked disbelief, and it pained Jeff Webber. Maybe it wasn't a good idea for him to come all the way here after all. What was he thinking? Liz obviously wasn't ready for him to know about her tormented experience. But how could he not come to see her after he had over heard Audrey and Sarah's conversation? His daughter was fighting through this horrific ordeal all by herself! He was her father! He was supposed to have been there to protect her! And instead he was off to some third world country thinking that he was making a difference while he should have been there for Liz! Why didn't she want to tell her own parents? Did she think they wouldn't care enough to want to know? Or was she not sure of what their reaction would be? Jeff reached out for Liz's hands. She flinched for one short second, and accepted her father's hand on her own. She looked down at them. Her voice quiet when she spoke.
Liz: How?
Jeff: I over heard a conversation between your grandmother and Sarah. I made them tell me everything.
Liz: Does Mom know?
Jeff: No, I didn't tell her. She would never let me come alone if she knew about it. I wasn't sure if it was alright to tell her since....since you didn't seem to want us to know.
Liz looked up at her father at that. The light reflected the tears that were in his eyes. She felt her heart begin to hurt a little inside, tears welled up in her eyes.
Liz: I'm sorry....I was going to tell you, eventually.....I just didn't know how at first, and later it didn't seem like I needed to bring everything up since I was starting to move on with my life.....Dad....
Jeff embraced his daughter, and felt the tears running down his face.
Jeff: Lizzie! Please! You have nothing to apologize for! I'm the one that's sorry! I should have been here for you! I am your father!
Liz: Dad, you didn't know.
Jeff: I meant before it even happened! I shouldn't have been so selfish and gone out of the country, leaving you here! I should have been here to protect you!
Liz: Oh, dad! Please don't start blaming yourself. If nothing else, I have learned that no one is to blame here except for the guy that did it to me. And he is in jail now, he'll stay in there for a long long time.
Jeff pulled away a bit, keeping his hands on Liz's arms. Liz was comforting him. He couldn't believe it. He came here hoping there was something he could do for her, yet here she was, comforting him, and making him feel better.
Jeff: Lizzie, when did you become so strong?
Liz smiled.
Liz: I had a lot of help. I really didn't think I could get through it the first few weeks. I couldn't even make myself get out of bed for several days. Lucky.....he brought me my homework, helped me study, stayed with me when I couldn't bear to be alone with myself which was almost all the time for a long time. And Nurse Bobbie, she was so patient with me, she never pushed me, she just gave me all the good medical advice, and a lot of time, psychological. Gram eventually went to the therapy session with me. She was there for me too.
Jeff: I'm so sorry that I wasn't here for you. All this time you were going through this pain, I was somewhere else thinking I was helping other people with their pain. I wish I was here....
Liz: Dad, I didn't tell you and mom. I even made Sarah and Gram promis they wouldn't tell you. I just....I just didn't know how you would react. I was afraid. I was ashamed even though I had nothing to be ashamed about. It took me a while to learn that.
Jeff: Lizzie! Of course you have nothing to be ashamed about! Did you think for a second that your mother and I would be ashamed of you? Or even be mad at you? No! Never! My first reaction after Sarah and your grandmother told me everything was that I wanted to come here to see you! I wanted to know that you were all right. And then I wanted to get my hands on the guy that did this to you and make him wish he was never ever born!!
Liz wiped the tears off her face and smiled. She leaned in to hug her father. Funny how a terrible thing like this would make her eventually realize that she was so loved. Something she'd never seen before. She was such a brat!
Liz: Dad, I'm all right now. I mean, it will never go away. It'll always be with me for the rest of my life, but I have learned to deal with that. I have learned not to let it control my life because there are a lot more things I want to live for than to be stuck in that one night. I have so many people who love me, and that's what I'm going to focus on. That is going to be who I am. I am not going to be the girl that was raped when she was fifteen years old. Never again.
Jeff: I know it's too late now, but....is there anything I can do for you, Lizzie?
Liz: Dad, your being here means everything to me. I realize now that I should have told you and mom sooner.
Jeff looked at his daughter for the thousandth times in one evening. She really has grown. She had become the strongest person he knew all of a sudden. No, she had always been strong, these past two years had just made that quality more obvious for others to see, including him. He smiled, putting his hand on Liz's again.
Jeff: I suppose I owe Lucky a huge thank you. He was always there for you, wasn't he?
Liz: Always. I have never had a better friend than Lucky, and I don't think I ever will.
Jeff: From what I've heard from your grandmother, and what I've seen since I walked in this house, you and Lucky are not just best friends any more, are you?
Liz felt the heat crept up her face at her father's question. She lowered her lashes, and smiled timidly, yet the happiness was evident.
Liz: Lucky and I will always be best friends. But.....you're right. We are not just friends any more. He is the most important person in my life, and that will never change either.
Jeff: Your grandmother gave us a pretty lame excuse of you didn't want to leave the school and the friends you've made here. What she really meant was that you didn't want to leave Lucky, wasn't it?
Liz: Dad, I'm sorry that I backed out of going to London. But I couldn't leave here. And yes, I couldn't leave Lucky. I wouldn't be really happy without Lucky in my life. I just need you to understand that.
Liz looked straight into her father's eyes. She wanted him to know how important Lucky is to her. Being with Lucky is as natural and as vital as breathing is to her.
Jeff Webber could see the determination in her eyes. She would fight for Lucky with her life if needed. He understood that kind of passion.
Jeff: I can see how he makes you happy. And vise versa. I think I'm just going to have to accept the fact that my little girl is now all grown up, and in love. I guess I should just thank my lucky stars that she is in love with a good kid like Lucky, and not someone else.
Liz:( smiling) Thank you, dad.
Jeff nodded his head and smiled. He felt a little lonely all of a sudden. It's not as if Liz had been living at home these past few years anyway. But it seemed different now. It almost seemed as if he'd married his youngest daughter off to the Spencer kid already. He sighed.
Jeff: You don't mind if I stay around for a few days, do you? I don't know when I'll ever get a chance to get out of the clinic like this. I would love to spend some time with you if it's all right.
Liz: Of course it's all right! I would love to spend some time with you. Besides, Laura won't let you get out of here so easily anyway!
Jeff: (laughing) That's for sure! Well, then, I'll stay a few days.
Liz gave her father another hug before she stood up. Maybe it was good that her father came here right now. It certainly was about time for her to tell her parents about what had happened to her for she couldn't hide it from them forever anyway. She was glad to know how much her dad cared. Maybe she would decide to call her mother and tell her everything as well. Liz said good night to her father and left the room.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lucky was sitting in front of the fire staring into the blazing flame when he heard soft footsteps coming down the stairs. He turned and saw Liz. She was looking right at him. The illuminating fire dancing on Lucky's face made Liz's heart skip a beat. She smiled. Oh, yeah. That beautiful face that had got her attention the moment she met him. Little did she know how much more she would grow to love his heart and soul wrapped inside that beautiful package. She stepped down the stairs, and moved toward Lucky. He was smiling at her. The smile that could melt her just as the fire could melt metal. She sat down beside him, and leaned in to give him a gentle kiss.
Lucky: Everything all right?
Liz: Yeah.
Lucky: Good.
They both stared into the fire for a moment. Lucky unconsciously moved his gaze on Liz's bare feet. He smiled. Even her feet were the most beautiful ones he'd ever seen in his life. He didn't care if he was biased or not, no one could change his mind on that. Or anything else about Liz. She was now resting her head on his shoulder, he could feel her breathing gently, quietly. He marveled at how perfect her head fit on his shoulder. Little things like that had never moved him so much before he'd met Liz. He felt a little lost when she moved her head from his shoulder. He longed to ask her to rest her head on his shoulder forever. Liz was the one that broke the silence.
Liz: He knows about the rape.
Lucky jumped slightly. He turned to look at Liz more intently. She didn't appear to be upset. He held her closer anyway. He wanted her closer to him for whatever reason.
Lucky: How did he find out?
Liz: He heard Gram and Sarah talking and made them tell him everything.
Liz tilted her head up slightly to look into Lucky's eyes.
Liz: Lucky, he blamed himself for not being here to protect me. He came as soon as he could after he found out about the rape. He wanted to make sure that I was all right. All this time I thought he and mom didn't really care that much about me, but he actually did. I guess I just didn't see it before.
Lucky: Elizabeth, how could anyone not care for you? I can understand how he would blame himself for not being here to protect you. I did.
Liz squeezed Lucky's hand.
Liz: And I told him the same thing I told you. You shouldn't blame yourself. The only person to blame is Tony, and he's in jail now. I also told him that I'm getting my life back. And......how important you are to me.
Lucky smiled at her.
Lucky: I bet he just loved that.
Liz: Oh, I think he had some idea before he got here. After all, I did get off the airplane at the last minute because I couldn't bear to leave you. But, yeah, he did looked kind of .....I don't know....lost?
Lucky: Oh, Elizabeth. I would be lost too if I just heard you telling me how much you loved another man. I mean, I think my dad would act the same way if Lulu came home one day and told him that she was in love with some guy he's never met in his life!
Liz smiled. She could just picture Luke blowing a gasket if Lulu ever did that.
Liz: I think you got some brownie points for being your mom's son. Dad adored her. I could tell.
Lucky: So you are saying that he is not going to be chasing after me with a shot gun?
Lucky's grin drew laughter out of Liz.
Liz: No, I don't think so. Even if he did, I have confidence in you. You'd get out of it.
Lucky smiled. He pulled Liz up on his lap, and encircled her with his arms. Liz leaned back against Lucky and closed her eyes. Lucky was burring kisses in her hair, and she was loving every one of them. she turned her head slightly to catch Lucky's lips with her own.
In the quiet crackling sound of the fire, the lovers shared a kiss with such passion that it could have turned themselves into even more glorious flames than the ones in front of them.
"I know you by Heart" by Bette Midler
Everybody wants to find a love
Somebody, somebody who will always care
But we get locked up in our own worlds
With feelings and secrets we're afraid to share
But all I have to do is see you smile
Or maybe, just maybe if I brush your hair
Something happens I cannot explain
And somehow, somehow I can understand
I'm gonna find you
I'm gonna find you, oh
(I'm reading your mind)
I know you by heart - You're so much a part of me
I know you by heart - Can't you see
It's no wonder I can love you the way that I do
I can finish any sentence you start
I know you by heart
I know everytime you're gonna call
I pick up the phone before it ever rings
And when you need some lovin, I'll be there
(I know you will)
Beside you anticipating everything
(Oh it's like I always say)
You're the one I want and all I want is you
(I'm inside your head)
I know you by heart - You're so much a part of me
I know you by heart - Can't you see
It's no wonder I can love you the way that I do
I can finish any sentence you start
I know you by heart
I know you by heart
So much a part of me
It's no wonder I can love you the way that I do
I can finish any sentence you start
I know you, I know you by heart
I know you by heart - You're so much a part of me
I know you by heart - So much a part of me
TO BE CONTINUED..............................
