Chapter 95
The show went on for a while without much incident. A few more people performed, more awards were given out, and Lucky and Liz began to relax. He kept hold of her hand, just in case, but otherwise, their attention was focused on the stage. After one of the longer breaks, Alyssa Milano walked on.
“Welcome back. I would like to introduce our next performer. We’re very lucky to have here tonight, because soon she will be retiring temporarily in order to pursue a family. Please welcome, Celine Dion!”
Celine took the stage to a loud round of applause and smiled, raising her microphone to speak.
“Thank you everyone. Before I begin, I would like to congratulate my very good friend, Lucky, on his recent marriage. I hope you both all the happiness in the world.” She smiled warmly in their direction for a moment before the music started, and the cameras panned over them.
“You know her too?” Liz asked, leaning in to whisper to him.
He laughed softly and nodded. “Yeah, we’ve met a few times. She calls everyone her ‘very good friend,’ though.”
~*~
“Well, it’s about time,” Carly sighed as the cameras focused on Lucky and Liz. “I was starting to wonder if they’d ever show them again!”
“Looks like she’s whispering sweet nothings in his ear already,” Luke said to Laura, wiggling his eyebrows.
Laura laughed and shook her head. “Somehow I doubt that’s what she’s doing.”
~*~
The music swelled as Celine began to sing. It was a ballad, like the majority of her songs.
Can you keep a secret?
These walls keep a secret
That only we know
But how long can they keep it?
'Cause we're two lovers, we lose control
We're two shadows
Chasing rainbows
Behind closed windows
Behind closed doors
If walls could talk…oh
They would say “I want you more”
They would say…hey
“Never felt like this before”
And that you would always be
The one for me
Two people making memories
Just too good to tell
And these arms are never empty
When we're lying where we fell
We’re painting pictures
Making magic
Taking chances
Making love
If walls could talk…oh
They would say “I want you more”
They would say…hey
“Never felt like this before”
And that you would always be
The one for me
If walls had eyes…my
They would see the love inside
They would see…me
In your arms in ecstasy
And with every move they'd know
I love you so
When I'm feeling weak
You give me wings
When the fire has no heat
You light it up again
When I hear no violins
You play my every string
Stop the press
Hold the news
The secret;s safe between me and you
Walls…can you keep a secret?
If walls could talk…oh
They would say “I want you more”
They would say…hey
“Never felt like this before”
And that you would always be
The one for me
If walls had eyes…my
They would see the love inside
They would see…me
In your arms in ecstasy
And with every move they'd know
I love you so
As the song started to fade away, Liz swallowed nervously, trying to ignore the feeling it was bringing up in her. Her hand was sweating...or was it Lucky’s? She could tell, because he was still holding onto hers. He let go just then to applaud, so she did the same, trying to refocus her attention to the stage. It wasn’t working, she was much too distracted now.
Lucky stared straight ahead, not trusting himself to look at Liz. The song had struck a chord in his that he wasn’t ready to deal with, and something told him that she had been affected as well.
The applause died down as Celine left the stage and the presenters for the next award came on.
~*~
“Interesting song,” Jax whispered to Alexis.
“Something tells me it hit a little too close to home for them,” she replied with a small smile.
“You think?”
“Oh yeah, definitely.”
“So, how long do we have to wait before his last one?” Carly asked impatiently. She didn’t care about the rest of the awards, normally she hated watching those things, but she was making an exception for Lucky.
“Probably towards the end,” Ned responded. “They usually save the bigger ones for last.”
“So this one’s a big one?”
He shrugged. “It’s the Pop/Rock Artist one, more mainstream than the others.”
“Then how much longer does this thing have to go?” she asked in annoyance.
“Only about 20 minutes, Caroline, I’m sure you’ll survive,” Luke teased.
She groaned and leaned back against Jason. “Wake me when Lucky’s up again.”
~*~
A few more awards were given out, and the show was coming to a close. Liz leaned over to Lucky, sensing his uneasiness.
“Nervous?” she whispered, snapping him out of the daze he had fallen into.
“What? Why?” he asked quickly, surprised by the question.
“Your last award is coming up. I was just asking if you’re nervous about it,” she explained, wondering what had gotten him so jumpy.
“Oh, um, yeah, a little,” he answered, relieved that’s all she meant. He relaxed a little, and turned his attention back to the stage, waiting for the night to finally be over.
Finally, it was time for the last group of awards, for the male and female Pop/Rock artists. Madonna took the stage to present the first of the two.
“I know you’re all getting anxious, but don’t worry, it’s almost over,” she joked, smiling as she waited for the TelePrompTer to load up the nominees. “The nominees for Favorite Male Pop/Rock Artist are: Lucky...”
Liz grabbed Lucky’s hand excitedly, too swept up in the whole thing to even notice. He squeezed it slightly and held his breath as Madonna read off the other nominations.
“...Miguel Morez and Bryan Adams.” She tore open the envelope and paused dramatically before finally reading off the winner. “The award goes to.....Lucky!”
“You won!” Liz exclaimed, hugging him. He laughed an hugged her back, shocked that he had won all three awards. He pulled back and looked into her eyes, seeing the pure joy she was feeling for him. Overwhelmed by everything, he took her face in his hands and kissed her deeply, then stood up and hurried to the stage. Liz was stunned by the kiss for a moment, not sure what to make of it.
“Congratulations,” Brad said next to her.
“Oh, thanks, but I didn’t really do anything. He’s the one that won,” she said sheepishly.
“I know, but you’re his wife,” he said firmly, as if that was reason enough.
She smiled, turning back to the stage as Lucky was hugging Madonna. “Yeah, I am,” she said proudly as Chad slid into Lucky’s empty seat.
“Hey,” he said, smiling at her.
“Welcome back,” she grinned. “What happened last time?”
“Sorry, I was stuck in Sarah Michelle Gellar’s seat,” he explained.
Lucky let go of Madonna and took the award from her, then stepped to the podium, trying to figure out what to say this time.
“Well...this is unbelievable, it really is. I don’t know what to say, I’ve pretty much thanked everyone by now. I guess I should thank one of my managers, Charisma, for single-handedly keeping my life together. She does the impossible on a daily basis, and I owe her so much for that. Um, my parents, Lulu, Nikolas...see Nikky, I just thanked you twice in one night, enjoy it, that’s the last time this will happen!” He laughed softly and shook his head, imagining his brother’s reaction. “And last but not least, I have to thank my beautiful wife, Elizabeth. I love you, Angel.” He quickly blew a kiss in her direction, grabbed the award, and followed Madonna off the stage.
“Aw, that was sweet,” Chad said, turning to Liz.
“Yeah,” she said, stunned. “It was.”
[Song Credit: “If Walls Could Talk” by R.J. Lange © 1999 Out of Pocket Productions.]
