What Happened to Forever?

Chapters 1-2

Some background: The story begins on the one-year anniversary of Lucky's "death". I am following the current storylines with only a few exceptions: 1. Liz and Nik are only friends. Nik has started to discover his feelings for Emily, and they are tentatively beginning to date. (Juan doesn't exist) 2. Luke and Laura are still separated, but a few months after Lucky died, she decided that she needed to get through her grief alone, and she left Stefan. 3. Liz is still grieving.

Liz slowly wakes up from a dream, one she has had nearly every night. She is still trapped in that world that exists only between dreams and consciousness, where everything is slightly hazy, and it's difficult to distinguish what is real and what is fantasy.

In the dream, she had been dancing with Lucky in Kelly's, just like they had the night before the fire. They were talking about their future, about New York, and she had never felt more at peace. Their eyes locked and he leaned towards her for the most amazing, electrifying kiss they ever shared. The dream always ended the same way: he was suddenly gone, and she was alone in the middle of the restaurant.. The room was engulfed in flames. The last thing she'd see before waking up was his subway token necklace in her hands. She would wake up every time in a cold sweat, her heart racing

This time, however, the dream had ended differently. Still half-asleep and disoriented, she tries desperately to remember. It's as if she can see it dangling in front of her face, but no matter how hard she tries, she can't reach it. If only that annoying noise would go away so she could concentrate...

Liz's head snaps up and she stares in the direction of the sound.

Luke is in his office, leaning back in his chair, enjoying a cigar. He's trying desperately to keep his mind off of the day's significance. He jumps slightly as the phone rings, and groans. 'Not today.' A few rings later, he gives in and hits the speakerphone button to answer the call. The club isn't open this early, and he's too lazy to pick up the receiver. "Luke's."

A familiar voice booms out. "Ah, Luke, so good to hear your voice. How are you this fine morning?" The forced politeness in his voice is almost sickening.

He rolls his eyes. "Good morning, Herr Krieg. To what do I owe the pleasure?" The solicitous tone in his voice is equally false, but Luke has practiced it well,

"Now, Luke don't be coy with me. We both know very well the reason for this call. I'm checking on the status of my most recent offer. Have you made a decision yet?"

Luke sighs. Of all the days.... "No, Krieg, I have not. This really isn't a good day for me, and if memory serves me correctly, we agreed to speak about this next week, not today. Why are you calling today" he asks, getting slightly annoyed at the man's perseverance

Krieg chuckles. "Well, Luke, let's just say I woke up this morning feeling like it was my Lucky day. And while I'm not a superstitious man by nature, I just couldn't ignore it. I suppose my instincts were misleading after all and I apologize for disturbing you."

Luke doesn't hear the rest of his statement. At the mention of the word 'lucky', his eyes travel to the framed photograph of his son that sits on his desk. Once again remembering what day it was, he becomes lost in his memories. When he realizes that Krieg is waiting for him to speak, he snaps out of it, but not before a tear escapes his eye.

Quickly brushing the tear away, he clears his throat, his anger renewed at this man for disturbing him today. "Well, I know full well how persistent you can be when you have your eye on something, but this is going to have to wait until next week."

Pleased that his comment had shaken the man, Krieg replies smugly, "Very well Mr. Spencer. I will be in contact with you in a week. Until then." With that he hangs up, not waiting for Luke's response.

Still shaken, Luke reaches out to turn off the speaker. "Until then.." he mutters to himself. He is so distracted by his grief that he doesn't hear the door squeak open right away. He looks up into the extremely pale and shaken face of Felicia Scorpio-Jones.