'You, you remind me yeah
You remind me of such sweet memories...'

Dawn had slipped one of her favorite CDs inside the player. Holding the remote control in her hand, she wondered if the volume was too high and would disturb her guest.

She glanced in the direction of the bathroom where the shower had just turned off. Lucky had had a rough day. After the scene between him and Bobbie, knowledge of his living status swept through the hospital like wildfire. He barely had time to think before someone else had approached him and welcomed him back to the land of the living. After a while, the crowd dwindled and Dawn went to him. Faint lines of strain and tension stretched from the corners of his eyes. Feeling that she could help, Dawn held her hand out to him, he took it, and she brought him home.

Now, with dinner on its way in the form of Domino's, she hoped that with relaxed conversation and Mary J's soothing voice, both she and Lucky would find a way to wind down from their stressful lives.

"Hi, there."

"Lucky," she murmured his name with a smile. Her gaze left her entertainment center and drifted across the room to the man whose presence sent currents through her. Moistening her lips with the tip of her tongue, she couldn't tear her eyes from him. His hair, still damp from the shower, was neatly combed. A dark blue shirt hung loosely on him. The opened buttons revealed a glistening, hairless chest. She looked lower and saw that the top of button of his jeans were undone, revealing that a thin line of hair extended much lower than she had a right to even think about.

A little embarrassed by her shameless gawking, she quickly lifted her eyes to his. The intensity of his stare unnerved her. She fumbled slightly as she thought quickly to save herself. "I-Is this too loud? I can turn it down."

'I saw you before baby
It's a de ja vu honey
Don't you know that you remind me...'

He came towards her. He took the remote control from her, making sure to brush his fingers against hers. Still staring into her chestnut brown eyes, he said, "Turn down Mary? Never. I like it. It sounds great like this."

"Are you sure? I thought you had a headache-"

He pressed his fingers against her mouth. "I'm positive. I think we can even turn it up...just a notch or two." Using the remote, he adjusted the volume. He then set the remote on one of the shelves before turning back to her. He took her hand and led her toward the sofa. As they sat down, he said, "Very relaxing. How did you know?"

She smiled gently at him. "It wasn't hard to guess. You've had one for the history books."

"Did you get everything down? I know that after the slap, things happened kinda quickly..."

"I can't put that in the book," she said, lowering her eyes to the miniscule space that separated them. She shifted on the sofa, bringing her thigh closer to his. Tremors shook her as he moved and pressed his thigh hard against hers. Slowly, she raised her eyes back to his. "I wouldn't invade a moment like that."

"Of course," he murmured. He reached for her hand. "I was just teasing. I know that you wouldn't do that."

"I wish that today could have been different," she said, watching him as he studied their hands. She wondered what he was thinking and if she asked, would he tell her. "The scene must have been hard, right?"

"Torture," he said, quietly. He pressed their hands together as he studied them. Her soft hands were small against his that were larger and harder. "Amazing how such small hands can write such large books." Lacing their fingers together, he added, "Today would have been different if I hadn't screwed it all up. I wanted more time. I should have realized... My Aunt didn't deserve to find out about me that way. The slap was a given and God knows I had it coming."

Her hand lifted to stroke his slightly reddened cheek. Her hand was cool against his warm flesh. Her heart swelled with longing when he pressed his cheek into her palm. "Do you think she'll forgive you?"

"She already has." He moved on the sofa so that he faced her more fully.

Dawn started at the predatory gleam in his sapphire eyes. Swallowing hard, she choked out, "Lucky..."

He silenced her with his fingertips to her lips again. Then, suddenly his mouth was just inches from hers. "May I kiss you?"

"Yes."

His lips pressed hungrily against her. A roving tongue slipped inside her mouth, exploring her sweetness. Tempting and tantalizing, he devoured her mouth. With sensual strokes and exquisite gentleness, he demanded a response.

Surrendering to his passionate request, Dawn melted. As the pace quickened and low moans escaped from both of them, she knew without any doubt that she would give herself to him totally and completely. She burned inside to make it so.

Releasing her lips for air, Lucky stared deeply into her eyes. He brushed her kiss-swollen lips with the pads of his thumbs. "When I came back here, I had no idea something like this would happen."

"Something like what?" she queried. Her stared back at him, searching his darkened eyes for answers. He wanted her. Of that, she was sure. But there was more. She had to know what else he was thinking of. She wanted to know if he was as much in love with her as she with him.

"You," he answered slowly, "and me. You were a real pain in the ass at first and I couldn't wait to get rid of you. Now, faster than the speed of light, everything has changed. I can't imagine not being near you."

"You want to make love with me?" she asked him. Chewing her bottom lip, she hoped that he wanted more than that. Her eyes lowered as she waited for him to answer.

"Yes," he murmured. He placed his fingers underneath her chin and gently lifted so that her eyes were on his again. "I'm not good with this mushy stuff. I have my moments, but on the whole... What I'm feeling right now, isn't just about sex, Dawn. I'm trying to tell you that I've fallen for you. I'm in love with you."

Eyes wide with hope, a tentative smile formed on her lips. "Are you sure?"

He laughed softly at her response. "Is that the best you can do? How do you feel about me?"

"What?" she asked, joining him in soft laughter. "I thought it was obvious. I'm in love with you, too."

His laughter ceased and a smile of relief brought a flush to his cheeks. "It wasn't obvious to me. Knowing for sure makes all the difference."

Brushing his knuckles against the soft swell of her cheeks, Lucky lowered his mouth to hers again.

Dawn felt his touch everywhere at once. His lips tugged and suckled hungrily on hers. His hands roved over body, molding to her curves and causing her to tingle. Still kissing her deeply, he moved them until he lay on his back with her on top of him. His hands continued to roam. Her jeans felt non-existent as he cupped her bottom, pressing her fully against his hardness. Heat coursed through both of him, and their labored breathing drowned out the melodious sounds coming from the CD player.

"Oh, Lucky, please don't stop," Dawn pleaded when his lips left her mouth to nibble along her jawline and throat. One hand slid up over her body to cup her full breast. She moaned low in her throat as his hands enslaved her.

"I won't," he promised. The hand that cupped her breast moved underneath her sweater. With nimble fingers, he unhooked her bra. The flimsy lace was pulled up, giving his fingers room to knead her flesh and roll her hardened peaks between his thumb and forefinger. "You feel so good," he told her before he raised his head to devour her lips in another devastating kiss.

They were lost and they both knew it. Neither cared. Their bodies ached to burn out the flame that had ignited between them. The point of turning back had long since passed and to prove it, soon clothing littered the floor in front of the sofa. Sighs and moans reverberated in the condo. Satisfaction was close at hand.

In the background, a knock followed by the buzzer sounded at Dawn's door. Neither of them heard it until the knocking became more insistent. Grudgingly, they pulled apart.

"They're late," Lucky grumbled with a scowl on his face.

Not wanting to move away from his warmth, Dawn continued to lie against him. "Who?" she asked, her head resting on his chest. "Who's late?"

"Domino's," he said. The knocking sounded at the door again and the scowl darkened. "Are you still hungry?" he asked her. "Or do you want me to get rid of them?"

She placed a feather soft kiss on his bare, muscled chest. "Get rid of them."

"You got it," he replied in a husky murmur. Before he extricated himself from her, he scorched her with another feverish kiss. Almost nude, he rose from the sofa. As he tugged on his jeans, there were more knocks on the door. "I'm coming!" he yelled as he pulled on his shirt and stomped towards the door. Once he was there, he glanced over at her and said, "Are you ready?"

While Lucky had been getting dressed, so was Dawn. She shoved her bra into the folds of her sofa and straightened her sweater over her. Brushing her hair down with the palm of her hand, she nodded. "Okay."

He gave her a sweet smile and then as he turned back towards the door and the incessant knocking, the scowl returned. As he wrenched open the door, he said, "It had better be hot and I'm not paying for it either!"

"I'm not hot and I don't want your money. All I want is the truth. I think I deserve that, don't you?"

Lucky's mouth dropped open as he stared into a pair of disillusioned brown eyes. He could just barely choke out her name. "Elizabeth."

'Dreamin', I must be dreamin'
Or am I really lyin' here with you...'

A few blocks away, another couple was becoming closer. Lying in his large queen-size bed, Matt held Ellen close within his arms. Tenderly, his dark brown eyes gazed down upon her lovely face. In the back of his mind, he had often dreamt of a second chance with her and now it had finally come true. He was certain that he was the luckiest man in the world.

'Baby, you take me in your arms
And though I'm wide-awake
I know my dream is comin' true...'

"Karen is so right," he murmured as brushed away a few curly strands of her from her forehead.

"Karen?" Ellen asked. "Dr. Wexler? What is she right about?"

Matt laughed softly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that Karen. I meant Karen Carpenter. I keep hearing her voice in my head and the words she's singing... They're perfect for this moment."

She shifted to rest on her forearm, looking down at him as he smiled up at her. "What's the song? I'd like to hear it, too."

"'I Just Fall in Love Again,'" he answered. "Do you know that one?"

Nodding her head, she began to sing softly, "Heaven is that moment when I look into your eyes...and when I do...Can't help myself, I fall in love with you..."

He smiled at her. "That was almost perfect."

"Almost?" she questioned his gentle teasing. Her smile was bright as their eyes locked.

His voice was husky as he answered her. "I stand corrected, my love. There's no almost to it. A little off key or not, you are perfection."

"So are you," she told him.

Leaning down, she softly kissed his lips. His mouth parted underneath hers and her kiss deepened. Insistent and maybe a little demanding, her tongue slipped between his parted lips. In an instant, Matt took control of the kiss. Threading his fingers in her curly brown locks, he angled her head, opening her up more to his now insistent, demanding tongue.

Low, guttural moans emitted from both of their throats. The sound was primal. Clearly, it expressed how needy they were for each other. But just because they were in need, was the time right? Matt wondered and slowly, he broke the kiss.

"What's wrong?" Ellen immediately asked. Her soft fingertips trailed across his sculpted cheekbones. They moved lower until they rested just a breath away from his soft, full mouth. "Matt?"

"Is this too fast?" he asked. He caught her fingers in his hand and raised them to his lips. He kissed each finger before he laced their fingers together. "Just because we left the living room and came in here... Well, that doesn't mean we have to make love..."

"You don't want to?" she asked, unable to mask the hurt she felt. It shone in her eyes and colored her voice.

"I want you!" he quickly corrected her. "Ellen, I've wanted you forever. I just wanted to make sure that you want this. We don't have to make love now if you're not ready to."

She pulled her hand free and moved to a sitting position on the bed. She looked down at him again. Staring at him with unreadable eyes, she asked, "So you don't think I'm ready?"

"Are you?" he asked, watching her closely.

She didn't respond with words. She raised her hand to her blouse and slowly unbuttoned it. When the blouse hung loosely on her shoulders, she shrugged out of it. Her fingers then moved to the front clasp of her lacy black bra. Moistening her mouth with the tip of her tongue, in a husky whisper she answered him. "I'm ready."

While watching her, Matt had lost his ability to speak. When her fingers twisted to undo the clasp, his voice returned. "Allow me."

He covered her fingers with his and he undid the clasp. Sliding his fingers over the swell of her breasts, he followed the line of her bra to reach her bra straps. His fingers hooked the black material and pulled. The bra fell from her, giving him the perfect view of her full, soft mounds. He took her breasts in his hands, gently caressing her. She moaned his name over and over.

"Matt...Matt...Matt..."

He responded to her gentle pleading. His mouth closed over her soft flesh. His tongue burned her with its hot flicks against her hard pebbles. He blew gently to quell the flames, but that only intensified the heat. She continued to moan his name.

Ellen grasped his head, pressing him to her. "It's been too long," she whispered to him.

His mouth moved to the valley between her breasts. Kissing her softly, he moved up. His mouth and teeth nibbled on her throat, her earlobes until they finally reached her mouth again. Another inflammatory kiss rendered them breathless.

'And, oh, I just fall in love again
Just one touch and then it happens every time
And there I go I just fall in love again,
And when I do
Can't help myself, I fall in love with you...
Can't help myself, I fall in love with you...'

Clothing fell from them. The comforter and sheets covered the bed in mad disarray. Matt and Ellen were entangled in a web of passionate desire and overwhelming love. They wanted to take their time in reaching fulfillment, but that was not to be. Locked within each other's arms, they reveled in their reunion, forgetting the forces that had kept them apart for so long.

Lying on his side, Matt faced her. Her eyes locked on his. She looked at him with unbridled passion and longing. He pressed her back onto the bed again, burning to address the need he found in her beautiful brown eyes. Starting with her face, his fingers lightly traced her features. Where his fingers went, his lips followed as he placed kisses on her forehead, her eyebrows, her nose, her cheeks and then on her lips.

Free of clothing, Ellen parted her legs. As Matt settled himself between her thighs and his erection came into contact with her silky smooth abdomen, Ellen plundered her tongue into his mouth. She showed him exactly how she wanted him to love her when the moment arrived. Matt understood and returned her deep, wet kiss with a passionate intensity that shocked and thrilled both of them.

"Mm," he moaned as he tore his lips from hers to continue on his exploration. Matt's fingers teased her neck and his lips soon followed. He planted tiny kisses along her neck and then dipped lower to bate her pulse with his tongue. When he heard her sigh, he smiled to himself and then continued downward.

He paused for a moment when he came to her breasts. His hand cupped her breast and his thumb lightly stroked the hard brown peak. Ellen had always been so sensitive there. One little touch sent her reeling. As he contemplated how he wanted to handle the situation, he could feel her eyes boring into him. She was holding her breath in anticipation of his next movement. The sense of power he held over her at that moment caused him to grin as he looked into her frustrated brown eyes. He laughed softly as she begged, "Please, Matt."

His breath tickled her breasts as he blew on them again. His eyes lit up as he watched the rock hard peaks harden even more.

"Matt..." she groaned as she placed her hands in his hair, urging him to hurry and give her what her body craved.

He acquiesced to her demands and lowered his head to one breast. Taking his time, he licked tiny circles around her nipple. Listening to her groan and moan his name aroused him and he found that the more she moaned the more he needed to hear it.

When his tongue finally connected with her nub, she clutched his head to her breast. Running her fingers through his short, dark hair, she sighed and whimpered. Subconsciously, she rubbed her lower body against his. "Oh..."

Her need for him had risen to exceptional proportions. He wanted to fulfill her, yet, he wasn't ready to take her. He wanted to go slowly. He wasn't ready for their lovemaking to end. At least, not yet.

Ellen couldn't wait. She wrapped her legs around his waist. Her pelvis thrust upwards against his, grinding even more against his hard erection.

"Ellen." Now it was his turn to moan her name. She was making restraint difficult. Maybe he should give her a little taste of what she so obviously craved.

His mouth moved to her other breast, as his hand moved to plant itself between them. He lightly caressed her moist mound, sliding his fingers through her dampness. Ellen pressed herself into his hand and begged, "Matt, please!"

He eased one finger inside of her and began to move slowly in and out. His thumb moved to caress her small erect nub as he raised his head from her breast. He watched her closely as she neared climax. Once she was almost there, he pulled his hand away. Her eyes flew to his and as she moaned, "No..."

Lowering his head to hers, he lightly kissed her. His hands caressed the length of her legs and back up again. His mouth opened wide over hers, devouring her in more white-hot kisses.

As his lips and tongue possessed her, one hand stole between their bodies. With sensual tenderness, her small hand guided him inside of her. She felt him tremble as he filled her with his hardness. Her legs wrapped around his again and she grabbed his rear as he rocked her with slow, deep thrusts.

Matt shuddered as Ellen caressed his behind and pressed him inside of her even more. With each caress and each thrust, he felt himself growing closer and closer to the edge. He wanted to slow down and make the moment last, but he found he could not as he reached his release. His consolation was that Ellen's release occurred at the same time as his.

Later, as he held her close in his arms, he heard her sigh softly against his chest. His hand lightly trailed her back as he pulled her against him. "Something wrong?"

"No. Everything's perfect," she murmured.

"That's what we've always been," he told her, moving his head so that he could look into her warm brown eyes. "We're perfect together, Ellen. Don't ever forget that."

"Never," she said, shaking her head in firm denial. "I will never forget it as long as I live. You're the one for me, Dr. Harmon. Always and forever."

Staring into her eyes, he felt her love enfold him. His need for her began to grow again. He pulled her on top of him. His fingers lost themselves in her curls as he lowered her face to his and kissed her. The second time, they moved much slower.

(Author's note: Song credit for "You Remind Me" goes to Mary J. Blige. Song credit for "I Just Fall In Love Again" goes to The Carpenters.