Lucky Spencer glanced around the flower shop nervously. He had never been to a florist before, and he had no idea of what to get. All of his romantic instincts were gone, they had quickly been replaced with nervousness and anticipation. He walked up to the counter and waited for the woman behind it to turn around. He cleared his throat, causing the woman to finally turn.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes, I need to by some kind of flower. A rose, perhaps."

The woman smiled sympathetically. "I'm sorry, but we're all sold out. It is Valentine's Day, after all."

Lucky sighed. "Yeah, I know. This was sort of last minute, though."

The woman walked around the counter to his side and asked him who the special girl was.

"Uh," Lucky began nervously. "It's kind of a long story. We used to be best friends, but then we sort of grew apart. Actually, it was my fault. I wasn't there for her through some rough stuff. Although she forgave me, I can never forget. We're friends again, but there's something more there." Lucky coughed nervously. He couldn't believe he was talking about his love life to a stranger, but the woman only nodded and smiled.

"Well, I think there might be something I can do for you, Mr-?"

"Lucky, Lucky Spencer."

"Hi Lucky, I'm Marianne. Just give me a minute and I'll be right out." With that, the young woman went in the back room.

Lucky stuffed his hands into his pants pockets and glanced around the shop that was overflowing with every kind of plant and flower imaginable. A moment later, the woman came out carrying a white rose.

"I thought you said they were sold out." Lucky asked, puzzled.

"My father gave me a dozen roses." Marianne told him. "It's sort of become a tradition with us. Basically to show me how much he loves me. I figure giving you one couldn't hurt at all. Besides, it's Valentine's day." She handed him the flower, and as he reached into his back pocket, shook her head. "Free of charge." She told him. She gazed at him thoughtfully. "May I offer you some advice, Lucky?"

He shrugged. "Sure."

"My boyfriend died a year ago in a motorcycle accident. We were supposed to get married next month. The pain is still there and I know it always will be, but I learned some important things that I never would have understood if he hadn't died. Life's precious, Lucky. You have to take chances and let the other person know how much you love them before they're gone. Otherwise, they might never know." Marianne's voice seemed far away, and by the smile on her face, Lucky could tell she was thinking of her fianc�e.

Lucky nodded as he took in this bit of advice. "Thanks." He said quietly as he made his way to the door. "I'll remember that."

Emily bowed her head and smiled shyly. Her face turned a pale shade of pink as she blushed. When she lifted her head again, she saw him looking down at her.

"I don't know what to say." She said honestly.

Mark's smile faded. "Emily, oh, man, I'm sorry-"

"No, Mark…" Emily laughed and smiled. "I liked it."

The gentle smile was there again, on Mark's face, and Emily found herself glad to see it. As she looked around, she realized that the music had turned to a faster beat.

"Let's go outside." Mark suggested.

Emily nodded and started to follow Mark, when she noticed something.

"Mark, your leg!"

He grinned. "Yeah, I got the cast off this morning. I can't really lean on that foot a lot, but I told Amy that I wouldn't stay on crutches anymore than I had to."

"That's great." She smiled as she allowed herself to be led outside into the cool air.

"So, I take it you won't be skiing for awhile then, huh?"

Mark laughed. "What, and give up my chance to go back to the hospital? Everyone would be so disappointed if I didn't." He grinned slyly.

Emily laughed.

"You know, I was pretty bummed out about breaking my leg. But when you came in that day, everything seemed okay."

Emily stared down at the ground.

"You're different from the other girls I know, Emily. All of the girls I know pull crazy stunts just to get a guy's attention. And they're so caught up in how they look and being popular. You're not like that. You're mysterious and shy. You know so much yet you seem so vulnerable."

Emily kicked at the dirt with her shoes, not able to look at Mark. "Yeah, well, I've had a lot happen to me." She said softly. "Being popular and looks just aren't important anymore. Not when there is so much more to worry about."

Emily looked up as the music inside suddenly became clearer and the lights dimmed for a slow song.

She glanced up at Mark.

"There's a lot about me that you don't know, Mark." She replied to his unspoken words. "That night in the playroom at the hospital…I didn't tell you everything. That didn't even cover half of my life-what I told you. There's so much that you don't know, so much that you don't want to know."

Spend all your time waiting for that second chance

For the break that will make it OK

There's always some reason to feel not good enough

And it's hard at the end of the day

"I do, Emily. I want to know everything about you. What you think, how you feel…you make me think, Emily. You make me wonder."

Emily lowered her eyes. "I don't want you to think less of me."

"I can never think less of you." He replied softly.

I need some distraction or a beautiful release

Memories seep from my veins

Let me be empty and weightless and maybe

I'll find some peace tonight

Emily looked up. "Mark, why are you so nice to me? You make me feel so special. I-I've never really felt that way before."

"Because you are. It's as simple as that, Em. You are."

Her eyes lowered again, and she stared at her hands. "There's a lot about me that you don't know." She repeated. "There's oh, so much. I've made so many mistakes, and so much has happened to me and the people around me. And it makes me feel so horrible. There's this feeling that never leaves." She could feel his eyes on her, his deep, caring eyes. She turned her head, trying to avoid them. She had so much to say and only now was she brave enough to. "It's fear."

In the arms of the Angel far away from here

From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you feel

You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie

You're in the arms of the Angel; may you find some comfort here

"Fear?" Mark inquired.

Emily nodded and said softly, "yeah." She took a deep breath. "My mother died of cancer when I was twelve years old. That's when the Quartermaine's adopted me. For a long time, all I felt was pain and sadness…and fear. Nobody can possibly understand what I feel anymore. I feel sadness and pain…all the time. I miss my mother constantly. The Quartermaine's love me, I know they do, but it's not the same."

So tired of the straight line, and everywhere you turn

There's vultures and thieves at your back

The storm keeps on twisting, you keep on building the lies

That make up for all that you lack

It don't make no difference, escape one last time

It's easier to believe

In this sweet madness, oh this glorious sadness

That brings me to my knees

"I've screwed up so many times, and I'm afraid of what will happen. Whenever I'm happy, it quickly goes away because something in my life happens and affects it. And whenever I'm in pain…well, the pain doesn't go away. I feel lost and alone all the time and like I can't trust anyone."

In the arms of the Angel far away from here

From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you feel

You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie

You're in the arms of the Angel; may you find some comfort here

She looked up to see his reaction and found him watching her intently, his eyes searching hers. "I didn't want to tell you because…" she took a deep breath. "because you make me feel so special and safe and I didn't want that to go away. I feel whole, like that missing part of me isn't missing anymore. Like I'm not alone."

She looked down, feeling embarrassed. "Thank you for being there for me. Thank you for being my friend."

In the arms of the Angel; may you find some comfort here

Mark reached out and took her hand in his. He lifted her chin with his forefinger and she raised her eyes to meet his.

"Thank you for trusting me."

Emily smiled faintly as they both leaned in slightly. Soon, his mouth touched hers in a gentle kiss. As they pulled back, he wrapped his arms around her and said softly, "You're not alone, Em. Just remember that, you're not alone."

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