Basically - this is a sequel to Seasons out of Time - thank the carby kids at ERHQ for this...lol.
Disclaimer - I own nothing. All NBC
Spoilers - None that I'm aware of
Setting - Late Season 12, Early Season 13.
Pairings - Jabby, some CarKem and lots of Carby angst (what's new)

This Little Star

In the seasons that pass from one time to another, things can change. People can change and your feelings can too. No one knows this quite as well as John Carter. After his heroic return to Africa to face his future bride, Kem, he was resolved in the fact that there was no one else out there for him. Any other past loves had fizzled out and there was no capacity for a new romance. On the eve of said wedding he faced an internal battle between his head and his heart – between what was the right thing to do for his sake or the right thing to do on the part of his conscience. It was very much so the Armageddon for his past. In the end his conscience won. He failed to pluck up the courage or the mordacity to explore something he knew was still buried and in doing so he signed himself onto a contented future – almost comforting, safe or even just boring. The human heart is a tricky machine – there is room in there to love every single being on the planet, yet somehow there always seems to be a star amongst the billions that shines the brightest and takes up most of that room. Others can come along and fill up the remainder of the space, but that one little star still fills your heart up and blocks out its competitor. John Carter had a heart that was all too aware of this situation. He had had many lovers over his lifetime and one always seemed to shine, one always made him think of the "what ifs" and the "what could have been" and it was that one little star that caused the most problems. This little star was called Abby, and it was this little star that triggered the battle before his wedding.

Their relationship had been a poetic tribute to the years of build up and anticipation that lead towards that first kiss. It was a fairy-tale romance to begin with; adorned with the admiration and infatuation so many of us long for. In many ways it was too perfect, at least from the out-set. The relationship lay on a foundation of trust and respect, and also confidence; confidence in the other not giving in to the temptations and demons that set their friendship; confidence in knowing that they were past the stage of judging, past the "getting to know one another" stage which left them only to enjoy their relationship. It was a perfect plateau for any relationship to set off on. Yet slowly the rose tinted glasses came off, external problems pushed those demons to the foreground and in doing so, slowly pushed the respect out of the window. The flaws began to unravel – gaining speed as situations progressed until nothing more than a shell was left. Neither John nor Abby was willing to repair these faults and they had to call it quits.

The decision to end things was based on John's heavily hazed perspective on things as he wrote to Abby, comforted by the 3000 miles that separated them. This acted as a solace to the perpetual problems that were to exist between these two for ever more. Fuelled by the hurt of the break-up, both John and Abby took different approaches to healing. Abby confronted her demons – the demons that caused grounds for the split. She picked herself up, brushed herself down and put her life back together – proving to herself that people can change and she was glad she did. John, on the other hand flung himself into a relationship, made all the more serious by his new lovers shock announcement of pregnancy. Both seemed to feel content in their new lives, their new separate lives – something they hadn't experienced since they had first met all those years ago. It was a fresh start for both but somehow something always seemed to be lacking.

At this point the story skips forward a year to the day that both John and Abby were never to forget. For Abby this day brought great happiness however, this day held a much more sinister fate for John. Abby had finally fulfilled her dream as that day marked her graduation from med-school. That day should have been the happiest day of John's life; his son was to be born. God, on the other hand, seemed to think differently. Un-preventable complications brought great heartache as that baby was still born. This horrific incident sent John into turmoil; he spent the following year searching for himself and found comfort upon his re-union with his African lover. After a passion-filled re-union they jointly moved to Africa and embarked on their new lives. Abby found reconciliation in a quick relationship which ended simultaneously with John's departure. She slowly fell into a despondent state only brought to life with the return of Jake.

Jake's return brought a question, the same question John had asked Kem merely moments before Jake's arrival. The answer to both questions was the same – yes. In agreeing to the proposals both Abby and John faced a new, totally separate future. They had closed the lid on their relationship and prepared themselves to embark on their new journeys. John found himself content living in Africa, he loved the time he was spending with Kem and he loved the work he was doing but more often than not he found himself eager to return to Chicago. Abby also found herself contented. She was resolved in knowing she would never get what she really wanted and that she would have to settle for the next best thing – Jake. This hazed state extended its hold over these two for several months, until the inevitable journey to Paris for John's wedding.

Here things got confusing. The happy façade of Abby's relationship withered in John's presence until she was reduced to a withering form. Confused at the revelations, Abby admitted her feelings to John who had noticed her demeanour. Upon his 're-union' with Abby in Paris, John found himself swamped with a feeling of regret – regret in how they had ended things, how things had been dealt with in the past, and in how things were still being dealt with. This was one of their most tragic flaws. Neither one could ever muster the strength to confront deep issues in reference to one-another, a quality that was incessantly present in Paris. They shared an emotional exchange, both, in ways, admitting to feelings they still hid deep, deep down. In the end, after having admitted to the end of their relationship John and Abby went their separate ways – John with his new bride, and Abby with her soon-to-be spouse.

Our tale ended here. We don't know of the confusion that took place between then and now. We don't know of the questions that were asked, nor do we know of the feelings that are still present – even after all this time. Therefore, it is here that our new tale begins – the final days of Abby's life as a single girl. Exactly one week from today that little star will take the biggest step of her life – into marriage in front of her friends, family, work-colleagues and of course, ex-lovers.

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