A/N: The sequel to 'My Golden Rule.' If you want to know what that was about...read it. Or read this supposed to be little summary: It was written from Abby's POV. Abby sleeps with Luka after they walked back from Susan's goodbye party. Abby is not too happy about it, but Luka is. Then Carter comes back, and he and Abby have a good old chat on the roof, but nothing much happens. Then Luka invites Abby for christmas, and she says yes. Next morning Abby figures that she missed her period, and somehow tells Carter, who tells her that she should take the test and that Luka is a good guy. Abby tells Luka, and Luka says her that she can do it, but Abby is too worried and wants an abortion. In the mean time Carter already disappeared to Darfur. But when Abby is talking to Coburn she realizes that she wants this baby and she decides to keep it. Luka is all happy about it, so is Abby, and they have a cosy christmas. But then doubt starts to hit Abby 'cause she wonders if Luka would have stayed with her if she would have aborted the baby and then we get this huge cliffhanger. Last chapter, Luka tells her that of course he loves her etcetera, and the story ends with a happy Luka and a happy Abby, who decided that she has to take hold of what life brings and that that's her golden rule. Sort of. Well, can't bring it to you any shorter...!
Disclaimer: Well, I don't own the characters. Just like everyone else.
Summary: A season 12 story from Abby and Luka's point of view. About being together, preparing for parenthood, and trusting each other.
Extra: Sorry that this chapter is a little short, but I hope you guys all like this sequel, with now Luka's POV as well! Oh yeah, and the title is of course a little similar to 'My Golden Rule,' hehe.

Our Golden Year

Chapter 1 – Old Wives Tales

Saturday 18 March 2006 – 22:30

I'm sitting, or actually laying, on the couch, with Abby leaning against my chest with her back on top of me, reading a magazine about babies and pregnancies that she apparently bought on her way home.

I am watching tv, but I haven't really been concentrating on the documentary anymore after Abby came out of the bathroom with fresh showered hair, wearing a big sweater and sweatpants, and practically crawled on top of me. I'm not complaining.
I play a little with the wet locks of her hair and sprawl a litle further. Abby willingly moves with me.

It's been three months since she told me she was pregnant. There, on the middle of the sidewalk, nearby Carter's house. She'd been awfully quiet when we walked to her apartment and went to bed. So was I. She didn't know if she was happy or not, and she was so insecure that I really had no idea how to convince her that she'd do great, and that we could handle it.

But at the end, she convinced herself. And that made me probably one of the happiest men alive. Until she really scared me when she told me she wasn't sure if I was in love with her or more with the baby. That was of course not the point, so I made sure that I do love her. And now the trust is really more than mutual.

It's really during these little moments like this, when she's so close to me that I can feel her breathing and pretty much breath with her, when I realize how much I care for her, how much I feel for her.
It's during these moments when I can't help to fantasise about the little baby that is there, carefully covered under the big sweater.

We did an amnio two weeks ago, and everything appeared to be fine. I was less worried than Abby about the result, but I certainly was very relieved when we got to hear that everything is alright with our child, and I guess that that good news was the change for Abby to really start enjoying all this.

It's like she finally is comfortable with everything, and I'm pretty sure she's ready to tell the rest of the staff soon. It really is miraculous that both Ray and Sam didn't tell anyone. Not that we assumed they would, but well, it's County after all.

I'm still playing with her hair as she puts down the magazine and lays her head down on my chest.

"We have an appointment with Coburn tomorrow," she says softly and looks up to me.

I smile. "What time?"

"Two thirty. We get to hear the heartbeat," she sits up at that and smiles broadly.

"Really?"

"Yeah, well, it's been twelve weeks. It's about time."

I grin as I sit up as well and take the magazine in my hands. I start to flip through the pages until my eye falls on a, for me right now, very interesting page that has this whole list of things that could tell if we're having a boy or a girl. Apparently Abby sees where I'm looking at 'cause she pats my arm and sighs. "That's all bullshit."

"I don't think so. Here, let's see... Morning sickness...Well, that was pretty much non existent. See, we're having a...girl."

"Right."

"...and you've been craving for sweets all the time, so that explains a girl as well."

"Luka..."

She really doesn't seem to like this but I do see the fun so I just continue. "Look, and this says that it's a girl if the dad is not getting any weight... Well, see. We're still having a girl."

Abby just raises her eyebrows and grabs the magazine out of my hands. "And I have a headache and that is a sign for a boy. It doesn't make sense. And anyway, it says 'Old Wives Tales,' so this is nonsense."

She stands up and drops the magazine on her kitchen table and gets herself a glass of water.

"You don't like to speculate about the sex?" I ask careful, as I see that the look in her eyes isn't as relaxed as it was before.

She shrugs and leans against the kitchen counter. "It's scary."

I smile understanding and walk over to her. "Okay, then we'll stop talking about that."

She shrugs again and refills her glass. "A girl would just really make things more complicated."

I decide not to answer that since it's an endless discussion. I know where she's aiming at. She knows how it is to be someone daughter, and she doesn't want her child to feel the same way about her mother as she did when she was younger. Not that that will happen, but well, once such a thought gets stuck in Abby's head it stays there for a long, long time.

She rubs her neck and puts the glass by the rest of the dishes. "I'm gonna go sleep."

"How long have you been having these headaches?" I ask as she rubs small circles around both sides of her head.

"Just today. So maybe it is a girl after all."

I grin, glad that she found her humor back again and put off the tv and do the dishes. After that I brush my teeth and everything, and then I crawl in bed besides her. She's still awake, leaning with her back against the wall as I turn off the bedlamp.

"You're okay?" I ask as I hear her sigh softly.

"Yeah..."

"Don't you have that ice pack thing?" I try, knowing that she might not catch any sleep if that headache will keep bothering her.

I hear her chuckle at that. "You mean the ugly purple one? I do. But I'm fine."

"Okay."

I see her silhouette moving her pillow and finally she lays down on her back, face to the ceiling. I look at her for awhile, and hear her sigh again. She worries. Again.

"You know...," she starts and I see her face turning to me a little. "I really want this thing to grow."

"It will soon," I mumble softly.

"I know. But it's been three months. Normally I would have lost my waistline already."

"Well, you're petite, might take awhile."

She sighs. "It would just be reassuring. That everything is going as it should go."

"It's going fine..." My voice is getting weaker and weaker, I'm really getting sleepy. However, Abby's voice seems to get more and more alert what makes me fear for another endless talk. Not that I don't like that. I love to just listen to her, babbling along about all this, but it's just hard not to fall asleep after a while...

I hear and feel the covers move, and then suddenly bright light blinds my eyes.
Oh man...

"What are you doing...?" I mumble and stretch my arm out to her side of the bed, that suddenly is empty. Groaning I open my eyes and see Abby standing in front of the mirror, holding her shirt up so she can observe her belly.

"Hm, maybe my waistline did disappear."

I smile at her frowning face. In fact, her waistline indeed disappear, but I just didn't tell her that, in case it might start a whole monologue about being 'fat'.

"See, you're doing great," I tell her and sit up so I have a better view.

"But there's still not a real belly."

"I think there is..." I mumble and remember something I did with Danielja. "Come back to bed."

"Why?"

"Well, besides the fact that it's a very normal time to actually sleep in bed, I want you close to me."

She grins but does do what I say. She lets her shirt fall down and crawls back under the covers and luckily turns the light off again.

"Turn on your side, with your back to me."

She does, and chuckles somewhat nervous. Not that I'm going to do anything abnormal. I lay closer against her and manage to slid one arm under her and the other one around her, so I now have Abby practically in my arms, and my hands pressed on her belly.

"I'm sure there is a belly. Just breath in, hold your breath."

She does and her belly shrinks, except for the small poochy middle. "Feel for yourself," I smile satisfied and place her hands under mine.

"Yeah, maybe you're right..." she grins and pulls her hands back. I slip my hands under her shirt and move around her bare skin, really feeling the small belly that defenitely wasn't there three months ago. Although it isn't really round yet, it is feeling a bit more stiff. Protective.

"So can we sleep now?" I ask softly in her ear.

"Hmhm..." And immediately I hear her voice losing volume. She snuckles her head under my chin and I kiss the top of her head softly.

"Nothing to worry about..." I whisper and rub her belly softly. "Nothing to worry about..." I repeat and finally feel her body relax more. Thankful I close my eyes and pull the covers a little further over us. I glance at the alarm clock, 23:10.

Just another fifteen hours before we'll hear the heartbeat. Just another fifteen hourse before Abby will be completely convinced about the fact that everythng really is going absolutely perfect. Just another fifteen hours...

I smile at that thought, and with Abby in my arms I slowly drift off in a dreamy sleep, until tomorrow begins.

Thank you for reading!

(Preview for chapter 2: Abby and Luka go to County, and have the appointment they were talking about!)

Please, leave a review to tell me what you think about this start!