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Summary: Abby's sister arrives back after not seeing her in nearly 10 years. Could they be the answer to each others prayers?
Title: Lauren
Chapter: Something about snow.
Sharp snowflakes fell from the sky and bounced off of Lauren's nose. She sat there shivering, taking it all in. There was something about snow. Something sad and mournful, something that had always been the backdrop of her life. Abby could never know her secrets. Lauren ran through the story once more in her head: adopted by a nice couple in California, attended a good school, had a pet dog called rover and a white picket fence around the large, landscaped garden; the Jones' had money don't you know. Lauren laughed to herself. This was great thing about coming back after so long, she could pretend that this was really true, she had the idyllic childhood she could have never had with Maggie. Mr and Mrs Jones treated her as their own, she was going to go to medical school in fall. They were going to be waiting for her at the airport and crying as she left. Yes, Abby, despite being taken into care at the age of 11 I am a success, I promise.

Abby looked over at Carter, deep in thought as usual. Then she looked directly opposite to where Jake Carter was exiting the hospital. He was the same height as Carter, same build, in fact if it wasn't for his lost, innocent brown eyes he could have been Carter. Jake still had an innocence about him though, still had something that made him hopeful when Carter would have felt defeated, difference in generations she supposed. Jake had turned up only recently, taking Carter' place as the black sheep of the family for wanting to follow in his cousins foot steps and go to medical school. After a big family row Jake found himself staying at Abby's flat, the one they more or less shared now. She liked him, he was like a mini Carter, one that Carter found intolerable.

Lauren walked into the hospital, taken aback at how quiet it was, must have been a good day. However, the lack of rush and crowds made her feel more exposed, as if every Dr, Nurse and patient stared at her on the way in with more intent. She scanned among the many faces, focusing in on one. There she was, smiling at a tall, brooding Dr, chatting away. This was it. Make or Break.
"Excuse me, Abby Wycenski?"
"Uh…Lockhart, can I help you?" She must be married, maybe this Dr was the man, they seemed very intimate, relaxed, maybe she was happy.
"My names Lauren, Lauren Wycenski." She paused, Abby breathed silently as the silence fell between them, slicing Abby like a knife.
"Lauren?" She whispered, tears forming in her eyes. Lauren didn't know what to say. Why exactly had she come here? To see Abby again, her beauty and kindness that always used to fascinated her? To make Abby love her like the sister she was supposed to be? To be part of the Abby-Eric club? A club she was deeply jealous of, something she thought, if it hadn't have been for her mother, she would have been part of. Abby tossed her arms around Lauren regardless of the eyes burning her back from Carter's direction.

Abby easily took Lauren's suitcase upstairs sad that it was so light, as if she had no past to carry around with her, no memories that she wished to keep. There was a certain beautiful sadness about Lauren, the way she moved, the way she smiled with tears in her eyes. Maybe Abby was wrong, maybe the guilt she'd felt all these years was unnecessary, maybe she had been loved, taken away from the mother that could have destroyed her and the illness that still might. Abby's mother used to joke that Lauren was the last thing her father did before he left. The final mistake that man made. It saddened Abby to think how hard it must have been for her. Being taken away when you were eleven after knowing your mother, your sister, your brother.

"Happy birthday for yesterday by the way" Abby smiled as she said it, trying to show how she remembered everything, still loved her, thought about her everyday, cared for her as if she were her own daughter.
"You remembered?" Lauren asked smiling, wanting to fling her arms around Abby and never let go. She wanted to feel loved and clean and wanted Abby to talk about her and say 'this is my younger sister Lauren' and go shopping with her. But Lauren had learned never to become too attached. It was the worst mistake a foster kid could ever make.
"So eighteen, allowed into the big wide world!" Abby smiled at her fondly.
"Yep, eighteen and out, that was our motto." She suddenly realised she'd made a huge error. The white picket fence, remember? Your past was whatever you wanted it to be. But it was too late, her past had tripped her up and overtaken her, she was losing the race, winner takes all, winner gets to erase you. Lauren laughed nervously before changing the subject, but what did you change the subject to when there were so many subjects?