"Abby!" Luka called toward the back of the apartment. 'We're going to be late!" She came out of the bedroom and left the door open a bit. She held up a finger to shush him.

"I finally got her down for a nap," she said quietly. "With any luck she'll be out for a couple of hours and she needs it." He nodded and held up her coat so she could slip it on. She turned to Tata and sighed.

"Are you sure you will be okay with her?" she asked. He nodded and held up a sketch pad and pencils.

"I'll be working right here if she should wake up."

"Okay then..." She pressed a kiss to his cheek and then moved to the door. She looked back at Luka expectantly and he grinned as he picked up her hand and pulled her toward the door.

"Who are we picking up again?" she asked. Luka glanced back at his father and they both smiled.

"Just some...relatives...coming for the wedding," he said.

"More?" she groaned.

"Come on..." he laughed and pulled her through the door

The airport terminal was busy with people traveling for the holidays. Abby wandered around looking at the art work and posters hanging on the wall as Luka stood by the open doors of the customs area. He seemed rather anxious as he watched for a familiar face. He caught her eye occasionally and just grinned. Then he straightened and wave to her.

"Abby," he called. "They're here!" She sauntered over and stood next to him waiting patiently to meet another relative. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open as Susan Lewis made her way through the customs doorway with her suitcase and a carry on bag. She looked a bit frazzled as she looked around and then grinned when she saw them. She dropped the bag as a very surprised Abby made her way to her and wrapped her arms around her. Susan laughed as Abby burst into tears.

"What are you doing here?" she cried. Susan laughed and hugged her.

"We have two very sneaky husbands," she said. "They have been planning this for months!" Abby wiped the tears from her eyes and then started to cry again as Susan's niece, Susie, made her way toward them with a small duffle bag and backpack.

"This is just so cool!" she cried excitedly as she dropped her things and almost leaped into Luka's arms. "I actually have stamps in my very own passport! And I was in Paris. I was actually in Paris!" He laughed and hugged her and then pressed a kiss to Susan's cheek.

"How was your trip?" he asked. Susan's smiled broadened and she nodded.

"Where are Chuck and Cosmo?" Abby asked.

"In Chicago with Chuck's mother," Susan said. "Believe me, they'll be much happier there. All of them. Together."

"But you've missed Christmas with them..." Abby said. Susan snorted.

"That's the beauty of this whole story," she said as she linked arms with Abby and they headed through the terminal lobby. "My dad fed me this whole tale about going on a Christmas singles cruise...can you believe that? He wanted to celebrate with us early. We got there, had a huge dinner and opened gifts..."

"And we got boxes with tickets and passports!" Susie finished excitedly. She turned to Luka. "I was in Paris! I was really and truly in Paris, FRANCE!"

"Susie...we were only there for an hour and 45 minutes!" Susan said as she glanced back to Abby. "So we really did have Christmas with them. Just a little earlier than planned. Ah...I forgot my suitcase!" They all turned around to find Luka following them with Susie's duffle in one hand and Susan's suitcase in the other. He was grinning broadly. His smile faded when he saw Abby's eyes fill as she looked up at him. He dropped the suitcase and duffle bag as she moved into his arms. He held her for a moment and then kissed the top of her head as he winked at Susan.

"Thank you..." Abby sighed as she looked up and kissed him. "Thank you for doing this...all of this." Luka's hands crept to the sides of her face and their kiss deepened. Susie grimaced and looked away as she shook her head. Susan glanced around absently and then shuffled her feet.

"Okay...okay, you guys," Susan scolded as she looked around them in feigned embarrassment. "Wait till after the wedding tomorrow, okay?" Luka grinned as they separated.

"We need to get them to Zoran and Jelena's place," he whispered. "You can thank me again later." Abby laughed and shook her head.

"Naw," she said. "Susan's right. We'll wait till after the wedding." Luka's face fell and Abby grinned back at him as he picked up the suitcase and duffle and followed them to the front of the airport. She winked and he smiled.

Tata and Lauren were waiting for them when they arrived at Zoran's house. Natasya and Susie took an instant liking to one another and immediately retreated to Natasya's room to compare the music on their new ipods. Jelena had dinner ready for them. Andro and Valerija arrived in time for dessert. Abby sat at the table and toyed with the coffee cup in her hand as she looked around her. Susan was fighting sleep a bit as she talked with Jelena about schools in Croatia. Valerija was thoroughly enjoying cuddling a sleeping Lauren in her lap. Their eyes met and they exchanged broad smiles. Tata was saying something to Luka in Croatian and Luka glanced toward her suddenly. He was frowning.

"What?" she asked. He grimaced.

"Apparently you and Lauren are staying here for the night and I am to go back to Tata's with my brothers. Tata even packed you a bag." Andro and Zoran laughed uproariously and they stood up. They took Luka by the arms and the pulled him protesting toward the front door. Josef followed them and bowed courteously toward the table with his daughters in law and Susan.

Later, when they were alone in Jelena's bedroom for the night, Susan opened her suitcase and pulled out several small boxes. She sat cross legged on the bed with Abby and opened them.

"From Haleh," she said and handed her the box. "It's something borrowed so you get to give it back to her." She held out another one. "This is from Chuck and I. Chuck picked it out. It's something blue." Abby took them and laughed softly as she fingered the blue silk and lace garter. Susan suppressed a smile and took a deep breath as she held the last box a little longer.

"And this one," she said softly. "This one is from your mother and Eric. Something old and something new." Abby opened the box to find a silver locket that had belonged to her Grandmother on a long new chain. She opened the locket to find a tiny picture of Lauren on one side and her own baby picture on the other. She widened her eyes to deal with the tears that threatened to fall.

"'How did you get this?" Abby asked. Susan chuckled again.

"I told you, Abby," she said. "They have been planning this for months! Do you remember that conversation we had at the campground last summer? When we thought they were sleeping by the fire pit?" Abby frowned as she thought for a moment. Susan twisted her fingers in a circle as she tried to jog her memory.

. "You told me about the wedding dress Chuny had shown you in a magazine?" Abby's eyes widened.

"They were listening to us?" Susan nodded.

"The whole time apparently." They giggled together and then Abby's fingers traced the box in her hands. The box from her mother.

"I hope they weren't hurt that you were coming and not them. I knew that she wouldn't fly and Eric and Becca are waiting for their baby..." Susan patted her hand.

"I talked to your Mom on the phone before we left. She has been dying because she has been on both sides of this 'secret' and couldn't talk to anyone about it. You were talking to her about the dresses and Luka was talking to her about the arrangements he was making. She can't wait to hear all about it when you get home. And she wanted to make sure that I gave you a hug from her tomorrow..." Susan glanced down at her watch.

"I mean today," she laughed. "My god, Abby. You and Luka are finally making it official in just a few more hours!" Abby nodded slowly and looked down at the boxes in her lap. Susan sighed happily and studied Lauren sleeping in the bed.

"I can move her," Abby offered. Susan shook her head.

"Naw," she chuckled. "It's been a good long while since Cosmo let me snuggle with him in bed. She'll be fine. And we both need to get some sleep." They put things away and then crawled under the warm down comforter on either side of the sleeping little girl. Susan turned out the lamp next to her...wrapped an arm around Lauren and they both sighed and settled down to rest. Abby kept her eyes open and searched the darkness...waiting. A soft smile crossed her face as she felt her cell phone vibrating silently in the pocket of her pajama pants. She eased herself off the bed carefully and crossed the hall into the bathroom. She flipped open the phone and held it to her ear.

"Hi," she whispered.

"They tried to get me drunk," he said. She grinned.

"Tried?"

"They both forget who taught them to drink." he chuckled. "How is it with you?"

"Everyone is sleeping," she said. "But I can't. I miss you."

"Yeah..." he sighed. "Me too...I mean...I miss you." Abby smiled.

"Tomorrow..." he sighed.

"You mean, today," she interrupted. He laughed.

"Getting anxious?" he asked

"Are you?"

"Abby, I have been ready for this day for a long time." She smiled and hugged herself to stay warm.

"I heard that shivering," Luka said. "I know how it is here with the heat off at night. Go back to bed and get warm. I just wanted to tell you that I love you."

"I love you too," she breathed softly.

"I'll be waiting for you at church," he said.

"I'll be there first." Her smile broadened as he laughed and his phone clicked off.