Sorry for the long delay. I'm in a funk. A serious funk. And if this chapter really sucks, I'm sorry. My mojo has been stolen and I'm fresh out of time travel juice I'm afraid. ; )

"There you are." She grinned and plopped down next to him on the couch where he sat, sprawled watching tv.

"How was your date?" He asked, pulling her into his arms.

"It wasn't a ... it was fun." She smiled and inhaled his scent. One night away and already she had started missing him.

"Hey, guess who called?"

"Joe Rogan." He nuzzled her neck, kissing it softly but stopped.

"Who?"

"I applied to Fear Fac ... never mind."

"Iris." He breathed, lightly touching the skin behind her ear, causing goosebumps to spring up.

"Yeah?" She pulled away slightly, wanting to hear more.

"Eric's a match." He pulled her closer, gently teasing the hem of her shirt.

"No way!" Abby pulled away and looked at him excitedly. Luka nodded, grinning.

"Wow." She breathed. Amazing. Who would have thought? She flung her arms around his neck, kissing him hard. Great news. Absolutely fantastic. Breathlessly, she pulled away.

"When did she call?"

"This morning."

"And?"

"And that's all she said. Said she'd call back later." She paused, a hand to her mouth, absorbing it all. Her eyes seemed glazed as she stared into the distance letting it all sink in. Suddenly, she looked up at him and laughed, a huge belly, laugh, full of joy and relief.

"What are you watching?" She giggled and he realized she was referring to the television.

"Uh ... MTV."

"Why?" But before he could reply she burst into another fit of giggles.

"Wow." She breathed in awe.

"How does she do that?"

"I could do that." He boasted.

"I'm so sure."

"No, really. It's not so hard."

"Prove it." He waggled his eyebrows and with overdramatic bravado, got to his feet and swayed his hips back in forth. He watched her and he felt his chest compress with delight at the look of glee on her face. She threw her head back, laughing unabashedly, one hand clutching her swollen belly, her shoulders moving up and down in rhythm to her laughter. God, he loved to see her this way. Spontaneously he grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet.

"Your turn." He teased.

"Nuh uh." She shook her head amidst a fit of giggles. Ignoring her protests he pulled her against him and continued to sway back and forth.

"See? Your hips don't lie." He teased her and they continued to laugh and sway to the rhythm.

"Abby, we're going to miss our flight if you don't hurry up." Luka called impatiently.

"I know, I know, I'm coming!" Abby called. She stood on the scale, checking the number one last time just to make sure she wasn't imagining things. Nope. Still there. 133 lbs. One. Hundred. Thirty. Three. The number repeated itself in her head. Over and over again. Damn. With a reluctant sigh she stepped off the evil metal messenger of horrible news and joined Luka in the bedroom.

"You set?"

"Yep."

"Okay, come on. The taxi's waiting."

"Are you nervous?" Luka asked, as he watched Abby absently crack her knuckles and stare out the window.

"No, I've flown before."

"I mean about the banquet." He clarified. The plane hadn't left the terminal yet but Abby's agitation seemed to grow with every passing second. She looked at him, frowing.

"How could you tell?" She asked, seemingly unaware of her nervous habits. He tried to suppress a grin.

"Intuition." She smiled slowly and nodded after a beat.

"What of?" He asked, trying not to be too forceful. She shrugged, unsure.

"People ... family." She admitted and lowered her eyes. Luka nodded, understanding and put a protective hand on her thigh. Abby had had a less than ideal family experience. Family, to her, was synonymous with pain. So to be opening herself up to this foreign experience of intiating a relationship with a family member was, understandably, frightening.

Much to his delight, Abby managed to sleep for an hour during their flight. She hadn't been getting much sleep lately. Now that she had hit her third trimester, her discomfort was increasing. She slept better in the day because the baby wasn't as active then, but she rarely got a chance to nap. He had tried to encourage her to take it easy for the remainder of her pregnancy but the most she had agreed to was reducing her hours to 8 hour shifts instead of 12. Curled up snugly in her seat, her head resting on him he smiled softly and caressed her hair. At his height of 6"4, there was no other way to fly but business class. Abby on the other hand, despite her advanced pregnancy, looked quite small in the large leather seat. Her delicate features, accentuated by the soft light shining through the thick glass window. Careful not to wake her, he reached over and rested the palm of his hand on her belly. Firm and taut, filled with the aftermath of their love. God, she was beautiful. And with that thought, he managed to doze for a few minutes himself.

"Abby." He gently touched her shoulder, urging her to wake up.

"Hmm?"

"Abby, wake up." He hated to wake her.

"Five more minutes." She grumbled, still refusing to open her eyes.

"Abby, we're about to land." He smiled. This was their normal routine every morning only this time they were thousands of feet above the ground. Finally, she rubbed her eyes and yawned dramatically.

"I have to pee."

"We're about to land." He pointed to the glowing seat belt light.

"Crap." She groaned and sat up straighter, a grimace on her face.

"Can you wait until then?" He asked.

"I guess I'll have to." She frowned and crossed her arms over her chest glumly.

"This sucks." She whined after a beat.

"I know, just a few more minutes." He assured her.

"No, not that." She groused.

"We didn't get a chance to join the mile high club." She continued.

"The what?"

"I'll explain on the flight home." She grinned.

"It'll be okay." He whispered softly. They were nearing the The Pierre where the Fundraising Gala for ALL was being held and Abby was incredibly nervous. He had taken her hand in his and felt the damp perspiration in her palm. She hardly nodded, acknowledging his presence. This was it. She would meet her sister's family. She couldn't quite figure out why it scared her so much but it did. Iris. Her sister. Iris' family. The thoughts were spinning in her head. Every insecurity seemed to have surfaced and she was terrified.

"You know Nick's parents are loaded?" She murmured craining her neck to look at Central Park.

"Who?"

"Nick. Her husband. His parents are filthy rich." The limousine was at a standstill. Many more stretch limos were lining the crowded 5th Avenue street outside of the Hotel.

"Okay ..." He didn't understand why that was a factor.

"Hey, you know we could still bail."

"We're already here" He grinned.

"No seriously. We could find a nice secluded bench in Central Park ..." She raised her eyebrows suggestively.

"Nice try." He shook his head. At that the chauffeur exited the car and held their door open.

"You ready for this?" Luka asked her. She sighed and pursed her lips, shaking her head.

"Do I look okay?" She asked nervously.

"You look ... amazing." He murmured softly. She rolled her eyes but it was true. She was radiant. They'd gotten to their hotel before noon, in time for lunch and a complimentary massage and facial with manicure and pedicure for Abby. The relaxation time had done wonders for her. Coupled with her already beautiful pregancy glow and she was absolutely stunning. Her dress, which he had insisted they splurge on accentuated her beautiful new curves wonderfully and her hair, which she normally pulled back in the ER fell in loose waves around her shoulders. She was a radiant, sensual madonna. If only she knew how great she looked.

"Come on." He reached over, laid a gentle kiss on her lips and emerged from the car, extending his arm to her.

Hand in hand, they looked ever so sophisticated. Flashes went off, people milled about and if her hand hadn't been clutching his in a vicelike hold, he wouldn't have known how frightened she was.

"This thing is a Cancer Fundraiser?" He murmured, in awe of the glitz and glamour that surrounded them.

"Yep." Abby nodded, with a sigh.

"If they spent half of the money on cancer research that they did on hosting this ..." He began

"I know." She interrupted him glumly. He paused, looking down at her.

"Trust me, I know." She shook her head and rolled her eyes with disgust. Together they continued, making their way into the hotel's luxurious entrance.

"You've been to one of these things before?" He asked. She nodded, looking around.

"With Carter." She responded absently, pulling him in the direction of the ballroom.Of course. He should have realized.

Luka was getting increasingly more uncomfortable. He was a fish out of water and he was beginning to understand Abby's reluctance to participate in such a high society gala. He was suffocating in the pretentious atmosphere. A cigar in one hand, a glass of champagne in the other, he stood, trying to speak as little as possible with the group of affluent men around him. Nick, his self-proclaimed brother in law had dragged him to the smoking room; something of a men's only lounge where they, the pompous ove-privileged men, discussed, money, politics and women. Not a word had been spoken about the reason behind the evening. Not even Nick, who's own son suffered from the deadly illness, had brought up the subject of ALL or cancer research. Only a couple of years ago, Luka would have gladly joined in in the drunken analysis of a woman's anatomy but now he was put off by the subject. The sexy cocktail waitresses did nothing for him.

"My wife knows, but pretends she doesn't." An anonymous man bragged about his affair.

"Seriously?" Another asked.

"Oh yeah. It's a win-win situation for her highness. Still gets the perks of marriage without having to comply to her wifely duties. Plus, her folks are Catholic so there's no way she'll get a divorce."

Luka downed some more champagne as he endured the hooting and high-fives that followed the man's confession. Saved by the waiter.

"Sir, your wife asks that you join her. She's about to make her speech." The man had approached Nick who nodded, rolled his eyes towards his buddies and headed back towards the ballroom. Luka took the opportunity and followed him.

"There you are." Abby whispered as he slipped into his seat next to her. Holding hands under the table, they listened intently to Iris' heart-wrenching speech about Dylan, ALL and how it affected her life. Finally, Nick joined her and together they presented the National Cancer Institue with a two million dollar check for continuing research. Luka was suprised to see Abby dab her eye with a napkin, as Iris, tears rolling down her cheeks, completed her speech and made her way down the podium. After a few more generous donations were given and long-winded speeches delivered, the music began, and the mood turned much more joyous. Despite her original misgivings, Abby seemed to be having a great time. She and Iris walked, hand in hand, greeting people and laughing. Both were gorgeous, eliciting approving stares from fellow attendees. Abby, in her high waisted, low cut, prussian blue dress and Iris, in her elegant midnight frock were picture perfect and now, more than ever, he could see the family resemblance.

"I'm exhausted." Abby murmured, as they stood off to one side as people continued to mill about and the ballroom filled with dancing couples. She leaned against him, softly, shifting her weight.

"We can go home if you want." He whispered, silently wishing that they would.

"Yeah?" She asked hopefully and looked up at him smiling.

"You looked like you were having fun." She commented. Luka snorted.

"I'm a great actor." He grinned.

"Oh, I know." She smirked.

"I remember Hamlet." Grinning, he pulled her closer and laid a gentle kiss on her lips.

"Oooh." Abby whispered and pulled away excitedly.

"Feel that." She smiled and moved his hand to the side of her belly. Her eyes wide with anticipation.

"Feel it?" She asked, her hand above his.

"Yeah." He breathed, excitedly. He never got tired of feeling his baby move. The novelty couldn't get old. Together they stood, hands clasped, feeling the movements of their little child.

"Abby!" They were startled from their reverie by Iris, who was rushing towards them excitedly.

"There you are!" She grinned and smiled at Luka graciously.

"Come meet my parents." She urged. For a moment Luka felt Abby recoil, but with a squeeze of her hand, they both followed Iris to the handsome looking couple standing several yards away.

"Mom, Dad." Iris could hardly suppress the excitement in her voice.

"This is Abby and Dr. Kovac." She beamed, proudly.

"This is my mom, and dad Sarah and Elliott Baudric."

"Nice to meet you." Abby smiled dutifully and shook their hands.

"Oh darling! Look at her!" Sarah cried and pulled Abby in for a surprise hug.

"You are just the spitting image of our Iris here." She smiled broadly, and turned to her husband who nodded in agreement.

"The pictures she brought home didn't do you justice. Gorgeous. Just gorgeous. Isn't she a pretty little thing?" Sarah exclaimed at Elliott who, again, nodded in agreement. And so it continued. An ebullient Sarah was just overjoyed to meet her daughter's sister and insisted on introducing her to every single acquaintance withing a 500 yard radius. Luka tried to suppress a smile at the continuous pleading looks Abby would shoot him from various tables. He, on the other hand was trapped in an equally enviable predicament, talking stocks with Iris' father, who except for poker and golf, had only one major interest; Wallstreet.

"Now Abby here is an ER doctor in Chicago." Sarah gushed to yet another important friend.

"Chicago? No!" The woman gasped.

"Nina's husband used to work in Chicago." The women chattered away, and Abby smiled and nodded absently, trying to keep her mind off of her aching feet.

"Beautiful home ... became a journalist ... she was a member of the Junior League ... rest her soul." Abby only captured snippets of the conversation. She tried to catch Luka's attention but he seemed engrossed in a conversation with Iris' father and another gentleman. She sighed. She was ready to climb into bed.

"No, he went to Asia or Africa or Alaska or something. Poor boy. Inerited his dear Grandmother's money and just took off, leaving the family finances in a shamble." Abby stiffened at the familiarity of this gossip.

"Oh yes, chased after some ethnic girl, I hear. Dreadful story." Another woman continued.

"And to think, Millicent just adored him." Another one chimed in. Abby felt her stomach clench. Were the Carters really that ubiquitous? She tried to drown out the rest of the conversation. She simply wasn't intersted in hearing about his life through the eyes of these overprivileged madames. One they were sufficiently distracted, she managed to extricate herself from their graps and weaved her way through the tuxedos and stilettos back to the table. She cursed her belly silently as she attempted to maneuver in between clusters of people. What a hindrance it could be sometimes; her extra 23 lbs. There was a beautiful little garden that she was trying to escape to. She was beginning to feel a bit nauseous and the fresh air was calling to her. She was sure her ankles were the size of melons by now but refused to look down to check. She had one goal, a quaint little bench out on the veranda by a tree. Taken off guard by the sudden movement, she was nearly knocked over as she passed through the open french doors by a woman angrily entering the building from the garden outside. After looking back to see the woman hurrying through the ballroom, she absently placed a hand on her belly and turned back to the garden, closing her eyes as the cool midnight breeze caressed her face.

"I'm sorry. Are you okay?" The voice interrupted her just steps away from the bench that was her coveted oasis.

"Fine." She nodded and then she saw his face and for a moment she was sure she was going to vomit.

"Abby?" She could only stand there, frozen.

"Is that really you?" He stepped closer to her, more into the light and then every trace of hope that maybe, just maybe she had been wrong, were torn to shreds.

"Richard." She nodded, forcing the lump of bile down her throat.

"Wow. Look at you!" He smiled jovially. She managed to force her mouth into a tight smile in return. Her insides were churning. Her head spinning. Why him? Of all people.

"What are you doing here?" He grinned curiously.

"Just in town for the fundraiser." She found herself replying, robotically.

"You?"

"Oh, I live here now. Got a surgery position at New York Presbyterian." He nodded still smiling.

"Wow! Congratulations. That's ... that's great." He was being polite so there was no reason for her not to be.

"Thanks." He grinned.

"What about you?" He asked good-naturedlly.

"You still a nurse?" She stiffened slightly.

"No. Uh, I've been back in med school for a few years now." She nodded.

"Oh. Well good for you." He nodded.

"Yeah ... you co-signed my loan. Remember?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Ha! That's right." He chuckled and shook his head bringing his martini glass to his lips.

"I didn't think you'd actually go through with it though." He grinned.

"Right." Asshole.

"Well it was nice seeing you again Richard." She spoke tersely and turned to leave.

"Ah, come on Abs. I'm just kidding." He smiled, touching her on the arm. Moving out of his grasp she stepped closer to the doors, heading back inside.

"Ever the ice queen." He muttered as she walked away. She froze. Something inside her shifted and she clenched her fists tightly fighting with herself. It wasn't worth it. She told herself to let it go. She knew it was pointless. Some people never change. Placing a protective hand on her belly, she squared her shoulders and continued back into the hotel, leaving him behind. She was the second woman to walk away from him that night.

"Let's go home." She murmured to Luka who was sitting chatting animatedly with Iris' father and a few other men. He politely excused himself and walked a few feet away.

"Is everything okay?" He asked, once out of earshot, his concern lacing his voice. Nodding, she avoided his eyes.

"Yeah. I'm just tired." She smiled and tried to lead him away.

"Whoa, whoa. Abby." He took her by the elbow and pulled her closer to him. He knew her well enough to know that everything was not okay.

"What happened?" He asked, his voice low and caring, his eyes boring into her. He saw a flicker of sadness flood her eyes.

"Abby ..."

"Luka. Can we leave please?" She spoke, her tone cold and distant. For an instant he contemplated urging her to share but then thought better of it. He lowered his eyes and acquiesced.

"Yeah. Come on." He pursed his lips and she nodded gratefully.She just needed to get the hell out of there.

Read and Review please! I'd really appreciate it. In fact! I'll even send you some delicious cyber pseudo-treats! Eh? How could you pass that up?