He was sitting on the couch flicking through channels on the television aimlessly when she carried the basket of baby clothes in from the laundry . She watched him for a moment and then plopped the basket on the coffee table and sat down beside him. She glanced toward the television.
"Ah...celebrity poker," she said. "I know what Neela's watching."
"She's working a shift tonight." He didn't look at her as he continued to change the channels. She sighed and began to fold the clothes in the basket. Luka turned the television off and pulled a soft sleeper out of the basket and folded it. He handed it to her and pulled another one out. Abby watched him and then nudged him.
"Hey...if you help with this stuff I won't have anything to complain about like the other Moms at the park." Luka looked at her with a slight frown on his face and than grinned when he saw the tease in her eyes. He reached his hand up and let it rest on the crook of her neck. His thumb traced her jaw and his smile faded. Abby reached up and grasped his hand in her's.
"Luka," she said quietly. "This stuff is a fact of a doctor's life. You know that. I can't believe you have done your job this long without having to go to court before."
"I probably should have gone. Remember when I..." She put a finger on his lips to stop him.
"Remember that guy that came in with the gunshot last week? You saved his life. Remember the little boy from the car accident a month ago? Ray wanted to call it and you refused. He's alive today. Remember when they brought..."
"I get it. I get it." Luka laughed. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close to him. He kissed the top of her head and sighed.
"I don't know what I was thinking when I thought I could actually get through my life without you," he said. She tipped her head up and looked at him. Luka's eyes met her's and they smiled. She snuggled a little closer and closed her eyes.
"Abby..." he said quietly after a long moment. Her eyes opened and she waited. He didn't say anything.
"I'm not ready yet, Luka," she said quietly...finally. She sat up and looked at him. "I love this. I really, really do but..." She stopped when she saw the hurt in his eyes. She put a hand to his cheek.
"I love... you," she said. "I'm just afraid..."
"Of what?" he said sharply. She studied his face thoughtfully.
"Of being hurt, I guess," she said. "Or of hurting you...maybe? I don't know." Luka frowned as he looked at her.
"And you're not hurting me now?" Luka shifted and picked her hands up in his.
"Abby, what are we waiting for? We are living together. We are raising a child together. We went through so much with him...together. " She was nodding as he spoke and she sighed. Luka groaned in frustration and ran his hands through his hair. He shook his head and then glanced over at her again.
"So...are you done helping me with this?" She swung a pair of Joe's overalls on her finger. Luka shook his head and then smiled as she grinned. He took them, folded the jeans and handed him to her. She waited until their eyes met again and then leaned forward to kiss him. Luka wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. Neither of them noticed as the basket tipped and then fell to the floor.