March 5th, 2003

The whole hostage situation had really shook the Kovac family. Hallie had nightmares about it. Luka was still shaken and so was Abby. They knew they would be able to get past it because they always did when orrible things happened to them. They had found a better daycare center to take care of their children when they were at work, but Luka and Abby tried to have one parent home at all times. County wouldn't let that happen sometimes.

"Mama! Up!" Sasha cried extending her arms. Abby sighed picking her daughter up.

"Hallie, please get your jacket on now." Abby said, "We need to g to the store."

"I don't wanna go!" Hallie whined.

"Hallie! Please now."" She groaned, "You cnanot stay here yourself."

"Fine!" Hallie snapped getting her jacket. Abby sighed softly. Shopping with the kids was always a hassel.

* * *

Hallie threw a bag of chips into the cart. Abby sighed softly pushing the cart down the aisle. A young girl around Hallie's age with long brown curls ran into Abby.

"Opps." Abby said.

"TESS!!!" A woman yelled down the aisle. Abby urned around and saw a familiar looking woman.

"Carol Hathaway?" She smiled. Carol looked at her.

"Yeah…Oh! Abby Lockhart right?" She grinned brightly.

"Abby Kovac now." Abby grinned.

"You married Luka?" Carol asked. Abby nodded.

"Yeah. Almost two years." She said. "What about you and…Derek?"

"Doug?" Carol laughed, "Yes, we've been married for almost two years also."

"Mom!!" Kate cried, "Come on! You pomise Donalds!"

"Kate, not now." Carol smiled softly. Abby looked at her.

"When are you due?" Carol ran her hand overher large bump.

"In about five weeks." She laughed softly. "Doug and I decided when the twins turned two that we should tyr for another child. What about you and Luka?"

"Oh!" Abby turned around, "These are our twins, James and Sasha."

"Theyre gorgeous." Carol smiled, "Chicaog's water nmust have some twin thing in it." Abby laughed.

"Must be." She smiled, "This is our daughter Hallie. We just adopted her a few months ago."

"Wow! That's great Carol smiled.

"Listen, since Kate and Tess are getting restess," Abby said, "Why don't we head over to CmDonalds."

"DONALDS!!!!!!!" Tess and Kate yelled. Carol chuckled softly.

"If youre busy, I don't want to bother you." She said.

"No. I need to get away with adult talk sometimes." Abby smiled, "Luka will be so thrilled that your ein town. How long are you here for?"

"Just for the week. I wanted to visit old friends." She smiled taking Kate's hand.

"Mama!" Sasha whined' Abyy smiled.

"Ready?" She asked.

"Ready." Carol grinned rubbing her stomach.

* * *

Hallie, Tess, and Kate played in the different colour balls in the CMDonald's play land. James and Sasha nibbled on french fries as Carol and Abby talked.

"I can't believed you married Luka." Carol said, "He had a little thing for me."

"Yeah. I know." Abby laughed softly, "He told me that about a year or two after you left, but I already knew."

"Good." Caroll smiled, "I cant believe we're married and have kids."

"Yeah. Do you know the sex of the baby?" Abby asked. Carol nodded.

"we're having a boy. Doug isnsits on calling him Doug Jr." Carol rolled her eyes. Abby laughed softly, "I won't complain. I did nam eour daughters. So how is everyone at county? Mark still work there? I've been meaning to call him." Abby shook her head.

"He just quit. He had a brain tomour a couple o fyears ago and I think he had a relapse." She said.

"Oh god." Carol said, "Doug didn't lie when he said he lost touch with mark."

"He's also married to Dr Corday and They have a baby named, Ella. I think she's almost two."

"Wow. So many babies. Any others?"

"A few…Dr Chen had one."

"Deb is back?" Carol asked.

"A while now." Abby smiled, "Oh! Dr Weaver is gay!" Carol chocked on her soda.

"What!?"

"Dr Weaver is gay. Shes been out fo rlike a year."

"I did not see that one ocming." She laughed, "What about Carter?"

"Ah…Carter has had a long and hard time since you left. He was stabbed and watched his friend die. His grandmother died.."

"Millicent Died!?" Carol cried. Abby nodded.

"Last year."

"Oh no. She was so nice…some of the time." Carol said.

"Dr Lewis is back." Abby said changing the subject.

"Really?" Carol grinned, "I really need to have lunch with her."

"Mama! Moe!!!" Sasha cried for a fry.

"No more, baby." Abby said wiping James' face, "You've had enough."

"MOE!!!" Sasha wailed. Abby sighed.

"I hate to do this Carol, but I do need to go. They need baths and sleep." She said standing up.

"Same here." Carol said hauling herself up.

"You have to come by and see Luka before you girls go." Abby suggested.

"I promise I will." Carol said as Abby wrote their phone number out.

"Call me whenever you want. I don tknow many twin parents." She smiled.

"Sure. I will."

* * *

"Honey, I'm home." Luka whispere walking into the room.

"Hey babe." Abby grinned from the bed, "Guess who I saw today."

"Who?"

"Carol Hathaway…Well Carol Ross now." Abby grinned.

"Are you serious?" Luka asked getting undressed. Abby nodded, "How is she?"

"Good." She smiled, "We had a nice lunch, just chatting."

"Well, Im glad you two had fun." He sai dcrawling into bed next to Abby.

"How was Work?"

"Tiring." He yawned as Abby snuggled into him.

"Then Goodnight." She said.

"Night." Luka said.