Disclaimer: You want another one?
Author's Notes: I believe we are up and running again. If anyone has suggestions be sure to review or email me- alienx06@cox.net
Let's go..
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It's a little after 10. Susan's gone home, and after a bunch of questions from Brandon, dinner, a quick episode of Blue's Clues, and a fight about going to sleep, Abby and I are finally alone to talk about everything. And believe me, there's a lot to talk about.
She hands me a cup of coffee, then sits down on the couch. She takes a sip of hers and starts. "Carter, we can't stay here."
"Why not?"
"We have a life back in Boston."
"You can start again, here."
"Carter-" She pleads with me.
"Abby-" I plead back, reciprocating her tone.
"Don't do that."
I roll my eyes. "Abby, please?"
"All my stuff's in Boston."
I take a sip of my coffee, then put it on the table next to hers. "We'll buy new stuff."
"All his stuff's in Boston."
I look around the room and chuckle a bit. "By the looks of things, Abby, most of it's here."
She laughs and takes another sip. "You have no idea."
"But seriously, Abby, please?"
"Why cant you come to Boston?" Damn, I knew she'd get me. To tell the truth, I'd go there in a heartbeat. I'd do anything to be with her. But I don't know if that's what she wants from me. I know I said I'd be there, but I don't know if she wants there to be an 'us.' And it really doesn't make any sense, to me at least, for me to move my whole life somewhere else if Abby isn't even going to be a part of it. But if she stayed here, I can definitely say I want there to be an 'us.'
"Well, think of it this way: if you come here, you already have a home, a job, everything. If I go there-"
"How do you figure?"
"You can live in the mansion, and County's always looking for nurses, you know that."
"Do you live in the mansion?"
"Ever since you left, yeah." I look up at her. She's got something on her mind. I keep watching her, though. And after a moment, she starts again.
"So, what does that mean?"
I'm guessing it means you move back, but it's more for her. "What does what mean?"
"What does that mean for you and me?" Oh that. Maybe she does want more.
I'm a little uneasy with my response. "It can mean whatever you want it to."
He puts her coffee on the table and leans back in her seat. Uh-oh. Not good. "So," she begins, "hypothetically, if I just wanted to come back as your friend, that has your kid, and lives in your mansion, you'd be okay with that?" She has a way about putting a really sucky spin on things.
I shrug. "I guess. If that's what you really want."
She keeps going. And, still hypothetically, of course, if I came back wanting something more, like what we had before everything started going downhill, the real John and Abby. You'd be okay with that too?"
This time I nod. "Yeah, Abby. I'd be happy if we just lived in the same state. I'd prefer the latter scenario, but yeah."
"Fine."
"You don't have to live in the mansion, it was just an idea. You can get an apartment or something, I don't- Wait. What?"
"We'll move back." She states matter-of-factly. Then she adds, "But only if Brandon wants to."
Is she serious? "Are you serious?"
"As a heart attack, Carter. Literally. You'd better hope he likes you."
I laugh. Of course he likes me. Everyone likes me. Then it hits me. "Do you think he does?"
She nods. "Yeah, I really do. I know it's only been like a day, but I think Brandon is a good judge of character. And believe me, he likes you."
"Well, what's not to like?"
"Oh, please. Don't get me started."
I smile and reach over and pull her into a tight hug. "Abby, you don't know how much this means to me. Thank you so much."
I can feel her nod into my chest. I missed holding her like this. Just the two of us. Together. It may be a little fast, but I have to know if what she said before was actually hypothetical. "Abby, does this mean we get another chance?"
She lifts her head to look at me.
"Another chance at me and you? Us?"
She slowly responds, "Do you want another chance?"
"More than anything."
She leans her head back on my chest and whispers, "Me too."
I bring my thumb to her chin to make her look up at me. My eyes gaze deep into hers. I lean in and gently bring my lips to hers in the softest, most tender kiss have to give her.
After a moment, she pulls away and looks at me.
"John-"
Is she kidding me? "No, Abby. Don't start. That was right. It felt right."
"I know it did, John. But, we have to make sure we're doing this for the right reasons. It's not just about me and you anymore. Now Brandon's here. If this doesn't work, I don't want to see his face. I don't think I'll be able to take it."
"Abby, stop. Just stop it okay? It will work. We can make it work." I look away from her. "I know you have doubts that this will ever happen. And I know that I did that to you. I know I made mistakes last time. But, I learned from them. I learned not to take you or our relationship for granted." Our eyes meet again. "Because in an instant it could all be taken away. And it was. Because I was stupid. And I learned that no matter how hard I try, I just cant stop thinking about you. And that's because I love you. I love you, Abby. I wasn't sure back then. Then I left. And when I came back, you had left too. I was so afraid that I may never see you again. And that's when it hit me. I realized I loved you. I was in love with you and always would be. Then you came back and gave me the greatest gift in the world by making me a father." I take her hand in her lap. "And, Abby, I never want to let you go again. Ever. I made that mistake once. And I learned from it, Abby. I really did."
I guess the only words to describe her face are 'woah, where the hell did that come from?' And to be completely honest, I don't know where the hell it came from. I guess it's just some of the things I've been thinking about over the last couple years. But whatever is was, or where ever it came from, I'm glad it's out.
"John, I want it to work, too. I really do. But, I just want to be sure that we aren't jumping into something we cant handle. Something that will screw up Brandon. I don't him to have the type of family I did growing up. If you can even call it that. I want him to be okay."
"He will be." I rub her shoulder for a little reassurance. But before I know it, she's crawling into my lap, bringing her arms around my waist and resting her head on my chest. I guess she needed more reassurance than I anticipated. But whatever she needs, I'm willing to do my best to give her.
I gently stroke her hair and kiss the top of her head when she moves a little. I guess it's to get more comfortable. This couch really isn't working too well. But, soon enough I cane feel the slow, rhythmic rising and falling of her small frame signaling that she's fallen asleep. I reach over and turn the lamp off and slowly start to drift off myself when I hear a barely audible, "I love you," escape her lips.
I whisper back, "I love you too," and fall into a perfect night's sleep.
__
Reviews make me smile =)
And I really need some ideas..
Author's Notes: I believe we are up and running again. If anyone has suggestions be sure to review or email me- alienx06@cox.net
Let's go..
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It's a little after 10. Susan's gone home, and after a bunch of questions from Brandon, dinner, a quick episode of Blue's Clues, and a fight about going to sleep, Abby and I are finally alone to talk about everything. And believe me, there's a lot to talk about.
She hands me a cup of coffee, then sits down on the couch. She takes a sip of hers and starts. "Carter, we can't stay here."
"Why not?"
"We have a life back in Boston."
"You can start again, here."
"Carter-" She pleads with me.
"Abby-" I plead back, reciprocating her tone.
"Don't do that."
I roll my eyes. "Abby, please?"
"All my stuff's in Boston."
I take a sip of my coffee, then put it on the table next to hers. "We'll buy new stuff."
"All his stuff's in Boston."
I look around the room and chuckle a bit. "By the looks of things, Abby, most of it's here."
She laughs and takes another sip. "You have no idea."
"But seriously, Abby, please?"
"Why cant you come to Boston?" Damn, I knew she'd get me. To tell the truth, I'd go there in a heartbeat. I'd do anything to be with her. But I don't know if that's what she wants from me. I know I said I'd be there, but I don't know if she wants there to be an 'us.' And it really doesn't make any sense, to me at least, for me to move my whole life somewhere else if Abby isn't even going to be a part of it. But if she stayed here, I can definitely say I want there to be an 'us.'
"Well, think of it this way: if you come here, you already have a home, a job, everything. If I go there-"
"How do you figure?"
"You can live in the mansion, and County's always looking for nurses, you know that."
"Do you live in the mansion?"
"Ever since you left, yeah." I look up at her. She's got something on her mind. I keep watching her, though. And after a moment, she starts again.
"So, what does that mean?"
I'm guessing it means you move back, but it's more for her. "What does what mean?"
"What does that mean for you and me?" Oh that. Maybe she does want more.
I'm a little uneasy with my response. "It can mean whatever you want it to."
He puts her coffee on the table and leans back in her seat. Uh-oh. Not good. "So," she begins, "hypothetically, if I just wanted to come back as your friend, that has your kid, and lives in your mansion, you'd be okay with that?" She has a way about putting a really sucky spin on things.
I shrug. "I guess. If that's what you really want."
She keeps going. And, still hypothetically, of course, if I came back wanting something more, like what we had before everything started going downhill, the real John and Abby. You'd be okay with that too?"
This time I nod. "Yeah, Abby. I'd be happy if we just lived in the same state. I'd prefer the latter scenario, but yeah."
"Fine."
"You don't have to live in the mansion, it was just an idea. You can get an apartment or something, I don't- Wait. What?"
"We'll move back." She states matter-of-factly. Then she adds, "But only if Brandon wants to."
Is she serious? "Are you serious?"
"As a heart attack, Carter. Literally. You'd better hope he likes you."
I laugh. Of course he likes me. Everyone likes me. Then it hits me. "Do you think he does?"
She nods. "Yeah, I really do. I know it's only been like a day, but I think Brandon is a good judge of character. And believe me, he likes you."
"Well, what's not to like?"
"Oh, please. Don't get me started."
I smile and reach over and pull her into a tight hug. "Abby, you don't know how much this means to me. Thank you so much."
I can feel her nod into my chest. I missed holding her like this. Just the two of us. Together. It may be a little fast, but I have to know if what she said before was actually hypothetical. "Abby, does this mean we get another chance?"
She lifts her head to look at me.
"Another chance at me and you? Us?"
She slowly responds, "Do you want another chance?"
"More than anything."
She leans her head back on my chest and whispers, "Me too."
I bring my thumb to her chin to make her look up at me. My eyes gaze deep into hers. I lean in and gently bring my lips to hers in the softest, most tender kiss have to give her.
After a moment, she pulls away and looks at me.
"John-"
Is she kidding me? "No, Abby. Don't start. That was right. It felt right."
"I know it did, John. But, we have to make sure we're doing this for the right reasons. It's not just about me and you anymore. Now Brandon's here. If this doesn't work, I don't want to see his face. I don't think I'll be able to take it."
"Abby, stop. Just stop it okay? It will work. We can make it work." I look away from her. "I know you have doubts that this will ever happen. And I know that I did that to you. I know I made mistakes last time. But, I learned from them. I learned not to take you or our relationship for granted." Our eyes meet again. "Because in an instant it could all be taken away. And it was. Because I was stupid. And I learned that no matter how hard I try, I just cant stop thinking about you. And that's because I love you. I love you, Abby. I wasn't sure back then. Then I left. And when I came back, you had left too. I was so afraid that I may never see you again. And that's when it hit me. I realized I loved you. I was in love with you and always would be. Then you came back and gave me the greatest gift in the world by making me a father." I take her hand in her lap. "And, Abby, I never want to let you go again. Ever. I made that mistake once. And I learned from it, Abby. I really did."
I guess the only words to describe her face are 'woah, where the hell did that come from?' And to be completely honest, I don't know where the hell it came from. I guess it's just some of the things I've been thinking about over the last couple years. But whatever is was, or where ever it came from, I'm glad it's out.
"John, I want it to work, too. I really do. But, I just want to be sure that we aren't jumping into something we cant handle. Something that will screw up Brandon. I don't him to have the type of family I did growing up. If you can even call it that. I want him to be okay."
"He will be." I rub her shoulder for a little reassurance. But before I know it, she's crawling into my lap, bringing her arms around my waist and resting her head on my chest. I guess she needed more reassurance than I anticipated. But whatever she needs, I'm willing to do my best to give her.
I gently stroke her hair and kiss the top of her head when she moves a little. I guess it's to get more comfortable. This couch really isn't working too well. But, soon enough I cane feel the slow, rhythmic rising and falling of her small frame signaling that she's fallen asleep. I reach over and turn the lamp off and slowly start to drift off myself when I hear a barely audible, "I love you," escape her lips.
I whisper back, "I love you too," and fall into a perfect night's sleep.
__
Reviews make me smile =)
And I really need some ideas..