July 4, 2001 Week 13 1/2 of pregnancy

Abby laid on the small couch in the spare room of the church in her underwear and stockings. She rested her hands on her large belly. Her nerves were running a mile a minute. She glanced across the room to see Pat fixing Abby's dress. Over the past weeks, the dress had gotten too tight too wear. Pat took the dress off the hook.

"Okay, I'm done." She said looking at Abby. "You need to get dressed."

"I don't want to." Abby said closing her eyes, "I like laying here."

"Well, you're getting married in two hours so you need to get dressed." Pat sad grabbing Abby's hand and pulling her up.

"I'm not getting married. I changed my mind.' Abby said. "I can't do this again." Pat chuckled and unzipped the dress. "I refuse to do it again." Pat shook her head as she managed to get the dress over Abby's head. She pulled it down and zipped the dress up. It fit her snugly.

"Good. My adjustments were good." Pat said smoothing the skirt and train out. She smiled. "You look great. Sit and I'll do your hair and make up."

"Didn't you hear me? I'm not getting married." Abby said sitting down.

"I heard you." She said brushing Abby's now shoulder length hair out.

"Don't you believe me?" Abby asked as Pat pulled her hair up into a ponytail. Pat laughed slightly.

"Its called cold feet." She smiled as she grabbed the curlers and started to wrap Abby's hair in them. "Everyone gets them when they're about to get married. I bet Luka is freaking out right now."

"I doubt it."

"There. On to the make up." Pat pulled out her make up case and sat in front of Abby.

"We get to hear the baby's heart beat next week." Abby smiled.

"That's the best part." Pat said, "It puts everything into perspective...everything starts to sink in. You're going to be a mother. It's really fun, Abby."

"I hope so." Abby said as pat begun to put makeup on her. Someone knocked at the door. "Come in...As long as you're not Luka." Pat chuckled putting eye shadow on. The door opened.

"Oh Abby." Abby's heart stopped and pushed Pat's hand away. She opened her eyes.

"Maggie?" She turned around to see her mother standing in the doorway. Maggie smiled broadly and shut the door behind her. Abby stood up unable to believe her mother was there.

"Look at you!" Maggie laughed "getting married! Pregnant! So much is happening for my little girl."

"What...what are you doing here? How? How did you find out?" Abby stuttered. Pat cleared her throat.

"Eric brought me."

"Eric's here??" Abby cried, "He said he couldn't come."

"Well, I convinced him. We couldn't miss your wedding...second wedding." Maggie smiled. Abby growled and pat pulled her down so she could finishing putting makeup on.

"Second wedding...I am fully aware what number wedding it is." Abby said as Pat started putting lipstick on Abby.

"So...Luka Kovac. He's that Euro doctor right?" Maggie smiled, 'I can't believe you're getting married and I'm becoming a grandmother." Sure...take interest in being a grandmother when you never wanted to be a mother. "Have you two picked any names out yet? Oh don't tell me because it's bad luck to tell. After your last marriage, you can use all the luck you can get." Abby growled deep in her throat.

"Mrs. Wyczenski, why don't you go see how we're doing on time?" Pat suggested. Maggie nodded.

"Anyway I can be of help." Maggie smiled and left the room. Abby groaned loudly.

"Why is she here?? Why Why why why!!??" Abby cried.

"Calm down, Abs." Pat said.

"She's going to ruin everything."

"No she isn't. I won't let her." Pat smiled taking the curlers out of Abby's upsweep and spraying them with hair spray. Pat smiled placing the veil over the curls and secured it tightly. She looked at Abby. "You look beautiful." She helped Abby up and she moved in front of the mirror. Abby couldn't believe that reflecting was she. She smiled slightly.

"Y-You did a good job." Abby smiled.

"Here let me take a picture." Pat said getting a disposable camera that Abby and Luka were giving away as party favors. Abby turned around and smiled at the flash. She rubbed her belly with excitement. The day had finally come. She was going to marry Luka.

Luka paced back and forth in the minister's office. His heart raced. He was about to get married again. His heart felt like it was going to jump out of his chest. He couldn't wait to see Abby walk down that aisle. He knew she would look before. She always did.

"Luka?" He turned around to see a young man in the doorway. He smiled brightly when he saw Luka.

"Yes." The man walked into the room and shut the door.

"Man, it's to finally see you. I'm Eric. Abby's brothers." He said. Luka smiled.

"Oh! Hello! I wasn't aware you were coming." Luka said. Eric nodded.

"My mother convinced me I'd regret it if I didn't make time to come." Luka looked at Eric.

"Mag...Maggie is here?" Luka asked.

"OH yeah. She's here all right." Eric said, "She's been doing fine lately. She turned up on my doorstep about a month ago. I tried getting her back into her home and I'm probably boring you to death." Luka smiled.

"No no. Does Abby know?"

"I think Maggie went to see Abby." Eric said, "Anyway, I just came by o say take good care of her. She deserves to be happy. She hasn't had the best life and when I found out about the wedding and the baby and how happy she was...I was glad. She really needs this."

"As do I." Luka smiled, "I promise you, I'll take care of her. I love her more than anything." Eric smiled.

"That's good to know, man." Eric said as john walked in.

"Luka, Father Norman says it time for you to take your place." John smiled. Luka took in a deep breath.

"All right."

* * *

Luka stood in front of the aisle. All their colleagues and friends sat in the pews. Maggie took a picture of the nervous Luka with her disposable camera. Father Norman moved to the altar. The wedding march started to play on the organ. Luka's heart leapt as everyone stood up and the doors opened.

Never in a million years would Luka forget that image of Abby first stepping onto the red carpet. She looked like an angel sent down from heaven. She was breath taking. Luka smiled as she made her way down the aisle to the music. Luka felt like he was going to fall dead on the spot when the beauty stopped in front of him. He took hold of her hand.

"You look amazing." He whispered. Abby smiled.

"So, do you." She bit her lip not believing this was actually happening.

"We are gathered here today to see the union of two souls, two minds, and two hearts." Father Norman started to give his speech. Abby felt extremely light headed but she managed to keep her cool. Even when she married Richard, she didn't feel like this. She didn't take her eyes off of Luka. He looked so scared, so nervous, and yet so much perfectly at peace. "Abby??" Abby came back to reality.

"Yes?" A few people snickered in the pews. Father Norman smiled and handed her Luka's ring.

"It's time to say your vows. This couple has written their own." Abby took the ring from Father Norman's hands. She took Luka's hand and slide the ring on. Abby stared into Luka's eyes. She took a deep breath in.

"Luka, I don't really know what to say because you know how deeply I feel for you. You've given me so much. You gave me love, devotion, our child...everything." Abby said trying to hold back her tears, "I've enjoyed every moment I've ever spent with you and I'm looking forward to every single moment I will spend with you. I've never love anything more than how I love you." A few tears trickled from both of their eyes. Luka took in a deep breath and slid Abby's ring on her finger.

"For...For years I never thought I would ever feel happy again...Nor feel love again and then...I met you. You made me happy again. You filled my heart with such a wonderful feeling. You still do." Luka said as Abby started to cry, "You're everything to me, Abby. You're the space between my heartbeats. You're...the woman I always wanted. You make me a better man and I am looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together." Father Norman smiled.

"Now, Luka Mikhail Kovac do you take thee Abigail Lockhart to be your lawfully wedded wife. Through sickness and health. For richer or poorer and 'till death do you part and promise to love honor and cherish him?" Luka smiled.

"I do." Luka smiled.

"And do you, Abigail Lockhart, take thee Luka Mikhail Kovac to be your lawfully wedded husband, through sickness and health. For richer or poorer, 'till death do you part and promise to love honor and cherish him?"

"I-I do." Abby said.

"Then with the power invested in me and by the state of Illinois I now pronounce you husband and wife." He smiled; "you may kiss the bride." Luka and Abby smiled brightly. Tears flowed from their eyes as they shared their first kiss as husband and wife. The people in the church cheered.

* * *

As the limo drove Luka and Abby back to their home, they held each other. They were starting a new chapter in their life together. They were husband and wife. Dr. and Mrs. Kovac. Abby giggled softly as Luka swept her up in his arms and carried her over the threshold to their new life.