:::: Part Three ::::

One Month Later...

Abby picked up a few apples from the top of the pile, stuffing them into the plastic bag absentmindedly. It was almost midnight, and she'd just gotten off work. She'd been able to transfer back up to OB, but only because she was willing to take the odd shifts. It was annoying, and she knew she wouldn't be able to continue it after people found out she was pregnant. For now, though, it worked - she had been able to avoid Luka almost completely for the last month. She tied the bag and put it in her cart.

She tried to remember all the things that she'd wanted to pick up as she headed towards the deli - bread, pickles, some of the chicken that was on sale, mustard...Luka?

Abby almost dropped the basket she held when she saw him. He was standing just a few feet away from her, looking at the potato salad.

Did he see me? Abby glanced quickly around her and back at him. There was no way to move away from him quickly without causing a scene. She was about to slink away back into the produce aisle when she realized he was already walking towards her.

He smiled down at her as he came to a halt before her. So familiar was his smile, and unexpected, that she felt her heart begin to ache. She had missed him so much. Not that she hadn't realized that before. She had. Every day and night for the past month she'd find her mind thinking about times they'd spent together and wondering what he was doing.

"Hi," he greeted in the same accented voice she was so used to hearing but hadn't heard in nearly a month.

"Hey," her greeting seemed somewhat shy to her. To make up for it she looked up at him and smiled. His smile returned, a little broader this time.

"So," Luka began, "how have you been?"

"Okay," Abby answered simply, not really sure what else to say. She couldn't tell him the truth. That she'd been miserable and alone without him. That a day hasn't passed that she hasn't regretted everything said between them that fateful day. That she wanted him back.

"Works been good," she said suddenly. "Odd schedule but I'm glad I went back."

Luka looked at her skeptically and Abby immediately realized why. She shouldn't have said that.

"Really? I was actually surprised to hear you'd gone back to the OB. Considering..." his words trailed and he gestured towards her stomach, both of them knowing what he was saying.

Again Abby was lost for words. How to tell him that she hadn't even thought about the fact that she was pregnant when she'd transferred back to that part of the hospital, that she hadn't even considered all the babies she'd be seeing born everyday, that all she'd thought about was getting away from him.

"It's been good," was all she finally said.

Luka nodded, "Glad to hear it."

They stood in the middle of the aisle for a long moment, not noticing that the other customers had to steer their carts around them.

"Have you decided what you'll do?" He asked softly.

"I don't think I feel like discussing this with you, Luka." Seeing the look on his face led her to continue. "Not in the middle of the grocery store."

She started to walk away from him, but he stopped her with his hand on her arm. She looked up at him. The same emotions mirrored in each their expressions and both trying to hide them.

Finally he spoke, his voice just a whisper, "Can we meet for dinner? Tonight, tomorrow?"

Abby closed her eyes briefly, then reopened them and looked back up at him.

"Okay," she agreed nodding her head. "Tomorrow."

Luka smiled. "Great, I'll pick you up at seven."

Abby nodded and watched as Luka walked away. She was certain this was going to be a mistake. The words they'd shared a month ago would haunt them. They'd said the cruelest things to each other that day. Things she knew just couldn't be healed. Not with an I'm sorry and not with love.

No, she thought walking away herself, this relationship was beyond repair. And they had only themselves to blame.

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The Next Evening...

Abby stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her hair for the tenth time that night. She let it fall loose over her shoulders and sighed. There wasn't much of a point to fussing, she realized. This wasn't a date, she thought, rolling her eyes at herself in the mirror. She was just reaching for her coat when the doorbell rang.

"Good evening, Abby." Luka gave her a small smile when she opened the door. "Are you ready to go?"

She nodded, already regretting having accepted his invitation. An evening spent ignoring the rift they'd created between themselves wasn't high on her list of things to do.

"Where are we going?" She asked as she started to put on her coat.

"You'll see when we get there." He reached over and plucked a scarf off the shelf, putting it around her neck. "It's cold outside, you'll need this."

Abby watched with tenderness as he placed the scarf around her neck. Their eyes locked and for a moment both seemed to be standing in another time. A past time when everything between them was sweet and perfect.

Luka, unconsciously, leaned in closer to her. Abby swallowed, but recovered quickly, and took a step backwards. Luka stood up straight and sighed uncomfortably. Looking down, he gave her a nervous smile.

"Shall we go?" he asked gesturing towards the door beside them. Abby only nodded and reached out to open the door again. Luka was quicker though and got there first. Opening the door he held it for her as she walked through and out into the cold winter's night.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -The End of Part 3 (Please Review)

DISCLAIMER: The above was a story of fan fiction based on characters created and owned by Michael Crichton, NBC, Warner Bros. and any other persons or companies affiliated with the television drama ER but not mentioned within this disclaimer.

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"All Things Bad and All Things Good" written 2002 by Abilene and Dasha.

Please, we ask that you do not distribute this story anywhere else.