TITLE: The Dress

AUTHOR: Em

DISCLAIMER: I own none of the characters of ER.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: In this story Carter and Abby are a couple but nobody knows. It's my first fanfic so don't be totally discouraging, please.

SUMMARY: Abby and Carter are shopping for a dress for her to wear to Richard's wedding when their relationship takes a sudden turn.

1 Part 1:

Abby looked in the windows of the boutique and gazed wistfully at the dress being worn by mannequin. She had to buy a dress to go to the wedding this Saturday, and she knew it would look good on her, but could she justify the expense? She could just go in and just try it on, just to see how it looked…but then she'd fall even more in love with it and then she'd have to buy it. Why did life have to be so difficult? She was so absorbed in staring at the dress, picturing the look on Richard's face when he saw her stroll into his reception wearing a dress that cost more than his entire wedding, that she didn't hear her boyfriend approach until his hands came down on her shoulders and shocked her back to reality.

"God, John, don't scare me like that! I nearly had a heart-attack!"

"What were you smiling at? Didn't you hear me call you?"

"I'm sorry, I was miles away."

"Oh yeah, what were you thinking?" His arm had snaked around her waist, and she leaned against his shoulder as he planted a kiss on the top of her head.

"I was trying to think what Richard's family would say if I walked into the reception wearing that dress. I never wore anything like that when we were married so they'd probably think I was just doing it to upstage his new wife. Which I suppose I am doing if I'm honest. I mean the only reason I'm invited in the first place is so he can play happy families in front of me and I'm damned if I'm going to act like I've been pining away for him when I'm the one who left him." She gave her head a little shake; she's already wasted too much of her time directing her anger towards Richard and she didn't intend to waste any more. She gave a little smile and continued "Besides, why do I need some fancy dress when I'm going to be walking in on the arm of one of the richest men in Chicago! Speaking of which, did you manage to get the evening off work…John… John…"

He had been listening to begin with until she drew his attention to the dress, and then he couldn't take his eyes away from it. He could hear her voice calling his name but it seemed far away. He was transfixed by the image in his mind of the ivory silk shift clinging to all of Abby's curves, the cowl neck drooping to reveal the top of the curve of her breasts, the long split in the skirt revealing the mid part of her thigh and the embroidered roses on the organza shawl matching the beautiful flush on her face after they had made love…that made him smile, and led his mind to thinking about other things…

"Carter!" She gave him a nudge in the ribs, instantly jerking him back to reality. He was in trouble now! The only times she called him 'Carter' nowadays was at work, where nobody knew about them, or when he was giving her his less than undivided attention.

"Abby, you have to buy that dress."

"Are you nuts, its nearly $2000! Its not like I have that kind of money lying around and besides, I don't want to piss Richard off that much!"

"I'm telling you, honey, you have to buy that dress. You'll look sensational and who knows," he leaned in close, giving her a series of kisses on her neck and then whispering in her ear, "you might even get lucky!"

"John Carter!" she laughed, pushing him away as he attempted to pull her closer and do something very personal in a very public place!

"Come on," he said, dragging her towards the door of the store, "at least try it on. You know you want to."

He was using the little-boy "please mummy I want a cookie" voice and giving her the puppy dog eyes, a lethal combination that they both knew would make her melt and do whatever he wanted, although in this case she didn't really need all that much persuading. She had already been debating whether to go in and try it on before John had shown up, so it wasn't like he was forcing her to do anything she didn't want to, but it was going to break her heart if she looked good in it because she wouldn't be able to buy it. God, she hoped it made her look fat! With that though in her head she followed him into the store, laughing along with him.