I want to say thanks for the wonderful reviews I've gotten so far. …. Thanks. I also wanted to thank my beta again, for being so awesome and encouraging to me. It's just what I need.

Presenting the final chapter. No buts, it's over. ;o) Enjoy.

***

"Mmph… I don't think I can eat another bite." Abby put her fork down on her plate and looked over at John.

John, who'd been watching her pick at her food with amusement, perked up. "Already?" He gave her a look, and she laughed lightly.

"Hey! I ate most of it. I had no idea they'd give me this much. Besides…" She nudged her head in his direction. "… You didn't finish yours, either."

"I was saving it for you."

Abby eyed his plate and groaned. "Argh. Mind if I pass?" She smiled at him and winked.

"Ok, but only this one time."

She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to fatten me up, Dr. Carter?"

It was his turn to laugh. "Wouldn't dream of it. You're perfect just the way you are."

"Good. And… Thank-you." Abby broke eye contact for a second, looking down at her hands in her lap. She sighed and brought her head up again, looking around the dining room. "So… When does the dancing start?"

John raised his eyebrows. "Dancing?"

"Yeah… Isn't that what goes on in places like this? Dinner and dancing?"

John shrugged. "I guess." He looked around and saw no sign of a dance floor. "Maybe they only do that on the weekend."

Abby sat back in her chair. "Oh."

John leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "Disappointed?"

"Not really," she lied.

They sat in silence for a few minutes - each caught up in their own thoughts, wondering what the other one was thinking. Abby picked up her fork once more and moved some of her leftover entrée around on its plate. John cleared his throat and sat back in his seat, watching her. She looked up and saw him. Biting her lip, she dropped the fork back on the plate. "What?"

John opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off as Maurice approached their table once more.

"Did you two enjoy your meal?"

The question was directed at both of them, but the waiter looked at Abby. She nodded her approval. "Yes, it was very good."

Maurice beamed. "Great! I'll just take your plates…" He reached down to pick up Abby's plate with one hand and John's with the other. "Can I interest you in anything else? Our dessert menu, perhaps?"

John could tell Abby was groaning, despite the fact that she made an effort to hide the sound. He looked from her to Maurice. "Actually, I think we're ok. Thank-you."

Maurice looked at Abby, who remained silent, then back at John. "Ok, well… I'll just give you a few minutes."

John nodded in Maurice's direction, his eyes planted on Abby. Maurice looked at the two of them one more time, got the hint, and left.

"What's wrong?"

Abby frowned. "Nothing." She softened, putting on a smile. "Really." She picked up the bottle of cider and poured the last little bit into her flute. "So… "

"So…?"

She picked up her glass and took a sip. "So… What's next?"

John frowned. "Is there supposed to be something else? Did I forget…?"

Abby shook her head as she laughed. "Relax, John. You didn't forget anything." She adjusted herself in her chair, leaning forward on the table. "I was just wondering whether you had planned anything for… afterwards."

"Ah…" John nodded slowly. He paused for a moment while he thought of what to offer. "We could go for a walk…"

Abby was quiet as she considered the idea of spending more time alone with him. She watched him as he took in her contemplation, as if he was trying to read her expression. A wide smile crept across her face as a realization hit her.

"How fast can you get the cheque?"

***

Fifteen minutes later, they were standing on the sidewalk outside 'Sergio's'. The night air was crisp and refreshing. Abby inhaled deeply as she pulled her jacket tighter around her, tying the belt around her waist. Looking up at John, she saw him smile as she took his hand. They walked away from the restaurant in silence, heading in the direction opposite where they'd parked. There was no destination intended, only the company of each other, their inner thoughts and feelings.

The silence that settled between them was comfortable. They were at peace with not talking as they strode hand-in-hand along the streets near the river. At several points along their journey, he would look down at her and she would look up at him, and they would share a glance, followed by a smile. She would squeeze his hand and he would squeeze back. Their hearts beat in rhythm to their footsteps, to each other.

Within a few minutes, as if some mysterious force had been drawing them in, they were walking alongside the river, basking in the invigorating breeze coming off the water. They continued to walk until they'd reached a certain spot – their spot. A pivotal location in their relationship, neither one of them could deny that. Abby's hand slipped out of his as they went to sit down on the bench, and she used it to brush a lock of hair out of her eyes, looking out across the Chicago skyline. She sighed softly - he heard it. Turning his head slightly, he watched her out of the corner of his eye. She was beautiful, with the moonlight reflecting in her eyes and hair. A content smile played on her lips, her breathing slow and even.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Her voice pulled him out of his trance. She blinked twice at the city, and turned her head to face him. "What's on your mind, John Carter?"

He sighed and picked up her hand, kissed it and rested it in his lap. "You."

Abby's gaze drifted from his face to their entwined fingers, and back to the water. She shifted a little on the bench, so that her head was resting on his shoulder.

"What about me?"

John looked out across the water. "I was thinking about how amazing you are, and how incredibly lucky I am that you're with me right now."

He paused, waiting for a response. When she was silent, he added. "I was thinking about how much I love you."

Abby gasped slightly at his admission, speechless. "Oh."

It wasn't the response he had hoped for. Rather, it had been the one he'd been expecting. Sadness washed over his face and he let out a heavy sigh. "Abby…"

"I love you, too."

"You do?"

Abby lifted her head and looked at him. "Yes."

John could see her tears, and he blinked back his own. His hand went to her cheek, stroking it gently. Abby leaned into his touch, closing her eyes.

"You have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that."

"Mmm." She opened her eyes, gazing into his. "Probably about as long as I've been waiting to hear you say the same thing." She took his hand, kissed the palm and closed his fingers into a fist. She moved her head back to his shoulder, looking out over the skyline once more.

"It really is a great view, isn't it?"

John sighed. "It is."

Abby smiled at his response. "It's hard to believe that for everyone else, this is just an ordinary night. But for us… "

"… It's something much more."

She tilted his head up to look at him. "Yeah." She held his gaze for a few seconds before she bowed her head.

"Will you… Take me home?"

Her voice was so quiet that John wouldn't have heard her request had he not been so completely in tune to her voice. He gently lifted her chin so her eyes met his, again.

"I would take you anywhere."

***

The drive back to her apartment was peaceful and comforting. Again, they did away with verbal communication, focused more on the unspoken conversation of what had been and what was about to be. John parked and walked over to help her out, wrapping his arm around her waist as they climbed the stairs to the door. Abby fumbled with her keys, smiling weakly as she found the lock, giving the knob a swift twist to force the stubborn door open. He held it for her and followed her inside and up the stairs. Outside her apartment, he waited with his hand on the small of her back as she unlocked yet another door before finally introducing them both to the inviting nature of home.

Abby dropped her keys on the table as she slipped off her jacket, flipping on the lamplight. She looked around briefly, thankful that she'd left her apartment decent, and turned back to John.

"Make yourself comfortable."

John moved further into the room, shrugging out of her jacket as he did so. Laying it over the back of her couch, he found her standing in the threshold of the dark kitchen. She smiled at him.

"Do you want coffee… Or something else?"

He approached her tentatively, unsure exactly what was transpiring between them. Had he read her wrong?

"No. Thank-you. I'm good."

She nodded quietly and helped to close the distance between them. She cocked her head to the side and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Just good?" she asked, an eyebrow raised.

John sighed. "Well, now that I think about it… I could be better."

He lowered his head as he used a hand to tilt her face closer to his. His free hand found its place resting gently on her hip. He lips found hers, and they locked in a soft, caressing kiss. As the kiss deepened, John could feel Abby's arms tighten themselves around his neck, her body lunging towards his. His tongue prodded at her mouth, willing it to open for him. She obliged, tasting his desire to be with her. Both his hands on her hips now, he pulled her closer to him, doing away with any space that lay unoccupied between them, as they gave into the yearnings that had previously been unrequited.

Soon - too soon - they parted, gasping and panting for air. Abby eyes fluttered open and she drew a hand away from its perch on the back of his head, bringing it to her cheek, as if to steady herself. Next, she moved it to her lips, raw and swollen from their passionate act, and then to her chest, resting it over her racing heart. Her gaze drifted downwards, as if in thought, sighing lightly. He watched her, a concerned look on his face.

"Abby…"

Abby pressed her lips together and took a deep breath to calm herself before looking back up at him. When she did, her façade crumbled as her heart melted.

He noticed the tears in her eyes. "Abby… What is it?"

She smiled, remembering his response to her same question earlier that night. "It's… you. It's always been you."

"Oh, honey…" John brought a hand to her cheek, wiping a stray tear away with his thumb.

She covered his hand with hers. "I love you, John. I… I think I always have."

He leaned forward, kissing the top of her head gently. "I know I've always loved you."

She pulled away slightly, shaking her head. "I…. "

"Shhh… It's ok." John brought her head back to him and kissed it again. He felt her shift away from him, and was about to call to her again, but her name caught in this throat when he felt her wrap her arms around his torso in a hug.

Resting her head on his chest, Abby closed her eyes and allowed herself to listen to his heart as it talked to hers. She felt him rest his chin on her head, a hand gently stroking her hair.

"John?"

"Yes?"

Abby titled her head back to look at him. "Are you… Scared?"

John looked down and studied her face, memorizing her features in his mind. He brushed a lock of hair away from her eyes.

"No. I'm not scared to be with you, Abby. I'm petrified to be without you."

"Oh." She lowered her eyes and pursed her lips together in thought, allowing his answer sink in. "John?"

"Yes?"

There was a pause as he felt her sigh against his body as she looked up at him again, finally finding the words he'd only ever dreamed she'd say.

"Will you stay with me tonight?"

John stroked her cheek lovingly, leaning down to plant a kiss over the spot he'd just caressed. A smile spread across his face, and he moved his mouth closer to her ear, his voice so low she could barely hear it.

"I thought you'd never ask."

***

The End.