New chapter! *g* Hope you all like this - I had to get some Carby in there somewhere. ;) Don't let it but non-Carby's off though, this is it! lol! This is sort of an interlude in the story. I know that Carter and Abby seem really childish, but I kinda like them that way, even though I'm not entirely sure it is true to character. Nothing seems to come out the way I want it at the moment, so I have to settle for second best. :-/

One last thing - someone's been flaming this fic (you know who you are), and I'd just like to politely ask that you stop. If you don't like my fic, please don't read it. Your flames have been deleted, since I take offence to them. Also, if you really feel the need to flame, at least have the courtesy to leave your email address so that I can explain myself. Thanks.
Thanks to everyone else for all the great reviews, and suggestions of things that I'm doing wrong/where I could go. I really appreciate feedback and constructive criticism!

Chapter 2

"Sitting in Doc Magoo's always reminds me of the old days," Abby said wistfully.

"Old days? You make us sound ancient!"

"Well, you are nearly 50 Carter."

"So you mention my age and not yours?" he laughed, trying to glare at her but failing. She returned the glare, much more successfully, and then grinned widely at him.

"A lady never reveals her age."

"So, Abigail Carter calls herself a lady now?" She grabbed the menu that was stood on the table and hit him across the arm with it, and playing glint in her eye. "Getting vicious are we?"

"I can be vicious if you want, my darling John."

"Am I the only one that wants to be sick here?" he asked, laughing.

"Now that you mention it...I think it may have been those burgers!" she joked.

"Food poisoning, huh?" he queried. She nodded firmly, her mouth set in a grim line. "What, stomach cramp, being sick, feeling really tired?"

"Of course."

"Well then, you'll be too tired this evening..."

"JOHN!" she cried, hitting him across the arm once again with the menu.

"That poor menu, it's going to be scarred for life."

"Aww, feeling empathy for inanimate objects now?"

"This menu is poor, and helpless, and..."

"Inanimate?" Abby provided helpfully, earning herself another attempted glare.

"You guys spend your lunch discussing menus?" a voice interrupted them. "You really need to get a life you know!" They both looked up at Ella, who'd just come up to their booth.

"Hey Ells!" Carter said, grinning. "Don't worry, we don't normally talk about menus."

"No, it's usually napkins," Abby said, winking at Ella, who laughed.

"Do you mind if I join you?"

"Course not, sit down!" Abby said, moving over for her. "So, what are you doing here? I didn't think Doc's was your sort of place."

"I'm meeting Rachel here," she explained, picking up the menu.

"Rachel? As in your sister?" She nodded.

"You know, I don't think that menu's quite the same, not after all that menu-bashing from Abby," Carter said, laughing and taking it from Ella. "Let me provide you with another one." He reached across to another table, and picked up a menu.

"You guys are just a pair of kids, aren't you?" Ella asked, smiling.

"Us?" Carter asked incredulously, looking at Abby. "You think we're kids?" She shrugged.

"Oh, the young'un doesn't know what it was like to be a kid in the good old days," she replied, making Ella giggle.

"I can only imagine what your house would have been like if you two had had kids!" she laughed. They were interrupted by a waitress coming up and asking Ella what she wanted. After she'd ordered a coke, they returned to their conversation.

"So, what's Rachel doing in Chicago?" Abby asked.

"I'm not really sure to be honest, I didn't actually ask her! I was just glad that I was going to see my sister again, and get to meet my niece."

"She has a baby?" Abby asked, smiling. "Aww, how old?"

"Nine months."

"Cute." Just then, the door opened, and Rachel walked in with a pushchair. Ella waved her over, and she came up to their booth.

"Ella!" she said, pulling her sister into a hug. "I can't believe it's been three years."

"Me either," she laughed, and then turned to Abby and Carter. "Do you remember Abby and Carter? They worked with Dad."

"Oh, hi," Rachel said, smiling shyly. Abby was amazed at the difference in her. Last time she'd seen her was at Mark's funeral, and she'd been a young, fairly pretty girl, with long wavy blonde hair, and an attitude problem. Now, she had a short, cropped hair cut, and so far seemed quite pleasant.

"Do you want a drink or something first, or shall we go straight to the shops?" Ella asked. She seemed slightly nervous, but at the same time excited about seeing her sister again.

"Let's hit the shops - Leigh gets a bit restless if we sit around for too long." Ella nodded, and picked up her bag.

"I'll see you guys soon," she said, smiling at Carter and Abby. They said their goodbyes, and Ella, Rachel and Leigh left.

"She seems...different," Abby noted aloud.

"Yeah. But then she's not 14 anymore."

"It's a shame we all have to grow up," she mused, to which Carter nodded. "Do you want to share a packet of Twinkies?"

***