Disclaimer: Nothing much has changed.

Author's note: Thanks for all the reviews; they really help me out and give me a smile. Yeah this is supposed to be the ch. 7 that I posted last week. Genius me loaded the wrong document…

Summer had faded into fall, and fall was slowing giving way to winter in Chicago. Shane hadn't been back since the funeral, but faithfully called Arianne every Saturday night at nine. Arianne had accepted the fact that Shane couldn't be with her all the time, and the phone calls had become, some weeks, the thing that kept her focus.

Arianne was just finishing a chart on a little girl named Belle, who was four and had the chicken pox. The child was sleeping on the table in exam four, and her mother was out getting coffee at Doc Magoos. Belle, red locks pouring over her face, looked so cold to Arianne, so she got up and put the child's coat over her like a blanket. She went back to her chart, and as she was adding the final signature a soft knock was heard at the door.

"Come in"

Shane slowly opened the door, and went he saw that Arianne had her back to him he whispered "Hey, Beautiful."

Arianne whipped around on her little stool and jumped out of her seat. She started to run to him, and when she was a foot or so away, she jumped on to Shane. Her legs wrapped around his waist while her arms wrapped around his neck. He nearly fell over, but somehow managed to stay upright.

"Hey, Stranger!!" she said, right before kissing him on his nose, her even longer black hair covering their two faces in a sort mysterious veil.

"I missed you so much, you'll never know."  Shane said, setting his love back down on to the earth

Just then the door opened, and there was Belle's mother. She walked past Shane and right to her daughter, who had fallen asleep since she left.

"Excuse me, Dr. Carter, but Belle and I have to get going. Her older brother is at home with the baby." she said as she picked the sleeping child up "Thank you for helping her. She seems to have the worse than her brother did."

"That's quite all right Mrs. Kithen. I hope Belle starts to feel well soon."

"Thank you." was all that Mrs. Kithen could mouth as she started out of the door, trying her best not to wake Belle

"Shane," Arianne said when they were alone "I've missed you so much. Everyday seems to be drab because your not here with me."

"Well I just might have the solution to your problem."

"What do you mean?"

"I got a job at the paper here, as an investigative reporter. I'll be living here, so we'll won't be that far apart."

"You did that for me?" she asked

"For you."

"Where are you going to live?"

"In the apartment that is for rent right below yours!"

Arianne laughed a laugh that had a lightness and a sweetness to it that made her that much more wonderful to Shane.

"What's so funny?" he asked mockingly

"You. Hey, you can stay with me until your place is ready."

"Sure, that would be great. It will only be for a night or so."

"I have to tell you something first though."

"What?"

"I've…I've never have been with a man like that. So don't expect it, OK?"

"Arianne, neither haven't been with a girl like that, so its fine. Besides, I love you too much to do that, you know?"

"That's really nice to hear. I mean some guys, that's all that they want from me. It's comforting to know that you and I are on the same page when it comes to this stuff."

"When are you off shift?"

Arianne looked at her watch, "Five minutes ago."

"Want to go out to dinner or something?"

"Naw. I think that you should get settled in at my place. Besides, I just want to be close to you and talk."

Shane took Arianne's hand and they walked to the lounge. Abby was in there reading her magazine, and when they came in, she shot Arianne a look. It was a look of support with just a bit of teasing in it. She smiled back, and in return got one back. Abby just went back to her reading, keeping a slight smirk on her lips.

She opened her locker, deposited her lab coat and her stethoscope, and put on her gray and red hoodie.  She then put on the gray scarf, hat and mitten set that Eleanor had gotten her for her last Christmas. Finally she threw her backpack over he shoulders and shut the door.

"All ready?" Shane asked

"Yep. 'Night, Abby."

" 'Night Carter, 'Night Shane."

"Good night, Nurse Kovac."

"It's just Abby."

"Good to know."

Arianne grabbed Shane's hand and together they walked out into the ambulance bay.

"Shane, I don't have my car here, it's in the shop, so can I just go back with you?"

"Yeah, of course."

Shane opened he passenger side door so that Arianne could get in. Once she was seated, he shut the door. Walking around to his door, he opened it and got in. Shane turned on the heat for Arianne and then they started off for the apartment building that wasn't but ten or so minutes from the hospital.

"I need to ask you something, Arianne."

"What?"

"I wanted to know if you would be interested in going back to Seattle for Thanksgiving."

"That's a week away!"

"I know that it's short notice, but if you would consider it."

"Only if Poppa can come. I'm his only family, and I'd hate to see him alone on Thanksgiving."

"He's welcome too. He's your father, and family should be together for the holidays."

"Thanks, Shane. It means a lot to me"

When they pulled up to the apartment building, Arianne got out her keys. She got out and made a slight dash for the front door and once there, she put her key in.

 "What's the hurry?" Shane said getting his bag out of the trunk, for everything else was going to be shipped in a few days.

"It's starting to snow! That's the hurry!"

Within minutes Arianne was outside her fifth story apartment, fumbling to find her key. Once she got it, the door to her apartment swung open and Arianne flipped the light switch. What was revealed astounded Shane. All the furniture was from the Carter mansion, and it made the room seem more luxurious than it really was. The living room was filled with wing backed chairs and a massive overstuffed sofa sat so that the person sitting on it could see the TV, which was housed in a cherry wood entertainment center with a stereo.

"Wow!" Shane said when he saw all the things in the living room

"Shane, these are things from the Carter mansion that's all. Gamma left them to me when she died a few years back. Sit down and make yourself comfortable, I'm going to go change."

Shane did what he was invited to do, but not before looking at the CDs that were stacked by the stereo. They were mostly pop and alternative. After looking about, he sat back down on to the sofa, and closed his eyes. Arianne cam out a few minutes later and realized that he was sleeping. Going to her linens closet, she got out a pale yellow fleece throw and covered Shane with it. She kissed his forehead lightly and turned off the light. She decided that this was only the start to something wonderful and life changing.