Author's note: Well, here we finally are- the very last chapter of this fanfic. It's been a long time coming, and I'm kind of going to miss writing this every so often. Anyway, a big thanks to Katie, Melissa, and Justine for constantly reading and critiquing my work- I couldn't have done it without you guys! So, I hope you've enjoyed reading my story, and I hope you will find this conclusion just as enjoyable!

         "John, Abby- there's another plane crash trauma coming in. We need both of you right now!" Jing-Mei said as she stuck her head in the door. We both stared at her for a minute.

         "Oh, I'm sorry. Was I interrupting something?" she added.

         "No, we were just finishing up something…right, Abby?" Carter asked uncertainly.

         "Yeah, we're done," I said, squeezing his hand and giving him a knowing smile

         "Wedding plans?" Jing-Mei asked playfully.

         "No, not quite yet," I responded.

         "Does the whole hospital know?" Carter asked, acting astonished.

         "Well…yeah, pretty much. Oh, and congratulations! Now let's get out there, or Weaver'll have our asses." As I walked through the chaotic mess that was then the ER, Carter still holding very tightly onto my hand, it was an extremely familiar site. But at the same time, it was different. I suddenly realized that for the first time since I had been a med student here, over three years ago, my life was relatively drama-free. Both Maggie and Eric were settled, I wasn't smoking or drinking anymore, and most importantly, I was happily engaged to the person I was madly in love with.

         "Abby, Carter, over here," I heard Dr. Corday call as we walked out into the ambulance bay. We hurried over to the ambulance she was standing at. "You two take this one, and I'll get the next one." She winked at me and added, "Wouldn't want to separate the two lovebirds." Carter rolled his eyes and grinned at me.

         "Thanks, Elizabeth!" he yelled somewhat sarcastically over his shoulder.

         "You're welcome, Carter!" she responded teasingly. He shook his head and smiled, giving my hand one last squeeze before dropping it and walking inside with the gurney.

         "Male, 42 years old, multiple lacerations to the right side…"

         Several hours later, I collapsed into a chair in the finally almost-empty waiting room. "Hey, I'm going down to the cafeteria to get some food. You want something?" Carter asked.

         "Sure, just get me a sandwich." As I watched him walk off, I saw Susan appear from Triage.

         "Sooo…you two are okay, right?" she asked worriedly.

         "Yeah, we're good," I responded confidently.

         "Good, cause I just happened to come upon this bridal magazine." She looked at me, grinning.

         "Oh really? You just happened to come upon it?" I said sarcastically. "Well, I guess there's no harm in looking at it…"

* * *

         I walked slowly back from the cafeteria, exhausted from the day's events, both physically and mentally. Abby was right- it never had been easy for the two of us to be together. Between old flings, family, drugs, and both of our tempers, we have had more almost-breakups than any couple I've ever known. But whether she knows it or not, I've always been in love with her, and I know that I always will be. Somehow, despite every obstacle known to man, something has kept the two of us coming back to each other. As I got back into the ER, I abruptly stopped. There, sitting inside Exam room 4, was Luka. We'd never been friends, as Susan so un-tactfully pointed out to me earlier, but something drew me into that room.

         "Carter? What are you doing here?" Luka asked, obviously surprised to see me in there.

         "How are you doing?" I asked, trying to ease myself into what I really wanted to say.

         "Much better. Just out of curiosity, is there some particular reason you're in here?" So much for easing myself into it, I thought.

         "Look, I was talking to Susan earlier, and she pointed out something that made a lot of sense. She said something along the lines of, 'Abby and I both went out with you, and we're best friends, but you and Luka hate each other.' "

         "I never hated you…" he trailed off. "Okay, she's got a point."

         "So, I guess my point is, I don't think Abby wants to play messenger between us for the rest of her life, regardless of…of who ends up with who, and I don't think it would kill us to at least attempt to be friends."

         "For Abby," Luka said.

         "For Abby," I agreed. We both looked at each other closely for a moment.

         "Okay," he said finally. I breathed a sigh of relief. That conversation could have gone a number of different ways, and I was extremely glad it went the way it did.

         "So, uh, I'll see you later," I said, walking out the door.

         "Hey, you made it back," Abby said cheerfully as I made my way into the waiting area.

         "Yep, here's your sandwich…what is that?" I cried.

         "It's a bridal magazine; haven't you ever seen one before, Carter?" Susan teased.

         "Haha, very funny. I know what it is- why do you have it?"

         "You're the one that's engaged," she pointed out.

         "So, do you think red or purple for the bridesmaids dresses?" asked Abby. I must have had an exasperated look on my face, because she added, "Relax, Carter, we're just looking. I'm not going to plan our whole wedding in one night, I promise." I sat back and watched as Abby and Susan continued to 'just look' at wedding stuff. It was one of those rare moments when Abby looked so unreservedly happy; when she looked so beautiful. Maybe, I thought, we were finally going to get our "honeymoon period". Maybe it would be for the rest of our lives.