Chapter Twenty Four - Family Portrait - Part Two

Susan was about to take another gulp when he said it. She looked shocked.

"Oh my God! That is so great! Why didn't you tell me?!" She put her cup down on the floor and got up to hug Carter. "And you didn't invite me?!"

"We were miles away you couldn't have got there."

"Oh forget it. This is so great. Who else knows?"

"Just you. And Abby. And Gamma knew."

"Aww that's great. It's nice she knew. What did she say?"

"That she was happy for me. We got her blessing."

"Lucky you didn't marry me huh?!"

"Oh you weren't that high on her hate list."

"I wasn't?!"

"Not really."

"Yeah just below Satan."

Carter laughed and then it was silent.

"I can't believe you got married. Wait till I see Abby."

"Yeah I was gonna say where has she got to?"

"Weaver's probably tied her up."

"What?!"

Susan laughed as she picked up her coffee from the floor.

"Another torture session."

"Ahhh."

Just then, Abby walked in looking really pissed off.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Weaver's put me on a double tomorrow night."

"But you're off till then?" Asked Carter again.

"Yeah why?"

"Cos we're going out tonight."

"Just us?!"

"No. Susan and Luka."

"Oooh Luka huh? So you finally asked him?!"

Carter looked stunned as Abby began asking Susan questions about Luka and what had happened when she asked him out.

"I didn't ask him. HE asked me."

"Really?! That's great."

Carter still stood slightly amazed Abby was acting like this as the two gossiping women sat down and began chatting again.

"Wait so you knew about this?"

"Of course I knew." Said Abby.

"Well why did you say you needed to ask Abby?!" He asked Susan who was smiling, trying desperately not to laugh.

"I wanted to know your secret!"

"So you lied?!"

"I didn't lie. I just stretched the truth. I wanted to tell her about it, but not ask her permission."

"Yeah sure." He said a bit miffed and turned to get himself a coffee. "You want one?" He said directing the question at Abby who sat smiling next to a grinning Susan.

"Uh.decaf."

"Decaf?!"

"What?" She asked confused.

"You usually go for the strong stuff that's all."

"Just fancy some decaf that's all."

Susan nudged Abby in the side once Carter had turned away and gave her an inquisitive look.

"What?" Abby whispered.

"Decaf?!" She whispered back.

"So?!"

"Hmmm." Susan said, her eyes rolling as she took one last sip of her coffee.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Abby said jokingly.

"Never mind. Just something we were talking about before you came back. What did Weaver want anyway?"

"Just a record of all the nurses who want extra leave for Christmas."

"Sounds like fun."

"Non stop. So what's happening tonight?"

"Me and Luka are coming over about..8 was it Carter?"

"What?" He said as he carried on his battle with the coffee machine.

"Tonight."

Oh yeah whatever."

"Ignore him." Abby said as she fiddled with her hands on her lap.

"Is something goin on?"

"Like what?"

"Tension kinda overflowing the room right now." Susan whispered again.

"I guess."

"You wanna talk about it?"

"I'm gonna go upstairs and get some coffee this machine's whack." Carter announced angrily as he walked out leaving Susan and Abby alone.

"So. What's the deal?"

"Nothing."

"Come on Abby. I know when something's wrong. I knew something was wrong with Carter. Fixed that one alright."

"I didn't even know there was something wrong."

"It wasn't that major."

"What was it?"

"He wants a baby."

Abby looked at Susan, she didn't know what to make of that. He was talking to Susan about wanting a baby, why didn't he just go to Abby about it? She wasn't mad, she was just confused. Remember Abby, asking questions gives you answers.

"Why did he talk to you about it?"

"Uh.I guess."

"I didn't mean it like that, I mean why hasn't he asked me? I'm not gonna bite his head off."

"He probably didn't wanna upset you. With what's happened I think he's just finding it hard to talk about it with you."

"Well it's gonna be difficult whatever the situation is."

"Give him a break, he was only doing it so you wouldn't be upset."

"What should I say?"

"Well why mention it? You don't want a baby, he does, you should leave it."

"I don't know it just feels like I should talk to him about it."

"It's up to you, but I wouldn't trouble myself with it if you don't want it then why bother?"

Abby looked away, Susan knew something was troubling her but she couldn't just ask out of the blue like that. But after being friends with Abby for a while, she could tell when there was something she wanted to say but couldn't, probably pride, Susan figured as she debated whether to ask Abby what was wrong or not.

"So I'm guessing it's not just a one sided thought."

"What?" Abby said as she turned back to Susan after staring at the lockers for a while.

"He's not the only one who wants to start a family."

"I guess."

"You don't sound too sure."

"We talked about it on holiday a little. About the abortion and everything. I told him I wasn't ready for kids, but now I think about it, I am ready. And besides, there's nothing left for us to do."

Abby stopped suddenly and then began trying to pretend she didn't mean that.

"I mean, not as far as we can go but almost."

"He told me."

"Told you what?"

"I've been waiting for you to tell me but I can't pretend I don't know anymore."

Abby looked at her smiling slightly, trying not to let the grin spread across her face.

"When did he?!" She suddenly said smiling.

"Before you came back! You are such a dark horse! I can't believe you didn't invite me!"

"I know I'm sorry!"

Abby hugged Susan, it was nice to finally have a girlfriend she could be this easy with. She never liked Susan at first, but then she saw how good she was to Carter, she can't be all that bad. And she wasn't, she was one of the most loyal friends she'd ever had.

"It's so great though I'm really happy for you two."

"Thanks. I wanted you to be there but we couldn't."

"Yeah I was just kidding. You told Weaver yet?"

"No."

"So have you told anyone yet?"

"No."

"Abby! It's not a huge secret it's a great thing!"

"I know but it's been difficult."

"Are you having a party?"

"I don't know we haven't really talked about it. I mean we got back to the house and were about to go to bed, for the first time there and then Carter's Mom came so we came straight here. We haven't really talked about anything else for four days."

"I see. Why don't you ask him?"

"Can you see Carter up for a party?!"

"Well I am, and so are you by the sounds of it. I'll ask him."

"Ha you'll ask him?!"

"Sure. He can't be rude to me I'm not MARRIED to him!"

"Stop with that it's embarrassing!"

"I think it's sweet. How can you be embarrassed anyway, his family's worth God knows how much!"

"That's not why I married him remember." Abby said winking as they both laughed.