***Disclaimer: We don't own anything. ***

Co-written by starbright

How We Got Here

Chapter 2

"I just..." Abby began nervously. Why did he have to ask me this? She looked into his eyes and could see that he was confused.

"What is it, Abby? Do you not love me?" Carter asked sounding hurt. Abby shook her head and looked up at him

briefly.

"No! John, I do love you, but I can't marry you! I like it just the way it is, just us dating. Why do we have to get married?" she asked softly. He was so confused. I love her, and I want to spend the rest of my life with her, I thought she felt the same way, he thought to himself.

"Because I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I thought that you felt the same way!" Carter said firmly. Abby sniffled.

"Well, I don't, not yet and I don't know if I ever will, Carter! What if our marriage turns out exactly how my last marriage did," Abby asked frustrated.

"It won't," Carter said looking as he took a hold of her hand. "You trust me, don't you?"

"Of course, I do, but I just can't commit to something like this right now," Abby said sadly.

"I want to, John, but I can't do it yet! I," Abby began.

"We can have a long engagement, Abby. Getting engaged doesn't mean we have to get married right away. I am sorry that you think I am pushing you into this," Carter said gently touching her shoulder. Abby held back tears. She looked at Carter; he was being so understanding and kind. She wanted to say yes right then and there, but she couldn't.

"I just can't, Carter. I am too scared. I don't think I can take that risk again! If you don't understand that, then maybe you never really knew me," Abby said firmly. Carter sighed.

"I understand, but you love me, don't you?" Carter asked.

"Of course I do," Abby said, smiling slightly.

"Why can't you just understand that, I want to be with you, I just can't marry you, yet," Abby said. Carter shook his head.

"Fine," Carter said. Abby looked at him. She knew he was hurting, but so was she.

"I'll see you later?" she asked, meaning her apartment. Carter shook his head.

"No," he said and began to walk away from her. Abby began crying, again.

"I'm sorry. You just don't understand," she cried over and over as she gently rocked herself back and forth.

**

The next day, Abby was eating her breakfast, and all she could think about was Carter. Why did I have to say no to him? Don't I want to spend the rest of my life with him? She sighed; she was so confused about everything. When suddenly there was a knock at the door. She opened the door.

"John," Abby replied. "What are you doing here; I didn't think I would see you." Carter walked into the apartment.

"I'm sorry about yesterday; I shouldn't have left like that. I was just so upset about how everything went. But I

understand that you are scared about getting married, and I'm not going to say anymore about it," he said as he leaned

over and kissed her. She looked up at him.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten so mad at you, it is just I never thought that I would want to get married again," she

said. Not until I met you, she thought to herself. But she was still afraid about getting married and there wasn't much that he could do to change her mind.

"Why don't we sit down?" Abby suggested.

"Sure," Carter said, as they sat down on the couch. She took a hold of his hand.

"You are my best friend, you were there for me when I needed you, and when we got together, and I was the happiest I have even been before but…" she stopped in mid sentence. He looked at her.

"What is it?" he asked.

"This is really hard for me to do," she said, as tear started to fall down her cheeks. Carter hugged her.

"Tell me what is wrong," She took a deep breath before she begun again.

"I know that you want to get married, and have a family, but I'm not the person to do it with. I don't think I will even

want to have kids, as I don't want to pass on the disease that my mom and brother has to my kids. All I ever wanted is for you to be happy, and if that means us breaking up, then that is what I'm going to do." Carter looked at her sadly.

"But Abby, I love you. Yes, I want kids, but only with you. We don't have to have kids of our own, we can adopt." Abby looked up at Carter.

"I'm sorry, but I'm breaking up with you. Now, can you just please go before I change my mind?" she said, as she started walking away from him.

"But…"

"John, just go, please!" she shouted. Carter looked back at her, and could see that she was crying.

"I love you Abby Lockhart, I always will," he whispered as he left the apartment She looked and saw that he was gone.

She couldn't believe what she did, but it was for the best. But if it was for the best, why did she feel like a part of her was missing.

"I love you John Carter, and that this why I did this for you."

To be continued...