Abby sighed slamming her pile of charts down on the desk. What was it about Christmas Eve that seemed to give an open invitation for everyone to phone in sick. They were 4 nurses down and the agency staff were only allowed to work triage. Which meant that she was left to assist in trauma after trauma despite Susan's constant nagging that she should be taking it easy.

Abby was aware that Luka knew and last week she'd had to tell Kerry when she called her up on running off mid triage thanks to the pleasures of morning sickness. Running her hand over her slightly swollen stomach she realised it wouldn't be long before everyone knew.

However the one person she wanted to share the news with was halfway around the world completely unaware of the news that would greet him on his return.

"Penny for them" Luka asked.

"I was just counting down the hours till my shift finished … is it me or is that clock going backwards" she observed turning towards him.

"That bad?"

"Yeah I'm exhausted already and it's Susan's party tonight"

"You're going?" he asked.

"Could you imagine the hell Susan would give me if I didn't" she joked.

"True, she blackmailed me into going"

"How … dare I ask?" Abby said with a sly smile.

"Funny" Luka said chuckling to himself before going outside to wait for the impeding trauma. Abby pulled on a yellow plastic gown and followed him.

***

"That's me finished for today" Abby said clocking out.

"You still going straight to mine" Susan asked following her to the lounge.

"Yeah otherwise I'll probably fall asleep and miss it"

"I'll just get my keys for you I've got another two hours to go yet" she sighed, opening her locker and handing Abby a set of keys.

"Bagpuss?" she observed looking at the bright, fluffy key ring.

"It was a present from Susie"

"Ahh so I'll see you later, anything you want me to get ready?" Abby checked.

"I did everything last night"

"I'll see you in a few hours then" Abby said leaving the lounge.

After grabbing a quick break Susan headed towards the nurses station to find Luka and double check he was definitely coming.

"Hey" she greeted sneaking up behind him as he took a chart from the stack.

"Hi" he whispered, now more than ever his thick accent sent shivers down her spine, she'd always found herself drawn to it before but now it was something more than just liking it because it was different.

"You still coming tonight?"

"Of course" he grinned then leaning in so only she could hear he whispered "I'm on a promise"

Susan was just about to reply when her focus shifted to the lone man making his way towards the lounge, she noted immediately that there was something different in the way he carried himself, he looked almost … smug.

"I don't believe it" she almost shrieked.

"What?" Luka asked worried that maybe he'd got the wrong end of the stick about her earlier promise and had somehow overstepped the line. After all it had only been 4 weeks since their first date.

"Look" she said drawing his attention to where the subject of her surprise stood deep in conversation with Weaver.

"Carter" Luka confirmed "I didn't know he was coming back"

"You and everyone else … well if they knew no one has said anything" she added.

"He's coming this way … act normal" Susan ordered much to Luka's amusement.

"Susan" Carter greeted in a friendly voice.

"Carter" she returned in a not so friendly voice.

"It's good to see you" he offered attempting to break the ice, he knew coming back wouldn't be easy but he hadn't expected such an icy reception from Susan … she was one of his oldest friends.

"You too" she tried to sound sincere but she was still so angry with him for disappearing for 3 three months and then there was the cold hearted way in which he ended things with Abby "I'd love to stay and talk but I have a party to get ready for"

"Weaver said you were throwing the Christmas party again this year" he said looking slightly hurt.

"You know me any excuse for a party" she said discreetly kicking Luka in the ankle in a silent plea for back up.

"Sounds like it's going to be a great night"

"Why don't you come" Luka asked him completely oblivious of the death stare Susan was sending his way.

"I ..I don't know if that's such a good idea" Carter admitted.

Starting to feel slightly guilty reluctantly Susan smiled her approval "Why not, what better way to let everyone know you're back"

"Well if your sure"

"I am" she said from behind a fake smile.

"Well I'll see you tonight" he smiled and with that he was gone.

"Can you cover for me" Susan asked Luka once Carter was out of ear shot.

"I thought everything was ready?" Luka asked somewhat confused.

"It is … but I really should warn Abby, it hasn't exactly been an easy pregnancy what with the absent father and sever morning sickness, the last thing she needs is Carter turning up tonight without warning" she explained.

"Sure I'll see you at the party"

"Thanks … and I haven't forgotten the promise I made" she whispered leaning in.

***

"Abby?" Susan called out as she entered her decorated flat.

Entering the lounge she soon discovered why Abby hadn't picked up the phone, she was fast asleep on the sofa.

"Abby" she tried again this time shaking her shoulder.

"No need to shout" Abby yawned slightly cranky from being woken up.

"Sorry" Susan smiled.

"You're home early" she observed checking her watch.

"Yeah I thought I better warn you … Carter's back, and thanks to Luka's penchant for putting his foot in his mouth he's coming tonight" she admitted.

Abby knew it was bound to happen sometime but she thought she'd had more time to prepare than 2 hours.

"Timing never was his thing" was all she could manage to say as her hand drifted to the growing bump under her sweater.

"You going to be alright with this?" Susan asked concerned for her friend.

"Yeah … I mean I'm not going to able to hide it for much longer and I think he has a right to know before the rest of Chicago" she said sitting up.

***

The party was in full swing everyone had turned up surprisingly early considering how hectic County was when Susan had left. Completely oblivious to the celebration around her Susan noticed that Abby's nervous glance had been fixed on the door the whole time.

"He might decide not to come" she said sitting down next to her.

"I wasn't watching"

"Yeah right" Susan chuckled.

"It's just …" but she never got a chance to finish as the doorbell interrupted their conversation.

"Carter" Luka greeted causing Abby's head to snap round so fast that the room was still spinning when she realised that Carter wasn't alone, but was accompanied by a mystery dark haired woman.

A nervous looking Luka lead the pair towards where Susan and Abby were sitting. Avoiding eye contact with Abby Carter fixed his gaze on Susan "Sorry we're late"

"You haven't missed much" Susan said through gritted teeth concerned for the woman sitting beside her.

"Megan this is Luka, Susan and Abby friends from County" he said in reply to Luka's questioning gaze.

Abby didn't need to hear the next part because she had already spotted the ring that sat proudly on the strangers engagement finger.

"This is Megan my fiancé … we met in Africa …" but neither Susan or Abby heard the rest of his explanation. Abby was trying to fight the nauseous feeling that had overcome her as carter confirmed her suspicions and Susan's concerned gaze was fixed on Abby as she watched her friends face pale at Carter's shock announcement.

He really knew how to twist the knife in.