Mother Dear

A/N: People who review are the best.  Okay, chapter 19 was not the last chapter.  I have the decency to tell you when it's done.  I know that you all want it over so fast, but I'm going to make you suffer. ;)

DISCLAIMER: Not mine

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Carter and Abby were talking quietly, reminiscing of times long since past.

"Mommy?  Are you awake?"  Abby glanced at the time; it was too late for Ashley to be up.

"Come on in." The little girl approached the big bed.  She was wearing her pajamas and she was rubbing her eye with her fist.

"Why are you awake?" Abby asked her daughter.

"I wasn't tired anymore.  I wanted to talk." Ashley climbed up onto the bed with a little boost from Carter.

"What did you want to talk about?"

"Just stuff." Carter and Abby glanced at each other.

Abby waited patiently, but rather worriedly, for the girl to begin talking. Ashley meanwhile was looking from Carter to Abby, who were sitting rather close to each other on the bed, with a triumphant grin.

"A lot has changed since we got here," the girl said finally, eyeing Carter with a smile.

"I know, Ashley," Abby said, wiping a stray curl out of Ashley's face with her good arm.  She was trying to figure out what Ashley was getting at and why she kept exchanging secretive glances with her father.

"It's not bad…," Ashley said thoughtfully, "It's just different.  It's a little bit scary too, because I don't know what's going to happen next."

"I know it can be scary," Abby said reassuringly, "Change can be confusing.  But some things will never change.  You can always talk to me, that will never change," Abby said, "and we will always have each other, no matter what. And I'll always love you more than anything." Abby smiled warmly at her daughter and the little girl nodded.

"I'll love you too, Mommy.  Forever and ever."

"See?  As long as we stick together, we can handle anything."  Ashley nodded again. She looked slightly less distraught. 

"And we have Daddy now, too," Ashley said, smiling yet again at Carter.

"Yes, we do," Abby said with a smile.

"Mommy?"

"Yes?"

"Do you love Daddy forever too?" Abby hesitated and Ashley eyed her mother expectantly. Carter shifted his position in the bed.  He wanted to hear the answer to this question too.

"Ashley, you father and I..." she was at a loss for words. She really hated lying to her daughter, "Yes, Ashley," she said finally, "I do." Ashley grinned happily and turned her attention to Carter.

"See, Daddy, I told you so."  Abby looked at Carter sternly.  He tried to look innocent, but was failing miserably.

"I- She- We were just talking," he said.

"Mmhmm." Abby was not convinced.

"Dinner table Smalltalk." Abby laughed appreciatively.

"You are so busted," she said.

"It was worth it," Carter muttered, "but I think I'll go and put the munchkin at the end of the bed to sleep now.  You should probably get some rest too."  Abby groaned.

"When my week and a half is up, I'm never going to sleep again," she said.  Carter chuckled and picked Ashley up off the bed.

"Good night, Mommy," she said in a delighted tone. 

"Sweet dreams."

Short chapters suck. Review.