Mother Dear

A/N: REVIEW PLEASE!!!!!!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own them, unfortunately.

~*~

"I think Barbie," Carter said decisively.

"No," Abby said thoughtfully, "We did Barbie when she turned five.  She's getting a little old for Barbie, anyway." Carter shrugged.

"It was just a suggestion."  They lay in thoughtful silence for a few minutes.

"What about a pool party?"

"They're six and seven years old, Carter, I don't think that would go over well."

"Right, well do you have any suggestions?  Mine don't seem to be very good."  They were lying on Abby's bed together, talking.  Ashley's birthday was coming up in a few weeks and they needed to prepare a party for her.

"I'm thinking," Abby said pulling lightly on a piece of her hair.

"What if we just ask Ashley what she wants?"

"No, it's always a surprise.  It's this tradition that we have."  Carter nodded understandingly.

"Okay," he said with a yawn, "We'll think of something eventually." 

"Yeah, I guess so.  Anyway, how was work today?" Abby asked him, not wanting them to run out of things to say, afraid that he would leave.

"It was okay.  Busy, as usual.  Five traumas.  Susan asked about you."

"Right, I was supposed to call her back," Abby exclaimed.

"Don't worry about it, I told her you're okay, just busy and she seemed to understand."

"I'll call her first thing tomorrow," Abby said making a mental note.  Carter yawned again and got up to leave.

"Wait," Abby said quickly.  She didn't want him to leave, so she was searching her mind desperately for something to talk about.  Carter turned to face her.

"Yeah?"

"You have a day off tomorrow right?  And I don't start work again until next week when I get this cast off."  Carter nodded.

"So, what do you want to do, then?  Tomorrow, I mean."

"Sleep in late, lounge about the house, I don't know.  Relax." 

"Oh," Abby said sounding somewhat disappointed.  She had wanted to do something with him, but she didn't want to sound too desperate.

"Why? Do you have something in mind?"

"Actually…" Abby began remembering a promise she had made to Ashley weeks ago, "I was hoping we could go to the mall…"

"The mall?"

"Yeah, and buy Ashley another Barbie…"

"Another Barbie?"

"Yeah, I promised her…"

"You did?"  Abby nodded.

"I thought she was too old for Barbie's," Carter stated, but he was grinning.

"Well…"

"Sure, I guess so.  After lunch I guess, or something. The movers are going to be around with your stuff tomorrow at about noon.  So after that."  Abby smiled happily.  She'd be able to spend all day with Carter.

"Great!"

"Yeah.  Well, anyway, I'm going to sleep."  He rolled off the bed and walked to the door, stopping at the threshold.

"Good night, Abby."

"G'night, Carter."

~*~

"Okay, how about this one?" Carter asked picking up a box filled with doll paraphernalia and a Barbie dressed in pink.  Abby turned to look at it and made a face.

"It's nice and all, Carter, but it's blonde."

"I like blondes."

"You're a forty year old man, of course you like tall skinny blondes with cleavage," she said rolling her eyes, "Ashley wanted one that looked like her.  You know curly brown hair, brown eyes…"

"Right," he said putting the box down.  Abby had never gone shopping with Carter before, but he was worse than shopping with Ashley.  He wanted to buy every girl's toy he saw and he delighted in choosing everything to the last detail.  Even so, she couldn't help but smile.  They must look like a married couple buying presents for their daughter.  She loved pretending to be a real family when she was with Carter and Ashley.  She regretted that she had to get her cast off a week Monday because she loved hanging out just the three of them.

Susan had come for lunch a few days ago and she and Abby had spent the whole afternoon in the living room together talking.  Carter would saunter in occasionally and ask them if there was anything they needed and Susan would give Abby a happy, excited glance.  When Abby asked what it had been about, Susan had said, 'nothing, it's just that the three of you are so cute!'.  Abby had rolled her eyes, but inside she was delighted.  Everything was going so well.

"What do you think of this?" Carter asked suddenly, holding out yet another box with doll clothes, accessories and other little trinkets.

"Carter, it's lovely, but well, I don't think Ashley needs that right now," Carter nodded again and put the box back on the shelf.

"Here, this one looks just like her," Carter stated picking up a doll that fit Abby's description.

"It's great," Abby said and Carter beamed.

"Okay, I just wanted to get Ashley one more thing…" Carter said searching the store, "but I think we might have to go somewhere else."  Abby nodded and rolled her eyes following Carter to the cashier.

"No, Carter, you don't have to…" Abby whined as Carter picked up the porcelain doll. 

"She wanted to play with one at my house, but I wouldn't let her, so I wanted to buy her one for her own."

"Carter, you spoil her rotten," Abby said with a grin.

"It's a Dad thing," he said with a mock holier-than-thou attitude, "you women don't understand." Abby chuckled and finally agreed to let Carter purchase the doll on the condition that he gives it to Ashley for a birthday present."

"Okay," said Carter approaching the cashier.  Abby bit her bottom lip.  That doll was awfully expensive and she felt a little uncomfortable.  She knew that she'd never be able to afford something so beautiful for Ashley.  Well, she finally consoled herself, he was the girl's father and that's what father's do.  They like to spoil their kids.  And besides, she couldn't think of anything more that she enjoyed doing than watching Carter's face light up when he played with Ashley, or bought presents for Ashley or just watched the girl as she scrunched her face in thought or giggled.

"Well," Carter said glancing at his watch, "It's only 2:30, how about we walk around for a bit?  Get ice cream, rummage about in stores…"  Abby smiled happily.

"I thought you'd never ask."  Carter held out his hand and Abby took it rather hesitantly.  She leaned against his arm and they walked through the mall enjoying each other's presence.