Mother Dear

A/N: Won't be able to update this weekend because I have two finals and ten midterms, so I'm going to treat you to one more chapter now and then if I have time maybe Sunday.   REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!

DISCLAIMER: NOT MINE.

~*~

Dinner that night was interesting.  Ashley insisted upon bringing her new Barbie, 'Lauren' to the table along with Annie to keep her company.

"Ashley, please don't play while you're eating," Abby said, but she was smiling, happy that Ashley was enjoying the new dolls.  Ashley put the dolls on the chair next to her and returned to her food.

"How was school?" Carter asked his daughter.

"Okay, can Sara come over tomorrow?"  Carter looked questioningly at Abby who nodded.

"Okay," she told her daughter, "but I have to speak to Sara's mom first."  Ashley nodded happily.  Carter looked at the beautiful woman across from the table from him.  He had been so angry with her when she had returned to Chicago, so mad that she had left with no notice, but now he had only to look at her to smile appreciatively.  Abby knew he was looking at her and she felt her cheeks get hot with pleasure. She had never felt this way about any man before.  Richard had been a disaster, Luka had been a great friend, but Carter was a soul mate.   Why was it so hard to tell him that she loved him?

~*~

Abby lay in bed that night remembering.

"Miss Lockhart, the doctor will see you now."  She got up and followed the nurse into the small enclosed room.

"Well, Abby, you were right.  You're pregnant.  About three weeks along."  Abby felt a rush of fear and anxiety and embarrassment shoot through her body.

"I am?"

"Yes," said the doctor smiling and she continued on informing Abby of when to book her next appointment and what to expect in the next few weeks.

I'm pregnant, she though sadly, confused and lost.  I'm pregnant…

"Abby, you have a beautiful daughter," the doctor announced happily and Abby smiled, tired.  She held her arms out and encompassed the little girl in them.

"She's beautiful," the doctor admitted. Abby smiled at the little girl as the baby began to cry hungrily.  She fed her daughter and the little girl clutched her mother's finger in a strong fist.

"You're perfect," Abby whispered tearfully.

"Happy Birthday dear Ashley, Happy Birthday to you!" a chorus of small voices sang out as the little girl sat proudly at the head of the table.  Her face was glowing in the light of the candles and she was grinning broadly.

"I am four years old now, I am four years old now, I am four years old now, I am four years old now."

"Blow them out, Ashley," her mother said softly in her ears and the little girl blew them all out in one try quite unaware of her mother's help before she turned and hugged her mother around the neck happily.

Abby sighed happily in memory but was jolted back to reality by a knock at the door.

"Come in," she called out.

"Hey," Carter sauntered in. 

"Hi," she smiled.

"What have you been doing?" Carter asked.  Abby was seated in a love seat that faced out of the widow.

"Just thinking," she said quietly.  Carter nodded and took a seat next to her on the overstuffed chair.

"About what?" he asked quietly as she buried her feet beneath her to make room for Carter.

"Just remembering things from a long time ago." Carter nodded and gazed at her.

"From when I was gone," he said understanding and Abby nodded, gazing back at Carter, her heart fluttering.  She thought she had gotten over this whole always being nervous in his presence thing.  But she knew why she felt like this… she was ready for their relationship to progress.  Carter pushed a hair out of her face softly and turned to look out the window.

"I can't tell you how sorry I am that I wasn't there then."  Abby nodded and gestured toward a large picture album on the table next to Carter's elbow.

"Pass me that?" she asked him.  He handed her the large blue book and she opened it to the first page. There were pictures of Ashley in Abby's arms right after she was born.  There were pictures of Ashley in the stroller.  There were pictures of Ashley in the park.  There were pictures of Ashley with her friends, Ashley at her birthday parties, and Ashley at school.  Carter sighed as Abby pointed to all the pictures explaining the circumstance behind each one.

"Thank you," he said as she closed the book with a small thud, "for showing this to me."  Abby nodded and looked at him sadly.

"I'm sorry you couldn't be there," she said softly, "I try not to blame myself, but I still feel guilty sometimes."

"Don't," he said, "It was my fault.  I turned my back on you.  I betrayed you.  You came back even though I didn't deserve it."  Abby sighed and looked back out the window.

"I always wanted you there," she said and a tear trickled down her cheek.

"Abby, don't," he said as the tear dropped onto her cast.  He put his hand on her chin and turned her head to face him, "Please.  I can't bear to see you cry because of me."  She nodded, but the lump was still in her throat and another tear was trickling down her cheek.  Carter wiped it away softly, gazing into her eyes.

"I was always incomplete," she said, her voice shaking, her lower lip trembling.

"It's okay," he whispered quietly, "We're all here together now." He wrapped his arms around her body.  "It's okay," he cooed again.  She breathed in his scent and brought her good arm up to the back of his head, running her hand through his hair.

"I know," she said as they pulled apart.  She took a deep breath to regain her composure, but she found it very hard to do when he was looking at her so intently, "I know."  She tucked her hair behind her ears and took another deep breath.

"Well," he said and it sounded so out of place that Abby chuckled softly. He smiled at her.  He loved hearing her sound so happy.  He drew closer to her and he heard her breath catch in her throat.  He touched lips with her and he could feel her smile as she kissed him back.

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