A/N: I checked my stats today and saw that I'm on the favorites list of more people than I ever thought possible, and author alert list of even more. So if you've added me, then I thank you sincerely! :)
Disclaimer: I won't even bother. But the song is Susanne Vega's.
*~LTDan~*
We're friends, that's all we are
And that's all we will become
It's understood
We're only friends
And it's better that way
For everyone concerned
So if you brush against me
When we're walking side by side
I won't wonder what you're thinking
'cause we've got nothing to hide
And I know you didn't mean it that way
'cause we're just friends
We're friends, that's all we are
And that's all we'll ever be
Is friends
And we can split the cheque
But we'll never bring the conversation
Around to you and me
If I see your hand upon me
It's no reason for alarm
I realize you must have seen
Something walking down my arm
And I know you didn't mean it that way
'cause we're just friends
Oh I know, and you know
That this is really the way
That it ought to be
'Cause if it was another way
We'd have a lot of trouble
And we'd end up in confusion
And we'd lose a lot of sleep
We both know better than to slip and go
And get ourselves all tangled up again
If we want to keep our peace of mind
We've got to keep a little distance
And just be friends
Oh yeah, uh huh, oh
So I'll try to understand
When I feel your arm around my back
That you really meant to do something else
But somehow you've gotten off the track
'Cause I know you didn't mean it that way
'cause we're just friends
I know you didn't mean it that way
Oh I know, you didn't mean it that way
Yes I know, you didn't mean it that way
'cause we're just friends
~Just Friends by Susanne Vega
Carter sat in his dining room, making a feast of cold pizza at six in the morning. He had negotiated to get Christmas Day off. Somehow, he had gotten it. With no one in particular to spend the day with, or no special place to go, it wasn't exactly necessary to get out of work. He wouldn't get Jayleigh until tomorrow, as it was. The day's actual purpose was to contemplate his life, something he had not had the time nor patience to do since November, when he was hospitalized.
Biting off a corner of a slice of pizza, Carter created a mental list of what was impacting him, and what was mystifying him. After a few moments of brooding, he came up with:
Jayleigh, Anne, Abby, his daughter's disease, Luka's death, the pictures in Abby's cabinet, Africa, the partiality of Anne that Jayleigh was lacking, and the odd behavior of everyone at work towards Jayleigh-all made up Carter's very chaotic life.
He tossed the crust of the pizza back in the box absently. Had he ever really sat down and thought about life? Perhaps Africa had changed him that much. or he had finally snapped, and was mentally incompetent, thus doing out-of-the-ordinary things. Either way, he need this contemplative day off.
Or not, he thought as the phone rang.
Groaning, he stood and made his way to the nearest phone. Emily, the housekeeper, had Christmas off.
"Carter residence, John speaking."
"Hey, John, it's Abby."
Curiosity exploded in his brain. John? She only calls me John when her emotions are running high. why is she even calling me? Shouldn't she be with Maggie or Eric somewhere?
"What's up?"
"Oh. nothing. Hey are you doing anything special today?"
"Well, I was - uh - "
"Huh, yeah Carter. Why don't you come over? She chuckled slightly, causing Carter to grin to himself.
"Well, I suppose. I'll have to cancel my other plans, though."
"You didn't have other plans. Besides, you let us stay at your place before we got the apartment. consider it a returned favor."
Smiling a huge smile he said, "Yeah, whatever. I'll be on over."
"Okay. Bye."
******
Carter arrived at Abby's in time for lunch, where she had forced Jayleigh and him to eat bologna and cheese sandwiches. Of course, the toddler complained.
"Yich. Cheese. Don't like cheese," she said, holding the square of American at arms' length, like a potentially lethal snake.
"Eat it for Mommy?" Abby pleaded.
Jayleigh shook her head vigorously. "No!"
Carter reached across the table and took the cheese from her. He threw his head back and dangled the dairy over it.
"If you don't eat it, I will. And you'll just have to eat that plain old sandwich." Abby, he noticed, was watching him with amazed eyes.
"No!" Jayleigh shouted again, taking the cheese from him. "Mine! Don't take stuff from other people without asking, Daddy!"
Carter tilted his face back down, beaming. "You're right. I'm sorry."
Abby's head was cocked to one side slightly, bearing an amused smile. "You're really great at this, you know."
"Yeah, I know." He continued grinning.
"And cocky."
Carter nodded shamelessly. He thought he was getting over Abby. But he was wrong-very wrong.
"All done!" his daughter declared.
"Now can I open presents?"
Carter looked to Abby, who nodded. "Sure," he answered, jumping up. "But I'll beat you to 'em!"
Jayleigh giggled. "Nuh-uh." She stood too.
As Carter was about to say "go," he hard Abby say: "I'll be you both."
"Okay. We'll see. go!"
Jayleigh took off through the apartment like mad; Carter and Abby jogging slowly behind. As they entered the living room, Jayleigh stopped abruptly, causing Abby to do the same. Carter, caught by surprise, ran into Abby. She turned on, Carter assumed, instinct, so they were looking each other in the eyes. His impulse took over at this moment as he leaned forward to kiss her. But he was brought back to Earth by a palm colliding with his forehead.
"What are you doing?" she hissed in a frantic whisper.
He did not know how to answer her, so he did not say anything.
"You have a girlfriend, Carter. And we're over. We have been for three years. You can't keep doing this. Especially in front of her." She motioned to Jayleigh, peering at presents contently. "She'll think. it doesn't matter. the point is-stop. Friends, Carter. That's what we are. Just friends."
He immediately felt dim-witted. He had not meant to kiss her. And even if he had, who was she to remind him of Anne? Carter could think of a million better ways to spend the day, even if it was not with Jayleigh. Even sitting at home eating cold pizza and feeling sorry for himself was better than what had just happened. But she would have to forgive him it. Just one more time.
A/N: Phew! Sorry for the wait. The next few chapters should get out faster, as I've been eager to post them for a few weeks now. thanks for the help from everyone. Don't stop reviewing, people: it's your input that helps me get the chapters out quickly.
Response to Reviews
CamilaC: Thanks for the review, hun. I shall tell you all the spoilers I know.
Hyperpiper91: Thanks for stickin' with it, then! I honestly appreciate it. Anne is a plot device, lol. I'll tell you that right now.
C.L. Curtis: Thank ya, thank ya. I like Jayleigh. She's based on the late Jayleigh Rickett (my sis), my boyfriend's little brother Jeremiah, and my cousin Thomas. I get inspiration from those three. they're adorable.
Carbylobsteravrilfan: Your birthday was on the twenty-sixth? Or the twenty-eighth? I know a lot of people with birthdays around mine. My cousin's is the twenty-eighth. she was eighteen.
Bluecake: Yes, but she doesn't want him because he hurt her, and she's still not over that gitty git git, Luka. Anne is the Kem of my fanfic. I like writing her. she's fun! Lol
Katie: Every five seconds?? Not a lil. eh. obsessed, are we? ;) Now that I've updated. what're you going to do?
Katie: Déjà vu.
Kelly: Of course I'll keep going - right through the end, and the sequel. If the sequel's popular, then I'll make it a freakin' trilogy! Yay!
Feefsmall: I made someone laugh out loud. *Does an I-Made-Someone-Laugh-Out-Loud dance* Thanks for the review!
Kattybaby2318: That soap thing was something I had to do to my sister when she said "Go fuck yourself!" to my dad when he said it was time for dinner. so I liked writing it. :D This is a Carby, isn't it? So hope for the best, huh? :)
Jordan-Cavanaugh: Thank ya, thank ya. :D That line just popped into my head out of nowhere. She is the spawn of. eh. well, she's an incubus, damn it! ;)
Starbright: Thank ya! Had a great day. shopping spree with a few friends. Unlimited money. It pays to have a rich, dense stepfather! :P Anyway. thanks for the review! I love feedback!
A/N: Questions, comments, suggestions - whatever - I'll reply to anything you have to ask. If you REVIEW! How bout it, eh?