"I'm so glad you finally came out." Abby said as she took a sip of her drink

"I had no choice, Luka and Alex kicked me out of the house. Something about male bonding..." Sam gave a fake frown as she finished and took a sip of her beer.

Abby and Neela laughed at this, they how thrilled Sam was by their relationship, they'd been married for three months now. Alex called Luka 'Dad' and Luka still glowed every time he heard it, so did she, she just tried to hide it harder than he did.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The night progressed Neela and Sam got steadily drunker, Abby was getting goofy from just being around them.

"Oh my god, you guys missed it yesterday" Sam exclaimed as Neela was telling a story about a recent date.

"Hey!" Neela said shocked by Sam's interruption

"No no I'm going to forget if I don't say it now." Sam said as she pulled her chair closer to the table "Carter turned down a model yesterday, a model, she was like 5'10" blue eyed blonde eyed deal, she was the cover of last month's Cosmo."

Abby looked at her confused, "He does have Kem and a child."

Sam's eyes bugged open "Crap"

"Crap what?" Abby said raising an eyebrow

Neela hit Sam's leg "Oww" she screamed and rubbed her leg

"Sam focus" Abby said turning her friend's attention back to her

Sam seemed to sober up for a second, "He ended things with her five months ago"

"Oh" Abby's heart fell, they were over and he hadn't even told her

"No, no, it's not like that" Sam proclaimed as she moved closer to Abby "Luka thinks that Carter thinks that you think you'll never forgive him."

Sam had said it all in such a jumbled rush that Abby just blinked

"God dammit woman, he still loves you" Neela screamed from across the table and then covered her mouth.

Abby shook her head "No he doesn't, he left me, he left me and then him and Kem and then Matthew."

"Yea he doesn't love you that's why he stares at you whenever you aren't looking" Sam told her

Abby stared blankly

"Everyone knows but you, Abby; we've all been waiting and waiting. Jerry wanted to get a pool going." Neela told her as she cupped her friend's hand.

Abby just continued to stare

~~~~~~~~

She stood on his stoop for a minute before walking away, she walked back; she started to ring the doorbell, but then walked away. She finally rung the doorbell and panicked within a second and forced herself to stay there, then she realized it was 2am and this was probably the most asinine thing she'd ever done. She turned to leave as the door opened, she cursed silently as he sleepily asked "Abby?"

She turned around and smiled "Hi"

He rubbed his eyes and looked at her "Have you been drinking? I smell smoke."

She raises her eyebrows "You smell smoke, so you ask if I've been drinking?"

"You stopped, bars smell like cigarettes it's 2am and your eyes are bloodshot, kinda glazy looking."

"You're aware the 2am explains the eyes right? But I was at a bar, I was not drinking though."

"Oh" he was awake now, truly seeing her, wishing she was here for the reason he wished he was here for.

"You know this is stupid, I'm sorry I woke you up, go back to sleep."

"Abby you already woke me up; you might as well tell me what you wanted."

"No, no" she said shaking her head and going to turn away, "I'm really sorry I woke you up."

She started to step down but he run down in front of her and blocked her exit "Tell me"

His eyes gazed deep into hers, she had heels on and the fact that he was a step below her made it so they were eye level despite the fact that he had almost ten inches on her. She wondered if that pleading she saw in his eyes was in her mind or it was real?

"Please Abby" he begged

"No it's foolish, look I'm really sorry"

"So am I."

She titled her head confused, "You're sorry I woke you up?"

He closed his eyes "I'm sorry I left you." His eyes opened again "I'm not sorry for Matthew, I love him, but...I don't know I'm just sorry." He closed his eyes again, he dropped his head down.

"It's okay" she whispered

He opened his eyes to see her eyes glassy, he opened his mouth, but he was lost for words. He was confused; he didn't know what this meant. "You forgive me?"

"Yea"

He was still confused; his throat was scratchy as he asked "Abby do you understand what I'm telling you? I'm sorry we aren't married, I'm sorry we don't have children together, I'm sorry I threw away our future because I'm never going to love anyone like I love you."

She nodded as more tears formed in her eyes

"Abby do you still love me, can you really forgive me?" he asked desperately

She nodded

"Abby are you being serious?"

"Why the hell else would be standing on your doorstep at 2am?" her words came out in between sobs

"Oh god Abby" Carter cried as he took her in his arms, she stepped down and buried herself in his arms. "I'll never mess up again I promise, I'm never letting you go again

They stood on the at the bottom of the stairs just clutching each other.