AN: I hope you enjoy this, the next part. Still a few more chapters to follow.

The Rainbow After The Storm

Chapter Twenty

He came back over to the bed and sat down heavily beside her. His expression serious. She looked at him biting her bottom lip nervously.

Carter sighed deeply and said 'It's positive'

Still biting her lip she looked away unable to look him in the eye at that particular moment. One which should have been one of the most happiest moments of their lives together.

He put his hand on her arm; he didn't know what to say to her. He never thought that it would have happened like this. He hoped that they could have one day talked about it and if and when Abby was ready, for it to happen in planned circumstances.

After an incredibly long silence he said 'Abby' his voice came trembling from emotion. 'I want us to have a baby, this baby, but I know, I know you're not sure. I want you to be sure. I don't want to force you to do something, how will we last if I expect something like that from you. But I have to say this to explain how I feel, what I want, what I need'

'I need some time' she mumbled feeling extremely emotional all of a sudden 'We've got a few weeks, so I can think. It's happened so fast, I have to be sure'

Finally she met his gaze the tears glistening in his eyes, which mirrored hers, and they moved towards each other, embracing, each drawing strength from the other.

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A few days later Abby definitely knew she was pregnant you name it she had the symptom. The strangest one being the aversion to blood, seeing it was okay from a distance but every time she was in a trauma which involved a lot of blood and internal body parts she felt this intense wave of nausea. So far she had coped by swallowing hard and exiting the room at the earliest opportunity where she made for the bathroom successfully. Not that that was the only thing that made her sick however, but it was the thing that made her vomit the most.

They hadn't told anyone, Abby knew Carter wanted to at least tell his family, but she hadn't decided, it had only been a week or so. So they avoided talking about it, which under the circumstances was difficult to ignore as she spent a lot of time in the bathroom, or nibbling pieces of dry toast or ginger whilst Carter was eating a proper meal.

Their colleagues at work had noticed a difference in them too, they both seemed serious all the time, wanting to get on with their jobs, not wanting to socialise or have a laugh, but at the same time they didn't appear to have fallen out with one another either. Everybody decided the whole thing was very strange.

They were not the only ones to think that things were suddenly very strange. Maggie had spoken to her daughter a couple of times and had come to the decision that something was not right, not right at all. So she made a decision, talked with Eric and then carried out her plan.

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A couple of weeks later

'Carter' said Randi loudly sticking her head inside trauma two.

'What?' he shouted back

'Your mother in law is outside'

'What?' he repeated

'Maggie' she added

'Oh' he said to Randi then to Caroline he said 'Charge to 300'

Randi stood there for a few moments and they got the patient back.

'So what you want me to do with her?' she asked

'What? With who?' said Carter who had lost the gist of the conversation with Randi by then.

'Maggie' she repeated

'Sit her in the lounge and go find Abby, she's here somewhere'

'Right, great' said Randi to herself leaving the room.

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Randi finally caught up with Abby in suture and said 'I've been looking all over for you'

'Obviously not in the bathroom' thought Abby to herself

'Your mothers here' Randi continued 'Carter said to leave her in the lounge'

'Thank you'

'Were you expecting her to visit?'

'No but then she's unpredictable'

'What do you want me to tell her?'

'That I'll be out to see her as soon as I can. My shift ended an hour ago anyway'

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Abby and Maggie walked along by the river.

'You said you wanted to talk' Abby said to her mother

'Mmmm I do, to you' Maggie said

'You couldn't call first?'

'I thought that you'd discourage me from coming to visit if I told you'

'How's Eric?'

'He's doing okay. If he wasn't I wouldn't have left him. I've given him the responsibility of caring for Dumpy while I'm away'

'So, why are you here?'

'To see my daughter'

They came across an empty bench, Abby feeling tired and drained indicated to Maggie that they sit for a bit, where they looked out across the water.

'Why do you want to see me?'

'I was worried, you seem different and I don't know why. How's John?'

'John's good' Abby answered smiling

'I'm glad you two finally worked things out' she told Abby

'You didn't come her to say that though'

'No I came to find out what's wrong with you. You might think I don't notice when something's bothering you and that I don't care. But you're wrong, so very wrong Abby'

Abby sighed; Maggie knew her better than she realised.

'So are you going to tell me?' Maggie said prompting her daughter a little.

Abby studied Maggie then came straight out and said 'I'm pregnant'

'Abby really? This is great'

'Is it?'

'You know it is'

'I need to be sure'

'Sure about what. You're be a great Mom, there's nothing to worry about. You're not still worried about the disease are you? The chance is not that big much smaller than the joy and happiness you'll get by having a child, by becoming a mother. You'll do a wonderful job I know you will'

Abby sighed 'You're so sure I'll be great'

'I'm you're Mother I know these things, even if you don't. Have you talked to John? Does he know about the baby?'

'Yes to both'

'And?'

'He says he doesn't want to force me into a decision. He really wants to be a Dad though'

'Of course he does honey and you won't be on your own, he'll be there with you. Sharing all the happy and wonderful times that you'll have together. I know that Abby. Look how far you've both come individually and as a couple. Come on let me buy you a coffee'

'Coffee makes me sick'

'Oh well tea, juice, soda then'

Abby shook her head to each suggestion and said 'A bottle of water would be good'

And off they went.

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Abby stood at the bus station with Maggie.

'You going to go straight home again? You only just got here' Abby said 'You could stay for a few days, there's plenty of room'

'I've done what I came here for besides I don't want to leave Eric too long. It's the first time I've left him properly since he came back. Think about what we talked about Abby, promise me'

Abby nodded 'I will. I love you'

Maggie drew Abby into her arms and held her tight. As she boarded the bus she turned and waved and said 'I love you Abby say hi to John from me'

Abby stood there rooted to the spot watching the bus disappear from sight.

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The phone rang and the machine picked up the call the caller waited and after the beep said 'John, it's Abby I'm going to a meeting, I'll be late. Oh and I saw Maggie, we talked but she's left already'

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One by one someone stood by the podium telling his or her story. Although Abby looked as though she was hanging on to every word she heard not one.

People came in, people left but she still sat there. Thinking. Thinking about what was happening inside of her, the new life growing there. Thinking about Carter, about what Maggie had said and about what she, Abby had said to Mrs Sherrill several weeks previously. Wondering what Mrs Sherrill was doing now, was she still at home with her mother or perhaps she was someplace else with Hartley.

Abby's head throbbed with it all trying to find the solution, but her heart already knew the answer.

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Everything was quiet as she let herself in; she walked to the bedroom, tip toeing across the floor. Silently undressing and slipping into bed next to Carter. Sensing that he was no longer alone he moved mumbling something unintelligible and pulling her close, still sleeping while she, stayed awake for a very long time.

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