Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews everyone, it means a lot to me! I'm really glad you accepted the Kevin thing. ;) Here's the next chapter, hope you enjoy. Jo xx

"So, what 'emergency' happened last night that meant you had to rush off?" Susan quizzed Abby.

"It doesn't matter." She shrugged.

"You abandoned me for something that doesn't matter? Wow, I feel great about myself."

"Okay, you really want to know?" Abby looked around herself to check there weren't any nosy colleagues listening in. "I got chatted up by this guy, and I kind of…well, you know."

"You left with him?" Susan exclaimed loudly.

"Shush! Keep it down, I don't want the whole department knowing."

"Sorry. I guess I thought you were still hung up over Carter, it's only been like two days, and…I just didn't expect it."

"I didn't expect it either. I'm not really sure how it happened, or why…I guess it was escapism, in a way. I do feel kind of bad for it."

"Don't be. You need to move on, be happy. So, tell me all about the lucky man!"

"His name's Kevin." Susan stared at her waiting for her to go on.

"Err, anything else?"

"Well, he's cute, funny, and charming."

"That's nice. What's his job? How old is he? Surname? I could get Frank to check out his criminal record for you," she joked.

"I'm not sure what job he has…it must be quite well paid, he had a nice sports car. His surname is…" she trailed off, thinking hard. "I don't think we actually got that far. Not sure on the age either."

"Do you know anything about his guy Abby?"

"He's called Kevin…"

"Yeah, apart from the fact that he's called Kevin and is cute, funny and charming."

"He uses Head and Shoulders shampoo."

"Wow, way to go Abby. You slept with a guy you know nothing about." Susan rolled her eyes, grabbed a chart and walked off.

"Don't go lecturing me Susan! You married a guy you knew nothing about."

"No," Susan hissed when Abby had caught up with her, making sure no one else could hear. "I knew what his name was, I knew what job he did, I knew where he came from, I knew what he was interested in, and I knew that he had two sisters and a brother. There's a difference from 'some guy called Kevin who's cute, funny and charming', Abby." Susan stormed off, leaving Abby staring after her shocked.

She made her way to the Doctor's lounge and sat down, contemplating what Susan had said. She was right, she didn't know anything about him. She'd seen it all as just a bit of a laugh, nothing serious. But even 'a bit of a laugh' required a little more information than she had. Wow, once again Abigail Lockhart had screwed up. What a surprise.

***

"Thank you," Abby said, grinning at the millionth person to congratulate her today. It seemed she couldn't go anywhere without being told how lucky she was, or how happy everyone was for them. She expected she would get sick of it, but actually that was far from the truth. Every time someone congratulated her she couldn't help beaming with pride and happiness. She was married to the man she loved with her whole heart, the man who loved her more than anything. Why should being constantly reminded of that annoy her?

She twisted the two rings around on her finger, grinning at yet another reminder of their marriage.

"What are you smiling at?" She jumped slightly as she heard his voice, before laughing and smiling at him.

"I was just thinking about you actually."

"Oh yeah? Good thoughts, I hope."

"Always good thoughts."

"Hey, if it isn't the happy couple!" They both looked over to see Susan standing a few feet away from them.

"And there's the obsessive bridesmaid," Abby joked, winking at Carter.

"I enjoy being obsessive, it's fun! Anyway, I was only trying to make sure you had the best wedding possible. That's what best friends are for, right?"

"They certainly are. Thank you for letting us do it our way though."

"Ah, it was my pleasure."

"Congratulations, and celebrations," Chuny sang as she approached them, grinning broadly.

"Dear goodness, not Cliff Richard!" Haleh exclaimed, also joining them. Soon they were surrounded by a group of colleagues, all quizzing them about it.

"So, what did you wear?" someone quizzed, Abby couldn't quite see who through the group of people.

"Actually, since it was kind of spur of the moment to have the wedding last night I was just wearing jeans and a sweater." Everyone looked horrified, causing Abby to laugh. "The clothes don't matter you know guys, it's the marriage that's the important thing."

"Aww, that's so sweet!" Susan exclaimed. "You guys are totally…"

"This is your work place, not a social gathering!" Susan was interrupted by Weaver yelling from the other side of admit. Everyone scattered, several people rolling their eyes, leaving Carter and Abby stood alone by the admit desk. Kerry immediately softened, smiling at them. "John, Abby, congratulations."

"Thanks," Abby returned the smile, feeling a further happiness that even Kerry was congratulating them.

"Err, I was just getting back to work," Carter added, before she could tell them off.

"Yeah, and I'm off." They both walked off, Abby to leave and Carter to tend to more patients.

"I love you, see you at home later," he whispered to her just before she was about to go into the lounge to collect her coat and purse.

"Yeah, definitely. I love you too."

***

Abby sat alone on her sofa, legs curled up underneath her, and a blanket pulled around her shoulders to try and create some warmth. She hated the feeling of loneliness and emptiness that she was feeling right now. She was beginning to think that last night with Kevin had been a mistake. It was just reminding her of what she didn't have with Carter anymore.

She was absent-mindedly flicking through channels on the TV, not really watching anything, when the door buzzed. She frowned, wondering who it could be at this time in the evening. She wondered who would want to come and see her anyway. For a brief moment she had a flicker of hope that it could be Carter, but then she realised that she was the one who left him, and sighed sadly. Maybe it was Kevin. But then again, she hadn't told him where she lived. Confused as to who it might be she hit the button for the intercom.

"Hello?"

"Hi Abby, it's Susan. Is it okay if I come up?" Abby debated this for a moment. Did she really want another lecture from Susan? Well, things couldn't really get any worse, so there wasn't any harm in trying.

"Sure." She hit the button to unlock the door at the front of the building, before unlatching her door ready for Susan, and then taking her place back on the sofa. A few moments later Susan arrived, smiling nervously.

"Hi."

"Hey." There was an awkward silence as Susan stood in the doorway. "You want to come in? You can take your coat off too, you know." Susan nodded, closing the door behind her and placing her coat over the back of a chair. She nervously took a seat on the sofa next to Abby.

"I…I'm probably the last person you want to see right now," she began nervously. "But I wanted to come and apologise. I'm sorry for lecturing you earlier, that was wrong of me. You're going through a really tough time, and I'm your friend. I'm meant to be there for you, not have a go at you for the way you spend your time. It doesn't matter if I approve or not, I'm just going to support you from now on. That is, if you'll let me…"

"That would be good. Thank you." Both women smiled, relieved that the tension had been eliminated. "Sorry that I've been a bitch the last two days. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you as a friend."

***

"Honey I'm home!" Carter called, laughing as he walked through the door.

"Oh my goodness, don't go getting all cheesy romantic movie on me, I might be sick," she laughed, coming out of the kitchen. "And hi," she added, almost as an after thought.

"What a nice welcome home."

"Sorry, you want a better one?" she asked, before kissing him gently on the lips. She pulled away slightly and grinned, before he pulled her back for a longer kiss. "Better?"

"Definitely!"

"Good to know."

"So, did I just see you coming out of the kitchen? You weren't fixing dinner were you? Because I might be a little worried if you suddenly turn into a house wife."

"No," she laughed. "Well, not exactly. I was fixing dinner. But it was more of a 'I just got off the phone to the pizza place' than cooking."

"That's my Abby." She took his hand, and led him through to the living room, sitting them both down on the sofa together.

"So, what do you want to do this evening?" He raised an eyebrow, grinning at her. "Yeah, what else?"

"I don't know, eat pizza, spend time with my gorgeous wife…"

"Ooh, flattery!"

"Will get me nowhere, huh?"

"No actually, it'll get you most places." She winked at him, and they both laughed.

"You got any ideas?"

"I don't know…but I guess it doesn't really matter as long as we're doing it together."

"Someone help me!" Carter exclaimed.

"What?!"

"I just married a walking talking cliqué. Where are the divorce papers?"

"Don't you dare!" Abby squealed, hitting him playfully on the chest. "I didn't marry you to add another divorce to my list."

"Another divorce? The way you say that it sounds like you've had millions! Is there something you're not telling me?"

Abby suddenly didn't know what to do or say. Yes, there was something she wasn't telling him. But should she tell him? She so badly wanted to, wanted to be able to tell him everything she'd kept to herself all these years. He was her husband, she should be able to tell him anything, right? And yet there was a lingering doubt in her mind about how he would react. What if he was mad at her for not telling him sooner? Or what if he couldn't believe anyone would kill their own child? What if he was ashamed to be married to her? Then he really would be asking for the divorce papers.

"Abby? Are you okay?" he asked, picking up on her silence. She nodded, trying to give an air of confidence. "I know you better than that Abby, something's up. Come on, you can tell me." He took her hands in his, and rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand soothingly.

"I don't know. I can't…I mean, you'll hate me," she blurted out. Oh great, she suddenly realised, now she'd actually have to tell him. She wouldn't get away with pretending it was nothing.

"What do you mean? I could never hate you. I love you, and you're my wife. Nothing can change that. Understand?" She nodded nervously, and felt the tears beginning to prick at her eyes. This was it, the time to tell him, and she could already tell she was going to be a nervous wreck by the end of it.

"I…well, when I was married to…err, I…" She trailed off, unable to form the words that she wanted to say. He watched her intently, a compassionate look on his face that both asked her to go on, and told her he was there no matter what. This gave her renewed confidence to tell him, and so she continued. "I should have told you this before we got married, I should have told you long ago, I'm so sorry. I just…I didn't know how to say it. I don't even know how to say it now." She took a deep breath. "When I was married to Richard, I got pregnant, and…I had an abortion." A single tear trickled down her cheek, and she bowed her head in an effort to hide it from him.

"Oh Abby…"

"Please don't be mad," she mumbled, wiping angrily at her cheek as a few more tears fell. "I was so scared, I didn't know what to do. I just…I knew I couldn't cope with a baby. And I'm so, so sorry I didn't tell you before. And I…"

"Hey, shush." He pulled her towards him, and let her bury her face in his shirt. "It's okay, none of that matters now, does it? The past is the past, I've done things I'm not too proud of, but we get through it, right?" She nodded into his chest, sniffling slightly. "Things aren't always perfect, but you know we got each other, and we're having a great time together. We're happily married, and maybe one day we'll have our own family, and all this will seem so unimportant, yeah?"

"Yeah," she mumbled, holding onto him tightly. "Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me." He kissed the top of her head. "I love you."

***