Author's Notes: This story is set approximately 5 years after the end of "Go Now, Or You Never Will". I was reading old reviews, and saw that a couple of them for this story suggested that I do a sequel. I got to thinking about it, and it made a lot of sense. I understand that this WON'T work out the way most people may want it to - but not everything in life has a fairytale ending. PS: I know that on the show Lucy and Abby met. Just pretend for the record here that Abby didn't appear on the scene until after Lucy left County, OK??
Disclaimer: I own nada. Only playing, promise. Besides, I'm a student and own nothing worth having, unless you count a 17 yr old Micra and a toaster.
San Francisco was dark when we landed, laid out below us just a blanket of lights. The airport terminal was busy as we stepped out into it, bags in hand. I saw her instantly, her bright blonde hair easily visible through the crowds.
Tightening my grip on Abby's hand so I wouldn't lose her, I weaved my way through the crowd to stand in front of her. I hadn't seen Lucy in 5 years, but she hadn't changed a bit. She looked relaxed and happier. I suppose moving away really was good for her.
"Hello, stranger,"
She looked slightly startled by my sudden appearance.
"Oh, I was looking for you..."
She gestured towards the gate haphazardly.
"Anyway, that doesn't matter because you're here,"
Abby fidgeted nervously behind me, shuffling her feet against the cold tiled floor. I stepped back to allow introductions. I opened my mouth to speak, but Lucy was quicker.
"You must be the famous Abby Lockhart? Well, it's been a long time coming, but it's a pleasure to finally meet you,"
Abby looked slightly taken aback by the blonde's overenthusiastic greeting, but shook the outstretched hand nonetheless.
"I've heard a lot about you. You're pretty much all he talks about!"
"All good I hope,"
Abby answered, in a suitably flat tone.
"Russell's waiting with the car,"
Lucy turned on her heel and walked towards the automatic glass doors. It could have gone worse, I supposed, though Abby's hand did still feel slightly tense under mine. She knows I never felt about Lucy the way I feel about her, but I understand her apprehension.
Russell Boyd, Lucy's fiancé, was also a doctor. They'd met during Lucy's residency. He was a year older than she was, and had since graduated to private practice, where the real money to be made in psychiatry was. Lucy had stayed in the public health system, and was now Chief Resident.
But the man waiting by the car wasn't what I expected. I had expected him to be an unfeasibly good-looking, tanned Californian. He was decidedly average compared to my mental picture of him. He was my height, slightly broader with brown hair, and wouldn't stand out in a crowd. But the way his face lit up when he saw Lucy, that wasn't average, and I could see then that they obviously fitted together.
It was a beautiful day. The sun broke the heavens overhead, and meant the sky was a stunning blue. Everything was bright and vital, the world looked alive.
The ceremony was to take place in the garden of the grooms parents house, atop one of San Francisco's famous hills. The views were panoramic. I stood on the porch and watched over the preparations, underway even now. It was surreal. To believe that from the terrible ashes of Valentines day 2000 had risen this happy occasion, and to this beautiful bride, who stood beside me now, still in her dressing gown.
"It's insane, isn't it?"
She said, blowing on her coffee to cool it, eyes firmly focussed on the hive of activity in the garden.
"Just a little,"
"Thank you for doing this,"
She said suddenly. I smiled, a wistful smile. I couldn't quite believe I was, to be honest. I wouldn't have missed this day for the world, and she knows that. I'm proud of her, and the success she's made of her life and her career, and maybe just a little envious. I'm still not quite as free of the past as she seems to be, not quite as settled, though with Abby around now things may be about the change.
"Lucy. Lucy, come on. No time to be hanging around,"
She was whisked off by her excited mother, who had been whirling around the house, a bundle of nervous energy for the past 24 hours. Abby stepped out the French doors a moment later and slipped an arm round my waist. She was laughing lightly.
"We're eloping, OK? I'm NOT going through this…"
I nodded. She hadn't been too keen on coming out here with me, but I couldn't have come alone. Besides, she had been invited. She had had her doubts about coming to the wedding of a med student I hadn't seen in 5 years. But still, here she was, with me.
"How does a beach in Hawaii sound to you?"
She kissed me softly, face lit up by her smile.
"Perfect. Now, coffee calls,"
There was a light summer breeze by the time the ceremony came around. It rustled through the flowers and spread a light, rose scent over the garden. I shifted from foot to foot nervously, waiting at the foot of the stairs for Lucy.
I wasn't normally someone who fidgeted, but I had been ever since I'd buttoned the tux half an hour ago.
"What's taking you girls so long?"
The question had only just left my lips when she appeared at the head of the stairs. Girl was no longer an accurate description. She had been when she left Chicago, but she had very definitely grown into herself now. And far for the tragedy that had befallen her, it was the strength her past had given her that made her glorious. I was left quite literally speechless. She made her careful way down the stairs, trying not to trip on the long snow-white dress.
"You look beautiful,"
I cursed myself for how cheesy it sounded, but she just smiled graciously and took my arm.
"Ready?"
She nodded, and we began the slow parade to the altar.
I had no reason to doubt Russell. I knew that this was the first step on a very happy road for her. As we reached the altar, she turned and kissed me before I took my seat next to Abby. Somehow, these series of moments, made everything we'd been through worth it. Seeing her as happy as this marked her survival with an emphatic flourish.
Abby was my life now, and Russell was hers. And maybe one day long ago I wished I could be the one who would make her happy the way he had but I know now that I couldn't have. I could never have made her glow that way, and I knew I was lucky to be her friend. She'd always mean the world to me; the past dictated that for us.
Abby slipped her hand over mine and squeezed supportively. I looked at her, brown hair shining and highlighted gold, and her eyes smiling. Lucy turned to face her own intended, and I knew then things had worked out. I had let her go, and she'd flown.
Disclaimer: I own nada. Only playing, promise. Besides, I'm a student and own nothing worth having, unless you count a 17 yr old Micra and a toaster.
San Francisco was dark when we landed, laid out below us just a blanket of lights. The airport terminal was busy as we stepped out into it, bags in hand. I saw her instantly, her bright blonde hair easily visible through the crowds.
Tightening my grip on Abby's hand so I wouldn't lose her, I weaved my way through the crowd to stand in front of her. I hadn't seen Lucy in 5 years, but she hadn't changed a bit. She looked relaxed and happier. I suppose moving away really was good for her.
"Hello, stranger,"
She looked slightly startled by my sudden appearance.
"Oh, I was looking for you..."
She gestured towards the gate haphazardly.
"Anyway, that doesn't matter because you're here,"
Abby fidgeted nervously behind me, shuffling her feet against the cold tiled floor. I stepped back to allow introductions. I opened my mouth to speak, but Lucy was quicker.
"You must be the famous Abby Lockhart? Well, it's been a long time coming, but it's a pleasure to finally meet you,"
Abby looked slightly taken aback by the blonde's overenthusiastic greeting, but shook the outstretched hand nonetheless.
"I've heard a lot about you. You're pretty much all he talks about!"
"All good I hope,"
Abby answered, in a suitably flat tone.
"Russell's waiting with the car,"
Lucy turned on her heel and walked towards the automatic glass doors. It could have gone worse, I supposed, though Abby's hand did still feel slightly tense under mine. She knows I never felt about Lucy the way I feel about her, but I understand her apprehension.
Russell Boyd, Lucy's fiancé, was also a doctor. They'd met during Lucy's residency. He was a year older than she was, and had since graduated to private practice, where the real money to be made in psychiatry was. Lucy had stayed in the public health system, and was now Chief Resident.
But the man waiting by the car wasn't what I expected. I had expected him to be an unfeasibly good-looking, tanned Californian. He was decidedly average compared to my mental picture of him. He was my height, slightly broader with brown hair, and wouldn't stand out in a crowd. But the way his face lit up when he saw Lucy, that wasn't average, and I could see then that they obviously fitted together.
It was a beautiful day. The sun broke the heavens overhead, and meant the sky was a stunning blue. Everything was bright and vital, the world looked alive.
The ceremony was to take place in the garden of the grooms parents house, atop one of San Francisco's famous hills. The views were panoramic. I stood on the porch and watched over the preparations, underway even now. It was surreal. To believe that from the terrible ashes of Valentines day 2000 had risen this happy occasion, and to this beautiful bride, who stood beside me now, still in her dressing gown.
"It's insane, isn't it?"
She said, blowing on her coffee to cool it, eyes firmly focussed on the hive of activity in the garden.
"Just a little,"
"Thank you for doing this,"
She said suddenly. I smiled, a wistful smile. I couldn't quite believe I was, to be honest. I wouldn't have missed this day for the world, and she knows that. I'm proud of her, and the success she's made of her life and her career, and maybe just a little envious. I'm still not quite as free of the past as she seems to be, not quite as settled, though with Abby around now things may be about the change.
"Lucy. Lucy, come on. No time to be hanging around,"
She was whisked off by her excited mother, who had been whirling around the house, a bundle of nervous energy for the past 24 hours. Abby stepped out the French doors a moment later and slipped an arm round my waist. She was laughing lightly.
"We're eloping, OK? I'm NOT going through this…"
I nodded. She hadn't been too keen on coming out here with me, but I couldn't have come alone. Besides, she had been invited. She had had her doubts about coming to the wedding of a med student I hadn't seen in 5 years. But still, here she was, with me.
"How does a beach in Hawaii sound to you?"
She kissed me softly, face lit up by her smile.
"Perfect. Now, coffee calls,"
There was a light summer breeze by the time the ceremony came around. It rustled through the flowers and spread a light, rose scent over the garden. I shifted from foot to foot nervously, waiting at the foot of the stairs for Lucy.
I wasn't normally someone who fidgeted, but I had been ever since I'd buttoned the tux half an hour ago.
"What's taking you girls so long?"
The question had only just left my lips when she appeared at the head of the stairs. Girl was no longer an accurate description. She had been when she left Chicago, but she had very definitely grown into herself now. And far for the tragedy that had befallen her, it was the strength her past had given her that made her glorious. I was left quite literally speechless. She made her careful way down the stairs, trying not to trip on the long snow-white dress.
"You look beautiful,"
I cursed myself for how cheesy it sounded, but she just smiled graciously and took my arm.
"Ready?"
She nodded, and we began the slow parade to the altar.
I had no reason to doubt Russell. I knew that this was the first step on a very happy road for her. As we reached the altar, she turned and kissed me before I took my seat next to Abby. Somehow, these series of moments, made everything we'd been through worth it. Seeing her as happy as this marked her survival with an emphatic flourish.
Abby was my life now, and Russell was hers. And maybe one day long ago I wished I could be the one who would make her happy the way he had but I know now that I couldn't have. I could never have made her glow that way, and I knew I was lucky to be her friend. She'd always mean the world to me; the past dictated that for us.
Abby slipped her hand over mine and squeezed supportively. I looked at her, brown hair shining and highlighted gold, and her eyes smiling. Lucy turned to face her own intended, and I knew then things had worked out. I had let her go, and she'd flown.