Fond Old Memories and New beginnings

Everything was set. For the first time in such a very long time did life, this day, seem flawless. The party was set for tonight at their new home. Carter came through in so many ways and his final touch was getting the best music and catering for the special night.

Sam and Alex were at the hotel. They fell for the story, hook, line and sinker. He told them they were to spend three days in a hotel while he would oversee the movers as they took their stuff to a bigger loft two streets away. He smiled as he remembered the day he took them to the loft. They loved it and were excited to move there as it was getting a little crowded in their present surroundings. He knew if they loved that loft, they would "flip out" as Alex would say, over the house.

It was perfect. It had a large kitchen with an open concept on the main floor. There was a study for work, reading and homework and a big backyard with a trampoline just waiting to be bounced on. There was a beautiful garden and five trees on the property, one with a tire swing off its branch and there was a deck that looked out onto the backyard. There was an enclosed two car garage with a new car for Sam parked next to Luka's and the laundry was just off the kitchen so they would never have to trudge downstairs to a basement to do the wash. The basement housed a rec-room with a home theatre system and a playroom.

The rooms upstairs were exquisite. The master bedroom was spacious with tons of closet space with a huge bathroom and the two other rooms had connecting doors to the master bedroom which lay between them. There were two bathrooms upstairs and Alex's room was the most unique. It was a boy's haven and it was in the attic. There was a skylight and a ladder that led up to a door that opened onto his very own patio. Because the ceiling was so high there was a rope swing in his bedroom too. Luka spent a lot of time fixing Alex's room because he wanted him to enjoy having all the things he always dreamed of having and it was his way of spoiling him just this once without Sam's disapproval.

He smiled, satisfied with himself that he was able to give his family such a good home. He wished he could have done the same with Danijela and Marko and Jasna but he knew that when they were together they were happy. He packed up the last few things that were left straggling around the loft and piled them up near the front door for him and Carter to take to the truck. Then he found it. That box. Sitting in the corner of the closet. The box that he saw every day. The box he avoided. He pulled it out and sat on the floor. Resting on top of it were a few pictures of him with Abby, him with Carol and her twins and pictures from Africa, pictures of some of his non- hospital friends in Chicago. He smiled as he looked at them then putting them aside he took a deep breath and opened the box. His father sent them to him when he lived at the hotel. That was the last time he looked at them. Now he stared at them. There they were; the four of them in happier times. Pictures of his wedding day with Dani; pictures of Jasna the day she was born; her baptism; Christmas. There were pictures of Marko, his birth, baptism; pictures of him sleeping with his children.

Sleeping. They were forever sleeping in the arms of their mother now and he missed them terribly. He felt the sting of tears in his eyes and this time, he did not try to stop them. He let them flow.

"So is this the last of... Luka? Hey, what's going on? You alright?"

""Yeah," he sniffed wiping his teary face on his sleeve. "I just umm ... found ... this box. It's pictures of me with Dani and the kids. It's kind of strange, you know. I feel in some small way I'm betraying them ... but ah ... I know ... they ah ... They would want me to move on, you know. They'd want me to be happy ...right?"

Carter stood there listening to Luka's voice crack and watching the tears fall from his eyes. He never in a million years thought that he would see Luka Kovac cry. He didn't know what to do at first but then, he did what he'd want someone to do to him. He walked over and hugged his weeping friend.

"They would want you to be happy Luka. They would want you to live your life," He felt Luka pull away and he let him go.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put you in an awkward position," Luka seemed embarrassed.

"There's nothing to be sorry for. I know I'd be feeling the same way if it were me," Carter watched Luka as he walked across the empty room towards the window. "You know, the one line I love from the movies that talks about moving on, is in Gladiator ... The one slave talks to Maximus about his family and says to him that he'll see them again in the next life; 'but not yet'. That spoke so much to me. I know I don't have my son but maybe one day in another time, I'll see him again. I have to believe that because it seems that I have to do so much more here before that happens but when it is finally my turn to go, I think that'll be my reward. Kinda silly but it helps to think of it that way,"

"It's not silly. I hope that too. When I was in the coma I dreamt that this is what Danijela wants me to do and that I survived the accident and Africa and crashing my car and the war... all for this moment," Luka laughed a little.

"What?" asked Carter.

"What is it they say in English? Love hurts? No kidding. Getting Sam was painful! How many times have I nearly died? Four, five ... ten!" Both men laughed.

"What do you say we get this stuff in the truck and head over?" suggested Carter.

"I hope she says yes tonight,"

"Oh, she'll say yes, Luka. She'll say yes," Carter said as he slapped his friend re-assuringly on the back. Luka took one last look at the loft where so much happened in 5 short years. He smiled turned the key in the lock and was ready to turn the key in the new chapter in the life of his new family.