Chapter 18

Never Forgetting

"Momma! Momma! Momma!" Adrian cried jumping up and down at Lucy's feet.

"What's the matter honey?" she asked.

"Hold me!" he cried. She pulled him up into her lap and then he started to squirm like crazy.

"Momma what's wrong with Rootie?" he asked climbing back on to the ground.

"Nothing. Daddy just wants to talk with her," she replied. She was trying to listen to the information the newscaster was droning on and on about but she couldn't seem to concentrate.

"Momma!" Adrian cried yanking at Lucy again.

"What is it Adrian?" she asked.

"Hold me!" he exclaimed again.

"But you just got back on the floor!" Lucy protested. He stuck his pouty lip out and she sighed and brought him back into her lap. He promptly climbed off of her lap and giggled hysterically at her flustered expression.

"You know your going to be the death of me kid," Lucy said choosing to ignore the rest of the afternoon news.

"Mommy, pick me up!" Julia came over to get into some trouble too.

"I'm just going to have to do something about you two. You're too silly!" she pinned them down on the ground and started tickling them. The toddlers laughed hysterically as they started wrestling with Lucy on the ground.

"Congratulations Mister and Misses Ross. You're expecting twins!" the OB nurse exclaimed excitedly.

"AGAIN?" Carol and Doug cried at the same time.

"Isn't this great news?" she asked.

"Its wonderful news," Carol laughed as she felt hot tears spill down her cheeks. Doug was still trying to get over the shock.

"I'll go and schedule your next appointment," she said leaving Doug and Carol alone once more.

"Honey," Doug said turning to his wife. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Were having twins again!"

"I don't know how my poor bellies going to take this again," she smiled as Doug leaned in to kiss her.

"I'm sure you'll do fine. But what about the house?" he asked. "How are we going to fit 5 kids?"

"We better draw the line with these two," Carol said patting her bulging belly.

"Doug Ross draw the line? Never." He smiled and gave her another kiss. They had always hoped on a large family.

"Alright you guys. You're all set. Hopefully the next time we'll see you guys is the birth of these two. You still want to wait until their born to know the sex?" their OB nurse asked coming back into the room. Carol and Doug looked into each others eyes.

"What do you think honey?" she asked.

"Maybe knowing now would be a better idea," he said. Carol nodded and let excitement over take her.

"You're expecting two baby girls."

Carter set Ruthie up on her bed and kneeled down in front of her. He held her hands and looked up into her innocent little face.

"What's the matter daddy?" she asked, wiggling around impatiently.

"How come you ran away today Ruthie?" he asked her seriously.

"Amanda and I got into a fight. I told Abby that already," she said growing upset. She didn't like it when she knew daddy was going to scold her.

"Why were you and Mandy fighting?" he asked.

"She thinks she's in love with my boyfriend," Ruthie said. Carter sighed at the sudden ridiculousness of the situation.

"Ruthie the other night you told me you were in love with Dave."

"But then I told you I wasn't in love with him anymore! He loves Abby now," she said impatiently tugging her hands out of Carters.

"Can I go now?"

"No you may not young lady," Carter said. "You didn't tell Abby did you?"

"Tell Abby what?"

"That Dave loved her."

"Of course I did Daddy! Now they can go get married and have a baby like Aunt Carol and Uncle Doug. More cousins for us to play with," Ruthie smiled at the idea. Carter sighed. For some reason he felt he would be entering an interesting day in the ER tomorrow. And not due to trauma or any medical care County could provide.

"Who are you in love with now?" he asked.

"Benjamin O' Riley. He's new," she explained.

"And both you and Mandy like him?"

Ruthie nodded.

"You're going to call Amanda tonight and tell her you're sorry for fighting."

Ruthie moaned and folded her arms across her chest. Carter sighed and rubbed his aching head. When he looked back up at Ruthie she looked like she would burst out in tears at any moment.

"Are you unhappy baby?" Carter asked patting Ruthie's knees gently.

"Paige always gets mad at me daddy. She thinks it's all my fault that Bella died!" she cried. Carter's eyes widened. This was definitely random.

"What are you talking about Ruthie? Did Paige say something to you?"

"No Daddy. I just know." Tears fell down Ruthie's face and landed lightly on Carter's knuckles.

"Paige will never forget Daddy. She's going to hate me forever."

With these words from his daughter, Carter felt tears spring to his own eyes. He brought her down into his arms and let her cry. He started talking again when he was sure he would start crying if he let her continue.

"I'm going to talk to Paige, Ruthie. I'm going to tell her how you feel. Maybe it's all just a big misunderstanding," he reasoned kissing her head.

"I don't want to live here with her anymore Daddy," Ruthie said seriously wiping away tears.

"You don't mean that Ruthie," Carter said. Ruthie nodded.

"Yes I do."

"Where in the world would you live if you didn't live here?" he asked.

"With Aunt Carol and Chunni," she said. "But I still want to live with you and Mommy."

"It doesn't work like that Ruthie," Carter sighed. He watched his daughter sniffle and continue to cry.

"Would it make you feel better if you could stay with Chunni and Carlos tonight?" he asked. Ruthie's face brightened.

"And Tony?" she questioned managing a teary smile. Chunni and her husband Carlos had adopted Carlos' then 4-year-old nephew after his mother went to jail for child abuse and neglect. Ruthie adored, a now age 10, Tony and Carter would let her visit on special occasions. But right now he simply needed time to clear his head and allow Ruthie time away from Paige where she could clear her own.

"I do Abby. I know that it may seem selfish and immature but I am truly and deeply in love with you," Dave whispered looking down at his hands. It did feel a little better to have it out in the open. Abby tilted his chin up so he was looking into her eyes. He searched them for some sort of reaction.

"Oh Dave," she sighed throwing her arms around his neck. They sat and embraced each other for a while until Dave pulled away.

"You're not upset?" he asked.

"I'm confused," she admitted.

"Confused?" Dave asked.

"I think I've been in love with you too."

"Really?"

"With your chocolate brown eyes and little boy charm and your hair that always falls down into your face and your contagious little smile," Abby sighed. "How could anybody not fall in love with you? At first I thought it was just that 'cute little boy' crush...but when I started going out with Luka...things seemed to be put into perspective somehow." Dave couldn't think of anything to say.

"Do you want to stay with Luka?" Dave blurted out not knowing where in the world that had come from. Abby shook her head.

"I love Luka, Dave. I really, really, do. But I'm just...not happy anymore." Dave looked into her eyes and before she could say anymore leaned in and gave her a kiss. Abby was taken aback but after a while started to enjoy her situation. Being in this lovey dovey sort of mood with Dave was definitely different. She ran her fingers through his soft brown hair as he pulled back and kissed her on the nose.

"I love you Abigail Lockhart. I think I always will," he admitted.

"And I," Abby said slipping her hand into Dave's. "Love and will always love you David Malucci."

"Really Chunni. You don't have to do this," Carter said. He was in the foyer of Chunni and Carlos Marquez's house. Ruthie had already ran off with Tony into the backyard. Chunni grabbed John's arm and tugged him into the kitchen. Murphy, Chunni's basset hound and oldest of her three dogs at the age of seven, sniffed curiously at his feet.

"Listen to me John. Ruthie is going through something that no little kid should ever have to. Now I say you go home and get Paige straightened out," she said twiddling with the corner of a sheet of scratch paper that was placed near the phone.

"Where's Carlos?" John asked, trying to avoid the subject a little longer.

"He's at work till six," she said running a hand through her matted hair. She hadn't even changed out of her scrubs yet. Carlos worked as a mechanic down over at a local garage.

"MOM! CAN WE GO OVER TO BRAD'S HOUSE!"

A whirlwind of brown hair and baggy clothes ran at Chunni from outside. Carter hadn't seen Tony since last Christmas.

"Hey Ton. Remember me?" Carter asked. Even at the age of ten Tony was still the shyest kid Carter had ever met. He locked on to Chunni's waist but managed a smile. Oreo, a two year old golden brown Chihuahua, and Annabel Lee, a four year old golden retriever skidded in after their playmate.

"Maybe later Tony. After dinner okay?" Chunni said absentmindedly brushing his hair to the left side of his head. He nodded and ran back out into the yard with the dogs where Carter could see him kneel down next to Ruthie on the patio, a piece of chalk in hand.

"I just wish he would let me cut his hair," Chunni said shaking her head. Like Carlos, Tony liked to grow his hair out over his eyes which drove Chunni nuts.

"Did she just come out and say it or did you prod her?" Chunni asked.

"Ruthie?" Carter asked. She nodded.

"I asked her if she was unhappy. She told me the rest," he said. He looked outside at Ruthie who was now chasing Tony around the backyard, giggling happily. He sighed then looked up into Chunni's dark brown eyes. He always seemed to find a friendly sense of comfort in them. He never envisioned Chunni being a mother but the way Tony would follow her around when he was little and always want to do what she was doing changed his mind. Even when Ruthie, Amanda, Jamie, and the triplets were born she had fussed over them as much as Carter would see her fussing over Tony. He knew that Ruthie would be in good hands tonight. Carter looked at his watch and sighed. He had been away from home for long enough.

"I better get going," he finally commented.

Chunni nodded and squeezed his hand. "I'll get Ruthie." Once they were called Tony and Ruthie ran into the kitchen.

"I'm going home now Ruthie. You'll have fun with Tony and Chunni and Carlos okay?" he knelt down to his little girl.

"Okay Daddy," she said. He gave her a kiss on the head and followed Chunni back into the foyer.

"You two stay decent and we'll go get dinner when Carlos comes home!" she cried after them as they ran back out into the yard. Murphy followed Chunni's every movement. He was her protector when Carlos wasn't home.

"Don't stress Carter," Chunni said. "Ruthie will get to school tomorrow fine. Remember to try to listen to Paige's side of the story too okay?"

John just nodded and thanked Chunni once more before heading home.