July 22nd, 2003

Luka watched Susan as she spoke with one of her patients. She was such a wonderful doctor and such a wonderful person.

"Put your eyes back in your head." Abby said walking up to the admit desk. Luka looked at her.

"Huh?" He asked her with a confused look on his face. Abby laughed.

"You're staring at Susan." She said. Luka shook his head.

"No I'm not." he said. Abby laughed.

"I'm not an idiot." She said as she crossed her arms, "So tell me, when is the wedding?" Luka chuckled as he looked at his chart.

"There is no wedding." He said, "Would you have a problem if we did?' Abby smirked, as she looked Luka up and down.

"Why would I?" She asked.

"because we dated and you and Susan are friends." Luka said.

"I think it's great to be honest with you.' Abby said, "you two deserve some happiness." Luka smiled at her.

"Great. Thanks." he said. Robert walked up to them and frowned.

"Is this a work place or a high school social?" Robert asked.

"gee, Mr. Romano, it sure feels like high school with all the drama going here at times." Abby smiled. Robert narrowed his eyes.

"Back to work, Miss Lockhart." he said. Luka chuckled as he stepped away from Abby and Robert and up to Susan.

"you free for lunch soon?" He asked. Susan nodded.

"yeah. Want to go to Doc's?" She asked. Luka threw the chart on the desk. She chuckled, "I take that as a yes." he nodded.

"yes. A major yes." He said as he took her hand. Luka led Susan out of the hospital and to the diner. "When we get married we should have Doc's cater the wedding." Susan laughed loudly.

"No docs, please." She said walking into the diner. Susan picked the booth in the far back of the restaurant. "I could go for a burger right now."

"A burger sounds great." Luka said, "Listen, I want to run something by you." Susan nodded.

"All right." She waved a waitress over. "Could we have two burgers with all of the works?" The waitress nodded and took the order, "So, run something by me Luka." He chuckled softly at her.

"I would like to go away with you for the weekend sometime." Luka said.

"Go away where?" Susan smiled She liked the idea of going away with Luka. It made her heart go pitter patter. Luka licked his lips when the waitress put their orders down in front of them. Docs was always fast, "Thank you."

"I was thinking maybe a nice romantic bed and breakfast." He said grabbing the ketchup off of the table. Susan nodded.

"That would be cool." She said as she ate a fry. Luka smiled, "Maybe in a couple of months we can do it. Work is so busy lately."

"Sure. That sounds wonderful. Maybe September or October?" He asked her.

"Sounds perfect." She said. Good, Luka thought, his plan was working. When they got up to the cabin or bed and breakfast, he would change their lives forever.

August 6th, 2003

Susan yawned as she sat on the El. She had have a thirty-five hour shift. Luka would be off in an hour, but he insisted that she would go home. She couldn't wait to strip and get into bed. The ride home felt three hours longer than usual. She slowly walked off the train. It was a warm night in Chicago. Susan loved these nights ever since she could remember. Her and Cookie would sit on the fire escape drinking lemonade.

"Those were the days." Susan chuckled as she walked up the stairs. That's when she saw three suitcases and a little blond girl sitting upon them. Susan's eyes widened, "Suzie??"

"Hi Aunt Suzie!" She squealed running up to her aunt. Susan felt a flood of relief when she hugged her niece. Suzie was safe. Suzie was in her arms and safe.

"Hi, Baby." She pulled away and kissed each of Suzie's cheeks, "Where's your mother?"

"I don't know." Suzie said. Susan frowned deeply.

"What do you mean you don't know where she is?" Susan asked unlocking the front door.

"She got out of the car with me and said to wait here until you got here." Suzie said. Susan couldn't help but to growl. That sounded just like Chloe.

"Did you say anything else?" Susan asked as she brought the suitcases in.

"She said to be good for you." Suzie said pushing her blond hair off of her shoulders. "I will be good, Aunt Suzie. I know how to make scrambled eggs." Susan chuckled softly.

"Maybe you can make them for us in the morning." Susan said.

"Okay." Suzie said going to the spare room. Susan sighed softly running her hand through her hair. Susan was so happy to see Suzie, but yet she was completely. It pissed off. She would have taken Suzie in a heart beat if Chloe had asked, but she didn't ask. She just left her daughter on the doorstep. Would Luka be upset? Susan went into the room to see Suzie unpacking her things. She got everything into their drawers. Susan smiled softly.

"Did your Mommy give you a number where you could reach her?" Susan asked. Suzie shook her head.

"Was she supposed to?" Suzie asked.

"Yeah, but it's all right." Susan gave her niece smile. "I'll go get some dinner for us." Suzie nodded. Susan sighed deeply as she walked to the kitchen. She couldn't believe this was happening.

"Susan, you up?" Luka walked into the house.

"Yeah. In the kitchen." She said. Here it goes. Luka walked up to her and hugged her tightly.

"I thought you'd be asleep by now." He kissed her cheek.

"No, well, ah....there's something I need to tell you." Susan said.

"What's that?" Luka asked.

"Aunt Susan, can we have pasta?" Suzie walked into the kitchen and looked at Luka, "Oh sorry."

"It's all right." Susan smiled softly taking the child's hand.

"Who's this?" Luka asked. he knew who it was, but he wanted to hear it from Susan. Suzie's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Luka, this is my niece, Suzie." Susan smiled, "Suzie, this is my boyfriend, Luka." Luka bowed down to the child.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Luka said kissing her hand. Suzie giggled wildly. Luka would never get tired of hearing children's giggles. It was one of the best sounds in the world.

"Nice to meet you." She said politely.

"She is going to be staying with us for awhile." Susan gave Luka a look. He understood.

"Well, I will be so happy to have her here. She seems like a very nice young lady." Luka said. Suzie giggled and ran off. He looked at Susan. "Chloe?" Susan shook her head.

"I have no idea where she is. She pulls this shit all the time, but I've had it." Susan said, "She's as much as a good mother as I am black." Luka smirked slightly.

"We'll take care of Suzie as long as we have to." Luka said, "it'll be nice to have her." Susan smiled softly. She thought Luka was going to freak about having Suzie here, but he wasn't. The look of happiness, but yet sadness told her how he really felt about this.

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