December 20th, 2003

The Christmas feeling was in the air. Suzie was filled with excitement. She didn't believe in Santa Claus anymore, but she was still excited. Luka loved it. he loved loving Christmas again. He basically loved just seeing that look in a child's eye.

"I want a bike and a puppy and a doll house and the pregnant midge and a Care Bear and a porcelain doll and a bracelet and a jewelry box and-"

"Suzie, we heard you the first seventeen times when you asked for all of that stuff." Luka chuckled as he tucked her into bed.

"And I want some sunglasses and I was one of those crying dolls and I want a pony and I want a piano and I want a stethoscope." Suzie smiled.

"Is that it?" Luka asked her. Suzie nodded with a grin.

"For now." She said. Luka chuckled softly as he patted her legs.

"All right. Go to bed now, baby." He said. Suzie's blue eyes sparkled and she nodded.

"Night." She said. Luka kissed her softly and stood up.

"Good night, Sweetheart." Luka closed the door as he left her room. He walked into his bedroom and saw Susan wrapping one of Suzie's presents, "That's too small to be a pony."

"She's not getting a pony, Luka." Susan smiled and looked up at him, "Is she asleep?" He nodded as he sat down on the bed.

"Yeah, pretty much." Luka said.
"Good." She said, "When we get married will you be an American citizen?" Luka stared at her. That just came out directly.

"Yeah. I suppose so." He said, "But that's not why I proposed."

"Well, I didn't think that was why you did it." Susan laughed, "I was just curious to how that worked." Luka nodded.

"When we get married or have a child, I become a citizen." He said. Susan smiled.

"We'll need to throw a huge party when that happens." Susan said, "It's a big deal."

"Yeah it is." He said. "I haven't really thought about becoming an US citizen." Susan looked at him as she put the scissors down.

"Do you want to be a US citizen?" She asked him.

"I think so..." Luka asked.

"You think so?" Susan asked with an arched eyebrow. Luka nodded.

"Yeah. I'll still be a Croatian citizen too." he said. Susan took his hand and nodded.

"You'll always be." Susan said. Luka smiled softly.

"Do you need help wrapping some of Suzie's gifts?" He asked.

"Always." Susan smiled tossing him some wrapping paper.

"She's going to have so much fun." Luka said, "it's been a very long time since I've hard to get up at the crack of dawn to beat the kids to the Christmas tree." Susan smiled tenderly at her fiancee.

"Did you guys have any traditions?" Susan asked. Luka shook his head.

"Nothing we haven't done here." Luka said, "We didn't have a pine tree though. We had a fake one. We opened up our ah...what are they called? Socks?"

"Stockings." Susan chuckled.

"Yeah stockings. We did those first and then had breakfast. We tortured the children by not letting them peek at the presents." Luka smiled at the fond memories, "It was really fun."

"It sounds like it." Susan said. It still felt weird to her that he had a whole other family before he made one with her. Would she always be second rate in the eyes of Luka? She didn't want to know.

January 3rd, 2004

It was a whole new year and a brand new start for Susan and Luka. They had finally set a wedding date. May 29th, 2005. It was far enough away to plan a wonderful wedding, but yet not too far away. It was perfect for both of them.

"Luka, do you like roses?" Susan asked. Luka glanced at her from the kitchen sink. he nodded.

"Yeah. Why?" He asked.

"I'm thinking about what kind of flowers I want at the wedding." She said. Luka chuckled.

"We have awhile until then." He said as the phone rang. Luka picked it up, "Hello?" There was silence for a moment.

"Is Susan there?" The woman asked.

"Yes. Who's this?" Luka asked.

"Chloe." She said. The colour drained from Luka's face. Chloe was calling? What did she want? He glanced at Susan.

"Susan, It's for you." He croaked out. She looked at him.

"Who is it?" She asked.

"Your sister." He said. Susan felt sick to her stomach as she took the phone. Her hands shook slightly.

"Chloe?" She whispered into the phone.

"Hey, Sue." She said, "How is everything?"

"it's nice of you to ask after all these months." Susan growled.

"I know. I just needed space." Chloe said, "How is the little one?" Susan took in a deep breath to try to calm herself.

"She is fine. She is growing up into a wonderful young lady and I don't want you near her. She in finally getting her life back." Susan snapped, "She has a mother and a father who treat her well." Chloe was silent. Luka cleared his throat.

"I know, Sue, you're a better mother to her than I could ever be." She said. "I am trying to clean myself up."

"Well, try harder Chloe and stop fucking Suzie's life up." Susan said. Chloe sighed softly.

"I just need to know you're going to take care of Suzie." She said.

"You didn't ask when you left her on my porch." Susan cried, "I will take care of her until my dying day. As far as I'm concerned, I am her mother and she's my daughter."

"Oh you think so?" Chloe asked.

"I know so. Good bye, Chloe. Don't call her again." Susan slammed the phone down. Luka looked at her.

"Is everything all right?" He asked his fiancee. Susan sighed.

"Chloe is on drugs again." Susan said, "I won't let her take Suzie back ever." Luka shook his head as he sat down.

"Me either." Luka said, "Everything you said was right."

"I know." She winked. "Suzie is with us and we're raising her right." Luka nodded.

"Yes we are." Luka said softly, "Do you want me to pick her up from school?" Susan shook her head.

"We both will." She said, "We'll go out for luncht hen."

"Sounds good." Luka smiled. He watched Susan's face. She was clearly distressed about the phone call. Would Chloe try to take Suzie away? he didn't think so but then again, he didn know her.

* * *

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