February 16th, 2004

Their first real Valentine's Day together had been wonderful. Luka took Susan out for a romantic dinner. He gave her a beautiful locket for her gift. Susan gave Luka a ring, sort of like a male engagement ring just so everyone knew he was taken. Afterwards they went to hotel and had a night filled with sex and passion.

"What should we do for Suzie's birthday?" Luka asked. Susan looked at him with a playful grin.

"Her birthday is in May." She said with a soft laugh.

"Yeah I know." He said, "I just want to start planning."

"I don't." Susan buried her face into his chest. Luka chuckled.

"All right." He said. Susan kissed his skin and looked at him.

"You had a nightmare last night." She said. Luka tensed up.

"No I didn't." He said. Susan nodded.

"Yes you did, Luka." She said, "Abby told me that you had nightmares." Luka stared up at the ceiling. "Luka?"

"Nightmares are no big deal." He said.

"Yes. They re a huge deal." Susan sat up, clutching the sheet around her. "Nightmares aren't something to push away."

"Do you and Abby often talk about me?" Luka asked.

"Yes." Susan said, "Now talk to me."

"I don't want to." He said. Susan crossed her arms.

"Luka, you really need to talk to me. If we're going to get married we really need to have the lines of communication open." Susan said, "I want to know." Luka sighed deeply.

"I had a dream...that um...that troops came into our apartment and raped you and Suzie." Luka said. Susan detected sadness in his voice and rightly so, "They tied me up and made me watch...I...I couldn't do anything about it. I screamed for them to stop, but they didn't. They kept on raping you guys...until...until..." He closed his eyes tightly, "Until they murdered the two of you."

"Well, that's not coming true." Susan said. Luka nodded.

"I know that it's not." He said. "You do not understand what that feeling is like though...loosing your family."

"Yes I do. Maybe not in the magnitude you do, but I do." Susan said rubbing his back, "When Suzie was kidnapped, I thought the world had ended. Now I have her and I have you."

"I love you, Susan, so much." He said. Susan chuckled.

"I know you do." She said as a tiny knock came upon the door.

"Can I come in, Aunt Susan?" Suzie asked. Luka nodded.

"Sure you can." He said laying back down. Suzie pushed the door open and smiled.

"I can't go back to sleep." She said crawling into bed.

"It's all right. It's morning now anyway." Susan said kissing her cheek. "We'll get up in a few minutes and Luka can cook us breakfast."

"How about breakfast in bed?" Suzie asked. Luka chuckled.

"All right. I can make my two favourite girls breakfast in bed." He said sliding out of bed. "I'll be back soon."

He moved out of the bedroom listening to Suzie and Susan giggle. Luka sighed deeply as he went into the kitchen. He wished he could be as carefree as they could. The war still haunted him and he knew it would haunt him for the rest of his life.

April 3rd, 2004

It was official. Suzie was theirs. Everything finally got through and she was now legally Susan Elizabeth Kovac. The three of them couldn't be happier.

"This sucks." Susan growled as She stitched up a patient.

"What sucks?" Abby asked with a smile.

"This whole wedding business does." Susan said, "Luka already wants to start planning. It's a whole year away."

"A year isn't that long." Abby said. Susan noted the amusement in her voice. "It'll fly by so you should start planning." Susan gave her friend a look.

"You're taking his side." She said. Abby laughed as she cleaned up.

"No. I know what I'm talking about, Susan." Abby said. "You need to find the perfect dress, the perfect cake, what you want to serve, where you want to have the wedding, where you want to have the reception, what band, and make sure the photographer is creditable." Susan stared at her.

"Wow. Vegas is sounding more and more good." She muttered. Abby rolled her eyes.

"Don't do Vegas. I want to be in the wedding." Abby aid.

"Oh yeah?" Susan laughed.

"Yeah I do." She said picking up a chart, "Don't forget that."

"I won't." Susan said walking down the hallway looking for Luka. She saw her Croatian sensation. She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him. "So, How do you feel about city hall?" Luka turned and looked at her. God, she was beautiful.

"City hall? It's nice...I guess..." He shook his head with a smile. Susan was weird sometimes."

"How about you and I get married at city hall in a couple of weeks? Doesn't that sound fun?" Susan asked. He looked at her shocked.

"I thought...I thought you wanted a big wedding." Luka said.

"I just want to marry you." She said, "I do not care when or where we get married."

"Everyone will be mad they missed it." He said. Susan thought about it for a moment.

"Then we can throw a huge party and celebrate in a few months. I just want to marry you, Luka." Susan said, "If you do not want to then we do not have to." Luka thought about it. He already had a huge wedding once in his life. He nodded.

"If it's what you really want, then we'll do it...In secret." Luka said.

"Thank you!" Susan hugged Luka tightly, "thank you so much."

"You're welcome." He chuckled softly. Susan pulled away from him.

"I should get back to work, but we'll talk more about this when we get home okay?" She asked. Luka nodded.

"All right." He said kissing her forehead. He watched her walk back down the hallway. He was getting married in two weeks? Oh god.

* * *

If you would like an update on my fics or just general discussion, then join my e-mail list. Just e-mail me to join