Authors Note: Just a little chapter to round everything off. I have written several Carby weddings before and so this time wanted to avoid that, I am sorry if that disappoints some of you. Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed my story, it has meant a lot to me. I don't know if I will write another long Carby in the future but I have a couple of short ideas flitting around in my head even now. To Tabitha: I'm sorry if it read that way, what it was meant to imply was that they don't often both get days off together.

Chapter 21

When Carter stepped in the front door he was surprised to feel an expectant hush, although the floor littered with things told him otherwise. He located all twenty of them in the dining room and even though it was a good sized room they were all fairly squashed. There were four adults, and sixteen children, two of which were his and Abby's children.

Suddenly as if sensing his presence Abby looked at and beckoned him over to share the special moment, just as the singing commenced. The out of tune singing at that and not just by his wife, in fact he doubted if any of them sang the entire thing in tune.

Michael stood on a chair and shut his eyes making a wish before blowing out all of the candles at once and everyone cheered.

Abby moved in to take the cake away to cut it and Carter ruffled Michael's hair and run his hand over Anna's soft still baby hair before reaching out to help himself to some uneaten food on the table.

Then the doorbell rang "Parents" said Jack who stood up and went to get the door. The next half hour was frantic and Carter wondered why they hadn't hired a hall, caterers and an entertainer, but then again he knew that Abby wasn't too keen on going over the top as she put it for things for the kids and them too. And besides 'this' felt normal. 'Normal' being something that neither of them had experienced growing up, but was something that both had craved secretly within.

He ran his hand over the mantelpiece and his over the cards sitting there. It was hard to believe that Michael was four years old today. His son. Their son, Michael John Carter.

Pulling at his leg startled him out of his thoughts and he looked down to see Anna pulling herself up to stand there.

"Hello gorgeous" he said scooping her up into his arms "The next party is yours?"

"Aww Dad she's just a baby, she won't get all her friends come over" Michael said

"No but we'll have a party, one is just as an important number and it'll be just the four of us, five if Grandpa comes"

"Or six if Grandma comes and seven if Uncle Eric comes me too" Michael added.

"Mmmm" said Carter wondering if it was a good idea to mix them like that more than twice a year

"Okay guys, time for bed" said Abby pushing herself off the door jamb where she had been watching them. Michael made a face and looked about to protest but Abby added "You've had a long day"

"If you're quick I'll read you a story" Carter said to him

"From my new book"

"Sure, but I gotta shower first and you have to have a bath"

"Okay" Michael agreed and Abby silently thanked Carter with a smile and a kiss.

0o0

Carter slowly slid off the bed and lowered the light as he watched Michael sleeping. Was it

really three years ago since his first birthday? Time seemed to fly by and now Anna was approaching one too, he could hardly believe it. It was odd he decided that he felt happy now, with his life he had spent so long searching and then suddenly without warning he had found himself part of the family he was now in, Him, Abby, Michael, and now Anna too. Life was so much better than he thought it could ever be, sometimes broken dreams can be mended after all.

0o0

Abby stared out the window as the sun unexpectedly broke through the cloud and gave some colour to what had been a drab start to the day. She smiled to herself and remembered yesterday, Michael's birthday. It hardly seemed like yesterday she was standing here pregnant, contemplating her life and the whereabouts of Carter, and what if any opinion he had about the baby. The baby in question now being four years old, going on twenty four she thought humorously. Then everything seemed so problematical and difficult. Now it all seemed so simple, even if her life was more complicated now that it had ever been. At least she was happy. That was something that had been a long time coming. Of course she realised now that she had to be happy with herself before anything else fitted into place.

"Abby!" called Jerry locating the only attending he could find at that moment.

"Yeah"

"Trauma, MVA, ETA five minutes"

"Okay"

"You alright?" he asked

"Yeah I'm good" she replied and she was.