A/N: I'm refusing to acknowledge Carter's absence and will continue with this fic! Also please ignor the bad spelling and the run on sentences. This hasn't been read-over at all!

Disclaimer: I don't own 'em! I just enjoy taking them out to play, I promise to put them back when I'm done and have them home in time for dinner! ;)

Abby leant against the counter in her kitchen, content to watch Carter stirring the pot of pasta on the stove while making idle chit-chat.

"How's work been?" He asked, looking up from the pot of boiling water

"Oh you know the same, more tramas and pain than one person should see in a day but what can you do?"

"What can you do?"

She grinned at him "I asked you first"

(--------)

"God, John, this pasta is GOOD!"

He laughed at the sight of Abby eating as much pasta as she could politely eat in one bit."I think the fact you haven't eaten all day may help make anything taste good"

She paused, her fork resting in her plate. Considering for a brief moment she looked at him, "You know your right, an old rubber boot would taste pretty darn good right about now. But honestly, this pasta is really good!"

"I know how to please you"

"You always have"

(--------)

Clearing the plates from their meal, Carter and Abby found themselves falling into a comfortable pattern. Carter insisted in helping do the dishes, so as she washed he dried. It was funny how he know where everything went. He padded around the kitchen in a comforting pattern. Abby let a small sigh escape her lips.
"You alright" He was instantly there- standing behind her, arms braced on either side of her on the counter. She could feel his breath tickle the hair at the nape of her neck.

She closed her eyes, relishing the feeling of how close he was. His heat seeped through her shirt, warming her to the core. This was the first time her apartment had felt like home to her in a very long time. She was well fed, tired from a hard days work and she had the the one person who truly took her breath away staning a hair's bredth away from her. Yes, she was alright- definitely alright.

"Yeah" She breathed

(--------)

After dinner Abby and Carter sat togther on the sofa, sipping coffee.

"How's Kem?"

"Umm, good the last time I talked to her..." He left that one trailing, not sure exactly what to say.

Abby mentaly kicked herself for her stupidity. Why was she asking him about his ex-girlfriend who has been so cold to him? "Umm, yeah. Sorry Carter. I didn't mean to put salt in your wounds"

He turned to her with that honest expression on his face "Honestly, Abby? I think I've moved on. I mean Joshua will always be something we share but that doesn't mean we have to be teathered to eachother by the past. We've changed too much. Besides, I was only with her to forget how much I love someone..."

Abby was afraid to ask. Afraid to ask if that someone was her, if he loves her. She had noticed his use of the present tense. Who would it be? Wendal? No, she came after too.

"Who..." she croaked

He took a step towards her, closing the distance between them. Lowering his head, he wispered in her ear. "You Abby... I was trying to forget you"

Cautiously, ever so carefuly Abby looked up in time to see a series of emotions cross his face. Love, fear, anxiety, hopefullness, relief and more love.

Their noses almost touching, Abby spoke carefuly. Hesitantly she started, looking up into his eyes she was suddenly sure of herself.

"I never forgot you Carter"