Authors Note: I know I promised a sooner update, and I didn't deliver. For that I am sorry. My computer broke down over Christmas, and now I am back at school so I am able to get another chapter out. When the next one will be out I am not sure. Anyway I am sorry. I would just like to thank everyone who reviewed, and my betas. You guys rock, thanks for helping. And Liby, thanks for pointing out my house mistakes. I also don't really like this chapter too much, but I wrote it anyway. I have the next few chapters planned so maybe I'll have updates sooner. I would also like to thank my beta Heather... I changed pretty much everything 'cept for favour that's just my Canadian-ism coming through;) Thanks.

"So… are you coming?" I groaned inwardly preparing for Susan's attack.

"I don't know, I'm really tired." I yawn, plopping down on the couch. She rolls her eyes at me, tucking a blond strand of hair behind her ears, before it falls in front of her eyes again. She sighs in frustration and focuses her attention back on me.

"Abby…"

"It's a child's party, Susan." I bring my hand to my mouth trying to stifle the oncoming yawns.

"Yes, my child's party." She sits down next to me, placing her mug on the coffee table.

"His first Christmas, and Chuck insists on having a party for him… I mean as my best friend, and Cosmo's godmother, I believe that is the least you could do…"

"Pfft." I snort, "I'm not your son's godmother… he's not even christened, or baptized or whatever." I close my eyes, hoping that if I imagine she is not here she will just magically disappear.

"Okay, then save me from my mother-in-law…" She moves her face inches from mine. I open my eyes, and glare at her. "Please?" She begs, her mouth set in a pout.

"Argh… is she really that bad?"

"Remember Carter's grandmother?" I nod.

"Times that by ten." She leans back against the couch, not taking her eyes off of me.

"Aren't you not suppose to speak badly of the deceased?"

"Yeah, well, you know just as well as I do that that lady was scary." It is the truth. But still.

"So?" She begs again, this time tugging on my arm. I quickly pull it back, holding it against my chest, and keeping her at arms length.

"Alright, alright." She stands up, a smile gracing her tired face.

"Well, thank you very much." She turns on her heels, grabs her jacket and leaves the lounge.

I roll my head against the cushions of the couch, trying to wake myself up a bit for this party. Working a double is not what I would call a good time. And now having a party to go to in about an hour, which definitely isn't something, I planned on. He is a cute kid though. I always get a little depressed when I see all the families at gatherings such as this one. Moms, dads, kids… I never really wanted children, and recently I haven't had time for a committed relationship, but there is always a tug on my heart when I see families together. Families together at Christmas, that is. I could always go with Ray and Neela. They are both in the same situation as I am. Granted ten years younger, but in the same predicament none the less.

I pull myself off of the couch, I guess if I am going to go to this thing I better make myself somewhat presentable. I won't have time for a shower, but I could put on the clothes I shoved in my locker sometime yesterday.

"Hey." I look behind me seeing Neela, she leans against the locker next to me. "You going to the cosmo's party?" She yawns, hmm seems like someone else doesn't really wanna go either.

"Yeah, you?"

"Sure. It's the only social thing I'll have done in the past month. I'm truly pathetic."

"No, not pathetic… Just…" I struggle to think of a word… "You're right, you're pathetic." I smile, she nudges me in the side before grabbing her coat.

"Ray's coming too, I believe." I inform her as we walk out to the admit desk.

"I didn't think he would be the type to go a babies Christmas party… just doesn't seem like his type of event.

I shrug, "free food, I guess."

"Just like him." We roll our eyes in unison. Neither of us really like Ray, but for some reason we tolerate him, and actually spend quite a bit of time with him. Which is odd considering how much time we spend bitching about him. It's probably equivalent to the amount of time we actually spend with him… or near him.

"Give me one minute ladies." Ray brushes past us and into the lounge. We both shrug, just content to stand there and mull over our separate thoughts. I glance behind me hearing the phone ring. Carter grabs it, and seems to know the other person on the other line. Our eyes meet and he smiles, before looking away, and focusing on the call at hand. I smile back briefly. We haven't talked recently. Not since he spent the night on my couch. The night I felt an unbelievable connection with him, one I haven't felt since we dated. I thought it might be the start of something. Like maybe our friendship again. But of course it seemed to do the opposite. Our relationship went back to work friends, and the occasional after-work talk. Other than that nothing. Nothing. He hasn't shared anything about his life, nothing about Kem. Nor Wendall, although I believe he is still seeing her, if not both. I glance back at him, a smile present on his lips, but his eyes are still sad. So sad.

"Ready?" I jolt back to reality, smiling at Ray and Neela. I glance back at Carter and wave. He waves back.

"See you at Susan's." Ray calls to him, he nods and continues on with his conversation. We exit the building and stand in the ambulance bay for a second.

"You know, I never understand how a guy like Carter could get two hot chicks." Ray muses. I roll my eyes at him, Neela watches me carefully, for what, I'm not really sure. She doesn't know much about our past.

I start to walk into the black of the night and let the two of them follow on my heels. I twirl my bag of clothes in my hand, listening to the rumbling of my stomach. "Do you guys wanna go get some dinner or something? I'm starving."

"What, and miss a minute of the child's 'first Christmas?' Absolutely not!" Ray exclaims, jogging in front of Neela and I.

"I want to go home and die." She groans. "But that's not possible, because I am living with Ray."

"He's not that great of a doctor, I'm sure you'd be safe to die with him around." We share a quick smile, before catching up with Ray.

We open the door to Susan's house. She and Chuck decided to buy one before they had Cosmo. It's small, in a nice quite neighborhood, on the outskirts of the city. She has done a nice job of fixing it up and making it into a cute livable place. I don't think I'll ever bother buying a house, not my style. I guess I enjoy renting too much.

"You came!" Susan smiles, throwing her arms around my neck and enveloping me in a tight hug that leaves me gasping for air.

"I said I would, didn't I?" I sigh.

"Didn't you also say you would rather date Ray, then watch gone with the wind… and you watched it didn't you." That deserves another eye roll, so I give it exactly that.

"Really?" He smiles smugly.

"In your dreams, rocker boy." I push him away from me and head for Susan's washroom. I should probably wash up a bit, and change into my clothes. Before I make it to the bathroom, I feel a tug on my elbow. I turn around and am greeted by Luka. He smiles at me warmly.

"You made it." He gives me a quick hug.

"Yeah, now I have to change."

"So, I hear you are going to go to Africa." I nod, a little excited and scared about my impending adventure.

"Not until June though. I am going to finish my internship, first." He nods, seemingly agreeing.

"Good idea. You will be a real asset there, Abby. Carter and I both enjoyed our time spent there. We met some very nice people."

"I never thought I would do this… When Carter first told me he was going, I was against the idea… and now, not so much."

"Things change."

"Or maybe people do." I smile to myself, knowing that I, for once, proved someone wrong. And it was the person who doubted me the most.

"You'll be great, Abby."

"Thanks, Luka." I turn around and look behind me, seeing Carter enter the party. He must have gotten off around the same time I did. I watch him for a second before walking into the washroom, and trying to make myself somewhat presentable. I fix up my ponytail, and change into fresh clothes. It's the best I can do, I look a little tired, but I am tired, so I guess that's not saying much. Or it's saying a lot.

I take another glance in the mirror, and sigh. I guess this is as good as it gets. I grab my pony tail for a second, twirling it around my fingers. Maybe I should go say hello to Carter, I haven't talked to him in a while and I do wonder how he is doing. I turn the knob and leave the tiny, yet well decorated, powder room.

I catch sight of the person I want to see, before a baby is thrown in my arms. "Watch him for a second please? I have to go break up the fight between Chuck and his mother." Susan runs away, leaving me with a cooing baby. I change direction and plop down on the couch. Cooing back at him. He is quite cute, he pulls on my hair, bringing it down to his chest.

"Hey Cosmo." I bring my lips down to his cheek and plant a kiss on him. He gurgles back at me. Well that's the most attention I've gotten from a male in a while.

"You're mommy will be back in a minute she just went to stop your father from clawing his mother's eyes out. Yeah, she has pretty eyes so we wouldn't want that."

"Oh, baby." Sam slides up next to me, taking Cosmo from me.

"Can you watch him for a bit. Susan went to save her mother-in-laws life."

"Sure." She plants a kiss on Cosmos belly, while I hunt for Carter. He's tall so this shouldn't be so hard. I see his head stick out in the mass of County General workers. He spots me and looks a bit worried, I shoot him a questioning a look back, before pushing through a throng of people. Then I see the exact reason for that look. I'm surprised I didn't see a blonde and brunette on each arm. Nope, just the brunette. She is smiling brightly, as is he. I want to turn away, but by now they've both spotted me. He looks nervous. As he should… wasn't he just saying how he didn't think they would work out? Wasn't he suppose to be with Wendall?

"Hi… Abby, right?" Kem asks giving me a questioning look. I nod in affirmation. She grasps tightly around Carter's hand.

"How are you?" I was worried for both of them when this happened… to loose a child… is hard enough… to loose a child because of something you can't control… that must be unfathomable.

"I'm doing… I'm okay." A fake smile flashes across her face. I plaster one on my own and give Carter a brief stare. He glances back.

"Well if you… two… need anything."

"Thanks." She smiles warmly at me.

"Anytime."

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Carter interrupts. He gestures towards the bedroom, I nod a yes. He kisses Kem briefly and leads me into the bedroom.

"Kem's gonna be in Africa when you go… I was thinking maybe you could stay with her." He starts the moment we reach the bedroom.

"No, I'm sure I'll be fine." I cross my arms over my chest.

"Abby-"

"No listen Carter, I don't need your help." My tone harsh and angry.

"Whoa- did I do something wrong?" He inquires, taking a step closer and crossing his arms over his chest.

"What you said, before… you know about your relationships… and now this?"

"Jesus." He shakes his head back and forth. "What I do in my personal life Abby… is well, personal. "

"Same with mine. If I wanna go to Africa and shoot people, or be shot by people that is my business…"

"Yeah well, I am trying to protect you… your safety, not control your life." He shouts back enraged.

"Not trying to control my life? Ever since you heard about Africa you've been trying to convince me not to go, now this with Kem?"

"Safety, Abby. Safety."

"I'm worried about your emotional stability."

"My emotional stability? That's bullshit… I came to you as a friend-"

"What are you saying? You are behaving the same way towards me. So you can be over protective of me, but I can't return the favour?" I shake my head at him, giving him one last look before heading out the door. I feel him come out behind me and I rush out of the house into the cool night air.

Review Responses:

ER-OC.Wot a Combination-The first chapter ties in lol… Thanks for reviewing, fanfiction, or at least carby fanfiction has been a bit slow lately.

Olivia – Hey thanks for reviewing. My updates are few and far between, I know, but I have been busy and stuck for ideas. I do have the next chapter all planned out though.

The Lost- I don't know, He did call her when his baby died… I personally believe he would, or I wouldn't have written in that way. I don't think my story has been done at all… actually. It may seem like it but it hasn't.

Fran- I'm glad you liked it. Merry Christmas.

Bobbyboots- Thanks I'm glad you find it realistic.

Striker20- she was telling her to be careful and not let Carter hurt her again.

Tracey- I know my was screwing up part of my structure for the last chapter, at least it was on my computer, I had to fix it a few times. Yeah I love the song meet Virginia, I actually saw a carby video with it and I kinda thought it was a cool song for them.

Froggiezaz- Africa is the plan… I think… maybe…

Love-carby- thanks I am glad you like the story

Thanks For all the reviews, and everyone who reads, thanks as well!