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Chapter 5
"We are gathered here today to witness the love shared between these two, John Carter and Makemba Likasu."
Abby could feel her eyes rolling in the back of her head. The thought of this wedding gave her a headache, and it hadn't even begun. She couldn't quite understand why she was putting herself through the rehearsal let alone the real thing. As the rehearsal got under way Abby leaned back in her chair and sighed. Jake reached his hand from by his side and placed it on hers, gripping her tightly. Jake understood that she might find the whole thing strange, and that she did. She was happy with Jake, very happy. Carter and Jake had left Chicago in the same week. She was hardly pleased, but when Jake switched hospitals and moved back that long-lost smile returned on her face. Jake took her mind of the fact that Carter wasn't around and he took away the overwhelming feeling of loneliness she was drowned with by the departure of her ex. Her ex? Who was it she was "mourning" the loss of? Carter's a friend; would she have been so upset if Susan had left? But he is also someone she devoted over four years of her life to, someone she was madly in love with, someone she felt comfortable around, and someone who loved her? Who she loved? Still loves? But she did really like Jake, but was she in love with him? That was what she was unsure of. Jake proposed shortly after coming back and their relationship going public. She had said yes immediately, but was it for the wrong reasons? She was still shocked and upset at Carter's departure, and of course at Jake's departure and surprising return. She could feel her head spinning. It shouldn't be this confusing. Jake is great and their relationship doesn't come with three-hundred tonnes of baggage, or history. This was so refreshing for her. Maybe that's what drew Carter to Kem, well despite the fact that she is gorgeous and from what she knew of her, she was the nicest person possible. Abby would have placed money on Kem not having a crazy mother, and equally crazy brother, that she wasn't an alcoholic and that she didn't have a depressingly turbulent struggle with it. Abby continued her stare towards the happy couple as these thoughts ran through her head.
Jake, who had been watching her unashamedly stare at Carter and Kem for the last 10 minutes, leaned towards her and whispered: "Are you ok? You look worried"
Abby took a moment and turned her eyes from Carter to Jake. She smiled warmly as she said "Yeah, I'm fine"
Jake gave her a sympathetic smile and told her "Ok"
He tightened his grip on her hand and pulled his other arm around her. Abby fell into this embrace, closed her eyes and thought about what could have been.
"It is at this point a hymn will be sung" the priest whispered to Carter who stood facing Kem as they ran through a mock version of their wedding which was to take place within 24 hours. They smiled and nodded.
"Would you like a run-through of it?" he asked
Carter looked at Kem with a questioning look, she responded with a nod.
"Please father."
The Priest motioned towards the choir and the hymn begun leaving Carter and Kem with nothing to do but wait. Carter found himself watching Kem. He watched her gaze around the room and he smiled. He loved her, like really loved her. She was so different from everyone he had dated before; for one thing she didn't work in County. To Carter, Kem was perfect. Their relationship was flawed, as most are, but this was due to the most un-foreseen of circumstances. He would be 18 months old now, one whole month younger that Cosmo. Sometimes he wondered if they would have grown up to be friends, if Joshua (he felt his heart pound at the mention of his name) would have had any brothers of sisters. Carter even wondered who he would have grown up to look like, of the girlfriends he would be bringing home and his crushes, his family, his plans, his future. Carter continued to watch Kem and realised how much things have changed. Not just in the last 18 months, but in the last four, five years. If 2006 Carter was to talk to 2001 Carter and tell him what he was doing, 2001 Carter wouldn't believe him. That Carter was certain he'd marry someone else, the girl who was ultimately the "girl of his dreams". His biggest crush, which the 2006 Carter could see sitting in front of him, with her fiancé, attending the "new" Carter's wedding. The memories that sprung to mind thinking of that time made carter smile. He hadn't been that crazy about someone since - not even Kem. He did have a crush on Kem at the beginning, but he never "battled" for her – with fencing swords. A smile crept across Carters face at this memory which was then seized by a bewildered look on Kem's face who had now met his gaze. Carter smiled at her and jumped back on his thought train. Carter was so sure he'd marry Abby, what went wrong along the way? He asked himself knowing that he couldn't bring himself to answer his question certain that he'd end up crying, or just depressed. She had changed so much, he could barley recognise her when he came back to Chicago. She astonished him with her confidence, she was back in med school and for the first time in a long time, she had looked…happy. Carter had concluded that she was better off without him, she smiled and was the old Abby he had fallen in love with. It was somewhat ironic that it took their break up for him to realise how much he loved her. Still loved her? Of course he did. Always and forever he said to himself. He feared her reaction to his wedding; he was worried she wouldn't come or that she would feel uncomfortable. These thoughts were often silenced when he questioned if she would even care. He knew he would find her wedding tough if ever it came around, she deserves it he thought – more that anyone he knows, Abby deserves to be happy. He was happy with Kem, very happy and they were about to embark on the biggest adventure of their lives. The anticipation was killing him, he was praying that the next 24 hours would fly by and they could go on their honeymoon. The smile inside Carters head soon fell and he became sad. This might be his last chance to spend time with his friends in a very long time – he hadn't completely ruled out coming back to Chicago plus he was hoping he and Kem would be invited to Abby and Jake's wedding, whenever that may be but he knew we was still going to miss seeing them everyday. He'd miss taking orders off Susan, listening to her complain about getting no sleep and how the med students keep getting in her way. He'd miss Sam telling him of whatever ridiculous situation Alex had gotten himself into or laughing at Luka getting caught out with all the little slang phrases that still tripped him up. Above all, he'd miss seeing Abby everyday – not getting to see her become and even greater doctor, watching her watch over Neela who really was her surrogate little sister but above all he'd miss the security of knowing she was always there whether they were on talking terms or not. Then again, she will always be nothing more than a phone call (and 3000 miles) away Carter slowly snapped himself back to reality when he realised he didn't need that anymore, he had Kem. Kem…who he was marrying, tomorrow. Carter quickly snapped out of his reverie to find Kem watching him slightly bemused.
Thankfully he regained his composure as the hymn ended and as he was to recite his vows.
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