-Disclaimer in first chapter-

A/N: Ok for this chapter I'd thought I'd change things up, this is written in Carter's POV. I don't know if it will stick or not, let me know what you think. Also, thanks to all my awesome reviewers.

Ch7. Beautiful Memories

.:That Morning:.

I was awakened to the feeling of movement on the bed, and then I heard her usually sweet voice, now sounding miserable.

"Yeah, it's Lucy, listen I don't think I can come into today. I know, but this is my only sick day and I just feel like crap,"She let out a cough and blew her nose, "Yes, I'll be into tomorrow, thank you." Then she hung up.

I smiled watching her on the phone. I could only see her back, but it was a sexy back. I grabbed her hips and pulled her back into bed with me. "Great acting, Lucy, someone is winning an Emmy."

She laughed and laid her head on my chest, where she was all night. As she traced her finger along my abs and chest she begged, "Please tell me you're off today!"

"Very much so, yes," I said playfully tugging a piece of her blonde hair.

Sitting up and looking down at me, keeping the blankets close to her she said, "This is nice, spending nights with you, waking up with you… it's just," She smiled, "nice."

I smiled as I was just thinking the same thing and dreaming of doing what we did last night every night, and waking up to her every morning. "Yeah, know what you mean."

Then she laid back down and slowly fell asleep.

.: Around September:.

We've been together for a year now, and things were still great. Although things were going slower than slow…I was just happy to be with her, everyday. I knew she loved me, but she still seemed so unsure of things… or maybe it was me. Well, one morning I decided to make a move I hadn't ever imaged myself doing before.

The alarm clock buzzed loudly and the couple groaned.

She rolled over and shut it off, "I hate working the day shift," She said pulling the blanket over her head.

I opened and rubbed my eyes, "It's better then internship though isn't it?"

She laughed and finally got out of bed, "Yeah definitely," She ran around the room, collecting her clothes from the night before.

"You know, Luce, you don't have to go home every morning. It's not like we're hiding a secret. How about you can sleep late, take a shower here…?" I gave her a small wink to see her reaction, "Then, I can drive you to work, doesn't sound so shabby does it?"

She stood there in the doorway, only wearing my oversized tee shirt that went halfway down her thighs. She didn't move, or speak, just stood there. She saw right through me.

I sat up and walked over to her in the doorway, "Ok that was cheep, Lucy, will you move in with me?"

She looked around the room and tucked a piece of longer blonde hair behind her ear.

"Ok I'll clean," I laughed and took her clothes from her hands and put them in a hamper, "There, done."

She cocked her head and still stared me down.

"Lucy, you aren't saying anything."

She bit her lip, as her blue eyes softened, "If I say, yes… can we get a new place?"

"Yeah, and maybe even new furniture," I cupped my arms on her hips and pulled her hips to mine.

She squinted her eye and looked at me, laughed a little and finally said, "Yes, I will…but only under these conditions: Big bathroom," she put her arms around my neck and gazed into my eyes, "Nice furniture, and an extra room."

I smiled and then began to kiss her ear, whispering I said, "Yeah, whatever you want."

I could feel her face flush with warmth. It was her soft spot. Just below the ear. She giggled and beamed. "But, I do have to go home, you know I can't wear your shirt to work."

Still kissing, I responded, "You left a pair of scrubs here a while ago,"

She took her thumb and her forefinger and massaged my neck, "Psyche residents don't wear scrubs."

"But you're a hot psyche resident," I lifted my hands under her shirt and rubbed her stomach.

"I guess I can make accommodations for you then."

I pulled back from her ear and kissed her on the lips, "Ok let's take a shower!"

I pulled her to the bathroom and Lucy and I showered and spent a long morning together, for the first time.

.:Back to Present Day:.

A tapping on my shoulder woke me up from a complete fantasy; I rolled over onto my other side. I couldn't wake up; I had to be with her again. The tapping continued and then a whisper in my ear, "Daddy?"

I rolled back over and saw my daughter. Gripping onto her teddy and with tears in her eyes.

"Hey, sweetie, it's late why aren't you asleep?"

She stuck her lip out and sniffled, "You never finished the story."

I picked her up and sat her in bed next to me, "It's late."

She nodded and curled her legs in a ball, "I had a dream."

Sighing and looking at her, how upset she looked made me want to curl in a ball also. I picked her up and rested her on my chest, "What about?"

The sound of her crying increased and she told me. But I couldn't understand. Her weeping and high squeals of what she was trying to say were the only things I could comprehend. And that was enough for me to realize how not ok she was. I was the only parent she knew for almost her whole life. Of course, Abby would some time take her shopping and paint her nails. But Abby wasn't around all the time. So it was us. She would always run down the stairs to ask to if I would make her hair pretty…I tried. But whenever she realized I was just her father, she got upset and walked away. She would sigh loudly and walk away and just be quiet. And at those times, whenever she reminded me of her mother I couldn't be with her; because I would lock myself in my room and cry also. That was until Bridget came running, in sensing I was upset and would do anything in her power to make me feel better. We never even really talked about her until today, and holidays were always hard but this one was the hardest for both of us. Holding my daughter while she bawled I then realized how bad I messed up. How bad I let Lucy's death effect the well being of my daughter… how if it had been me who died instead of her, she would have done so much better.

I picked her up and carried her downstairs. Bridget, still crying hugged onto my neck and dropped her teddy somewhere on the stairs. I opened the fridge and removed a carton of milk, got cookies from the closet, and cups from the cabinet. As I poured the milk and placed the cookies on a plate, I heard her crying mellow, but still felt wet tears rolling down my neck. I picked up the milk and cookies, while holding my daughter and walked into the living room. Once the cookies were set on the coffee table, and a cookie in my daughter's hand I started.

"Bridget, I want you to listen to me, ok?"

She nodded and picked apart her cookie.

I removed what was left of the cookie and held her arms close.

"I love you. I love like I love nobody else in this world, Bridget. And I know how hard this is for you. Growing up without a mom, something every other girl has… I don't know what to do, honey," Tears felt my eyes and I wiped them away quickly, "Do you want me to start dating? Do you want a mother that badly?"

"Daddy no!" She started to sob again, "Please don't! Mommy was the love of your life right?"

I nodded, taken back by my daughter's reaction.

"Then she was the only one for you! I don't want any mommy, I want my mommy!"

I sighed with relief and pulled a loose strand of hair behind her ears, "Ok Bridg. But then it's just me and you, are you okay with that?"

She nodded and hugged me tightly. "I love you daddy."

Hugging her back, I kissed her head and said back, "I love you too, Bridget. You're my everything."

She gulped and backed away from the hug, "I dreamed about mommy."

I reached over and gave Bridget her glass of milk, "What about mommy?"

"That she never died."

"I dream that all the time too."

"We were playing."

I laughed and took a sip of milk, "She loved playing with you."

"How old was she when I died?" She asked bluntly.

I didn't want to get into this now, Lucy's death. I never told anybody the story before; it's bad enough having it replayed in my head every night, "A day… no I guess two days after your half birthday."

"Daddy, what really really I happened? I mean I know about-"

I stopped her before she said the word, "Well don't you want me to continue with the rest of my story first."

She nodded fast and smiled.

I pulled a blanket down, wrapped it around the both of us and I kept telling the story.