Time to Get it Right
"What are you doing?" Carter asked Abby as he hung up his coat and scarf.
"It's Christmas." She glanced down at him briefly.
"I know that, but…" He lifted his arms in a gesture of confusion at the transformation around him.
"But what?" Her eyebrow arched questioningly. They were in her apartment and she was currently perched at the top of the step ladder tacking up the last piece of decoration into the corner of the living room.
"Shouldn't the colours be green and red?"
"Only, if you go for traditional colours."
"You got me there." Carter laughed and threw his hands up in surrender. "But why black – doesn't that signify death?"
"No, it just means one chapter has ended and the yellow and greens signify the start of a new beginning." Abby looked over her shoulder, clinging to the stepladder for support, and smiled at him.
Carter laughed, a sparkle in his eyes that Abby hadn't seen in a few years, but was slowly becoming the normal. Reaching her in a few strides he helped to guide her down the ladder and then whispered in her ear, "you're getting sentimental in your old age."
"Ouch!" Carter yelped as Abby pinched his arm, then rubbing it dramatically he cried, "what was that for?"
"Calling me old," she said over her shoulder, pouting as she spoke.
Carter followed her into the kitchen, placing his hands around her waist as she reached up to the cupboard for some plates. "Mmmmm, what smells so good?"
"Cookies." Abby pushed his hands away and moved to the oven, where donning an oven glove, she swiftly opened the door and pulled out, in quick succession, two trays of chocolate chip cookies.
"Ow!" Carter moaned for the second time that night, as Abby's hand swiftly swatted his own hand away from the tray.
"You'll ruin your dinner," she scolded, teasing him.
"Ow," he said again, waving his 'sore' hand in front of her face.
Softening at his childlike pout, she took his hand and kissed it gently, then leaned up on her tiptoes and lightly kissed his lips. "Feel better?"
"Much."
"Good, now go take a shower. Our guests will be arriving and I want you to look good."
"Don't I always?" He feigned a look of pain.
Abby ignored him and began fussing around the kitchen, preparing the last parts of the meal. She wanted it to be perfect, it was their first proper pre-Christmas dinner together; the only Christmas they had spent together didn't count, since she'd officially cancelled it, having ordered in pizza for Christmas Eve and worked Christmas Day. Now, three years later, she was finally beginning to believe in 'happily ever after'.
Abby thought back to that point three years ago: her life having just found a happy equilibrium suddenly took a leap into disaster mode. Eric had become ill and firmly detached her from his life and that pain had hurt like nothing before. Then slowly she began pushing away those closest to her, she began pushing at Carter until finally a combination of her and everything else screwy in both their lives had sent him packing across the ocean.
Ironically, it had been Carter's departure and subsequent 'Dear Abby' letter that had given her the motivation and means to kick-start her life back into order. No longer would she be depressed, put upon Abby. She wouldn't be the town drunk, Richards embarrassing wife or Maggie's poor daughter. And she wouldn't give up when things got tough. She'd even managed to give up smoking… well three months nicotine free was better than nothing and people obviously couldn't expect her to get through med school without some kind of vice and coffee definitely didn't count, it was as much a lifeline as the oxygen she breathed.
Putting the garlic bread into the oven to warm up a smile crept onto Abby's face as she remembered Carter's inevitable return. She wasn't expecting to give him an opened arm return, but the way he did return was a bit of a shock and there wasn't a book in the world that dealt with that kind of etiquette. She'd been proud of the way she'd walked up to him and hidden her anger and distress at the sight of him with his new 'family'. She'd been even prouder that she'd kept herself on track; forcing every emotion to the depths of her mind and continuing on to finally achieve the one thing she had always wanted. Now Abby could really smile, Doctor Lockhart had a really nice ring to it.
"What were you thinking about?"
"Hmm?" Abby asked, his words bringing her out of her daydream from the past.
"You were smiling, what were you thinking of?" Carter stood in the doorway, a towel round his waist with his hair and body glistening from the shower water.
"Oh nothing. Just the past and how everything has happened for a reason."
"You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were turning into a soppy romantic wuss!" He laughed and dodged out of the way of the tea towel Abby had twisted up to flick at him.
Abby threw the tea towel onto the table and walked towards Carter, as she reached him she put her arms around his waste and pulled him closer. Taking a deep breath she breathed in his clean, soapy scent. "It's only because I'm happy." Abby whispered into his chest.
"I know."
"And you made me happy."
"I know that too." He bent his head down and possessively kissed the top of her head.
"So you know…" Abby smirked looking at him and lent up to kiss him quickly on the lips. "… It's all your fault."
Abby pulled away from Carter, his arms reluctant to let her go. She made her way to the bedroom, giving instructions for him to keep an eye on the food while she quickly changed. She had spent the afternoon decorating the apartment, preparing the food and in between had managed to shower, do her hair and make-up, so all that was left was for her to get dressed.
Half an hour later, the table was set. They were both dressed and the dinner was in the oven being kept warm. Lucky for Abby lasagne was fairly simple to make and her cinnamon waffles and brownies were a great dessert. Especially when you added the ice-cream, Smarties and chocolate sauce. Yum, Abby thought to herself, as she'd put the final touches to them.
"You nervous?" Carter asked. Abby shook her head. "You look nervous."
"Nope." She smiled at him, she wasn't nervous about the dinner, just about how Carter would feel with Susan, Chuck and the baby in the house. It wasn't the first time Carter had been around the baby, but it was the first proper Christmas since he lost his son and she knew it would be hard on him. "What time did Susan say she would be here?"
"Around 7:30, but she said Cosmo was playing up so it could be later."
Abby watched him as he spoke and thankfully didn't see anything to be concerned about. Walking across the room, she made a move to sit next to him on the couch.
She giggled as he grabbed her waist pulling her onto his lap, so she was sat sideways. Freeing one hand he turned her face so he could look into her eyes.
"Merry Christmas," he whispered before kissing her. Abby returned the sentiments mumbling against his lips before deepening it. His arms wrapped around her pulling her closer then slowly, reluctantly letting her go as she rested her head against his shoulder.
"How did I ever let you go?" He asked.
Abby pouted, screwing up her face, teasingly considering her options. Tonight she didn't want to be serious. Shaking her head she grinned, "Because you didn't know a good thing when it bit you in the butt."
"Abby?"
"Hmmm."
"I love you."
"I know." She smiled; it had taken her a long time to accept that that was true.
"Well?" He nuzzled against her head.
"Well what?" Her eyes open wide in innocence.
"I love you too," he said, gesturing with his hands for her to repeat.
"I love you too." she mimicked, teasing him.
A groan emitted from Carters mouth, just as he was about to reprimand her the buzzer went. Resting her head back on Carter's shoulder she asked, "Can you go get it?"
"You'll have to move."
"But it's so comfy here." She whispered and snuggled closer to him. Laughing, Carter swung her up into his arms, ignoring her screams of protest.
Reaching the door he asked who it was, before letting Susan in and ungraciously dropping Abby onto her feet.
Abby opened the door, peering down the stairs she could see Chuck struggling through the door carrying everything Cosmo could possibly need to survive for the next three weeks, with Susan behind him grinning holding a sleeping child in her arms.
Looking up Susan put a free finger to her lips, it had taken her three hours to settle Cosmo and she wanted peace for the next three. As they reached Abby's apartment Carter offered to help carry Cosmo's gear, while Abby opened her arms to retrieve her Godchild.
"He's getting so big." Abby whispered, moving him smoothly from arm to arm, to get a comfier position.
"You should see how much he eats." Susan responded. Then in a stage whisper added. "He's turning into his father!"
"Shall I put him in my room?"
"Would you mind?"
Abby shook her head, not wanting to disturb the sleeping child. Taking the crib from Carter, Susan followed Abby into the room and in a matter of moments it was set up and Cosmo was nestled under a blanket with Toto the bunny clutched possessively in his fist.
"He looks so peaceful."
"Yeah," Susan sighed, though her tone was only slightly playful.
"Is he still playing up?'
"Yeah, it seems my kid is in a hurry to reach the terrible two's!"
Abby stifled a laugh. "You wonder why I don't have kids."
"But you're so good with them."
"Yeah, other people's. Those you get to give them back," she added knowingly.
"So you and Carter…" Her voice drifted off at Abby's 'leave it alone' look.
"We haven't discussed it, and it's not something I want to get into now." Seeing her down trodden look, Abby tried to lighten the mood. Dragging her out of the room she said. "Come on, it's nearly Christmas and I cooked!"
"This is delicious."
"Thank-you," Abby smiled, taking his compliments with a pinch of salt. Chuck's taste molecules barely had the chance to figure out he was actually eating let alone know if it tasted good, the way he wolfed down his food.
"So…?" Carter started and then turned to Susan innocently.
"What?" She answered through a mouthful of food.
"You said you had something to share?"
Swallowing quickly, Susan fought back a chuckle. "Trust you not to forget."
"What is it?" Abby asked curiously.
"It's actually nothing big." Susan caged around the issue, grinning.
"Fine. If you won't tell me yours I'm not telling you mine," Abby smirked in response.
"You've got a secret?" Carter asked and all eyes turned to her.
Groaning, Abby rolled her eyes. "I was kidding. Come on Susan. How about you tell us, or I go wake up sleeping beauty in there."
"You wouldn't dare."
"Try me."
The look on Abby's face was one not to be messed with.
"Fine." Susan turned to smile at Chuck. Reaching across the table Chuck gently placed his hand over hers and lightly squeezed it, his wedding ring reflecting the light. They had been married nearly nine months, Cosmo was now 18months and despite Susan's' occasional grievances with the two men in her life they were happy. "You want to tell them?"
"No, you should." They shared another loving smile. Abby had never figured this would be the ER relationship to last, but was relieved she was wrong.
"Okay." Susan turned back to face her friends, her smile beaming. "I'm pregnant."
"Oh my God."
"Congratulations."
"I'm so pleased for you both." Carter and Abby simultaneously exclaimed.
Abby got up to hug Susan and Carter reached across the table to offer a manly shake.
Abby whispered in her ear. "This time it has to be a girl."
Laughing, Susan replied, "oh, it will be. Or we're sending him back. Two Martin boys in the house is more than enough." She pulled a face at Abby and turned to smile at her husband.
"I think this deserves a celebration," Carter declared. "Virgin Strawberry Daiquiris anyone?"
Responding to the positive agreement, Carter expertly moved through the kitchen gathering ingredients as he went and in five minutes they were toasting the new baby in style.
The sudden wail from the bedroom interrupted their celebrations.
"I'll go," Carter said.
"You sure?" Susan asked, but they were all concerned.
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
"He'll be fine." Abby said once he was out of earshot, but got up and followed. "I'll just give him a hand."
Carter closed the door behind their friends, leaning against it he held his arms open to Abby who happily moved into them. "Did you enjoy tonight?"
"Mmhmm," she said against his chest. Looking up she continued, "Cosmo deserves a little sister."
"It's a girl?"
"They don't know for sure, but Susan's adamant." She giggled at her friends' earlier affirmation. "Can't say that I blame her. Cosmo's cute, but he takes after his daddy and that's a whole lot of work."
"So you think a girl would be easier?"
"For Susan? Definitely."
"I mean for you." His eyes locked onto hers.
"I'm not the one who's pregnant," she stated nervously.
"You could be." His grip went tighter around her waist. "I saw you were Cosmo tonight; I've seen you around children. You're a natural."
"Carter…"
Authors Notes: I know it's been a while, but I've had this on the backburner for a while and figured posting would spur me to finish it.
I'll have the second chapter posted soon – please let me know what you think.