"What's in a Name?"

So I savor her most of that day. I'm not a teenager, but hey I've still got it. We get hungry and head down to the kitchen, I tell her I'll take care of dinner, I'm feeling paternal. I start to make one of my favorite dishes which she respectfully refers to as "lamb gruel" when I look down at my hand, and realize I'm an idiot. I had her ring this whole time, and I just didn't see it. Not the first time I've missed something I should have seen. It's an heirloom, a simple gold band, from an old Croatian woman, Rosa, that became like family to me. I've worn it on my little finger, since she died. I slide it off and walk over to Abby, I get close, and I pick up her hand and slide the ring on, she doesn't look at me, but watches the ring going on like she's never seen one before, When she looks at me she nods, and I feel better, well, half-way better.

We go to see Kerry about my getting time off during Abby's scheduled vacation. And she starts to give me shit. Two weeks that's all I'm asking for and you'd think I was asking for more then my due. I give her a short explanation, "It's a honeymoon". She'll see what she can do? She'd better.

A couple of weeks go by, and the day comes. I get up while she's sleeping and take a walk. What else would I do? It's crazy, to feel so happy, and so sad all at the same time. The sadness is unexpected, but should really be no surprise. The last time I did this, I was a kid. Had no clue what I was getting into, somehow that made it easier. Now, I know, I still want it, but I know. It feels like I'm closing a door. It's the end of one life, and the start of another. I haven't talked to Danijela in ages, somehow once I was with Abby it didn't seem right; I'd said my good-byes in Croatia. But this morning, she seems closer to me then she has in a long time.

"I'm getting married today" I say.

And for the first time I hear it . . her voice

"I'm glad" slow and sweet and low, but it's not Danijela's voice, it's Abby's.

I stop cold.

And then I know it's time to go home and wake my bride.

She's bought this dress, and doesn't want to wear it when the time comes, I shrug who cares what she wears. I tell her to wear a wet suit and snow shoes and she screws her face up at me in that way she has. Tata will appreciate the pictures, not traditional you know. Honestly, it doesn't matter what she wears. I can't take my eyes off her face, it's like someone flipped on the light switch. Her eyes are glowing, and her cheeks blushing, like she'd just walked a mile, or we just made love. And her smile, I don't think I've ever seen Abby smile this much, not even if I totaled it all up since the first time I saw her. She's radiant.

We get to the courthouse and meet Carter and Chen. I shake his hand and we look each other in the eyes, and I know he trusts me with her now. Not that I need him to, but still it's nice. Who'd have thought? We struck up an uneasy alliance when Abby went back to rehab. It's evolved into a friendship of sorts. Abby still gets him more then I do, but there's more to him then I thought, and he truly cares about Abby.

We say our vows and its faster then I would ever have imagined, I can't help it I cry a little and so does she. Now I have my ring too, although it was hard for her to get it there, her hands trembled, mine were steady.

Carter and Chen take us out to lunch. It's nice, to be there with her, we're happy and it's easy. It feels like our day, not a production, but a celebration, I like it, and I like that she likes it too.

The weird part comes when we go to work. It's odd to be back in this world after being in world apart all morning.

Women are funny, she made me promise not to tell anyone about the baby yet, and she goes and blurts it out to Susan Lewis first thing. Susan, Abby and I are finishing up on a case when she notices my ring, and looks at me then Abby who nods. Susan looks rather surprised so I quip that I had to marry her or be deported. Abby says she married me because she's pregnant, and then with a grin and a glint in her eye, she refutes it claiming it was for my money and finally she whispers something in Susan's ear that leaves her mouth gaping. As for telling people about the baby, I don't care, she can hire a sky writer or a billboard, or she can wait till people begin to think she's getting fat, whatever she wants. Just wish she'd make up her mind, so I know the drill. But I have to say, I like seeing her having fun with it, her smile, so alive, it's nice, it makes me happy too.

Her name. She wants me to tell her whether to take my name, personnel papers or something. It doesn't matter to me, the important thing is that we're married. I know I was all sentimental about the rings, and I don't care about her name? But what did you think, I'm not a Neanderthal. I ask her if she wants me to be Luka Lockhart, that makes us laugh it sounds more like a cartoon character or worse a female impersonator. Danijela took my name, but we didn't even consider the options. I've already had two Mrs. Kovac's in my life. I don't need another Mrs. Kovac; I just need Abby. It's her choice I say, and then suggest Wyczniski if she doesn't want to keep Lockhart, and that's what she settles on.

Work gets busy, and I'm focused, grinding through another shift. Time gets away from me. I'm trying to finish up some sutures when Abby comes in dragging Gallant behind her.

"Gallant will finish for you" she says brightly, Gallant doesn't look too excited.

I glance up briefly, "That's okay I've got it" I say and go back to work, not getting it.

"Dr. Kovac, Gallant will finish for you" she says it again, no longer bright, more um menacing maybe. I look up again.

Gallant behind her holds up his left hand and points to his ring finger.

Damn me for a fool, it's our wedding night.

"Mrs. Davis, Dr. Gallant will just finish up these last stitches, you're in excellent hands".

I smile at Abby but she's shaking her head at me. I pat Gallant on the back, and he mutters "You're in trouble Dr. Kovac." I hope he's wrong.

I quickly get ready, she's long since put her things away.

I find her waiting outside for me. I take a breath and put on my best grin, I wink as I say

"Ready Ms Wyczinski?" I hold my z's and lay my accent on thick. What you didn't think I had any tricks up my sleeves? I've been married before, no?

It works.

She smiles and shakes her head. "You're such a jerk"

I shrug, when she's right she's right. I put my arms around her as we walk away, and she almost disappears in them, my wife, Abby.