A/N: Thank you all so much for the reviews! I'm glad you liked it. Also thanks for the compliments about my writing. I'm trying really har, so it means a lot to me. But anyway, I've decided to continue the story, so here is chapter 2. This may be a little boring, but I have to put it in to get to the good stuff ;-) enjoy!
Helping out
Chapter 2
I wake up because I'm freezing. It's very cold. Why am I sleeping in the cold? I want to move but I can't. There's someone on top of me. Oh, I remember now. It's not just someone, it's Abby. Abby is sleeping on top of me. And we're still on the balcony, that's why it's so cold. I guess we fell asleep. Not that surprising; it's been a pretty eventful day. Especially for Abby, but for me also. I care so much for her. I know I shouldn't, but I do, I can't help it. Seeing her dealing with her mother, thinking that she has always done this alone, I just couldn't let that happen. And if Luka isn't willing to help, her boyfriend none the less, then someone else should. And I've decided I should be that person. She's my best friend, and I care so much for her, I just couldn't stand to let her deal with this alone. She should know that she can always count on me. I think she knows now. I think she knows..
I feel myself falling back into a peaceful slumber, but catch myself before I'm asleep. We really should go inside. It's not good to sleep outside and as good as it feels sleeping with Abby against me, this hard chair is doing nothing for my back. What time is it anyway? I carefully detach my arm from Abby's stomach where it was resting and lift it so I can see my watch. 2 AM it reads. Jep, we really should get to bed. I start to move, careful not to wake Abby up, but I don't think that's necessary. She doesn't even move a bit as I stand up and take her in my arms. She really must be exhausted. I carefully walk inside with her and, after struggling a little with the door, walk into her and Maggie's room. Lifting the comforter, I carefully place her on the bed and tuck her in. She looks so peaceful, so sweet. I take one last look at her and place a tiny kiss on her forehead. 'Sleep tight, Abby' I whisper, and then I leave the room, not noticing Maggie awake and watching me walk away..
I quietly undress myself down to my boxers and slip in bed, but I can't sleep. I feel guilty. When I kissed Abby, even just on her forehead, I felt something. Something I haven't felt with anyone before, and it scares me. I don't know exactly what it means, but I know this can't be good. I mean, it could be great, if Abby felt the same and if she wasn't with Luka, but that's not the case. Abby is with Luka and she likes me as a friend. But how can I be her friend when I feel this? I'm really not sure what I'm supposed to do now, how to act when we both wake up tomorrow and have to face each other again. At least I should be glad I woke up before she did. I don't know what kind of scene we would've had if we'd both have woken up outside, on the chair, in each other's arms. I wonder what we'd have said when we woke up and realized we'd slept together. Not really sleeping together, but still sleeping together. Oh, look at me. I'm rambling now. I really should get some sleep.
I turn around trying to get comfortable. No such luck. I can still smell her a little bit. I feel a wet spot where her tears had hit the pillow earlier this evening. I really should talk to her about that by the way. Later though. I don't want to push her. She has to talk to me when she's ready. When she's ready. I can feel my eyes growing heavier. When the timing is right. I can feel sleep washing over me, finally. When the timing is right, we'll be together. And then I'm asleep.
In the other room, Maggie's still awake. She just couldn't sleep after the scene she'd just witnessed. She's always been a light sleeper and without meaning to, Carter had woken her when he'd opened the door and had put Abby to bed. But now, Carter's been long gone and she's still awake. After some more tossing and turning she decides to get some water and climbs out of bed. She returns with a glass of water and grabs the chair next to Abby's bed and sits down on it. And without knowing why, she starts talking to Abby.
'I'm so sorry honey. I didn't mean to snap at you like that tonight. I know you mean it all really well and I'm so grateful for everything you've done for me today. And for everything you've done for me before. I never meant to be like this. I don't want to be like this. I don't know why, but I can't help it, and I hate myself for it. Not for what it's doing to me, but for what it's doing to you. All I want for you is to be happy, and then this happens. I'm so, so sorry honey' and even though the tears start to fall now, she keeps talking.
'I'm really glad you took John with you. He's such a great guy, and he really loves you, you know that? I saw it in his eyes just now' a faint smile forms on her lips thinking about it. 'I don't think you know it though. You don't see in yourself what other people see in you. I think that's your biggest weakness, and that's all my fault. I never told you how great you are. How beautiful and special you are, and I'm so sorry for that. Because you deserve to know. And you deserve someone who sees that in you. And John does, honey. He sees it in you, don't let that slip away. Don't shut out the people that really care about you. And please don't shut me out. I promise you I'll be a better mother. I'm really gonna try to be a better mother to you and Eric, and I hope you'll let me. I really hope you'll let me..'
The tears start to fall again and Maggie gets up. She leans over and gives Abby a kiss on her forehead, just like Carter had done before. 'I love you Abby' And then she empties her glass of water in the sink and crawls back in bed, hoping to finally get some sleep.
A/N: There! Please let me know what you think. Like it? Hate it? Any suggestions? Please review!!