May 2, 2:00 am

Susan lay wide awake next to Chuck who was snoring like the oversized man that he is. She could hear Amelia's soft breathing in the baby monitor. Susan leaned over on her stomach to peek underneath the bed. The dress was still there. As being the chief of emergency medicine at County, she was able to reschedule her friends' shifts and appointments. Susan closed her eyes and went back to bed.

2:30 am

Abby sluggishly was lead out of bed by a pair of tiny hands wanting reassurance. Tess had a nightmare and jumped into Abby's bed. After making sure the twins were asleep she climbed back into bed and turned on the lamp. After dialing a number she knew by heart, Abby quickly hit 'end' instead of 'talk' and hung up the phone. Switching the lamp off, she curled up beneath her blankets and fell asleep.

3:00 am

Carter slid out of the shower, wrapping his forest green towel around waist. He removed the fog from his mirror by wiping his hands across the surface. A pair of sorry brown eyes stared back at him. He hadn't talked to Abby in three days and had not eaten at all yesterday. Pulling on his old County baseball shirt and red boxers, Carter returned to his bed and lay motionless. He started to dial Abby's number but decided against it seeing that it was three in the morning.

3:30 am

Chuck nudged Susan in the shoulder causing her to wake up once more.

"You nervous?" a muffled voice asked.

"No. You?" Susan answered.

"Anxious."

"Same."

"Heard you looking at your dress."

"Night Chuck."

"I wanna talk to my bride to be." He said as he tried to give Susan a kiss.

"Your bride to be wants to sleep."

"Fine."

"Thank you."

"Love you."

"Love ya too."

4:00 am

Trivial thoughts danced around Abby's mind as she shuffled un her bed trying to go back to sleep. Susan's wedding had made her think of, well, love. Abby smiled at that thought. Only is she could walk down the aisle and have it not end in turmoil. She grabbed a book that was sitting on the foot of her bed; Rats and Lice: A History. Frowning at the title, Abby remembered it was Dr. Dubenko who had given it to her for Christmas. Feeling underneath her bed she found Wizard and Glass: The Dark Tower IV by Stephen King.

4:30 am

Carter sat by the window reading his New England Medical Journal. After five minutes of reading about the growing risk of patients using diethlpropin as a dietary supplement, he let his elbow rest at the nearby desk. Something dropped. A tiny black box sitting on its side caught his eye. It was Gamma's ring. A flush of emotions ran through Carter's head as he quickly placed the box back into the desk.

5:00 am

Neela and Ray clocked out and yawned at the end of their twelve-hour shift. Morris walked into the admit desk carrying a cup of coffee and a box of doughnuts. "Good morning!" he said as the box swam under Ray's nose. After grabbing a handful of the doughnuts, Neela led the way to the early May horizon. She had promised Abby to be at her apartment by ten to help out with the wedding. "See ya later!" Ray yelled as they parted ways at the sidewalk. Maybe she'll see a different side of Dr. Carter she though as she stuffed the last of the doughnut into he mouth.

Cookie rang the doorbell three times before Chuck answered. Within five minutes she was gone with a crying Amelia in her arms. Susan stood in the door frame, arms crossed, and smiling.

They both stood in silence trying to sink in all that was going to happen by tonight. Chuck moved towards the bathroom. "I told John that I was coming over in about thirty minutes so…"

"Go ahead."

"See ya." She said kissing her on the cheek.

"Better not get cold feet!"

Susan beamed as he shut the bathroom door behind her.

Susan dialed Abby's number making sure she was already awake. By the sound of her voice though, Susan knew she had woken her up.

"Hey Abby it's me!"

"Hi." Abby yawned.

"You know what to do and Carol knows what to do."
"Good morning to you too."
"You can pick up the twin's dresses from the dry cleaners at one."
"OK."

"And make sure Carter shows up or you'll be walking down that aisle alone."

"But I haven't spoken to him in-"

"Don't care. Good luck!"

Abby jumped at the hard knock on her bedroom door. It was Doug.

"Time to get up."

"Thanks." Abby fabricated a smiled and rolled her eyes when he left. After listening a while to the Ross family that was taking over her apartment, she raked her hand through her hair and dialed Carter's number. It clicked over to his voicemail.

He saw her name show up on caller ID and quickly lunged for it. As it rang in his hands, seeing her name, he sat the phone back down. Carter turned on the light to his closet eyeing his grey tux. Chuck had dropped it off over an hour ago. He ran his hands down the soft material and smiled. A glimpse of Abby and him wandered into his mind but quickly dissipated. She would call later.

Abby took the dress from beneath her bed and undid the plastic hanging on the door. It was a deep lilac; reminded her of her old nursing scrubs. The dress had a boat neck neckline and sleeves that stopped just below her elbows. The middle curved inward to make a tight fit and the skirt spilled out t make the shape of a bell that went whoosh when she walked. I hate this dress Abby thought to herself.

Neela gave a courteous 'hello' as she passed the Ross family on the stairs. She pulled out her spare key prying nervously at the door knowing how Abby was in the morning.

"I'm awake. I've had coffee. It's safe." Abby said.

"You're not dressed!" Neela said.

"Just give me ten more minutes."

"Dr. Lewis is going to be pissed if we're late."

"We won't be late."

"Abby?", Neela paused not really sure why she was asking this question, "is Dr. Carter coming to the wedding?"

Abby stood up from where she was sitting and headed towards the bathroom door. She didn't mean to be rude but Neela was getting ready to get on her last nerves. "I don't know." Abby closed the door behind her and let out a heavy sigh. Every time Carter's name was spoken two things happened; butterflies and a sense of sadness.

Part Four

John Truman Carter the Third lay limp on his bed fully dresses in his gray tux. He was undecided. Abby hadn't called him back and he promised himself if she did, he would be there. But she hadn't called. The mere sight of her name on caller ID made him smile as his heart filled with mixed emotions

Carter stood up and laced his newly polished shoes. He had to go, he thought, because if he didn't Susan would give him hell. After examining himself in the mirror, he went to the bathroom to brush his teeth for the fifth time in two hours. His phone rang on silent; it was Abby.

Abby grunted when Carter didn't pick up his phone for the second time. She whispered shit underneath her breath as she struggled with her hair. Neela had been gone for an hour now and was meeting up with Ray.

The limo pulled up right as Abby and Carol sped out of the apartment. Abby held her shoes in her hand as she ran down the two flights of stairs in her Asics trying to keep up with Carol. Mr. Capley opened the doors and helped them inside.

"Where to?" he asked.

"St. Ignacious street left of Market Rd. Third house on the left." Carol spit out as she sat down across from Abby.

Abby sat uncomfortably across from her fellow bridesmaid. "Something wrong between you and Carter?" Carol asked. Abby looked down at her hands and blushed.

"You could say that." She mumbled, secretly smiling.

"You love him don't you?" Carol said teasingly.

"Really, thought I was still in the infatuation stage." Abby let out a nervous laugh. She found a loose strand and pulled it behind her ear.

"He likes it when you do that."

"What?" Abby snapped, caught off guard. "Sorry."

"He told me."

"He probably told him to talk him up to."

"Abby-"

"No, don't. For him not showing up at one of his best friend's wedding is just-"

"What?"

"He's too stubborn that's all."

Carol went ahead of Abby as they followed Susan to a back room inside the church. Abby stood outside in the parking lot, squinting as the sun reflected off of the concrete. She dialed Carter's number for the last time and got his voicemail. Picking up the bottom of her poofy dress, she ascended the stone steps to aid Susan.

Susan stood in front of a floor mirror in the corner of the room. She messed with her veil as Carol placed a string of pearls around Susan's neck. She turned at the sound of Abby coming through the door. "You were silent in the limo, is Carter coming?" Susan asked. Dismissing Susan's last comment, Abby flashed Susan a warm smile.

"You look beautiful." Abby said, crossing the room and helping Susan with her veil.

"Thank you, but stop patronizing me. Is Carter coming?" Susan asked once more.

Abby looked Susan straight in the eye and said, "I don't know."