Haleh sat across the table from Abby and watched her carefully as she absently flipped the pages of the magazine in front of her. Chuny and Dori were ensconced on the couch and pretending to be reading themselves. Abby was aware that they were watching her and tried hard to ignore it. She sighed softly and went back to work on the stack of charts she was writing in. Chuny, Haleh and Dori exchanged glances and then went back to their own activities. The silence loomed large in the lounge. Abby dropped her pen in frustration.

"What!" she asked sharply. 'What is it?'

"Well...someone is certainly touchy today", Haleh said with a feigned frown. Chuny smiled.

"Touchy as in, maybe...emotional?" she replied. Haleh chuckled and stood up to carry a coffee cup to the counter.

"So, Dori," Haleh asked. "Did you ever find that missing test kit from the O.B. closet?" The three nurses looked pointedly at Abby. "Uh...I bought mine at the mini mart like everyone else," Abby said. Dori moved to sit in a chair at the table with Chuny right behind.

"So you did take a test," she said.

"And...?" Chuny asked. Abby glanced from one to the other.

"Wouldn't that be confidential information?" she asked. Chuny leaped up and did a high five slap with Haleh.

" I knew it!" she laughed.

"I can't wait to tell Carol!" Haleh laughed.

"We are not telling anyone!" Abby cried futilely.

"Of course..." Dori nodded, her eyes wide. "We won't tell...promise."

'Do you think it's possible to have a private life around here?" Abby groaned. The three nurses stopped on their way out the door and contemplated her question.

"No," Haleh said.

"Nope," Chuny grinned.

"I don't think so," Dori added. Abby groaned and buried her face in her hands as they left. She sat back in her chair and sighed heavily.

This was all so new...and scary. Luka was being wonderful...so patient. She was used to handling things. She had seen herself through some major curve balls in her life. But for the very first time she missed having someone to talk to. She missed Susan...and lord help her...she actually missed Maggie. There was only so much you could say on the telephone. The door of the lounge opened and Sam walked in.

"Hey," she said and headed for the refrigerator. 'Kinda quiet out there."

"We both know it's just the lull before the weekend storm," Abby replied. Sam opened a bottle of water and sat down at the table.

"How are you doing?" she asked. Abby shrugged.

"Trying to keep up with this ever growing pile of paperwork," she said.

"Luka told me about the baby, Abby," Sam said. "I am very happy for the two of you. I know that he has wanted this for a while." She sighed.

"And I know that he has especially wanted it with you," she finished. Abby looked at her and Sam smiled. She lifted the bottle in a toast.

"Luka is a great dad," Sam said. "Just ask Alex." Abby chuckled.

"He is one scary kid," Abby said. "And too smart for his own good." Sam grinned.

"Look at all you have to look forward to!" she said as she stood up. "Thanks for having him for dinner the other night while I was on duty."

"I was glad he was there," Abby said. "Luka had someone to play his games with." Sam laughed as she left. Abby went back to work on her files and was gathering them up as Luka pushed open the door to the lounge.

"Would you have any idea why all the nurses are smiling at me?" he asked. Abby chuckled and stood up with the arm load of files.

"Gee...I don't know," she said. "That Croatian charm maybe?" Luka grinned and studied her quizzically for a moment.

"They know," he said. "They know about the baby. I thought you wanted to keep it a secret?"

"I did!" Abby cried. "I don't know how they found out." She glared playfully at him. "And don't give me that crap about...glowing". Luka shrugged and held the door open for her.

"But you are glowing," he said as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "My meeting is over and I am going home. Come to my place for dinner?"

"I don't know," Abby said warily. "When I am with you at your place, I never make it home to mine. I need some rest." Luka chuckled.

"Tonight we sleep...I promise," he said. "I'll even give you a Croatian massage to relax you."

"Right," she said. "I think that's how we got into this situation in the first place." Luka laughed heartedly and headed out the door to the E.R. bay.

"That is one happy man," Haleh said with a satisfied smile as she watched him disappear. "And when the boss is happy, we are all happy."

"So when do we start the baby pool?' Chuny asked as she leaned over the older woman's shoulder.

"I think we'd better start the wedding pool first," Haleh nodded.

"I heard that," Abby said as she passed by them to put her files away. "Private life, remember? Confidentiality?" Haleh and Chuny snickered.