"So, why am I doing this again?" Abby asked as she tapped her fingers impatiently on the arm rest of the hard bucket seat in the airport concourse.

"Because it's a good idea," Luka said absently as he checked over her ticket information. "Susan wants to see you. She wants to show off their new house."

"But I could be home..." she started.

"Pacing and cleaning and sleeping and eating," Luka finished for her with a grin. "You can do that just as easily at Susan's house. Besides, I'm on the schedule all weekend. I won't have to worry about you being home alone."

"You know, Maggie is going to be angry if she finds out I did this," Abby said. "She is going to want me to come to Minnesota."

"It's too cold in Minnesota, right now," Luka said evenly as he continued to read. "We'll all go after the baby is born...when it's warmer." Abby studied his profile with a stubborn frown. Luka looked up as the boarding announcement was made and a door opened to admit passengers to the plane. He stood up and lifted the carry on bag that held her things. He pulled Abby up gently and she took the bag from him. His kissed her and then pushed her in the direction of the door.

"Go on," he said. "Have a good time. I'll call you tonight." She waved to him as she disappeared down the covered ramp to the plane. She found her seat, put the bag in the overhead storage and settled next to the window. It was a short flight and she slept most of the way. Susan was waiting for her when she disembarked.

"Oh my God...Abby!" Susan threw her arms around her and hugged her. 'I can't believe you are really here!" She stepped back and grinned broadly as she gave her friend a visual once over.

"You look...beautiful," she said breathlessly. "And there's a baby in there!" She widened her eyes a bit with an unasked question and Abby nodded in feigned resignation. She opened her coat. Susan giggled and pressed a hand to Abby's belly.

"I don't know if this is such a good idea after all," she said. 'You're going to make me want to do it all over again!" Abby laughed as Susan took the carry on bag from her and linked their arms.

"I gotta remember...swollen feet...hemorrhoids...labor...we need to get home quick...so I can remind myself what life is like with a three year old!" Susan said. Abby laughed. Luka had been right. This was what she needed. She felt as a two ton weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Susan drove her through the snow drifted streets of Des Moines and pointed out her new hospital, a shopping mall and the preschool that Cosmos attended. They talked nonstop for the entire sixty minute drive to the house. And it was a wonderful three days. They were up early for breakfast with Chuck and Cosmos. They stayed up till all hours talking and played a continuous game of 'Scrabble'.

"You don't play this with Luka?" Susan asked as they were putting the board away one night. Abby shrugged with a smile.

"He cheats," she said. "He sneaks Croatian words in on me. Who keeps a dictionary like that around...even if I could read it?" Susan laughed.

The tea kettle whistled and she hurried to turn it off before the shrill sound woke a sleeping Chuck and Cosmos. She poured them each a cup of tea and added a liberal dash of milk to Abby's cup. She carried the cups to the overstuffed couch where Abby had curled up under a knit shawl.

"Thank you," Abby said as she took a sip.

"How is Luka handling the Chief position?" Susan asked as she settled herself at the other end of the couch.

"He loves it," Abby said.

"He should," Susan nodded. "He's perfect for it." They sipped their tea in silence for a moment.

"Is he excited about the baby?" Susan asked finally. Abby nodded. Susan studied her face.

"You don't look so sure about that," she said. "What's wrong?"

"Oh...I know he's thrilled about the baby," Abby said. "There's just something...never mind."

"Abby, " Susan sat up a little straighter. "Tell me." Abby took a sip of her tea and looked at Susan thoughtfully.

"I'm not sure that he is happy that he is having it with me," she said and took a deep breath.

"You have got to be kidding!" Susan exclaimed and then grimaced. She cocked her head and listened to the quiet house. Then she turned back to Abby.

"How could you even think that?" she asked. Abby shrugged.

"He was still living with Sam barely a month before we...well...you know," Abby said.

"So...you think this is some kind of...rebound thing?" Susan shook her head. Abby didn't respond.

"Abby, " Susan said firmly. "If anything, Sam was a rebound from you. You and Luka have a long history together. You've been friends. Think about everything that he's gone through with you...Carter...Africa...Gillian...and you're together now."

"I know he's joking but he talks about custody fights...," Abby said as she took another sip of her tea. "I won't ever doubt that he won't be there for this baby. I just don't think he will be there for me." A tear slipped down her cheek. Susan watched her sadly and then handed her a tissue from the box on the table. Abby dabbed at her eyes and sighed.

"Maggie told me once...a long time ago...that Luka stared at me all the time when I wasn't watching," Abby said. "I'm afraid that we may have lost that."

"You haven't, Abby," Susan said quietly. "Maybe you are what is scaring the hell out of him. Maybe he is afraid of moving too fast because he might lose you again. You have a tendency to back off when things get to be too good for you. I mean, I love you to death, sweetie, but you aren't exactly the poster child for a stable relationship." Abby laughed and then yawned wearily.

"Aw...I've kept you up too late," Susan said and then added, "I've kept ME up too late. I have to work tomorrow. " They stood up and Susan took the tea mugs and put them in the kitchen. She put her arm across Abby's shoulders and walked her to the stairs.

"I am going to miss you so much," Susan said as she hugged her. "I have to go in early so Chuck is going to take you to the airport. Don't you ever forget that I'm..."

"...only a phone call away," they said in unison. Abby smiled and hugged her.

Abby's plane arrived in Chicago a bit early so she was very surprised to see Luka waiting for her at the arrival gate.

"What are you doing here?" Abby laughed as Luka picked her up in an embrace. "I told you I would take a cab."

"I missed you," he sighed and kissed her.

"It's only been three days," she laughed as he set her back down.

"Too long," he smiled. He took the stuffed circular pillow she was carrying and looked at in confusion.

"What's this?" he asked.

"It's a boppy," Abby said. "Susan loaned it to me."

"Boppy?" he asked.

"Yeah, you put it around your lap to help hold the baby when you are nursing," she said absently as she checked her carry on bag. Luka looked at the pillow in confusion.

"You need a round pillow to nurse a baby?" he asked. Abby looked up at him and then laughed.

"Oh...and look at this," she said as she opened her coat. She was wearing a silkish green tee shirt with the words 'Knocked Up' written gracefully across the front. "It's stretchy!" Luka grinned. The sparkle that had been missing from her brown eyes was back.

"Come on," she said as she grabbed his arm and tugged. "I can't wait to go to bed."

"Bed? But it's only..." he looked at her and then grinned. "Ohhh..." Abby chuckled and dragged him through the airport tarmac.

"Come on..."she said. "It's been three days."