Chapter One

Stepping out into the warm autumn air, Abby Lockhart was over-whelmed with a feeling of tremendous happiness as she strode her way up the stairs to the el platform. She carelessly manoeuvred her way through the crowds and safely onto a train, blissfully unaware of the deafening screeching of the train brakes. She remained in a contented state for the entire journey home, happy in the knowledge that she wouldn't have to return to work for another three weeks (finally having your best friend as your boss paid off). Abby cheerfully strode from the el station, down the stairs, onto the street and in the direction of home. As she casually strolled her way down to her apartment she was looking ahead to the nights that were in store for her. First off, her hen-night in two days time, followed by dinner at the four seasons the next day then a day with Susan, Neela and Sam all topped off with the rehearsal dinner on Saturday and then the big day itself. As she approached her building she was thrown off her thought train by a dark shadow waiting by the door. Confused, she paused for a moment, focusing her eyes on the figure. She heard her name being called out in an all too familiar voice. She quickened her pace until she stood before the perpetrator and in a flash of shock she recognised his face.

"What did I tell you about your keys?" he spoke.

Abby smiled a smile worthy of the Cheshire cat. "Oh my god…Carter…what are you doing here?" She shrieked. "I mean…hey!" She reached up and hugged him.

He wrapped his free arm around her back and returned the embrace.

"I thought you were coming out on Thursday!" Abby said.

Carter smiled as he looked at her. "Yeah, uhh...the flight was cancelled and the next flight they could get me on was next Monday…which would have meant I would have missed the wedding." Abby smiled at Carter. He continued "yeah, so I switched airlines and the only flight I could get was…" He looked at his watch and laughed. "Well…yesterday!"
Abby laughed a little as she continued to look at Carter. "So…uhh what are you doing here?" She asked, slightly confused.

Carter laughed at her expression "uhh…my dad still thinks I'm coming here on Thursday and therefore isn't home…so….?" Carter smiled.

Abby rolled her eyes. "You can sleep on the couch" She smiled at him.

"Thanks" Carter smirked. He loved how she immediately knew what he was asking her. He was all too happy to see her standing before him after almost 6 months and what was more, she was happy. He wanted, more than anything, to go back to that night before his wedding and tell her what he had been gagging to tell her – what his conscience wouldn't let him say. It wasn't that he wasn't happy with Kem, he was. He did however, still think of the 'what ifs'; thinking of them more and more as his trip to Chicago loomed. Abby always seemed to be at the front of his mind and Kem was beginning to notice. He couldn't help it; it was as though he was still under Abby's spell – the same one that had bound him so many times before.

Together, Carter and Abby entered the building and tackled the staircase. As they entered Abby's apartment Carter dropped his one bag at the door and Abby walked towards the couch where she dumped her bag and jacket. Abby turned and leaned her back on the back of the couch as she faced Carter. She looked at him and smiled – a smile which faded as she frantically looked around the room.

"Where's…Kem?" She asked.

Carter's smiling face slowly fell until he was awash with a somewhat confused face when he said "Kem? She's…Kem's in Paris…with her mother." He stuttered.

Abby nodded her head. "Is her mother sick again?" Abby asked.

Carter, who had been staring at his feet since he had finished speaking, lifted his head. He took a deep breath as he said "umm…yeah, she's sick again. Kem had to go help out. She sends her apologies"

Abby smiled at Carter as she noticed his discomfort. "That's ok. I hope she gets better soon."

Carter smiled and nodded his head. "Yeah, me too." He spoke somewhat doubtfully.

Abby found herself staring at Carter as he spoke, she continued this gaze even once he had stopped. Something wasn't right with Carter, somehow he felt off to her especially at the mention of Kem. The Carter standing before her was a very different Carter to the one she parted from in Paris. That Carter was contented and happy and despite their revelations, he was still at ease. But this Carter seems sad, almost depressed. He is much quieter and no where near as confident as she was used to him being. She prayed to god that something wasn't wrong with him, physically, but still feared that there was something in his mind preventing him from being happy, preventing him from being the Carter she knew and loved so much. At this point Abby was snapped out of her reverie by the ringing of her phone.

"Want me to get it?" Carter asked motioning towards the phone.

"Nah, its ok. I've got it" Abby replied, terrified of what would have happened had Carter answered the phone and have Jake on the other end of the phone.

Abby walked past Carter towards the phone, smiling at him as she passed by.

"Hello?" Abby answered the phone

Carter stood watching Abby on the phone. He could faintly hear a screeching down the phone and assumed it only to be Susan. He smiled and leaned towards Abby.

"Is that Susan?...Abby? Is that Susan on the phone?" Carter tried to get Abby's attention

"…no thongs and definitely no…" Abby turned and faced Carter. "Yes it's Susan." She said sternly and directed her attention back to her squealing maid of honour and best friend.

Abby had the phone balancing on her shoulder as she picked up a cup of cold coffee and looked into it. As she sat it back onto the table she looked at Carter.

"…no Susan, it's Jake…" She lied. "No, he's just being nice." Carter laughed at Abby, she smiled back at him.

"How am I lying?...Susan. I am not lying." Abby's face went red.

"Jake's in the ER? Oh…Then this must be his…uhh…twin" Abby's face went scarlet this time and Carter laughed hysterically at her. Once he had stopped laughing he heard his name mentioned faintly down the phone.

"OK! Fine! It's Carter. Ok? You happy now?" Abby laughed as she heard her friend scream in excitement.

"Ok….ok….ok" Abby nodded her head. "Right. I'll see you in a half hour. Bye...ok Carter says bye too"
Abby hung up the phone and laughed.
"Turns out you're my star attraction" Abby said sarcastically. "Now you can't possibly say that you didn't miss Susan!" Abby exclaimed.

Carter smiled and nodded his head. He lifted his head and locked eyes with Abby with a look that made Abby feel very uncomfortable and self conscious. Nevertheless she returned his gaze and smiled.

He moved towards her until he stood right in front of her. He placed his hand on her cheek and leaned forward as he said "Not nearly as much as I still miss you…"

Thanks for reading.

You know the drill. Reviews are welcomed, actually I like them lots.