Luka smiled as he watched Abby through the rearview mirror. She had been sitting in the back next to Lauren's car seat since they'd stopped for lunch. She'd been reading and playing with her and he loved watching her face when she did that...almost as much as he loved watching her nurse their daughter. All the defenses were gone. All the worry lines were smoothed and replaced with gorgeous laugh lines and dimples. Abby glanced up and caught his eye in the mirror.

"Hey...eyes on the road up there, Bernie," she ordered. Luka straightened and nodded as he assumed his chauffeur role.

"Ah...here it is," he said as he guided the car from the highway to an exit. Abby looked out the window and read a sign.

"Wisconsin Dells?" she asked. "Are we stopping for the night already?"

"Yeah," Luka said. 'There's some stuff I want to do here." Abby shrugged.

"You're the guide," she said. "We're just along for the ride." Luka chuckled.

"It'll be fun...I promise." Abby watched out the window as he bypassed hotel after hotel and finally pulled into a Howard Johnson Hotel and Conference Center. He pulled the car near the lobby door and turned the key off.

"Do you want to wait here while I check on our reservation?" Abby unbuckled her seat belt and unclicked the latch that held the babyseat in Lauren's car seat.

"Go on ahead, " she said. "We'll be right behind you." Luka nodded and got out of the car. He stretched a bit and looked around before heading into the hotel lobby. Abby slipped out of the backseat and lifted Lauren's baby seat out. She smiled as an exiting guest held the door tot he lobby open for her.

"Thank you," she said and then turned around. Her eyes were drawn to a huge banner over the check in desk.

"Welcome, Scrabble Players...Tournament of Champions," she read silently. Luka came toward her from the reservation desk and held up a key card.

"Did you know about that?" she asked as she nodded toward the banner. He turned his head to read the banner and nodded.

'Yeah," he said. "That's why I picked this weekend and this hotel. I thought you might enjoy it."

"Yeah..." Abby nodded happily. "Maybe I can pick up a Croatian dictionary."

"What? And have me lose the only edge I have over you in that game? I don't think so." Luka laughed and kissed her. "I'm going to go get our bag and move the car. I'll be right back." Abby watched him go with a smile on his face. He was having a great time...and surprisingly, so was she.

They spent a wonderful afternoon exploring a Harvest Festival and the touristy shops of Wisconsin Dells. Luka even talked her into posing for a family portrait...in Victorian garb. Then he dragged her on a horse and carriage ride through Lost Canyon where they marveled at the beautiful fall colors around them. Being surrounded by trees and rocks and crisp clean air made the city streets of Chicago seem worlds away. Lauren was warm and content snuggled against either of them in her carrier.

Abby smiled as she stretched out on her stomach on the hotel bed with the framed portrait they'd had taken in her hands. Luka looked so serious - and so ruggedly handsome - sitting in the chair with the high collared shirt and black frock coat on. She stood slightly behind him with Lauren in her arms. They'd swept her hair up in a loose knot and she wore a lacy, high collared shirt waist and dark high waisted skirt. Lauren's little face was framed in a lace baby bonnet as she peered out from the crocheted blanket she was wrapped in. They looked so perfect together...the three of them...a family.

Abby looked up as the door opened and Luka came into the room from the hall. His wet hair was slicked back and he had a towel around his neck. He grinned and tossed the towel onto a chair before sitting down on the bed beside her. He took the picture from her hand and chuckled softly as he looked at it and then set the frame on the bedside table.

"How was the work out room?" she asked as she rested her chin on her folded arms. Luka shrugged.

"Pretty good. A couple laps in the pool felt good too," he said. "I'll stay here with Lauren if you want to go try it out." Abby grimaced and shook her head.

"I'll pass," she said. "Besides, I've already taken a long, hot bath." Luka glanced over at the hotel baby crib.

"Is she sleeping?"

"Like a rock," Abby laughed. "She's not used to so much fresh air." Lukagrinned and stood up. She watched him as he looked down at their daughter and smiled. He moved a small pillow out of the crib and then stretched out beside Abby on the bed. She raised herself up on one elbow and grinned.

"So what's on the agenda for...tonight?" she asked. Luka smirked and shrugged.

"I had to see if she was going to cooperate first." His eyes locked on her's and he put his hand to her waist. Abby smiled softly. She was so sensitive about the weight she'd put on that was coming off oh so slowly, but the truth be known, he loved the new curves and warmth. His warm fingers slipped under her soft cami and up her back. Abby squirmed and rolled over on his arm.

"I'm sorry," she laughed. "I am just so ticklish tonight." Luka chuckled.

"Ticklish? You're ticklish?" He chuckled and slipped both hands up to her rib cage. He slipped the cami over her head and off her arms. He tossed it away.

"Luka!" she cried softly and reached for the edge of his tee shirt. He grinned as she pulled it off and tossed it away from the bed.

"Rules of the road," he said with a lecherous grin. "Number 2...take advantage of every...single...entertaining...opportunity." He lowered himself slowly on top of her and she wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him into a long, lingering kiss.