Luka sighed and shifted in the airplane seat uncomfortably. After so many weeks away you would think he'd be glad for the soft cushioning but instead it made him sore. He glanced over at Abby in the seat next to him. He smiled a little to himself remembering the scene at the hospital when they'd said their good byes to Carter. Abby had been deep in a discussion with Debbie. They'd found a boarding school in Chad with room for one of Abby's patients. Abby had arranged for tuition for the school year and Debbie was going to transport her there as soon as the machete wounds had healed sufficiently. Luka glanced at her slyly and gave Carter a gentle shove.

"Ah...go on, Carter," he said as Abby looked up. "She won't bite you." John hadn't looked so sure. Abby hugged Debbie and then looked up in confusion as John approached her. He just shrugged and tipped his head toward Luka. Luka grinned as Carter kissed her quickly on the cheek. Abby looked angry and Luka was enjoying every second of the picture before him. He especially enjoyed it because he knew now that John Carter would never come between the two of them ever again. He snickered again now just remembering.

"What are you laughing about?" Abby asked. Luka shrugged. He just leaned over and kissed her lightly and threaded his fingers through her's.

"Would you do this again?" he asked her. Abby's eyebrows furrowed thoughtfully.

"Yes," she said. "I think I would." Luka sighed happily and settled back in his seat.

"But, I think I'd like to somewhere else," she continued. "Some place with working showers. Maybe a nice refugee camp in, oh, St. Thomas...or how about Switzerland? Aspen, Colorado? We could treat all those ski injuries." He laughed and turned his head to look at her again. She was smiling and it was so good to see the mischievious twinkle back in her eyes. They sat quietly together for the rest of the flight, enjoying the feel of their hands clasped, heads touching and lost in their separate thoughts.

They were all waiting for them at the airport when they disembarked. Laurentis, Zoran, Andro, Valerija, Jelena and Natasya. What a scene they made! Luka had roared when his brothers picked him up and deposited him in a waiting wheelchair. Laurentis tapped his eldest son's shoulder stubbornly and pushed him back again when Luka tried to stand. He knelt as he examined the bandages on his son's sandaled feet. He looked up at Abby as she was being hugged all around.

"He's fine, Tata," she said. "Believe me. I've checked everything and it's all in good working order." Laurentis looked up at her in surprise and then smiled as he shook his finger at her. He opened his arms and drew her in for a hug. Abby sighed happily and hugged him.

"I think they're happier to see you than me," Luka moaned playfully as he put on the jacket Jelena held out for him. Zoran took Abby's knapsack, which was the only piece of luggage they had and laughed as Luka cried out again. Andro was tearing down the tarmac pushing the wheelchair at a breakneck speed toward the street and their waiting cars. People were scattering in their path. Valerija and Jelena just shook their heads and followed. Abby sighed happily and put her coat on. She and clung to her father in law's hand on one side and her niece's on the other as they followed the others. Natasya was skipping to keep up with them. It was good to be home.

It was wonderful to be back in Tata's wide bed together. Abby was still as Luka crawled under the thick winter comforter and pulled her close to him. She was smiling as she thought about the evening with his family. She hadn't been able to keep up with the language but had enjoyed the laughter and the good food. Everything tasted so good. They had outdone themselves filling the table with fruits and fresh vegetables.

"I think our niece has a new heroine," Luka said quietly. "She didn't leave your side all evening." Abby smiled as she thought about Natasya's attempts to translate everything for her. She was proud of her school girl English skills.

"She wants to be a doctor," Abby mused. "She wants to work in Africa some day too."

"She'll probably do it," Luka sighed softly. His hand caressed Abby's waist and slipped down on to her belly. His finger tips gently traced the scar from her hysterectomy and he felt her tense. Luka lifted his hand to her chin and tipped her face toward him. She turned so she was flat on her back and looked at him.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I'm scared, Luka," she said. "I don't want to go home." His eyes searched her's and he frowned slightly.

"Do you want to leave County...now?" he asked. She nodded as her eyes filled and then shook her head.

"I don't know," she said quietly. "I just don't want to go home." Luka lay back against the pillows and gathered her against his chest. He kissed the top of her head and just held her.

"We have to face it sometime, Abby," he said finally. "I won't let you do anything alone. I promise. But we need to go back so you can finish your residency. " She sighed and nodded against his chest. Luka smiled softly and brushed the dark hair off her face. He bent his head to her's to kiss her. Abby closed her eyes and lifted her hands to his face. She squealed suddenly as he tickled her ribs.

"Luka!" she cried. "Tata..."

"He's dead asleep in his studio," Luka muttered as he nibbled playfully on her shoulder and neck. She laughed and drew his face back to her's.

Out on the sofa Laurentis smiled softly as he drew another drag on his cigarette. He listened for a moment to the muffled laughter coming from his bedroom and picked up the water lily sculpture from his table. He smiled remembering the lover he had had in his own wife. He'd worried for Luka when Danijela died. It was good not to worry any more. He crushed out the cigarette and smiled again as stood up and headed for the couch in his studio.