Camping Tip Number 8: Keep Your Eyes and Ears Open

"It's our turn to make a grocery store run," Susan announced as they were finishing breakfast. "Anyone have any ideas for dinner?" She cast a sly glance toward Chuck and grinned a bit.

"Can we go into town with you?" Susie asked.

"It might take a while," she said. "We want to do a little...uh...sight seeing on our own." Abby snickered. Susan scowled at her.

"Yeah well...some of us...aren't having as much...fun...with the inflatables?"

"What are you talking about?" Luka asked. Susan rolled her eyes.

"Tents are made of material, Kovac," she said sarcastically. "Very... thin...material, I might add."

"Oh..." he nodded and looked at Abby. "I thought we were being quiet." She shrugged. Susie and Heather exchanged glances.

"Yuck. I think we are WAY too young to be hearing this conversation," Susie said to Heather. "Let's go for a walk."

"Well, if we're not here when you get back..." Susan called after her as Cosmo climbed down and hurried after them.

"I don't want to think about it..." Susie held up her hand and took Cosmo's hand in her other one. Susan laughed and then turned back to Luka.

"Grocery list?"

"You mean you really are going to stop at the store?" he asked. Susan scowled at him. Luka snickered and took the pen and paper Abby handed him.

Susan and Chuck left a little later and Abby busied herself putting the camp site back in order. She slathered sun screen on Lauren and dressed her in jean shorts and a tee shirt. She settled her on a blanket with her basket of toys and sat next to Luka in their double folding chair. He smiled and sighed as he settled his arm across her shoulders and they watched their daughter play. The morning sun was peeking through the branches of the pine trees around them and warming the sand at his feet. He glanced around at the campsites near them...people starting their day or getting ready for a day of activities. He raised a hand and waved at a family on the other side of Susan and Chuck's campsite. They were just sitting down to breakfast. "Nice..." he said softly as he pressed a kiss near Abby's ear. She looked over at him and grinned.

"Um...me or this place?" she asked. Luka shook his head.

"Always fishing for a compliment, aren't you?" he said. His hand slipped down to her arm pit and she squealed softly as he tickled her. She jabbed her elbow into his chest and then froze.

"Luka, look..." she said. He stopped and they both watched Lauren. She was standing up and watching them as she took five quick, wobbling steps toward them before falling back on the blanket. Abby jumped up and scooped her into her arms before she could cry.

"Yay!" she said as she kissed the little girl's neck and swung her around. "You walked all by yourself!" Lauren giggled and threw herself back in Abby's arms reaching for Luka. Abby laughed and fell back in the chair as she lost her balance and Luka caught them. They were in the process of untangling and laughing when Eric and Becca rolled up on the motorcycle. Eric watched them for a moment before removing his helmet. It was a nice picture to see his sister laughing.

"I think I need to rescue a damsel in distress," he said to Becca. She grinned as he crossed the campsite and lifted Lauren away from Luka and Abby. The little girl shrieked and reached for her father again.

"What is it with you, Kovac?" Eric asked as he gave Lauren back to him. "The European charm of yours seems to know no boundaries!" Luka laughed as he kissed his daughter's cheeks and snuggled her against his chest for a moment.

"All little girls love their tatas best," he said. Abby shook her head.

"Yes...and some of them are hopelessly spoiled in the process."

"I do not spoil her!" he frowned. The frown changed to a sheepish grin as Eric, Becca and Abby laughed at him. Luka planted a kiss on his daughter's cheek and ran a finger through her soft, dark hair.

They decided to spend the afternoon on the beach...along with most of the other campground residents. They found a semi secluded spot on the dune and spread their beach blankets out. Luka headed right at the water's edge with Lauren and Cosmo...to build sand castles. Abby settled down for some serious sunning with her brother. Eric seemed pensive so Abby was glad for a few minutes alone with him. Something important was up.

She glanced over and studied his profile as he watched Luka playing in the shallow water with Cosmo and Lauren. He turned his head and looked for Becca as she walked the shoreline with Susie and Heather.

"She's pregnant, Abby," he said, not looking at her.

"Really..." Abby said in surprise. Eric snorted and shook his head as he buried his fingers in the sugar soft sand of the dune.

"She hasn't actually told me that yet," he said as he glanced at her.

"So how do you know then?" she asked. He rolled his eyes.

"I grew up in the same house with you and Maggie," he said with a grin. ''Two of the most volatile PMSers in the history of the world! I know all the signs." Abby punched his shoulder.

"I wasn't that bad..." she grimaced. Eric chuckled and rubbed his shoulder where she'd punched him. They were quiet for a moment.

"Her little red check marks have been missing from the kitchen calender for the past two months, " he added softly. Abby nodded.

"Part of me wants to tell her to get rid of it," Eric said, not looking at her. "And part of me..." He shook his head and studied his feet buried in the sand.

"What?" Abby asked. He sighed heavily and looked at her.

"Part of me wants to see what kind of life...and little kid...we would make together, you know?" Abby smiled softly and nodded.

"I have definitely been there and done that."

"I don't know what to do," he said quietly, waiting again for his big sister to say the right words to him.

'Well...obviously you care...very much...about her," Abby said thoughtfully. "You're still on the program and your meds. Maggie never managed that...for anyone." Eric nodded. Abby reached over and picked up his hand and held it in her's.

"If you do care about her, " she said. "Tell her. Tell her now. Don't run away from this. It could be really wonderful for you."

"Or it could destroy her," he said. Abby shook her head.

"She's a pretty tough girl," she said confidently. Eric turned and studied her face quizzically.

"And how would you know something like that?" he asked. Abby shrugged.

"We've talked...or rather written emails," she said. "Talk to her. She might surprise you." Eric nodded and then tipped his head toward the shoreline.

"So how come you won't marry him?" he asked.

"What is it with you people? First Susan and now you," she scoffed. "Did Luka put you up to this?" Eric shook his head.

"You just don't seem very willing to follow your own advice," he said.

"I didn't say marry her, Eric," she said. "I said don't run away from her."

"Good old Abby," he said as he chuckled and shook his head. "Always the pessimist." She stood up and tried to brush the sticky sand off her seat.

"No, not a pessimist," she said. "I am...a realist." She smiled at him and headed down the dune to the sandy shore.

"Naw. A 'realist' would know how much that man adores you," Eric said quietly as he shook his head and watched Luka's face as Abby approached him. She reached up and kissed him and patted Lauren's cheek. They each took one of Cosmo's hands and swung him back and forth in the water.