Disclaimer: I don't own ANYTHING; not Luka, not Abby… NOTHING! I only wish I did:( The words in italics and with central alignment are lyrics from Greenday – Give Me Novocaine but once again there are none in this particular chapter.

As before, the italics after speech show the thoughts of the person who has just spoken, (mostly it's Luka's POV but there are a few bits of Abby's POV stuck in there! ;)

Dedication:This story is dedicated to Josefin, Alice, Elissa, Tani and Andy, who review even though they have often read the chapter already! You guys are amazing, and I love you all! THANK YOU! 3 Also a massive thank you goes to my lovely reviewers, especially Karissa, your comments make a huge difference:)


Abby wanted to comfort him.

Abby wanted to see him.

Abby wanted to help.

Abby was coming.

Abby cared.

Abby.

A faint tapping was heard at the door; once, twice, a short pause, then thrice. A smile tickled the edges of Luka's mouth. She remembered. She remembered how she used to knock at his door all those years ago, and like all those years before, Luka opened the door to her, he opened his heart to her, and she stepped in.

Luka gazed at her, transfixed, mesmerised by her natural beauty. Even in the early hours of the morning she looked stunning. Her cheeks were tinted with a faint, rosy blush, and her perfectly formed lips were stroked discreetly with a crimson sheen, her face was dusted with a fair coloured powder… she looked utterly incredible. She was incredible. She had left the comfortable warmth of her own home in the middle of the night; she had torn herself from sleep, just to be with him. His eyes wandered to the pale woollen shawl curled around her neck and to the flakes of snow resting calmly on the lashes of her eyes. In the soft glow of his living room, she looked even more beautiful, he didn't think it possible, but he had been proved wrong.

Abby glanced down. No Abby… look up, look up, LOOK UP! Don't look down there Abby. Stop it! Why did he always look so good? Even though his shoulders slumped and rich, satin tinges lurked beneath his eyes, he still looked amazing, but then again, when did Luka Kovac not look amazing? Abby couldn't help but notice his bare chest and the way his coffee coloured skin stretched across his muscular form… stop it Abby, look up! Once again Abby found her eyes drawn to the shaded smudges, the only blemishes on Luka's otherwise perfect form, but as if she was in a trance, her gaze was tempted into his exquisitely deep eyes.

They stood there. Perfectly still. Neither wanting to break the connection they so clearly both felt, but both desperately wanting to close the distance between them. If only they knew how. No. They both knew how to do it, of course they did; they just didn't know if they should.

Luka knew he had to say something; she had been standing in his apartment for the best part of 10 minutes, and he had not offered to take her coat, he'd not uttered a single world, he'd done nothing, not a single thing.

"Abby," he whispered in an almost inaudible tone. He had no idea what he was going to say, he didn't know how to voice how he was feeling, he only hoped she would understand.

Abby stepped towards him slowly, eradicating the gap between their two bodies.

"You don't have to speak." Where had he heard that before?

"I… I…" He started, overcome by the closeness. A heat washed over him. Over them both; she felt it too.

"I want to… to thank y…" Luka tried again, his heart pummelling hard at his ribcage.

Abby raised her hand and pressed her finger against his lips.

"I know." She said simply, a soft smile forming on her face. She made no attempt to remove her hand from his lips and he quivered at the feeling of being so close to her, and sweet aroma of her perfume. He remembered that scent from when they had been together, he'd loved it then, and he loved it now.

He couldn't bear it any longer, the contact between them was not enough, he longed to feel her close. Closer. Impulse triumphed over common sense; Luka's arms wrapped around Abby's petite body and slowly, he drew her closer to his own. He held his breath, waiting for her to pull back, to run away. But she didn't. Her hand slid down from his mouth to his chest, and then both her arms encircled his waist. The movement was languid, like it was only natural, like it was meant to be. He stroked her back with his slender fingers, sending a tingling feeling all through her body. Abby trembled slightly, revelling in the sensation only his touch could give her.

After so many years of yearning, she was finally home in his arms, in the only place she felt truly happy.

After so many years of yearning, she was finally home in his arms, in the only place he felt truly happy.

Reluctantly, Abby dragged herself out from his warm embrace, not completely; she didn't want to break contact entirely.

"Luka, it's late, we should try to get some sleep."

He nodded, she was right, she was usually right. He felt her moving away slightly and in a desperate attempt to stop her, he blurted out,

"Please sleep with me!" Argh! No! Not like that! Well… maybe like that… but no! Fix it! Say something Luka! Abby raised an eyebrow and smiled, clearly amused at the way in which the words were spilling from his mouth. "I mean, in my bed!" Oh that's much better! "Not like that!" How does she do this! Why did he always melt when she was around! "I just don't want to face this…" He gestured towards his head, "I don't want to face this alone. I can't face it alone. I can't face it without. You." His head dropped, a scarlet shade threatening to flare up upon his cheeks and he didn't want her to see that. Argh!

Abby tenderly lifted his head so he was looking directly into her eyes and ran her smooth hand over his course cheek.

"I was going to even if you didn't ask."

Reassurance. He heard it in her words, and saw it in her eyes.

She took his hand in hers, admiring the way they blended together so flawlessly, and gently guided him towards his bedroom.