This picks up pretty much where the last chapter left off. Again, it's a bit slow, but I hope you like it.

First verse from "The Promise" by Tracie Chapman

Second verse from "Blackbird" by the Beatles

Third verse from "Silver Lining" by Amanda Ghost

Chapter Twelve:

"Mrs. Zander in Curtain Three; she's waiting on surgery. And that's it- I am out of here." Pratt handed the chart over to Abby. With a sweeping gesture of farewell, he was gone. Abby sat at the desk, working on a chart, when Neela and Ray walked in, late, and together. Neela caught Abby's look of interest.

"I told you we should have come in separately. We don't live together anymore and Abby's giving me a weird look." Neela whispered to Ray. He looked back at Abby and then Neela into the lounge.

"You're just being paranoid, she's doing charts." Neela sighed, donning her lab coat. She was so cute when she was frustrated. He couldn't help stealing a kiss.

"Ray!" Neela gasped.

"What? No one's around." Ray slammed his locker and turned to face her.

"That's not the point." He kissed her again.

"What is?" Neela frowned at him, hands on her hips. Neela couldn't stay mad at him for long; he had that bloody look on his face. It was the look that got him out of dishes and out of a scolding when they were roomies.

"You're impossible." She said, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"That's why you love me." She laughed, kissing him.

"Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
If you'll be waiting
If you dream of me like I dream of you
In a place that's warm and dark
In a place where I can feel the beating of your heart"

Abby knew something was up when Neela and Ray exited the lounge a few minutes later. They had the same look she and Luka had after a stolen moment together. She couldn't tell how long it had been going on, but the fact that 'it' was going on in the first place was amazing. She laughed a bit to herself, not believing how much Neela had changed from med school.

It was a hectic day for the ER. A slow morning makes for a crazy shift. The staff tried to go easy on Abby, giving her the lighter cases. Still, Abby was counting the minutes until her break.

Last patient: a simple suturing job. A 6 year old boy with a hand lac. One look at the mother and she could tell this was going to be anything but simple. She was almost spastic as Abby came into the room.

"Oh thank God. Is Anthony going to be okay?" Abby sat down heavily and looked at the boy's hand.

"He'll be fine, Mrs. Garret. This looks like it needs a few stitches, nothing more. Okay, Anthony, want to tell me what happened?"

"I dropped a glass and cut my hand trying to pick up the pieces."

"I told you not to get those glasses out, or to pick up broken glass. He never listens to me." It was an easy procedure, but the mother was like a mosquito buzzing around her ear. When she finally discharged the boy, she had a splitting headache from the woman's constant questions.

"Frank, I'm going over to Ike's for a break. If you need me, page me." Frank gave a tight smile and a nod.

"Will do." She whipped around, nearly running into Luka. He caught her, keeping her in his arms a little longer than necessary. She smiled up at him.

"Hey." He said softly, smiling back.

"Hey, yourself. I thought you were getting some sleep." Luka shrugged.

"I wanted to see what you were up, making sure they weren't working you too hard." Abby took Luka's hand, and headed towards Ike's.

"No. If I can complain at all, it's that I don't get enough work." Luka winked at her.

"My orders."

"You just take all the fun out of everything, don't you? All your little spies doing your dirty work." She said with a twist of her lips. He stopped her, mid-step.

"It's my job. To look after you, to protect you, and simply to care." He whispered in her ear, kissing her just below the lobe. Luka's voice sent shivers through Abby.

"You know, for once, I don't mind." She kissed him chastely on the chin. "Thank you." Then on the lips. "Now let's go eat, we're hungry." She complained, hand on her belly.

"Uh oh."

"What?"

"Every time you've said that the past three months, I spend my paycheck on your food. You might as well be eating for three." She nudged him in the ribs with her elbow as he chuckled.

Abby was just finishing when someone whistled.

"Bravo." Carter said. "That was a true accomplishment, Abby." The two men laughed as Abby made a face at the two of them.

"Hahaha. Very funny. What are you doing here, Carter? I thought you were supposed to be on a plane right now?"

"Are you trying to get rid of me? I can't believe it." He looked at Abby, mock surprise on his face.

"Of course not, Carter. Sit down." Luka invited.

"I actually can't-"

"Please, there's something we wanted to ask you, now that you're hear." Luka interrupted. Carter complied, perplexed.

"Carter, you've been a good friend to Luka and I; it would mean a lot to us if you would be the baby's godfather." Carter looked at them, not quite believing they were serious.

"Really? Umm… well, I'd be honored."

"It just means you'll have to be here in September; for the baby's baptism." Luka said, smiling.

"Yeah, definitely. I'll be here. I never asked, did you pick a name?" Abby nodded, but Luka responded.

"Vesna Aaralyn. Vesna is Croatian."

"That's a beautiful name." Carter smiled as he stood. "I'm sorry but I really do need to get going." Luka and Abby stood with him.

"Thanks for stopping by, Carter." Abby said as Carter gave her a hug, lightly kissing her cheek.

"I would never leave without saying goodbye." Abby gave him a look. "Okay, maybe I would, but not this time." Carter handed her a small, wrapped gift. "Thanks, Abby, for everything. This is for you and Luka, and Vesna, too."

She looked at it. "What is it?" Carter winked.

"You'll see when you open it." He said, with a mischievous smile. Abby made a face but tucked it in a pocket for later. Carter reached out a hand. "May I?" Abby nodded.

"Sure."

"Be good for Mom and Dad, Vesna. We'll see you in July." He said, gently rubbing Abby's stomach. Luka and Carter shared their 'manly' hug.

"See you in a couple months, my friend." Luka stood with an arm around Abby as Carter walked off with a wave.

"Bye."

"Have a safe flight, Carter." He was a different person from the man she'd seen a week ago. He was finally free. Abby smiled as she watched him get in his cab.

"Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free."

"Well, I've got a couple things to do as well."

"Like paint the rooms." Luka rolled his eyes.

"I need paint first, woman." Abby cocked an eyebrow. "Don't give me that look. I'll do it, I promise. Just not today and not when you're in the house. The room is a surprise." Abby pursed her lips, hand on hip.

"I know, but where am I supposed to stay? You can't kick me out."

"Neela still has your apartment, doesn't she?"

"Yes… I still have to sign the lease over to her and get all my crap out of there." She sighed. "Can't time just stop for a little bit so I can catch up?" Abby said, hand on her forehead.

"I'm afraid there's no stopping it. In a few months we'll be parents." It was a scary thought for both of them. Abby wasn't sure she would be a good mother. Luka was afraid of being a father again. Both, however, were sure that together they could pull it off. Luka would show Abby what to do (although he had a feeling she was a natural) and Abby would give Luka the faith in himself to do it all over again (but she knew he had the strength to handle it without her). After a moment, Luka offered his idea. "Why don't you stay there for a few days and pack up your stuff. That will give us a chance to do the room." Luka and the ER staff had cooked up the idea to decorate the baby room as their collective gift to the couple. There was a baby shower mixed in with all that, but Neela was handling that. It left Abby completely out of the loop as far as everything was concerned.

"Can you handle being celibate for that long?" Abby said, laughter bubbling at the surface. Luka shrugged, close to a smile himself.

"We'll just think of it as practice." Luka kissed Abby. "Until later then." He said with a wink. Just as Luka left, Neela breezed in. A look of relief flashed across her face once she spotted Abby.

"Just the person I was looking for! Hey Neela." The younger woman sat down.

"I just thought we'd chat, it's been a while."

"That it has. So what's new?"

"Nothing much, actually. I heard from Michael the other day, he's doing fine. He's actually happy out there. I understand how he misses all his mates and everything, but I'm his bloody wife." Neela let out a sigh. Abby placed a hand on Neela's.

"When is his tour over?"

"In another couple of months. I just hope he makes it back in one piece."

"He will, you'll see. Everything will work out in the end. Besides, give him this now and you have leverage for life. Blackmail and bargaining- the keys to marriage." The two laughed.

"What's going on with you, Abby?"

"Besides looking like a cow? Nothing really, just waiting for baby girl to make an appearance." Abby said, tapping her stomach. "I'm trying to decide when to take my maternity leave, if I do."

"Really? Why wouldn't you?"

"I don't know; Luka and I are still discussing it." Abby shrugged.

"How are things with Dr. Kovac going?"

"You can call him Luka, you know. He's kicking me out of the house for a few days." A puzzled look briefly crossed Neela's face before she nodded.

"Oh, they're painting the room. Where are you planning on staying?"

"Actually, I was hoping to stay with you. I know I've been slow about moving all my stuff out, but the few days they need for the room should give me enough time. I can even sign the lease over to you."

"That would be fantastic! And you hardly have to ask my permission. Do you want to come over tomorrow, then?"

"Sounds fine to me." Neela looked down, wringing her hands, as she debated whether or not to tell Abby about Ray.

"Spill Neela."

"What?"

"What's going on between you and Ray? I know something happened." Neela stared at Abby with a baffled look on her face."

"How…" Neela pushed her hair back with a hand and looked away.

"Oh my God. You slept with Ray. I knew something was going on, but I didn't think it had gone that far."

"It's not like I knew it was going to happen. I moved out of Ray's so this wouldn't happen. But than last night, I was having such a bad day and I went to a bar. I only had two drinks but I called Ray so I wouldn't have to walk home alone. It just happened."

"You didn't do it on my bed, did you? Because that's kind of weird."

"No, we did it on the couch." Abby made a face.

"Ok, you can have the couch. Is he any good?"

"God, yes." Neela smiled. "I think I'm in love with him."

"What about Gallant?"

"I really don't know. I'm afraid you were right. We barely know each other and we rushed into marriage. It was the most senseless thing I've ever done."

"If it makes you feel any better, you two were the sweetest couple I've ever seen. What are you going to do?"

"What can I do? Things have been strained between us since he decided to go back. My marriage is already in shambles, and now this. I'm so cautious with everything else, but I am a 'fool in love.' I should just call him, see where we stand. It really would be unfair to dump all this shit on him without giving him a clue as to why when he comes back."

"Drawn to the violence of change
Charmed by the sentimental brave

Scared of the things that people say
Knowing my confidence might fade

Silver Lining, I bathe in your light
I'll always believe in your place in my life.
Silver Lining, I know that I'm right
I'll always believe in your right to shine."

"Are you and Ray going to keep seeing each other?"

"No, no. Ray wants me to get things sorted out with Michael first. He's a better guy than we thought, Abby. He really is."

"He still slept with you after you had a few drinks." Abby said with a wry smile. "But that doesn't really matter now, does it." Neela sighed.

"Abby, don't. It was as much my decision as it was his." Abby shrugged.

"I'm not denying that. Maybe you just need a break from all this. Get some perspective. When was the last time you saw your family in England?"

"I haven't been home in a couple years. I don't have the time ri-"

"Go, Neela, after the baby shower. Get your head sorted out." Just then Abby's beeper went off, followed by Neela's. "Duty calls. We'll talk later?"

"Yeah. Thanks, Abby." Neela gave Abby a small, sad smile as they left the restaurant.

"No problem. Did I tell you Carter stopped by today?" A few minutes later, Abby had a godmother for her little girl.