Matters Of The Heart

Set in 2017. When Abby and Luka travel back to Chicago for Rachel Green's wedding, a lot of feelings, past and present are put into play. Including those unfinished ones between Carter and Abby. A

I have to finish this in honor of my love for the series :)

Elizabeth smiled widely as Rachel announced she was almost ready. It was time to keep one of the promises she'd made Mark years ago. "Rachel, would you mind coming here a moment?" Rachel smiled. They had been so close in the later years as she had decided to pursue a career in medicine.

"Of course." She led Rachel to a small room next to the one the others were getting ready.

"I promised myself to do this before they finished up your makeup but I hadn't built up the courage," Elizabeth said, taking the small envelope, it seemed at least a decade old. Rachel examined it closely.

"Is it from Dad?" Elizabeth nodded.

"He made me promise to give it to you." Dr. Corday smiled. "Like the one when you graduated from High School." Rachel took the letter into her hands, she suddenly began to shake. "I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?" Rachel inquired. "This is amazing, getting letters from Dad after all this time, knowing he's still here with me." She remained quiet. "I wish he could see me now."

"He sees you, sweetheart," Elizabeth said, her eyes already filled with tears. "He's always with you."

Carter took his seat next to Susan as other guests began to take their places. " Is it taking too long?" He heard Susan ask him.

"What?"

"For it to start. Maybe Rachel's got cold feet." She said.

"Rachel? No... you and I know she's crazy about Jamie." Carter smiled. "Probably just had a problem with the dress or something."

"Right, I keep forgetting you're a guy." Susan huffed. "Where's Abby anyway, I thought you said she was on her way."

"Is not like I keep tabs on her Susan," John said.

"Oh, you two had a fight?" Susan asked. "Did you?"

"No, of course not." Carter sighed. "We have a very civilized relationship."

"Oh... I bet you do. Like me and Chuck." She put in.

Carter sighed. He really didn't know where he and Abby stood aside from being AJ's parents. She was married to Luka of all people. Luka, who loved and cared for his child.

But she did call him occasionally, using AJ as a sort of excuse to check on him. To see if he was as functional as she hoped he'd be.

"No, we've not divorced Susan, we have a child together. It's different."

Abby took a deep breath as she and Luka made a late entrance to the wedding. The vows had already started. She spotted her old friends, including Carter and AJ sitting a few rows back from where Rachel's family was.

Niko kept fussing in Luka's arms so he excused himself and made it back into the garden to walk for a bit so he wouldn't start crying. Susan Lewis then waved at Abby who dragged Joe along so they could sit.

"Everything okay?" She asked. Abby explained to her she was no longer used to living in the city as an excuse for just how messy her kids had been and how fashionably late they'd make her be. "It's okay. Where's Luka?"

"Trying to calm Niko. Remind me again why I wanted to have another child?"

"Because of your incredibly hot European husband?" Susan said.

"You two do know I'm sitting right here?" AJ said annoyed. Carter pushed his head to the side so he'd focus on the ceremony. Abby smiled as she and Carter shared a knowing look.

Just as the ceremony ended AJ decided to take off after Ella. He couldn't take any more comments from his parent's old friends and co-workers about how much he reminded them of his dad or how he had Abby's nose.

"Is he okay?" Cleo asked Abby as they walked over to the lawn for the reception.

"Yeah, seems so. I mean it's been a while since he's had three parents to deal with." She said. "You know how it is."

"Yes well, I remember what it was like to have to deal with Carla's demands over Reese but he's grown now," Cleo said. "Plus, I don't believe for a second Carter would be the jealous type. He didn't fight you when you moved to Boston."

Abby smiled. No, that was what was best about his relationship with Carter. He put his child first, above all what he might want. Maybe a little too much sometimes.

"Well, that's Carter for you. He puts everyone above him every time." Abby told her.

"Is that a bad thing?" Cleo inquired. "I mean he lets you live in peace, that's more than Carla ever did after Peter got custody of Reese."

"I honestly don't know." Abby's gaze caught Carter and Benton as they seemed to be put on the same table. Luka walked closely behind.

"I guess we're all together. Do the kids have a different table?" Susan asked.

"Seems so." Cleo put in.

AJ walked over then with Ella and Reese. He went to say his hellos to everyone at his parent's table. Ganma would roll over on her grave if he didn't do well to the Carter name.

"I think we're sitting over there," AJ said as the other kids seemed to be gathering a few tables away. "Come on guys." He called his brothers.

"Ella, aren't you sitting nearer your sister?" Cleo asked.

"No. Apparently, I was put on the kiddie table." She said. "I don't mind, not really."

"I guess we could drag Elizabeth over here." Carol who'd just arrived said. "There's a free seat."

"Oh yes, Doug. Why isn't he here again?" Susan asked.

"Why is it that you want to know about everyone's dates?" Cater said cheekily much to everyone's surprise.

"Ok, sorry," Susan said. "I was just asking, who put vodka in your juice?"

Part two of the wedding is coming up and AJ gets in trouble!