Misfortune

~*~

Abby sighed as she stepped out of Susan's car. Susan had meant well, of course, but her constant chatter and interrogation into what she called the 'Abby and Carter Soap' made irritated Abby and didn't make spending time with Susan very enjoyable.

Abby readjusted the strap of her purse and walked up to her apartment, lost in thought.

She was thinking mainly about Carter, of course.  Lately, he had been the only thing she could think about, for some reason that was unknown to her.

~*~

A few weeks later, Abby sat in front of the television watching as the city's petty criminals were arrested, as world issues were discussed and as the Blackhawks lost the Stanley Cup once again.

The phone rang incessantly and she switched off the news.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Abby? It's Carter." She grinned.  She knew exactly who it was.

"Hey, Carter. What's up?"

"Nothing."

"Anything you want to talk about?"

"Nothing in particular."

"Carter, what's wrong? Why did you call? Where are you?" There was a momentary pause.

"Standing outside your door," he replied sheepishly.

Abby chuckled to herself as she opened the door to a blushing Carter who was holding a bouquet of flowers.  God, he was so cute when he blushed.

"Hey, Carter."

"Hi, Abby." He handed her the flowers. She took them and they stood staring at each other uncomfortably.

"Can I come in?" he asked hesitantly after a few seconds. Abby looked around her like a lost puppy. Where was her hospitality?  She nodded and gestured into the room behind her, closing the door as he stepped inside.

She cleared her throat.

"Let me just put these in water," she said, her voice sounded odd.  She found a vase and watched Carter standing in the hall as she filled it with water.

"Take a seat," she called to him from the kitchen as she turned off the tap, "Make yourself at home." He nodded obediently and took off his coat before flopping down on the couch.

"So," she said, placing the flowers on a table and taking a seat next to him, throwing him the quilt she kept on the couch in case he got cold, "What's up?"

Carter looked around.

"Nice place."

"Hasn't changed much since the last time you were here," she snorted, but she sounded more amused than sarcastic.

"Yeah, but I never took the time to really look around.  I always just took it for granted."

"Well, thanks," she said, growing weary.  She was always somewhat bashful when he mentioned her belongings because it reminded her of his lavish and indulgent lifestyle at the mansion and how poor she was compared to it.

"How was work?" he asked her, plunging into a discussion about nothing. 

"It was okay.  Lots of blood today. More than usual."

"I hate it when that happens.  I used to be scared of blood, believe it or not." Abby looked at his lop-sided grin and she found herself smiling unconsciously.

"Yeah, I think everyone goes through a stage like that. Except Eric.  He always loved blood.  I'm not sure why, but he did. Everyone thought he would be the doctor of the family, the way he used to read up about different diseases and play doctor with all his friends.  (She saw Carter's grin) Not like that, Carter! Yeah, but I guess things change."

"How is Eric?" She knew he felt it his duty his ask.

"He called a few weeks ago and he seemed to be fine.  He's working, which is good."  Carter nodded understandingly.

"Listen," Carter said, she could tell by his tone that he was growing serious, "I've been thinking a lot lately. When Kem left, (he could talk about without cringing now) I was devastated.  But you helped me through it.  You stood by me.  At first, I thought maybe you were right.  Maybe my attraction to you had stemmed from the fact that I needed someone to rely on.  But it hasn't changed.  I've always adored you, Abby.  And, well, I thought you should know, even if you decide not to accept, that I want you, Abby and I truly do believe that we could make a relationship work.  I let you go once, and look what happened.  I can't let you go again."

Abby felt a lump in her throat.

These past few weeks had been great.  They had done everything together from watching hockey games with their socked feet resting on her sofa as they ate pizza and coke and discussed the players' agility, skill, etc. to going to movies and discussing the upcoming Oscars.  Abby had amazed that Carter knew all about the Academy Awards.  She had always imagined more as women's terrain.  But she enjoyed predicting the outcome of the ceremony and what each nominee would wear with him.

They had walked by the river with ice cream or coffee or any of a number of portable foods.

They had returned to their comfortable tradition of coffee and pie at Ike's.

Their friendship had blossomed and yet, the whole time, Abby had wanted something more.

Now here he was offering it to her.

Should she accept?

She continued to look at him, in stunned disbelief.  She had lived this so many times in her imagination.

Suddenly, she felt herself smiling and she wrapped her arms around the figure before her.  She felt his arms take her into their own embrace and then they were kissing and she could hardly breathe.

She could remember kissing him before, and yet, she marveled over the way his every touch and caress managed to make something within her stir.

When they pulled apart, breathing heavily, Abby saw something in his eyes that told her that this time it would work.

"Carter, I'm so happy you came tonight," she said finally. And, smiling, he replied,

"So am I."

~*~

A/N: I was getting so bored of this story, so please forgive me for ending it so abruptly.