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Post by larue on Feb 23, 2010 2:58:00 GMT 10
This is a fan fiction to follow up my others with a Susan/Abby friendship....'The Things We Need, All We Need, Rules of the Road, Campers Guide to Family Fun' and continues after 'The Duplex.' Why Lauren and not Joe? They all started with the 'I'm pregnant' cliffhanger and subsequent 'blue floppy baby' spoilers. We really knew nothing back then. And I really wanted to see Luka dealing with a baby girl.....especially one with Abby's features. I started it a while ago and have several chapters posted elsewhere. I hoping that my friends at TDWD will jog me into finishing it...at last!
Chapter 1
Susan Lewis slipped her feet out of her sandals and dug her bare toes into the cool grass. She shifted herself on the steps of the porch and studied the scene in front of her. She reached up and absently took the frozen fruit bar that Abby had tapped her shoulder with.
"Geez…it's hot," Abby sighed as she sank down onto the step next to her friend. Susan nodded and tore the paper off her popsicle and took a bite.
"We need to go into business," she said.
"Really?" Abby chuckled. Doing what?"
"Making babies. I mean, look at them, Abby. How could anyone NOT want one of those?" Abby's eyes followed the slight nod of Susan's head and she grinned at the scene before her. Lauren and Cosmo were playing in the sprinkler. She was in a red and white striped bathing suit emblazoned with an occasional cherry. Her dark ponytails were dripping with water and she was laughing a deep, guttural giggle as Cosmo leaned over the sprinkler, letting the water hit him in his freckled face. His strawberry blonde bangs spewed up with the force of the sprinkler and he laughed. He jumped away and danced out of range of the water with Lauren right behind him. Their cheeks were rosy and their legs tanned from a summer spent in the sun. There was a low woof from the side of a blanket spread in the grass and Abby glanced toward her son. Declan had lifted his head from where he had rolled to his tummy and was watching in the direction of the noise from the center of the small front lawn. His light brown hair stood up like dandelion fluff on his head and his bare feet kicked against the soft quilt. Clad only in a diaper in the dappled sunlight, he looked anxious to join in the fun. The half grown chocolate lab that was stretched out along the very edge of the blanket wagged his tail but did not move from the baby's side.
"Well, we sort of have this problem," Abby said, not taking her eyes of their children.
"What?"
"No uterus? I mean, neither of us have one."
"We'll sell our eggs. It's a gold mine." Abby frowned slightly and glanced toward Susan.
"But that's only half of…..them."
"It's the best half though." Abby's frowned deepened and Susan looked over at her. It was just a second before they both dissolved in giggles.
"Oh geez…it's hot," Abby said again as they settled down. Susan nodded and finished her fruit bar. Abby opened another of the ones on the step next to her.
"I miss Susie," Susan sighed.
"She'll be home in a couple of days."
"IF she decides to come home," Susan snorted. "She's in San Diego. She's got a car. She's got the beach….which is literally covered with tanned, hunky highschoolers waiting for school to start. And then there are he nicely uniformed….."
"I thought it was Chloe's car."
"Well, Susie picked it out and she's been driving it since she's been there." Susan shifted and lifted her face to the sun as she sighed. "How can I possibly compete with that?"
"It's not a competition, Susan," Abby said as she took the last bite from her popsicle and toyed with the empty stick.
"You don't know Chloe."
"But I do know Susie," Abby said blithely as she held up the remaining popsicles. "She's got a good head on her shoulders. She'll do what's right for her. Cosmo? Lauren?" The children stopped and grins widened as they saw the popsicle packages she was holding.
"Yay!" Lauren squealed as she raced Cosmo to the steps. Abby laughed and pulled the wrapper off a popsicle and handed it to the little girl.
"Thank you, Mommy." Abby grinned and kissed the end of her daughter's pert little nose. Lauren stuck the strawberry bar in her mouth and plopped down on the quilt next to her baby brother. Cosmo handed the wrapper from his to Susan and dropped down onto the quilt. He wiped the wet hair from his face and grinned as the dog's tongue lapped at his popsicle. His rubbed a hand between the dog's ears and put the popsicle in his mouth.
"Oh…I did not see that," Susan groaned as she sat up and shook her head. Cosmo chuckled and cast a sly grin in her direction. Susan frowned and he shrugged and ran his hand down the dog's back. Fudge promptly rolled onto his back and Cosmo scratched his tummy.
"She's going to be on that plane, Susan," Abby said firmly as she stood up from the step and brushed the seat of her shorts off. "Lauren, be careful about getting water on the baby…." Lauren was dangling a dripping pony tail over the baby's back and he stiffened as cold droplets of water landed on his bare skin. It was only a second before the whimper changed to a full blown cry.
"Oh nice…." Abby sighed and picked him up from the ground. She jostled the baby against her shoulder and wiped the water droplets from his back. She sniffed and then tilted his diapered bottom a little closer.
"Eew," she said. 'I guess it was just a matter of time, eh buddy?" She leaned her head back and studied the baby's face. Straight brows and brown eyes stared back at her. She pursed her brows and he grinned and reached out to pat her face. A huge glob of drool dripped from his smile and Abby chuckled as she wiped it from his chest.
"I'm going to change him and put him down for a nap," she said as she headed up the steps. "I might log into Luka's computer too. He's up to something. Wanted me to check with you about your plans for Thanksgiving." Susan sat up and looked back at her in confusion.
"Thanksgiving? That's months away. School hasn't even started yet." Abby shrugged. Susan sighed and leaned back in the sun again as Abby went in the door to their side of the duplex.
"Just turkey and pie here at home."
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Post by suzanne on Feb 23, 2010 9:52:54 GMT 10
Yay so glad you decided to post it here!! ;D Love the familys from your stories and the friendships!! Looking forward to more!!
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Post by larue on Feb 23, 2010 21:50:10 GMT 10
She was adjusting her clothes when he stopped at the door and smiled. It was a sight he knew he would never tire of. The woman he loved was settled on their bed with his sleeping son in her arms. Unaware that she was being watched, she paused for a moment and wiped the droplets of breast milk from the baby's chin and just gazed down at him. Declan slept with an open mouthed snore, his lashes resting above rosy cheeks. He was dressed in a green stretchy sleeper Luka remembered Lauren wearing. While his daughter had always had the dark brows and hair reminiscent of his own, this one was totally Abby. Both of his children had their mother's slightly upturned nose and pout and Lauren definitely had her stubbornness and temperament. Declan's features were softer, his hair much lighter but he was easy going and patient….even now. Luka sometimes felt like he was intruding when he caught Abby in moments like this. There was something different about the way she was alone with his children. Peaceful. Content. She was examining Declan's hand for a long moment, tracing the ceases in the baby fat on his palm and stroking the short little fingers. She pressed a gentle kiss to the little boy's finger tips and then started to ease off the bed. She looked up as he moved to the bed side.
"I'll get him," Luka whispered. She smiled and kissed the Declan's forehead as Luka slipped his big hands under the baby and lifted him from her lap. She watched as Luka cuddled the little boy against his chest and carried him out of their room toward his nursery. She sighed and waited. It wasn't long before he was back. She watched as he slipped out of the sweatpants and tee shirt he wore and eased himself on the bed beside her.
"Did Lauren have trouble falling asleep?" she asked as he adjusted the pillows under his head.
"She's excited," he chuckled. "She had to show me everything in her backpack….again." Abby grinned softly and nodded. Luka frowned slightly as he looked up at her. Abby's eyes met his and she shrugged ruefully.
"It's kind of sad,' she sighed. "Tomorrow she goes out into the big bad world and I am not ready for that." Luka grimaced.
"Its preschool, Abby."
"It's four year old Kindergarten," she corrected. Luka rolled his eyes.
"Its three days a week….." he sighed and buried his head in his pillows. He looked up when she was silent. She sighed again.
"After tomorrow," she said with a slight frown, "her Teacher will be smarter than us….better than us….much cooler than us." Luka chuckled softly and shook his head.
"Well, what if someone hurts her feelings, Luka, and we're not there to fix it?" He groaned and pulled himself to a sitting position. He reached out and gathered her to his chest and just held her for a moment.
"If our daughter is anything like her mother," he said as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "she won't take any shit from anyone in that schoolroom." He smiled as he felt her chuckle and then sigh.
"And we'll be there every afternoon to hear about it." Abby looked up at him and shook her head.
"She'll be okay?"
"She'll be okay," he assured her. He jostled her a bit in his arms.
"Feel better?" Abby nodded and then glanced at him again with a sly smile.
"I'd feel even better if you'd tell me what you have up your sleeve for Thanksgiving." He shook his head and laughed.
"Uh uh," he said. Abby pulled away from him and glared playfully.
"Well, why not?" she argued. "Why does it have to be a big secret?" Luka settled back against the head board and folded his hands behind his head.
"You're not planning to whisk us all off to Croatia again, are you?"
"No," Luka said. "Not with my brother and his family coming here for Christmas." Abby studied him with a petulant frown and then leaned back against the head board next to him.
"If we are going to need new clothes for this trip or something," she said. "I could be buying them now….when they are on sale"
"We won't need new clothes," he said as he reached down to smooth the long hair off her neck. Abby tipped her head slightly as he leaned to press a soft kiss to her shoulder and then the nape of her neck.
"Well….." she said firmly. "Maybe I shouldn't let you have your way with me unless you tell me." Luka stopped and looked at her with a slight frown.
"Okay," he said with a shrug and moved to turn over. Abby shrieked softly and hit his shoulder.
"Oh no, you don't!" She laughed as he turned back to her with a chuckle. She eased herself down in the bed and wrapped her arms around his neck as Luka pressed himself closer to her.
"Promise me that we'll always do this the night before school starts," he breathed as his fingers slipped into the waistband of her pajama pants. "Junior high….high school….college."
"Oh my god…..college?" Abby groaned slightly as her breath caught in her throat. "Does she really have to go there?" Luka chuckled and shook his head.
Next door in the duplex, Susie Lewis was stuffing folders into her own backpack.
"This is so stupid," she said as she shook her head. "I'm taking five of my classes at U of C and I still have to show up for homeroom at the high school."
"If you don't show up, they won't pay for it," Susan singsonged from the couch where she was folding clothes. "How late are your classes tomorrow? Will you need a ride home?" Susie held up a paper from the middle of the table.
"My schedule," she said as she dropped it back to the pile. "I'll take the bus home tomorrow."
"Are you sure? I'm off. I can pick you up and we can all go out for dinner." Susie thought for a moment and then shrugged.
"Sure." Susan watched her thoughtfully as she went back to checking the contents of her bag.
"So….what do you think about going somewhere for Thanksgiving? A little trip….maybe." Susie looked up at her suspiciously.
"I thought Luka was already planning that?"
"You know about it?" Susan's eyes widened in surprise.
"Well, yeah." Susie cocked her head and put her hand on her hip. "Grandpa called to tell me that there was room for one more in case I wanted to bring a friend."
"Grandpa?" Susie nodded.
"He's going too." Susan frowned.
"Going…where, Susie?"
"Sorry," the girl laughed. "I've been sworn to secrecy."
"Oh come on!" Susan tossed a folded towel toward her niece. "You guys are just being mean to us." Susie chuckled and then studied Susan for a moment.
"It's not you and Abby," she said soberly. "I think Luka is worried that Cosmo and Lauren will find out too soon." Susan grimaced.
"I can keep a secret from Cosmo and Lauren." Susie grimaced skeptically.
"Well, I can," Susan insisted. Susie nodded sarcastically. Susan stood up with a stack of Cosmo's clothes in her hand.
"Well, okay," she said with a miffed frown as she headed for the stairs. "Just for that, smarty, you can put the rest of the laundry away and I hope your first day of school totally sucks." Susie giggled as she watched her aunt head up the steps and moved to put the folded clothes back into the basket so she could carry them upstairs.
"This is going to be a long two months," she chuckled and shook her head.
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Post by suzanne on Feb 24, 2010 1:22:39 GMT 10
LOVE it!! ;D Can't wait for more!!
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Post by Martine on Feb 24, 2010 22:17:43 GMT 10
I like it already. I should probably read the other stories you referred to first. I'm planning on printing them out and taking them with me to NY if that's OK? Could you please let me know which stories to print and in what order I should read them? Thanks!
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Post by larue on Feb 24, 2010 22:36:47 GMT 10
If you read 'The Duplex' it will bring you up to speed for this one. If you want to know how Susie came to be with Susan before that, read 'All We Need'....but be aware, that is a Susan/Chuck fic with a little Abby/Luka inserted here and there. The others 'The Things We Need, Rules of the Road and Campers Guide to Family Fun' are all pre 'Duplex' and about the Abby/Luka/Susan/Chuck friendships. Dang. Now you've got ME going. I write to please ME so I am going to have to print them off for me to read as well. LOL And thanks for the encouragement.
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Post by larue on Feb 26, 2010 13:51:13 GMT 10
Cosmo stood in front of the television screen where his 'Peter Pan' video was playing for the second time that evening. It had been playing practically non-stop since his Halloween costume had arrived in the mail three days ago. Susan looked up from the stack of mail she was going through and grinned.
"If you keep wearing that thing, Captain Hook," she chuckled, "it'll be worn out by the time Halloween gets here." Cosmo just grimaced and shifted his shoulders in the red velveteen coat. He tugged on the wide black belt that encircled his waist. He held out his sword suddenly and swashbuckled his way across the screen with he cartoon characters. Susan watched him for a moment with a smile and then the smile faded. She studied her son thoughtfully for a moment and then glanced at the Disney movie playing. She sat back in her chair and glanced back at Cosmo. Naw. That wouldn't be the plan. Could it? But why would he want to keep it a secret? A wicked little smile traced it's way across her face and she stood up slowly.
"Cos," she said. "I need to go talk to Abby for a second, okay?" The pirate hat on his head bobbed as he continued to 'fight' the on screen battle with Peter Pan. The front door swung open and Susan hurried out into the cold night air.
Abby finished writing a check and slipped it into the school picture envelope. She put the envelope into a colorful folder and then put the folder into Lauren's school backpack. With a sigh she pushed the checkbook to the center of the table and stood up. She grinned slightly at the sight of her daughter stretched out on the floor with a coloring book. Her crayons were spilled around her on the floor as she colored away at a princess in the book. Her long loose pony tail bobbed along with the music from the Disney channel program that was playing on the television screen above her. Her short legs were bent up at the knees and her feet crossed with fuzzy slippers on them. She looked warm and cozy in her princess printed sleepers. Luka was stretched out on the couch with Declan propped up on his chest. He looked up as Abby bent to kiss the top if the baby's head and then drew a soft finger through the dark hair that lay across her husband's forehead. Luka grinned up at her and jostled the baby slightly. Declan smiled as Luka crooned something in Croatian and rubbed at his eyes with a chubby fist. Abby leaned down against the back of the couch and looked up as the television screen changed. It was a commercial. Another commercial for the wonders of a family vacation to Disney World. Lauren had looked up from her coloring and was smiling as she watched flying Dumbos heading away from the viewer into a colorful splash of fireworks. Abby's eyes trailed to Luka's face and something….something there….suddenly piqued her interest. He was watching the commercial too, a slight grin teasing the corners of his lips. Abby straightened up. She knew. In an instant she knew.
"I…..I need to go talk to Susan about something." Luka's eyes widened as he looked up at her and then realized what she had seen.
"Abby…." he said slowly. "Abby, don't." She headed toward the door.
"I'll just be a moment," she replied blithely. Luka struggled to sit up with the baby in his arms.
"You'll be sorry of you do this, Abby," he called sternly. "Dammit…" He swung his legs off the couch and stood up as he shifted his son to the crook of his arm. Lauren had stood up and was following him to the open door.
Susan was crossing the porch as Abby came through their door.
"Abby….." she said excitedly.
"Susan…" Abby said at the same moment. They clutched hands and began bouncing up and down as they danced in a circle.
"We're going to Disney World!" they laughed in unison. Luka rolled his eyes in the yellow porch light and looked down as Lauren wrapped an arm around his leg. She was watching the two most important women in her life acting like idiots. She stuck a finger in her mouth and her eyes were wide.
"You are going to be so so sorry," Luka sighed as he shook his head.
"What's the matter?" Cosmo asked as he pushed open the screen door. Susan reached for his hand and pulled him into the dance.
"We're going to Disney World!" Susan laughed. Abby swooped Lauren off her feet and into her arms. She twirled the little girl around and she laughed happily.
"Did you hear that , sweetheart?" she asked. "Your dad is taking us to Disney World!" Luka rolled his eyes and went back into the house with the baby.
"So…so…..sorry," he muttered.
It was just a week later when Abby walked into the kitchen and growled in frustration. Luka looked up from the bag of candy he was emptying into a basket.
"If I have to go through that vacation itinerary with her one more time today….." Abby lifted a finger sharply in his direction.
"And do NOT say it," she ordered. Luka lifted his brows and clenched his lips shut. Abby glared at him and opened the refrigerator. She pulled out the gallon of apple cider and filled the two glasses on the counter. Luka started to say something and she raised her finger again.
"I mean it!" she said as she put the cider away. She continued to glare at him as she lifted one of the glasses and left. Luka chuckled and shook his head. He picked up the basket of candy and his glass of cider and followed her through the livingroom to the front door.
Susan was already sitting on the top step of the porch watching Captain Hook and Tinkerbell dancing on the front walkway swinging plastic candy bags at one another. Leaves were crunching under their feet and there was a smell of burning pumpkins in the air.
"Ready to go guys?" Susie asked as she closed the door to their duplex. She was wearing a long flannel nightgown and had her hair tied back with a ribbon. Cosmo and Lauren cheered as she lifted the gown enough to see the steps as she passed Susan.
"Aw…promise me you'll bring Brett back so I can get a picture of all of you," Susan called. "He undoubtedly makes a way cute Peter Pan." Susie waved and then took the hands Cosmo and Lauren held out to her. Abby sat on the step next to Susan and Luka set the basket of candy between them. She took a long sip of cider as she watched Lauren skipping down the sidewalk with Susie. Susan glanced over at her and then chuckled.
"That bad, huh?" Abby glared at her.
"Well, it's no better in my house," Susan sighed. 'My dad gave him a stupid map and we've had to listen to a different plan every single day." Susan looked back at the chaise when she heard a sarcastic snort. Abby leaned back and held up a warning finger again. Luka snickered. Susan buried her head wearily in her hands.
"How many more days until we leave again?" Abby shrugged and perked up as a group of children came up the sidewalk.
"Oh look, Susan," she said with a slight groan. "It's Mickey Mouse." Susan laughed and reached for a handful of candy from the basket.
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Post by suzanne on Feb 26, 2010 21:17:40 GMT 10
;D ;D ;D Love it!! Can't wait for more!!
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Post by larue on Mar 2, 2010 12:41:19 GMT 10
Abby was chuckling and chatting away softly as she carefully soaped the baby's head and rinsed it. She was on her knees next to the claw foot tub, sleeves pushed up on her tee shirt. Luka leaned against the door jamb of the bathroom and enjoyed the tug of her jeans across her behind as she leaned in to bathe the baby in the tub. Lauren was twirling on the space between the tub at the toilet as she waited her turn for a bath. He looked up as Abby spoke louder.
"You know, I was thinking," she said as she massaged soap up and down the baby's slippery kicking legs and round tummy. "You would probably be enjoying these 'I told you so' moments more if you wouldn't use your daily quota before breakfast every morning." Luka grimaced.
"Who gave me a quota, anyway?" Abby sat back on her heels and looked up at him.
"You did," she said. "You were the one that said you were only going to say it five times a day. "
"You promised," she said flatly as she hiked herself up again to lean over the sides of the tub.
"Stupid move," Luka muttered. "But, I was a little distracted in the shower that morning." Abby looked back at him and grinned.
"Are you saying that I coerced you?" she asked.
"Oh…something like that," he grimaced. She frowned slightly.
"Well, was it worth it?" Luka hesitated and then took a deep breath as he studied her. Abby's mouth dropped open and she pulled herself up to her feet.
"It wasn't worth it?" She was aghast as she punched his chest playfully. Luka chuckled as he pulled her into his arms and hugged her.
"Always….worth…it," he breathed as he kissed her forehead, her nose and then her lips. Abby chuckled and snuggled against his chest for a moment, her head tucked under his chin.
Lauren leaned over the edge of the bathtub and studied the baby on the foam ring in the water. He was kicking his feet in the warm water, blinking as water splashed him in the face. He stopped as his brown eyes met hers and he stuck a wandering finger in his mouth.
"Mickey Mouse loves me more dan he loves you….." the little girl sing songed quietly. The baby responded by kicking his feet happily in the water again.
"Lauren Abigail," Abby scolded with a laugh. "What did you just say to your brother?" Lauren stood up and tipped wide eyes to her parents.
"Nuffing," she said innocently. Abby grimaced and pulled a thick towel from the open cupboard shelves. She pressed it into Luka's hands as she frowned at her daughter.
"Woo!" she cried as a perfect arc of pee spewed from the tub and hit Lauren in the middle of the chest. The little girl's mouth dropped open as she stared in horror at the round wet spot in the middle her undershirt.
"Mommy!" she moaned as she promptly burst into tears. Abby stifled a laugh as she reached into the tub and lifted Declan from the water.
"Aw, honey, it's okay," she said as she pressed a kiss to the dripping baby's neck and handed him to Luka. "It's just a little pee. Come on…it's your turn in the tub anyway."
"He peed on me." Lauren scrubbed at her eyes and sobbed dramatically as Abby pulled the princess printed undershirt shirt over the little girl's head.
"And he pees on daddy and me sometimes too…." Abby turned the water on to add more to the tub and looped the baby's foam bath ring over the shower head. She reached down to peel the underpants from the sobbing little girl and lifted her into the bathtub. Luka was grinning down at his son as he settled him snugly in the crook of his arm. Declan peeked out of the folds of the towel and grinned.
"Lauren," Abby said as she rolled her eyes at Luka. "Did you know we're going to Disney World in eight more days? Can you count backwards from eight with Mommy?" Luka laughed as he carried the baby from the bathroom toward his nursery. He shook his head as he listened to Abby and a sniffling Lauren counting.
Seven.
Six.
Five.
Four.
Three.
Two.
Susan made her way into Cosmo's classroom and was pleasantly surprised to see Luka standing against the back wall of the crowded room. She eased toward him and he smiled.
"Hey, you made it," Susan nodded and lifted the dyed macaroni necklace he wore around his neck. Luka shrugged as it dropped back against his tie.
"We had popcorn and cornbread at the preschool feast." Luka tipped his head toward the snack table. "Second graders get better stuff." Susan chuckled.
"Where's Abby?" she asked.
"Home," Luka whispered. "She's packing."
"What?" Susan frowned and looked down at her watch. "Luka….we leave for the airport in two more hours! We've been packed for days." He shrugged and they both looked toward the front of the classroom as the lights blinked. There was a shuffling of feet as a contingency of paper hatted 'pilgrims' filed into lines in front of the white boards along the wall. Susan grinned as she found her son in the front row. His hands were stuffed sheepishly into his pockets as he nervously searched the faces in front of him. He saw Susan and straightened his shoulders. She chuckled softly as he rolled his eyes at her and stood up. He pushed the hat back off his forehead and clapped his hands with his classmates as they sang/rapped their way through a welcome song. Susan's heart clenched a little as she watched him…..wishing…..as she always did at these things….that she was standing next to Cosmos' dad instead of her best friend's husband. She swallowed the lump in her throat as her lips intoned silently through the Thanksgiving poem Cosmo had been practicing at home for over a week. She smiled broadly and clapped with the rest of the parents when they were finished. Perfect.
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Post by Martine on Mar 3, 2010 0:26:34 GMT 10
"Nuffing" I love this kids language ;D
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Post by suzanne on Mar 3, 2010 1:19:36 GMT 10
Great update!! ;D Lauren is so cute!! Update again soon, looking forward to reading more! ;D
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Post by larue on Mar 8, 2010 4:15:06 GMT 10
Susan dropped the carry on bag onto an empty seat in the waiting area and sighed. She glanced at her dad who was following her more slowly, looking around worriedly.
"Dad, don't worry," she said. "Susie called me as soon as they got Heather's parents to their plane. The girls are here somewhere. I promise." Henry shrugged and tucked a newspaper under his arm. Luka set a car seat on the floor and dropped a backpack into it.
"We found Susie and Heather in line at the bathroom," he said. " Abby's changing the baby and the girls are helping with Lauren and Cosmo."
"Teamwork!" Susan laughed as she patted her dad's shoulder. "I like that." Henry chuckled. His face brightened as he saw Susie making her way toward them with Cosmo and Lauren by the hand. Cosmo was clinging to the hand of a taller, dark haired girl with a huge grin on her face.
"Heather…." Susan cried happily as she wrapped her arms around Susie's best friend. "How was your flight?" Heather shrugged as she stood back and adjusted the glasses across her nose.
"From Iowa? Short," she grinned and kissed Henry's cheek. "Hi, Grandpa." Henry blushed and patted her back as she hugged him.
"Your Mom and Dad weren't upset about you coming with us, I hope." Heather grimaced at Susan and shook her head.
"Are you kidding? My dad couldn't book this…second honeymoon…trip to Nova Scotia fast enough," she giggled. She lifted Lauren up and grinned as the little girl wrapped her arms around her neck. "These guys have gotten so big!" Susan looked up as Abby made her way through a crowd of travelers and frowned as she was jostled by someone in an apparent hurry. Luka hurried to take the baby from her arms.
"What? Is everyone in Chicago going some place this week?" she muttered. Luka looked up as an announcement came over the speakers.
"That's us," he said.
"Wow," Susan suppressed a laugh. "We cut it kind of close here, didn't we?" Luka handed the back pack to Abby and picked up the car seat with his free hand. They lined up at the entrance to the plane's tunnel. Henry ushered Cosmo and Lauren ahead of him in into their seats. Susan put her bag in the overhead and then fowned as her father sat in the seat next to Cosmo.
"Dad, I can sit with the kids." Henry shook his head.
"We'll be fine," he said as he adjusted Cosmo's seat belt. "You said you had some reading to do." Susan nodded and kissed her father's cheek.
"I'll be right in front of you," she said to Cosmo. The little boy nodded and studied the electronic game in his hands. Susan eased herself into the aisle seat in front of them. She smiled slightly at the man seated next to her and settled the medical journals from her bag onto her knees. The man was watching her. He was entirely too good looking for his own good.
"Doctor?" he asked as he glanced at the books in her lap.
"Yeah," Susan chuckled slightly. "I'm an ER doc at County." She tipped her head back as he nodded.
"Susan……Lewis," he said with a grin. "I thought it was you." She studied him in confusion.
"Scott Porter," he said as he extended his hand. "Infectious Diseases at Northwestern. You, uh, laughed during one of my lectures at the last intercity conference."
"I did?" She swallowed warily as she shook his hand. "Sorry….." He chuckled and shook his head.
"Naw…..it was a great laugh. I had someone check out your name tag for me." He glanced at the little girl next to him and reached over to adjust the headphones she wore on her head. He sat back again and smiled at Susan.
"So, " he asked. "Are you hitting the beach alone for the weekend or something?" Susan laughed.
"Oh no," she chuckled. 'There are nine of us headed for Disney World together."
"Nine? Wow." Scott shook his head in amazement. Susan laughed and tipped a finger up the aisle.
"My friends and baby boy are up there. Their little girl, my son and my dad are right behind us. My niece and her best friend are right over there." Susan glanced across the aisle and frowned slightly as she saw Susie and Heather smothering giggles behind their magazines as they watched her. She shook her head slightly.
'I guess we spoiled your chance to sit together," Scott said. He leaned forward and nodded toward the little girl sitting in the seat next to Susie, by the window. She was absorbed in the electronic game in her hands. He sat back with a grimace.
"They both wanted window seats but I don't know why."
"They're very pretty."
"Yeah. They look like their mom," he sighed. "It's my in laws' turn to have them for Christmas so we are celebrating early with this trip." Susan frowned slightly.
"Your inlaws?"
"We were in the midst of a divorce when Stacie was killed in a car accident. Only child and all that. Her parents kind of picked up the fight for visitation so I gave it to them." Scott lifted his eyebrows and shrugged. He leaned forward conspiritually.
"They think they won some kind of legal battle but they didn't" He shook his head as he sat back in his seat and regarded her.
"The plane hasn't even taken off yet and I have told you my whole life story!" he chuckled. "What is it about you, Susan Lewis?" Susan glanced across the aisle and caught Susie and Heather watching them again. She rolled her eyes and then looked up as a steward came down the aisle checking seat belts. She hurriedly fastened her's and leaned back with a sigh.
Abby watched out the window as the plane moved down the runway picking up speed. She glanced over at Luka, who held the small nursing bottle as the baby between them sucked away on the nipple. His eyes shifted upward and met his wife's. Luka grinned.
"You're excited, aren't you," she asked. Luka's head bobbed slightly and he grinned sheepishly.
"Aren't you?" Abby shrugged.
"I was more excited to figure out what you were planning," she grinned wryly. She settled her head back against the seat. "Right now, I am just exhausted."
"So, take a nap," Luka said as he tipped his head toward the suckling baby. "We'll be fine. And when you wake up we will be in a warm place with a soft bed waiting for you."
"And I get all this because you scheduled me to work the grave yard shift last night?" Luka rolled his eyes as she chuckled. She leaned down to press a soft kiss to the baby's head. Luka leaned his forehead down to touch her's.
"Sweet dreams?" Abby smiled and settled back into the seat. She drew Declan's blanket up over her shoulder, closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Three hours later she stood on the curb outside the baggage claim area of the Orlando airport. Declan was sound asleep in his car seat at her feet and Luka stood off to the side with his cell phone pressed to his ear. Lauren and Cosmo were climbing around the backpacks and bags under the watchful eye of Susie and Heather as they chatted away.
"So," she drawled curiously. "Who was he?" Susan looked up from digging through the purse and frowned questioningly. Abby grimaced.
"Porter?" Susan rolled her eyes. "Scott Porter, Abby, and don't make anything of it. He is just a doctor at Northwestern on vacation with his daughters."
"Oh," Abby said as she folded her arms across her chest and studied her friend. "I thought you were going to say it was…..oh, I don't know...Brad Pitt?" Susan grinned and chuckled.
"Oh, I know," she said quietly. "He is just too cute for his own good."
"And he has nice hair," Abby added with a nod. Susan studied her carefully.
"What?" Abby exclaimed as she shrugged defensively. "I just said that he had nice hair!"
"You are making something of it…."
"Well you have to admit…two doctors from Chicago…sitting together on a plane to Disney World…on the same flight. It's fate." Susan rolled her eyes and pulled a pack of gum from her purse.
"Gum?" she asked as she held out the pack. Abby took a piece and unwrapped it. She slipped it into her mouth as a small bus pulled up to the curb. It was emblazoned with Disney World insignia and colors. The driver opened the doors and stepped out to help with their luggage. She climbed in, settled in the seat next to the baby's car seat and helped Luka fasten it. Lauren was standing on a seat next to Heather, her nose pressed against the big window. Heather sat her down and fastened the seat belt before she draped and arm protectively around the little girl. They all looked up as the driver shoved another bag onto the bus.
"Got three more headed for the same resort," he said. Abby turned to look at Susan as Scott Porter lifted his youngest daughter through the open door. Susan scowled slightly as she shook her head when their eyes met.
"It's fate," Abby declared quietly and sat back with a smile. Luka glanced from one woman to the other in confusion.
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Post by suzanne on Mar 8, 2010 5:12:47 GMT 10
Nice update!! ;D Heather and Susie winding Susan up by laughing was funny!! Such a teenage thing to do!! ;D Love Abby winding her up to! ;D ;D Update again soon!!
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Post by Martine on Mar 27, 2010 3:26:20 GMT 10
Did I miss anything? No Look forward to the next update!
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Post by suzanne on Apr 18, 2010 20:27:11 GMT 10
Come on Larue , you gotta update! ;D
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