“Lucy, we need to get going, dinner's at five,” yells an impatient John
from downstairs.
“I'm coming, I needed to pack my bag, so I can change clothes before we
leave your grandparent's house.”
“Who's bright idea was it to have two parties the same night?”
“Mine, any problem?” she replies sarcastically.
“No, I'm just saying, I'd like to spend a little "private" time with you before tomorrow. I have a feeling once the day begins, we're not going to have a minute to ourselves.”
She comes downstairs, “We can always make it an early night. I think our
friends would understand.”
“Come here, you look GREAT!” he pulls her to him and begins some heavy kissing.
“John, you'd better stop or we're going to be late.”
As soon as she finishes that statement, he pulls out his cell phone and
dials the Carter house, where they're expected for dinner, “Gamma. It’s
John, we're running a little late. Lucy woke up with a little headache, I think she needs a little more rest. We'll be there around six, or a little after.”
“Is everything alright, John?” Millicent asks concerned.
“Yeah, nothing more that pre-wedding jitters.”
“Barbara's here, do you think she needs to talk to Lucy?”
“No, I think I can handle it,” he replies with a devilish grin, while all the time John is on the phone, Lucy continues to fondle him.
“So I have a headache, huh? And how do you suggest I get rid of said
headache, doctor?” she grins.
“Let me show you,” as he loosens his tie and begins to unzip her dress.
LATER
“Headache gone?” he teases.
“Absolutely,” she smiles, giving him a kiss.
“Now, we'd better get going, the sooner we get going, the sooner it will
be over with and I can once again-”
“What?”
“Take care of the headache, that I'm sure is going to develop during the evening.”
“Oh you think so, huh?” she smiles.
“Come here,” he once again grabs her and gives her a deep kiss, which
leaves Lucy breathless. He continues, “Oops! Forgot we need to go, can't
be late,” they walk to the door.
“Not so fast, you're not going to leave without this-” he throws her bag full of clothes at him and heads to the car.
The thirty minute drive to John's grandparent's house in Oak Park, like
many times before, was made in silence. John concentrating on the road
and Lucy watching the scenery, until John notices, “Hey Luce, what's wrong?”
“Just thinking about-”
“Last year, right?”
She answers by a nod of her head with tears in her eyes.
After pulling to the side of the road, he gently takes her into his arms, “We never really talked about today, have we?” he quiet asks.
She just shakes her head, as he continues, “I thought you were okay with
everything concerning the attack?”
“I am, but I just-”
“Wonder if we had ever gotten together if it would still have happened?”
She gives a sad nod.
He continues- “I'd like to think so. Of course, being a little *closed off* for you, it might have taken some time. But that's the past, tomorrow you'll be my wife and in four months we'll be having a little girl. Elizabeth, right? Come on, give me a smile, this is our special night, you know I love you.”
“You sure know how to get on my good side, don't you?” she smiles, “Now we'd better get going, or we'll have some worried parents and
grandparents.”
“So, I'm going to finally meet the grandparent's. How long has it been
since you've seen them?”
“Graduation.”
“I think they're going to notice a change in their granddaughter,” he says as he pats her expanding waistline.
“Mom's told them. It *will* be interesting to see what their reaction will be. They're pretty conservative.”
“Just remember, I'll be right beside you, for support.”
“I know you will.”
“Look, we're here already. See how fast time goes by, when you have a
meaningful conversation? Ready?”
“You bet.”
As John helps Lucy out of the car, Millicent and Barbara Knight stand at the open door, ready to greet their children.
Lucy, seeing her mom, gives her a hug.
“Hey baby, how are you feeling?”
“Fine, just a little stressed about tonight and tomorrow, but I'm fine,” she smiles.
“Your grandparent's are really anxious, it's been quite a while since
they've seen you.”
“Where are they?” she says, looking for them.
“They should be back shortly.”
“Have you told them about the baby?” she asks hesitantly.
“I did, shortly after the two of you left Boston. They *were* a little upset you didn't get in touch with them before you left, but I explained the circumstances and they were okay with it.”
“That's good, because I'm really nervous about what they might say to
John and how they will react about this,” she pats her stomach.
“Don't you know by now how much they love you? And no matter what you
might think, they ARE happy for you. Besides, they're really excited to meet
the man who stole your heart.”
John and Millicent also exchange embraces, “How are you feeling? John
told me you had a bad headache earlier.”
“Lots better, thanks,” she smiles as John gives her a tweak on her nose
and a knowing wink.
“LUCY BEAR!!” they hear from down the hall.
They all turn to see George and Elsie Knight, “Lucy Bear?” John kids
Lucy.
“It's a long story,” she replies.
“You're not going to get out of this one that easy,” John laughs.
“Remind me to tell you later.”
“Oh don't worry, Lucy Bear, I won't,” he laughs.
Lucy gives her grandmother a hug and a kiss, “Let me look at you... You
really are pregnant, your mom wasn't kidding.”
“Grandma,” Lucy replies a little embarrassed.
“Only kidding, sweetie, we're both really happy for you. And this must
be...”
“John,” Lucy says as she pulls him over to her grandparents, she
continues, “These are my grandparent's, George and Elsie Knight. Grandma, grandpa this is John Carter.”
“Please to meet you son,” George replies.
“Please to meet you, sir,” responds John politely.
“Come here,” Elsie says giving him a hug, “Welcome to the family.”
"Boy that was easy,” thought John to himself, wishing his parents were a
little more understanding.
From down the hall, came the unmistaken voice of John Carter Senior,
“George, I've got my stock portfolio up on the computer, if you want to
come and see the quote on that stock you asked about earlier.”
John and Lucy just looked at each other, not believing the luck, of
having the two heads of their respective families be so compatible.
“Come on ladies, let's see how things are going in the kitchen,”
announces Millicent, and the small group leave the room, leaving John and Lucy alone in the foyer, “Okay, Lucy Bear,” amuses John.
“John, it's really juvenile and a little embarrassing.”
“Come on, you'd better tell me or I'll spread it around the hospital.
“You wouldn't dare,” she says giving him a stern look.
“All I need to do is tell *one* person, then you know as well as I do
that before you know it, everyone will know,” he says, blackmailing her.
“Okay, it's not that big of a deal, really,” sounding defeated.
“Well?”
“When I was a little girl, I would spend the weekends with grandma and
grandpa. I ALWAYS had to have my favourite teddy bear, which had the name Lucy embroidered on her little blue dress. One time, when I was about three or four, Mom couldn't find it for me to take. I was so devastated I cried and cried the whole time. So, Grandma started calling me *her* Lucy Bear. That was enough to appease a four year old, and somehow it stuck. End of story.”
“Isn't that sweet,” he laughs.
“Oh please,” she says rolling her eyes.
Just as he pulled her to him, little voices echoed through the air,
“LUCY!” Olivia and Allison yell as they come running towards her.
Lucy kneels down to their level, “My, you both have grown. I think you
must have grown three inches, since I saw you at Christmas.”
“We're six years old now,” Allison announces proudly.
“Yeah, we're six now, we're not little anymore,” adds Olivia.
“Does that mean you're too old for a story,” Lucy asks with a big smile.
“No way, we already have one picked out. We even brought some of our
bestest toys,” they both say as they pull on Lucy's hand.
“Sorry John, my fan club awaits.”
“Guess I'll go look for Chase and Richard. See you later,“ he gives her a kiss before they part.
The twins take Lucy to the sun room, where she sees all the toys they
brought to play with, but they wanted Lucy to read. After reading a
couple of books, the game of twenty questions began, “Mommy says you're going to have a baby, that's why your tummy's sticking out like that.”
“Your mom's right, the baby is growing.”
“When are you going to have the baby?”
“Before summer begins, I bet the next time we see each other, you'll have a new cousin.”
“Since we're six now, are we going to hold your baby?”
“We'll see, probably so.”
“Is it a boy or girl? We don't like boys, only girls.”
“What's wrong with boys?
“Their YUCKY,” they both say in unison.
“Well, we are going to have a girl, but boys aren't that bad,” she laughs.
All this doesn't go unnoticed by John who had been sent by the girls mother to have them get ready for dinner. As he's waiting for just the right time to enter the room, Elsie interrupts his thoughts, “You know, we were a little worried about her, while she was recovering.”
“Oh?” he answered surprised.
She slipped into a depression, not wanting to go out or see old friends.
We were all really worried about her.”
“Post-operative depression.”
“She *finally* took a call from somebody here in Chicago and whatever
was discussed turned her around.”
“Do you remember when it was?”
“I think it was in May... Yeah it was, because by Memorial Day she was
determined to graduate again.”
“She’s a good doctor, you know.”
“And I know she credits you with that.”
“She did it all on her own, without too much help from me I'm afraid.”
“That's all in the past, and by the looks of my granddaughter, she's the
happiest I've seen in a long time.”
“She has the same effect on me too,” he says with a smile.
“Before the two of you leave this evening, I've got a little something
for Lucy. It's been nice talking to you John, I can tell the two of you were
meant for each other. I only hope, you'll have many years of happiness,
like George and I have had.”
“I know, Lucy told me, what fifty six years?”
“Yes and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world,” she smiles, “Now I've kept you long enough, you'd better tell those little girls their mom is waiting.”
As John enters the room, he finds Lucy sitting on the floor playing dolls with the two girls. He stands there for a moment, thinking what it will be like, when Lucy is playing with their daughter. Lucy realizes he is staring, “Olivia, Allison, you mother needs you upstairs, to get ready for dinner.”
“We gotta pick up our toys,” replies Olivia.
“We'll do that, won't we John? Go see what your mom wants.”
“Bye,” they both say, leaving the room.
“Well?” Lucy asks with a smile.
“What?” he counters returning her smile.
“Are you just going to stand there or help a pregnant woman stand up?”
she smiles.
As he helps her up, he leads her to the sofa and indicates that they
should sit down, “Luce, we need to talk about something.”
“What's up?”
“I was talking to your grandmother a little earlier.”
“And she told you about my little post-op depression, didn't she?”
“Yes, she did.”
“John, you know as well as I do, that was to be expected.”
“For three months? Come on Lucy you should have known three months was too long for it to go on.”
“I know that now, but at the time I was a little out of it.”
“What changed?”
“Elizabeth called, to see how I was doing and told me about-”
“Me, right?”
All she did was nodded her head, tears forming in her eyes.
He continues, “I guess it took someone else to see something was wrong. With you, it was Elizabeth and with me it was Abby and Deb. Listen, I'm sorry for bringing this up now, I guess, I really know how to ruin a great evening,” he says with a slight smile.
“Yeah, but I can think of a way you can make it up to me,” she says,
giving him a seductive smile.
“Oh?”
“Does that door lock from the inside?”
“Sure does. DON'T move!” he goes and locks the doors.
He returns and they start some heavy duty making out, reminiscing on
that day in exam six. All of a sudden they realize someone was knocking on the door, “John, are you in there?” Millicent asks.
Debating on whether to answer, he looks at Lucy, who is on the verge of
laughing, “Shh! Don't say anything, maybe she'll go away,” he smiles.
“John, I know you're in there, I have two little spies, who told me the
two of you were suppose to be picking up toys,” Millicent says through the
door.
“How come every time we start having fun, someone always interrupts us?” Lucy whispers.
“Just wait until tonight, when we're alone, in our own bed, with *no*
interruptions,” John says with a mischievous smile.
“We'll be right there, Gamma, just finishing up,” he finally says, loud enough to be heard.
Opening the door, John sees Millicent standing there with a big smile on
her face, “Don't worry, I was once young and in love too. My lips are sealed. Besides, everyone's waiting for you in the dining room, I know
the two of you have other plans tonight, so we'd better get started with
dinner.”
“Come on Lucy, dinner is waiting on us. Oh yeah, your grandmother has
something for you.”
“Have any idea what it is?”
“None what so ever. You ready?”
“Yeah. I'm right behind you.”
After dinner, Lucy excuses herself to change her clothes, for the second
of the night's parties. Barbara Knight takes her daughter upstairs to her
room.
“Mom, I don't know how much time we'll have tomorrow, so I want to thank
you for everything. I know at times I've really been a pain, but you've always been there for support and a shoulder to cry on.”
“Baby, that's what mom's are for, you'll see,” she smiles and gives Lucy
a hug.
Tears fill Lucy's eyes, “I know how much you sacrificed for me and I don't think I ever thanked you.”
“Lucy-”
“No let me finish, you've always been there, even though you haven't agreed with me. I felt bad when I came back here, knowing you didn't want me too. But you let me anyway, for that I'll always be grateful.”
“I know, you wouldn't have gotten together with John and wouldn't be
giving me a grandchild. For that, I will always be grateful.”
“I love you mom.”
“I love you too, sweetie. Now I imagine, there's a young man downstairs,
who is anxious to get going.”
As Lucy changes, her mom reminds her that her Grandma has something to give her before she leaves.
“Yeah, John told me that too, do you know what it is?”
“She made me promise, not to tell you. Now let's get going!”
As mother and daughter walk down the stairs, everyone is waiting to say
goodbye. Barbara hands John, Lucy's bag and gives him a little hug and
kiss on the cheek, “I guess the next time we get together, we'll be family,” she says with tears in her eyes.
“You know, I'll take care of *both* my girls.”
“John, I may have had my doubts, in the beginning, but yes, I do know
you will,” she gave him an other hug.
“Thanks for everything, I know it has meant a lot to Lucy to have your support.”
Lucy, meanwhile is in a small group with Millicent and Barbara Carter,
“Thank you both for everything you've done for us, especially the house
and the reception, it was really too much.”
“Lucy, tomorrow you're going to be family, for better or worse, but we *do* look out for each other. John has changed so much since you've come back into his life, and we're so happy for the both of you,” Millicent tells
her.
“I only wish his mom and dad felt the same way,” Lucy says sadly.
“Give them time, dear, nothing changes a person. Like the birth of their
first grandchild, you'll see.”
“I hope so.”
“Lucy, you ready to go?” John asks impatiently.
“Yeah, I'm coming.”
From down the hall, “Lucy! Wait a minute, here's a little something for you,” Elsie yells.
Lucy turns to John, “Do we have time?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
As she lifts the lid off the box, she begins to cry, “Where on earth did you find this?” she asks her grandparents.
“Grandpa was going through some of your mom's old boxes when he came across this and thought you could use it for the next generation of the family.”
“What is it?” John asks, moving to get a closer look.
At that moment, she pulls out a definitely old teddy bear with red
embroidery letters on a blue dress.
“Grandma I love you so much,” Lucy says through tears of happiness,
giving both grandparents a hug.
She then turned to her mom, “You had something to do with this, didn't
you?”
“Yup, I did. I thought you were old enough to go somewhere without your
Lucy Bear, and you did fine without it, right?”
“Yeah, fine,” she says softly.
“Luce, you told me you were, what was the word you used, devastated,
that's it.”
“Oh, please. I think it's time we go.”
Lucy turned to her mom and grandparent's, “Why don't you come by the
house around ten,” then after a thought, she continues, “Millicent, I'd love to have you and Barbara come too.”
“Are you sure it won't be too much for you?”
“Of course not, John's going to leave around nine to have breakfast with
Dr. Benton, then head to the hospital to get ready for the wedding.”
“Lucy, we REALLY need to be going. We'll see you all tomorrow.”
With that, they leave, throwing Lucy's bag and dress in the backseat,
buckle up and with Lucy holding *Lucy Bear* drive to Aurelio's Pizzeria
to meet with their friends from work. As they walk in, they immediately see
their party-sitting at two tables, old friends and new. There was Doug
Ross, who had flown in from Seattle, without Carol, who was home taking care of an ill Tess, Jerry Markovic, who had left County shortly after the attack. There was also Dave, Malik, Chunni, Susan, Mark, and Elizabeth. It had immediately become obvious, that the party had started long before they arrived.
Jerry, Dave, and Malik had found a common bond, and we're trying to pick
up every waitress in the place. All of a sudden, Jerry spots John, heading
towards the table, “Well, good you decided to show up, man. I never
thought I'd live to see the day Carter gets married, and to Lucy no less.”
“Nice to see you too, Jerry.”
“So where's the bride?” he asks.
“Had to make a stop,” he motions to the ladies room.
“Hey, she's knocked-”
“Shh, listen, she's a little sensitive about the weight thing, so-
“Hey, don't worry, it's me, Jerry.”
“That's what I'm afraid of,” John says under his breath.
Turning to meet Lucy, “Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah, the baby's been really active, which makes me have to- you know,”
she says quietly.
“I need to warn you, Jerry is being well, Jerry, just be prepared.”
“Thanks.”
“There she is,” Elizabeth announces.
“Hey Lucy, how are you feeling? You look a little tired,” observes Susan.
“Yeah, it's been a long day, can't wait to get to bed.”
“I bet, you can't,” Dave says with a smirk on his face.
“Oh please,” she rolls her eyes at him.
“Hey Lucy!” Jerry yells, “Long time no see! God, you ARE pregnant! Randi
told me, but I didn't believe it. Who would have thought, you and Carter.
Now, are you guys ready to tell us what REALLY happened in exam six?”
“NOTHING HAPPENED!” they both yell at the same time.
“Yeah, right,” Jerry replies.
“Well believe what you want,” Lucy replies with a devious look on her
face.
After ordering more pizza and another round of drinks, soon the
conversations turns to the guests of honour, especially Lucy, “Hey Carter, remember that guy that came in with the whole carrot in his intestines, and Lucy thought he'd swallowed it?”
“Yeah, that was priceless,” laughs John.
“Give me a break, it was like my second week, as your med student,
wasn't it?”
“Yup, kind of went downhill after that didn't it?” he shot back.
All she did was give him a dirty look, “What about the time, you lost
that guy's body?” Chunni reminds them.
“That guy who had his, you know, pierced?” Lucy laughs.
“Yeah, did you ever look?”
“I refuse to answer,” Lucy laughs.
“EVERYONE knows what the BEST one was. You kicking Carter in the chest AND we all know what happened next,” Malik says.
Just bringing up the subject, causes everyone to break out in laughter,
“I must come to Lucy's defence,” says Elizabeth.
“Finally, you guys make me sound like I was a-”
“Clumsy med student,” remarks Dave.
John, who was sitting close to him whispers in his ear, “You'd better be
quiet, I wouldn't want to get on her bad side, especially tonight.”
“Why? You afraid, you won't get any if she's pissed?”
“Keep it up and you'll find yourself uninvited to our wedding tomorrow,
and I'll let Weaver know, and you'll have to work.”
“Point taken.”
“As I was going to say, Lucy's determination has always paid off,
several times if I'm not mistaken. Carter, what about that time the two of you went looking for that little girls' father and that one Christmas Eve, when those two teenagers came in, one was brain dead and the other needed a transplant, the two of you never gave up trying to convince the mother to donate her son's organs. I should think the good Lucy and Carter have done, should out weigh their rough times.”
Suddenly, the coworkers were silent, each realizing what Elizabeth had
said was true.
“Elizabeth's right, we have shared a tumultuous past, but it's the present and future that we have together that's important.”
“Great speech Carter, if I do say so myself,” kids Doug.
After a few minutes had past, Susan decides to tell on John, “I remember something that happened to Carter, when he was Benton's med student.
“Susan, don't you dare,” warns John.
“Lucy, do you want to hear it or not?”
“Absolutely,” replies a very interested Lucy.
“Carter was given the opportunity to teach Deb Chen the ropes when she
first came to County. From what I understand, he treated her about the same way he treated you. Anyway, he had her do a rectal.
“So?” she asks.
“Never told her to use lubricant,” Susan recalls with laughter.
Lucy turning to John, “That was a mean thing to do.”
He just rolls his eyes.
“So what happened?”
“She sure got him back, she accidentally hit him with the paddles
causing him to fall and hit his head. After he comes to, Deb and Haleh inform him that Deb had preformed a complete exam on him while he was unconscious.”
“Man I would have done anything to see that,” Lucy says.
“Thanks a lot, Susan, I have a feeling, I'm never going to live that one down,” he says with an innocent look on his face.
As the party continued, John and Lucy who were hoping to call it an early night, now were hoping to at least be home by midnight. Suddenly Lucy comes up with the perfect excuse, “John, with everything that’s gone on this evening, I'm starting to get a little headache. Maybe we should be
getting home. We do have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow.”
John, realizing what Lucy is hinting at, and takes over, “May I have your attention! It's getting pretty late and Lucy's getting a headache, so I think we'll call it a night. Feel free to stay, eat or drink, it's on us, but we're leaving. So thank you all for coming and we'll see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah guys, thanks, for coming, it's been an interesting night.”
Entering their house, John immediately pulls Lucy to him and begins
kissing her neck.
“Things went well tonight, don't you think?”
“Yeah, it did,” he mumbles, still kissing her.
“Wasn't it great seeing Dr. Ross and Jerry? I couldn't believe how Dave
and him are so much alike.”
“Yeah, they are,” he tried to kiss her.
“Are you going to tell me where we're going tomorrow night or what?” she asks.
Finally taking the hint, he wasn't going to get anywhere unless, she stops
talking, finally speaks, “Richard has a small cabin north of town. It's the perfect place to be alone ALL week.”
He begins to kiss her again, thinking that would stop her, “Will there be
food, or are we going to have to go shopping?”
“He had a caretaker stock it with everything we need,” he answers
impatiently.
“What about-”
“Pack casual, I'm not planning to leave the place for the entire week,
for anything or anybody,” he says with a grin,"Now any more questions?” he asks really impatiently.
“Yeah, just one.”
“Now what?”
“Join me in a nice hot, steamy shower?”
“You read my mind. It's funny how we can do that.”
“That's what you call being compatible,” she laughs.
Then they head upstairs. After a night celebrating with their family and
friends, prepare to celebrate their future, with each other.
