Disclaimer: All characters in this story are the property of NBC, Warner Brothers, John Wells, and whoever else. I just borrow them and promise to return them. Don't worry, I won't hurt them. I make no money off these fics, I write them for fun.

Feedback, as always, is greatly appreciated. Just send it here -> DougandCarol@hotmail.com

The lyrics in the story are "Amen" by Jewel

Author Notes: This is it; I've reached the end. *Wipes a tear away* J/K.. I hope that you all enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. But fear not my loyal fans, for I have many more fanfictions in the works! And yes, unless they are cast humor, every fic will be Luka and Abby. And who knows? Maybe one day in the future, I'll be inspired to write a follow-up series to Bonheur Trompé, though right now don't count on it.

Story info: Part 15, it's the epilogue and I've set it at all different times. As you'll notice, it begins only a few days after Part 14 left off. But, it ends three years in the future, so try not to get lost. Comprende?

Thank you's: There are a lot since this is the finale. So if you're interested keep reading, if not skip ahead to the actual story.

Shannon: You kicked my ass into gear girl! Of course, the ass kicking's took since March to actually work and get me to finish this series, but I got tired of being black and blue. ;) Thank you for always reading my drafts, and giving me new idea's to work with. BTW, Woman says Hi!

Carolina: The Queen of the Lubies, and the biggest BITCH I know. Thank you for smacking me around when I needed it, and of course smacking you around helped me deal with it ;) Remember when I told you forever ago "I think I'll write a Luka and Abby story?" I NEVER thought it would turn into a 15 piece series, and I also never thought I'd start however many other series I have going along with stand alones. But we all know you rock, especially all of us that went to NYC and listened to you praise the fact that you "Had Luka on your boob". Thanks girl!

Raquel: Thank you for sitting online endlessly listening to me bitch and whine about this series and all the problems that came along with it. Also, thank you for countless idea's, especially the whole idea for the final scene in this part that ends the story. :)

Samantha: I know you're not a Luby, but god knows I tried to make you one! Thank you though for your feedback on this series, and all of my fics. All of the time we've spent talking over who knows how long now has really helped me in so many ways. You were one of my first online friends, and who can forget all of our countless 3 am chats talking about EVERYTHING under the sun. LOL. Thanks!

Everyone Else: I know I left a ton of you out, but if I had given everyone their own separate thank you's, these notes would be three pages long. But thank you to Julia, Bitty, Rags, Jodie, Rosie, Lisa, Abilene and everyone else on the Luby list I've left out! There are too many of you to name and thank! Thanks guys, I couldn't have done it without your constant support! :)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

You're mothers' child
But night lays you down
Hair aflame, wild look in your eyes
Naked belly to the ground
A forest fire
Nibbles at your veins
Crawls up your arm
runs away with your mind
And burns dry thoughts like leaves
Amen

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Abby paced back and forth over the thick carpet in the living room. Her feet left the fabric crushed and worn, pressed firmly against the tile floor that sat directly beneath it. Her feet were cold and sore, but she kept moving, nearing the window to the front yard. Holding the bundle that lay, crying in her arms, she pressed her fingers up against the glass and looked out into the dark Chicago night. The fog was thick and misty, wrapping itself around the trees and cars. She could barely see the large oak tree that was only feet away from the window, and let out a small sigh as the baby continued to scream.

The loud wails rang throughout her head, causing the pounding against her temples to grow increasingly worse. She felt as if she had become a robot over the two weeks since she had left the hospital, and slowly as each minute passed, all of her screws were coming loose. Each scream, each cry, the sleepless nights and endless hours of trying to get Karina to sleep were taking their toll on her. She barely had the energy to open her own eyes anymore.

Luka did everything he could and more. Every moment he was home he was with her, allowing Abby time to rest. He would change diapers, rock her when she cried; make faces as he talked to her. He cooked dinner, helped with the laundry, cleaned the endless messes. Between the two of them, it all got done, but once it had, they would both be exhausted. Plus Luka had to work. His week of vacation had ended the Thursday before, leaving Abby alone with the baby whenever he had to leave.

"Shhh, I know." Abby whispered as she again turned and walked to the other side of the room. Holding the baby close to her body, locked tight in her arms, she closed her eyes for a mere second and stopped in her path, then looking to the clock on the wall. There was no way it could only be a little after midnight, it had to be later. She'd been crying since ten and hadn't stopped. Luka wasn't due home until after three, meaning she was alone for the next three hours. "Baby, try to go to sleep." She sighed, holding her out in front of her, and pressing her to her left side, resting her small head against her shoulder.

Adjusting the burping cloth on her shoulder, Abby carefully fell back into the couch and pulled the receiving blanket from around the baby. "Ok, I know." She whispered, pulling the top buttons through the holes of her pajama top, attempting to open it. "Are you hungry?" she sighed tiredly, moving the baby into her right arm, holding her close to her body.

Pulling her shirt open, she moved the baby close to her breast and settled deeper into the feather pillow. Waiting as she latched on, she sat watching, running her pinkie finger over Karina's head slowly, rubbing it over her skin, she watched her jaw move as she began to quiet down for a few moments, her small brown eyes closing as she ate.

The fabric of the light pink sleeper Karina wore felt soft against Abby's skin, rubbing up against her chest as she nursed. Holding her fingers against the baby's small legs, she held her closer, adjusting her arm and its placement, trying to keep herself from getting a cramp or muscle ache.

"No, just a little more." She whispered, pleading to the baby who again began to cry, unlatching her mouth from Abby. "Karina, please." She pleaded, as the baby's face again grew red and her wails grew louder. Raising her short chubby arms into the air, she waved her tiny hands around, stretching them out and then pulling them closer to her body, crying a high pitched wail.

She couldn't take it anymore, the room was spinning and she was falling deeper and deeper into a black hole. She needed sleep, she needed to sit, she needed help, she needed Luka. Her body was giving out, she was giving up. The connection from her brain to the rest of her body had been cut somewhere along the line, she felt she were failing already.

She contemplated calling Luka; the number for the hospital ran through her head, screaming for her to dial it. Then she thought of calling Elizabeth, remembering her offer if she ever needed help or someone to talk to. But it was well after midnight now, she wasn't even sure Elizabeth would be home. And if she was, she'd probably been on all day and tired enough herself. Abby felt helpless, she had nowhere to turn, she was losing her mind.

"Karina." She whispered again, rocking the baby in her arms. She was dying, her body slowly crumbling to pieces as she continued to cry. Swallowing a lump in her throat, she reached for the phone and began pressing in numbers, not even registering who she was in fact calling.

"Hello?" a groggy voice answered on the other end.

That was who she called, she knew that voice anywhere. The voice felt more comforting at the moment than it had ever in her entire life. She remembered it screaming, the way it cried, it sang, and it whispered. The way it tore her apart when she was a child, and slowly ripped more of her into tiny shreds as the years passed. But now the way it was slowly healing, the torn shreds carefully but surely being stitched back together again.

"Maggie.." she pleaded into the phone, holding it under her head as she got back to her feet, again pacing the room. Back and forth, back and forth, there were going to be holes worn into the rug soon. She could feel the fabric crushing beneath her, but instead of it being soft and warm it felt as if it were cutting into her feet. It was almost like glass, slicing her open from heel to toe.

"Abby?" Maggie replied, opening her eyes and turning to the alarm clock that sat on the nearby table. Pushing her hair from her face and lifting her head from the pillow, she sat up in the bed and ran her hand over her face, attempting to wake up. "Abby what's the matter?"

"She won't stop crying." She replied, stopping in her tracks as she pulled the baby again to her shoulder, rubbing her back gently. Pressing her fingers in soft, slow circles, she rocked back and forth on her feet. "I tried feeding her and rocking her. I burped her and changed her and I sang to her and she won't stop." She cried, reaching the point of wanting to cry. "I don't know what to do for her, she won't stop." She continued, spitting the words out now as if she were cursing and going to get a spanking. "I can't do it!"

"Abby, calm down." Maggie replied forcefully into the telephone. Her words were strong and meaningful as they came, flowing into the phone and Abby's ears easier and more taken than ever before in her life. "I mean it, if you calm down you'll be able to think clearer."

She could hear the loud wails as they cried on the other end of the phone, her little lungs belting out cries that seemed far too loud and strong for her little body. The crackle in the cries was enough to bring anyone who heard them to tears, or drive them up a wall. She could hear Abby's constant "shh's" and "It's ok's" as she whispered them to the baby she knew was in her arms, far too away for her to hold and try to calm.

"Do you have one of those bathtubs?" she asked, pulling the comforter off of her body as she climbed from the bed and into the dimly lit hallway of her own apartment. Fumbling with the light switch, she pressed it up; She immediately shut her eyes again in response to the bright light, turning her head for a second. "Abby?"

"What bathtub?" she asked, her voice rushed and strained.

"One of those infant bathtubs. Abby, put her in that with some warm water, see if it helps." She replied.

"Mom." She whined tiredly, as if she had given up. "She won't stop." She whispered, her lip quivering as she watched her daughter continue to scream louder and louder.

"Abby." She replied firmly. "Put her in the tub and let the water calm her down. Listen to me and do it."

Only a few more words were spoken before both women hung up on their ends and set the phones down. Carrying Karina into the kitchen, Abby set her down in the infant seat that sat on the counter and strapped her in as she continued crying. Taking the infant bathtub from its place in a closet, she placed it on the counter and filled it with lukewarm water, grabbing a towel from a pile that sat nearby.

"Please sweetie." She begged, as she unbuttoned the back on Karina's sleeper and pulled it from her small body. Dropping it to the side, she held the baby against her chest, allowing her fingers to rub against her soft skin. Testing the water with her fingers, she removed the plastic diaper and dumped it in the trashcan. Carefully supporting the crying baby's head, she laid her gently in the small bathtub, allowing the warm water to cover her body, holding her head in her left hand.

Placing her free right hand in the water, she gently scooped small amounts into her palms and dumped them on her belly, running her palm over it each and every time. As she did, she hummed softly, yawning tiredly as the baby continued crying, but her sobs became softer and less frequent. Abby's own eyes were becoming heavier and heavier as the minutes passed, her lids feeling as though they weighed more than her whole body.

"Yeah." She whispered tiredly as the baby slowly quieted down, her face returning to its normal shade. Running her hands through the water, she allowed her fingers to gently tickle the small baby's body as she calmed, her cries ceasing to low whimpers. Soon the whimpers were far and in between until there was nothing, and her eyes began to close.

Outside a light rain had begun to fall from the skies, the clouds opening wide and crying their tears to the earth. The small droplets fell onto the tree leaves, spreading wide and dripping farther, down to the ground as they saturated the grass, sidewalks and dirt. The dew and fog was growing thicker as it soaked the air and clung to all around it, blocking the view from the windows and doors. Everything was cranky that night, babies and all.

Waiting another few minutes, Abby stood holding the now sleeping baby in the tub. Once she was sure Karina was sleeping, she lifted her into her arms and reached for the towel she'd grabbed earlier. Wrapping the dark blue cloth around her, she held her snuggly in her arms and carried her upstairs, leaving the small tub of water on the counter, too tired to care if it fell over or not.

Slouching tiredly into the nursery, she reached in one of the drawers and pulled out a new sleeper, and dumped it on the changing table. Laying the baby gently in it, she pulled a diaper from a below shelf and quickly dressed her, praying to god she wouldn't wake up.

The air inside was growing chilly and as she shivered quickly, she again wrapped the baby in her arms and walked into the bedroom. Sitting on the bed, she set Karina next to her and pulled Luka's pillow next to her, preventing her from rolling from the bed and to the floor. Then Abby collapsed. Pulling the thick blankets over her body, she allowed her head to fall into the pillows, cradling her head softly. Turning to her side, she watched for a moment the image of the sleeping baby before her eyes, gently touching her small feet with her finger. It lasted only a few minutes before she too fell asleep, finally allowing her own body some rest.

Only hours later, Luka pressed his way through the front door and shut it behind him, dropping his bag to the floor of the hallway and walking toward the kitchen where the lights were still on. His feet hit against the hard wood floors with a slight tapping as he walked through the hallway, passing a hall table cluttered with baby clothes and bottles and other odds and ends that never found their proper places. Inside he found the baby bathtub, still full of water, and the discarded baby sleeper that sat next to it on the counter. Rubbing his face with his hands as his own eyes grew heavy and his body weary from his seemingly endless work schedule, he dumped the water down the kitchen sink drain and placed the tub back in the closet.

Upstairs he entered the bedroom quietly and found Abby fast asleep in the bed, holding Karina close to her. The baby though, was wide-awake, staring quietly at whatever was above her. As he moved closer, he could see her small mouth open wide as she yawned, and rocked her head back and forth with the motion. Looking to Abby, her eyes were locked tightly shut; he moved closer and could almost feel her exhaustion in the air. It seemed to permeate through everything, as if it were held in the actual air itself.

"Hey." He whispered almost inaudibly as he took the baby into his arms and carried her across the room toward the window. "Did you let mommy sleep?" he whispered, kissing her forehead. She let out a small hiccup as her hand shot out, moving wildly about in front of her. "No? I didn't think so."

He stood with her for a few minutes, rocking her back and forth as his body swayed from side to side. His finger became entangled in the blanket he held around her, one end swinging freely as it hung loose over his arms. The weight of Karina felt like nothing to him as he held her, her small body curled up securely and protected by him.

His attention then turned to Abby whose eyes were open and watching him as she held onto her pillow behind her head. Smiling at her through the darkness, he kissed Karina's head again before setting her down in the bassinet that sat next to the bed, and sat on the bed next to Abby.

"Go back to sleep." He ordered, kissing her as he pulled the comforter up around her.

"Is she still sleeping?" Abby replied tiredly, as he pulled his tie and shirt off, tossing an old t-shirt on over his head.

Shaking his head, he quickly climbed into the bed next to her and gathered her into his arms, allowing his head to fall into the pillows. "Almost, she will be in a minute or two."

"She wouldn't stop crying." He heard Abby mumble as she yawned and he watched her eyes again close. "It took me forever."

"I will get her if she wakes up." He replied, realizing she was already fast asleep.

Holding her head close to his chest, he ran his fingers gently up and down her arm, tracing the outline of every curve he could find. Her skin was so soft; it felt like heaven to him to be allowed to touch her again. His life was falling back into place; the pieces that had crumbled again so many months ago were slowly piecing themselves back together. He had a wife, and a new daughter.

He knew she was still scared, he knew she'd always be scared. That night as he lay in bed next to her, he could remember and hear the countless conversations they'd had over the years about children, and depression, and motherhood. It was as if someone were there, whispering the old discussion into his ear. But he'd convinced her, they had a baby, together.

Abby the mother. He never thought he would hear those words used together. But she was a mother now, and he'd watched her over the two short weeks she'd been one. Danijela had been the mother to his first children and she'd done the job as perfectly as he could imagine. He never imagined if anyone would be capable of filling that role the way she had. But after watching, Abby had filled the role. He knew she was scared, and horribly unsure of herself. But she loved that baby more than life itself. The way she rocked her, and the look she got each time she nursed her. Everything she did was perfect to him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Eyes stare up
But something's in the way
In the Bible only angels have wings
And the rest must wait to be saved
A dry tongue
Screams at the sky
But the wind just breathes words in
As a strange bird tries to fly
Amen

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The days passed faster than they could imagine, and before long the days turned into weeks, and the weeks became months. Each time they turned around, the pages of the calendar were turning and with the page changes came season changes. Soon it was summer again and the heat was enough to cause anyone to want to crawl into a refrigerator. Then the leaves began changing and the trees were bare. Children were running through the streets yelling "trick or treat" dressed in costumes as their parents trailed behind, yelling at them not to eat their candy before they'd checked it. Then they were watching the Thanksgiving Parade and cooking Turkey, having Maggie over for dinner. Christmas trees and lights came next, and piles of gifts in which Karina had no interest in, but chewing on and spitting all over the wrapping paper. Snow piled up and ice froze all over the ground surfaces, and the air became frigidly cold, fascinating the baby as she rode along in the car, looking out the window happily from her car seat.

But then came her first birthday, and with it her first word only days after. They'd been in her nursery, dressing her for bed. Luka had her in his arms, bouncing her around happily as he sang to her, Abby standing near the crib, folding a blanket in her arms. She stood watching as he sang happily to her, a song they'd all heard one too many times over the past weeks when Karina had discovered every parents nightmare- Barney.

"I love you, you love me." He sang as he blew gently on her naked belly, causing her to fall into a fit of hysterical giggles as her legs kicked wildly about in his arms.

Folding her arms around her chest, Abby began to laugh as she took hold of the dirty overalls Karina had worn that day, and she tossed them into the small hamper that sat nearby. She watched as Karina's arms flew up high as Luka blew on her stomach again, and allowed another laugh to escape her body, shaking wildly as she did.

"Who's giving her the bath?" Abby asked, taking the girl into her own arms now as Luka yanked a clean diaper and pajamas from the nearby stand.

"You can." Luka replied. "I need to catch up on some back charts."

Kissing her quickly as he went to leave, Abby laughed as Karina stretched her arms out to him, laughing as he waved to her and pulled the door open.

"Dada."

One word stopped both Luka and Abby in their tracks and caused them both to go silent. Turning back, Luka's eyes grew wide as a smile spread wide across his face, and Abby's face began to glow as Karina clapped happily, as if knowing she herself had just accomplished something.

"Karina!" Abby exclaimed, leaning in and kissing the girl's cheek as she bounced her up and down. From then on she didn't know what else to say. All she knew that she hadn't been as excited as she was at that moment for a while, and the feeling left her speechless.

As she began smothering the girl in kisses and praise, Luka walked back toward them, his grin spread wide across his face as Karina continued to laugh. Her two teeth that weren't full grow yet shown visibly as her mouth opened with each breath and she again gurgled the one word she now knew how to say.

"Dada!"

As she said it again, her head turned quickly to Luka who was now standing right next to both her and Abby, with his hands held out to her as he rubbed the top of her head gently, leaning in to kiss her cheek.

"You are such a good girl!" he praised her, forgetting all about the charts he needed to work on. "Can you say mama too?" he asked, his voice growing more playful as Abby sat in the rocking chair, and placed the baby in her lap, allowing her short legs to swing just off of her own knees. "No, not yet?" he suggested, squatting in front of them. "Ok, we will keep trying.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"One more?" the brown haired girl asked as she held her stuffed monkey tightly in her arms. "Mommy?"

Looking down Karina, who sat snuggly in her lap, Abby shook her head softly. Rocking back and forth continually in the rocking chair that still sat near the large window, she ran her left hand over the girl's hair, and planted a kiss atop her head. Closing the picture book that sat in her lap, she reached over and placed it on the small table that sat within an arms length, covered with crayons and coloring books.

"Tomorrow." She whispered through the dim light. "But me and Daddy, we need to tell you something important" Abby continued, as Karina hugged the stuffed monkey tighter in her small arms, and kicked her feet gently.

"Mommy, read the kitty book again." She whined as Abby lifted her into her arms as she got to her own feet. "Please?"

"Tomorrow." She said again, carrying Karina over to her small bed where she set her down on her feet as she tugged the sheet and comforter back. "We can read the kitty book two times tomorrow ok?" she continued, lifting her back into her arms and setting her on the bed, turning the nearby lamp on.

Sitting next to the child on the bed, Abby watched as she stuck her pointer finger into her mouth and held tightly to the stuffed animal in her other hand. She could hear the sounds of the outside through the walls of the house. Down in the streets there was music playing loudly, thumping from a car radio. A police siren blared as the car tore down the street, and the lights twirled brightly, filling the child's bedroom with a bright red and blue light for only a short second.

Luka entered only a moment or so later, dressed in his usual slacks and tie from work. He wore a smile on his face, and carried with him his wallet, wrapped firmly in his left hand. The dark bound leather could be seen visibly through the spaces between his fingers. As he neared the bed, he stooped in his tracks and leaned down, kissing Abby as he brushed the hair from her face. Lifting a baby doll from the bed, he placed it on the same table with the coloring books and sat next to Abby on the bed, setting the wallet in his lap.

"Daddy!" Karina said brightly, crawling from under the blankets she'd just been placed under and into Luka's lap, wrapping her small arms around his neck. Her short brown hair blew onto his face as she dropped herself happily into his arms.

"Where's my princess?" he asked playfully, taking the small girl into his arms as she arranged herself in his lap.

"I'm here daddy." She replied happily, lifting her arms up. "Look!" she called, pointing to the feet of her purple pajamas. Lifting one of her feet for him to see, Abby laughed as she tugged at the bottom of the foot, picking at a piece of the fabric. "Mommy bought me dem." She explained, wiping her eyes tiredly.

"Oh yeah?" he asked, smiling at Abby who had moved herself closer to the two on the bed. "Those are very pretty." He said, as Karina again popped her finger in her mouth.

"Karina?" Abby started as Luka eyed her, and placed his own hand on her leg. "Baby, daddy and I want to talk to you." She continued as Luka rocked her in his arms.

"Did I be bad?" she asked, as her face fell and her brown eyes grew wide. Looking up to Luka and then to Abby, both shook their heads as Luka reached for the wallet and opened it.

"No, you weren't bad." He assured her, as he pulled a small photo from the brown leather. "You know that me and mommy love you very much don't you?" he began, as the girl nodded under him, wiping her face again with her hand. "Good." He whispered.

Running her hands nervously along the lining of her own pajama pants, Abby swallowed and smiled again at Luka who looked over to her with a quick glance. Karina was now staring at both of them, sucking on her finger with a greater intensity, as her eyes seemed to grow heavier.

"See the little girl in this picture?" he continued, pointing out the dark haired girl in the old, worn photo he held in his hand. "That's your sister." He said, looking down at Karina who pointed at the picture with the same finger that had been in her mouth.

"Can she play with me?" she asked, looking up to Abby who slowly shook her head, rubbing her hand up and down Karina's leg. Luka too was shaking his head gently, as he continued holding the photo out.

"No sweetie, she can't." Abby said, smiling slightly at her.

"Why?"

"Because she lives in heaven now." Luka replied, kissing the top of Karina's head. "Her name is Jasna, and she lives in heaven with a boy named Marko. He is your brother," He continued, as Abby moved in closer. Brushing Karina's hair with her hand, Abby herself leaned into Luka and allowed her head to rest up against his shoulder.

"Do they live with Ella's daddy?" Karina asked curiously, looking up at Luka who nodded with a smile as he tucked the photo back into his wallet. "He went to heaven." She continued as she yawned tiredly.

"They live with Ella's daddy." Abby replied, as Luka's free hand reached her lap and reached for her free hand. "And with a very pretty lady named Danijela." She continued as the streetlight outside the house went off and the room grew a few shades darker.

"I want to see them." She whispered, as her voice grew lower and it became clear how tired the small girl was.

Taking the stuffed monkey from her arms, Luka nodded silently and picked Karina up, laying her flat on the bed. Pulling the blankets again over her body, he tucked the stuffed animal in next to her and kneeled next to the bed. Abby in turn sat on the edge of the bed, holding Luka's hand in her lap. Staring at the small girl in the bed, she swallowed once more before continuing, wondering if Karina actually understood what she was being told.

"You can't see them sweetie." She replied, tucking the blankets around her. "But we have to tell you something else ok?"

They both sat watching as she nodded her head gently, turning to her side as she continued to grip to the monkey. Blinking quickly, she yawned again and moved her small feet back and forth under the blankets.

Turning to Luka, Abby nodded slightly at him as he smiled back at her. Sitting silently for a moment as Karina watched, they listened to the music that continued to play loudly in the streets, creating a beat that ran throughout their heads.

"You ready?" Luka asked playfully, as Karina nodded eagerly in the bed, tugging on the blankets.

"Yes!" she giggled as he tickled her gently up her arm, causing her to squirm, kicking Abby's leg gently.

"Ok." He replied, looking to Abby one last time. "Mommy is going to have a baby." He told her, staring down at Karina. "You get to be a big sister." He told her leaning in closer.

"A baby?" Karina questioned, yawning again.

Abby laughed as she pulled herself up next to Karina and patted her arm gently. As Luka watched, she leaned over and kissed her forehead and pushed the hair out of her eyes, wrapping her own arm around her.

"You get to have a little brother or sister." She said, as Karina looked curiously to her and Luka, dropping the monkey off the side of the bed and to the floor.

"Like my dolly?" she asked, sitting up quickly, rumpling the blankets into a large ball.

Luka laughed and shrugged his shoulders, as Abby nodded slowly. "Sort of like your doll." Abby continued. "But real like you."

"Where's the baby?" she asked curiously, pulling her hands up to her shoulders and releasing them, sending them flopping down to her knees.

"The baby is in mommy's tummy." Luka replied, placing his own hand on Abby's stomach.

"No." she replied, shaking her head.

"Yes." He replied, taking her hand into his and holding it up against Abby's stomach. "In there."

Waiting as Karina looked up to Abby for approval, he held her small hand against Abby and watched as she nodded and kissed her cheek. "The baby's in there." Abby repeated softly as Karina crawled onto her knees and moved closer. "You were in there before you were born too."

Karina looked up for a moment before crawling onto Abby's legs and patting her hands against her stomach. "Hi baby." She called, holding her head inches from her stomach. "Baby." She repeated happily, bouncing up and down. "Can I see the baby?" she asked, looking up to Abby as she bounced happily in her lap.

Shaking her head as Luka played with Karina's short brown hair, she ran her own hand over her back. "Not yet." She replied. "You can see the baby in June."

"When's June?"

"When it gets hot out." Luka replied, as he pulled the blankets back for what seemed the hundredth time that night. "The baby has to grow first." He said, kissing her head.

"Come on, now it's really time for bed." Abby said as Karina lay down, and again took the monkey into her arms. "Good night ladybug." She whispered, as Karina planted a quick kiss on her lips.

"Mommy!" she giggled, as Luka got to his feet.

"What?" Abby laughed, as she stood up, reaching for the lamp.

"I'm not a ladybug!"

"Then what are you miss smarty pants?"

"I'm Karina!" she cried, causing Luka's face to crack a smile as he wrapped his arm around Abby.

"Ok." She whispered, kissing her one last time. "Go to sleep."

"Night daddy." She called as Luka leaned in to kiss her.

"Night baby." He replied, as Abby went to turn the switch off. "I love you."

"I love you too Daddy. I love you Mommy."

"I love you too Karina." She called.

Closing the door behind them, Abby allowed her body to flop against the wall as Luka stood watching. They stood listening for a minute, ready for the daily routine of Karina getting out of her bed, and finding some excuse to leave her room. Almost on schedule, they heard her small feet as they tip toed across the carpet in her room, and they waited as the bedroom door swung open.

"I hads a bad dream." She whispered, her big brown eyes pleading with them.

"You haven't even been in there for two minutes and you had a bad dream?" Abby asked, squatting down to eye level.

Without a response, her small head nodded as she wrapped her arms around Abby's neck. Gripping to her tightly, she could feel Abby sigh as she shook her own head, and lifted her into her arms.

"Can you read the kitty book?" she pleaded again. "Mommy?"

Looking up to Luka who only nodded quickly, they both went back into the bedroom and Luka grabbed the book from its place on the table. Placing her again under the blankets of her bed, they sat next to her and opened the picture book, making sure she was settled in the bed.

The book wasn't long; it was full of huge pictures and drawings and had at most seven words to a page. Looking through it, Abby read it quietly and Luka sat in the nearby rocking chair, watching the two of them on the bed. The words she spoke filtered through the room and rang throughout his ears, registering in his brain. He watched as Karina's eyes slowly closed, her body falling to sleep as Abby continued to read, brushing the thin brown hair from her face as she did. Abby's voice was soft and quiet as she finished the last of the pages, being careful not to reawaken her, knowing if she did they would be stuck reading another book. As he listened, he realized his favorite part was coming up, the part that gave him hope each time he read or heard it.

"And they all lived happily ever after".

~ La Fin ~

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

That from God we fell,
Where are my angels?
Where's my golden one?
Where's my hope

Amen
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

10/04/01