Disclaimer-I own none of these characted except for Sarah and Cassidy

Family Issues

authors note-It's 5 years into the future. Lucy never died, although the Valentines Incident did occur. She and Carter are married and have 1 daughter, Cassidy who's 2. mark and Elizabeth have 1 daughter, Ella, 4, and 1 son, Brad, 2. Doug and Carol moved back here. Tess and Kate are around 6. Luka and Abby are also married with 2 kids. Daniella, 5 and Matthew 6.

"Family Issues"

Carter is shaving........

Cassidy-Daddy?

Carter-yes?

Cassidy-when do I shave?

Carter-oh, well, Cassie, honey, you'll never have to shave.

**She looks so much like Lucy**

Cassidy-oh

Lucy-Cassidy, come'on, breakfast...

At the hospital................

Carter walked in with Cassidy.

Abby-hey Cassie

cassidy-hi Aunt Abby. Where's Uncle Luka?

Abby looked around then spotted him. "

"Right over there"she replied pointing her finger at Luka.

cassidy ran off.

Abby-she looks so much like Lucy. The blonde hair, blue eyes, personality.

Carter-sometimes I wonder if she's even mine.

abby-what do you mean?

Carter-well, you know at first, when we first got married, Lucy and I had a lot of fights.

Abby-yea?

Carter-you know, she may have gone out and done something stupid when she was mad at me.

Abby-Lucy wouldn't betray you. You should know her better than that.

Carter-I know, but everytime I see Cassidy, I only see LUcy, not me.

Abby-don't tell Lucy this, she'll have a fit. Knowing you don't trust her.

Carter-no wait, I never said I didn't trust her..........

Abby-you meant it.

Carter walked up to daycare......

Sarah-oh, hi Dr.Carter.

Carter-hi Sarah, I want to talk to Cassidy for a mintue.

Sarah-yea, sure.

Sarah went to get Cassidy

Cassidy-hi Daddy

Carter-hey pumpkin. I'm going to take you out for a little walk, okay?

Cassidy-okay

Carter took Cassidy into an exam room and closed the door. From his pocket he took out a box. Inside was two tubes and 2 toothpick like structures.(Remeber when Peter did the genetic test on Reese to see if he was his son?)

Cassidy-Daddy, what is that?

carter-I'm going to give you a test, okay?

Cassidy-okay

Carter-no, this won't hurt a bit.

Carter finished up and took her back to daycare. Then he went to the lab.

Abby and Lucy were shopping with Danielle and Matt.

Lucy-I mean, at first, John and I did fight a lot.

Abby-what about?

Lucy-well, I wanted to keep my maiden name. You know, it'll be kind of weird with 2 Dr. Carter's around. John wanted me to use his name.

Abby-well, he should respect your wishes. It's your name.

Lucy-that's what I told him. Then I accused him of owning me.

Abby-what?

Lucy-yea, I got mad because he said that I should use his name because I'm his wife. Then I said that just because I'm his wife, doesn't mean i can't make decisions for myself.

Abby-what'd he say?

Lucy-he got up and left.

Carter went outside for the mail. A small letter came out.

Carter-oh man, the gentic test.

Carter opened the letter and read it.A relief came over him.

Cassidy-daddy!(she's in her room)

Carter-coming sweetie....

Lucy opened the back door and let herself in.

She saw the letter on the table.

Lucy-what's this?

Lucy read it.

Lucy-John!

carter-what...(he sees her with the letter in her hand)

Carter-Luce, I can explain...

Lucy-you don't have to....you don't trust me.

Carter-no, that's

Lucy-you'd think that I just go off with some other guy

Carter-wait a minute. How do you think that makes me feel. Cassidy doesn't look a thing like me. She doesn't act like me...

Lucy-thank god

Carter-what!

Lucy-if she acted like you it's be like hell around here.

Carter-Luce, listen to me....

Lucy-no! you listen........

Cassidy-mommy, daddy?

Lucy walked over to Cassidy

Lucy-hi honey! We're going over to Aunt abby's right now, okay?

Cassidy-is Daddy coming?

Lucy looked at Carter. carter opened his mouth to answer but Lucy answered for him.

Lucy-no, he's not. he has some thinking to think about. go get your coat.

Cassidy went upstairs to get her coat.

carter-LUce, please, can we just talk about it?

Lucy-what's there to talk about? you obviously don't trust me. What would you have done if Cassidy wasn't your daughter? Dump her?

Cassidy-mommy?

Lucy-okay, say bye to daddy(she specifically said the daddy)

Cassidy-bye daddy

Carter-bye honey. I love you..(he walks over to her and gives her a hug)

Lucy-yea right

Lucy and Cassid drove over to abby's.

Lucy-hey abby

abby-hi Lucy, hey Cassidy.

Cassidy-hi.

Lucy sat on thre sofa while Cassidy went upstairs to look for Matt or daniella.

Lucy-he doesn't trust me

Abby-he does

Lucy-then why'd he take the test

abby-he felt bad. I mean, it's true, Cassie doesn't look or act at all like John.

Lucy-I know

abby-what are you going to do?

Lucy-that I don't know...

2 hours later..................

Carter was still at home thinking about what to do.

RING!RING!

Carter-hello?

the other end-hello?yes, is this John Carter.

Carter-yes it is

TOE-are you the husband of Lucy Knight? and the father of Cassidy Carter?

Carter-yes, I am, who is this?

TOE-I'm afraid there's been an accident.

Carter ran to the hospital.

He could already see doug, Carol, Elizabeth, Mark, abby, Luka, and Kerry waiting for him.

Carter-where are they?

abby-Carter, Lucy's in surgery. cassidy's in Pedes ICU.

Carter-oh god

Carol-what happened?

Carter-we got in a fight

Doug-what about?

Carter-have you noticed Cassidy doesn't look a thing like me? or act like me? I took a genetic test. Lucy got mad and took Cassidy ro abby's.

Abby-Lucy was going home to apologize.

Carter-oh man. whose operating on her?

Kerry-Romano and Peter.

Carter-good, good. they won't let her die.

2 hours later------------

Abby-did you see Cassidy?

Carter-yea, we talked. I didn't know what to tell her when she asked about her mother.

Abby-what did you tell her?

Carter-I told her that she's going to be fine.

Finally, Peter walked out.

Carter-how is she?

Peter-she, uh, she went downhill for a while, but then we got a heartbeat. She's okay. She'll make it.

Carol-thank god.

Peter-but, were going to get cardiology up here to check her out.

Carter-why, is something wrong?

Peter-it's to early to tell

Carter-and your sure she'll make it?

Peter-tonight anyway, the future, we don't know.

Doug-Carter, she's a fighter, she'll make it

Elizabeth-I can't believe this....

Mark-Carter, she'll be okay.

Carter-if I hadn't taken that test. She wouldn't have gotten mad.This is all my fault.........

2 weeks later-Lucy made it and is out of the hospital. Cassidy is too.

Lucy-John, can we talk?

Carter-yea

Lucy-we've been fighting so much. Cassidy could've really been hurt.

Carter-I know

Lucy-let's take a break

Carter-what?

Lucy-I think we should get a seperation

Carter-what?why?

Lucy-because if we keep on fighting it's only going to hurt Cassidy!

Carter-I want to work out our problems. You're the one that wants to fight.

Lucy-Carter, please

Carter-and who'll get Cassidy? I certainly want her.

Lucy-you didn't think she was your daughter! see? we're always fighting.

Carter-we can work it out(he reaches for her hand)

Lucy-I want a divorce.

Carter- WHAT!?

Lucy-you heard me....

Carter let go of her hand

Carter-I'm not signing it. I don't want a divorce.

LUcy starts to cry

Lucy-don't make it any harder

Carter-why?

Lucy-cause we never agree! we can't live together anymore. we're making Cassidy's life a living hell!

Carter-no, I can't no

THe hospital.....................

Abby-divorce?!

Lucy-Abby.......

Abby-really Lucy. Do you think that's the way to solve your problems?

Lucy-I don't know

Abby-I know you still love him

LUcy-I do

Abby-then why are you doing this? And don't use Cassidy as an excuse.

Lucy-it's just, I don't want to try anymore.

Abby-try?

Lucy-We're always trying to not fight and agree with each other. It's just too frustrating.

Abby-if you really love him, you'll try......

the lounge..........

Doug-divorce?!

Carter-you said it

Mark-she's got to be kidding

Carter-no, she doesn't think we can work it out

Luka-did she use the "it's for Cassidy excuse?"

Carter-oh yea

Mark-you gonna sign?

Carter-hell no. We've been through so much. I've worked so hard for her, i'm not about to give her up

Doug-damn right!

Carter-I mean, the Valentine's day incident. Us sneaking around in a secret relationship.Nearly getting caught too

Mark-don't let her go

Carter-I won't

Lucy was taking Cassidy to daycare.

Dale stopped her

Dale-hey Lucy. Who's this

Cassidy-I'm Cassidy

dale-hi, I'm Dale

Cassidy-hi Dale

Dale-so, Lucy I hear you're getting a divorce.

Lucy-yea

Dale-you free Saturday night?

Carter sees them talking

Carter-hey honey!

Cassidy-hi daddy.

Carter-I'll just take her up to daycare.

Carter takes Cassidy to daycare.

Sarah-hey Cassidy, Dr.Carter

Carter-hey Sarah. okay, bye honey. I'll pick her up.

Sarah-okay.

Cassidy-Sarah?what's a divorce?

Sarah-why do you ask?

Cassidy-because my parents are getting one......

5:00

Sarah-oh hi Dr.Carter. Cassidy will be out in a minute. Sorry about the divorce.

Carter-what divorce?

Sarah-oh, uh, Cassidy told me that you two were going through a divorce.

Carter-oh, uh, my wife wants one.

Sarah-family issues?

Carter-yea

Lucy walked into the house.

Lucy-John!

carter-yea?

Lucy-I have the divorce papers. I've already signed, so all I need is your signature.

Carter-I can't and I'm not going to.

Lucy-why not?

Carter-because I love you too much. I, we've been through so much together. I've risked my job for you. we had a secret relationship and we went through Valentines Day together. I fought so hard to be with you, and I'm not about to let it go. Just answer one question, do you love me?

Lucy-John, I......

Carter-answer it

Lucy-JOhn, I do, I love you with all my heart.

Carter-then why do you want a divorce?

Lucy-I can't do it anymore. I can't try to agree with you. I can't try to work things out. It's just too frustrating.

Carter-I don't want this to end.

Lucy-then what should we do?

Carter took the divorce papers and ripped it in half.

Carter-we'll try a little harder. I know I will

Lucy-I guess we could

Carter-I love you

Lucy-I love you too

The End