Second Chance
Part Three - What Child is This?
By Kitchen_Sink5
kitchen_sink5@gurlmail.com

CATEGORY: Carter
RATING: PG
SPOILERS: None
ARCHIVE: Please ask me first!

DISCLAIMER:I don't own the characters, blah blah blah

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Much thanks to Bekah, a.k.a. LL24, who provided great inspiration for this story - You rock, girl!

SUMMARY: Carter meets up with his old friend, Grace, a girl who he never could find a way to tell her that he loved her. Now that she's back, it seems that he might get a second chance. But nothing's ever as simple as it seems

Abby Lockhart slipped into the lounge, to see Grace sitting on the couch. Abby placed a finger and went 'Shhh', then explained, "I'm escaping the insanity known as the ER - only if for a few minutes. Do you want me to get Carter for you?"

"No - it's okay. I wouldn't want to interrupt your escape. Besides, it gives me a couple minutes to rest." Grace replied as she slightly stretched her feet.

"He dragging you all around town to buy baby things again?" Abby asked as she poured herself a cup of coffee

"No - for once." She laughed and continued, "I think he's giving me a break because it's Christmas Eve."

"So how are you spending Christmas." Abby took a seat across from Grace as she stirred her coffee.

"Tonight with Carter - we're going to church, and then having dinner. Tomorrow - with my family - Ugh...."

"That bad?" Abby mused, thinking of her own family

"Let's just say that they're still not too thrilled by the fact that I'm pregnant."

"What about you?"

"I wasn't thrilled at first - a little bit now." Grace explained

"I know that Carter's told me this a billion times, but how far along are you?"

"Six months."

"Wow." Abby thought that she was only five

"Yep - Six down, three to go."

"Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?"

"No - I like the suspense. I'm secretly hoping for a girl, though." She admitted. "I just think that it would make things easier."

"Yeah - guys are a handful." Abby said, taking another sip.

"Tell me about it - That's what got me into this -" She indicated her stomach.

Abby laughed. "I've had my share of an ass for an ex husband." She changed subjects. "So what's with you and Carter?"

"What do you mean? He's my friend." Grace said innocently

"Just a friend?" Abby inquired

"Of course! Why?" Grace looked so truthful - the question hadn't even phased her.

"Just trying to set the rumor mill straight. He's been swearing up and down that you're only friends, but I thought I might as well hear it straight from the horse's mouth."

Grace faintly smiled, just as Carter walked into the room. "Hey Grace. Abby - what have you been doing to her?" He jokingly accused.

"Well first I poisoned her, tied her up and used her as a human dart board.....What do you think?" She said sarcastically. "We were talking, and some interesting stories about you came up......"

Grace caught on, "Yeah John - the one about you and the duct tape......"

"You didn't!" He gasped

"I didn't." She smiled

"Come on, now I want to hear the story!" Abby pleaded

"You'll live." Carter said as Grace instantaneously said "Tell you later."

Carter checked his watch and looked up at Grace. "We better go if we want to make it on time."

Grace slowly got up, "Nice talking to you Abby. Anything you want me to pray for?"

"Yeah - My sanity."

"Sorry Abby - That's long gone." Carter laughed. "It wouldn't matter if we got the whole congregation to...."

Abby cut him off, "Don't you have somewhere to be?"

"I'll take the hint. Merry Christmas, Abby." He said, as he and Grace walked out into the cold December air.

They drove over to the church, parking the car. They walked in, taking a seat in the middle. Candles were lit at the end of each pew. Carter looked at Grace - Her face was illuminated by the soft candlelight, her brown hair pulled back from her face. With her protruding stomach, glowing complexion, everything - She looked more beautiful than he had ever seen he.

Grace caught him looking at her and questioned, "What?"

"Nothing." He covered up.

A few minutes later, after the service had begun, Grace took Carter's hand and placed it on her stomach. It took a second, but then he felt it: a tiny foot kicking. He smiled and mouthed the words 'soccer player'. She smiled and nodded as he took his hand back, and placed it at his side. No matter how many times he had felt the baby kick, every time never ceased to amaze him.

The sermon followed, another prayer. For a moment Carter thought about those who he had lost, and the Christmases he had known with them. But then the baptisms started, and Carter didn't think it was right to be thinking about the dead when he was surrounded with such new life. As the baptisms progressed, he saw a look of worry cross Grace's face.

"What's wrong?" He quietly questioned

She leaned over and whispered, "I was just thinking about how I have no clue what to name my baby."

"Well, you do have three more months to decide." He said and smiled a secret smirk.

She responded to his smirk with a questioning glance, but before she could vocalize her question, the service had ended. It was time to leave, so they walked out of the church, through the candlelight as the choir began to sing

What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary.
Why lies he in such mean estate
Where ox are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh
Come, peasant, king, to own him.
the King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone him.

They drove back to his apartment, and he helped Grace up the slippery stairs to the building. They reached the apartment, and Grace went to change her clothes. He checked on the food cooking in the oven, and after Grace came back, he went to change. Minutes later, he returned to the kitchen to find her eating a cookie. The expression on her face was one of somebody who had literally been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

"Grace - Dinner will be ready in less than five minutes." He mock-scolded her

"Give me a break, I had a chocolate chip cookie craving. I'm a pregnant lady here!" She rationalized

"Gracie, I think you've played that card enough." He laughed.

"Well, I only get three more months to use this card, so I might as well get as much play out it as I can."

They were interrupted by the ding of the timer. He brought the food out to the table, and put on Christmas music. They ate, and Grace expressed her dread of hearing her family discuss her pregnancy again. Carter would be spending the upcoming day with his family. He was uncertain how it would turn out, and he felt a slight twinge of uneasiness. They finished their meal, dismissed their concerns and went to exchange gifts. Carter received a new cd, a shirt and a book from Grace. Grace had opened two of her gifts, and had one to go when she tuned to him.

"John - I have to ask you something." She said

"Go ahead." He leaned back, wondering what she had to say.

"Are you in love with me?" She asked point-blank.

"How could anyone love a beast like you?" He joked

"I'm not joking, John. Tell me the truth." She pleaded. "Don't you dare lie."

"I love you as a friend. Nothing more." He said

"You swear?" She countered

"I swear."

"You promise that you're telling the truth, John?"

"I promise Grace."

And awkward silence followed, until Carter broke it, "So are you going to open your other gift?"

She unwrapped the present - A baby names book. "So this is why you had that smirk on your face when I mentioned not having a baby name!"

"Smirk? What smirk?" He grinned mischievously.

"The smirk you always get when you're trying to cover something up." She replied

He took the book from her and began reading off random names, "Lily?"

"Too floral." She responded

"Joseph?" He leafed through the pages

"Too plain." She dismissed.

"Roshumba?" He grinned

"Too un-plain." She laughed.

"How about John?" He kidded

"Poor kid, having you as a namesake. Even if you were being serious, I'm sorry, but John's kind of a boring name."

"Gee thanks. But keep in mind that Carter is a modern name - Unusual, works for either boy or girl......." He said pretending to sell the name.

"How about you go back to the book?" She joked.

"Okay - this one......Alijanidira?"

"That cannot be in the book." She argued, "Give me that book!" She laughed.

They 'fought' and laughed over the book, discussing more names as the snow fell outside, the music playing inside.

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

END OF PART 3