He wrapped her small hand in his and kissed it tenderly. She smiled at the touch and leaned into his shoulder.
"You make me happy," he said, kissing her head once, twice, then a third time.
She smiled, heavenly, and placed a hand on the back of his neck. "You make me happy."
She pulled him down into her reach, and kissed his cheek. They continued walking to the entrance and finally came through the doors.
They were greeted with the usual bound of people. Running through for no apparent reason, the clanging behind the desk, and the customers grumbling to themselves.
"Doc Magoo's," Abby said. She smiled. "Something about this place."
"No matter how much the food sucks - "
" - how high the prices..."
"We come back every time," he laughed. He rubbed her shoulder and gestured for her to sit on one side of the booth. She sat down, and greeted a waitress with another smile.
"'Morning," the waitress said.
"Good morning," Carter and Abby replied together.
The waitress, Tina by ID, looked at them while she chewed her gum, but blinked and went on, "Can I get you something?"
"Uh," Abby stalled, "I'll have coffee and a slice of apple pie."
"How about you?"
"Same," Carter said confidently. "Coffee and pie."
"Yeah," Tina said, "I got that. Two coffees, two slices of pie. Got it." She nodded to them and turned away, heading back to the counter.
Abby shrugged and smiled. She pushed a thin strand of hair away from her eyes. "So," she said.
"So." He smiled thinly and kept, "We're getting married."
"I guess so," she said with a bashful laugh.
"Nervous?"
"Of course," she laughed again. "But I want it." She smiled seriously. "Really."
He took her hand in it and squeezed it affectionately. She giggled in response and gripped his back. He hung his head back and smiled at the ceiling. He had everything.
"What are you thinking about?" she whispered roughly.
"You," he whispered back, huskily. "You." He traced a gentle hand up and down her arm.
"Oh," she said, blushing. "Thank you."
He chuckled, and watched her fumble peacefully with her hand within his.
--
"Abby, Abby, Abby," Chuny said, dancing around the desk, and coming closer to her.
"Chuny," Abby said, not taking her eyes from the charts in front of her.
"How are you and Carter?" she said, in almost a sing-song voice.
"Oh, God," Abby replied, with a short laugh. "What?"
"You never tell us anything!" Haleh whined. "And Chuny has to know, so she can tell the rest of the staff."
"Hey," Chuny said, comically punching Haleh in the arm.
"You guys don't wanna know about me and Carter," she said, turning to see the hopeful faces of the assortment of nurses and doctors at the desk.
"Yeah we do," Drs. Lewis and Corday said in unison.
She shook her head. "Nothing much to say - "
"Come on," Chuny said. "Please?"
Abby opened her mouth, but stopped herself. She sighed and smiled, looking toward the ground. "Um," she said, "Well..." She sighed harder and shrugged. "I've never been happier."
"Aw, girl!" Chuny said. "Really?"
She nodded, a large smile spread across her face. "He, um... He makes me a different person," she said, laughing at herself. "He makes me smile, he makes me laugh. He loves me. And, I... I love him."
The desk "ooh-ed" and "aww-ed" at her comments, then settled to a kind coo. She smiled bashfully and turned to floor. They came around her and started comments about how lucky she was. Then they stopped and talked of something else.
She looked up and saw that Carter was standing behind her. She bit her lip and bent her head. The rest of the desk stared at the two. She looked back up at him.
"Hey, Sweetie," Carter said and bent to kiss her on her lips, then her nose. She smiled and pulled herself to his chest in a strong hug. She hugged him as if she wouldn't ever let go. She was so happy, she had that feeling. The feeling that you had when you could laugh, and you couldn't contain it.
"I have something for you," he whispered, pulling her away from his body for a second. She looked at his eyes quizically. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a box.
She put a hand over her mouth, then a thumb betweem her teeth. Biting on it nervously, her eyes darted from the box to his eyes.
"Now," he said, still whispering, "I've already asked you to marry me. So," he opened the box to reveal a sparkling gem inside. "I guess the question is: do you still want to marry me? Are you still ready?"
She smiled and felt tears in her eyes. She scrambled to wipe them away, but Carter stopped her with gentle hands.
She nodded slowly. "Yes," she said, tears apparent. "I'm ready, I'll marry you."
He smiled back, almost goofily, and slipped the ring on her finger. She immediately hooked her arms around his neck and kissed him lovingly. He kissed her back.
"Oh, my God," Chuny said. "You guys are getting married? Carter just proposed to Abby!"
Carter chuckled as Abby buried her face in his neck. He rested his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes. Soon, a crowd gathered around them, but when he was asked questions, he simply shooed them away with a nod of his head. Eyes still closed, he swayed back and forth with Abby. Right there in the middle of everything.
Abby came up to kiss his collarbone, near his shoulder, then went back to her original position. He kissed her head and stayed like that. Hoping nothing would ever break the moment.
