"You do realize this is the second time I’ve taken you our of a wedding dress, right?" Carter said, smirking.
"Don’t mock me." Abby giggled, letting him untie the strings of her corset. He slipped it over her head and turned her around to face him.
"You were beautiful today." Carter said, his voice turning softer.
"You were pretty handsome yourself..."
"I know." Carter said, winking.
"How modest." Abby replied, rolling her eyes. She grabbed him by the shirt and began to lead him to the bed.
"Are you looking forward to your mystery honeymoon?" Carter questioned.
Abby sat down on the bed. "I’ve been more excited about that then the wedding!"
Carter chuckled. "I’m pretty excited too. An entire two weeks of you wearing nothing but bikinis‘? It’ll be paradise."
Abby slipped out of her skirt. "And more than half that time, I *bet* I won’t be wearing anything at all"
"Even better."
Carter sat down beside her and looked at her.
Abby reached up to run her fingers through his hair. "Why aren’t we ripping off each other’s clothes and having wild sex right now?"
"I don’t know. Getting used to the idea we’re different now."
"Different in a married kind of way. That’s scary when you think about it." Abby replied.
"We’ll get used to it I guess."
Abby shrugged and smiled over at him. "Hopefully." Abby stood up and turned to face him, wrapping his arms around his neck. "Now, are we going to make love, or what?"
"There’s nothing else I’d rather do..." He reached up and pulled her on top of him, running his hands lightly against her skin.
"You’re giving me the shivers..." Abby whispered.
"Sorry."
"No, they’re the good kind."
"Good."
Abby undid the button of his shirt and ran her lips down his chest.
"Mmm, now you’re giving me the shivers." Carter said.
"The good kind?" Abby murmured.
"Oh yeah..."
"Good."
Carter rolled on top of her and traced the outline of her face with his finger. "You have the softest skin....and the softest hair, and the softest lips..."
Abby cut him off, continuing on for him. "The deepest eyes, the kindest heart..."
"You sure think highly of yourself."
"I was talking about you John!"
"I’m just fooling around with you."
Abby smiled a little and touched her lips to his. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For making me happy. Truly happy."
"I did that?"
Abby ran her hand down the stubble on his cheek and kissed him again. "I love you."
They made love until they were drained.
Carter had his hands behind his head, staring thoughtfully at the ceiling. "Abby, can I ask you a question?"
"Go for it."
"Did you think you were going to be with Richard forever? I mean, on your wedding day, on your wedding night, what did you feel?"
"Yeah, I did think I was going to be with Richard forever. But we changed."
Carter looked frustrated. "What if we change?"
Abby turned his face with her finger so he was looking at her. "Listen, I was young, and stupid. I married him because it was a quick romance, I just, with my mom, I wanted to get out, and Richard was a way out. I’m not saying I didn’t love him, and I just got married to get married, but..." Abby paused, searching for words. "We didn’t know each other as well as we thought we did, and I realized, as time went on, that if I would have waited longer, I would have found out I didn’t love him as much as I thought I did. I would have found out, as time went out, I barely loved him at all."
Carter looked at her with worried eyes. "We were a quick romance."
"But friends for a long time. John, we know what we’re doing."
Carter laughed uneasily and shook his head. "I’m sorry. I think too much."
"Don’t think about Richard and me! Please!" Abby exclaimed, grabbing his hand and intertwining their fingers. "Think about us. The ‘us’ that will never be apart."
"We’re both right here. Let’s not think." Carter replied, leaning toward her to plant a soft kiss on her lips.
"Ok. Mmm, I’m so tired..." Abby said, resting her head in the crook of Carter’s arm.
"It’s been a long day."
"Good night."
"Good night, Mrs. Carter."
Abby giggled into his side. "I knew that at some point, you were going to say that."
"Couldn’t resist."
Abby let out a small moan and soon Carter could hear her soft breathing and her body move up and down with each breath. She was perfect. Everything was perfect. The only way it wouldn’t be was if he doubted. Carter felt fatigue sweep over him and soon he was in a deep slumber as well.

"You know, you’re not going to be able to keep this a secret forever!" Abby exclaimed, as Carter lead her through the airport.
"I know, but just to keep you on your toes, I’m not going to let you find out until the last minute. And we’re late, so we better hurry." Carter replied, reaching behind him for her hand. "Don’t let me lose you." He said, milling through the crowds of people.
"Don’t worry. I could never lose you when I’m so close to finally finding out where we’re going to go...if we manage to get there before the plane takes off." Abby responded, running to catch up.
"We will, and you’ll love it."
"Can you tell me yet?"
"No."
"Now?"
"No."
"Now?"
"No!"
"Now?"
"NO!" Carter yelled, pausing to turn around and give her a mock glare.
"Sor-ry." Abby said, rolling her eyes when he turned back around. "So where are we going?"
"You...have...no...patience!" Carter growled.
Abby giggled and tried to look over his shoulder at him. "You’re smiling...I made you smile..."
"No you didn’t." Carter replied, trying to keep a straight face.
"You just can’t fool me, baby."
Carter smirked and continued to lead her towards their desired destination. "Almost there..."
He stopped in front of one of the gates. Abby peered at the location on the board and squealed.
"Fiji!?"
"Yup. Never been there."
"That’s expensive."
"Don’t think about that."
"Carter! I love you!"
"Thank you."
Abby squeezed his hand. "No, I’m serious, this is perfect."
"I’m glad you’re excited." Carter smiled and gently lead her towards the gate. "So are we going to Fiji, or what?"
"Absolutely." Abby replied, grinning from ear to ear.

"The honeymoon suite!" Abby exclaimed, looking around their hotel room. "Awww..."
"I thought you’d like it." Carter replied, setting their luggage on the floor.
"I do."
"So what do you want to do first?" Carter asked innocently, coming up behind her.
"I think you know..."
"I’ve never made love so often in my life before you..." Carter murmured in her neck.
"It feels like forever since we have..." Abby replied.
"Feels like forever since...less than 24 hours ago?" Carter teased, putting his arms around her and swaying gently.
"Can you blame me?"
"Not at all."
"Actually, let’s go look around. Go down to the beach." Abby said, walking over to the window and looking out at the clear blue water. "I’ve never swam in the ocean before."
"Really?" Carter said, joining her at the window.
Abby shook her head.
"Then let’s go."
Abby grinned. "Sounds great."

"Ah! That’s a fish!" Abby cried, jumping into Carter’s arms. They were swimming in the ocean by the beach.
"It’s not going to hurt you." Carter replied, dropping her out of his arms.
Abby clung to him again, peering into the water at the school of fish. "But it’s moving. Around my feet!"
"It doesn’t want to have anything to do with you!" Carter said, laughing., picking her up again.
"How come fish come in this far? Aren’t they supposed to be out in the middle of the ocean where they can’t touch me?" Abby questioned, looking worried.
"Don’t worry. I’ll protect you against the fish." Carter said, trying to be serious.
"Don’t make fun of me."
"You’re making that difficult."
"You know, it’s not like I’m *not* a fish person..." Abby said.
"So I guess this cancels out scuba diving and snorkeling..."
"Sorry." Abby said sheepishly.
"That’s ok. I like holding you in my arms." Carter responded, winking.
"And I was really looking forward to snorkeling..."
"Well, you have two weeks to get over your fear of small sea creatures that can’t possibly hurt you in any way..."
"Be nice."
Carter kissed her neck.
"I think I’ve had enough water for today..." Abby said. "You can carry me to the beach now."
"Or, I can drop you in the water and swim to shore, and leave you to be devoured by all the fish."
"Don’t even joke about that."
Abby let go of him and floated on her back to the shore. She got out of the water and re-arranged her bathing suit top. Carter couldn’t help but stare at her. How could someone be so beautiful? He was the luckiest man on earth.
"Are you coming?" Abby said, drying herself with a towel and putting on her flip flops. Carter was still standing by the water, dripping wet. Abby smirked and threw a towel at him. "C’mon, silly." She started to walk off, swaying her hips. Carter grabbed his sandals and ran up behind her, knocking her into the sand and pinning her there.
"Hey!" Abby cried, swatting him on the arm. "You’re being usually cruel today."
"It’s a talent."
"I can see that. Let’s go up to the room and put it to work..." Abby said seductively. "In the shower. You got me covered with sand."
"You’re the boss." Carter replied, getting up, then pulling her up. They walked back to the hotel arm in arm.