Chapter 8 – Fun & Games

Sorry for the delay in updating. I've been incredibly busy. Here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it.

"Ouch!"

"What?"

"What's in this box? Bricks?"

"I have no idea. Elizabeth put all this stuff in storage after I went to New York."

"Before or after she sold the house?"

"Suse …"

"What?"

"We've been through this already. You're more upset with Elizabeth than I am for selling the house.

"It was a beautiful house. I would have loved to live there." Mark rolled his eyes.

"Well I apologize profusely that I'm not psychic and didn't know we'd be dating, let alone moving in together anytime in the future, near or distant." Susan smiled and put down the box she was carrying. "Besides," he continued. "Why would you want to live in a house that I shared with another woman?"

"Was the sex that good?" Susan asked, jokingly. "You're too smart. Stop making so much sense, shut up and kiss me!" She ordered. So he did. The kiss became more intense and they were heading toward the couch when the phone rang.

"Don't answer it." Mark mumbled, breaking away for a minute. Susan turned away.

"I have to." She said breathlessly "Today's Friday. Chloe calls every Friday." Running over to the phone, she picked it up.

"Yes, hello."

"SUSAN!" a female voice screamed.

"Chloe?" she asked.

"No, it's me. I mean its Abby."

"Abby? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Everything's great. Oh my God, I have the most amazing news!"

"What?"

"Carter proposed."

"WHAT?"

"Carter asked me to marry him!"

"Are you serious? Oh Abby! I'm so happy for you. What did he say? I want all of the details."

"Well … he rented out an entire restaurant last night and we had a lovely dinner…"

"Then he got down on one knee?"

"Nope. During dessert he seemed really nervous, but we left and nothing happened."

"A rather expensive nothing."

"Yeah. Well, we came back to the apartment and went to bed. I guess he resolved he would do it today. When we woke up this morning I went into the shower and he said he'd join me in a minute. So as he got in the shower, I asked him to pass me the soap. He got down on one knee, held out the ring and asked me to marry him."

"HE PROPOSED TO YOU IN THE SHOWER?"

"That's not all. I was so shocked that I fell over and hit my head on the soap dish. John insisted on taking me to County. When we got there, Chen couldn't stop laughing. Turns out I have a mild concussion." Susan exploded laughing. She didn't stop until there were tears running down her cheeks. Mark came up behind her, slightly confused, and started kissing her shoulders and neck.

"Abby, I'm so happy for you guys. Congratulations." Susan chuckled.

"Thanks. I had to call you as soon as I got home."

"Who else knows?"

"Just Deb."

"So the whole ER will know by tomorrow."

"Pretty much." Mark's mouth was up at Susan's ear.

"Again, I'm so happy for you two. It's about time."

"Speaking of it being about time, how are things with you and Mark?

"Good." Susan smiled, feeling her boyfriend's arms around her waist. "Very good. We just finished moving his stuff in."

"Ooo." Abby said. "Ah shit. Carter's yelling at me to get off the phone. He wants me to rest."

"Aww. How sweet." Susan joked. "Take care of yourself. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, bye."

"The two lovebirds finally got engaged?" Mark asked.

"Yeah. He rented a restaurant and …"

"Save it for later." Mark said, pulling her towards the bedroom. "I think it's time to celebrate our living together."

"Ooh! I like a man who takes initiative." Susan replied, letting him take her.

"I hear Greene and Lewis finally got together."

"No way!"

"It's only taken them how long?"

"Are you sure it's not just a rumor?"

"The last time it was."

"You mean the last three times."

"Shh! Here they come." The nurses all became quiet as Mark and Susan walked into the ER together. The couple was laughing together.

"And then she said … Oh, hi everybody!" Susan said. "What are you all staring at?"

"Nothing, absolutely nothing." Haleh replied. Mark shrugged.

"I'll see you later." He said to Susan, before heading off to see a patient. Before Susan could escape to the lounge, Chuny grabbed her elbow.

"So, Susan. You and Mark are looking awfully chummy this morning. Rumor has it that the two of you are involved."

"Really!" Susan laughed. "How many times have I told you all not to listen to the rumor mill." She rolled her eyes, trying to keep a smile off her face and headed off to the lounge.

"She didn't deny it!" Lydia commented. Susan ran into Mark again in the lounge.

"Hi again, beautiful." He said, kissing her as she fell easily into his arms.

"Hey. You left me all alone to fend off the gossip hungry nurses." Mark laughed.

"Did you tell them?"

"Deny, deny, deny. That's my theory."

"Why?"

"It's more fun for them to speculate. If they don't have us to wonder about, who will they? Carter's with Abby, Kerry's with Kim, Luka's with Gillian, Pratt and Chen are a couple, Romano and Corday have hooked up. Who else is there?"

"Gallant?" Mark supplied.

"Honestly, I don't care if they find out, but they're not going to hear it from me."

"It's amazing that we've been living together for nearly a month and dating for four, but they still haven't figured it out. They're usually sharper than that."

"Well, we haven't been heading off for quickies in the storage room." She laughed.

"And Carter and Abby have kept their mouths shut."

"That's miraculous in itself."

"No kidding." They stood together holding each other for a couple more minutes before Mark spoke again.

"We should get back to work. The board looked pretty full." Susan nodded, regretfully.

"What are we doing tonight?" she asked.

"Meet me at home and you'll find out.

"That sounds rather mysterious."

"Well, you know me, I'm a mysterious typed of guy." She kissed him hungrily and he left with a wave. She smiled.

"So what's the date?" Susan asked Abby later in her shift.

"We're thinking sometime next June."

"June weddings are always nice."

"Yeah. I think so. I was gonna ask you this later, but now's as good a time as any. Would you be my maid of honor?"

"Oh gosh! I'd love to!"

"Great." Abby pretended to cross a name off of her invisible list. "I'm going to ask Kerry and Deb to be my bridesmaids. Carter's asking Mark to be his best man and Doug and Pratt for attendants."

"Doug and Kerry entering together? Are you sure that's wise?"

"I'm sure they'll refrain from any violence at least until the reception." The two women laughed. Carter came up.

"Hey." He said, giving Abby a kiss. "I've asked everyone, they'd all love to be in the wedding party."

"Doug included?"

"Yep."

"Wow, I've been upstaged in organization by the groom. I'll go ask Deb now and I'll call Kerry when we get home." Abby said, taking off. Carter and Susan started to walk towards the admit desk. They had managed to clear the board and things were pretty slow. The nurses were grouped around the desk, gossiping as usual.

"So how are things with Mark?" Carter asked. Susan glanced at the nurses. They hadn't seemed to notice Carter's comment. She motioned for him to shut up.

"What things?" she asked innocently. Carter tilted his head, puzzled.

"You guys are still living together, aren't you? You didn't break up?" Susan hit her head with her hand. There was no conversation between the nurses anymore. They were all staring at her and Carter. Susan rolled her eyes at him.

"Oops." He turned bright red, reminding Susan of his days as Benton's med student, way back when. "Sorry." He said.

"Yes, Mark and I are dating. He moved into my place about a month ago." The nurses exchanged knowing glances. Carter shrugged apologetically. Susan grabbed a chart and motioned to hit him. He ran away and she chased him through the ER.

"So what's the mysterious surprise?" Susan asked, later that night. Mark had his hands over her eyes. He was leading her into the kitchen. She smelled something delicious. "Did you get take out?" Mark laughed.

"Nope." He sat her down in a chair and pulled his hands away. He had decorated the kitchen, put candles at the table and made dinner.

"Oh Mark! It's wonderful!" she said, the light from the candles reflecting the tears in her eyes. "But what's the occasion? Did I forget some holiday?" he smiled.

"No, I just wanted to tell you how much I love you." He kissed her from across the table, and neither one had been so happy in a very long time.