These characters are not mine, and I don’t profit from their use in this story. I should say before I start that this story takes place about 2 months after the last story. The title of this story, as well as the lyrics at the end, come from the song “Feels Like Home” by Chantal Kreviazuk. Also, I’d like to thank Elizabeth for all her editing skills, Caroline for her wonderful letter, and Amanda for her support.
1. Streets of Philadelphia
2. Lost and Found
3. A New Day

Previously in this series...
**********************************
At that moment, Doug walked in.
“Hey..whoa what happened here?”
“Hey. Help me find my date book.”
“Uh-oh, you miss a hot date?”
“This isn’t funny, Doug. I think I’m late.”
“Late for what?”
“No Doug, the other kind of late.”
***********************************
“You know, we haven’t been able to talk about this How do you feel about this whole thing?”
Carol tipped her head back. “You know, at first I was really worried. But then I realized, ‘Hey, we’re ready for this.’ I hope it’s positive.”
“Yeah, me too.” He leaned in to kiss her when the phone rang. They both grabbed it. Carol shot an annoyed look at Doug and jerked the phone away from him.
“Hello? Yes. Thank you very much!”
Carol hung up the phone and turned towards Doug, a huge smile on her face.
That was the only answer he needed.
*********************************
“Actually, that reminds me, what is the deal with you and Mark?” asked Carol.
“There is nothing between me and Mark.”
“What about when you left?,” asked Jeanie.
Finally Elizabeth broke the silence. “Do you still have feelings for him?”
“I don’t know. I know that he wasn’t the reason I came back, but since I got here...I don’t know. I think maybe it’s too late now.”
Almost in unison, Anna and Carol responded.
“It’s never too late.”
*********************************
And now, here’s Feels Like Home!
*********************************
“Ugh!” exclaimed Susan Lewis as she walked through the doors of the ER. “That is the only word that could possibly describe this day.” She brushed the snow off her jacket and walked to the reception desk. Mark was there, working on the computer, while Elizabeth and Anna were working on charts.
Susan walked behind the desk. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” said Mark, laughing at her frustrated state.
“I hate Valentine’s day. I had the flu on Valentine’s Day last year, nd I broke up with my boyfriend the Valentine’s Day before that. It’s the worst day ever. And today, I have to pull a double.”
“Really? Me too.”
“Well,” said Susan, grabbing a chart, “Looks like we have a long day ahead of us.” She walked off to see a patient. Mark took another chart and followed her.
“Are they gone?” whispered Elizabeth as she stared at the desk.
“Yep,” said Anna.
“Good.”
“Do you think they have any idea?”
“Not at all. Did you remember everything?”
“Candles, plates, and silverware are in my locker.”
“Good. Carol’s bringing the food at 9:00, we’ll set up then.”
“I wish I could be here to see this.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take pictures. So, what are you and Carter doing tonight?”
“I have no clue. He’s keeping it a surprise. I get off at 7 and I have to come by to get him at 9. All I know is that I have to get dressed up.”
“Oooh, mysterious.” Suddenly the paramedics burst through the doors, and Anna and Elizabeth went to help.
*********************************************
Carter and Doug were in the lounge. Carter had just arrived, and was putting things in his locker, unaware that Doug was watching him. “Carter seems nervous,” thought Doug to himself as he watched Carter fiddle with things in his locker. Suddenly he saw Carter take a small velvet box out of his pocket, rest it on his locker shelf. After a moment’s thought, he removed the box and put it back in his pocket. Doug decided to break the silence.
“Big plans tonight, huh Carter?”
Carter turned around. “Yeah. Hey, don’t tell Carol, ok? Because she won’t know how to keep it from Anna.”
“My lips are sealed. Wow, little Carter’s asking someone to marry him. Amazing. So, you nervous?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“No. What’s obvious is that you two are completely in love and that she’ll say yes. So don’t worry.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Just then, Anna came into the lounge. “Hey,” she said to Carter while wrapping her arms around his waist. “So, you’re not going to tell me anything else about tonight?
“Not a chance.”
“Oh well, it was worth a try. She kissed him lightly on the lips. All that matters is that I’m with you.” They kissed again.
Doug got up and left. The door closed behind him. “He’s got nothing to worry about,” he said with a chuckle.
************************************************
Mark and Susan were both in the suture room, working on patients. Mark cast a glance at Susan. “She’s beautiful,” he thought. He remembered the events that took place in the two years that she was gone, how his life had gradually spun out of control. First, there were the women. He hadn’t been involved with many women before Susan left. After she left, he found himself in a series of meaningless relationships. And then there was the attack. It had been haunting him ever since it happened, and yet when Susan returned she made him forget it. It was as if she had some strange power over him -- when she was around him, nothing else mattered.

And then there was the other thing he thought about. The kiss. Since she left he replayed that kiss over and over again in his mind. She said she loved him. Did she still feel that way? Did she think about him the same way he thought about her? He looked over at her again. She seemed preoccupied. “She’s probably waiting for something bad to happen to her. It is Valentine’s Day, after all.” Today was probably not the day to talk to her about their relationship, if there was one. “Valentine’s Day is a bad day to talk about us,” he thought. “How ironic.”
*************************************************
Susan looked over at Mark. She was more certain than ever that she still loved him. In reality, she had known all along, but seeing him again confirmed her feelings. She wanted to tell him. She thought about the kiss, that one moment when there was something more to their friendship. She wanted it back, desperately. “Today’s Valentine’s Day,” she thought to herself, “If I tell him today it’s bound to blow up in my face.” She was suffering from a Valentine’s Day curse.
“All done, Mr. Harvey.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
“Come back in 5 days and we’ll check on the stitches. Until then, you’re in good shape.”
They got up to leave, and Susan took one more look at Mark as she walked out the door.
She wished she could tell him.
***************************************************
Elizabeth was walking to the store room for some gauze when she heard Mark and Doug talking inside. It was obvious that they were having private conversation, so she stayed outside. However, she could not help but overhear their conversation.
“So what’s with Carter? He’s been really jumpy all day,” asked Mark.
“Carter’s got a big night ahead of him. He’s asking Anna to marry him tonight.”
“But they’ve only been together two months!”
“And they’ve been in love for much longer. Besides, have you seen them? It’s like they’ve been going out forever!”
“True. Well, I hope everything goes well for them.” Mark and Doug left the room, bumping into Elizabeth. She greeted them with a cheerful hello as she walked into the room.
“So that’s what the big surprise is,” she whispered to herself. “It’s going to be hard to keep this from Anna.”
“Did I just hear my name?”
Elizabeth jumped. “You scared me. Umm, yes, I was getting some gauze and asking myself if I should...bring some for your patient in curtain 3.”
“I’m all set, but thanks anyway. I’m leaving in 15 minutes.”
“Oh, that’s right, you have to get ready for your big night.”
“Yeah. Did Carter tell you anything?”
“No, I’ve hardly seen him all day.”
“Oh well. It doesn’t really matter. As long as we’re together, I know it will be a great night. He’s so sweet and so caring and...Elizabeth why are you looking t me like that?”
“Nothing. It’s just that...you two are absolutely adorable Well, I have to go see my patient. See you at 7!”
“Bye Elizabeth.”
**************************************************
2 hours later
**************************************************
“Has anyone seen Carter?” asked Anna as she came through the doors of the ER.
Chuni looked up from the desk. “Wow Anna you look gorgeous!”
“Thanks.” She was wearing a long black dress and wore her long blonde hair down. “So you haven’t seen him?”
“A trauma came in a few minutes ago...he’s probably in there.”
“Thanks. If you see him, tell him I’m in the lounge.”
Anna walked towards the lounge. She hoped Carol was already there, because they needed to hurry and set up. She walked into the room. Sure enough, Carol was in there removing prepared food out of grocery bags. She looked up from what she was doing.
“Hey Anna! You ready to set up?”
“Yep. Hey, I was wondering, how are we going to keep the others out of here?”
“Everyone knows, except for Mark and Susan, of course.”
“Of course.” They got to work. Anna began to set the tablein the middle of the room. She spread out a tablecloth, and then lid out silverware. Finally, she lit two candles and placed them in the center of the table. “all done!”
Just then Carter came into the room. “Anna, I’m so sorry. I was caught up in this trauma and...wow...you look incredible.”
She laughed. “You don’t look so bad yourself. Now come on, let’s go.”
“Just one sec,”said Carter as he tied his tie. “OK, let’s go. I hope we’re not too late.”
“Too late for what?”
“Nice try, Anna, but I’m not telling.” They laughed as they walked out the door.
****************************************************
“John, slow down!” yelled Anna as they sped down the street in his Jeep.
“We are going to be so late. Ok here we are!.” They got out of the car.
“What are we doing at a dock?” they ran towards the end of a pier as a boat was leaving.
Carter sat down on a bench, his head in his hands. “We *were* going to be on that.”
“The moonlight dinner cruise?!”
“Yeah, but then that trauma came and ruined everything.”
“It’s ok. All that matters to me is that I’m with you. Now come on, let’s go home.”
****************************************************
Kerry walked to the admit desk to find a very frustrated Susan and Mark catching up on paperwork.
“Wow, you two look tired.”
“Not tired,” said Susan, “just bored.”
“Well,” said Kerry, “Why don’t you two go to the lounge and take a break. You look like you need it.”
“Uh, thanks Kerry,” said Mark with a puzzled expression on his face. They got up and walked to the lounge.
“She’s being unusually nice today. I wonder what’s up with her.” said Susan as she opened the door. They walked in and were shocked by what they saw.
The lights were off, and set up in the middle of the room was a candlelight dinner. At the two place settings sat small cards that said “Susan” and “Mark”.
Susan turned to Mark. “Do you have any idea what this is all about?”
“Not a clue. But I am hungry.” They sat down at the table.
******************************************************
“John, don’t worry. It’s ok, really,” said Anna as they entered her apartment. “I don’t know about you, but I’m gonna change out of this dress.”
“I guess I’ll change too.” Carter went to Anna’s bedroom and opened his drawer. He pulled out a pair of pajama bottoms. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out the box with the ring. He looked at it for a moment, then put it in a drawer.
“I can’t do it now, it’s too late and the moment’s all wrong.” He sighed in frustration and began to change his clothes.
*******************************************************
Back in the ER, Susan and Mark were eating the dinner that was left for them.
“They must have known what a bad day this was. It was really nice of whoever did this to bring food,” said Mark.
“Mark, don’t you have any idea what’s going on here?” asked Susan.
“Yeah. Someone was being really nice.”
“Don’t you see it Mark? We’re being fixed up.”
“We are? Why would they do that?”
“Well, you gotta admit, they know that there’s a lot of unresolved stuff between us. Maybe they know something we don’t.”
“I’m not following what you’re saying.”
Susan sighed and put down her fork. “Have you completely blocked out what happened at Union Station?”
“No. I just figured it was something you wanted to forget about.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because of how desperate I looked, what an awkward situation it was.”
“I wouldn’t call it awkward, just a case of really bad timing.”
“What about, you know-”
“The kiss? What about it? Didn’t you think it was serious, because I know I did.”
“You did?”
“Of course I did. Didn’t you?”
“Yes, but I thought I put you in an uncomfortable position.”
“The only uncomfortable thing about it was when it happened, that I was getting on a train.” She leaned closer to him. “I wanted that kiss to happen, I hope you know that.”
“I did too. I just wish it didn’t have to be the end.”
“Who said it has to be the end?”
She leaned in and kissed him, softly at first, then growing more passionate. He returned her passion as the candles burned down.
********************************************
“I am soo hungry. What’s in here, I wonder?” asked Anna as she stuck her head into her refridgerator. “Cheese? No. Carrot sticks? Ugh. Ooh, cookies!” She stuck her head out and triumphantly held up a tube of chocolate chip cookie dough.
Carter laughed. “You’re gonna make cookies?”
“No way,” said Anna as she opened the package. “The raw dough is the best part.” She pulled off a chunk and ate it, then held the package out at Carter. “You want some?”
“Thanks, I’ll pass.”
“Wait, don’t tell me you’ve never had raw cookie dough before.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Nope. I guess it was one of those things I missed out on.”
“Wow. Hey,” she said motioning at the radio. “Let’s put on music.” Carter turned on the radio, and swing dancing music came on. Anna spun around and put down the cookie dough. “Let’s dance!”
Carter gave her a confused look as she dragged him into the living room. They began to dance. “Hey, you’re pretty good,” she said. He could only imagine how silly they looked, dancing around in their pajamas. Suddenly, she spun herself around under his arm, lost control, and fell onto the couch, laughing.
He stood back and stared at her, realizing he had never been so happy in his whole life.
“Don’t move,” he said.
“Huh?”
He ran back to the bedroom and fumbled through the drawer. After finding what he was looking for, he returned to the living room. Anna was still laughing, then stopped when she saw how serious he looked.
“What?” she asked, confused by his appearance.
“Anna?” Carter asked as he got down on his knees and pulled out the box.
“Will you marry me?”
Tears of happiness began to form in her eyes.
“Yes.”
He put the ring on her finger, and she leaned in to kiss him. Aa slow song came on the radio, and she got up, taking his hand. They looked t each other, smiling, and began to dance as the moonlight poured in the window.

Something in your eyes makes me want to lose myself
Makes me want to lose myself in your arms.
Something in your voice, makes my heart beat fast
Hope this feeling lasts, the rest of my life
If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how long I’ve been
So alone
And if you knew how I wanted someone to call my love
And change my life the way you’ve done

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like heaven way back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like heaven way back where I belong

A window breaks down a long, dark street
And a siren wakes in the night
But I’m all right, cause I have you here with me
And I can almost see
Through the dark there is light
If you knew how much this moment means to me
And how long I’ve waited for your touch
And if you knew how happy you are making me
I never thought that I’d love anyone so much

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like heaven way back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like heaven way back where I belong
It feels like heaven way back where I belong

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