Chapter One: Seattle Grace

Returning to Preston's room, Jane Burke feels her body tense up at the sight of his girlfriend turning the corner. Under different circumstances she could like even respect the girl able to maintain a polite exterior under a barrage of criticism from her boyfriend's mother while her wild spirit threatened to break free. Several people have remarked about her loyalty to her friends, to her superiors, to Preston. Jane knows that the person not willing to sacrifice friends to forward personal ambitions is someone with worthwhile character. She isn't blind to how much Cristina loves her son and the eyes full of fire, passion, sadness and fear. It is the fear that concerns Jane the most. That the pain in Cristina's eyes at seeing Preston suffer is not enough to give her the strength to take care of him. Preston deserves the best and that is not Cristina no matter how many times Preston tells her how much he loves Cristina, how happy she makes him. Jane recalls the day Preston stunned her with his confession that Cristina filled a void for him that surgery, other women never did. She's the first girl in years that he's talked about without being asked, that he's wanted to talk about and to Jane's surprise she did not want to hear about her. With the other girls she pressed him for information and he clammed up but this one he talked about every call. Telling her how happy they were, how proud he was of her, and most surprising how he looked forward to bringing her to Alabama for a visit. It was crazy but Jane didn't want to hear any of it. Even now, Preston is convinced that she will love Cristina but Jane is not. Maybe she'll never be. Didn't he realize he'd made it impossible for his mamma to love the girl who captured her little boy's heart.?

Seeing Burke's mother Cristina's mind instinctively searches for a way to escape unseen. Mrs. Burke has gone out of her way to make it clear that Cristina is an unwelcome addition to her family. After a week of awkward conversations and arguments, she is beginning to accept that there's nothing she can do right in the eyes of Mrs. Burke and that means she can't do anything right in Burke's eyes either. For the time being, she's decided to wait it out. In a week, the Burke's will be gone and she and her boyfriend will have plenty of time together.

"Cristina," Jane Burke's voice is aloofas she prepares to go another round with the girl she's determined never to call her daughter-in-law.

"Mrs. Burke," Cristina forces half of a smile.

"You seem tense. You didn't upset Preston did you? The stress isn't good for him right now." In spite of her words, Jane doesn't believe that Cristina isn't purposely upsetting her son but knows exactly how much such an implication upsets Cristina. Even Jane Burke can't deny that Preston is different now. That he seems happier when he calls, calmer, less high strung. On the phone she can hear his love for Cristina each time he says her name. When he speaks about her he's different. His passion for her seems to be matched only by his passion for surgery. Jane Burke never thought she'd see the day.

"No. Everything's fine. It's been a long day, goodnight." Cristina walks past Mrs. Burke tired after another fight with her boyfriend about his mother not liking her. She would not dare give Mrs. Burke the satisfaction of telling her the truth. Thanks to her own mother's nonsense, she knows how to handle his. As far as Cristina is concerned, mothers are nothing more than necessary evils. Burke loves her, she's sure of it so she just needs to be patient.

"He needs someone who can take care of him." Her words stop Cristina in her tracks. It's been hard seeing her son so discouraged and Jane believes that he needs someone strong, supportive to take care of him. Someone like her. More than anything, she wants to be the person who is there for him even if it means building a wall between he and Cristina. Like most moms she needs him to need her. The center of her life for so many years, she misses him.

Cristina is equally determined refusing to move any closer to Mrs. Burke, "Did it ever occur to you that you might be wrong?"

"Preston needs someone to take care of him. You're not that person. From what I see you can barely take care of yourself." Looking at Cristina, Jane sees a mirror of herself. Strong willed, spitfire, ambitious. She knows all too well what that person is like, what that person is capable of. It's the kind of woman she's prayed he'd never fall for.

Cristina pauses, carefully contemplating her reaction, "You're right."

"Finally, we agree on something. You are smart after all." Jane never doubted her ability to break Cristina's spirit. It was just a matter of time.

"You're right. I'm not willing to take care of Preston." This conversation her voice is different. Steady and confident like she's presenting a case not debating her value as a girlfriend.

"Better to be honest now before it's too late." There is a part of her that is sad for her son but this is for the best. He doesn't need a girl that breaks your heart just when you think she's here to stay. That's who Cristina Yang is. That's who Jane Burke was until she met her husband. He changed her, she changed him.

"I agree. I should have been honest sooner." It is true. She's not willing to take care of him. She's willing to do many things for him including risking her reputation by stripping in his hospital room but she's not willing to take care of him. Not now.

"It's too late now. You can end things in the morning."

Cristina laughs, "I'm not ending anything."

"What?" Jane is stunned believing that she and Cristina had an understanding.

"Your son doesn't need anyone to take care of him. He can take care of himself. He needs someone to love him. I can do that. I am doing that. Good night Mrs. Burke." The words roll off of Cristina's tongue as naturally as if she says them everyday and she walks away without waiting for a response. There is no need to argue, no need to get upset. She loves Burke and he loves her. She's comfortable with him, with them and isn't ready to sacrifice that. A few months ago maybe she would've but not now. Now she's not going anywhere because her fear of life without him is greater than her fear of not being good enough. For the first time in her life, Cristina Yang is the one believing in the power of love.

Watching Cristina walk away Jane grins at her stubbornness knowing that if she wasn't dating her son she would love getting to know this young woman.