**Author's Note: Here is the first chapter to the sequel of "The Lightning Strike." If you haven't read it yet, check it out! I've been plotting this one out for quite awhile. This chapter is probably my least favorite that I've written- I said it with The Lightning Strike and I'll say it here. I'm not big on writing "fluffy" stories…but sometimes even the darkest stories need "fluff." I'm going to try a new method of posting for this story so that the updates will be more frequent- currently I have the first and 2nd chapters done. I'll try to space them out by a few days/a week. By the time I post the 2nd chapter, I hope to have the 3rd done and so on. Enjoy! Read and Review.**
**This story is named after the Imagine Dragons song "Roots." Each chapter will be named after a song goes along with the chapter's "theme."**

I know that we've been through a lot

I know that we both grew up

You know I missed you a lot

When I was young I was dumb

Didn't think you'd fit in my plot

And I appreciate the break because I love what we got now

Something happens when I hold her

She keeps my heart from getting older

When the days get short and the nights get a little bit colder

We hold each other
~A Great Big World feat. Futuristic~ Hold Each Other

It wasn't more than a week later when Owen found himself jolted awake in the middle of the night by the loud and obnoxious ringtone playing from Cristina's phone. Rolling over, he checked the alarm clock beside the bed. 4:03 a.m.

" Cristina…phone," he mumbled, gently nudging her side. A slew of profanities escaped her mouth as she grabbed her phone. She was supposed to have the day off.

" Hello?" she answered wearily, her eyes still closed. Seconds later she bolted straight up in bed.

" What?! Are you serious? We'll be right there." Cristina hung up immediately, turning on the bedside lamp.

" What the hell?" Owen blurted out as the bright light forced his eyes open.

" That was Derek. Meredith's water just broke. They wanted to know if you'd stay with Zola for awhile until someone can pick her up and take her to daycare."

" Of course," he replied, his legs feeling slightly shaky as he jumped out of bed.

" Watch it there. I don't have time to be rushing you to the ER because you tripped over your feet and busted your face open."

" Hey now," Owen started as he tugged on a pair of jeans and a hoodie before following Cristina downstairs. Without bothering to grab a jacket, she bolted out the door and for her car. Owen slowly caught up to her and opened the passenger door as she put the keys in the ignition. Before he had the chance to buckle his seatbelt, Cristina put the car in drive and gunned it as she turned into the street.

" Jesus…slow down!" Owen said as he watched the speedometer climb higher and higher.

" I'm not going to miss the birth of my nephew because someone wants me to drive like a grandma," she retorted as they continued speeding down the road.

While a trip out to Meredith and Derek's house normally took nearly thirty minutes from the house, Owen found himself with a white knuckle grip on the door handle as Cristina flew down their driveway, their trip only taking sixteen minutes. Cristina sloppily parked her car beside Derek's SUV which was already running. As they got out of the car, Cristina hopped into the SUV while Owen made his way up the stairs to the front door. Before he could knock, the door swung open and out stepped Meredith and Derek.

" Contractions are 5-10 minutes apart. Pray we don't have to deliver this baby on the side of the road," Derek said as Meredith glared at him.

" Cristina's waiting in the car," Owen told her reassuringly.

" Don't let Zola sleep past 8:00 a.m. or it will be next to impossible to get her to bed on time. We'll call and keep you posted," shouted Derek as they made their way down the stairs, Meredith's groans of pain echoing in the silence of the night. Owen made his way inside, making sure to close the door quietly behind him to avoid waking Zola. He sank into the overstuffed sofa, propping up his tired legs as he grabbed a nearby blanket to cover up with. Before he closed his eyes, he set the alarm clock on his phone for 7:45 a.m. on the off chance Zola slept longer than he did.

" You snore!" proclaimed Zola the next morning. Owen found himself startled awake from a deep sleep to find the little girl standing at the foot of the couch staring at him.

" Do not," he replied as he sat up.

" Where are my mommy and daddy Uncle Owen?" she asked as she crawled up on the couch beside him.

" Your mommy is at the hospital having your baby brother," he explained as Zola snuggled in beside him.

" Can I see him?"

" Your daddy is going to call us when he's born and then we can go see him. Does that sound like a good idea?"

" Mhmm. What's for breakfast?"

" What do you want to eat? I could make you pancakes?" Owen offered.

" You know how to cook? When Auntie Tina stays with me we either eat cereal or get Dunkin Donuts."

" That's because your Aunt Cristina isn't a very good cook," he replied with a grin as he shuffled to the kitchen and opened a cupboard, thankful to find the pancake mix on his first try.

It wasn't long before the air in Meredith and Derek's kitchen hung heavy with the smell of fluffy pancakes.

" You're a good cook Uncle Owen!" Zola proclaimed as Owen's phone began ringing. Owen glanced at the screen, noting that it was Derek as he swiped to answer it.

" I'm assuming since you're just calling that you and Cristina didn't have to deliver the baby on the side of the road."

" We came pretty close," Derek replied.

How's Zola?"

" Let me put her on speaker phone," Owen said, pushing a button.

" Hi Zola. It's Daddy. What are you and Uncle Owen doing?"

" Uncle Owen made me pancakes. He didn't even set the microwave on fire like Auntie Tina did that one time." Owen laughed, nearly choking on his pancakes.

" Cristina set the microwave on fire?" Derek and Owen asked in unison.

" Yup. That's why we get donuts in the morning now when she watches me."

" Zola, guess what?" asked Derek, changing the subject.

" What? Is my baby brother born?"

" He is!"

" Can we come see him?" she asked excitedly.

" I'm going to come home in a little bit so I can bring you to the hospital."

" Why can't Uncle Owen bring me now?"

" Because Uncle Owen isn't allowed to drive right now honey…and he better not try. I'll be home shortly."

" Ok Daddy. I'll see you soon," Zola stated as she pressed the END CALL button then turned her attention to Owen.

" Why can't you drive Uncle Owen? I thought Mommy and Daddy fixed your boo boos."

" They did sweetie. My legs still get tired sometimes."

" Oh. Okay."

" How about we get you dressed and then if your daddy isn't here yet we can play?"

" Will you play dress up with me?" she asked as she led Owen down the hallway.

" Of course," he replied.

Ten minutes later Owen found himself wearing a plastic tiara, decked out in oodles of plastic costume jewelry. He was glad it was just the two of them. If Cristina had present there would surely be blackmail pictures. As Zola draped a pink feather boa around his neck the front door opened.

" Daddy!" Owen turned to find a tired looking Derek embracing Zola.

Uncle Owen played dress up with me!"

" I see that," Derek stated as he sat down on the couch beside Owen and pulled Zola onto his lap.

" How's Meredith?" Owen asked as he pulled off the feather boa.

" Tired," Derek quickly responded as he pulled out his phone.

" I swear to god if you take a picture of me…"

" Do you really think I'd do something like that?" challenged Derek as he stood.

Let's go see your Mommy and brother kiddo." Owen stood up and absentmindedly followed the two to the door.

" Hunt…you might want to remove your princess earrings before we get to the hospital." Owen yanked the sparkly clip on earrings off and set them on a table.

" Let's go see your brother," he said, grabbing Zola's hand as they walked to the car.