Disclaimer: Shonda owns the characters and the show . As usual I own nothing. More's the pity.

…..

"Okay, so here goes." Teddy swung her left leg off the edge of the couch and leant in closer to Henry. "So we've established you're not a fan of Chinese take out, but what's your favourite food?"

"That's easy. " Said Henry without hesitation. "The red velvet cupcakes that my Grandma used to make. After she dies my mom and me were clearing out her house and we found a huge batch of them in the freezer. I have never had one since that was as good as she made them. There's a little bakery on the high road out of Seattle that comes close but no one will ever beat Gramma Burton's."

"I never had you down as a cake person, I don't know why. Anyway, next question… What's your favourite movie?" Teddy had only asked two questions so far, but she was already enjoying getting to know her 'husband'.

"Ooh, that's a tough one. It think would have to be between 'Scarface' and 'The Shawshank Redemption'.

"Scarface? Really? Shawshank is a classic though, I'll give you that. Hmmmm. What's your middle name?" Teddy had seen him sign numerous hospital documents and forms as Henry D. Burton, but never knew what it stood for and it hadn't been readout in their wedding ceremony. Then again, neither was hers.

"Dean", he replied simply. "Henry Dean Burton. Not named after anybody, no family members or historical figures, it was just a name my mom picked."

Teddy tried to cover up a smile, as that would have been her next question.

"What's your biggest achievement? You know, what are you most proud of?""

"Oh, I don't wanna say. It's just a silly little thing.." he looked down into his lap, avoiding all eye contact with her.

"Please? I want to know these things about you Henry. I want to know you." She reached out and put her hand on his knee, trying to reassure him that he could share anything with her, his deepest darkest secrets. She would never tell a soul. He looked up slowly and their eyes connected, holding each other's gaze for a second before he looked away again.

"But it sounds so lame…"

"I'm sure it isn't." She cut him off.

"Alright," he began quietly. "I'm most proud of the fact that I've made it through so many major surgeries, some of them with less than 15% mortality rates and I'm ok. I may not be completely healthy, but I'm trying to live a relatively normal life, compared with what it was like before." His voice started to rise a few levels and Teddy could sense an anger she'd never seen in him before. "What I'm not proud of is that I had to rely on you to do it. Your generosity towards me, a complete stranger, saved my life. Now I know you've been to Iraq and saved many lives, heck, you save lives every day and that makes you pretty darn special. That is something to be proud of. But you saved my life in an entirely different way. You didn't operate on me, you're not my doctor, but you saved me. And what I'm least proud of is that I'll never be able to repay you." His voice was now scarcely a whisper as he blinked back tears. Teddy bit her lip to stop her own tears from falling too, and she took his hand from his lap and stared deeply into his eyes.

"Listen to me. You being here now, being happy is enough for me. Being alive…as my best friend. Because you are my best friend Henry. And all I need is for you to be here, with me. That's enough. That's the only repayment I need." She pulled him towards her and wrapped him in a tight embrace. Her arms were closed around the back of his neck and in that moment she never wanted to let him go.

His arms pulled her waist in to him, removing all space between their bodies. Her warm breath tickled the back of his neck and he could feel her every heartbeat through her chest. In that moment he knew he never wanted to let her go.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

So I hope you're enjoying so far. There is still more to come. Sorry it's such a slow burner. x o x o