Chapter Thirteen
This started becoming an accustom to Cameron these days, having people looking out for her best interest and keeping a watchful eye on her. It was a thought that popped into her mind as she made her way home from working a shift in the ER and heading home to her son and Chase...her family. As she made her way up the stairs to her condo she was slightly distracted outside by the winter weather that occurred during the day in February looking out the window in the stairwell of the snow blanketing the ground outside. It has only been a few weeks since Stefan Wright was discharged from the hospital to go live out the last two months of his young life. Probably the next time they might end up seeing him will either be when he ends up being admitted in the ER for emergency or in the morgue after his time is up. Telling Chase about the deposition and about Haley Groff's death felt like a slight burden was lifted over her shoulder but she still needed to get pass the fact that she still wasn't out of the woods yet.
There was still a long road to recovery from her fall to dissolution and she just had to remind her that it will take one day at a time. Cameron knew she still has some unclosed issues to deal with, and she still needed closure but in the three months she has been back she knew that she still had Chase keeping an eye out for her. Everything seemed like a surreal dream and how did her life get back on track in the span of three months since returning to Princeton? A few months back she was living back in Chicago spending nights either on a friend's couch or a hotel room; receiving overdue notices; living off the limited unemployment checks; getting busy getting sued for the unexpected death of a patient; losing her job; being evicted from her apartment due to overdue rent and worrying about whether or not her son will live to see another day.
She questioned whether if eventually she would have to wake up from the dream she is living right now, one that she prayed is still a reality. Did this blissful dream she was experiencing being back in Princeton working once again at Princeton Plainsboro; giving Chase the chance to be the father Liam needed for his son; living together raising their son; and above all being with a guy who she truly love? When she opened the door to the apartment a slight smile came across her face seeing Chase and their son in the living room and her doubts melted away, knowing that this is reality. Chase turned to see Cameron coming through the door and she had that smile on her face, one that held many mysteries. Whatever caused her to smile like that he let her keep to herself.
"You're glowing," Chase said, with a seductive tone staring at her as she pour herself a cup of coffee in the kitchen. "You haven't glow that much since you first returned here. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing...I actually like it."
"Is that a problem?" Cameron questioned, giving him a look that he knew too well. "What if there was something I just like seeing today that makes me want to glow?"
"I like it when you glow...makes me feel like you're at ease." Chase joined her in the kitchen with Liam in tow and took a seat at the table with their son in his lap. "So how was your joyous night in the land we like to call the ER?"
"For me it was downtime last night; only got about five emergency cases that ended up in our department and three of which got discharged in the span of six hours." Cameron continued taking her spot at the table with her coffee.
"That must have been a fun filled night for you huh babe?" Chase slightly chuckled at the comment.
"Actually managed to catch a couple of moments of blissful rest during the night before being awaken by the joyous alarm clock I like to call my pager. Seems like the last few weeks it's nothing but dead time in the ER and I find myself napping for at least an hour up to about an hour and a half and when no one is looking around I manage to sneak out to the quickest corner store and find myself a tub of mint chocolate chip ice-cream. All I could think about the whole entire night was hoping it will be over so I can go home spend my weekend with my little guy here and also my Aussie man here."
"Yeah our dreamy eyes and dreamy blonde hair are too hard for you to resist." The sound of Liam's giggles distracted them for a moment. Cameron's smile reappeared on her face indicating the glow that Chase was talking about earlier, it was the blissful feeling of being back with the family she longed to give her son. To be with the family she longed dreamed of with Chase and inside her heart there was a sense of reassurance that gave her hope. "Allison...it's Saturday."
"Okay what is it?" Cameron eyed him questionably.
"Happy Valentine's Day." She looked up at him and it really didn't dawn on her that today was Valentine's Day. To her it was a commercialized holiday created by Hershey's and Hallmark in the name of a good marketing money making probe. Her attitude towards romantic holidays remained cynical at times. Last year she felt a pang of angst and envy to her coworkers around her that received tokens of appreciation from their significant others as a sign of their love and devotion. Deep down at the time she wished she had someone she could share the day with, even if she still thought it was nothing but a commercialized holiday.
"A holiday that only applies to people who are already paired up." Cameron slightly sneered with her remark. "For everyone else it's Saturday."
"Oh wow thank you for that dash of cold water." Chase noticed the cynical tone in her remark indicating her standpoint. "But it's still a holiday and we're paired up."
"I know Robert but don't get me wrong. I still think true love's out there it's just very far away and you know my standpoint on commercialized holidays. For those not paired up true love still exists maybe possibly in another galaxy. We may need to develop faster than light travel before we can make contact. I don't get what people expect out of Valentine's Day or what people benefit from it. Does it have any significant reference in our daily lives? To me it's just another day of the week. Despite the wisdom of pop songs there's no point for people putting their lives on hold 'til love comes along in the name of romantic holiday. They should be grateful that they're both healthy and busy people going on with their daily lives."
"So somewhere in that cynical mind of yours regarding your standpoint of commercialized holidays..." In his mind he knew Cameron had a soft spot for what she deemed as a commercialized marketing holiday. He knew just how to get to expose it to his advantage, but not in a way that will make him look like a jerk. "I'm guessing I should probably cancel the reservations I secretly had booked for about a week in the name of buying into the whole commercialized premise of the market."
"Excuse me?" Cameron questioned suspiciously.
"I'm taking you out tonight." Chase flatly replies catching her offguard.
"I'm sorry did you say you're taking me out tonight...as in a date?" Cameron replied surprised. "I just got off an overnight shift in the ER and you know we have responsibilities what about Liam? Just how do you expect us to get a night to ourselves if we have a six month old son to tend to?"
"Knowing just how much of a doting, overprotective mother you are to our child I've taken care of that situation. I hired a trustworthy babysitter whose willingly sacrificing his Saturday night to give us time to ourselves. Of course I had to barter with him in exchange of getting him to watch our little six month old tyke I do four hours of clinic duty for him for the next week."
"Wow you must have planned ahead and even got Foreman to babysit Liam." He smiled noting the cynical barrier of hers coming down he knew catching her offguard with a token of his affections for her will be the key. He knew she was a sucker for surprises especially when they came from him. It wanted to honor his promise to make her smile again; help her get her life back at ease and hoped somehow she could realize just how much she means to him. "You know I'm a sucker for surprises right? Something tells me that you planned this all along and waited for the right moment to trap me didn't you?"
"Do you have a problem if I wanted to randomly express my intentions to spend some time with you?" Chase asked with a grin on his face. "Before you start playing twenty one questions and start ranting on saying why you don't deserve this after everything that has happened to us I just want you to know that I'm not doing this out of sympathy or asking something from you in return. All I just want is to spend the night with you that's all. You're not obligated to contribute to anything for tonight all I am asking for is to take you out tonight and do something nice for a person whose been through hell and back. I'm hoping somehow she'll be smiling and glowing still by the end of the night."
"Well Dr. Chase I think...you convinced your lucky lady likewise to abide and seeing your intentions are sincere she'll accept." There was that smile again that formed on Cameron's face taking Liam from Chase's arm getting her quality time now to spend with their child. "So I'm going to be helping your lucky lady pick out something nice and deceit to wear tonight to impress a very intriguing Australian doctor." She sense it and giving into her feelings the spark between them was still in tact as she headed down the hallway to her bedroom with their son in tow. Deep down she appreciated the gesture and the effort he took to help break the barriers she built within the past year, he truly cared about her.
"One tip of advice Liam...your father has always been a hopeless romantic you'll learn a lot from him when you come to that age where you'll be wooing hearts. He always knows how to hit the soft spot...mommy's soft spot for him." She smiled as her son acknowledged in a giggle his mother's response. "There's potential in you buddy to be a heartthrob like him but for now just stick being adorable and six months old will you?"
Foreman arrived at the apartment a little after lunchtime in the afternoon. Cameron greeted him at the door and it surprised her that he was carrying a duffel bag and gave him a suspicious look and knew something was up. After some persuasion and forcing Foreman to reveal the truth about Chase's little Valentine's Day surprise it was then he revealed it: Chase planned an overnight stay for him and Cameron in New York City to celebrate what he puts it the renewal of their relationship. She had that sly smile on her face and walking to Chase's room she instantly just went up to him and gave him a passionate kiss.
"I'm taking it Foreman spilled the beans." Chase grinned after receiving his kiss. "You're still not the best person to try to hide surprises from but yet you're still a sucker for them aren't you?"
"For a hopeless romantic you still have that magic in you to surprise and know a woman's intellectual." Cameron simply answers when Chase hands her a bouquet of flowers. "They're lovely...you know this wasn't necessary you've done too much."
"I know and I also know you like flowers." She smiled as he recalled that time years ago he left her flowers on top of her locker in the locker room after she called off their "friends with benefit" relationship during their case that involved a six year old patient. That small gesture was the beginning of him trying to pursue a relationship with Cameron and ultimately it paid off for him in the end.
"Hearing you say that Robert sure brings back memories." Cameron says. "And I'll let you subject me to one of your romantic surprises though you know that it's one of my green kryptonites. I still don't know how I deserve this."
"I want to help my special Valentine find her smile again after all the shit she's been through and I thought why not tonight?" Chase smiled lacing his fingers with hers and rubbing them.
Cameron's smile gave him the answer after she took her small gifts and helped Chase pack a quick overnight bag for the both of them. He gave her the quick rundown of their itinerary for the night and inside she was swelling up with glee, anxiety and nervousness. Once they were set all they needed to do was give Foreman the rundown and with their maternal instincts kicking in needed to reassure themselves that Liam was in good hands for the night.
"Okay so you have our numbers, the hotel room we're staying in, our cell numbers and make sure you feed him; change him and if he gives you a hard time falling asleep just pop in Oasis' (What's the Story) Morning Glory album and play track three." Cameron replied relaying instructions to Foreman before turning over their son to his babysitter for the night. "You know what track I'm talking about."
"Lucky guess I'm saying it's Wonderwall?" Foreman eyed the baby he was holding in his arms. "Another Oasis fanatic like his parents?"
"When he has difficulty sleeping for some reason and ironically Wonderwall puts him to sleep if he gets too fussy." Chase added. "Probably it was embedded in him when Cameron was pregnant with him. She used to tell me how our kid will kick on the days she will be blasting Oasis on the stereo at her place back in Chicago. We would have called Marina over but said she couldn't make it tonight to look after Liam. Are you sure you'll be okay looking after him? Hey if you get hungry feel free to raid the fridge and all."
"Gosh you two sound like my mother and it's not like I haven't looked after a kid before." Foreman replied. "Don't worry I'm not going to put body precising or tattoos on the baby or burn down your place. For two overprotective and bearing parents you guys sure fit the description." He first turned to Cameron. "Hey Cameron trust me your son will be fine I promise you. Besides, at least give Chase some credit that he's willing to give you guys the night off for yourselves and above all both of you at least deserve a break from parenthood. If it puts you at ease if anything happens I will put your number on speed dial okay? Besides...it's Valentine's Day, the commercialized holiday for couples sponsored by Hershey's and Hallmark you should enjoy it with this hopeless romantic."
"Thanks again for looking after him again Foreman." Cameron replied as Chase was trying to get them to leave. "I set an extra bottle in the fridge for him and gosh I should probably stop rambling and...enjoy myself for once."
"Babe come on we got a reservation with our names on it he's in good hands with his Uncle Eric." Chase replied with a grin as Cameron bit her lower lip. After giving their son one more kiss goodnight they handed him back off to Foreman and headed out the door. Foreman watched the couple leave as he stared out the window holding the six month old toddler surveying the sight outside on the streets. He stared back at the baby he's carrying around the shared condo of Chase and Cameron's and meeting him three months back very ill and on the verge of death he noticed the changes in him in the few short months.
It surprised him when Chase asked him to babysit their son and usually Foreman wasn't the type of person who usually will look after kids. After some bartering and Chase agreeing to do four hours worth of clinic duty on his behalf he gave him since Chase revealed his plan to take Cameron out for a night. Also, as Chase pointed out to him it will give him the opportunity to get to know Liam better and bond with his extended family. Liam is indeed the splitting image of both his parents inheriting traits from both his parents. He had his father's looks and the blonde hair and in his mind will probably inherit the Australian accent when he gets older and the hazel green eyes he got them from his mother. He hoped that Thirteen wasn't working too late tonight because when he spoke to her earlier she agreed to come over and help Foreman babysit trying to salvage what he had left of Valentine's Day.
"So let's see what your mommy and daddy have for movies to watch kiddo." Foreman replied to the baby placing him in his playpen. "Let's see sappy chick flicks and romantic comedies that's your mother's movie collection and a few action movies I'm betting is your father's movie collection." Liam stared up at Foreman with his hazel green eyes wide eyed and let out a sight giggle. "You must love having company around that isn't mommy and daddy don't you little guy? It seems like your parents are back in sync with each other like all the drama they went through last year didn't happen. Personally you being here and your mom is making a big positive impact on your dad's life...it's keeping him in line. Just know that because of you both mommy and daddy are realizing just how much they really need each other and be grateful for that Liam."
Cameron feels as though maybe he ought to be blindfolded as Chase drives, a mixture of anxiety and excitement fluttering in her stomach. Throughout the course of their relationship, they have very rarely gone on formal dates, save for a couple of anniversaries. On those occasions, Chase had always been the one in charge of making the plans, taking the initiative at all. After Cameron left, he spent long months throwing himself in an endless barrage of idiotic adrenaline rushes whether it be fooling around with random members of the nursing staff or diving into another self-pity night with Jenny. Anything he did was his way to subside the feeling of resentment, angst or heartbreak to fill the void left in him the day she left. She still questioned his intentions, but for a moment she realized that they were back to the basics that started their relationship. Once again, she was being pursued by Chase.
It was then she realized that they were a long way from home, finding themselves surrounded by the busy sounds that filled the streets of New York City. Driving through Midtown she settled herself in the passenger seat looking out the window taking in the sights around her. They only made occasional trips to New York a few times a year especially during the spring when there were new musicals debuting on Broadway. It was a secret love Cameron had next to her job and her son taking annual trips one a year to New York to view a new show. Yet, there was still a pang of doubt that remained in her questioning Chase's intentions.
"Why are you doing this?" she asks quietly, as Chase pulls into the parking lot of a beautiful hotel he's driven past on numerous occasions, hoping for the opportunity to investigate further.
Chase parks, then turns to look at her, brow furrowed into a slight frown, as though her question has caught him off guard. "I thought I made it clear, I want to take you on a date. Do I need a reason other than that?"
"I know it's just...I'm not doubting your intentions they're good intentions. But however I feel like this is out of pity you're doing all of this just for Liam's sake." she challenges, unable to help herself. There were times during her period of dissolution that she felt things would turn around for her. Everyone she knew around her felt that she had to deal with her own problems after leaving her on her own accord to fend for both herself and for Liam. Ironically her source of salvation and glimmer of hope end up coming from the one person she drove to spend almost a year in a sea of self-pity and idiotic adrenaline rushes.
Chase sighs, turning sideways as far as he can in the driver's seat. "Are we really going to do this now? I know you're scared. But this is just one date. One night. I wanted to do something nice with you, away from home or work for a change. I know I'm the last person to talk about self-pity with because I proved to be an example of that. Is there anything wrong with showing you that maybe there is still some sort of good left for you to hold onto?"
Cameron takes a breath, swallowing hard. She tells himself it's a good thing that he's seen straight through her insecurities, though it shames her. But at least he's aware now, understands, and that is a great relief. "Okay," she manages at last, trying to turn her attention back to the evening at hand. "I'm sorry."
He shakes his head, smiling lovely. "Don't be. I get it."
"I'm still sorry," Cameron insists, suddenly horribly guilty one again for doubting his intentions when he's being so thoughtful.
"I just want you to tell me when something's bothering you," Chase says simply, then leans across the dashboard to kiss her lightly. "Come on. We have a reservation and you can't leave a hopeless romantic hanging."
"I know and for the record Valentine's Day is still a commercialized holiday created by Hershey's and Hallmark." She takes his hand as they enter the lobby, as he is leading her toward a candle-lit restaurant.
"Thank you for reminding me of your commercialized point of view on holidays babe." He slightly jokes as they are lead to their table. Pulling out her chair to let her sit down, he makes his way to his seat on the opposite end of the table staring at her hoping to overcome another hurdle that he feels needs to be overcome.
Sitting across from him at the table, Cameron feels as though they are at an unknown point in their relationship. The past few weeks have been filled with familiarity in spite of this fresh beginning; everything until now has seemed like an odd dream, filled with regrets and deja vu. But this is entirely new, paradoxically at once a blessing and a challenge.
"What are you thinking?" Chase asks, when their food has come and still they're sitting in silence.
She bites her lip and twirls a forkful of pasta before putting it down again, watching her own hand shake slightly. There are still so many things she can't find words for, couldn't tell him even if she trusted the consequences. "Sort of feels like...we're going back to the basics. You know the fundamentals that established our relationship...you pursuing me in spite of everything that happened to us."
Chase pauses, looking slightly surprised. "Really? What makes you think that?"
"A lot has happened to us in over a year and we're not the same people we once knew each other for." Cameron shrugs looking down at her plate, trying to find the right words to describe what is going on in her mind. "We're sitting here trying to recreate what we had before but at the same time we're not able to recapture the spark that made our relationship work. We have our flaws that we dealt with and revealing them to you makes me question how you could possibly still find it in your heart to try to reestablish our relationship from the very beginning? It feels like we're with each other once again for two reasons: one because we have a kid together and two we're just two lonely messed up people who screwed up and are looking for ways to fix things."
"Do you feel that you don't deserve happiness for what happened to you before?" Chase questioned. "Why do you insist that everything that those around you are doing is out of self-pity and empathy because of Liam? Ever since you came back what is it that you truly want?"
"Like you used to say before...you want us to be disgustingly happy," she says quietly, squeezing his hand lightly. "Do you remember when you said that to me?"
"Of course," Chase whispers, "I know it will be hard and it's hard to remember when we last both had normal lives or remember how to be okay. However I know that we don't have to do this alone...you and me we could do this together if you believe it. To me it doesn't matter what pace we go about or how we approach this and I don't care about any flaws or secrets we have just as long as we believe that there is a chance we could get back everything we promised each other what we planned for a long time ago. It's not too late and I'm not going anywhere you deserve happiness and all I could think about is being with you and Liam for the rest of my life."
"I want that...even if it's not the normal life I'll picture in the long run as long as I see my future with you nothing else matters." she murmurs. "I just need something to hold onto and that makes sense can you promise me that?"
Chase leans up to kiss her slowly. "I love you," he breathes against her ear. "We're going to be happy. I promise."
"I love you too babe...but you know it's not nice to keep promises you can't keep." Cameron said, looking at him. "Even if it's Valentine's Day one day's worth of promises will only last just for today."
The two of them continued to relish in their time together, it was what made their relationship special just being with one another. Cameron always found solace when she was with Chase, a sense of knowing that someone made her feel important and special. He continued to smile at her giving her the feeling and the belief that the second time around everything will be okay. There were times when people used to tell Chase not to keep promises he couldn't intend to keep, and he sure wasn't the reliable person he once used to be. Times are now different and even if today was Valentine Day he assured himself he found his purpose to hold onto to keep a promise he made to his special Valentine.
"I'll keep this promise to you." He whispered leaning closer to her into her ear. "I'm going to hold onto it for as long as I live...you'll be happy Ally."