This Everyday Love

"Tuck! Your mom is here to pick you up," a teacher called out. The boy popped his head up from a sea of beanbag chairs. He shelved the book that he was holding and ran over to Miranda. She smiled and kissed his head, looking him over. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. She walked to the door as he grabbed his book bag and jacket. At the car, Tuck talked nonstop from the school to their house.

She interrupted him only to ask: "What do you want to have for dinner?"

"Chicken and mac'roni and cheese." Miranda smiled into her rearview mirror. "And French toast please."

She laughed. "That is a funny combination. Are you sure?" She watched him nod. "Well, okay, then."

Back at the house, Tuck got comfortable at the kitchen table doing his homework while she started on their dinner. Miranda dropped the chicken into hot grease and heard the doorbell ring. "Can I get it?" Tuck asked.

"Ask who it is first," she told him. "And makes sure you know who it is before you open the door." He rushed to the door with Miranda following him slowly.

"Who is it?" His voice squeaked out.

"Ben!"

"Ben who?" Tuck laughed before the door.

"Ben Warren."

Tuck looked back at Miranda. She nodded. "Hi, Ben!" Her son opened the door.

"Hey, Tuck!" Ben said rubbing the boy's head. Tuck giggled. "What are you doing?"

"Homework." Miranda turned and walked back into the kitchen.

"Need some help?" She heard Ben ask Tuck.

"No. Almost done."

Tuck ran into the kitchen and sat in his seat. Ben walked over to Miranda who was stirring the macaroni and cheese and pouring it into a pan to be baked. He slid his arms around her waist. Miranda considered shrugging him off before allowing her body to be wrapped in his embrace. He kissed her cheek. "Hey, baby."

"Hey yourself," she said returning the kiss.

"Smells good in here," Ben said letting her go. He sat down in an empty chair.

Tuck looked over at him. "You want some?" Tuck asked.

"Am I invited?" Ben responded.

"Yes."

"What are we having?"

"Chicken, mac'roni and cheese and French toast."

"That sounds delicious." Ben winked at Miranda.

Tuck and Ben talked a bit more while Miranda fixed the French toast. She was glad that her son didn't mind the company of her boyfriend. "Finished!" Tuck shouted.

"Alright, leave it on the table. Go upstairs and change and I'll call you when everything is ready." Tuck ran out of the kitchen and Miranda could hear him scramble up the stairs.

"Need some help?" Ben asked her. She shook her head. "You're sure?" Miranda felt Ben move behind her again. "I have two free hands."

"Well, when you put it like that…" She turned around and looked at him. He raised his eyebrow. "Can you clear off the table and wash the dishes later? Thanks." She smiled and turned back around.

"Funny. But whatever you need," Ben responded hitting her butt and making her squeal.

When the food was ready, the three of them sat down to eat, talking loudly and having a great time. Miranda pulled herself out of the conversation and looked at her son and her boyfriend having a animated discussion that didn't include her. She smiled as she watched her son yawn, lowering his head onto the table. "No, no, no," she said laughing. "Go and get ready for bed, young sir." Tuck nodded slowly. "I'll be up to tuck you in." Ben gave him a high-five as he climbed off of his chair. Miranda really appreciated the fact that Tuck was so independent at such a young age. Miranda started to gather the empty plates on the table. Ben stood up and took them from her hands. "Thanks," she told him. She watched him and yawned loudly. "Oh! Excuse me." Ben looked back at her and smiled. "Um, you stay down here. I'm going to kiss my son goodnight." Ben nodded.

Up in her son's room, Tuck was already snoring lightly. She pulled the covers up to his neck and he moved a little. She watched him for a minute and kissed his head before closing the door a little and going back to the kitchen. She and Ben talked for while as he washed the dishes. Miranda yawned again. "Is that your way of telling me that you're tired and you want me to go home?"

She laughed and shook her head, a stray tear falling from her eye. She was tired. "No."

"Well…"

"I mean, I want you to stay, but I'm not sure that I'm c-comfortable with you spending the night with Tuck right across the hall."

"Of course," he said. "I get it." She took the hand that he was offering her. He pulled her closer to him. He put his arms around her neck and her hands went to his waist. He kissed the top of her head. "I'll see you tomorrow?" She nodded. Ben lifted her chin and kissed her deeply. She kissed him back just as hard, stroking the back of his neck. Miranda pulled away first and grinned. "Keep kissing me like that and I won't ever go home."

She laughed as they walked to the front door. She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. "Be safe." He waved and then was gone. Upstairs in her bedroom, Miranda changed into some pajamas. She reached over to her nightstand and picked up her ringing phone. "Hello."

"Hey," Ben said smoothly.

She sat on the edge of the bed and waited for a second. Miranda took the phone away from her ear as she climbed under the covers. She got comfortable before she asked: "Was there anything else you needed?"

"Like what?" He volleyed.

"The reason you called."

"Oh."

"God, Ben Warren!" She said smiling into the phone.

"I just wanted to hear your voice, okay?"

"Stop."

"I can't say that?" He asked. Miranda could hear the distinct sound of a car door closing.

"You can… only if you mean it," she answered quietly.

"I most definitely mean it."

Miranda took a deep breath. Sometimes Ben said things that made her wonder why she'd ever looked at another man. "So, what's your real reason for calling?"

"I just wanted to call and say goodnight."

"Goodnight," she echoed.

"And to say that I really loved our weekend together."

She nodded, a cheesy grin tattooed on her face. "I loved it, too."

Ben spoke again: "Hold on, let me just-" Miranda closed her eyes and settled her head deep into her pillow. "Hello?"

"Hello again," Miranda said yawning.

"You kicked me out of your house and now you're trying to get me off of the phone."

Miranda chuckled: "I had… a day."

"Wanna tell me about it?" She inhaled. Confessing her feelings about what'd happened earlier in the day might make things awkward. "Miranda?"

"Do you really want to hear about my day? Even though it's about you?"

"Ah, baby. Especially if it's about me," Ben said. Miranda imagined him scratching his beard. He was probably lying on his sofa, his ankles crossed. She ran her fingers through her hair thinking about him. She wished he was next to her instead of being on the other side of town. Should she have allowed him to stay over?

"Uh, okay," Miranda said, stretching the words out. She lowered her voice. "I was so excited to see you after…" Her voice trailed off. "But when I saw you talking to Dr. Simpson and how buddy-buddy you were with her—." Ben started to speak, but Miranda kept going. "And while I don't think of myself of as a particularly fjealous person, I don't think it's a good trait to have, I was very jealous."

"You were?"

"Yes, I was."

"There's no need to be."

"I know that now, but—"

"You know," he said cutting her off. "That's how I felt when I first started getting close to you."

"You were jealous? Of who?" Miranda asked racking her brain for who Ben could have been jealous of. He hadn't really known about Tucker, so…

"God, this is embarrassing."

"Just spill it!" Her curiosity was taking over.

"You and Webber. I was jealous of you and Webber."

Miranda gasped and laughed loudly. "Me and… my God, Ben Warren. That is utterly insane. He is—the man is my mentor and one of my best friends."

"I know that now!" He answered laughing, using her phrase. "But you guys have this shorthand language and if someone asks you about him, you know exactly where he is and vice versa. It was intimidating." She blushed. She told him about the time The Chief's wife accused them of having an affair. Ben laughed hysterically. "See!?" When they'd stopped laughing, Ben said: "But, I promise, you don't have to worry about any other woman. I'm a monogamist. If I'm with one woman, I'm with her. That's it." Miranda inhaled deeply. "I'm not thinking about anyone else."

"That's what Tucker said," Miranda said before she could stop herself. Ben stopped laughing. She held her breath. She hadn't meant that.

"Let me be clear, I am not Tucker," he told her seriously.

"I know. I know that."

"Then know that what I'm telling you is true."

"Alright," she said simply.

They were quiet for a very long time. "You're asleep?"

"Nope. Just thinking."

"About what?"

"I'll tell you about it some other time, I'm exhausted."

He sighed. "There's something about you, Miranda Bailey."

"Is that so?" Miranda turned on her side.

"Yeah."

"Goodnight, Ben Warren."

"Goodnight, Miranda Bailey."