"I am going to keep it but I don't think I am going to tell him, Meredith," Cristina said.
"Excuse me, what did you just say? You're not going to tell him? He is the father, he has to know!" Meredith shrieked.
"Well, at least not right now," Cristina said. "He's dealing with so much across there, trying to save lives. I really don't want to him worrying about me. Besides, it's early days yet. I am only eight weeks and you know what happened the last time."
"Maybe that's wise. You don't want to get his hopes up and then you have another miscarriage," Meredith said.
"Yeah, I think I will wait until I am past the first trimester and then tell him. I will tell him when I am about four months. I would be safely out of the first trimester and well into the second trimester. I don't want to worry him, unnecessarily," Cristina said. "In the meantime, I hope I can get the support from you and Callie."
"I am pretty sure George and Izzie will want to help, too," Meredith said.
"The only thing, Meredith, nobody must know who the father of the baby is. I am going to pass it off as a one-night stand. Only you and Callie know the truth. I want to avoid all the questions about the father," Cristina said.
"Okay, that's fine," Meredith said.
They both went back to work. Since the day Cristina found out about the pregnancy, she had been in a quandary on what to do. If she kept the baby, she was going to go through this entire pregnancy alone because Owen was in Iraq and would not be back in the US for another 10 months. If she terminated, her life would be easier and she could go back to her normal resident routine but she felt the guilt of terminating Owen's baby would consume her.
There was another thought that was in the back of her mind. There was a possibility that Owen could die in Iraq and the baby would be the last piece of him that she would ever have. She shuddered at the thought but she knew it could happen.
The first person she told was Meredith and she was also going to have to tell Callie because they both knew the truth. Izzie, Alex and George would just have to assume that it was a one-night stand because they knew that she was not involved with anyone at the present time.
When she told the other residents that she was pregnant, they were quite concerned, given that they knew about her past history. Izzie said immediately that she would do all she could to help. George did, too.
Alex said if he would be okay with going to the birthing classes with her, if she needed. That surprised her, given the snarky exchanges both she and Alex had shared in the past.
When she told Callie, the fifth-year resident was beyond ecstatic. Callie knew immediately who the father of the baby was, since she encountered him trying to make his early morning departure from their apartment.
"Does he know?" Callie asked, excitedly. She already had visions of a cute half-Asian baby living in their apartment.
"No, he doesn't and I don't plan on telling him, until I get past the first trimester. I don't want to add to his anxiety, while he is across there," Cristina said. "By the way, if anyone asks you who the father of this baby is, just tell them that you don't know."
"Okay, if that is the way you want it," Callie said. She rubbed her hands in glee. "I can't wait to throw the baby shower."
Cristina was horrified at the thought but she let it go for the moment. They could argue about any pending baby showers in the future, she figured. She just had to get through the first three months, unscathed.
When she hit four months, she figured it was probably time to tell Owen. The chances of her having a miscarriage had significantly dropped. She was awaiting her regular once-a-week video call and she was excited. Today was the day that she was going to tell him that he was going to be a father.
So she waited at her computer for their appointed call time. She waited and waited and waited. She waited for 45 minutes. This was so unlike Owen. He was very punctual whenever he called her because he knew she was a busy resident. She was getting worried. What had delayed Owen that he could not call?
She went back to work, with a heavy heart. She was heading down to the lobby when she saw a familiar face, she had not seen since she was 20. It was Mrs. Hunt, talking to one of the nurses. The woman certainly looked older and her hair had gone grey.
"Mrs. Hunt, do you need some help?" she called out to the woman. Joanna looked around to see his son's girlfriend. She could never mistake those bouncing, ebony curls as the young woman ran to greet her.
"Cristina," Joanna said. "I have come to see you. Owen told me that you worked here, the last time he was on leave. I didn't have any numbers to contact you, so I came down here. I have a bit of news for you."
"Okay, let's go have a seat," Cristina said, ushering the woman to a chair in the lobby.
"Owen told me that he had re-connected with you the last time he was here and you are together, again. He was very lost without you and that was the happiest I ever saw him in years, when he talked about meeting you again," Joanna said. "You make my son happy."
"He makes me happy, too," Cristina said, starting to feel a little bit anxious. What was this news that Joanna felt the need to come down to the hospital to tell her?
"I got some news, today," Joanna said, her blue eyes starting to well up with tears.
"Is he dead?" Cristina said, quietly. Her eyes were starting to fill up, too.
"No, he has been taken. There was a raid on the medical compound and he was one of three doctors taken by insurgents to help tend their casualties," Joanna said, her voice breaking. She started to weep, uncontrollably, bringing her hands up to her face. Cristina put her arm around the woman, her own tears starting to fall freely.
"At least he's not dead," Cristina said, trying to console herself.
"The army said that they would probably keep him alive because they need his skills, so that's a good thing," Joanna said.
"What are they doing to get them back?" Cristina said. "They have to be doing something."
"They said as soon as they can get positive confirmation about where they are being held, they will be doing all they can to rescue them," Joanna said. "That can't come soon enough."
The two women held each other, as they remembered the man that they both loved.
"You've grown up into a fine, young woman, Cristina," Joanna said. "You're a doctor, now. The last time I saw you, you looked like you could still be in high school and look at you, now. I had my doubts about you but I am so glad you proved me wrong."
"Thank you, Mrs. Hunt," Cristina said. "There is something I would like to share with you." She had decided in that split second that she would tell Owen's mother about the baby. It would provide some sort of comfort to the older woman, she felt. She took Joanna's hand and rested it on her stomach. Joanna was startled when she felt the baby bump.
"You're pregnant? Is Owen the father?" Joanna asked, hopefully. Her blue eyes widened and her whole demeanor changed from abject sorrow to utter happiness.
"Yes, I am pregnant. Four months. And yes, Owen is the father. We spent the night together the last time he was here and he is the only man I have been with," Cristina said.
"Does he know?" Joanna asked, still unable to fully grasp this major piece of miraculous news.
"No," Cristina said, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I was going to tell him today when he was supposed to call but I got no call. I was waiting to get out of my first trimester before I told him and now, he may never know."
"Hush, child. Don't cry. Let's not give up hope. They will find him and rescue him. I am so happy for you and Owen. My first grandchild," the older woman said, with a smile that quickly replaced her tears. "You've made me very happy."
The two women embraced.
Cristina paged Callie and Meredith to the residents' lounge. When they came, they were shocked at Cristina's tear-streaked face.
"What's the matter?" Meredith said, running to sit next to her friend.
"Owen's gone missing. Insurgents raided the combat hospital compound and kidnapped three doctors. Owen was one of the doctors," Cristina said. "I was going to tell him about the baby today."
"How did you find out about Owen?" Callie asked.
"Owen's mother came to the hospital. She was told by the army that he was taken," Cristina said.
"Are they doing something to find them?" Meredith said.
"Yes but I don't know how long that will take," Cristina said, bursting into tears again.
Meredith and Callie surrounded Cristina and hugged her. They started crying because Cristina was crying. Though they didn't really know Owen, they knew and loved Cristina and they hurt for her.
"What if he dies?" Cristina cried. "He will never know about this baby. How am I going to raise this baby by myself?"
"We will be here to help you," Callie said. "We'll always help you."
"Yes," Meredith agreed. "And George, Izzie and Alex will help, too. I know they will."
The pregnancy progressed as well as it could under the circumstances. Cristina made the decision to finally tell George, Izzie and Alex who the father was and what had happened to him. They, along with Callie and Meredith, banded together to provide Cristina with the support she needed to get through the pregnancy. She was never alone when she went to the obstetrician's appointment – one of them was always with her. They each took turns in attending the birthing classes with her. They each did it because they were never sure who would be free to stay with her, when the time came for the baby to be delivered. In a way, it became their baby.
The months passed and she had heard no word about Owen. She would call Mrs. Hunt every week to find out if there was anything new. The answer was always the same - no news. Mrs. Hunt would always ask about how she was coping with the pregnancy. She would always tell Mrs. Hunt that everything was going fine.
She was in the OR, when she felt the first contraction. She wanted to finish this surgery, as she was unwilling to show any weakness in front of Hahn but the pain was becoming unbearable. It was George, who was also in the OR, who noticed her discomfort. He asked with his eyes if she was alright. She answered in the negative with her pained eyes.
"Dr. Hahn, I think that Dr. Yang needs to leave the OR. I will take over, holding the clamp," George said.
"What's the matter, Yang?" Hahn said, brusquely.
"I think I am going to have the baby," Cristina said, weakly.
"Get out of here, now," Hahn yelled. "Someone page Grey and Torres and tell them their friend needs them now."
"Will do," a surgical nurse replied.
"Where are you going, now?" George asked, as Cristina left.
"OB, George, OB," Cristina said, as she stripped off the surgical gown.
Cristina was limping along to the OB ward when Alex spotted her, holding on to the wall.
"What's happening? Is it time? Is it coming?" Alex said, excitedly. He grabbed a wheelchair from an indignant orderly, who backed off when Alex gave him a deadly stare.
Cristina was grateful for the wheelchair, as Alex sped off to OB. As they got there, Meredith and Callie were already there, waiting.
"We got here and they said you weren't here," Meredith shrieked. "What took you so long?"
"I was trying to make it down to OB on my own but walking was taking a really long time. Good thing I met Alex on the way and he provided me with some form of transportation," Cristina said.
"Good job, Alex," Callie said, slapping him on the back.
They got her settled into a room. Meredith paged Izzie, who came running and tripped on the way in. Twenty minutes later, George came rushing in, after finishing the surgery with Hahn. They were all extremely excited; their baby was coming!
A/N: Thank you for reading. Please leave your reviews. Next chapter is the delivery of the baby and news of Owen finally reaches Cristina.