Chapter 55: Happy Anniversary

Mid-April

After leading and participating in the regular Saturday night chaos in the ER, Owen was able to slip out early and slide into his own bed around 2:00am. Amelia was completely asleep and had no idea he had come home halfway through his shift. After a solid six hours of sleep, Owen opened an eye to peek at the clock. It was 8:00 am.

Amelia had no idea just how empty the house was. All of the children were away. Owen had dropped Bronwyn off at Meredith and Derek's the night before for a sleepover with Zola. Miranda and Ben had offered to keep Finley and Oliver for a couple nights of testosterone-frenzied, boy overload, and, if everything had unfolded according to plan, Lynne was feeding and tending the babies at her little house down the way.

"Good morning," Owen whispered as he kissed Amelia's earlobe and rubbed his nose along the outside edge of her ear.

Smiling softly, Amelia slowly opened her eyes and rolled over to face her husband. As her gaze shifted to Owen's side of the bed, she spotted a bouquet of flowers: dark purple lilacs, purple and white hyacinths, and purple orchids tied together with a laurel green ribbon. The arrangement was a replica of her bridal bouquet.

Gazing out of the corner of her eye at Owen, Amelia inquired with a smile, "What are you up to?"

Owen faked oblivious confusion, responding, "Wha…what do you mean?"

"The flowers," Amelia laughed softly. "They… uh…. look familiar. They remind me of something… I can't quite put my finger on it," she teased as she rested her forefinger on one cheek.

"Oh, those," Owen quipped. "Just some extra buds and stems the florist had sitting on the counter. I bought them for Lynne to thank her for all of her help."

Amelia playfully shoved Owen's shoulder as she opened her mouth in disbelief, "Really?!"

Owen leaned over and kissed his wife gently as he whispered, "Happy Anniversary, Mia."

"Happy Anniversary, Owen. I love you," Amelia responded as she grasped his cheeks in her hands and passionately kissed her husband. "The flowers are… stunning. I'm so touched you remembered the arrangement."

"I had some pictures to help," Owen admitted humbly with a soft shrug. Almost shyly, Owen handed Amelia a sealed envelope and urged, "Open it."

Amelia grinned and pulled herself up, she was sitting and leaning her back against the headboard of the bed. She grasped the envelope and opened it. In Owen's doctor-worthy scrawl, she found the following note:

Your mother explained to me after our wedding that each flower in your bouquet had significance. The lilacs, your favorite, were chosen for their beauty. The hyacinths represented fertility (foreshadowing, perhaps?). The orchids held the deepest and richest meanings: love, beauty, many children (HA!),fertility, thoughtfulness, and charm.

Amelia, every day with you has been an honor. I treasure the beauty of our love and the companionship we share. You are my everything, and I love you more deeply than I will ever be able to express. O.

Wiping tears from her eyes, Amelia leaned over and kissed Owen. "You amaze me. When did you have time to put all this together?"

"I haven't even begun," Owen flirted with a mischievous grin.

"Oh?" Amelia offered.

Owen smiled with relaxation and peace, "Why don't you go hop in the shower and then we'll see what the rest of the day has in store for us." He looked at his watch, more for effect than to note the time, and added, "You have about one hour until we need to leave."

"Leave? Where are we going? What about the kids?" Amelia asked with surprise. Owen explained where all of the children were and mentioned that she could take a look at what he'd packed in her suitcase and add whatever he had forgotten. He nudged her toward the shower. As she walked that direction, she held her hand out as suggested he join her. Without pause, Owen was alongside her.

As the water poured over their heads, Amelia gazed into Owen's eyes and asked, "Now, c'mon, what the hell are you up to today?"

"You really want me to tell you? You don't want it to be a surprise?" Owen confirmed.

Amelia wrapped her arms around him and snuggled into his chest, "Tell me. I promise to be surprised."

After kissing her head, Owen slowly revealed the agenda as he scrubbed her back and washed her hair, "We are going to head to the airport and hop a flight to Portland. There will be a car waiting for us at the airport that will take us to the Rose Gardens, weather permitting, or to our hotel. After a stroll through the flowers, we'll head back to our room to relax before eating an amazing dinner downtown. After dinner, if you can find it in yourself to dump the next 24 hours of liquid gold mother's milk, we'll head to Huber's for Spanish coffees before returning to our hotel where we will either fall asleep exhausted or have a little fun together before falling asleep exhausted."

"You always seem to have a plan up your sleeve, Hunt," Amelia grinned as she narrowed her eyes. "I like that about you."

"Yeah?" Owen asked as he raised his eyebrows and smiled.

Amelia shrugged as she turned Owen around so she could scrub his back, "Yep. Pretty much. Plus," she added as she slapped his ass, "you have a great ass."

"Thank you," Owen blushed as he laughed.

With Lynne's detective work and assistance, Owen was able to purchase a gray dress for Amelia that would be comfortable and fit her. The piece was not a replica of her wedding dress, but still brought back the memory. He wore the same charcoal suit and the soft laurel green tie he'd worn on their wedding day. When the couple arrived at Sea-Tac, Amelia noticed Owen was not heading toward the regular parking lot.

"Don't you want to turn there for parking?" Amelia offered as a question even though she knew the standard answer.

"Nope," Owen responded without further detail. When he pulled up to private parking, Amelia realized he had arranged their own flight rather than a commercial flight. The father of one of Finley's school friends was a pilot and offered to fly the couple to Portland at no cost. With their own plane and tremendous privacy, Owen and Amelia sat arm in arm during the short flight.

When they disembarked, the driver handed Amelia an envelope as he assisted her into the car. Owen walked around to the other side and let himself in. By the time he sat down, she was already reading his second note:

On our wedding day, I shared from the depths of my heart. Luckily, one of your organized sisters recorded the event so we can be reminded of the promises we offered one another. If I had to do it over again, I would choose the same words I shared with you a year ago:

Amelia, from the moment our paths crossed, you've amazed me, distracted me, and captivated me in a way that no human being ever has. I've fallen in love with you again and again, countless times, without reservation. I admire your bold honesty and your stunning brilliance. I stand in awe as you courageously face each day with fervor and verve. Together, starting today, we are a family…our family, a family I look forward to growing and tending with you. Over the years, surprises will undoubtedly come our way, some will be wonderful, and some will be difficult, but I will be with you through them all. I promise to comfort you in times of distress, encourage you to achieve your goals, laugh with you and cry with you, grow with you, be open and honest with you, and cherish you forever. I love you, Mia.

On this special day one year later, I marvel at all the last year has held for us. Nobody could have begun to predict what our lives have become. We've walked united through surprises, challenges, fears, and joys. I admire you even more today than I did a year ago. You continue to amaze me. O

As she wiped away tears, Amelia smiled sweetly and uttered, "How many more of these are there? I'm going to be out of tears soon." She leaned her head into his shoulder and chest as he wrapped his arm around her and whispered that he loved her.

He handed her another envelope, promising this one was different. "I didn't know if you'd want a copy of your vows, so I asked Liz to send those too. That's what's in there." Amelia placed the envelope in her purse and returned to snuggling her husband.

Together, the two strolled through the Rose Gardens, sharing memories and stories from the last year. Their laughter dominated the discussion, even though they also acknowledged all of the challenges they'd faced as Amelia carried the twins. Sitting on the cement benches along the way, the couple chatted away without an agenda and enjoyed their moments together.

As the spring air cooled, Owen placed his suitcoat around Amelia's shoulders and walked her back to the car. They arrived at the hotel, where Amelia found another note waiting for her as she kicked her shoes off and flopped onto the bed.

The day we were married, I had no idea what music would be played. I just felt lucky to find someone to play for us that day. Then the lyrics toI Choose You were sung, and the words were 'us.' Do you remember them? Here are just a few:

You've introduced me to life that I've never known, when I'm by your side that's when I feel at home,

and my only intent is to make you smile, I promise...So believe what I say when I say I'm real, cause there ain't no mistake in the way I feel, baby open your heart and accept this love I give you, over the others, over my pride, over the faults that I have in my life, I choose you.

… Now you're too big a part of me to let you go, I promise. So, despite the way that I make mistakes, and despite the direction this love may take, you can always be sure of me, just have faith, I got you. This much is true... over the others over my pride, over the faults that I have in my life, I choose you.

Every word is true, Amelia Cheyenne. I chose you then and I'd choose you again in a heartbeat. O

Owen was pretending to busy himself across the room as Amelia read his note. When she finished, she playfully commanded, "Get over here, Owen Hunt." He walked over and rested on top of her as they kissed and chuckled together. "You do realize that you've made the rest of our years together harder on yourself, right? Now I know what you are capable of pulling together."

"I should have thought that through," Owen responded thoughtfully. "Damn."

"How long until dinner?" Amelia purred suggestively.

"Plans can always be adjusted," Owen chuckled before clarifying, "but if we stick to the ones we have, dinner isn't for another 2 hours."

"Hmmm…" Amelia observed in fake seriousness, "that should be plenty of time for what I have in mind." She reached over and began loosening Owen's tie and unbuttoning his shirt, "Shall we?"

Owen, a bit too eagerly and with a hint of teenage boy excitement, jumped off the bed and tore off the rest of his clothes, "Absolutely." Amelia giggled at the sight of his enthusiasm as she held her hair over so he could unzip her dress. With a soft touch, Owen slid the dress off her shoulders and down her body. He paused to kiss her back and neck as he took in her presence and prepared to make love to her.

Dinner and Spanish Coffees had been an absolute delight and, as predicted, the couple fell into bed exhausted after their evening out. Owen had promised that they did not have to wake up in the morning and could enjoy breakfast in bed at whatever hour they desired. However, having been well trained by the babies and by the older kids' schedules, they were awake not much later than usual.

Amelia had woken up first, her breasts ready to explode with milk. She stepped into another room in their suite to pump after writing Owen a note and leaving it on her pillow for him to find. Once she was done pumping, Amelia dozed off on the sofa.

As she napped, Owen stirred and spotted Amelia's note. He opened it with anticipation and read:

Now that I'm officially out of tears, I'm able to take a moment and consider the words I want to write. I opened my vows and read with them with wonder. They caused me to think about the power of promises and vows... in our case, they've been true and come true. During this past year, there have been many moments, days, and even weeks when I've felt as if you've given so much more over the last year than I have. As I hung out in hospital beds and on couches cooking babies inside my body, you've stood at the ready and jumped in to be my strength and my advocate. You've sacrificed and smiled as you've done so – causing me to treasure you more and more deeply than I ever believed was possible.

I love you. I love our life. I love our family… our home… our marriage… the chaos that is the Shepherd-Hunt existence. Although our last year has brought absolutely unpredictable realities into our midst, I wouldn't trade it for the world. A part of me does, however, feel like I should apologize for my words a year ago: "Alongside you, I'll do all I can to conceive or adopt or somehow acquire a brood of miniature Owens and Amelias and grow our family." Ok…maybe no apologize but at least admit that starry-eyed dreams and promises do end up coming true and surprising the hell out of us.

Thank you, Owen, for being my man. Thank you for being such a mind-blowing father to our entertaining and wonderful children. Thank you for making me a better person simply because I am your wife. And finally, I hope I have fulfilled my promise from a year ago to love you with all I have to give and all that I am. I promise to continue to live into that covenant for the rest of our days. Yours, Mia