Finley James Hunt: 12-years-old (almost 13)
Oliver Blake Hunt: 8-years-old (almost 9)
Bronwyn Kate Hunt: 4-years-old
Ella Ray Hunt: 9.5-months-old
Gwendolyn Sarah Hunt: 9-months-old
Chapter 74: Trick or Treat
Halloween
"The daycare Halloween party starts at 3:30," Amelia yelled from the shower as Owen shaved.
"Okay," Owen responded as he hung his mouth open so his razor could get a better angle. "I'll be in the ER in-between attending shifts from 2-4 so I'll have to meet you up there. I'll be there as early as I can assuming I don't end up with a surgery. Who's picking up the kids?"
"Sarah has the babies all day – she should be here any minute. I'll slide out around 2:30 to go pick up Bronwyn and the boys," Amelia explained. Shortly after Owen spoke with Amelia and Lynne about the possibility of interviewing Sarah, the three met with her and hired her. Sarah had become another member of the family in the time she had worked with the kids, and her enthusiasm and flexibility were true gifts.
As Amelia stepped out of the shower and began drying off, she asked Owen, "Can you drop the kids off at school this morning?"
Owen huffed with slight frustration, "I suppose. I wish you'd mentioned it before so I could have gotten an earlier start."
Amelia stepped over to Owen, dropped her towel on the floor and stood before the mirror naked. Flirting as she wrapped her arms around him from behind, she pointed out, "You didn't seem too interested in jumping out of bed in a hurry earlier."
Blushing, Owen chuckled and raised an eyebrow as he caught Amelia's glance in the mirror. He turned around, embraced her, and suggested with a grin, "And if you don't put some clothes on, I'm going to forget I have to go to work today." He gazed into her eyes and smiled as he slid his hands from her breast to her hip, "You're not helping."
"Oh this?" Amelia teased as she beamed and began to walk toward the closet. "This is my Halloween costume."
"And you are?..." Owen asked with a broad smile of anticipation as he raised his eyebrows and widened his eyes.
Without skipping a beat, Amelia peeked over her shoulder and responded, "I'm Eve. Want an apple?"
Owen's mouth dropped wide open and he burst into laughter. He walked over to her briskly, picked her up, and flopped onto the bed with her in his arms. He kissed her and growled playfully in her ear as he grabbed her rear, "You are a naughty girl."
"That's why you love having me around, you nasty boy," Amelia purred as she placed one hand behind Owen's neck and worked her other hand downward. He closed his eyes and moaned softly as she slid her hand into his slacks.
"Oh, Mia, that feels so nice," he groaned. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I don't think we have time."
Amelia looked up at the clock and jumped up quickly, "Crap! No, we don't. You need to be out the door with the kids in 20 minutes." The kids weren't even out of bed yet.
"Dammit," Owen growled as he stood up, rearranged himself, and suggested, "I'll get the boys going if you get Bronwyn moving."
"Deal," Amelia responded as she strode past him quickly while putting on her robe. When she reached the door, she looked back with sincere pity and sighed, "Owen, I'm so sorry…"
Owen offered a resigned grin as he took in a deep breath and commented with regret, "I know…later. We'll connect later." He walked down the hallway to wrangle the boys, suggesting they throw on their uniforms and worry about tying their ties in the car on the way to school. "Ollie, are you dressing up this afternoon for the hospital party?" Owen inquired.
Amelia interrupted from the hallway, "Owen, no worries. I'll make sure their costumes get to the hospital."
Owen shrugged toward Oliver and prompted, "Mom's handling that. Hand me your tie and go brush your teeth. Meet me downstairs as soon as you can, buddy." Then Owen turned to Finley's closed door, yelling, "Are you out of bed, Nole? Getting dressed?"
Finley, fully dressed, opened the door and stepped toward the bathroom, "I'm good, Dad. I'll be downstairs in a sec."
Owen couldn't help but grab the back of Finley's head and kissed him on the forehead. "You're the best, Finley. Good job." Finley's face turned to an expression of disgust as he wiped his hand over the spot where Owen had planted a kiss.
The second he pecked Finley, Owen turned around and headed quickly down the stairs. When he reached the kitchen, Owen took in a deep breath before calling up to Amelia, "Mia, I forgot to grab a tie. I'm wearing a white shirt and grey slacks."
"On it, "Amelia yelled from Bronwyn's room as she attempted to attack Bronwyn's rat-nested curls. "Bronwyn, I think I'm going to need to take you to school late, sweetie. You and I just can't hurry like this and end up looking like we want."
"Okaladokaley, Mommy," Bronwyn sang as she pulled a pair of leggings on. Before heading back to her bedroom to grab Owen a tie, Amelia threw a matching shirt over Bronwyn's head and encouraged her to put on her socks and shoes. Just as Amelia crossed the hallway, the babies cried and called out.
"Just a minute, babies. Finley? Do you have time to go in there?" Amelia begged.
"No, he doesn't," Owen hollered back. "The kids need to be down here pronto, Aims."
Amelia ran and grabbed a patterned black, white, and grey tie and handed it to Finley as she headed to the nursery, "Give this to Daddy and tell him I'm taking Bronwyn to school."
"Ok," Finley muttered. Before he headed down the stairs, he stopped to prompt Oliver to hurry up. When Finley reached the kitchen, he delivered Amelia's message and handed Owen the tie.
Owen frowned, held up the tie and asked Finley, "Boring, don't you think?"
Finley shrugged as he grabbed his lunch and his breakfast to go, "I'll wait in the car, Dad."
"Amy!" Owen implored, "Can you send a different tie down with Oliver? This is too monochromatic."
With her hands full of babies in need of diaper changes, Amelia couldn't have cared less about Owen's tie. "No, it's not. It'll look great," Amelia promised as she nudged Oliver down the stairs.
Owen huffed, "I want something with color, Mia."
"Fine," Amelia retorted as she walked back to their closet. She called out, "How about burnt orange with thin black stripes? Good for Halloween but still professional."
"Great, throw it down," Owen responded, wishing she'd chosen a multi-colored tie.
With the babies in her arms, Amelia walked to the top stair and threw down the tie. She blew him a kiss and assured him, "See you at the hospital."
"Love you," Owen hollered back as he walked through the door to the garage.
Just as Owen pulled out, Sarah pulled in with an enthusiastic smile and wave. She parked and walked in, finding Bronwyn in the kitchen trying to reach the milk in the fridge. "Here, sweetie, let me grab it," Sarah offered. Sarah helped Bronwyn prepare some cereal and settled her at the table.
"Dr. Shepherd-Hunt? Would you like some help up there?" Sarah called out.
"Yes, please, Sarah," Amelia responded as she slipped on a dress and the nearest pair of heels. Ella was crawling throughout the room as Gwendolyn balanced on her hands and knees while rocking back and forth. Gwendolyn was calling out as she observed her sister, as if she was complaining that she couldn't crawl all over the room. She willed herself forward every few seconds with her lower right leg dragging along.
Sarah reached Amelia's closed bedroom door and knocked softly, "Good morning."
"Please, come in," Amelia replied. "They've both been changed, but that's as far as I made it. I'm running late to get Bronwyn to school. I'll see you this afternoon at the hospital a little after 3?"
"Sounds great," Sarah responded as she scooped the girls up and carried them to the nursery to find some clothes.
Amelia appeared at the nursery doorway as she was putting on earrings and added, "Can you bring the kids' Halloween costumes with you? They're in the office on the desk. Finley doesn't want to dress up, so there's 4 in there." Sarah nodded and smiled. After running down the stairs, Amelia grabbed Bronwyn's backpack and headed toward the garage, encouraging, "Let's go, kiddo."
"Mommy, I still have rat hair everywhere," Bronwyn reminded her.
"Crap!" Amelia responded as she threw everything in front of the door and ran back up the stairs, explaining, "I'll be right back, Bronwyn. Stay right there."
"Ok," Bronwyn yelled back. "But, Mommy, you said a naughty word!"
Amelia rolled her eyes, grabbed the spray bottle, brush, and a hair tie. As she walked down the stairs toward Bronwyn, Bronwyn repeated herself, "Mommy, you said a naughty word just then."
"I know. That was a bad choice, wasn't it?" Amelia offered as she sprayed Bronwyn's hair and began to brush through it.
"Owwww!" Bronwyn whined. "You're pulling on it!"
"I'm sorry, Bronwyn," Amelia related as she rushed through the tangled hair. "How about a pony tail today?"
"Piggies, please," Bronwyn corrected.
Amelia held up one hair tie and twisted around so she was facing Bronwyn, "I only have one."
"Messy bun?" Bronwyn requested.
"You got it," Amelia agreed as she flipped a handful of curls into a twist and snapped the hair tie around it all. "How's that?"
"Great," Bronwyn smiled. "But you'll have to change it for my costume later. Merida doesn't wear messy buns. "
"Will do," Amelia promised as she guided Bronwyn toward the garage and called out, "Bye, Sarah. Bye, babies."
As Amelia pulled out of the school after dropping Bronwyn off, she spotted a text from Owen. I can't get you off my mind, Eve. On call room? Soon? Need another look at that costume.
Amelia laughed aloud and typed back; I knew I should have listened to Mama. You're a nasty boy with one thing on your mind.
In the middle of a budget meeting, Owen casually looked down and smiled when his phone buzzed. He continued speaking to the assembled department heads, saying, "Let's all see if there are any options for just incremental adjustment. If each department can find 1-2%, we'll be able to consider the ER equipment you're all wanting to purchase. If cuts can't happen, the equipment will have to wait." Owen closed his leather folder holding a notepad as everyone stood up to depart.
Meredith was waiting for Derek in the hallway and smiled when he walked toward her and greeted her, "Hey." Derek placed his arm around Mer's back and continued, "To what do I owe this surprise?"
"Let's walk and talk," Meredith suggested as she peered into the Conference Room and spotted Owen chatting with Arizona. The couple began to walk toward the Neuro wing and Meredith shared, "Cristina just called me. She's on her way here. To Seattle. No discussion before she bought her plane ticket, no checking to see if this is a good week to visit, no anything."
"Hhmmm," Derek responded without an opinion, unsure of the safest stance to take.
"She said she's arriving tomorrow," Meredith announced with confusion. "Don't get me wrong – I'll be glad to see her, but I'm not sure she'll be happy to join in our family plans and schedule."
"She's Cristina – she'll survive. Is there a specific reason behind her visit?" Derek asked with curiosity.
"To surprise me and spend some time with me," Meredith shrugged. "At least that's what she said. I'm not sure what else might be at work. It's Cristina, after all."
Derek leaned over and kissed his wife. He placed his hand on her ear and hair and whispered, "Just let me know how I can help." Meredith kissed her husband goodbye and headed toward the ER.
Moments later, Amelia appeared out of nowhere with two cups of coffee in her hands. Before handing over the cup she'd bought for her brother, she blurted out in frustration, "Derek! I got the message about the surgery you want me to handle. I can't do it. My shift ends at 2:30 today. Besides, if I did it, I'd miss the daycare Halloween party."
"Amy…" Derek stated slowly, "Am I a cruise director or your boss?"
"Give me a break, Derek. C'mon. All five of my kids are going to be here and Owen's going to be covering the ER. I'll take whatever crappy, boring, horrible surgeries you have for the next two weeks. I just can't take this one," Amelia explained as she attempted to hand Derek's note back to him.
Derek put his hand up, refusing the note. "I can't do it, either, Amy. If you can find capable coverage, feel free to swap with someone."
"Why is this my problem? … Oh! Coffee? Special just for you, dear brother," Amelia pressed as she remembered she was going to attempt to bribe her brother with some special coffee one of the residents had helped her prepare. She held the cup up to Derek with a grin and a coy glimmer in her eye.
"Because it's your surgery," Derek smirked as he grabbed the cup, then turned and walked away.
Amelia called out, "Can I reschedule it?"
Without turning around, Derek put forth, "If you can find an open OR and a neuro surgical team. Just make sure the surgery occurs today."
Complaining, Amelia contested, "Why?"
Derek looked at her from inside the elevator as the elevator doors closed. The elevator contained six others: Webber, Hunt, Bailey, Avery, Wilson and Karev. Thankful to have some caffeine to rev him up, Derek put the covered cup to his mouth. Instead of liquid, he felt a small scratch on his lip and physically jumped back a step.
"What are you doing?" Bailey asked with staccato emphasis.
Derek shook his head a little and held his coffee up in front of his body, explaining, "My sister bought me a cup of coffee, but when I went to drink it I felt a scratch of some sort."
"You probably just caught your lip on the opening of the lid," Avery suggested.
"Yeah," Derek responded with a perplexed expression. He attempted to take another drink and had the same experience. This time, he gasped when the scratch occurred.
"Dude, what is your deal?" Karev inquired. "Let me see that cup." Derek handed it over and Alex peeked inside through the small lid opening. He began laughing loudly, handed it back, and advised, "Open it."
"Why?" Derek asked in utter confusion as he opened it and a mouse jumped out from the cup and onto his lab coat. Attempting to simultaneously catch it and fling it off himself, Derek began jumping around the elevator and padding his coat as he felt tiny paws running over his body.
Seeing the mouse, Jackson, Wilson, and Karev burst out in hysterical laughter. Bailey, Webber, and Hunt tried mightily to contain their laughter, finally erupting as Owen grabbed the mouse by its tail and handed it to Derek saying between heaving breaths and chuckles, "Here you go."
Derek tromped out of the elevator without a word with the mouse back in its cup. As the elevator doors closed, the occupants all looked at each other and burst into laughter once again.
"I'm so glad she's not my sister," Karev shared. "That…that was amazing. Hunt, give her my congratulations."
"Something tells me this is just the beginning of the Shepherd sibling pranks for the day," Webber sighed.
An hour later, Owen saw Amelia from afar. He walked up from behind and put a hand on her shoulder, whispering, "Hey there."
Looking back with a relieved smile, Amelia kissed her husband and returned the greeting, "Hi. How's your day going?"
Laughter burst out from behind Owen's grin as he shared, "Well…I was in the elevator when your brother took a drink of the coffee you gave him."
With a celebratory expression of success, Amelia jumped up and down like a young child and clapped her hands. She laughed and asked, "How did he react?"
Owen touched Amelia's nose lightly using his index finger, "You know you're one of my best surgeons, right? And that you're a grown up? Yet, this is how you treat your brother, another fine surgeon?"
With a grin of sheer satisfaction, Amelia folded her arms and offered a definitive response, "Yep!"
Unable to be serious, Owen inquired with a smile, "And why is that?"
"Remember when we were all camping and the kids told us he had hoped to save the mouse to harass me? I've been waiting for the perfect opportunity to share the love," Amelia giggled as she cocked her head.
Owen flirted as he put his arm around his mischievous wife, "I like it when you're in this kind of mood. What are you doing right now?"
Grinning mischievously, Amelia teased, "You." Owen placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her toward the nearest on call room.
After successfully pawning off her surgery, Amelia was able to pick up the boys and Bronwyn before Sarah brought the twins to the hospital. The group met in Owen's office to change into their costumes and get ready for the parade that would wind its way around Peds, Maternity, and the Main Lobby. Bronwyn, with her long red locks finally brushed out and flowing, was Merida from Brave. Amelia joked that Finley was dressed up as a 12-year-old brother assisting his Mama. Oliver had begged to join the twins in a group costume: he was the Cat in the Hat and his little sisters were Thing One and Thing Two. The Hunt kids joined with all their friends and relished the opportunity to Trick or Treat at the Nurses' Stations. Bailey and Zola were the Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood, and Sophia was a Fire Fighter. Tuck attempted to hide from the attention as he and Finley found ways to obtain candy without being dressed up.
As the parade wound its way to the Main Lobby, Owen walked up from behind and stepped beside Amelia. He put his arm around her and offered, "Sorry I'm late."
"The kids didn't notice. You're all good. What held you back?" Amelia asked.
Owen grinned as he bore his eyes into Amelia's face. Hesitating to share details, he stated simply, "An important call that took me by surprise." He immediately looked away and pointed out his kids, laughing at the twins and their blue hair and at Oliver's hat that was nearly as tall as Oliver. "They all look fantastic, Amy. We are such an incredibly lucky family." Amelia smiled as she grasped Owen's arm. She was oblivious to the burdens and worries swirling heavily inside Owen's mind. He leaned down and kissed Amelia's forehead as tiny tears gathered in his eyes. Figuring out how to tell her about the phone call and discerning the next steps was going to be a true challenge.