"Are you ready Miranda?" Ben asked as he fixed his tie in the mirror.
"Yes honey." Miranda said coming around the corner.
It was Saturday and Miranda was trying to hold back her tears. Her first born was graduating Med School. Never in a million years would she have saw herself being 60 years old and having a 26 year old who is graduating from Med school. She was overjoyed and proud to say the least.
The door bell rung and Miranda smiled walking to answer it. She knew it was her kids. Ben wanted all of them to ride together like old times. "Mommy" she heard from the door.
"Hey babies." Miranda said with her million dollar smile.
She backed up to let them in.
Chanson was the first one to give her a hug. He was her baby, her 18 year old and just finished his first year of college and is about to turn 19. He went away for college and Miranda thought she was going to loose her mind. She now understood how her mother felt when she left because she was a mess. Ben had to make her leave when they dropped him off.
Dorian hugged her next, he was her oldest boy and he was 23 graduating college next week. Miranda and Ben has to have 2 graduation parties.
Lastly was Cadence. She was 20 and was everything like her mom. She was short and bossy. She also was in college majoring in Pre-med.
"Group hug." Miranda said ushering them all in. She missed them so much.
"I want some love too." Ben said.
"Daddy!" Cadence shrieked
Miranda thought that Symphony was going to be daddies little girl when she was born but Cadence brought that to a whole nother level. Ben was broken when she wanted to move into the college dorm and live on campus. They talked to each other on the phone constantly and went out for lunch once a month. She watched as they hugged like that haven't seen each other in years.
After their hug, he hugged everyone else.
They all were dressed nicely. They got into the car. Miranda looked back at them through the mirror. She wanted to laughed because they were all so close together.
When they arrived. They checked in to the University of Washington school of Medicine. They all went to go sit down in the auditorium. They walked close to the front as possible.
They sat through the 500 names that were being called. She watched as Symphony name was called and they placed the stethoscope around her neck. Miranda couldn't help but let the tears fall and clap as she walked off.
When it was over and everyone migrated outside to see their graduates. Miranda was the first one to run and hug her when she came out. "I am so proud of you honey. You are amazing." Miranda said smiling.
"That really means the world coming from you momma and Chief." She said winking and then placing her a kiss on her cheek.
Everyone hugged and congratulated her. Ben handed her a big bouquet of long stem roses. It was there thing. She has had over 500 from Ben in her life time. Ben brought her one for every single occasion recital, graduation, chorus concert and anything else.
"What's that." Miranda asked looking at the Big diamond that was on her left hand.
"Oh I almost forgot. Johnathan proposed this morning. I was going to tell you but then I was trying to prepare for graduation."
"You are getting married." Miranda gasped and Ben smiled. Johnathan was really a nice guy and he graduated with her today.
"Don't you think it might be premature."
"Ma, we have been together for 4 years now. I'm finished with 8 years of school and I am starting my intern year as a surgeon in August. I'm starting my career, I should be starting my life right along with it." Symphony said.
All of her children knew about her marriage with Tucker and that she was married at such a young age. They knew how it ended up because they all sat down and had a conversation about it. She wanted them to know everything about her. She didn't tell them that she slept with their dad while she was married to someone else. She just told them of the divorce and meeting Ben. The kids loved their first date story.
Miranda walked into the grocery store, she had her 3 month baby in his car seat and she sat it on top of the shopping cart making sure it was secure. "Mommy can I get in the cart." Cadence, her two year old asked.
"Symphony hold Dorian's hand." Miranda said sternly.
She normally liked to go to the store on her days off while all of them were at school but today was teacher work day and she just so happen to be off with them.
She walked through the store with her list making sure she got everything for their lunches, breakfast and anything for dinner. "Mommy can we have fruit snakes." Dorian asked.
"Yeah. Grab the box." Miranda said to him as he grabbed the big Motts box, putting it into the cart.
She walked with them to the produce sections and grabbed apples, oranges, grapes, strawberries and as Miranda grabbed for the Bananas her hand connected with a man's.
"Oh I'm so sorry." Miranda said looking over and up at him.
"Miranda?"
"Tucker Jones" Miranda gasped. "Hi." She said as she looked over his features. He looked good with age. His hair was cut lower. His full beard was not grown out but neatly shaven.
She watched as his eyes cut from her to her children who were looking at the two of them intently. " Are these." Tucker started but stopped. "Sorry that would have been a stupid question they all look exactly like you." Tucker said scratching the back of his head. "Yeah if you think that. You should see their father and you would change your mind."
Miranda said realizing that it was probably awkward.
"How are you." She said.
"Ive Been great I became the Chief Financial officer for the government. I run the Financial organization here." Tucker said.
He waited on until after I left to get a job making over 6 figures. Miranda thought.
"Oh my God, I guess my congratulations is late but congratulations."
"So what about you. I suppose you are head general attending by now." Tucker said crossing his arm.
Miranda smiled and pushed her bang out of her eyes. "I uh actually Am Chief of Surgery. I have been for the last 5 years. " Miranda said confidently smiling.
She watched as Tucker's eyes grew wide. "Congratulations Miranda."
"Mommy can we get yogurt." Symphony asked and Miranda nodded her head.
"These are my children. Symphony is the oldest she is eight, next up is Dorian he is 5, my baby girl Cadence is 2 and my baby, baby boy Chanson 3 months" Miranda said pointing to each of them and watched as they waved
Tucker smiled and waved at each of them. She could tell that he was looking at her in a new light. In another life they were supposed to have children together and now he sees her almost ten years later with her clan of babies.
"Children?" Miranda questioned.
"Yes one. She is 9." Tucker said and Miranda did the math. He really did get the woman pregnant across town.
Miranda smiled and said "they really are a joy aren't they."
Tucker replied smiling shaking his head.
"Well I'll see you are around." Miranda said as she finally grabbed the bananas and put them into the cart.
"It was very nice seeing you. You look as if your beauty grew more with time." Tucker said and Miranda smiled.
"Thank you. It was nice seeing you as well."
"Mommy." Dorian called as she turned from Tucker. Pushing her cart. As she walked she thought about how happy she was with Ben. If she would have stayed with Tucker it would have been sadness, arguments, and eventually ultimatums. They probably would have ad least one child. She was so glad that she let him go. Sure, her and Ben fought and disagreed, even ignored each other but she wouldn't change it for nothing in the entire world.
"Momma.
"Miranda where did you go."
"Oh I'm fine I was just thinking….. Symphony I am so happy on your engagement. Double congratulations." Miranda said hugging her once again.
"Hello" Johnathan said walking up to them.
"Hello congratulations on graduation and Now engagement." Ben said shaking his hand. His parents and sister were walking behind him.
"Hi I am Miranda Bailey Warren. Symphony's mom, it's nice to meet you." Miranda said talking to Johnathan's mom and dad.
Ben introduced his self.
"How about we all have dinner at our house to celebrate their graduation today and that way we can all get to know each other." Ben suggested.
"Oh that would be lovely." Kathy said smiling.
"Okay great then how about 5 o'clock." Miranda asked.
"That's perfect." Darryl, Johnathan's father agreed.
Everyone said their good byes and Ben held Miranda's hand as they walked to the car. He opened up her door for her and she got in. Cadence decided to ride with Symphony back to the house.
Miranda called the Italian restaurant and ordered catering. "Oooh Miranda make sure you get a lot of bread sticks." Ben said from behind her. She shook her head letting him know that she heard him. After that was done. Miranda kicked her shoes off and she walked up stairs. The boys were in the movie/gaming room. Talking and joking with each other.
Miranda walked into their bedroom and sat on the bed.
"Today was amazing, wasn't it." Ben questioned.
"It really was." Miranda smiled.
"Your amazing. We raised some awesome children."
"We did didn't we." Miranda said as Ben sat down beside her. He grabbed her hand and kissed it and Miranda turned her body and used that same hand. Touching the side of his face bringing him into a kiss.
Ben slipped his tongue into her mouth and Miranda moaned. Miranda laid back on the bed and she turned to face Ben. They just stared at each other in a content place. "I love you." Miranda whispered touching his lips with the pads of her fingers. "I love you too." Ben said
"How much." Ben asked and Miranda giggled. "More than I can hold in my heart." Miranda said loudly pecking Ben on the lips.
They heard knocking on the door. "Come in." Ben and Miranda said simultaneously.
"What y'all doing." Symphony asked along with her siblings following behind her into the room. We are just laying here caught up in each other's love.
"I love the way you both love each other. You both are the best role models and parents." Cadence said. Miranda set up on the bed and she slid over. Sliding into her spot. Ben slid beside her and their kids piled onto their Alaskan king-size bed. She watched as Dorian laid on the foot end. Miranda talked with them until she dosed off. When she woke up she saw that everyone was still on the bed and she heard the sounds of them lightly snoring. She slowly moved grabbing her phone off of her night stand, careful not to wake Ben as he was lying on her chest and his arm was thrown around her stomach. She turned her camera on and recorded them. She bent the camera down showing Ben and then slid over to her children.
She went to go post it on Facebook. Captioning it as Her Big babies, never too big to be in your mother's arms, in this case bed. She tagged them in it, before posting.
They always took naps together in their bed before they could walk. She didn't know how they were going to work this out with the grandkids. She looked over at the clock and saw they still had an hour and 30 minutes before dinner.
Miranda got out of the bed and walked down stairs. She went into the kitchen and pulled out plates setting them up on the counter. Along with glasses, napkins and silver ware.
She straiten up and then went back up stairs. She saw Ben had slid over in her spot. Miranda grabbed her shoes and she slide them on. She drove the restaurant. "Hello I'm picking up for Warren." Miranda said.
She watched as the cashier nodded her head, walking to the back. Miranda pulled out her wallet and handed the woman her debit card. She watched as a worker came out with aluminum pans and stack them on top of each other.
One of the young men helped her take the pans to her car and put them in her trunk. She drove home and when she pulled up the boys came outside to help her with the food.
Miranda set up the food and made sure everything was okay. Just as the door bell rung. "Someone get the door." Miranda said.e in." She heard Cadence say from the door. Symphony came down stairs and hugged her fiancé and his parents. She walked the to the dinning room as they all took seat. "Hello once again." Miranda said to them as she came into the room.
Ben came in and he spoke, sitting at the head table as Miranda sat at the right hand of him. They all ate dinner and laughed and talked getting to know everyone. Ben helped Miranda load up the dish washer. Miranda bent over to put the forks in when she felt Ben's arms wrap around her waist. "Ben." Miranda warned. Now was not the time for him to be pressed against her back side. When he didn't move she sat up and hit his hands. Ben loosen up his arms so she could turn to face him. "Your sexy." Ben said. "I know I am." Miranda said sassy like, holding on to the top of his arm. Miranda stood up on her toes to kiss him and Ben slid his hands down her body resting on her butt.
"Get a room." Chanson said scrunching his nose.
"You know you should be use to it by now. They do this alllllllll the time and have been when we were growing up." Cadence laughed at him.
"How do you think you all got here. It definitely wasn't by Immaculate conception." Ben laughed.
"No it was not." Miranda blushed thinking about it.
They all moved to the living room and Miranda laid up on Ben in the recliner.
"I know how we got here. You all will never let me forget it." Chanson responded.
"Yeah of course not, you were a thorn in momma's side during pregnancy. Daddy's and ours when giving birth and a pain in mine the day they brought you home." Symphony said sitting beside her fiancé.
"How so?" Kathy asked curious.
"He was not necessarily a pain in my side but he really was a pain in my side the way in sat in my womb and he constantly kicked the hell out of my side. He was definitely the most difficult pregnancy and Baby. I was constantly having morning sickness well into my 7th month of pregnancy and could barely eat and I didn't want to get out bed. He came early and quickly. Symphony came early as well but she took her time."
Miranda was 8 months pregnant. She was already put on bed rest because she could barely move sometimes. She was having pain contractions and the doctor would constantly send her back home saying they were just Braxton Hicks. She was Miserable almost this whole pregnancy. She was definitely ready for it to come to an end.
Miranda turned on her side and put a pillow up under her leg. She made the kids dinner and had put them to bed. Miranda felt this boy pushing on her bladder, so she got up to use the bathroom. Miranda walked to the bathroom and grabbed the door for stability as a another Braxton Hicks hit her. "Ahhh." Miranda said and a tear slid out of her eye from the intense pain. She breathed in and out and mustered up enough strength to take another step for the bathroom.
"Ahhh jesus Christ. " Miranda said as she felt water hit her feet from her night gown.
Her eyes widen as the realization set in, that she was going into labor.
Miranda slowly walked over the her bed sitting down in the process to grab her phone. She hit her emergency contact and waited until she heard Ben's voice mail. She called back to back to no avail desperately hoping he would pick up. There was no way she could driver herself to the hospital and she worried about her children.
When he didn't answer she Called her best friend and she was nowhere to be found.
Miranda called the next number she could think of, to ad least keep the kids for her.
"Hey, Rosalind. I am in labor and I was hoping you could come over and watch the kids because I'm going to call the ambulance because Ben is not picking up. He still on his shift, probably out on a call.
She hung up then dialed 911. Miranda stood up once again to get her hospital bag and the babies. This time her contractions made her legs buckle from underneath her.
Ben had just finished up a call helping and elderly woman put out a fire on her stove. When they got back into the aid car. He heard the dispatcher coming through. Miller answered the radio. Ben listened as the women said that they needed an aid car to 1017 Hawthorne Ave. Ben's eyes immediately went wide and his heart raced. That was his address. He heard as they said a woman was in active labor. "Miranda !" Ben said
"Alright we are on our way there." Miller said taking his hand off of the radio button.
"What did you say." Dean asked Ben.
"That's my house. Miranda is in labor." Ben said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. Looking at the 8 miss calls. "Dam it." Ben cursed.
Dean flipped on the sirens as they sped through the town.
Ben hopped out of the aid car as he put the code into the side door. Dean un loaded the gurney and he followed where Ben went.
"Miranda !" Ben yelled
"I'm in the room" he heard her yell in distress.
Ben jogged up stairs and opened their room door to see Miranda on the floor holding on to her stomach. Ben looked at his wife in distress. He felt so bad for not being able to answer her calls. "I'm sorry Miranda." Ben said sincerely.
"I know. It's okay I- aahhhhhhh" Miranda cried out. "Ben, I can't move my legs. I am in real labor" Ben went and scooped her up. To take her down stairs. "Mommy." Symphony said as she ran down the stairs after them. Miranda was in so much pain she almost forgot about her kids. "It's okay honey. Mommy is getting ready to have the baby. Just like the last 2 times." Miranda assured her.
Ben set Miranda on the gurney as Miller took her pulse.
"Ben your sister is not here yet to watch the kids. We are not leaving. "
"Miranda . I'm sure she is not that far. You are getting ready to have baby. Your contractions are too close together he could be ready any minute by now."
"Have you lost your mind. We are not leaving are children here alone. I don't care how close she is to getting here. I am not leaving here until she is here."
"Miranda.
"Ben warren." Miranda said with a warning tone. She was not in the mood to argue.
"I guess we will be having this baby right here because I'm not going any where. I refuse." Miranda said crossing her arms.
"Aahhhhhhh owwwww." Miranda groaned out as she grip the sides of the gurney. She had tears coming out of her eyes.
They waited for 7 minutes before Rosalind rushed into the house. "Finally." Ben said as he continued to hold Miranda's hand. " They wheeled her out and put her into the aid car."
Ben made sure everything was correct and he checked her vitals. "I need to check Miranda." Ben said as he lifted her legs, propping them up. Ben put gloves on and felt Miranda's cervix. His eyes got wide at what he felt. Miranda you are already 10 centimeters dilated.
"We are 9 minutes from the hospital." Miller yelled from the front.
"Ben I am hurting so bad. I feel like I should push." Miranda said and Ben shook his head.
"No don't do that. Give me a minute honey." Ben said standing up he knew that the baby was coming now, he wasn't waiting for no one. Ben walked to talk to Dean.
"Ben we are stuck in traffic. It's a car accident far ahead, I could try to back up and go another way but it's cars behind me. Dean said and Ben put his hands on his hand, he looked out the mirror to see that people were trying to clear out of the way from the ambulance. Listening to sirens. "Okay try to drive easy. This baby is coming and I am going to have to deliver it." Ben said making a decision.
"Okay Miranda we are having this baby right here. Just me and you." Ben said. Kind of asking her.
Miranda nodded her head. "Okay Ben. Let's do it. I trust you. I know you know what you are doing." Miranda assured him.
Ben came over and he make sure to have blanket and everything else ready for the delivery. He sat in front her legs that were propped up and he put new gloves on. "Okay Miranda on the next contraction I'm going to need you to push." Ben instructed and Miranda nodded. "I'm sorry I can't hold you hand." Ben said sympathetically.
Before Miranda could speak a contraction hit her and she hollered. " Oh My God." Miranda cried. She didn't remember child labor hurting like this much. She thought this one would be a piece of cake. They were supposed to get easier but this one was torture. She never had any drugs when she gave birth but at this very moment she wished she had.
"You are doing good. I know I tell you this every time but I could never be anymore proud. You are a goddess and what you do for our children and for our family. I know saving lives is gods work but this is gods work." Ben coached.
He could see their sons head.
"I swear after this I'm getting a full hysterectomy after this." Miranda complained
Ben laughed and told her to pushed once more. "Okay great you are doing good. We have the head and shoulders. One more big push." Ben said and Miranda did as told.
Ben reach for clamp and clamp the umbilical cord before cutting. He grabbed the nasal suction and cleared the airs ways. Tapping his bottom so he could cry to clear his throat. Ben whipped him off and then wrapped his up in a towel walking over to lay him on Miranda. "Oooh he is so perfect." Miranda said tiredly as she rubbed his cheek with her index finger. Ben kissed her on the head and started to clean up. He took a clean rag and wiped her head and face. "Thank you." Miranda said.
"Push one more time for the placenta." Ben said and Miranda set up once again using one hand to hold the baby to her chest and other to hold on to the bar as she pushed.
"Good." Ben said as he put the placenta and umbilical cord in the waste bucket.
After another 6 minutes, they arrived at the hospital.
"What do we got." Richard said as Miller got out of the ambulance.
"Chief?" Alex questioned as Ben hopped and started giving them stats. Alex took the baby off of Miranda chest and keep him wrapped up in the towel. They wheeled Miranda in.
Ben stood on the outside perplex for a moment. This was a call he answered tonight. He was still on shift.
"Ben go inside. I'll clean all of this up. Congratulations on your new son." Dean said hugging him.
"Thank you so much." Ben said as he jogged inside.
"They took her up to the maternity floor." Richard said and Ben nodded his head.
"how are you doing." Ben asked when he walked through her room door. "I'm even better now that you're here."
Ben sat down beside her and held her hand. He kissed it and smiled. " Who would have thought. That I would have delivered one of our children."
"I definitely didn't see that coming. He is going to be a special one. I know he is going to blow us all away." Miranda said confidently
Ben agreed.
"You know Ben. I had all of our children natural but I swear this one was excruciating pain." Miranda said and she shuddered just thinking about it.
The nurse came back in with their son. "Have you both decided on a name." The nurse asked, handing the baby to Miranda.
"Yes" Ben and her said simultaneously.
"Chanson Benjamin Warren." Miranda said.
"Here Ben, hold him." Miranda said handing him over.
Miranda slid over in the bed and Ben got in with her.
Miranda began to breast feed him and then rocked him to sleep. "Ben I love so much." Miranda proclaimed, laying on his shoulder.
"I love you just as much."
"Wow so you delivered your son." Darryl said impressed.
"Yupe and he has been a wonder child ever since." Ben said seriously.
After everyone talked and laughed and ate cake, it was time for them to go home.
"It was nice meeting you all. We all must get together soon. I trust you will be at Symphony's graduation cookout." Miranda said smiling and hugging them.
"It was nice meeting you all too, have a wonderful night."
"You too…take care." Ben said as he shut the front door. Miranda went up to their bed room and she opened the door to the balcony. She walked over to the fire pit and started a fire. She grabbed a small blanket and her book from inside and she sat in the chair and started reading.
"What yah doing?" Ben asked sitting in the chair beside her.
"Reading." Miranda responded. Ben shook his head and put his hand on the book pulling it down . "What?" Miranda asked.
Ben just smiled. "What do you want to do Ben. I'm trying to read." Miranda complained.
"I want to do you." Ben said seriously.
Miranda laughed loudly.
"We are not having sex on the balcony. Sometimes I think you think we are still in our 30's. But we-
Ben cut Miranda off with a powerful kiss. Miranda exhaled and joined in. Ben slid his head down and reached up under her dress. Touching her leg. Miranda moaned and broke the kiss slowly looking to his eyes.
She bit her lip contemplating on it. She couldn't deny she wanted him and she never really denied him of sex and the cocky man knew that.
"Fine." Miranda said as she leaned in to kiss him once more.
She got up and sat on his lap. Ben reached behind her and unzipped her dress. Miranda held her arms up so he could pull it over her head. Miranda did the same with Ben's shirt. Tossing it on the ground.
Ben unhooked her bra and tossed that to the side. Miranda slid Ben's pants and boxers down and lifted up so she could sit down on his member. Their fore heads rested against each other and stared into each others eyes as Miranda moved against him
After their love making session Miranda used the blanket to cover up their naked bodies. She laid her head in the crook of his neck and they set there in silence as they listened to each other's heart beat.
10 years passed.
Ben had just finished cooking breakfast. "Grandpa." Little Ben said as he walked into the kitchen.
Miranda and Ben had all of their grandkids over to spend the weekend with them. He knew if he was up then the rest of them would be toddling down soon.
"Good morning." He heard the other four say as they ran down stairs like a heard of animals.
Ben made their plates and sat them in front of them at the dinning room table. He put on a pot of coffee and made his wife plate as well. Knowing she wasn't that far behind them.
"Grandad. Can you tell us the story again." Melody asked.
Ben smiled already knowing which one they wanted to here.
"Okay so you see the table you are eating at. Well it was just like this one. She was getting ready to have the baby but she couldn't because the babies feet was coming out instead of the head. "do any of you remember what it's called."
"Breech." Mandy said. She was named after her grandmother.
"Exactly. And it was storming and the baby was coming immediately, so it was going to take forever for the ambulance to get there. So me, your grandpa made a decision to have to
"Slice the women open on the kitchen table." Miranda said mocking his voice laughing.
She sat her plate down at the table.
"excuse your grandmother for rudely interrupting. Do any of your remember what the proper words for it is." Ben asked once again.
"Cesarean."
"C- section."
Hannah and Johnathan yelled their answers at the same time.
"Good job." Ben said.
And Miranda smiled the oldest of their grandchildren was seven and they already knew about surgical procedures.
Ben continued with his story and they clapped at him when he said "and your grandmother told me that. I saved two lives that day. She even cried as she hugged and kissed me."
"I did not kiss you." Miranda said rolling her eyes. He adds something to the story every single time he tells it.
"grandma, you and granddad saved lives together." Melody said looking at them as if they were super heroes.
"Yes up until he left me."
They heard all of them gasped and Ben came back with his breakfast sitting down.
" No leaving me like that. He left the hospital and became and fire fighter and scared your poor grandmother half to death. I love your granddad so much that thinking about him getting hurt and something happening to him. It almost broke my heart."
"Yupe and she broke up and left me over it." Ben laughed and Miranda hit his hand.
"Grandma you left him." They all asked shocked
"I did not break up with him not did I leave him. We will tell you more about that story when you are older. " Miranda said
"How long have you been married."
"36 years." Ben and Miranda said at the same time.
"Yes, he is the love of my life, almost like a fairy tale. Where the princess meet their prince charming and they get married and become king and queen living in a palace.
"Mhmmm." Ben agreed grabbing her hand showing them their wedding rings.
"When I said I do I meant I do." Ben said kissing her hand.
"Now go on Miranda, tell them about how you ran a whole hospital."
Ben watched as Miranda told them about cool stories when she was in charge on Grey Solan. Miranda was 69 years old and Ben just turned 70. He looked at their legacy and generation of children they started that was sitting at this dinner table and he was proud. Despite being a fire chief and a surgeon, this family was the best thing he ever did and if he could go back. He would do this all over again and never change a single thing.
Miranda was his endgame and he would love her, even after his last breath.