Two weeks passed and there was still no word. It was almost like she disappeared into thin air. Ben and Miranda were back at work pressing through.
This morning Miranda had a good mind to call in. If she goes to work she would only see Ben in passing.
Miranda rolled out of bed and got up. She took a shower and did her hair before bumping into Ben's open nightstand.
"How hard is it to close things back?" Miranda mumbled looking at the drawer. She stopped when her eyes landed on a white bag reading Tiffany.
She pulled the bag out slowly. Sitting down on their bed she reached in and grabbed the teal blue box out with the receipt.
She glanced at the receipt looking at the date and smiled he bought it a month ago before everything happened.
Miranda let her eyes travel further down and she saw the price. Her eyes widened and she flew back on the bed 17,500 dollars.
"Oh my God." She yelled opening the close box. It's beautiful and huge." She declared staring at it.
Miranda took it out the box and put it on her finger and it was a perfect fit. She knew it would take some getting use to, because it was weighing her hand down.
She put everything back and even left his drawer open so it wouldn't look like she touched anything.
Miranda arrived to work and she was in a good mood today despite everything that was going on.
"You're in a good mood." Callie said handing her a cup of coffee.
"Thank you and what made you say that?" Miranda questioned.
"Well only because a few of your interns were talking and were chanting the witch is dead."
Miranda rolled her eyes. "I guess I am in a good mood. "
"Why is that? You and Ben had sex?" Callie questioned.
"No we haven't. It's been a month, but I don't feel as though its an appropriate time to just indulge into sex." Miranda retorted.
"Then tell me." Callie whined falling on her dramatically.
"I found an engagement ring." Miranda said smiling.
"Oh my God. I'm excited for you." Callie exclaimed.
"He bought it a month ago and it's absolutely beautiful and ridiculously big." Miranda responded.
"When do you think he is going to propose?"
"I don't know. No time soon. Maybe after Alannah is found."
"How is the search going?" Callie asked rubbing her arm.
"It's going. The police are doing their jobs, but every lead they get is a dead end." Miranda stated sadly. " I still can't believe she's gone. It feels un real. I know she is in good hands mostly. She wouldn't hurt her own child I don't think."
"I know. She will come back to you." She encouraged.
"I'm praying." Miranda responded.
"Miranda get up your pager is going off." Ben told her.
"That's not my pager it's yours." Miranda said sleepily.
"Baby it is yours." Ben said annoyed.
Miranda sat up frustrated and she saw hers and Ben's go off at the same time. She rolled her eyes before kicking his calf hard.
"Ouch." Ben shouted disoriented clicking his teeth.
"It's our pagers. We both are needed."
"What time is it?" Ben groaned.
"Its 11:17." Miranda responded getting out of bed.
Getting to work they both kissed going separate ways. Ben loved watching Miranda jog off especially when she tied the yellow disposable gown around her waist. She looked like superwoman.
Miranda walked around the corner and heard the familiar cries of her baby.
Her eyes widened as she quickly followed the direction of the noise hoping it wasn't paranoia.
Miranda opened the door to the examining room and immediately got teary eyed.
"Alannah." Miranda marveled.
"Hey what the hell are you all doing to her and how did she get here?" Miranda questioned as she watched them try to hold her down.
"We are just trying to check her out. She came in with the 5 car accident Dr. Bailey."
Miranda eyes widened and walked over to the end of the bed.
"What test did you all run? A MRI, CT scans, X-rays, ultrasound." Miranda rambled.
"Yes, we were going to after we got her to calmed down." The intern said nervously.
"Well, how the hell could she? You were being too rough." She responded brushing their shoulders
Miranda walked to her side rubbing her head. "Hi Mommy's baby. Its okay I'm here. Just lay back."
The interns watched Miranda with her baby and awed. She wasn't the Nazi at all as she started singing.
Hush, little baby, don't say a word,
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird.
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring.
Miranda smiled as Alannah began singing back some of the words she knew and the tune if she didn't.
"You missed me because I missed you?" She asked her kissing all over her face.
"Did she come in with a woman?" Miranda asked.
"Yes she's next door."
Was she conscious?"
"Off the rig she was, but then hemoptysis and they are trying to get her stabilized before getting her to the OR. She has a abdominal trauma so most likely internal bleeding." He rattled off.
Miranda walked next door and entered the room.
"She's bottoming out." Owen shouted.
"Get a crash cart." Miranda shouted running to the corner of the room rolling it over.
Miranda pushed it to Owen. Owen looked back at her telling her to do it. Miranda honestly didn't want to do it on her because if she died people would assume she killed her on purpose.
"Charging to 250 Callie shouted grabbing the paddles.
Miranda spun around. Her best friend was always on time.
"Charging to 300."Callie shouted shocking her once more.
Miranda watched as they tried to get a rhythm. She honestly wanted her to live and serve her time in prison.
"Time of death 24:51."
"Dr. Bailey we have done an ultrasound and everything is fine. We are going to take her to get her scans. Dr. Robbins has already checked her over, but she wants to get the scans to be 100% sure."
"Okay I will be in the pit. Bring her back here."
After all the scans were complete they brought Alannah to her and Miranda held her against her chest rocking her.
Ben received Miranda's 9-1-1 and raced down to the pit. He saw Miranda instantly with her back turned to him and she looked like she was doing paperwork.
"Miranda what's the 9-1-1? Ben asked a little ways from her.
Miranda turned around and Ben eyes landed on his child.
Ben rushed over and wrapped his arms around them both. Squeezing the 3 together.
"How? When?" Ben asked shocked.
"She came in with the car accidents. Unfortunately her mom passed away." Miranda said sadly.
"What?" Ben said shocked again.
"From what I was told by the investigating officers. She was actually not that far from our house. I think she was bringing her back. Someone ran a red light and hit the left side of the vehicle. Cars that couldn't stop in time hit each other." Miranda explained.
"That is so sad." Ben said looking at her. "I know." Miranda said sadly rocking the sleeping child.
4 years later
"I can't believe she's starting kindergarten today," Ben commented rolling over to Miranda who was breast feeding their son August who just turned 1. She has tried everything to get her son off her breast but he wouldn't take any cup or bottle. He was so different than Andrew who was born a year before him. Drew took a bottle at 6 months when she started pumping, but not this one.
Sleep had been out of the question since about 5 that morning for her, "You okay babe?"
Yeah, just not ready to let her go," Ben admitted honestly.
"Ben its only kindergarten," Miranda chuckled. "That's one less noisy child and truthfully she is way to advanced for kindergarten. She is going to give that teacher and students a run for their money. "
Ben rolled his eyes she was saying that now.
Miranda sighed glancing at the clock realizing a whole hour had nearly passed, "I have to go get the kiddos ready."
Miranda walked into Alannah's room first, since she knew she would be up, and sure enough, Alannah hadn't slept a wink all night she swore, "Hey honey, it's time to get ready."
Alannah rolled over happily and jumped right out of bed, "Can I go wake Tuck?"
"Yes, but be gentle," Miranda said. Alannah loved to get on Tucks nerves, but they were best friends.
Alannah ran out of the room and Miranda could hear her waking up Tuck. Ben and Miranda made sure all the kids were showered and dressed before feeding them breakfast.
You don't have to go if you don't want too there is always next year." Miranda told her seriously turning to look at her in the back seat.
"Mommy." Alannah said dramatically laughing.
"Okay." Miranda mumbled.
Ben pulled up in front of the school. Tuck said his goodbyes running into the school.
Alannah got out excitedly and dragged Miranda by her hand way faster than Miranda could walk at this point. Ben chuckled at his daughter's enthusiasm and followed them into the building with August and Drew in their stroller.
The couple introduced themselves to the teacher and was slowly making their way back to the car when Ben turned around and checked on Alannah one more time. He followed Miranda to the car locking the kids in and climbed into the driver's seat. He looked over at his wife and took her hand, "You okay?"
"No, what the hell was that?" Miranda cried into her hands. "She didn't even say goodbye. She just waltzed inside and found her seat." She cried harder. "No hug, no nothing."
Ben wanted to laugh. "Was this the same woman who said it's just kindergarten and it will be a little quieter around the house?"
"Miranda it's going to be okay. She was just excited and probably didn't want to show her sadness you raised her to be brave and she did it." He said assuring.
"I raised her to be brave against challenges and different things, but not me. She is a baby, a child, she can cry and ask for her mother if she is scared." Miranda said grabbing tissues.
"Baby I know." Ben responded unbuckling his seatbelt. He got out the car and walked around to her side. Ben opened her door and pulled her into a hug.
"I love you Miranda. It's going to be okay."
"It's not. She's acting like a whole adult. She walked in like she knew the place. She doesn't need me." Miranda cried on his shoulders.
"Maybe you can join the pta. They have hall patrol. You can stand outside her classroom."
"I'm a surgeon Benjamin." Miranda mocked.
"Lets go home and get some ice cream then." Ben suggested.
"Ice cream sounds good." She smiled through her tears.
Ben stopped at the ice cream shop and got all of them some and drove home. On the way inside Ben sat the ice cream on the counter as his phone rung.
Miranda watched intently as he was talking putting her babies in there highchairs and sitting their ice cream in front of them.
"Okay she will be on her way." Ben said finishing the conversation.
"Who will be where?" Miranda asked.
"You have to go back and get Alannah. She broke down as soon as we left and hasn't calmed down since."
Miranda smiled victoriously her heart doing summersaults.
"Miranda are you really smiling about that?" Ben asked chuckling.
"Of course. I'm still needed. Now excuse me you and the boys enjoy you all's Ice cream. I'm going to go get my baby." She stood up grabbing her keys.
Miranda walked inside and stood waiting for her daughter.
When Alannah's eyes landed on Miranda she took off running.
"Mommy." she screamed through her tears. Miranda squatted down to receive her in a big hug.
Miranda stood up with her in her arms squeezing her tightly.
"Hi honey." Miranda said wiping her tears. "Let's go."
The two walked hand and hand out the school and Miranda drove to the same ice cream shop. They both got out and ordered what they wanted.
After receiving their orders. They sat outside under the table with the umbrella to block the sun.
"You okay?" Miranda asked.
"I'm okay." She responded wearily. "I was trying to be a big girl and not cry, but that didn't work."
"Hey look at me." Miranda said softly. "You don't have to be a big girl in that way. If you need me you tell me because mommy isn't going anywhere. I'm here to give you love, so many hugs and kisses. You don't ever have to be scared by yourself. Truthfully I cried like a baby as soon as you walked inside."
"You did." Alannah marveled.
"Of course. You are my baby. You didn't give me a hug, a kiss, or a goodbye." Miranda said sadly.
"I'm sorry mommy. " Alannah said getting up and hugging, then kissing both of her cheeks.
"It's okay. I love you too Alannah Nicole Warren."
"I love you too mommy." She sung back.