"Ben you need to get up." Miranda sung sweetly sitting on the bed beside her husband.
Ben's alarm clock blared through the room and he groaned sitting up.
He walked slowly to the bathroom and he cut the shower on. Ben took a long shower as he gathered his thoughts.
"It's okay to be nervous about today." Miranda said as Ben pulled the shower curtain back and wrapped a towel around his waist.
"I am nervous." Ben chuckled shaking his head.
"But you will be fine. It's the first step in the right direction." Miranda chimed as she placed her back against the double sink watching Ben.
Ben washed his face, shaved and brushed his teeth. Miranda looked at the clock by his night stand.
" man you sure do floss a concerning amount and always take so long." Miranda blew out a breath as he continued flossing.
Washing his mouth out Ben walked into the room and he walked to his closet.
"Where is my blue polo shirt?" Ben questioned pausing to think.
"In the Laundry room hanging up with all the other things you air dry honey."
"The laundry room...right." Ben said walking to go get his shirt.
Ben got dressed and walked to the kitchen. Miranda sat at the counter as he opened the fridge. She watched silently as he pulled out bacon. He then walked to the cabinet and grabbed brown sugar. Miranda held back a laugh because she knew what he was about to attempt to make and she knew she was in for a treat.
She watched as Ben put the sugar and a dash of black pepper in a bowl.
He seasoned the bacon and put the sugar on it.
Grabbing a baking sheet and aluminum foil he pulled it out to put on the sheet.
"Ben parchment paper not aluminum foil." Miranda instructed.
Ben paused for a moment and put his finger on his chin.
"My directions for candied bacon are right there in that notebook." Miranda pointed.
Ben looked at her notebook longingly and shook his head. "I can do this with out directions." Ben huffed.
"Okay if you say so and baby the oven is on two high 325 not 350." Miranda added shaking her head.
Ben put the bacon inside the oven and he started to make eggs, and pancakes.
After he finished he took the bacon out and he looked at it. Miranda got up and stood beside him at the stove. "It looks good. Taste it." Miranda encouraged.
Ben broke a piece off and blew on it to cool.
He put it into his mouth and he chewed slowly before frowning. "Why can't I get something so simple right?" Ben groaned.
"You will get it, I promise and it's okay to use the directions until you do. Here why don't you make some tea and the cross word is right here on the counter." Miranda said smiling.
Ben thought on the bright side. He was getting closer to it tasting just like Miranda's bacon. He walked to the cabinet and pulled out a bag of tea. He heated his water and added a little sugar before sitting at the counter to do his crossword.
"1 down is hardship." Miranda said mentally counting the spaces.
"H-a-r-d" Ben started counting the spaces too as he filled it in.
"Ben don't forget to call the boys today." Miranda reminded.
Just then Ben's phone started ringing and he smiled looking at the caller id.
"Tuck." Ben called out.
"Hey dad." Tuck greeted.
"Hey how are you?" Ben asked smiling.
"I'm doing great, Me and Monica close on our house today." Tuck beamed.
"Oh gosh I'm so proud." Miranda raved.
"Me and your mother are so proud of you." Ben said into the phone.
"We definitely are. Benjamin we raised some good kids."
Ben nodded his head "Hey you talked to your brother?" Ben asked.
"Yeah Joey is doing well. He is thinking about starting his own practice" Tuck enlighten.
"That's great." Miranda and Ben said simultaneously.
Ben continued talking to Tuck for a while before he got up and put his dishes in the sink.
Miranda walked with him to the car. Ben got inside and Miranda got into the passenger side.
Ben drove to work and he parked outside of station 23.
"Have a good day captain." Miranda told him with a huge smile.
Ben smiled as he got out of the car.
"Good morning Captain." One of the firefighters greeted him as he walked inside.
"Good Morning. Round everyone up for inspection." Ben ordered as he walked to his office.
He looked at the portrait of Miranda, Joey, Tuck and him. He laughed to himself about those pictures. Miranda was so serious and stern. She wanted these photos to be captured beautifully and truthfully these photos would go down in history.
Ben walked passed all of his staff and he checked their uniforms. "Good job everyone. Now let's get to these chores and inventory. Also these firetruck need a good cleaning. Now you know how I am I won't micro manage you. Just make sure it's done before 3." Ben said seriously.
"Captain your going out?"
"Yeah I will be back. I'm meeting someone for lunch." Ben said with a smile.
Miranda looked up as Ben walked into the restaurant. He had a smile on his face which placed a smile on hers.
"I'm glad you made it." Miranda smiled walking beside him.
After lunch. Miranda walked with Ben to the car and they both got in. Ben drove to the flower shop and the two got out. "Aww you are getting me flowers. That is so sweet Ben." Miranda mused.
"lilies and roses." Ben told the worker.
"You know me so well lilies are my favorite." Miranda said watching him.
They walked back to the car and Ben sat the flowers in Miranda's lap.
When arriving to his destination. Miranda walked beside him until he sat down and Miranda took a seat beside him as well.
"Hey Miranda."
"Hey Benjamin Warren." Miranda replied smiling.
"I had a good day today."
"I saw." Miranda noted.
"I started it with candied bacon. It's almost like yours. I'm getting there." Ben added.
"Honey you just need to stop being so dang stubborn."
"I actually. Uh I went on a lunch date today. Her name is Alexandria. Uh she's actually very nice and pretty. She's short too... I guess I do have a type after all." Ben chuckled.
"Yeah you do, short, thick, beautiful, intelligent and sassy." Miranda smiled. "That's why I made you bump into her. I knew she is what you needed."
"I actually had a funny way of meeting her. I bumped into her at the milkshake place we use to go to and spilled her milk shake on her shirt. She was livid. She fussed me out so bad before I could apologize. I tried to walk away from her after everything was okay but something kept drawing me back so I asked for her number and a lunch date." Ben said and Miranda smiled.
"I just- I miss you so much Miranda. I never thought I would be here. I want you. I want to hold you, hug you, and kiss you. Hear you laugh. I would even take you yelling." Ben said as tears fell.
"I miss you too Ben so so much but I'm here. I've always been here. I never left and gosh if you could see Danny. She is so beautiful and she looks just like you. She plays all the time and we lay in this field with sunflowers and roses all the time."
"I know you are content with Danny and your mother." Ben said softly.
"I am but I am also patiently waiting for you Ben."
"No rush God." Miranda said looking up at the sky.
"Hey and Ben don't go marrying this woman. I mean if you want to, you can but she needs to understand that when you get up here. You are my husband and I'm not sharing." Miranda joked.
"And Miranda the boys. They are excellent men, Tuck is getting a house, Joey is starting a practice." Ben told her with a slight smile.
"I know, I'm so proud of them." Miranda responded.
"Tell me more about this woman. I know the boys are good but I'm worried about you Ben. Don't let me leaving this earth stop you from living. You deserve happiness. I wouldn't want you to live alone for the rest of your life."
"Miranda I don't know if I will ever fall in love again. I was in love with you. I love you."
"Ben you can. I was with Tucker and I was in love with him and then we divorce and I met you and fell in love so deeply. Just give Alexandria a chance."
"No one will ever be you." Ben huffed.
"And they are not suppose to. I'm Miranda Bailey. I'm better than fine. I'm extraordinary and if you take the time you will see that she could be extraordinary in her own way." Miranda answered.
"Miranda you meant the world to me. I want you to know that and even if I move on. I would never forget you. I will still come visit and make sure you have fresh flowers and your grave is clean. You will always still own a piece of my heart."
"You meant the world to me too Ben and I understand. You don't need to come visit me everyday. I'm okay. I'm upset that my assignment with you is over so I can't be with you every step of the way but I will be watching you and peeping in on you. I promise."
"Gosh you were my best friend Miranda. It's so easy to talk to you. I just wish I could hear your voice once more and you broke our deal."
"I knowwwwww I swore I had 60 years in me." Miranda laughed looking up at the sky. "God you can be so funny sometimes."
"But seriously Ben I always wanted to tell you... Thank you for letting me die first." Miranda said softly
"I love you Benjamin Warren."
"I love you Miranda Bailey."
"More than I can hold in my heart." They both said together. Miranda ran her hand across Ben's chest as she laid her head on his shoulder.
Ben oddly enough felt a warm presence around him and on the top of his chest. Right where Miranda would always rub. She always did it so absentmindedly, no matter where they were.
Ben smiled at the sensation. He knew she was here and listening to him. Ben placed his hand on his chest and Miranda smiled because his hand was covering hers.
"Alright Ben Warren. I gotta go. Your daughter is calling me to come play with her." Miranda chuckled as she stood. Dusting off her long white dress but then laughed again realizing it can't get dirty.
Miranda kissed Ben on the head and she watched as Ben smiled touching his fore head. "Good bye my love." Miranda chimed as she started to walk off.
Ben turned and he sat the fresh roses and lilies into the spot taking out the old ones.
He looked at her grave and he had a slight smile. Ben kissed his finger tips and place his hand on her stone.
Miranda Bailey. M.D. Loving Wife, Mother and Extraordinary Surgeon.