Fun Day

After she stumbled through an explanation, Miranda and Ben decided to meet at the large county park that was smackdab between their two locations. Looking into the mirror, he'd settled on a pair of black basketball shorts with a white t-shirt on top of a white A-shirt. He slipped into his sneakers, grabbed Ava and headed out of the door. They stopped at the store to get some stuff to throw on the grill, sides, drinks and things. If they were going to have a day at the park, he was going to make sure they had all of the necessities.

"Hey, you remember Dr. Bailey and Tuck, don't you?" The five-year-old nodded. "Well, we're going to spend the day with them, if that's alright?"

"Yes! Are they coming tomorrow?"

"Maybe," he said hopefully, watching the girl's small face grin. "They might."

"Yay!"

"Yay!" He said mimicking her.

Arriving at the park, the two of them got out of the car and Ava picked up one of the balls he'd bought and kicked it around. For some reason, his stomach was all over the place. It had been a few days since he'd last seen Miranda and he couldn't wait to hold her and kiss her. That's how it always felt when they spent time apart—like he'd be seeing his girlfriend for the first time and it made him nervous. Amid his musings, he looked over the top of his car spotting the people he instantly recognized as Miranda's parents. His nervousness multiplied. He'd spoken to them a few times when Miranda was on the phone with them, but seeing them in person was a totally different thing. They were standing several cars away. Her dad, William Bailey, appeared exactly like his pictures, tall and handsome. And Elena Bailey, regal-looking and beautiful and very "no-nonsense" was standing next to him.

Ben waved as he and Ava walked over to them. "Hi, Elena and Bill?" He asked with a genuine smile.

"That's us," Miranda's father said as he shook their hands.

"I'm Ben. Miranda has told me so much about you guys."

"Has she now?" Elena asked. Ben nodded. "Hmmph.

Bill cleared his throat at his wife's response. "We've heard a lot about you, too, Ben."

"All good things, I hope."

"Remains to be seen," Elena responded. "But, uh, who is this adorable little girl?"

"Right, right. This is Ava." He leaned down so that he was eye-level with the girl. "Ava, these are Dr. Bailey's parents."

He watched them wave at her. "You are so pretty," the older man said.

"And I bet you're smart as a whip," the older woman told her with eyes that reminded him of Miranda. Oh, so she does show emotions, Ben thought.

Ava nodded. "Yes! I'm in the Kinnergarden."

"Ava!" Tuck ran over to them and hugged her. "Hi, Ben!"

"My buddy," Ben said with a smile holding out his hand for the boy to slap before the two kids ran off to the jungle gym leaving Ben with no buffer. He looked around for Miranda and saw that she was still a ways away probably coming from the bathroom. "So, um, how was your trip?"

"Very… um, sudden," Bill answered. The two of them chuckled together.

Ben observed that Miranda's father had immediately warmed up to him, but Elena hadn't cracked a smile with her eyes or lips in his direction. How did she hate him already? He hadn't even gotten a chance to say or do anything ridiculous. "Well, I'm glad that you two could make it," he said as Miranda walked toward them making his heart stop.

She looked gorgeous with her hair pulled up into a ponytail and pair of blue jeans that sat perfectly on her hips. A black well-fitting t-shirt hugged her body stopping right at the top of her butt. Ben closed his eyes for a second. "I saw Tuck running with his best friend, Ava, so I knew you guys were here," she said ignoring his eyes on her body. She pulled him in for a hug and he fell into it holding her tightly.

"Hey, baby," he said in a low voice, almost forgetting that her parents were watching them.

"Hi." She kissed his cheek, wiping some of her lipstick off with her thumb. "So, you've met my parents, Elena and William, right?"

"Yes," Ben said giving the older couple a real smile.

"Mom, dad, this is Ben, the guy I've been telling you guys about." Miranda gripped his arm tighter as she spoke.

Elena nodded. "The man we flew however many miles to meet."

"Mom…" Miranda warned, drawing in a breath. "And to see me and Tuck."

The four of them glanced over at Ava and Tuck who were climbing up the slide. Her dad's voice brought them back to their adult circle. "Um, Ben, how old is your daughter?"

He squinted. "I don't—oh, oh. Ava is my goddaughter. Her parents are out of town and I'm on godfather duty. And she's… five. Yeah, five. Almost six."

"Aww," the older man said. "That's beautiful."

"Let's go and sit," Miranda suggested breaking the silence in the conversation.

Bill and Elena started to walk away. Ben held Miranda back. "I can't believe you flew your parents out here for me."

"I mean, for me, too, but, yeah, sure… for you," she said shaking her head.

He snuck a kiss on her cheek. "Exactly." She looked around before kissing his lips. "And I was kind of worried about him, but your dad is kind of wonderful."

"He is."

"But your mom, babe, wow… she hates me."

She shook her head, her eyes glossy. "It's not you, hon. It's…" Looking up, she sighed.

"Okay, okay. We'll talk about it later. Just… help me with some stuff?" He took her hand and they headed toward his car. Popping the trunk, they pulled out the bags from the grocery store.

"You think of everything," Miranda told him leaning over to kiss his lips, shortening it as he tried to suck her face off. "Alright, they're probably watching."

Feeling her pull away made him curse beneath his breath. "Mmm, baby," he said reaching out to her.

Miranda laughed over her shoulder. "Come on, Benjamin Warren."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

There were quite a few people at the park, but they managed to find a shelter complete with a grill. Ben started to get things set up. He cleaned the grill as best as he could, clearing leftover ash and covering the grates with foil. He hadn't even started cooking and was sweating already. From where he was standing, he could only hear bits of Miranda's conversation with her parents. And he wondered if this little outing even made any sense. As he got the fire going, he stared at it for a few seconds, his eyes watering. If he injured himself, even faking one, he and Ava could escape the discomfort. "Need any help, young man?" Bill asked coming up to him.

"Oh, sure," he told him though he had it under control. "Can you hand me the hot dogs, burgers and sausages please?" Ben flashed him a smile.

"You really went all out. I can see why Miranda likes you."

"Yeah?" He asked dropping the meat on the grill, seasoning the burgers.

Bill bobbed his head. "You're just like me in a lot of ways."

Ben nodded and looked around to make sure Ava and Tuck were good. Watching the kids toss the ball to his girlfriend had his heart quaking. God, he was so damn in love. "Like how?" Ben asked returning to his attention to the grill and to Bill.

"I like a good laugh and I love a woman who is headstrong and quite lovable, despite her demeanor on this day."

From behind them, Elena called out: "Bill Bailey, you don't have to talk me up. I'm perfectly capable of—"

He walked over to her and pushed the bag of meats into her hands. "Then get over there and say it, my dear." He kissed his wife and she rolled his eyes.

Ben turned his attention back to the grill so that he could chuckle silently. The crunch of leaves on the ground told him that Elena was getting closer. "Smells kind of good. Need help with that?"

"Um, I got it. Thanks." The two of them stood there. He looked over his shoulder to see the kids playing with the ball nearby. And at a bench under the shelter, Miranda and Bill were pretending not to listen Ben and Elena. He made a face and watched her pull her father away. "I can see that my grandson is really, um, crazy about you."

"He's such a great kid," Ben gushed.

"Yeah." The woman pointed to burger reminding him to flip it. "And my daughter… well, she's seems to really enjoy your company.

Ben smiled. "Did she tell you that?"

The pair of them laughed. "Not exactly, but I can tell."

"Good observation," he said.

"But Miranda just got out of a relationship with her child's father who is a good man."

Turning to face Miranda's mother, Ben sighed. "Obviously not if he broke her heart the way he did." For a second, he worried that his tone was too hostile, but he was just speaking the truth. In his eyes, Tucker would always be an ass.

Elena crossed her arms, staring at him hard. "They may have fallen apart at the end, but that happens."

"Because he didn't know her."

"And you think you do?"

Ben turned the meat; everything smelled so good. "Respectfully, ma'am, I know for a fact that I do." She didn't respond, so he kept going: "I know the big stuff, like the toll that her marriage took on her and how she stayed in it longer than she wanted for Tuck and because she felt obligated to. And how he gave her ultimatums about her career—which I'd never do." Elena's arms uncrossed slowly. "And the small stuff like, uh, … I readjust the showerhead in both of our bathrooms because she's…" He put his hand a few feet off of the ground and the older woman chuckled. "And I know the exact color she likes her coffee. I know how she likes to snack at night when she's studying for a big surgery, so I stock up." He leaned closer to Elena. "I know her that kind of well."

"Well, damn."

"And that's well enough to know that your opinion means everything to her. So, you have to like me," he grinned. "Because your daughter is in love with me. Respectfully."

Elena clapped him on the shoulder and smiled. "You're a little cocky, Ben…" He held his breath. Had he gone too far? Miranda and Angela always told him he talked too much and would it cost him an ally in his could be, almost mother-in-law. "But I like you," she finished.

Exhaling, he said: "Oh, good." He swallowed hard. At the rate his heart was going, it would surely explode. "Because I am in love with her, too." They heard giggling and the kids ran over to watch the fire. "Can I have one?" Ava asked pointing a hotdog.

"They'll be done soon," Ben told her clamping the tongs close in her direction.

"Do me!" Tuck said as Ben repeated the action making them giggle louder.

When he turned back around, Bill was taking some food off of the grill and putting it into an aluminum pan. "Alright, let's go and wash our hands," Elena told the kids who ran ahead of her. "You too, Bill."

"But—"

"William!" It was the older man's turn to roll his eyes and Ben smiled. He really admired older, loving relationships like Miranda's parents and his own. Julia and Anthony Warren had been married for almost 40 years. That's what he wanted. And he wanted it with Miranda.

The doctors were completely alone for the first time all afternoon. Recognizing the rare situation, he scooped her up, kissing her full on the lips. Her perfume was sweet and tantalizing enough to send him into a small spiral. She moaned quietly, touching his head, mashing them together. "They love you."

"Did you think they wouldn't?"

She screwed up her face. "I knew my dad would, but my mom is very… something."

"Yeah, well, whatever it is that she is, she knows that I'm in love with you and that's all she needs to know."

"You're in love with me?" She asked playing with the hair on the back of his neck.

He shrugged. "I just told her that so she'd stop scowling at me."

"You can be so annoying sometimes; I just want to slap you." She mimed the action, smiling that smile that made his heart do somersaults in his chest.

"Wouldn't be the first time," he laughed remembering her hand against his skin in a very unloving way. He considered that slap one of their relationship highlights. It had literally saved them.

Her mouth fell open and she gasped. "You deserved that," she reminded him. That was very true. He tucked his thumb into her jeans. "And I'll talk to her," Miranda promised though he was sure that Elena had bought into what he'd said. They shared another kiss and Ben knew he'd blessed if he could do this for the rest of his life. The thought shimmied into his head, weaving itself around his brain. And the more he tried to shake it away, the more it grew. "Earth to Ben."

"Yes, my love?"

"Um, they're back. We can go and wash our hands now."

He nodded. "Okay."

When they'd finished eating, Ben and Bill tossed around a football with the kids and tackling them gently. As the kids rolled on the ground, the older gentleman turned to him. "Any plans for kids?"

He expelled air from his nostrils. "Yes, sir, one day."

"Anymore for you?" He joked.

"Probably not," Bill laughed. "Do you want to get married?"

"To you?"

"Don't be a smart ass. To my daughter. You've been dating for a while now and…"

Ben stared at the man who could one day be his father-in-law wondering if he should spill his guts or keep his answer vague and hopeful. Luckily, he didn't have to say anything because Tuck and Ava ran over to him, trying to scale him. He hoisted the four-year-old up and then lifted the five-year-old with the other arm. The four of them headed to the shelter where Elena and Miranda were putting the food away. "I found two pieces of children to go on the grill. Anybody want to taste?"

Bill raised his hand and Miranda laughed loudly. "I'll try a little piece," she said.

Ava and Tuck scrambled from his arms running behind Elena. "Now, y'all leave them alone," she said chuckling and patting the kids on their shoulders. "No one's going to eat my babies."

"Today anyway," Ben said dipping a spoon into the container of pasta salad that Miranda was closing.

The sun began setting and Miranda put some stuff into his car as Ben helped a sleepy Ava into her booster seat and leaned on the driver's side door. "Today was amazing," she said hugging him. "You're amazing." Grabbing both sides of her face, she pulled him down for a quick kiss.

"Wait, wait, that's it?" He asked when she tried backing away.

"Yes, that will have to hold you over until after the weekend."

"Oh, no. That's not gonna do," he said fingering the bottom of her shirt. He wanted it off of her so badly, wanted to see all of her. Ben pushed it up a little, touching her stomach before sliding his hand to her butt, squeezing it. "Come over."

She exhaled into his neck, her warm breath like a Bat-Signal for his body. "I can't." He ran a hand over her hair. "What are you two doing tomorrow?" Miranda inquired, scraping his skin with her nails.

"To the water park. Want to come?"

Scrunching up her face, she shook her head. "I mean, Tuck would love it and I wouldn't mind, of course, but my parents…"

"So when do I get to see you in a bathing suit?" He'd seen her naked, of course, and with just her bra and panties on… But that was all in the privacy of their bedrooms. There was something about the idea of her showing that much skin in public that had him tightening his grip on her.

"Eventually." Ben bit his bottom lip and she mimicked the action, wiggling her eyebrows. When she released her moist lip, he kissed it slowly. "So, call me later?"

"You call me," he countered. "I've spoiled you, woman. I always call you." He let out a dramatic sigh.

"You're the man."

"Well, I cooked. Call me."

"Wait on it." She shrugged and started to move away again, but he held her. "What, Benjamin?"

"No goodnight kiss?"

With a tender bite on his chin, she said: "Talk about spoiled." It took a few more last hugs and kisses before Miranda peeled herself off of him, walking to her car. Behind the wheel, he put the window down to cool himself off. His body was on high alert after their embrace and he couldn't wait until they could continue their short make out session. At home, he parked in the lot and picked up Ava, lugging her to his apartment. Once she was good and in bed, he lay on top of his comforter. He wondered if Miranda would call or if she'd be waiting for him. It was almost ten o'clock and he was getting antsy. Muttering, he picked up his phone just as it rang with her name popping up. "Hello?" He said lowering his voice.

"Do not answer the phone like that," she sang in his ear.

Ben dove beneath his comforter. "And if I continue to do so?"

"Then, I'll have to tell you how much I like it."

He wished she were next to him so that he could see the expression on her face. "And we wouldn't want that, right?"

"Nope."

"It's about time you called, I was on my way to sleep," he said lying unprovoked.

"Right. Let me guess, you were waiting by the phone like a lovesick eighth-grader."

He turned his face up. "You don't know me."

"I know you," she confirmed finalizing the conversation. Miranda yawned and he did the same, closing his eyes afterward.

Just knowing that she was on the phone was enough to lull him to sleep. "If I fall asleep before you, let me say that I love you."

"I love you, too."

His goddaughter was an amazing ball of fire, but as soon as Justin called, he dropped Ava off and left before the door was even locked. A weekend of fun and games was nice, but he enjoyed his job. Not so much anesthesiology per se, though it had its moments. What he really loved was the hustle and bustle of sitting in on a surgery that was chaotic and frenetic.

Which is exactly what'd happened. He was on the edge of his seat the entire time and when it came time for him to do his part, he'd nailed it. The adrenaline pumping in his veins sent him soaring. Ben was supposed to be sitting for the boards soon and while he was very ready to kick the boards' ass, he couldn't stop thinking about the many applications for a surgical residency that he'd sent out. He hadn't heard anything yet, but Miranda kept him patient, reminding him that just took time. So, he waited.