Ben drove and followed the directions that Miranda gave him to get to her apartment. "So you were what...going to walk all the way over here?" Ben asked in a sarcastic tone as he pulled into a parking stop.
"I walked from here to the bridge," Miranda said plainly as she just looked ahead and stayed still.
"You okay," Ben asked softly.
"Hmmm can you come in with me please?" Miranda asked with glossy eyes.
Ben got out of the car and jogged to the other side to open Miranda's door. As they walked up to her apartment Miranda's hand were shaking and Ben noticed so he grabbed her hand. She took a deep breath and looked at him giving an expression of thankfulness.
When they got to her apartment Miranda opened her door slowly and what Ben saw made him so sad. Her apartment was completely trashed with glass, picture frames, throw and couch pillows ripped open.
"I'm actually glad you're making me stay with you because I don't think I can stay here anymore," Miranda said as her voiced cracked.
She walked away towards her bedroom and Ben just looked around. He saw pictures of her and the man that was "he". The only pictures that weren't destroyed were the ones of her and a baby. Ben walked in the direction that Miranda went and as he walked down the hallway he saw a room that belonged to the toddler in the picture.
Ben finally found the room she was and and thankfully her bedroom wasn't a complete mess like the front of her apartment was. Miranda had a large duffle bag and she was packing things into it.
"So what is your son's name," Ben asked sitting on the bed.
Miranda looked up and sighed deeply, "His name is William after my dad but we call him Tuck after his..."
Miranda just stopped talking and continued to pack. "I can go clean up the front of the apartment for you," Ben offered.
"Oh Ben y—you don't have to do that," Miranda sputtered.
"It's okay, I don't mind, you just finish packing and I'll get some trash bags and clean up," Ben said as he walked out of the bedroom.
Ben went into the kitchen stepping over the broken glass to find the trash bags. When he did he began to sweep up all the broken glass and plates in the kitchen. Then he went into the living room and picked up the broken picture frames and ripped up throw and couch pillows.
He picked up the cotton and then swept up the glass from the picture frames. He threw away all the torn pictures but placed the pictures of her son on the coffee table.
Miranda came out of the room with her duffle bag and got teary eyed seeing the way Ben cleaned up for her.
"Ben thank you for cleaning up for me," Miranda said as she wiped a tear away.
"It's no problem, I'm here to help," Ben replied as he grabbed her bag.
"I do need to buy another phone tomorrow because I forgot that I threw it against the wall in my bedroom," Miranda said sounding numb.
Miranda closed the door to her apartment and locked it then they slowly walked out of her apartment complex and she kept her head down the whole time.Miranda was quiet the whole ride back to Ben's condo and she cried silently and kept wiping her tears.
Once they were back in Ben's condo Miranda just stood in the middle of his spacious living room.
"Hmm do you mind if I use your bathroom to take a shower?" Miranda asked.
"Miranda I invited you to stay so whatever you need to do you can, okay. And I will be over here in the kitchen cooking dinner," Ben replied.
Miranda walked through Ben's bedroom into his bathroom. It smelled manly in there and she liked it. She grabbed one of the fresh towels and bath cloths that were folded and threw it over the shower door.
Miranda just stood in the shower letting the hot water run over her body. She sat down as all of her thoughts about missing her son and knowing how much her ex husband hated her overwhelmed her. She sat on the shower floor and cried and cried until she felt tired.
Ben had prepared dinner and even cleaned the kitchen and Miranda hadn't come out of the bedroom. He walked in still hearing the shower going, "Miranda," Ben called out firmly.
She didn't answer so he called her name again. When she didn't answer to her name the third time Ben feared the worse and rushed to open the bathroom door. When he opened the door he saw through the glass door that Miranda was on the shower floor laying back against the wall.
He opened the door and shut the water off. He checked her pulse because he remembered her packing medication. Her pulse was fine so he grabbed the towel off the shower door and placed it over her body.
"Miranda," Ben called softly as he shook her.
Miranda's eyes fluttered open and she gasped seeing Ben kneeling in front of her knowing that he'd seen her naked. She quickly wrapped the towel around her tighter as she moved to get up and Ben tired to help her.
"Miranda I finished cooking dinner and you were still in here in the shower so I was making sure you were okay," Ben explained with a worried look on his face.
"I'm sorry I was crying and sat down and I guess I fell asleep. Sorry that you had to see me naked," Miranda told him.
"It's okay Miranda, I am a doctor so I kinda see it all the time," Ben said chuckling and Miranda smiled slightly.
Miranda changed into her night clothes and walked out into the living room where Ben was sitting on the couch drinking a beer and eating dinner. Miranda slowly sat beside him and stared at him for a moment before just looking at the tv.
"You ready to eat some food," Ben asked as he looked over at her.
"If I say no are you going to accept my answer?" Miranda answered with a question.
"What do you think," Ben replied with an arched eyebrow.
Ben got up and grabbed the plate and something to drink for Miranda, walked back into the living room handing it to her. Miranda looked at the food, and instantly realized she really hadn't eaten much in days and none at all in a day.
As she ate and watched the movie with Ben she chuckled. Ben looked over at her confused yet smiling, "why are you laughing," Ben asked.
"You're a guy that likes watching romance movies," Miranda said still giggling.
"Yeah and what's wrong with that? I am a romantic at heart," Ben said with a scrunched up face.
"So you love the idea of having the girl best friend that you eventually fall in love with but she ignores your hints until her dream guy betrays her and then her other best friend tells her that you love her," Miranda described.
"Yes, or meeting a beautiful woman randomly and us talking and feeling like we've known each other forever and falling in love within a matter of hours and then the rest is history," Ben said looking into Miranda's eyes.
They stared at each other for a moment and then busted out laughing. "Wow Ben, well I don't like romance movies because love isn't like that, I prefer sci-fi movies," Miranda shared.
"Why do you think that love can't be like that," Ben asked.
Miranda just stared at the tv screen with a blank look on her face. "Because it doesn't last...once that honeymoon stage is gone it turns into arguments, silent treatments, being roommates instead of husband and wife, only having sex when he finally is too horny to hold out and then him only doing it to please himself. Getting pregnant after years of trying and being excited because this baby might make us better. Then to turn around and he use your baby against you because he's jealous of your career and tries to make you seem like a negligent mother."
"Belittling you, telling you that your body isn't beautiful because I'm not skinny. Finding out he was cheating on me through emails and then trying to make me choose between my career and being a family with him. Then when you divorce him he takes you to court, gets full custody of your baby and now you haven't seen him in weeks. Love has never been romantic for me," Miranda said softly has she held back tears.
Ben looked at Miranda and the defeated look she had on her face and he felt so heartbroken for her. He really wished he could beat her ex-husband senseless, as he moved closer to her.
"What do you need right now?" Ben asked as he placed his hand on her arm.
Miranda looked over at him with tears in her eyes, "I just really need to not be so broken...he broke me," Miranda said looking ahead as tears flowed constant.
Ben grabbed her by her arms and pulled her into his arms and held her as she cried. "You can heal and recover from this, I promise you can," Ben said stroking her back. "I'm going to be right here to support you and we will work so that you can see your son," Ben stated has he continued to rub her back.
A week later...
Miranda woke up in Ben's bed and she stretched as she looked at the time on the alarm clock and it read 10:00am. She laid there for a moment before deciding to get up and see if Ben had coffee. When she stepped out into the living room Ben was asleep on the couch.
Miranda found herself genuinely smiling as she looked at him sleeping. She didn't understand why this man was being so kind to her and basically agreeing to be her support system but she felt thankful. Ben had been catering to her emotional needs by letting her vent and holding her when her emotions got the best of her and she'd end up weeping and sobbing.
It felt good to be supported by a man who wasn't belittling her or trying to invalidate how she was feeling. He even helped her find a therapist to deal with her trauma and pain and her first appointment was next week.
Miranda walked into the kitchen to make coffee and breakfast since Ben had been making all the meals or buying them all for her. She felt she needed to do something to show her appreciation since today was the first day she felt a little better.
Quietly pulling out a frying pan and a cooking sheet, Miranda began making pancakes and bacon and eggs. She hummed a song that made its way into her thoughts as she cooked. Once she was done she found some strawberries and blueberries in the fridge to go along with the breakfast. Miranda grabbed one of the plates and a cup of coffee then walked over into the living room.
Miranda sat the food and cup down on the coffee table. "Ben," Miranda said softly as she shock him by his shoulder.
"Hmmm, what's wrong?" Ben asked shooting up and then grabbing his back.
Miranda winced at the way he groaned in pain, "Nothing is wrong Ben I just made you some coffee and breakfast. Is your back hurting? Miranda asked concerned as she sat down beside him.
"Oh this is nice Miranda, thank you for the breakfast," Ben said smiling and picking up the cup of coffee.
"Answer my question Ben, is your back hurting?" Miranda said sternly as she touched his back.
Ben looked at her then sighed deeply, "Yes my back is kinda sore I guess my couch isn't as supportive as it needs to be, but that's okay," Ben said with a slight smile as picked up the plate and started eating.
"I hate putting you out of your bed so maybe I should just go back to my apartment and I can stay there while I look for a new place. My lease for that apartment will be done in two months anyway so I think I can handle two months. I can just find things to do outside of my apartment in the mean time and just go there to sleep. Maybe if I just go ahead and go back to work that can occupy my time until I can get a new place," Miranda rambled on and on.
"Miranda no, you aren't going back to that apartment it's not good for your mental health to deal with those memories, you will continue to stay here," Ben said firmly.
Miranda sat and thought, "Well we are just going to have to share the bed because you can't sleep on this couch another night Benjamin," Miranda said.
"Okay...and my lease is up soon also so instead of renewing we can just move into one of the two bedroom condos in this building. They have quite a few available so I can go check it out later," Ben told Miranda.
"Ben you don't have to go get a two bedroom apartment, we don't know I much longer I will stay here if I plan on finding my own apartment," Miranda said.
"Miranda I want you here...and even though I have you staying here so that I can keep an eye on you I also like having you here. It feels less lonely for me so you can look at it as we're helping each other. You can be the roommate I never knew I wanted," Ben explained.
"Ummm I have to go into work today and I have a few late surgeries so I probably won't be back until later tonight," Ben shared.
"Okay, umm I think I'm finally ready to go get my car, so I'm going to call a cab to take me over there," Miranda said.
"Miranda...why do you insist on using other resources instead of the one in front of you? I can drive you to get your car before I go to work," Ben offered as he finished his food and walked to the kitchen.
Ben drove Miranda to her apartment, parked beside her car and grabbed her hand. "Okay Miranda Bailey I will see you later...be safe and call me if you need me for anything," Ben told her as he kissed her hand.
Miranda blushed and nodded her head then got out of the car. She looked into her car and saw the car seat and instantly regretted wanting to come get her car. She shed some tears but quickly wiped them away as she got in the car and drove off. She decided it was time to go get a new phone since she put it off for a week.
Once she got her new phone she decided to be brave and go back to her apartment and pack things. For a moment she thought about whether she even wanted any of the things in her apartment so instead of getting boxes she decided to get yard sale signs and price stickers. Miranda picked up some food and went back to her apartment. She stuck a yard sale sign in the grass by her apartment then propped one up beside the door.
As she went around putting tags on everything a few people trickled in and started buying things. Miranda smiled because the process was going faster than she expected. She even decided to sale her tv because she wanted a new one anyway.
It was 9pm and Miranda sat in her son's room going through his things. Most of the clothes he probably couldn't wear anymore because the last time she saw him a month and a half ago he was close to not being able to wear them. Miranda cried think about how much she missed her son and she knew he missed her. Then she became angry thinking about the way Tucker was probably feeding him lies about why he hadn't seen her.
Ben got of work and drove home, when he got inside and realized Miranda wasn't there he felt himself getting anxious. He quickly headed back out the door and drove to her apartment complex. He saw her car was still there but had been moved and he took a breath of relief. He knew he was a kind and caring person but he couldn't understand why he was going out of his way for this woman, it was just something about her.
Ben walked towards her apartment and saw that the door was open and was afraid something happened so he ran in.
"MIRANDA!" Ben shouted as he ran through her apartment until he saw her sitting on the floor with her sons clothes in piles around her.
"Hey Ben," she replied softly with a shaky voice. Ben touched his chest as he tried to regulate his breathing, "this woman is going to be the death of me," he thought to himself.
"Hey...you weren't at home and I don't have your number yet so I couldn't call you," Ben explained as he sat down beside her and looked at all the cute little boy clothes.
"Sorry, I wanted to begin packing but then I decided I didn't want most of my things anymore so I've been selling stuff all day. Then I thought about my son's room and how he probably can't fit most of these things now because he was close to growing out of them last time I had him," Miranda explained as she continued to sort through the clothes.
"What can we do so that you can see your son," Ben asked softly.
"I could just go over to his place and demand to see my son but then that would probably be another thing he'd try to use against me...he's really good at holding things against me," Miranda said.
"How about you call first and if you need me to I can go with you and be your support I will," Ben suggested.
"I should call him now so that he knows I'm serious," Miranda said sounding determined and surprising Ben. He knew she wasn't herself because of all that she'd gone through but this was the first time she sounded somewhat strong and empowered.
"Maybe not this late but early in the morning," Ben said taking her phone and then programming his number in and calling himself so he'd have her number.
"Let's go home and get some rest and then in the morning you can call him and I'll be right there with you," Ben suggested as he looked in her face and she smiled.
"There goes that beautiful smile, that's a good sign," Ben said smiling back as he helped her off the floor.
When they got home they took turns taking a shower and once Ben came out he grabbed the covers he had been using and headed to the living room.
"Ben, where are you going?" Miranda asked sitting criss cross on the bed.
"I'm going to bed Miranda, we have to call about Tuck in the morning, oh and the landlord said we can go see that bigger condo in the morning as well before I go to work," Ben shared.
"Ben, I told you this morning that we can just share the bed until we move into a new apartment. This bed is big enough to share...I never sleep on that side anyway so come," Miranda said patting the other side of the bed.
Ben walked over to the other side of the bed slowly as if he was nervous to get into his own bed. He pulled the covers back and Miranda lifted up and got under the covers also. When Ben was settled he looked over at Miranda and she smiled.
"See now your back won't have to hurt because you're in this comfy bed," Miranda said touching his back and it made him shudder at her touch.
Miranda turned off the lamp and laid down then Ben did the same. Ben stared at Miranda as she stared back at him.
"Why are you staring at me like that," Miranda asked with a slight smile.
"Ummm I just think you're beautiful that's all," Ben smiled nervously.
"Thank you...but don't get any ideas we maybe sharing the bed Benjamin Warren but you can't an have any of this," Miranda said stroking her hand down her body.
Ben groaned, " Really Miranda...I wasn't even thinking about that, I just said that you're beautiful," Ben sputtered then closed his eyes and Miranda did the same.