Title: Baby It's You
Chapter: Four
Author: greyeyedgirl
Disclaimer: This fic is purely a result of the author's imagination, and is in no way affiliated with Grey's Anatomy. I'm just trying to come up with things to do to distract myself from doing my homework. :)
Author's Note: I've decided this fic will have five chapters. I want it to be long, but I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who gets slightly freaked out my 22 chapter fanfics. I'm not writing a book! Well. I am. But this isn't it. Anyway, read, review, enjoy. Thanks! ---greyeyedgirl---
"So how many children have you cared for?" Burke's voice rang through the daycare center, as he looked at the tall, pretty woman expectantly.
"Over the years? Easily over a hundred. I prefer not to have over 25 clients, and there can never be more than a 5 kids per sitter ratio. I have 8 other people who work here, and of course you'll be able to meet all of them. I assure you, though, every one of them is highly qualified. I never hire anyone with less than 6 years of experience, and they don't get to watch a child by themself until after a one month trial period with a Senior baby-sitter watching over them."
Cristina nodded at her. "But Preston's just a newborn. Are you experienced with babies that young?"
"We have two other newborns here right now, and I've watched many before. Our staff is highly competent."
The meeting ended a few minutes later, and Burke and Cristina exited the center, Cristina holding the baby tightly.
"I think that was my favorite place so far. All the baby-sitters seemed nice, and this place has great recommendations."
Burke turned to her. "You think this is the place?"
Cristina looked down at Preston. "What do you think? Did the lady seem nice?"
Burke smiled at her. "I'm starving. Let's stop somewhere and get a bite to eat. We can talk about it tonight. I liked her too, though. We can call back tomorrow after we've decided."
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Cristina entered the hospital a couple weeks later, smiling at Meredith as she walked in.
"Hey!" Izzie exclaimed. "How's Mr. Adorable?"
Cristina smiled, pulling her hair back into a half-ponytail. "Well, today's his first day at daycare, so we'll see how he does." She breathed deeply. "I've spent the last three weeks, no, the last nine and a half months, attached to him. It's weird to be Just Me."
Meredith smiled encouragingly as they stepped into the locker room. "Hey, George."
George looked up from his position of tying his shoes. "Hey. How's the baby, Cristina?"
All of the interns except Alex had already seen the baby. Meredith, Izzie, and George had come over two days after he'd been born, each baring presents and smiles. "He's good. I've got pictures."
Izzie squealed, leaning over Cristina's shoulder to see. "Oh, he looks so cute! Look at his little chin!"
Alex entered the locker room and came over to their huddle. "What are we lookin' at, dirty pictures?"
Cristina made a vomiting noise, turning to glare at him. "Hey," Alex said, looking at the picture of Preston sleeping soundly in his crib. "Little guy looks just like Burke."
"I know, isn't he cute?" Izzie asked.
"What are we all standin' around for? Did all the patients heal themselves?" Bailey's voice ran through the locker room, scattering the interns. "Sorry, Dr. Bailey," Cristina said. Bailey tilted her head, examining the photo in Cristina's hand. "Cute kid. It's Preston, right?"
"Uh huh," Cristina said, smiling.
"Damn, he looks like his daddy. Mine looks like his dad and me blended together, but this one looks like Dr. Burke all the way." She straightened up, leading the interns out of the locker room.
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"Hey, buddy," Burke said, taking his son from the baby-sitter. "Were you good today?"
"He was excellent. You've got a smart little boy, there. He didn't even cry much, except right after your wife left."
Preston looked up at his daddy, smiling almost as if he knew he was being praised.
"That true? Were you sad when Mommy left? Well, she's probably on her way home by now, we can see her in a little bit." He smiled at the baby-sitter. "Thanks a lot. See ya tomorrow." He walked carefully out to his car, buckling Preston securely into his baby car seat.
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"Hey," he said, stepping through the door to the house. "Hey," Cristina said, smiling at him. "How was Preston's first day at daycare?"
"He did well. Marcia said he cried a little right after you left, but did okay after that."
Cristina scooped up Preston from Burke's arms, where the baby had stretched out one arm for her. "Hey, sweetie. Did you miss me?"
Preston smiled at her. "I'm going to start dinner," Burke said, slipping his glasses on. "Is spaghetti okay?'
"Sounds great. I'm going to take Preston to change into his pajamas. He had a long day." She carried the baby into his bedroom, where she changed his diaper and slipped him into a pair of white footie pajamas with ducks on them. Preston giggled as she patted baby powder on him. "That tickle?" She asked, kissing his noise. "Do you want your teddy bear?" She handed him the bear and picked him back up. He reached a hand out towards the CD player. Cristina followed his gaze. "You want to listen to music? Well, how bout we eat dinner with Daddy, then I'll take you in here and we'll listen to that song you like. " She carried him back to the kitchen, where Burke was setting the table and lifting the tray part of Preston's high-chair. "Hey," she said. He grinned at her. "Hi, Preston," he said. Preston waved his arm out to him. "Dih."
"You want to go to Daddy?" Cristina handed him carefully over to Burke, as Burke took hold of the baby steadily. "Want your baba?" Burke asked, handing Preston his bottle. Preston took it willingly, lying his head against his father's shoulder, as a little drool got on Burke's shirt. "There ya go," Burke said, slipping the bottle into Preston's mouth as Cristina dished out the spaghetti onto two plates.
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Preston's room was quiet except for Burke's voice, quietly reading him a bedtime story. The baby lay in his arms quietly, blinking tiredly. Burke closed the book, standing up and setting it in the large bookcase on one side of the wall, filled with books for small children. "Are you tired, buddy? Okay, you can go to sleep, but first you have to look at this." He picked up a toy from the toy box. "This is a ball. It's red, see?" He picked up another toy. "This is red, too. See how they're the same?"
"What are you doing?" Cristina's voice startled him from the doorway. "I was...showing him the colors."
"He's 3 weeks old. Barely."
"I know, but..." Preston reached for his teddy bear. Burke handed it to him absentmindedly. Preston pointed to the CD player. Burke looked at it, confused. He turned to look at Cristina.
"He likes music. Beethoven is his favorite."
"You're yelling at me for teaching him his colors, but you're making him listen to Beethoven?"
"I'm not making him. He likes it."
"Cristina-"
They were both interrupted by the sound of Preston's crying. "Bic!" He exclaimed, waving his arm against his father. "Bittle."
"I'm sorry, Preston. We didn't mean to make you cry." Preston reached his hand towards Cristina's hair, pulling on it gently and smiling when he let go and it resumed its curl. Cristina flipped on the CD player, listening to the music drift quietly out. Burke handed her the baby, and she rocked him quietly, feeling Burke's eyes on her. "Shhh. Night, Preston."
Baby Burke drifted quietly off to sleep, as his parents watched in quiet interpretation.
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"I just got a patient that needs an emergency surgery. Is there any way you can pick up Preston?"
Cristina looked up. "Sure. I just got off-call."
"Thanks." He turned to leave.
"Do you know what time you'll be home?"
Burke sighed, removing his glasses and wiping them on the bottom of his scrub top. "Late. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. I'll see you tonight?"
"Yes." He leaned forward and kissed her quickly. "Love you."
"I love you too, Burke."
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"Were you a good boy?"
"Dih."
Cristina smiled, rocking him in her arms. "Yeah?" She looked up at the baby-sitter, Marcia. "Was he okay after Preston dropped him off this morning?"
"Well, he cried a little bit after Dr. Burke left, but that usually happens for a few weeks after babies start daycare. He was great after that, though. He played with a rattle. He likes music."
"Yeah, he does," Cristina agreed, smiling.
"Dih!" Preston started to cry. Cristina looked down at him. "What's the matter, sweetie? Are you hungry?"
Marcia looked confused. "He shouldn't be. He had dinner less than half an hour ago."
"Shhhh," Cristina murmured, bouncing him in her arms. She sighed. "Well, I gotta go. Come on buddy," she said to the wailing Preston, trying to soothe him.
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