"Dr. Warren, chef morimoto asked me to take extra special care of you. Can I start you both off with something to drink?" The waiter asked.
"Crystal?" Ben asked wanting her to go first.
"Champagne." She smiled softly.
"Dom Perigon? Cristal?"
"Oh, no, no, no what are your sakes?" She asked changing her mind.
"May I suggest our Honjozo?"
"That might be nice. And your Junmai?
"We have a great Daiginjo."
"Is that the one with the melon?" She smiled
"Melon, honey suckle fragrance, and a rich texture. Superb." The waiter clarified.
"The Daiginjo it is."
The waiter nodded before walking away.
Ben sighed sitting across from Crystal at dinner. She wanted to talk and get back on one accord and he didn't know if he was ready for that.
"So I know this may be premature considering we are slowly getting back together, but I just couldn't help myself."
Ben looked up confused. "What are you talking about?"
Okay well after I shopped at Bergdorf's today, I swung by the plaza and learned that if we wanted to have our wedding there, there's a Saturday in September just opened. The 15th. Would it be too optimistic to reserve it? Just in case? Because the next opening's not for, like, a year and a half."
"You were right. Way premature." Ben said seriously causing Crystal to frown.
"Look you just came back into my life. We are trying to work things out …. " Ben started, but she cut him off.
"Are you in this, Ben? 'Cause if you are not really going to give us a second chance, I deserve the right to know. I…"
"Crystal. Crystal. After all that's happened, I am going to take this slow. And I need you to be okay with that." He said seriously.
"Here you go." The waiter came and sat the drink down.
"Have you talked to Miranda?" Ben asked after eating sushi.
"No why?" Crystal inquired wiping her mouth.
"I'm just asking. I called her and she didn't respond."
"You called her for work?"
"Um… yeah." Ben lied.
Miranda sat at work and wrote post op notes. She was angry that she was hormonal and sad all the time. Men! She thought. They just suck the life out of you.
Ben walked into his library and looked around, over at the desk he saw a book with sticky notes and a yellow highlighter beside it.
Picking it up he read the title. "Textbook of Operative General Surgery." He ran his hand across it. Damn he missed her.
"Hey." Brian called out from behind Ben pulling him out of his thoughts.
"It better be good."
"Oh its better than good, I just got off the phone with the Rattlers management. Your new and improve contract looks like its going to close." He smiled sitting in one of the recliners.
"That's great."
"What's great is the terms of the five year deal. Yeah it's a good day." Brian smiled nodding.
"What about Miranda." Brian asked
"Miranda?" Ben questioned looking up.
"Yeah, after the work she did with you, she's become a hot commodity. Several teams have offered her permanent positions and others want sign contracts for her to see their players."
"Yep good for her. I heard James is going to be one of her clients.
Ben clicked his teeth. "And what's wrong with him?"
"You know how he is, but he claims to have some stiffness in his knee… but anyways I am going to go try one of those new protein shakes and don't forget your interview on Friday."
"I won't." Ben replied nodding.
"Okay Richard I am going home for the next few days. Now Mr. Linzer hates the food, He will tell you that he feels fine, he does not feel fine. If you release him before his I.N.R stabilizes he will bleed to death.
Mrs. Gilman is still intubated, but I want the tube out by Monday."
"Miranda give me the charts. I know how to do your job, hell I taught you your job. Go get out of here before you miss your flight."
"Okay I will see you soon." She smiled before hugging him.
"Our guest today, the great Dr. Benjamin Warren, star of the Saskatchewan Rattlers. Much respect, my brother, we appreciate you taking the time to join us today man."
"Thanks for having me, it's good to be here." Ben smiled.
"It's been some year man."
"Yeah it's been a year."
"A career threatening injury in the middle of the season, everybody counted you out, including your own team. Not even your own doctor thought you would make it back before the end of the season, but you did. How in the world did you do it?"
"Three words, Doctor Miranda Bailey."
Crystal smiled lightly and everyone else sat up who was watching the interview.
Callie watching in the lounge at work pulled out her phone and text Miranda "watch channel 16." Forgetting she was at the airport.
"The physical therapist that helped you out, right?"
"She is also the chief of General surgery I would be amissed to not mention that." Ben chuckled. "But she did more than that, Stuart. A lot more. You know she saw something in me that I didn't see in my self. She believed in me so much, she practically willed me back to the game. Yeah, it was a lot of hard work, but even when I was in pain and wanted to quit, she wouldn't let me. Instead, Miranda, she made me laugh. Some how she made the worst three months of my life the best three months of my life. I wouldn't be here without her."
"She sounds special, man" Stuart responded.
"Yeah she is… I'm sorry man there is someplace I need to be." Ben said standing taking the microphone off his suit coat.
"Wait…Ben…" the host shouted confused as he walked off set.
"Wait… wait, Ben." Crystal said standing.
"Listen I'm sorry this is not going to work." Ben said seriously.
"No. Ben, I know… I understand. " She nodded. "she's on the way home to Baltimore."
Miranda picked up Tuck from his dads house and took a taxi to the airport. She was actually excited to be going home and seeing her parents for a few days. The flight wasn't that long and she was glad Tuck slept, so she could too.
Gathering their things. She took another taxi to her parents house. A little ways into the drive. She started to see familiar houses and she looked out the window. Closing her eyes for a second she took a deep breath.
"Mommy It's Ben." Tuck announced excitedly.
Miranda's head snapped up and she looked towards Tuck's window as they pulled into her parents driveway.
"What the hell was he doing here?" Miranda mumbled irritated.
She got out the taxi and held Tucks hand as the taxi driver got her bags out. Miranda reached into her wallet to pay him, but Ben grabbed her hand and handed the man a hundred dollar bill.
"Hi Ben." Tuck smiled.
"Hey Buddy." Ben smiled bending down to give him a high five.
Miranda heard the front door opened and she looked up to see her mom.
"Grandma." Tuck yelled excitedly running over. She watched as the two hugged before disappearing inside the house.
"What are you doing here?" Miranda asked with an attitude.
"Look Miranda I know you don't want to see me, but…
"You're right, I don't. Why are you here?" Miranda asked walking up the drive way some.
"Because I'm in love with you." Ben stated grabbing her hand and pulling her back to where he was.
"No. You found out that the woman that you were going to marry was not the woman you thought she was. Now here you are, looking for plan B, your second option. You want your best friend. Your cheerleader that was there for you when the chips were down? Well guess what Ben I don't want to be plan b. And I'm not going to be that, even for Dr. Benjamin Warren the basketball player." Miranda argued walking away again.
"Listen to me Miranda. Listen. You are not my fall back plan. I'm not here because it didn't work out with Crystal. I am here because I love you and I'm in love with you. These past few weeks have been the worst few weeks of my life because you weren't there. You can be stubborn all you want, but I know you.
"You don't know me." Miranda chastised shaking her head.
"I know that you love me and that your still in love with me. I know those feelings didn't conveniently fade away because your mad at me. And you have every right to be. But I'm not leaving and going home without you. I'm not waking up another morning without being able to look at you next to me. Miranda you are just right for me and I mean we're in love.
Miranda turned to face the other way as her tears fell. "Stupid hormones." She mumbled.
"Miranda are you really going to ignore me while I'm pouring out my heart to you." Ben asked in disbelief.
Miranda started sniffling and Ben walked around to face her.
"Miranda." He said softly grabbing her hands.
She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Ben hugged her back quickly before placing his hand on her chin so she would look up at him.
Ben looked into her eyes and softly pressed their lips together. Miranda moaned at the contact and wrapped her arms around his neck standing on her tip toes to deepen the kiss. She felt Bens tongue trace the line of her lip and she opened her mouth to allow his tongue entry. Ben hands grabbed onto her ass and he lifted her off the ground. Miranda quickly wrapped her legs around his waist.
"Hey stop all that." William said opening the front door.
"Sorry daddy." Miranda said sheepishly breaking the kiss.
Ben sat Miranda on her feet and she blushed heavily.
"I love you." Ben told her seriously.
"I love you too." Miranda said swiftly. "You talked to my parents?"
"I did. They love me already." Ben cheesed.
"I'm sure." She responded unconvinced
"You don't believe me?"
"My mom maybe, but my dad no. I know he gave you a hard time." Miranda laughed.
"He did, but I can handle it. "
"How did you know I was here or coming home?"
Ben gave her a look before saying "Crystal."
"Uh… you were with her." Miranda said shocked hitting his chest hard.
"Ouch." Ben whined. "I was at a tv interview and she was back stage. I left in the middle of the interview to come find you. You can watch it live."
Miranda rolled her eyes and pursed her lips.
"You're the only one I want."
"Well I'm glad you came to your senses." Miranda said dramatically.
"Why is that?" Ben smiled pecking her lips.
"Because in about 6 months. We'll have a basketball player or cheerleader." Miranda smiled softly placing his hands on her stomach.
"Miranda." Ben gasped and she tried to read his facial expression.
"Your pregnant?" Ben finally asked after some time. She nodded and he smiled widely.
"We're having a baby." Ben grinned holding her face.
"You happy?" She asked
"Oh!." He exclaimed excitedly lifting her off the ground before kissing her lips.