Perhaps Love

"Oh, God! What time is it?! I'm going to be late," Miranda said jumping out of the bed. She turned to her alarm clock. She calmed down when she saw that it was only 5 o'clock and that her alarm wasn't set to go off for another hour. She grabbed her head. It was hurting a little from jumping up too quickly. "Oh good Lord," she said to herself. "Imagine if I was late to the domino!"

"I wouldn't let you be late." Ben's voice startled her. She clutched her chest as he emerged from the covers and sat up in her bed.

"You scared the crap out of me," she said sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Good morning to you, too," he said coming towards her and kissing her cheek. She flushed.

"Good morning," she said touching the spot where he'd kissed her. "You're in my bed."

"You noticed," he commented. Ben scratched his head and slipped an arm around her waist.

"Yeah, I did. What are you doing here?"

"Well," he said nibbling on her neck. "You don't remember our very eventful night last night?" She shook her head. "You and me. Sitting on your bed. Not touching. And the heat from our bodies was making me so hot. I wanted to kiss you… everywhere."

Miranda breathed deeply. "Then what happened?"

"Well, my idiot brother was texting me and like an idiot, it must run in the family, I started texting him back. You fell asleep on the bed and that was our night."

"So, your brother ruins another night, hunh?" She asked standing up. She crossed her arms. She remembered feeling overwhelmed by her attraction to Ben the night before. There were so many things that she'd wanted to do with him, to him.

"I don't think about it being ruined, Miranda."

"Maybe it was a sign," he said exasperatedly. "Maybe it means—" She watched him slowly close his eyes. When he opened them, there was a small fire in them.

"No. No. No. No. No. No! Miranda, no. Look, the only signs were the ones that led you to me and me to you. That's it, baby," he said taking her hand.

Her heart fluttered, but she stayed strong. "If that were the case, then why did it take me seven months to notice you? And seven months for you to even speak to me!?"

"I was nervous, you were a force and then you were with Eli and I couldn't make my move."

"Okay… but my dad has a heart attack during our first date. Then, your brother interrupts our second date and you spend all night texting him on our third. Those are signs, my brother," she said uncrossing her arms just to cross them again. "Signs. That maybe we're better off as friends."

Ben hopped off of the bed and held her waist. "One, I'm not your brother. Two, those weren't signs, those are obstacles. Obstacles that we can easily get over." He kissed her lips softly. "I think we're doing really good."

"We are, aren't we?" She said smiling.

"Yes. Three, we are excellent friends." It was her turn to nod. "So, are we okay, sweetheart?"

"Yeah," she told him reluctantly. "I guess."

"Good. I thought you were trying to dump me already," he told her with a laugh. He kissed her cheek. "And we're not even official or exclusive; even though you're the only one I'm focused on right now. Am I…"

Miranda spoke softly: "Yes."

Ben Warren held Miranda Bailey tightly. "I really like the way this is going. And I should get going so you can get ready for the big surgery."

"Yeah! Today's the big day."

"Do you want to eat after?"

"Well, I'll have to see. I'm not leaving until all of the surgeries are finished and everything is A-OK."

"You can just text me," he responded. He put on his shoes and then he kissed her cheek.

"I'll do that," she said grabbing his hand and leading them down the stairs.

When he was gone, Miranda made a cup of coffee it in the kitchen while watching a talk show that she often missed. Getting to the hospital, she met with The Chief and residents in as conference room. After making plans, the patients were prepped. She checked the OR board to see where Ben was going to be. He would be in the OR right next door while she performed surgery on Mr. Jeffers. Mr. Jeffers' kidney was depleted. There was a lot of damage and Miranda was happy that he was going to be able to get a new one.

As they waited for the new kidney, Miranda quizzed the residents she choose to work with her, Stephanie Edwards, a young, Black woman with large, curly hair and a big-shy personality and Shane Ross, a tall, well-built Black man with vast knowledge who was eager to learn. She was the last to finish and when she walked out of the scrub room and into the hall, the entire kidney domino team erupted in applause. There were cameras flashing and soon several microphones where in her face asking questions. She paused a little and looked to the back of the crowd and saw The Chief and Ben standing together, smiling. Through the bright lights, she could see Ben giving her his own round of applause. "Dr. Bailey, I heard there was a hiccup with the domino the other day. How did you resolve that issue?" A reporter asked. She smiled widely. "Sometimes we decide to do things because it's for others and not for us and that makes all the difference."

Again she was exhausted. She locked the door and flopped down on a bed in an empty on-call room. Checking the time, she saw that she could take a quick nap, away from the kidneys and cameras. She kicked off her shoes and lie down. There was a knock on the door. "Miranda?" Someone called through the door. She stood up, unlocked the door and opened it a little, enough to see Ben's face.

"Hey, Ben. What's up?" She said through the crack.

"I can't come in?"

"If I let you in, then we'll just start kissing and making out like two teenagers with no control."

"You might like that and I definitely will," he said smiling at her. Falling for his charm, she widened the crack and he slipped through. Funny, she thought, just like he did with my heart. Her heart. Miranda so loved Eli, but the moment she saw Ben standing shirtless in the locker room, he invaded her thoughts and dreams, slipping in a fish that she'd once found in a man's penis. She stared at him. "Why are you looking at me like that?" He asked.

"No reason."

"So, what's the queen of the day doing in this lonely-looking on-call room all by herself?"

"I'm about to take a quick nap," she said. She winced after she said it. Miranda was a little superstitious, she could think about taking nap, but saying it aloud in the hospital meant that her pager would go off and she'd get no sleep at all. She told all of this to Ben who just laughed. "Look, I've been doing this a long time. I know—" Her voice was cut off by her pager going off. His went off as well. "Told ya," she said and she stood on his tiptoes. She touched his cheek softly and kissed his lips even softer. They left the on-call room and went their separate ways. She was being paged to the roof where a young patient was coming in with grand mal seizures. The young patient was called Katie Bryce. Miranda grabbed the first two residents in her sightline, Jo Wilson and Heather Brooks. Katie Bryce was admitted. Miranda told Brooks and Wilson to stay overnight to watch Katie.

Miranda hurried to Brookden Middle School to pick up Tuck and they went home. Along the way, they talked about his weekend with his dad. Then he asked about her weekend. She told him that she had a good weekend and told him about her domino surgery as they pulled up into their driveway. The look on her son's face made her day. He looked so happy for her and that made her proud of the work she would do and had already done. He hopped out of the car and ran into the house, leaving his book bag on the floor of the front seat. She picked up the bag and followed him into the house. "What do you want for dinner, Tuck?" She yelled at the bottom of the steps just as her phone rang.

"Grilled cheese!" He said. Miranda answered her phone, smiling. Grilled cheese was the easiest thing to make. And just so she'd be a great mother, she'd make him some tomato soup as well.

"Hello?" Ben said.

"Hi, Ben!" She said excitedly.

"You sound chipper," his voice crooned into her ear.

"Yep. I just picked up LT and now we're about to have dinner."

"What are you making?"

"My son wants grilled cheese."

"Can I have one, too?" He asked slowly. Tuck walked into the kitchen and sat on a chair.

"Maybe next time. I have to go. I'll talk to you later," she said.

"I'm on-call. I'll call you in the morning?" He asked.

"Mmhmm, I'll believe it when I get the call."

"I woke you up this morning!" He exclaimed and she heard him laugh.

"The lies. I woke me up thinking I was late to the domino," she told him and looked at Tuck. He was playing with his Nintendo DS.

"Oh. Yeah. Well, anyway, let me let you go. I will call you in the morning," he said definitely.

She rolled her eyes. "Sure." Miranda disconnected the phone and focused on her son who'd pulled out the ingredients for the sandwiches.

She helped him grill the bread and cheese while she stirred the soup. When it was finished, they sat down and continued their chat about their respective weekends. Tuck watched her take the last bite of her sandwich. "Mommy now is Ben your boyfriend?"

She choked on some saliva. "What makes you say that?"

"You're always on the phone with him and seeing him and stuff. And he makes you smile… a lot," he said.

Miranda laughed at his comments. "Well… he's not my boyfriend, but we are d-dating."

"Okay," he said.

"Are you finished your homework?" Tuck nodded. "Well, leave it out for me to check and you have about an hour before bedtime. Make sure you get your 20 minutes of reading in."

"Yes, ma'am," he said giving a kiss before scrambling up the stairs. Miranda cleaned up the kitchen. She made sure the door to her house was locked; then she went upstairs to her bedroom. She took off her shirt and went into her master bathroom. She usually took showers, but tonight she figured she'd take a bath. She ran the water and lit some candles. Then, she turned on some music on her phone. She peeled off the rest of her clothes and slid into the tub. Taking a bath was so relaxing, the warmth of the water comforted her and the candles eased her spirits. Miranda stepped out of the tub and put on her robe. Then, she blew out the candles. Miranda slipped into some pajamas and put on a movie. Forty minutes into the movie, she checked on Tuck who was knocked out on his own bed with a book open on his stomach. She smiled and remembered the countless number of times she'd done the same thing. She removed the book and turned off his lamp. She went back into her room and continued the movie and went to sleep quickly.

Miranda walked through the doors of Grey Sloan and searched for Callie. She hadn't seen her best friend or heard from her best friend in two days. Two days since they'd gone to Joe's with Maggie Pierce. She checked the OR board and saw that Callie was in surgery. She sighed. Miranda did her rounds and eventually ended up at the Nurse's Station. "Hey, Bokhee," she said to the nurse.

"Dr. Bailey," Bokhee said looking up at her and smirking."

"What are you smirking at, Jessica?"

"Look behind you," Bokhee answered. She grabbed some files and went into the small office. Miranda turned around and saw Eli walking towards her. She looked past him and saw Ben walking into a patient's room. Ben gave her a head nod and he closed the door behind him.

"Good afternoon, Dr. Bailey," Eli greeted her. He stretched out his arms to give her a hug, but he paused midway and asked: "Wait, can I still hug you?" His arms squeezed her, making her warm. That surprised her.

"Yeah, we're cool, right?" She asked him. He nodded. He turned around and walked into the same room as Ben. Miranda's eyes widened. "Boookhee!"

Miranda stayed and watched the door that Ben and Eli both went into for as long as she could. Her pager went off. She was being paged by The Chief… to the basement? She forgot about the door and went off to find her boss. She found him in a deserted supplies closet in the bottom of the hospital. "Sir?" She asked. There was no answer. "Richard?"

"Yeah, Bailey, I'm here. I'm here." He was sitting on an overturned bucket. Looking the same way she had when he found her in a supplies closet.

"Sir, what's the problem?"

"Who said there's a problem?"

"You're in the basement of your hospital and—"

"Miranda, you know I think of you as a daughter and so does Adele."

"Why… thank you sir. You two are great and have helped me so much. But I don't understand why you're down here."

"Maggie Pierce is my daughter. My biological daughter," he said. It sounded casual, but Miranda could tell that it was the first time he'd said it out loud.

"I know," she said.

He looked at her and smiled weakly. "How? And why didn't you tell me?"

"Honestly, sir. I was going to when I had facts. I know how you are about proof and evidence and such. And because I went out with her and Torres a couple of days ago and she told us that Ellis Grey was her mother."

"Oh my God! Oh God!" Richard slid over another bucket and he threw up. Miranda didn't know what to say. Instead she just rubbed his back. "All these years. 32 years. Three decades and now I find that I have a daughter, a surgeon, a brilliant, beautiful biological child." Miranda nodded. Her heart ached for her mentor. Richard started to laugh. "I wonder what Adele is going to say. And, shit, I have to tell Maggie."

"Sir, I think that's a great idea. Talk to her. Obviously, you had no idea about her existence, right?" Richard was quiet. "Right, Richard?"

"It was a long time ago. Ellis and I had just broken off our affair. I went back to Adele and she left Thatcher. We met in a park, Meredith was on the carousel. She didn't say she was pregnant, but I think she tried to tell me that she was. I-I-I didn't listen. I just told her that it was over and I left. Oh my God! I did this. This is all my fault. Maggie grew up without her family because of me."

"No, sir. No, that's not true. You didn't know." He nodded and started to sob. "I believe, sir, that if you'd known about Maggie… that you would have been a great father. The same great father that you've been to me." She hugged him tightly. They were quiet for a while. "I have an idea. What about if I arrange for you and her to meet up in a neutral space to talk and hash stuff out? When Torres and I talked to her, she didn't seem angry. She just wanted to know about her mother, Ellis."

"Really?"

"Yeah. And her family back in Boston are great. They love her and she didn't grow up without love. The best you can do, I think, is be a great friend and be whatever and whoever she needs you to be. If that makes sense."

"You know, Miranda. You're wise beyond your years."

"Thanks, Chief."

"I don't often say this to my attending, but I do love you, girlie."

"I love you, too, Chief. Now get off of that bucket and go upstairs. There are lives to be saved. I'll let you know when and where to show up."

"Bringing the Bailey Thunder, eh?" Miranda giggled. "Now what the hell am I going to tell Adele?" His mentee shrugged as he lifted himself up and they walked in the direction of his office.

Seeing that he was settled, Miranda went to the ER. She would usually be on her way home, especially since her patients were all taken care of, but off she went trolling for surgeries. On her way down there, she saw Ben talking to a nurse. Miranda knew of this nurse, Leedy Commons. They were talking and laughing and Miranda admired his smile and ease from afar. "I think you would good in the pink OB scrubs," Ben said to Leedy.

"You think so? I think pink would make me look a stick of gum," she told him running a hand through her long hair. She pressed the folder that she was holding closer to her chest.

"Well, people love to chew on gum," he said and they chuckled.

"What do you like to chew on?" She asked and Miranda saw her touch him on the elbow. His gaze went to where she'd touched him.

"Uhh, food, I'm an eater," he told her putting a hand on his stomach. And Miranda wanted to punch him in the stomach.

"I might have to bring you some of my lasagna then," she responded.

"Sure," he said flashing a smile. Ben reached out touched Leedy's shoulder as she walked away from him. Ben was still smiling when h saw Miranda looking at him and took a step towards her. She backed up a little. "Miranda," Ben said walking towards her. Miranda turned on her heels and walked away leaving him behind her. Miranda grabbed changed her clothes and slipped out of the hospital.

It had started to rain as Miranda Bailey walked to her car. She turned on her engine sat in her car for a while. It was a little too early to pick up Tuck, he was probably just getting to aftercare and he liked it. She was sure this Tami was in the program as well. Miranda smiled. Her smile faded when she remembered why she was sitting in her car in the first place. Exclusive. The only one… Words that had once made her heart flutter were making her angry. There was an all too familiar feeling curdling in her stomach. Tears would be forcing themselves out of her eyes in a few seconds. Miranda quickly thought about her son and his beautiful face to stop them. It worked every time. A knock on her passenger window made her jump and she accidentally honked her horn. She rolled down the window a little to see Ben. "Miranda, open the door," he said forcefully.

"Shouldn't you be somewhere eating gum or a nurse?" She snapped. She regretted it as soon as it fell from her lips. She felt bad and when she saw that Ben was getting drenched, she felt a little worse.

"Miranda, please," he said. "Let me in please!"

"You just want to get out of the rain," she said to him. "And we have to talk. You've done enough talking it seems."

Ben slipped a hand through the window and opened the car door. Water dripped down his face and she was reminded of the time at the park when he doused his face with water and it fell all over his face. She was turned on then and she was extra turned on now. "Miranda, I need to talk to you."

"Hey, I get it. You want to see other people. So, go. Be free with Leedy."

"Leedy is the meanest nurse on the floor. She makes everybody in my department's life hell, but she likes me. She doesn't schedule me for work on days that I go to the park with Alex or days that I have games." He used his shirt to wipe off some of the rain. "She doesn't put me in the OR with Hendrix because she knows I can't stand the way he talks to himself when he operates. And she does these favors for me because I… flirt with her. Flirting makes my job easier."

"You mean, easier than it already is?" She said sarcastically.

"Yeah, and what you saw back that gum-scrubs stuff—that's bad flirting. Lazy flirting. For you who I actually like, I break out my good flirting. My A-game." Miranda looked up at the roof of her car. "Because I mean it. Are you hearing me Miranda? I-I mean it."

Finally, Miranda looked into his eyes. He was serious. He was really serious. "I have a child and a full-time job. I've gone through a bitter divorce and I just broke up with someone who I loved. I don't have time for games. I mean, you understand that, right?"

"I do. I do. And I'm not… I'm not playing games. I'm in this for real. Okay?"

She thought for a second. If he was in it and if he loved her the way he said he did, she would have to take the chance that he meant it. Take the chance of getting her heart broken yet again. So, she leaped: "Okay." Miranda turned in her seat away from him. And he faced forward as well.

"You like me, don't you?" He said. She didn't answer. He grabbed her hand. "I know you do." He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it. Then he smiled. "I have to go back to work. I have surgery in like 5 minutes."

She gasped. "Ben Warren. You should be on your way to an OR not out here talking to me about trivial things," she said squeezing his hand.

"It's not trivial to me," he said staring into her eyes. He leaned over and kissed her. She kissed him back and kissed him hard, deepening the kiss. Their tongues tangled Miranda moved closer to him. He was the first to pull away. "Sweetheart, I have to go, but I'll call you."

"Good. And because you love favors so much, I have a favor to ask you."

"What? What? Anything," he said pulling her close and nibbling on her ear.

"No, not yet," she said melting. "When the time's right. And all I need you to do is say yes."

"Okay. I'll call you," he said again. She nodded and he kissed her cheek and then lightly tapped his chin.

Miranda pulled out of her park and drove to her son's school. She looked at his name and saw that he'd been signed out already. "Where's my son?" She asked the teenager sitting at the desk. "William Jones."

"He was signed out about half an hour ago," she said in a very high-pitched voice.

"By whom?"

"Byy… uh—" The girl was stammering and it took a lot of restraint for Miranda not to yell at her, but she was just a child, probably volunteering.

"Hey, Miranda. Tucker came to get him," the lead teacher said coming up behind Miranda. Miranda knew her well. Her name was Chaurisse. They'd known each other for a couple of years.

"Hey, Chaurisse. Okay, thanks. I wish he'd have called me," Miranda said and she called Tucker on her way out of the door. He didn't answer. When she got home and slid into bed, she called her ex-husband again.

He answered: "Miranda. Kid, I'm sorry. I meant to call you. Time slipped away. I told Tuck about the baby."

"Oh wow. How'd he take it?"

"He's okay with it. He said he couldn't wait to see his little sister or brother."

"That's awesome," Miranda said fluffing her pillow.

"Yeah, it is. We're at the gym right now and I can bring him home afterwards. Or, he can spend the night with me and, of course, I'll take him to school."

"Tucker, I don't know. We have a schedule. Tuck has a schedule."

"Mandy. This will only disrupt the schedule for one night, okay? Let me show him that he'll still be important to me even when the baby comes," Tucker said. She could hear the need in his voice.

"Alright. Alright Tucker. I'll talk to you later. Tell Tuck I love him and I'll see him tomorrow."

"I will do that," he said and he ended the call.

Miranda was alone, not lonely, but she was all by herself. The TV wasn't on, the phone wasn't ringing, she didn't have to work and she child-free for the next 23 hours. Miranda looked at her watch. It was 5:30 and it had been a long time since her time wasn't wrapped up. She changed out of her clothes and into something more comfortable, a carefully shredded t-shirt and pair of baggy blue basketball shorts that she'd stolen from Tucker ages ago. They were so comfortable and she was reminded of better times whenever she wore them. After changing, she decided to straighten up the house for a bit. She would start downstairs. She connected her phone to the sound system and turned on some music. It blared from the speakers that were placed around the room. The same ones that Eli helped her set up; he'd made an offhand comment about not being able to hear the movie they were watching, even though she thought it was loud enough, and she went to Best Buy and bought three large speakers. She pulled out the vacuum cleaner and it soon became her dance partner while she listened to the vocal styles of her favorite musical artists. Two hours passed while she cleaned and she was very tired, but wanted to catch up on some reading, reading that didn't have to do with kidneys and spleens or intestines. She made some coffee and grabbed the book that she'd gotten from the bookstore.

The book was interesting, the heroine was remarrying a man she'd known as a child and he'd changed a lot and so had she. She was a successful businesswoman and he was an ex-professional athlete turned reverend. The book comforted Miranda's mind, but her body ached for companionship, coincidentally, the female character was feeling the same way. Miranda bookmarked her current page and turned on the TV, she loved falling asleep to voices of her favorite movie characters. She felt herself doze off.

Miranda sat up quickly. Loud music was booming downstairs. Her phone. It was still connected to the sound system and ringing very loudly. Miranda scrambled out of bed and down the stairs. It stopped ringing before she could answer it. It was Ben. Stretching, she debated whether or not to call him back or… her phone rang in her hand and her palms started to sweat. She tapped the green accept button. "Yes?" She said sitting down on her sofa and crossing her legs.

"Yes? Is that how we answer the phone now?" His voice said into her ear. Smooth. That's how she'd describe his voice. She loved listening to him. "Miranda?"

"Oh. You think you warrant a hi?"

"Yeah, I think warrant more than a hi," he said. Miranda imagined him lying in an on-call room on a bunk with his feet crossed. Maybe he was scratching his head. Maybe he was only wearing a t-shirt.

"Is that right?" She smiled brightly.

"I can hear you smiling. And, yes, I do, sweetheart," he told her.

Her heart sped up a little. "Then I'll start again. Hello, Dr. Warren, how are you?" She spoke sweetly.

His velvety voice crooned back. "I'm alright, Dr. Bailey, how is your night going?" She recounted the details of her night. "That sounds like so much fun. But I didn't hear you mention anything about food."

She thought for a second. "I guess I forgot to eat. And then I fell asleep."

"Well, if I can be presumptuous for a second," he started. "I'm sitting in your driveway and I have some Chinese food in tow. And you're welcome to dismiss my company and just take the food if you want." He laughed. "I hope I'm not pushing myself onto you or crowding you."

She shook her head. "No, I'm not getting that feeling."

"Good."

"I suppose you're trying to make up for lost time," she said going to the door and opening it. As he exited his Mercedes, she noticed that he was dressed casually, grey sweatpants and matching sweatshirt. She could see the hem of a black t-shirt. He was so sexy. Miranda looked down at her own outfit and dashed up the stairs to change for the second time that night. She quickly put on a pair of black leggings and a white t-shirt. When she came down, she found him in the kitchen.

"Honey, I've got food," he sang, kissing her quickly on the cheek and offering her a carton of food. She took it and sat down. He sat down in the chair opposite her.

"Grace?" She asked without looking up. Ben nodded and prayed. "Amen. Ben, thanks for the food; I didn't know how hungry I was."

"I got you." Ben stared at her from across the table. His gaze was hard and she had to turn away.

"So, uh, Dr. Warren why are you not at the hospital?" Miranda asked him putting a piece of broccoli in her mouth. He didn't answer, but cleared his throat. She didn't speak either. "What's the problem, Ben?" He still didn't answer. She was getting fidgety. She poked at her food and watched him do the same. "Did I say the wrong thing?"

Ben shook his head. "I have to be honest with you." Miranda closed her eyes. She didn't know what he was about to say, but she was prepping for the worst. He didn't really like her; she was part of a bet. Or, he didn't want to date her anymore. Maybe she was annoying him. But, then again, he always took it upon himself to seek her out. She was thinking too much into it.

"Well, damn, say something. I'm freaking out over here," she said standing up and walking towards the counter. She leaned against it. She decided to stop talking. And she waited.

"You know my brother is in town," he started slowly. She didn't respond. "My baby brother. We shared a room for 18 years, Miranda. Everything good in my life, everything bad, I had to tell him. From my first crush in fourth grade, Desiree Campbell, she always shared her Swiss Rolls, to the day in the park when I asked you to go out with me." He smiled at her and she blushed and look away. "Curtis is my best friend. And he… he called me earlier today and told me that he's…" Ben chuckled nervously. "He told me that he's transitioning."

"Transitioning? Transitioning?" Miranda said remembering the curly-haired younger Warren brother. Ben just nodded. "Wow and how are you taking it? I mean, you're quiet which is unusual…"

"I'm good. I mean, I knew he was gay, but this is a surprise. He came this way because of the Plastics surgeon, um, Jackson Avery. And to tell me that he's transitioning… I'll soon have two sisters. I'm not upset. I'm just… surprised. And I'm mad at myself for how I treated him when he first came into town. I thought he just wanted money."

"Does Angela know?" Miranda asked sitting back down. She took a sip of the tea that Ben had placed in front of her.

He shook his head. "Not yet." He stood up slowly and walked around the table. "He'll tell her when he's ready."

Miranda smiled. "That doesn't sound too bad."

"No, it doesn't," Ben said standing up and walking over to her. She froze a little. He was in front of her now. He leaned down and kissed one cheek. As he moved to the other side, Miranda turned her head allowing their lips to connect. He grabbed her hands and pulled her up. She put her arms around his neck as he nibbled on hers. "It really doesn't," he said again.

"Unh-uh," she breathed. "It's not."

"I've never seen your room." His voice was raspy.

"Yes, you have," Miranda told him, hitting him playfully.

"Show me again." He took her hand and led her up the stairs. Every footstep echoed in her chest. Going through her bedroom door, he saw the clothes she'd changed out of on the floor. He picked them up. "You didn't have to change for me."

"I didn't." She snatched the shirt and shirt out of his hands and tossed them into a corner of her room. Realizing that what she'd just done was ridiculous, she went over to the corner and picked them up. She soon felt Ben's body behind hers. She breathed deeply as his hands traveled up her body, trying to touch every curve.

"I don't think I told you before," he whispered in her ear and kissed the back of her neck. "But you look really good. Those leggings are driving me crazy." He kissed behind her ear and pushed his body against hers. Her thoughts were getting jumbled in her head.

"Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself." Miranda turned around kissed him deeply. He kissed her back just as deep. After a few minutes of light touching and making out heavily, Miranda pulled away. She walked away from him and towards her bed. Getting onto the bed, she watched Ben's shocked face. He raised an eyebrow and cleared his throat.

"You don't mind if I join you on that bed, do you?" She shook her head. Ben removed his sweatshirt. His t-shirt was stuck to the sweatshirt and Miranda caught a glimpse of his body. He was fit. He was wearing a black t-shirt and it complemented his skin tone and made her swoon. He looked really good. He strutted to the foot of the bed and took off his sneakers. Climbing into the bed, he crawled to her and on top of her. He kissed her softly. She was too preoccupied with what was happening to kiss him back. She could tell that he was aroused. And every minute that he spent on to, drove her crazy.

When he stopped, she whispered: "Oh, God!" He kissed her once and he got off of the bed. "Benjamin Warren, so I just want to tell you that I will not have, uh, my personal business all over the hospital like every little resident hoe there." Ben smiled at Miranda. He knew where this was going. He sighed and put his head down. "So, therefore, you will not flirt with me at work." He leaned in to kiss her. His lips touching hers sent signals to all important parts of her body. He stood up. "No, no, listen, listen. You will not kiss me at work. You will not…" Ben pulled off his black t-shirt revealing the torso that had first physically attracted Miranda. Every ab was in place and there was hair on his chest. A real man, just like she liked them. "… look at me with the I've seen you naked eyes." Ben put his head down and looked up at her. She was definitely getting aroused now. How could he know that she absolutely could not resist a man who looked at her like that? "What we do in the bedroom stays in the bedroom. Look I'm a professional woman, a well-respected surgeon. I have great character and my status at Grey Sloan is excellent and unparalleled." Ben stared at her. He seemed to be looking at her lips. He touched the band of his sweats and pulled them down showing her his dark blue plaid boxers. Miranda was getting excited now. She sat up and bit her lip slightly. "And more importantly, I am a lady. And a lady does not show her drawers at the office. Sh—" Miranda's speech was cut short by Ben pulling down his boxers and stepping out of them. He kicked them to the side. She stuttered. What had she been saying? Kiss, bedroom, naked… clearly, it was something about sex. Sex. Was she about to have sex with Ben? What that what was happening? Why he was on top of her? Why he was stripping oh-so sexily? Why she looked at him and licked her lips and ran a hand through her hair.

Ben stared at her. "Now. Woman, I am naked. And I look good. Now, you're gonna sit there and lecture me or are you going to get naked and let me climb on top of you and let me have my way with you?" Miranda let out a noise. She got off of the bed and stood in front of Ben who tore of her shirt and leggings faster than she'd put them on. "You're ready?" He whispered into her ear. She nodded. Now Miranda knew she wasn't skinny; that had always been a problem, a source of taunting for classmates and people who didn't know her at all. But she did like to keep her athletic build, so she worked out as much as she could. But there were a few extra pounds that she couldn't seem to get rid of. So it shocked the hell out of her when Ben bent his knees a little, grabbed her butt and lifted her up. She gasped and flung her arms around his shoulders. She was surprised that Ben just lifted her up with no problem, with such ease. They continued to kiss as he backed them over to the bed and put her on it. She hit the bed bouncing a little.

He slid on the bed and kissed her from head to toe. The light in the bathroom was on and a piece of it shined on her breasts. He took a little longer there. "I know a lot of men don't like to be asked this question. But the men I've been with never minded. Some men like to skirt around the situation or pretend like… well, either way, I'm going to ask you anyway. Do you have condoms? And I hope you do because that means that you care even if you didn't come over with the intention of... participating in adult activities."

Ben, supporting himself above her, he put one finger to her lips. He turned onto his back and reached down into his pants pocket and pulled out three condoms. He nodded and tossed two of them on Miranda's nightstand. Silently, he ripped open a packet and skillfully put it on. Miranda was quiet, she swallowed. He rolled back on top of her. He kissed her passionately; her hands rubbed his firm body. He held her again, their naked bodies pressed against each other. She could feel… everything. And everything felt so good. Her body ached for his. "You can ask me anything you want; especially if it deals with our comfort and health." Ben hovered over her and kissed her lips and cheeks, neck and chest. "And, sweetheart, make no mistake. I came here with every intention of making love to you." Gently, Ben slid onto the bed and into her. Miranda moaned and touched every part that she could reach.

"Yes," Miranda threw her back and moaned. Her toes curled and her body relaxed. Engulfed in delight, she climbed a hill of pleasure. She was feeling… there was a word for it. Perfect. When they'd finished their simultaneous orgasms, Ben planted a deep and fiery kiss on her and then, collapsed beside her. Both bodies glistened with sweat. She felt damn good. She was satisfied. Had Eli ever made her feel like this? Had Tucker? She had felt him so deep, he took care of every part of her body. And he was so gentle and passionate. Adele had once explained to Addie and herself. There were some lovers who sometimes fell short of any and all expectations. Tucker. And then there were those who were OK and who, essentially, got the job done. Eli. Then there were the good lovers who aimed to please so that you wanted to do the same thing. Ben. He was good. This is what good was. She'd have to thank Adele one day. Miranda lay next to Ben swimming in her thoughts and in her feelings.

"C'mere, woman," he said pulling her close to him and kissing the top of her head. "Thank you, sweetheart, that was … well, it was alright."

She pushed his chest. "Alright? Yeah, you were." They laughed. "I guess."

"Ooo, that's messed up. But, no, seriously, Miranda. That was amazing."

"Speak on it, baby" she said shutting her eyes tightly and pulling the covers up to her neck. She did not mean to call him baby. Maybe he hadn't heard her. But it just felt so easy and so right.

"Baby?" He asked nodding. She didn't answer, but she played with the hairs on his chest. "What are you thinking about?"

She opened her mouth to speak only to snap it shut. She didn't want to tell him that she was falling for him. Or that she could see a future with him; that might freak him out. "I'm just thinking that I've thought about having sex with you, but I didn't think it would happen so soon and so suddenly."

Ben mindlessly ran a finger up and down her arm. "Are you regretting it?"

"No. No. No. N-not at all. Regret is not a word I'd use to describe any of what's happened between us."

"You know this makes you my girlfriend," he said. Miranda scoffed. "I'm kidding. I'm kidding."

"Are you?" She said with closed eyes. The exhaustion of the day was finally kicking in. He shook his head. "Mmkay." Miranda turned on her side and Ben slid behind her.

"You're tired?"

She nodded while saying: "No."

Ben laughed and she smirked. "Well, let's go to sleep." He kissed her back a couple of times, making her squirm. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." She reached behind her and took his hand and pulled it up to her chest. "I love you, too, Ben Warren."

"I know, Miranda Bailey" he whispered softly in her ear.