Wordplay

As the settled in and order drinks, Julia looked up from her menu and said: "Miranda, thank you for meeting me." Miranda nodded. "You really don't have a reason to want to meet me. I wasn't the nicest person the few times we met."

"Well, that is an understatement," Miranda said before she could stop the words from leaving her mouth.

"You're right. I deserve that." Julia paused to thank the waiter for the bread and drinks. The women placed their orders. "And I know I owe you an explanation and an apology, Benjamin gave me no choice. I mean, I've never seen him so adamant about something in his life, especially a woman." Miranda picked up a piece of bread and listened. "I was rude. And unkind and I didn't give you a chance." Miranda picked up her glass of wine. "Am I missing anything?"

"How about you tearing at our relationship?" Miranda asked without looking at Julia. She continued to eat her bread. If she ate enough of it, she'd soon get full.

"Miranda." The way the woman said her name made Miranda pay attention. She looked up at the woman. "I apologize for my—how I behaved the other day. I was wrong, yeah. But what I was really doing was testing you." The surgeon fought the urge to cut her eyes at the woman. "I know my son and he has good taste in women, present company included, but I also know that if I don't like her, the future that he has with her is grim."

Miranda exhaled with a smile. "I'm glad that I'm getting the chance to talk with you. One on one. But what... what Ben and I have will last whether you like me or not." Miranda gave the woman a smile and it widened afer she realized that what she'd said was true. Even if Ben went to California or even if he stayed right in Washington, they'd be okay. "With all due respect."

"You didn't let me finish. I do like you." Miranda was honestly shocked, she hadn't been expecting that. "You're mature and successful and obviously driven. You are a surgeon after all. You're exactly who I'd want him with," Julia said giving Miranda a smile of her own and for the first time it was genuine. "So, can we start over?"

Miranda inhaled. "Sure."

"Good. Now that that's settled. Can we eat?" Julia asked as the waiter placed their food in front of them. They chatted while they ate. "So, Miranda Bailey, tell me about yourself."

"Okay, I'm a mother of a beautiful 7-year old boy who thinks the world of me. And I think he's the best thing I've ever done." Julia smiled and ate a spoonful of her chowder. "And, um, I'm Head of General Surgery at Grey Sloan Memorial," Miranda said confidently. Sometimes when she said her job title aloud that she was shocked by the power that it weld. "And some people think I'm kind, others think I'm mean and cold. But your son loves me so I can't be that bad, can I?" The two of them chuckled.

"No, you're not. And Angela confirmed that as well. She told me about how you helped find Jazmin and that you're a good person." Miranda nodded. "Thank you."

"For what?" Miranda asked as she finished her burger.

The woman put down her spoon and looked at Miranda. "For loving my son and being hospitable to me even while I was being somewhat of a b—jerk." Miranda burst out into a fit of laughter. She picked up her drink. "No, seriously. And I think—and please don't tell my son I said this, but you're probably going to be the woman he ends up with."

Miranda nearly choked on her wine. "Excuse me?"

"You're perfect for him," Julia said simply. The waiter came back to their empty plates and offered dessert. Julia looked at Miranda with a smile. "Dessert?" Miranda didn't respond. "Okay, Danny, we'll an apple pie with vanilla ice cream and a brownie explosion. "So, what were we talking about?" Miranda opened her mouth. "Oh, right! You and Ben."

"Julia, I'm glad that you've warmed up to me, but your predictions are a little, uh, premature."

"Is that so?" Julia asked with a grin.

"Yeah. I was with my ex-husband for two years before we got married, but I was young and naïve then. As an older and smarter woman, I know better than to rush into anything, especially marriage," Miranda said sincerely.

The woman reached across the table to grab Miranda's hand, a gesture that shocked her and made her a little uncomfortable, but she didn't pull her hand back. "You're scared?"

"No, not scared, wise," Miranda said looking at the woman and taking her hand into her lap. "I love your son, but—"

"And that's all that matters," Julia said as their dessert arrived.

They hugged goodbye without any element of awkwardness. Miranda pulled into the driveway next to Ben's car. She sat in the car for a minute before locking her car with the remote and unlocking the door to her house. Miranda walked in and closed the door; she walked towards the noisy living room where the TV was blasting and there were toys and games everywhere. Miranda grabbed the remote and quickly turned the TV off. On the sofa she saw her boyfriend and her son on the sofa, Tuck had his head on Ben's shoulder and they were both asleep. She looked down at their feet to see that neither had on shoes or socks. Miranda pulled out her phone and snapped a picure of them sitting on the sofa. She'd send it to Ben when he left for California. Miranda leaned down and stared at him for a second before kissing his cheek. Ben moved slightly, opening his eyes a little. "Miranda," he said smiling. Ben took her hand and pulled her into his lap. He looked down at the sleeping Tuck before pulling Miranda in for a long kiss. She could feel him getting hard beneath her and it turned her on. She pulled away. "You're alive," he said with a light laugh.

"But of course."

"How'd it go?"

"It was productive. I think we each got a better understanding of the other."

"That's great." Ben touched his chest. "The tension between you two was giving me heart palpitations." Miranda shook her head and gave him a small smile. "What time is it?"

"It's about 9," she answered quietly.

"Well, I should probably get going. I'll help you put Tuck to bed first."

"Okay. Are you on-call?" She asked curiously. She'd already asked him to stay the night before and didn't want to seem…desperate.

"No, I'm not on on-call," he answered hoisting Tuck effortlessly into his arms.

She walked up the stairs behind them and watched Ben laid Tuck down on the bed. Tuck woke up. His eyes looking at Miranda made her jump a little. "Mommy?"

"Yeah?" Miranda said as she moved the covers.

"Ben told me he was leaving," Tuck said sliding under the covers.

"Did he?" She glanced at Ben who was standing by the door with his arms crossed.

"Is he really leaving?" Miranda nodded. Tuck yawned. "I'm going to miss him."

"LT," Ben said moving closer to them. "I'll be back. And you can call me. Anytime."

"Yeah, but my mommy will miss you," Tuck said loking from Ben to Miranda. "She might even cry." Miranda scoffed.

"You cried," Ben said.

"I'm a kid," Tuck said matter-of-factly. Miranda and Ben chuckled. Tuck turned to his mother. "I told him that I didn't want him to go."

"And what did he say?" Miranda asked running a hand over her son's hair.

"He said that he didn't want to go either."

"Do you believe him?" She asked. They conversed as if Ben wasn't standing there. Tuck nodded in the dark. "Me too. Alright, son, go back to sleep. I love you." She kissed his head.

"I love you, too, mommy."

"Good night, LT," Ben said walking towards the door.

"'Night, Ben," Tuck responded.

Back in her room, Ben danced by the door. Miranda knew he was waiting for an invitation. He was polite that way and never wanted to overstay his welcome, but his presence never bothered her. She undressed and felt his eyes helping her as she slipped out of her clothes. She closed her eyes as she reached up her back to unhook her bra. Ben took a few steps in her direction and pressed his body against hers as he helped her unfasten it. "Thank you."

"No problem."

As Miranda climbed into bed and got settled, Ben was standing by the foot of the bed. "You have my key, don't you?" He nodded quickly. "So lock up when you leave. G'night." Miranda turned over and waited.

"So you want me to go?"

"What I want you to do is not stand there like a creeper watching me sleep."

Ben laughed loudly. "You and your snarky little comments—"

"Leave or get in the bed," she demanded.

"Well, since you're begging!" He started to undress.

She waved him off. "I wasn't begging, I was forcing you to make a decision," she said watching him. It was her turn to watch him strip. She licked her lips. Maybe she should have had Tucker pick up Tuck. Ben crawled into bed behind her and exhaled. The heat from his body warmed her up. He wrapped his arms around her body, bringing her into his chest. Miranda closed her eyes. "I was terrified."

"When?"

"When I thought I was pregnant."

"I know." His response was short.

"But I figured..." Why was it only at night, in the dark, with him lying next to her that she could reveal her deepest thoughts? The ones that swam around all day until they got the chance to emerge. Ben waited. He knew more was coming, he just had to be patient with her. And there was another difference between Ben and Tucker. Where Tucker was hostile and forceful and pushy as all hell, Ben was tolerant. He gave her time and was calm. "… since we were together, it would be okay. I mean, we haven't been together long. At all. But we could have made it work. You would have been here." Ben nodded on her back, kissing it. Miranda closed her eyes as goose bumps appeared on her arms, making the hairs on her body stand up. "But when your residency—when California came into play, I-I-I wasn't quite sure anymore."

"I just want you to always remember what I told you."

"That I'm nutty?" She asked with a smile.

"No," he said kissing her neck. "I mean, you are, but that's not what I'm talking about." He tickled her side and she laughed loudly.

"That you love me," she said quietly.

"Exactly," he whispered. The fierceness of his statement made her turn over. She looked longingly into his eyes and moved in for a kiss so deep and so passionate that she never wanted to come up for air. Miranda grabbed his head. Ben's tongue slipped into her mouth. Her tongue clashed with his. Tasting him, she moaned into his mouth. His hands reached under her shirt, touching her back. They worked their way down. Touching her bare ass, sending a jolt through her body, pushing their chests together. Miranda's hands joined the party and slid under his A-shirt. They roamed along the dips of his muscles, chest and abs. His body turned her on so much, she was aroused almost to the point of no return. Ben took his lips off of her hers and kissed her neck.

Miranda heard the familiar sound of her phone ringing as she moaned again. She pulled away immediately and reached for her phone, grateful for the interruption. "Hello?" She answered.

"Mandy girl," Tucker said into the phone jollily.

"Tucker?" She asked looking at the brightened screen of her phone. "What do you want?"

"Were you sleeping?"

"Not exactly," she said through gritted teeth. She turned on her stomach. And Ben climbed on top of her and massaged her back softly. Miranda groaned as he started to remove one of her knots. "So I take it loverboy is back in your good graces?"

"Yes, Mr. I Don't Know How to Mind My Own Business," Miranda said. She waved Ben off and he rolled over laughing loudly.

"Whatever do you mean?" Tucker asked sweetly.

"Yeah, right," she said rolling her eyes. Ben kissed her cheek. "What do you need?"

"Just calling to see if you're alright," he said. She told him that she was good. "How's my boy?"

"He's asleep," she said shortly. Ben kissed her arm and she giggled.

"Alright, alright, I can hear that you're busy."

Miranda turned on her side and kissed Ben. "Something like that."

"I'll let you go," Tucker responded with a laugh.

"Okay." Ben's fingers made circles on her thigh, making her body contract. "And Dump Tuck?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Thank you." She dismissed the call.

"I love how your ex-husband calls right as we're having foreplay," Ben said with a smile.

"Oh no!" She said shaking her head. "There will be no foreplay with my son less than eight steps away." Miranda put her phone back on the nightstand.

"So I wasn't just seducing you?" Ben asked looking at her. He knew the real truth. If her phone hadn't rang, they would have continued.

"Nope!" She answered popping the "p".

"Mmmhmm." Ben turned away from her. Miranda moved closer to him and put an arm around him, breathing him in, making a memory. He grabbed her hand and she felt his lips hit the back of her hand. She buried herself into his back, holding him tightly, just like she knew he liked. "That feels so good, baby," Ben murmured. "Goodnight, Miranda Bailey."

She smiled. "Goodnight, Ben Warren."