Unfold

Days later, Miranda woke up to the smell of breakfast wafting into her nostrils. "Mommy?" A small voice said as she opened her eyes. They landed on a boy whose face was nearly identical to her own.

"Good morning, baby," she said holding out her arms. Tuck rushed into them. She held him tightly and kissed his head. Miranda had been so focused on other things that she couldn't remember the last time she and Tuck had spent time together. Just them.

"Pop-Pop said that it's time for breakfast."

She looked at the clock. "You tell your Pop-Pop that it's time for him to eat lunch." She chuckled as she ran a hand over her son's head. He nodded. "Wait, when did you talk to Pop-Pop?"

Tuck giggled. "He's downstairs."

"Huh?"

Her son repeated his sentence, slowing down his speech and pausing between each syllable. "He's.. down… stairs.

"On the phone?"

"In the kitchen, mommy!" She cocked her head to the side as he giggled again.

"My father is here?"

"Yes!" Tuck picked up her hand and moved away from the bed, trying to get her to come with him.

"Who else is here?"

"Um…," he put her hand down and sat on the edge of the bed. "Ben and Daddy. And Jaida is here, too. And then Pop-Pop, of course."

"Grandma?" He shook his head. Miranda sniffed and rubbed her face. "Okay, so you go back downstairs. I'll be down in a few minutes."

"Daddy said you would say that and that I couldn't come back without you."

Miranda made a face at him and he laughed again. What was it that she'd been worried about? A duplication of the gorgeous and bubbly boy who sat in front of her? She rubbed his head again. She'd love another child. And though it had taken so long and so many tears to get her ball of fire; it had been more than worth it. "Fine." She rolled off of the bed and went into the bathroom, washing her face quickly and brushing her teeth. She came out of the bathroom and looked around for her robe. "Where is my robe?" She muttered to herself.

"Ben is wearing it."

"Oh my goodness. He must look so silly."

"Actually, I look quite amazing," Ben said coming into the room. He slipped the robe off of his body and held it out for her. After he high-fived Tuck; he leaned down to kiss Miranda. "Good morning."

"It was until I was ambushed into some kind of family breakfast." The three of them went downstairs into the kitchen. "Daddy!" Miranda said strolling over to her sitting father. He stood up, his long frame shadowing hers. He hugged her tightly, giving her the hug that she hadn't known that she'd needed. "How are you? How is mom? Did you bring your meds? Are you taking them properly?" She spat out the questions without waiting for an answer.

"Slow down, Mandy. I'm fine. We're all fine." He kissed her cheek. "And you're being rude."

Miranda turned and looked at the others in her kitchen. "Good morning, Jaida, Tucker."

"Hey, girl," Jaida said as Miranda tried to remember the last time, if ever, that Jaida sat in her kitchen for breakfast.

Tucker gave her a wave. "You didn't tell me William was coming."

"I didn't know William was coming," Miranda said giving her father a look. She'd had no idea that her father was going to be on the west coast. She'd remember telling her mother that neither of them needed to be there. Leave it to her father to ignore her wishes. "Yeah, why are you here?"

"When we heard that you two were in a car accident, I came right out. I had to make sure my baby girl was okay."

"I'm fine," she responded.

"Good. Then let's eat," he demanded. The six of them squeezed around the small kitchen table, laughing and eating the food that her father had prepared. After they'd finished, Jaida and Tucker left, William took Tuck to the park. Ben and Miranda sat at the table.

"What do you want to get into today?" She asked him, pushing around some syrup on her plate.

"I feel like we should have an easy day—order out and relax."

Miranda agreed. "I've had enough excitement for a while in these last couple of days."

"I hear that," Ben laughed as he grabbed their plates and put them in the sink. He turned on the water and looked around for the sponge.

"Don't worry about those."

"I don't mind washing them."

"Fine. You can do them, just not now." Miranda took his hand and they walked into the living room. She nestled against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her waist. They settled on a TV show. Miranda watched a little of the mini-marathon before dozing off, her body softly rising and falling against Ben's. She felt like she was falling and her back spasmed. When her eyes opened, she found that they were level with her coffee table. She was lying on her side with her boyfriend behind her. The doorbell rang and Miranda sat up and stretched quickly. Ben roused behind her and scrambled over her to answer it before she could even stand up. The front door swung open and her father walked in carrying her 7 year-old son. "Dad, you really shouldn't be carrying him."

"He's not too heavy," William argued as he put Tuck down on the chair that she and Ben had just gotten off of.

"It's not that," Miranda started. She didn't want to make it seem like her father was weak or unable. "You…"

Ben looked over at her and held up a hand, "I think Miranda means that…" William turned in his direction. "Lifting him could put an unnecessary strain on your heart." The older man opened his mouth with a rebuttal. "And we want you to stay as healthy as you can. Right, sweetheart?" Ben caught her eye and nodded.

"Is that what you were going to say, Mandy?"

"Yes. Those exact words," she said.

"Fine. I will be more careful."

"Good," she told him.

"But I do have another child coming into this world and I need to be able to pick them up." William put his arm around his much shorter daughter.

"Yes, but you just had a heart attack," she responded by looking up at him. Her hero. The first man in her life. He'd raised her to do anything and be anything and she'd believed him. "You'll be a lot of stronger by the time they're six and seven."

The three of them laughed. William said he was exhausted and he went up the stairs to get some rest. At the top of the stairs, he yelled down: "I'll be cooking dinner later on! What do we want to—?"

"Chicken and collard greens and potato salad," she answered rushing her words into his question.

An intrigued Ben raised an eyebrow at her and whispered. "Say cornbread, too."

"And cornbread," she added.

"Sounds good," William said with a yawn. "I'll have Tucker get the stuff and drop it off."

Miranda looked up the stairs until she heard the guest room door close. Ben hugged her from behind and she put her head back on his chest. He kissed the side of her neck. "Mmm," she moaned.

"You can go right upstairs, I'll get started on the dishes," he whispered into her skin. Her body tingled.

"Thank you," she said turning around in his arms. She stood on her toes and kissed him. After their tongues circled a couple of times, she walked into the living room, yelping as he patted her on the butt. There, she flipped through the channels. When Ben didn't join her after fifteen minutes, she walked into the kitchen and found him at the sink, slowly stacking a dish onto a rack. "What's up?" She asked as she continued to work. "Are you ignoring me?" No answer. "Benjamin Warren!"

"Yes, baby?"

"Did you hear me?"

"No, I'm sorry. What did you say?" He asked sincerely, not answering her original question. Miranda reached into the dish rack and got a handful of spoons and forks. She dried them and slid them into a drawer.

"I was just curious as to what has your brain on hold that you'd ignore me."

"I wasn't ignoring you."

"I know. I'm only kidding." Miranda brushed her shoulder against his body. She continued to dry the dishes with a dish towel. "So, um, what are you thinking about?"

"Nothing."

"You never believe me when I say that, so I'm going to return the aggravation." They laughed together and Ben leaned over to kiss her forehead.

He sighed. "You're a persistent pest."

"Say that five times fast." He looked down at her and she wiggled her eyebrows. "Spill."

"Your dad is a saint," he answered with a grin.

"Yeah, as far as fathers go, he's a great one." Ben went quiet; he absentmindedly handed Miranda the last dishes and proceeded to clean the sink. "So?"

"Eh, I think I'm just over thinking the surgery and Ange and…" Another sigh.

"Aww, sweetie. Everything will be fine. But I don't think that's what's driving you to clean my now spotless sink."

He chuckled. "My bad."

"No, uh, thank you for that." She touched his wet hands and started to walk away; he pulled her back in.

"Ugh, fine, Miranda." She smirked and bit her bottom lip. She loved when she got her way with him. It was too easy to manhandle those who were "afraid" or mentally weaker than she was—an eyebrow raise or a tilt of her head, she'd get exactly what she wanted. It was hardly any fun anymore. However, with Benjamin Warren… she could say for certain that she'd met her match. He didn't crumple when she gave him a wicked look and every win against him made her drunk with power. She stared at him and waited. He'd talk when he was ready. "This whole conversation about babies and futures and I'm starting to realize just how much I want to be a dad, a good dad, like William and like my dad." She smiled and a flutter in her stomach made her close her eyes. "I really just want the chance to—"

"Mommy?" Tuck said in a low, raspy voice. "I'm hungry."

"And?" She said softly.

"Can I have grilled cheese?" He said squeezing between Ben and Miranda. She jerked her head towards the door for Ben. He pretended not to notice and reached into the cabinet for a plate.

"Do you want a little bit of cheese or a lottle bit of cheese?" Her boyfriend asked her son.

Tuck giggled uncontrollably as Miranda pulled out a chair and smiled. Their interactions were so adorable. The General surgeon watched them dance around the kitchen making the snack. They were in their own little world, including her minimally. She grew tired of sitting at the table and eased out of the room and up the stairs. As she was closing the door, her father walked toward the bathroom.

"Hello, Mandy."

"Hi, daddy."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yes, sir. Everything is great, actually."

"Considering?"

"In spite of," she confirmed.

"I'm so glad that you're okay," William said winking at her. He followed her into her room and they sat on the edge of the bed. "With your mom being… oh, God… pregnant, I need you to be okay, all right?"

"Yes."

"What are you holding back?"

Miranda licked her lips and glanced at the doorway, listening for footsteps. "After the accident, one of my coworkers thought that I was pregnant—"

"Are you?"

"No," she said, her voice despondent.

"I know that 'no'." She laughed. "Your mother is the queen of 'no'," he said mimicking the Bailey women to a "T".

"There was this whole dialogue that I was having in my head about raising another kid and my age and…," she exhaled loudly. "And, now—I… I hadn't even thought about Ben actually wanting a baby. I mean, I know he wanted to start a new career and eventually have a family, but I didn't know he was aching to be a father."

"Most good men are."

"And he's going to make a great one."

"But?"

Miranda sighed. She wanted more children, at least one more, but her career was on track and going exactly how she wanted, her son was happy, she was finally in a good place with Tucker and parents were both healthy again and Ben was just the perfect topping on the wonderful sundae that was her life now. "I don't think I'm ready to go down that road."

"You still have time. Hell, look at your mom. Who knew?" William shrugged his shoulders and chuckled; he was probably still perplexed at the whole situation.

"That's not normal though."

"But still possible." Her father patted her hand and walked out of the room. Miranda crawled up her bed and slid under the covers, exhaling deeply.

"What was that for?" Ben asked stepping over the threshold.

Miranda jumped. "Do not scare me like that!" She said through gritted teeth.

"Sorry!" He whisper-shouted. And LT is playing his video game in the living room."

"Thank you for helping him."

"Stop thanking me, woman."

"I want you to know that you're… appreciated. Tuck appreciates you. And I appreciate you."

"Well, I want to appreciate you," Ben said sitting down next to her. He leaned over and kissed her lips; he placed soft kisses on her chin and moved down to her neck. She closed her eyes and moaned softly.

"I take it your pain is basically nonexistent," she said pushing him off of her and onto his back. He nodded and put his hands behind his head, exposing his stomach. Images of her mounting him, controlling him and making him succumb to her touches and kisses crowded her mind. She could see herself pulling up his shirt, tracing his side down to his hips and biting his skin—

"Miranda Bailey," he said her name with a hint of aggravation.

"Yes?" She said sweetly, slipping out of her short fantasy. Miranda smiled and put her arms around Ben.

"Your father is calling you."

"Oh. I thought you'd said something." He shook his head. "Yeah, dad!" She shouted. William responded with something inaudible. "What is he saying?"

"I don't know, sweetheart," Ben said with a yawn.

William called up to her again. "I don't know what you're saying!" Her phone began ringing. "Hello?"

"Come and see what I want."

"Daddy! "

"Now, Miranda."

Her eyes widened and she glanced up at Ben. "Oooo, you in trouble," he sang, nudging her out of bed.

"Right. I'm scared now."

She hung her feet off of the edge of her bed. "Well, aren't you coming?" She asked her boyfriend who'd rolled on his side with closed eyes.

"Nope, I'm going to stay right here and relax." She pushed his shoulders. "I do not want to witness the embarrassment of my woman at the ripe age of—"

"You had better not finish that sentence!" She said glowering at him.

"Even with my eyes closed, I know that you're giving me your 'death stare,' but it ain't working."

Miranda didn't say another word. Instead, she grabbed her robe and left the room in search of her father. She found him downstairs along with Richard. "Hey, Bailey," Richard said with a small wave.

She waved back. "What's going on?" William gestured to his cell phone and walked into the kitchen.

"I just came to check on you," Richard answered. "And Warren." Miranda checked the living room for her son. He was asleep with the handheld game on the table next to the sofa. Richard followed her eyes. "He's growing so handsomely."

"He is, right?" Miranda crossed her arms.

"So you and Warren…?"

"Uh, we're good, getting a lot of rest. Our headaches are going away. And I'm just eager to get cleared and back to work." Richard nodded. "Would you like to sit down?"

"Oh, no, no. I was just in the neighborhood and wanted to check in on my favorite attending."

"Thank you, sir."

Richard gave her an awkward hug and she opened the door for him. "Tell Ben I said 'hello'." She said that she would and watched him walk to his car, jingling his keys in his hand as he opened his door, started his car and pulled out of his park on the street.

Back in bed, Ben was sitting up and swiping on his tablet. "What was that all about?" He asked, jutting out his chin for her to kiss. Miranda kissed her hand and placed it against his cheek. "Thank you."

Miranda chuckled. "That… was the Chief."

"Webber?"

"Do you and I have another Chief in common?" She asked sassily.

"Fair point."

William knocked on the open door to her bedroom. "Come in, dad," Miranda said without looking up from her own tablet. He stepped into the room. "What's going on?"

"I just wanted you to know that Tucker is on his way with the stuff and in a bit I'll go down and get started on dinner."

"I can't wait to taste it," Miranda told him.

"And you will—because you're going to be helping me make it."

"But… I'm injured," she argued, grateful to be telling a lie.

"Well, you're going to be injured in your kitchen."

Miranda decided not to object. Although, if she really fought the demand, William would cave and let her stay in her cozy bed. "I guess I'll see you downstairs then."

"I'll volunteer to take her place in the kitchen," Ben said placing his tablet on the nightstand.

"What a man," she said squeezing his arm.

William shrugged. "I don't care which one of you is my sous-chef, just get your butt downstairs in ten minutes." He turned and sauntered out of the room.

Miranda turned to Ben. "Thank you for being a tribute, but I was only joking."

"No, it's okay. I wanted to talk to your dad alone anyway."

"Oh, yeah?" He nodded. "About what? If you don't mind me asking."

He inhaled. "Just to chat. I haven't been able to have a proper conversation with him since he was in the hospital."

That had seemed so long ago. Back when they were moving the needle from "friend" to "friendlier". She smiled. "Right. Okay."

He gave a final nod and reached over and took her tablet. "W-wait… What are you doing?"

"About to kiss you. For the next five minutes." She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it when she saw him moving toward her with a sneaky look on his face. She turned on her side and made herself more comfortable. He touched her stomach with one hand and grabbed her butt with the other. "I want you. I always want you."

She blushed and whispered: "I always want you, too." His hands slithered up his back. Her mind took in the fact that her bedroom was door was wide open. They kissed slowly and passionately, Miranda listened out for the sound of feet coming up the stairs or voices in the hall. His fingers on her body melted her and she purred against his neck.

"It sure sounds like it," he laughed. His hands went to her neck and streaked through her hair. He pulled it a little and she bit his shoulder. "Yes!" He exclaimed.

"Mmm," Ben growled against her neck, vibrating her skin.

"And what do we have here?" asked one of the most recognizable voices in her life. Miranda smiled into the chest of her boyfriend as her ex-husband hovered in the doorway.

"A grown-ass couple enjoying some quality time together," Ben said kissing Miranda again before rolling out of bed. He shook hands with Tucker and went down the stairs. "I'm gonna help William with dinner."

Tucker moved to Miranda's side and hugged her. "With the door open, Mandy?" She shrugged. "What if it would have been my son?"

"My son. And it's only a kiss."

"Unh-uh," he said laughing and sitting on the chair in the corner. "I know that kiss."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said licking her lips while picking up the remote to the TV.

"Right, that was definitely foreplay."

She chuckled. "Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't, but it's definitely none of your business."

"Touché."

"Thanks for being such good help these last couple of days."

"Of course, Mandy." He walked over to her and gestured for her to move over, sitting on the bed. "Anything I can do to make things easier for you. I mean, you're not only the mother of my child, but one of my closest and oldest friends."

"Wow, you're sentimentality is tugging at my heart strings."

"And there's the Miranda I know and love."

"Aww, you love me, Dump Tuck."

"I do."

Tucker stood up and walked to the door. "If you need some more time, I can take little man with me for the week."

"No. We're good. My dad is here and my headaches are gone for the most part. We're alright."

"You're sure?"

She gave him a look. "What's up?"

The tall man gave a smooth smile and retraced his steps back to her. "There's a children's film festival happening in Salem. And Jaida wants us to take a trip down there to bond with him and all that."

"Okay, well, my dad just got in and I don't know how long he's in town for, so maybe when he leaves."

"Good. It's not until next week."

Miranda propped her head up on her hands and looked up at him. "Ben's surgery is next week." Tucker gave her a knowing look. "But you knew that."

"Didn't I say I had your back?" He tapped the wall a few times and left without another word.

Once she was sure that dinner was ready, she crept down the stairs, making her way toward the kitchen. She heard William, Tuck and Ben having a lively discussion. She listened for a while before entering the kitchen. "Ben, Mandy's birthday is coming up, what are you going to do?" Miranda gasped. This happened every year, especially since she'd become a surgeon—she'd forgotten about her own birthday. And this was the first birthday in a long time where she'd be sharing it with someone who she was absolutely in love with. Her chest fluttered.

"Oh! Um…" Ben stuttered. He was such a romantic and her birthday was one of the few days that he'd get to be that way, uninhibited. She sighed; a part of her wasn't prepared for anything that would leave her feeling embarrassed. Another part couldn't wait to see what he had up his sleeve. "D-does she do anything special for it?"

"Daddy usually takes us out to dinner or something," Tuck said.

"Okay," Ben responded.

"But, obviously, that'll get passed on to you," William mentioned.

"No, no, no, that's their thing. I mean, we'll do dinner, of course, but I wouldn't take that away." Ben's voice was so sincere. A lump appeared in Miranda's throat. He was so secure in his place in her life that hardly anything fazed him anymore.

"Good man. Y'all, taste this." Miranda imagined him holding out a small piece of chicken to her son and boyfriend.

"That's good, Pop-Pop!" Tuck giggled and Ben chuckled. The two sounds almost made her melt. She sank a little against the wall; she'd honestly be content sitting and listening to them bond and discuss when they thought she wasn't around.

"And, uh, last year, she said that Arizona and Callie brought over a cake."

"Sofia came, too! Oooo! And the Chief calls early, early in the morning, before school, and sings to her. It's so funny and mommy puts him on speakerphone. And he gives her a card with a lot of money in it."

"She gets two cards with money!?" William shouted. Miranda used the wall to hold herself up, she was laughing so hard that her body shook. "She's so damn spoiled."

"And Granma and Pop-Pop call, too."

"And what do you do for your mommy?" Ben asked.

"I made her a card last year, but this year, Tam—" Miranda made a little noise and walked in before the one, true surprise that she got on her birthday was ruined. She wanted at least one thing to be a secret.

"Hey, fellers," she said kissing her son on the top of his head. "What were you three talking about in here?"

"Nothing!" Tuck shouted quickly and suspiciously.

"Uh, dinner is served," William said.

The four of them sat around the table, babbling and laughing loudly. After a plate and a half, Miranda sat back in her chair and touched her stomach. She was full, but not uncomfortable. She watched her son and father interacting in a way that she wished they had more opportunities to do. Her eyes scanned the table and found Ben looking at her. She winked at him and he returned it. "Ready for bed, Tuck?" William asked. "Because I surely am." The older man got up from the table and walked around it to his daughter. His grandson beat him there.

Tuck kissed her cheek and scurried up the stairs, calling out: "'Night, Ben!"

"Goodnight, LT! Have a great night, William." He lifted a hand to give her father a short wave.

"Goodnight, son," William commented.

Her father leaned down and kissed the top of his daughter's head. A warm feeling spread over her body. She'd missed that. "I'll get my grandson to bed. Then I'll come back down to put away the food and clean the dishes."

"No, I'll do it. You cooked."

"You're sure?"

She nodded. William turned and walked out of the kitchen. "I can help you, sweetheart," Ben offered.

"Nope, you've done enough. I'll do it. You can go upstairs," she told him.

"You don't have to be down here by yourself, att least let me watch."

She sighed dramatically. "If you must." He sat back in the chair. Miranda hummed to herself as she washed the dishes. The task was so therapeutic. She could block out most of the world when water was running over her hands, except—"Stop staring at my butt, Benjamin."

"You said I could watch," he said in a low voice.

"Yeah, watch me wash the dishes."

She heard Ben's chair move as he stood up, but she didn't turn around. He slipped his arms around her waist and put his chin on her shoulder. "How about you finish those later and come out to the car with me?"

"The car?" Miranda picked up another dish towel to dry her hands.

"Yes."

"What's in the car?" She said turning around. Ben repositioned his arms, grabbing her shoulders from behind. The pressure she felt turned her on.

"You and me and a bottle of Chez Bailey's finest."

"We're on medication."

"Fine, then some of that ginger ale Tucker brought." She shook her head. "Woman, you know the car is where we go when there are people in the house."

Miranda cracked up and buried her face into his chest. "That was one time."

"You know I like even numbers; let's make it two."

He was so wild. And she loved it. She loved that he wasn't reserved about his attraction for her. He wanted her anywhere and any way that he could get her. She had no choice but to surrender. "Lead the way."