When You Know What Love Is

Miranda Bailey stood at her sink and washed the last of the remaining dishes. Usually, she'd have her teenage son, Tuck, do it. But he had finals coming up and she wanted him to focus. High Honors was in his sights and his study buddy had just left. She picked up a bowl and scrubbed it carefully, staring out of her window. Looking out of the window that was positioned just above the sink, she could see her backyard neighbor mowing his lawn. Today, he had his shirt off and his skin gleaned with sweat. She moistened her lips. His muscles bulged as he pushed the machine back and forth. Miranda continued to turn the dish in her hand, distracted. The man stopped and wiped his forehead. Butterflies turned in her stomach. He turned in her direction and—she stepped to the side quickly. Did he see her?

Ben Warren stood in the middle of his yard, halfway finished with his task. He looked around inconspicuously. It felt like someone was staring at him. He turned to his left and saw a pair of eyes on him. He put his hands on his hips, smiling as the eyes disappeared. "Dad!" His teenage son, Joey, called out. He looked over his shoulder. "Yeah?" Ben answered. "I'm back from studying. I just wanted to let you know." Ben walked toward him. "Good. Dinner's on the stove." "I already ate," he said. "Really? Well, I'm almost finished. I'll be in in a second." Before walking up the stairs, he glanced to where the eyes had been. He had seen them, hadn't he?

Waiting outside of Tuck's school, Miranda checked her watch. Basketball practice should have been over fifteen minutes ago. If her son didn't come out in five minutes, she was going to go in the gym and drag him out. She was tired. Two minutes later, Tuck strolled out talking with another teen. "Hey, ma," he said, his voice deep. She smiled. "Hi, William George. Nice of you to come out." Tuck laughed and leaned on the car, not opening the door. "Hi, Dr. Bailey," the other teen said, his voice just as low. "Hi, Joey. How was practice?" The boy shook his head. "My legs hurt." "Same, bro," Tuck responded. Miranda waited; she knew the teens wanted something. "Okay, it's late, fellas, get it over with." Tuck scratched his head. "Can Joey have a ride? Dad usually drops him off on Thursdays." She shook her head. "Ma!" "I'm just kidding," Miranda said with a laugh. "Get in and buckle up. Are you two hungry?"

Ben heard a car pull up in front of his house. He put down his newspaper and opened the front door. Joey had texted and said he was getting a ride home from his best friend's mom. He waved to the driver. When she saw him, she waved back and turned away from him abruptly. "Thank you, Dr. Bailey. For the ride and for the food," Joey said. The teen was so polite. Ben had adopted him seven years ago, but Joey had always been that way. "Tell her I said, 'thank you,' too," Ben told him. "My dad says thanks, too," his son added. The woman smiled and nodded without so much as a side-eye in his direction. "Bye, Joey. Bye, Dr. Warren," Tuck said. "Bye, Tuck," father and son replied before going inside. "I thought Tuck's dad usually drops you off." Joey nodded and bit into his burger. "He couldn't make it," he said with a mouthful of food. "I'm glad you're already eating. I ate my fish from last night." The boy turned up his nose. "So, Tuck's mom is a doctor, too?" Joey nodded. "Mmhm. Chief of Surgery. At Seattle Grace." Ben nodded. "Hey, make sure you take a shower before you go to bed." "Yes, sir."

That was him. That was the guy. Her backyard neighbor. She'd been spying on him; practically ogling him and come to find out that not only did they share a fence, their sons were friends. She drove around the corner and parked in her driveway. Tuck hurried into the house as she sat in the car, her mind going into overload. Half an hour later, a knock on the window made her jump. "Are you asleep?" Tuck asked. He was standing there with a glass of water. She wiped her eyes before getting out of the car. "Yes. A little cat nap never hurt anybody," she responded. "You were drooling on the window," the teen teased. "Hush!" She said waving him off. "Hey, so, uh, I didn't know Joey lived around the block. And that his dad is a doctor." Tuck locked the front door. "Yeah, he works at… Seattle Pres? No, wait, Mercy West. Yup. Mercy West. In anesthesiology." "Hmm, interesting." "What's interesting?" Tuck asked taking a sip. "Nothing."

The doorbell rang and Ben lifted himself from the sofa to answer it. "Hey, Tuck." "Hi, Dr. Warren," Tuck said stepping into the house. "Joey's upstairs. You can go on up. I'll bring some snacks later." The boy smiled. "Thank you." Ben went into the kitchen and started to gather some brain foods for the teens. At his sink, he looked out of the window to see a woman doing yoga in her backyard. She dropped her body forward and her tank top rose up her back, revealing smooth skin. She swung her arms. His eyes went to her butt and all her could think about was grabbing a handful of it. He opened the window a little to let some air blow onto his body. She reached for a towel that was lying near her feet and wiped her face. She walked toward her house, turning around at the last second to see him staring at her. He knew that face. Tuck's mom. Ben felt his heart flutter in a way it hadn't in years. He ducked. His reaction was late, but there was always a possibility he hadn't seen her.

"Just be cool," she said out loud as she showered. Miranda beamed. It had been so long since she'd felt any true attraction to a man; it overwhelmed her. It had been a week since she'd caught her neighbor gawking at her from his own kitchen window. "Ma!" Tuck said. "Stop yelling. Yes?" Miranda retorted. "Joey's dad is here," Tuck said excitedly. Miranda jumped out of the shower, dried off a little, put on some underwear and slipped on her robe before following her son to the front door. He was on his way to a weekend basketball camp. Miranda would have dropped him off, but she'd been on the board for a surgery. However, early this morning, it had been rescheduled leaving her with a free weekend, which was why Tuck was riding with another parent. Outside, Tuck hopped into the backseat. "Hi, Dr. Bailey!" Joey said excitedly. She saw Ben standing outside of his car, leaning on the hood. When he spotted her, he walked toward her, meeting her halfway. "Um, hi," she said. "I'm Miranda Bailey, we haven't really had a chance to meet though our sons are… best friends." "Right. Uh, Ben Warren." The two of them shook hands. Not that anyone was counting, but it was more than few seconds longer than it had to be. "Did you want to come..?" He started. "No, I just wanted to meet the man with whom I'm trusting with my child." He moved in a little. He smelled so good. "Tuck is in good hands." "Thank you," she said. "Okay. Drive safely. I gave him money. And I can give you money for gas." She reached into her pockets forgetting that she was wearing a robe and now, she was reminded of the fact that she was practically naked underneath the thin layer of cloth. "Please don't worry about it. I know Joey comes to your house and helps to eat you out of house and home." Miranda relaxed. "Something like that," she laughed. "Well, have fun." They shook hands again. She watched him head toward his car, stop and double back. "So, uh, Joey told me that Tuck said that you didn't have to work. I wouldn't mind the company if you don't mind riding." Miranda's body reacted at the word "riding" and her face grew hot. "I mean, if you want." She crossed her arms. "You're sure it's no problem?" He gave her a look. "I insist." His smile was easy and perfect and his lips, just looked so much better up close than 50 yards away. "Well, uh, can you give me like, ten minutes to get dressed?" "Take fifteen, we're in no rush." He winked at her before she walked off.

"You. Get in the back," Ben said pointing to Joey. "Why?" The teen asked. "Dr. Bailey's gonna be joining us." His son shrugged and got out of the passenger seat, climbing into the back with Tuck. Ben waited for the woman to come back. Miranda. Just thinking about her, made him remember last week when he caught the glimpse of her bare back. He shook his head as she came out of the house. "Thank you for waiting," she said sliding into the car. Ben closed the door and they were off. The camp was only an hour and a half away, but they were leaving early enough hoping to beat the rush hour traffic. Ben glanced in his rearview mirror and saw Joey and Tuck both on their phones, their earphones blasting music. "So, Seattle Grace, huh?" He asked as he merged into another lane. "Yes, the number one teaching hospital." He smirked. "Remember when you guys were number twelve, Chief?" She rolled her eyes. "I would ask you if you people remember being number one, but that's never happened." Ben laughed loudly. "Nice." Halfway into the trip, he pulled over for gas. "Do you want something from the store?" Miranda asked. "Um, sure." She pushed her phone into her pocket. "Anything in particular?" "No. I will take whatever you give me." The woman shrugged, biting her bottom lip gently.

At the camp, Miranda pulled Tuck aside after they'd checked in. "Ma, I'll be fine," the teen reassured her. She smiled. She'd truly raised an exceptional being. "I know," she agreed. "Now can you please make sure you relax this weekend?" Miranda laughed. She was going to do that exact thing. Miranda gave him one last hug and met Ben in front of college dorms the boys were staying in. "Ready?" He asked. She nodded and he opened her door—again. "You don't have to keep doing that. I'm perfectly capable of doing it myself." He chuckled as she reached for the door. As he walked around the car, Miranda sighed. She was nervous and when she was nervous, she said things she didn't mean in a tone that was unwelcoming. "I didn't mean to be so rude," she told him. He nodded. "For the record, I wasn't doing it because I thought you were incapable." Miranda turned to look at him fully. The first time she'd ever done so. She took in his entire face, the curves on his nose, the way the top of head almost came to a point, everything. He was handsome. A smile hit her lips. She'd gone from a free weekend where she'd planned to pleasure herself to one where she was taking a road trip with a man who would have definitely made an appearance in her thoughts. "You didn't?" "No, of course not. You're a beautiful, Black woman, you got it. However…" She shook her head. Of course, there was a "however". "However, that handle can be a bit tricky sometimes." He looked over at her, a smirk in his eyes. "And, plus, I'm a gentleman. So, there's that." Miranda inhaled, thinking of things to talk about on their trip back home.

He'd done it. He'd called Miranda beautiful. It'd mostly just slipped out, but he didn't mean it any less. "Thank you for the ride. This was… fun," she was saying as he pulled up in front of her house. "Is this side of the door tricky, too?" He laughed and got out of the car. Opening her door, he watched her get out in a manner that could only be described as queenly. She looked at her watch. "Um, well, have a great night," Miranda said. "You, too." She started to walk away and he panicked: "Dinner!" The woman stopped and glared at him. "Why are you shouting at me?" "Sorry. Uh, what about an early dinner? Do you want to get something to eat? You… uh, we haven't really eaten anything all day." Miranda's face looked like she was about to say no. "Sure. My treat. You drove and all." "That's fine. Where to?" They pulled up to the restaurant and walked inside, getting a table for two. After ordering, he decided to come clean. Miranda spoke first: "I saw you watching me the other day." She twirled pasta around her fork. Her cocked his head to the side, confused. "You… I… You're right, I was," he confessed. He put down his fork and knife: "But you were checking me out first."

She scoffed. She had been checking him out. "I was doing no such thing," she lied. He raised an eyebrow. "I just had never noticed who you were before." "You should have introduced yourself," he responded. Miranda's heart was racing. In uncharted territory, she was bewildered and slightly terrified. "I had planned on it." Another lie. The two of them stared at each other. "You had?" She could only nod, afraid that her voice would betray her. Thankfully, the waiter came over to refill their drinks and Miranda was once again able to speak. "Joey's an amazing kid," she said changing the subject. "Thank you. Tuck is great too." She smiled. "I'm really surprised we haven't met before." Ben shrugged, "I don't know. We're both busy, so it makes sense." "Maybe I've met your wife at a fundraiser for the team or at the school meetings or something." That's right, Miranda, be subtly overt. He chuckled. "I'm not married. I go to all of the fundraisers and the meetings though. I think I've seen your husband there, Tucker." Miranda almost physically recoiled. "Ex-husband." When the waiter came back with the bill, Ben beat her to it, sliding his card into the folder without looking at the receipt "It's supposed to be my treat, Ben." She reached for the bill and he picked up her hand, nodding for the waiter to take it away. Miranda rolled her eyes, her heart pounding. "Thank you. I'm no freeloader," she said with a laugh. "I will make it up to you."

"How?" He asked. His tone had a little more sensuality in it than he'd intended. Miranda blushed. "This is going to sound a little weird," she started. He waited. "I have wine and chips. Maybe some ice cream. So, we can have dessert at my place… if you want." One side of his face lifted into a smile. "Ice cream sounds good. Count me in." At her house, Ben looked around. "Don't mind the mess," she said disappearing into the kitchen. "I'm raising a teen, too. I know the feeling." He sat on the shorter sofa and picked up a book that he recognized from Joey's literature class. Miranda came back into the room: "You like that book?" "Yeah, I read it last year." She carried a tray with two bowls of ice cream with smaller bowls filled with toppings. "Can I use your bathroom? "Down that way, to the right." In the bathroom, Ben used it quickly and washed his hands. When he returned, Miranda was looking at the book. "I've been meaning to read it," she said. "The storytelling is really good," he responded sitting next to Miranda on the small sofa. Their knees were touching. The ice cream was cold against the roof of his mouth, but his body was raging with heat. He put down his bowl. "Is everything alright? It doesn't have freezer burn does it? I would not be surprised if it had freezer burn." Her laugh sent him spiraling. He reached for her bowl and put it on the coffee table next to his. "Wha—?" Ben leaned closer to her. His heart was beating swiftly. "What are you doing?"

The last time she'd been kissed so passionately, she was five years younger than she was now. When Ben's lips hit hers, she turned to putty, sliding into his arms. She slipped her tongue into his mouth before she realized what was happening. When she did, she pulled away saying: "Oh, my God." Ben wiped the corner of his lips. "I'm… sorry. I misread… I—" She shut him up by kissing him again. What had gotten into her? She'd gone from a small crush, spying on him to making out with him on her sofa. She pulled away a second time. His lips flapped a little in her absence. He looked at her hungrily. "I see you're having second thoughts," he said breaking the silence. "Yes, and you should have some, too." He made a face. "Our sons are friends." He shrugged a little. "Uh, we barely know each other, we were basically stalking each other." "So, you admit to watching me?" "Your body just happened to be in my sightline." Ben laughed loudly and reached for her hand. Her body throbbed at the small gesture. There were places that she wanted that hand. "Is it so hard for you to say that you like me?" "I don't even know you," she whispered. "Get to know me," he demanded, kissing her for a third time.

Ben opened his eyes wide and sat up. Realizing he was alone; he lay back down. "Holy shit," he said to an empty room. He and Miranda had kissed and talked for hours before she kicked him out, aroused and not nearly satisfied. He wanted more of her. He reached for his phone and chuckled. Of course, he didn't have her phone number. Feeling brave, he brushed his teeth, threw on some clothes and walked around the block to her house. Knocking the on the door, he realized that it could go horribly right or horribly wrong. She answered the door, somehow looking even more gorgeous than she did the last time he'd seen her. "Good morning," he said. "Can I come in?" She yawned. "It's early." "I'll make coffee." Miranda spun to face him. "Don't try to… because last night… it, well, yeah, it was fun, but it can never happen again." He nodded and walked into the kitchen with her following. Ben attacked the coffee maker. "Have you seen the scouting reports online of the boys?" She asked. "No, not yet. Show me?" She pulled out her phone and slid it to him. "Damn, they're doing the damn thing. Those recruiters will be knocking our doors down." The two of them laughed. "The mugs are…?" Miranda stood up and reached up for a mug. The position made him think of her doing yoga. "Miranda?" He said moving behind her. "I can help you with that." He reached over her, their bodies touching a little. As he brought the cups down, she turned around. "Good morning," she said. She touched the side of his face and put her lips on his chin. "I thought—" "Shhh."

She didn't know what was possessing her but before she knew it, she was pulling the man into her bedroom. He'd finally wrapped his arms around her and was holding her so tightly. There was so much intent behind their connectivity. Miranda touched his chest. "Yeah?" He asked, running a hand up and down her side. "It's been a long time since I've…" It was embarrassing. She hadn't had sex in years. She barely remembered how to breathe during a kiss. "We'll go at your pace. I'm sure it'll come back to you." They smiled at each other before she pressed her lips against his. Ben kissed down her body. "Can I?" He asked gesturing to her pants. He really was a gentleman. She helped him relieve her of her pajama bottoms and he kissed her thighs. Miranda tensed up and he held her hands as he licked her panties. Miranda felt an orgasm approaching and they hadn't even gotten properly started. He pushed her underwear aside. When his tongue touched her body, she lifted her hips to meet his lips, crying out. "Jesus!" Ben's fingers eased beneath her shirt and circled the nipple on her right breast. "Yesss," she purred. "Yesss," he echoed. Her voice went up a pitch and her breath deepened. He lifted his head and kissed her. "I gotta take my pants off." Ben got off of the bed and pulled off his sweatpants. "Do you have condoms?" He asked. Surprised she even had some in her room, she pointed to her dresser drawer, getting underneath her comforter. He climbed back in bed and moved on top of her.

He wanted to call out every obscenity he could think of, but Ben just dropped his face into Miranda's neck. "God!" She whispered, digging her nails into his back, turning him on more. He couldn't believe what was happening. "Bennn!" She whined. He thrust his body back and forth slowly, trying to prolong the explosion that was on the verge. "Miranda," he moaned in her ear. Her hips took off and they were rocking together. The sun peeked through the window and landed on her body. Seeing her breasts out and wild did him in. His body shook as he climaxed. She was right behind him, cursing in… was that Spanish? He grinned and kissed her chest then her lips. "I'm sorry," he said, kissing her face softly. "For?" She asked, trickling her fingers up and down his body. The action warmed him. It was truly intimate. He stayed on top of her a little while longer. He didn't want the feeling to end just yet. "I was supposed to make coffee, not…" His voice trailed off. "Don't apologize. We're mature, consenting adults." He rolled off of her and she dropped her head on his chest, like she'd done it before. "Yes, we are," he confirmed. "But I don't know where we go from here," she said. He was quiet for a while. "I don't know either. But I know that I want more of you. And not just sex, though it was good." Miranda looked up at him, blushing. Ben smiled at her: "Can I have more of you?"

Miranda was humming. She moved around her kitchen making pancakes, eggs and bacon. When was the last time she'd cooked for a man? Probably the last time she had sex. She was on cloud nine. She walked to her bedroom and sat on bed next to the man who was in it. He roused, opening one eye to look at her. "What are you doing out of bed?" He asked. She laughed. "I made breakfast." "Is that a euphemism?" She shook her head. "I made real breakfast. And I want you to come down and eat." He put his hand to his chest. "I'm flattered, but I have to go." Her heart fell into her empty stomach and tears threatened to prick her eyes. Had she been just a booty call? Had he just used her? She nodded and stood up. Ben touched her wrist and pulled her down, hugging her shoulders. He maneuvered her body like it was his, like she was his. "To the bathroom. I have to go to the bathroom." Miranda scoffed and pushed his bare chest. "That was very jerky of you!" "You were upset, weren't you?" "Don't gaslight me, Ben Warren." He pulled back the covers and sat next to her. "I'm not, Miranda Bailey." There goes the flood. He kissed her cheek and walked half-naked to the bathroom attached to her bedroom. In the kitchen, she poked at the remaining parts of her food. "What's wrong?" He asked. "I don't know," she confessed. "I feel good about everything…" She sighed remembering his touch. "And I do mean everything. But what about Tuck? And Joey?" Ben shook his head. "They're teens, they're about to be juniors, they can process a… happening between us." She smiled. "Oh, no concern we'll end up just friends?"

Swiping his tongue over his lips, he shook his head. "That what you're looking for?" Miranda's eyes pierced him. It seemed like hours passed while he waited for her answer. "No," she said finally. His response was quick: "Me neither." He reached for her hand. "Look, Miranda, I know our thing has been a little unorthodox, but, um, I don't want to be your friend." He watched her lips relax and wanted to kiss them again and again… "I have enough friends," he added. Ben stroked her knuckles with his thumb as her phone vibrated on the counter and she pulled away to answer it. "Bailey here. Mm-hmm, Oh. Oh. Yeah, I'll be there as soon as I can," she was saying as she headed out of the kitchen. "Sorry, there's… I have to get to the hospital." He stood up and walked over to where she was, grabbed her face and kissed her. If this was their last one, he wanted to make it good. Their tongues rotated around each other. Miranda moaned a little. "I have to go. Shouldn't take long," she told him, her voice a whisper. The same whisper that had put him over the edge last night. He nodded and released her. In his own house, Ben played video games to distract himself while he willed both his doorbell and phone to ring. After going to the grocery store and the barbershop, he was really over it. Maybe he'd been just a one-night stand. That would have been okay with him if she hadn't looked at him like that or told him things folks didn't reveal to their booty calls. Their connection had been real.

The call couldn't have come at a more perfect time. Miranda felt herself about to agree to a relationship with a man she'd just hooked up with. But he wasn't just anyone. Between kisses, their conversations had been easy, enjoyable and enlightening. She had never met anyone like him—someone who made her feel wanted and who made her tremble under his fingertips. "Dr. Bailey," a patient's daughter said breaking Miranda from her thoughts. "Thank you so much." "Oh, of course," the surgeon answered. "It was no problem." She walked from the room, changing quickly before going to her car. Looking at the dashboard, she saw that it was almost two in the morning. She started to call Ben but realized she didn't have his number. Remembering the fact made her laugh on and off from the time she left until she pulled in front of her house. In bed, she read through a few emails and checked her messages. And even though it was late, she hoped that Ben would knock on her door. She was almost embarrassed to admit how much she loved being around him and how much she really liked him. A few hours later, a knock did come. Groggy, she went to the front door. Squinting she looked out to see Ben there. Trying to wake up more and fix her face, she opened it. "So, you are alive," he said stepping into the house. "Excuse me?" She said. "I waited for you to call or something and nothing." Miranda's smirk turned into another bout of full-blown laughter. "What is so funny?" He asked, putting his hands on his hips. "You sound like…" She giggled some more. "Like what?" "Like my boyfriend or my husband." Ben shook his head, a smile forming on his face. Miranda watched him, her face relaxing. "More like I was concerned. You said it wouldn't take long and—" "I didn't have your number," she said cutting him off. "That's why I didn't call you." "Well, damn, I know that feeling," he chuckled, "Let's change that." Miranda bit the corner of her bottom lip as he stared at him. She knew that look; he'd given it to her last night and then again this morning. Her stomach churned. She was falling for this man.

Satisfied, Ben stepped out of the house after Miranda promised to call him later. "Maybe there are some things we need to discuss," she'd said. He had nodded and turned to leave before turning around and kissing her cheek. His phone rang as he thought about their last conversation. "Hello?" He said pushing "pause" on the game he was playing. "I'm calling." "I can see that. How was your shower?" Ben shook his head cursing his dumb question. "Uh, warm," she answered with a little chuckle. She continued: "What, uh, are you doing?" He inhaled. He was waiting, that's what he was doing. "Nothing. Just playing a game." "Would you…" She paused for a long while. Ben almost prodded her. Would he what? But he stayed quiet and waited some more. Miranda wasn't the type to be rushed. "Um, would you like to get something to eat?" "Yes, I'm starving." looking down at the remains of a burger he'd just devoured. "I'll be there in two minutes," he said, glad that they lived near each other and that he'd be seeing her soon. With no destination in mind, he just drove as they talked and laughed. Picking right back up from the previous night. "I hope the boys are having fun" she said turning down the music. He nodded, "I pick them up tomorrow afternoon." The low music swirled around them. "Do you think… that there'll be anything to tell them or is this it?" His question was sincere. "I don't know," she responded. "Do you want this to be more?" "Yes." Her answer was quicker than he'd anticipated. Pulling over into a fast food restaurant parking lot, he turned to her. "I do, too." He reached for her face, touching her smooth chin, craving to kiss her lips. Miranda grabbed his wrist and said: "To be clear, are we talking about a relationship? Something exclusive? Because that's the onl—" Ben kissed her softly, quieting her. "Yes," he whispered, putting his forehead against hers. "Me and you."

Miranda believed in science, so she knew there was a legit explanation to why she was following Ben into his house. Once inside, he pulled her into his arms, kissing her like it was something he'd done every day of his adult life. His hands crept up and down her body, teasing her. In his bedroom, Miranda looked around, clean and manly. It was just right. She lay on his bed and he climbed on top of her. His brown eyes met hers and she watched them move quickly taking her in. "It's crazy how much I like you," he said kissing her lips. They opened for him, allowing his tongue entrance. "I like you, too." Undressed and prepared, he guided himself into her and she moaned from the depths of her belly. "God, Miranda," he whispered, his breath tickling her skin. "You feel so good." Miranda responded by scratching his back as they moved rhythmically. She lifted her hips and he went deeper. He was so in tune with her body that her mind went numb and she could only focus on the pleasure. "Ahhh! Benjamin!" She called out. "Damn! Say that again, baby." She smiled as he kissed her nipples. "Benjamin." "Yes?" "Benjamin!" She screamed, orgasming hard. "One more time," he said. "Please, Benjamin," she whispered into his mouth. "That's it." Ben came, holding her tightly and kissing her passionately. Under his comforter, he pulled her into his chest and kissed the top of her head. "So," she said, her voice hoarse, "You like when I call you Benjamin." He shuddered. "I'll take that as a yes." "Call me whatever you want, just call me yours," he said. She put her lips on his chest, saying: "I like the sound of that."

He heard noises. And voices. Ben sat up and peeled himself away from Miranda. A knock on his bedroom door made him jump up. "Dad?" Joey called out. Ben's head jerked back. What was he doing back? "Y-yeah?" "We're here. Tuck and I. Coach Ace dropped us off since he was bringing BB and Yadi this way, too." Ben tried to think. "Why didn't, uh, Tuck go home?" "We went there first, but Dr. Bailey didn't answer her phone. And Tuck doesn't have his keys," Joey explained. Ben looked over at the woman still asleep, peacefully and naked. "Dad, are you okay in there?" "Yes, why?" "You're being weird," Joey retorted. Miranda woke up and looked at him, a smile in her eyes. He wanted nothing more than to fall back into bed with her. "Good morning," she said. His eyes opened wide and he said: "Shh!" "What for?" She whispered. "Mom?"

Tuck's voice hit her hard and a headache started to form. "Dad?" Joey said. Ben dropped his head. "What… how… why…?" Miranda asked unable to complete a thought. She cleared her throat. "Go to the living room, ya'll. I'll… we'll… just wait," Ben sputtered. Certain that they were no longer outside of the door, Miranda scrambled to find her clothes. "This is terrible," she groaned. "It could have been worse," he said. "How? How in the hell could it have been—" The face Ben was making revealed how it could have been worse. "Well, that doesn't make me feel better," she exclaimed. He pulled on a pair of sweatpants and her mind instantly flipped a switch to "sexual". Ben raised both hands. "Just relax. We would have had to tell them sometime." "Yeah, when they were in college," she said half-jokingly. She definitely didn't want to have to tell them directly after a lovemaking session. She was horrified to say the least. He read her face and hugged her. "It will be fine, babe. I promise." She looked up at him with a tilted eyebrow, "Babe?" "Baby? Honey? Sweetie? My love?" He suggested. Her stomach and heart were both doing somersaults. "All of the above."

"Welcome back, fellas. How… how was camp?" Ben asked. Tuck and Joey stood there, befuddled. "Are you two a thing now?" Tuck asked screwing up his face. "You don't have to look like that," Miranda scolded. "Well, are you?" Joey demanded casting a glance to Ben. "We are," Ben said with authority. The boys looked at each other. He tried to guess what they were thinking, but he came up short. "This is weird," Tuck said grabbing his bag. "Ma, can we go home?" Tuck mumbled. She nodded. Ben leaned in to her a little and she moved away. "Bye, Dr. Bailey," Joey said. She smiled. "Bye, Joey." When they were gone, Joey turned to him: "You two?" "Yes, I think." I hope so. He searched his son's face. "Okay." Ben smiled, "Tuck's not happy though." "I'll talk to Tuck," Joey said. Ben shook his head. "No, uh, we'll just give him some time," he said hoping that he was right. A few days passed without Ben seeing Miranda at all. Their phone calls and text messages were brief and filled with silent longing. He was even back to staring out of his window just to get a glimpse of the woman who had his heart. He missed her.

Miranda stood by her sink washing off some vegetables. She tried not to stare out of the window and into the backyard of the man who had caused so much tension in her house. Tuck was really upset. He walked into the kitchen. "Hey, baby," she said. "Hi, mom," he responded. She turned away from the window. "Sit down for a minute." She inhaled. "I've given you a few days and you haven't said anything about me and… and Ben." He shrugged. "There's nothing to say." Pulling out a chair, she moved next to him. "Clearly, you're upset. Just tell me why." Tuck started to stand up. "I wouldn't," she snapped. Her voice going from "mom" to "Chief" quickly. She took a breath. She wanted him to want to talk to her. So, she waited. "I was mad seeing you with another man. With Dr. Warren." She sighed. "Why?" He shook his head, "It doesn't matter." "It does to me." Tuck tapped the table. "I always thought you and dad would… get back together. You and Joey's dad would ruin that." Miranda grabbed his hands. "Listen to me. Look at me." The teen obeyed. "Your father and I are never getting back together. Never." "I do want you to be happy," he said. Miranda smiled at a loss for words. Tuck hugged her. "I'm sorry, ma." She said it was okay, not totally sure that it was the truth. "Can I go out for a little while?" Glancing at the clock on the microwave, she told him that he had one hour. Miranda poured some more wine and sipped it slowly, replaying the conversation with Tuck and the ones she'd had with Ben. So surprised that the man took up so much space in her mind. She missed him so much.

Ben opened the door, surprised. "Tuck, what are you doing here so late?" He let the boy in. "Does your mom know where you are?" "Yes." Ben looked at the teen. Something told him that he wasn't telling the complete truth. "Joey's not here. But he should be back soon." Tuck nodded. "I came here to talk to you." Ben and Tuck sat in the living room as the teen talked. Halfway through their conversation, Joey walked in. "And I know my mom misses you." Ben tried to keep his cool in front of the teens. "Like a lot. And I was being a bit of a jerk and I'm sorry." The doctor stood up. "It was big of you to come over here and admit your fault. That's what a man does." The two of them shook hands. "So, she said she missed me?" Ben asked. "No. But I know she does. She keeps staring out of the kitchen window." A smile crossed the man's face. "Is that, right?" "Yes, sir. Please, please, call her or text her or something." "Yeah, dad, do it," Joey added. Ben held up his hands, "Okay, okay, let me just think of the right thing to say." He pulled out his phone and texted Miranda. After turning on his backyard lighting, he stood on the grass, waiting. He was taking a chance. Something he hadn't done in a long time. He was in love with a woman who may or may not love him back. It was scary, but he was ready.

Bzzz! Bzzz! Miranda picked up her phone and saw a message from Ben: Come to the window. She rolled her eyes and stood up, looking toward his house. She opened the window and saw him standing there, fine as ever just like he'd been the first time. "Yes, Benjamin?" She called out. "Do you want to try again?" He shouted back. They were silent, beaming at each other. "Yes," she said fiercely. Her admission shook her. Vulnerability wasn't her strongest characteristic, but she had no choice with Ben. He brought it out of her. She didn't think that her voice had reached him, but he responded with a simple: "Me, too." He walked to the metal fence separating their backyard. Miranda hurried out of her house to see him climbing the fence. He took her in his arms, squeezing her hips, "I have missed you, Miranda." She draped her arms on his shoulders. "I've missed you, Benjamin." He cursed beneath his breath. Miranda bit her bottom lip. Taking the hint, Ben kissed her. She whined as their lips met, moist and ready. Her heart was full and beating swiftly. "I love you," he said against her chin. Her body froze. "I know it's early, but when you know you know. And I know that this feeling I have… that this feeling has kept me up at night—is love." She paused, wanting to kiss him, to laugh and converse with him, to make love to him. "I…" He pushed up her shirt a little, smoothing her back. "Don't feel any pressure to say anything." She nodded and thought about everything that had transpired between them. He stroked her head and Miranda smiled. "I love you, too."

Two Years Later

"This is the one," Miranda said sitting up. "This is the one!" Ben opened one eye and looked over at his wife. What was she going on about? "This is the house." He sat up and kissed her head. "Good morning, love." "Yes, good morning, hon. Now, look." She pushed her phone into his hands and the brightness of the screen threatened to blind him. He squinted and scrolled the page. The house seemed to be exactly what they were looking for. It was in right area, had the right amount of rooms and in their price range. "Let's go check it out," he told her. She squealed, her hand going to her stomach. His hands followed as they both waited for the approval of their unborn child. Miranda was nine months pregnant and was due any day. The baby moved and Ben broke into a huge grin. "I think my Cheddar agrees," she chuckled. After getting dressed, his family headed to the house Miranda had shown him. "Oh, I really like this," Ben said as she took his hand and pulled him into the house. "Feels like home," she said. Suddenly, she grabbed onto his arm. Ben looked down at his wife. "I think she's coming. My water just broke." Ben's eyes got wild. He called for Joey and Tuck, tossing one of them the car keys before helping Miranda to the backseat of their truck. "Just breathe, babe," he said stroking her hair. "Breathe."

It was all coming back to her. The pain, the chaos, the work that was having a child. Miranda pushed and heaved and shouted while Ben rubbed her head. "You're doing great," he said kissing her cheek. "Just great." Miranda gave one final push and was relieved to hear Ben say the words: "She's here." She closed her eyes and cried as her doctor put the baby against her chest. "Jesus Christ," Ben said while grabbing a towel to wipe her face. "Hi, baby," Miranda whispered. Her heart felt like it might burst and she was thankful to be in a hospital. After her divorce, a part of her thought her life was over, that love was out of the question. And then she met Ben and realized that it was just beginning. "I love you," she said to the little girl. She looked up at Miranda, mesmerizing her with eyes that Miranda knew so well. "Hi, baby girl," Miranda crooned. "Ain't she beautiful, babe?" He asked. "She's perfect."