Have You Ever Loved Somebody (Epilogue)

"Okay, but I don't want any fanfare, I just want to go in, do the thing and be done," Miranda Bailey told the man lying beside her.

Her husband rolled his eyes, completely used to her nonchalance. "Yes, sweetheart, whatever you want."

"I'm serious, Benjamin." He put down his phone. "It doesn't have to be a whole thing. I don't want anyone to see me either."

"It's childbirth, woman. Not a midnight run to Wal-Mart."

They laughed together, easily. It had been that way for five years. Their chemistry had never faltered. Their intimate relationship had stemmed from their friendship. And that had been the foundation for their marriage. A marriage that was resilient, full of romance and respect. Miranda had never loved anyone the way she loved Ben. Had never felt love like that either. "Oh!" She grabbed his hand and put it on her stomach, pressing slightly. "She's moving."

"And you probably think that her moving means she agrees with you."

"Of course she does."

"Are you two ganging up on me already?"

"Get used to it," Miranda chuckled. She reached out and touched his cheek. "Shouldn't you be getting back to the hospital?" Ben had started his residency in L.A. and it had been tough with him traveling back and forth. For the first few months, she ached to be with him. A year in and she'd finally gotten used to the dull pain that kept resurfacing whenever she thought about how long he had left in his career. It kept her up at night. There was even a point when she was regretting her decision to marry him. She didn't want to be away from the love of her life. After their blissful wedding ceremony and week-long honeymoon, she watched him board a plane back to California. And the cycle of anguish started again. And then something happened. Something that was both God-awful and bittersweet. A power outage in the hospital sent a resident to the basement to find the electrician. Unfortunately, they were electrocuted and unable to be revived during surgery. She died and her death sent a shock through the hospital. Three weeks later, she was paged to Richard's office. He told her that while Jo Wilson had been a special part of the hospital, her spot in the program was still unfilled and did she have any ideas about how to find a candidate. Did she? Before the conversation was completely over, Miranda was on the phone with Ben giving him the good news. Luckily, he was still in town for the funeral and rushed over the hospital, interviewing on the spot and earning a place in the prestigious program. That had been two years ago and now… well, they were as happy as ever. And she was as pregnant as ever.

"I'm going," Ben said snapping her out of her thoughts. "I just dropped in to see my boy and say 'hi' to my girls."

"Hello," she whispered, putting her lips on his face. Ben smiled at her. That was his only face looking at her now. She was having his child and looked at her with heart-eyes.

"Hey, baby girl, stay calm for mommy until I come back. You two get some sleep." Ben smoothed her stomach. "I know, I know."

Coming face to face with Miranda, she kissed him again. "And that was from the baby."

"Thank you to you both. Love you."

"We love you, too." He got off of the bed, blew her kiss and left the room. Miranda heard laughs coming from her pre-teen's bedroom. Tuck was twelve and it shook her when she thought about raising another child. She wasn't ready to give birth again and if it were anything like her first one, she'd rather eat ice cream sprinkled with glass.

The next morning, Miranda felt Ben hold onto her from behind. She smiled and picked up his hand. "You're awake?" He asked in her ear.

"Yes. Your daughter is doing somersaults like Simone Biles in my stomach," she said.

"You're alright?" She nodded through her discomfort. "Want some ginger ale?"

"Please."

"Anything my wife wants," Ben told her kissing her back.

"And some water."

Carefully, he climbed over her. "Okay." Leaning down, he started whispering to her stomach.

"What are you telling her?" She giggled.

"Daddy-daughter confidentiality." He winked at Miranda. "I'll be back."

"Uh, check on Tuck please."

"Of course, sweetheart."

A grin appeared on her. She knew that he would before she asked. Even before they were married, Ben treated Tuck like a son, cared for him and continued the friendship they'd started before she had began dating Ben. It always warmed her heart. Their family was in good hands with Ben. It was why she married him; she wouldn't have to worry about much if he was by her side. Later that night, Miranda sat straight up, holding her stomach. Ben popped up beside her. "What's wrong?"

"I think…" She grunted. "I think my water just broke."

He lifted the cover. "I think you're right." Miranda took a deep breath and dropped her legs from the bed. Ben moved beside her and gave her a hug. "I love you, baby."

Miranda leaned into him. "I love you, too."

Quickly, Miranda got dressed as Ben gathered the bags, woke up Tuck and they got settled in the car. "Ready?" He asked looking over at her.

"No," she admitted as Ben backed out of their driveway.

"Me either," he confessed. "But we have each other, okay?"

"And me!" Tuck said, his voice deeper than Miranda wanted to admit.

"Yes, and LT." Ben brought her hand up to his lips.

The three of them cracked up, calming Miranda down. She rubbed her belly. "Stay put a little while longer, little girl."

Ben fiddled with the radio as they darted through the city. A familiar song came on. "I know this song!" Tuck said.

"What do you know about this?" Ben asked, laughing.

I'll give you my heart and soul, my time / My love is a fountain / I will be your earth

"It's the song you and mom play when…" His voice trailed off. Miranda and Ben glanced at each other and smirked, full of embarrassment.

"Ouch!" Miranda readjusted her seat.

Ben squeezed her hand softly. "Easy, babe."

"Tell her to relax," she managed to say between contractions. "Talk to her, please, babe. She calms down when you do."

"Okay, okay, okay." He put his hand on her belly. They pulled up to the emergency room entrance. "Baby girl." As if actively listening to her father, the pain in her stomach began to subside. "The three of us really, really want to see you. So badly, but don't make your glorious entrance until…"

Miranda nodded, breathing deeply. "It's working."

"Shi—shoot, until we get settled in our room."

A wheelchair appeared and Miranda and Tuck got out. "I'll meet you two up there. LT, take care of your mom and sister please. I'll be back."

"Yes, sir," Tuck responded with a smile.

In the room, Tuck played on his game, with only the smallest bit of his attention on them. "You are amazing, Miranda Bailey."

"Thank you, Ben Warren." On an exercise ball, she tried to concentrate on her breathing. Another contraction hit and she yelled out: "Holy hell!"

"Ay, stop cursing in front of our children," he chuckled, bouncing on his own exercise ball.

Her eyes watered. "Our… children?"

"Yes. Ours. Yours and mine, babe." His thumbs wiped the tears from her face. "Our family is amazing. And you're amazing for creating it."

"I had a little help." Ben leaned in, laughing against her cheek. He kissed her lips softly, holding her hand. "Hey."

"Hey." When Miranda didn't say anything, he said: "What is it, Miranda?"

"I'm scared," she told him.

"You are?"

She nodded as another contraction hit, squeezing his hand hard. "I'm sorry," she said once her body had settled.

"Don't apologize, squeeze as hard as you need to. You are having my baby, so however I can serve you, I'll do it."

"Thank you for being here."

"I love you," he said while stroking her head. She moaned. "And don't be scared, okay? I won't let anything happen to you. You know that, right?"

"Yes," she responded as another contraction hit.

He licked his lips. "Plus, I'm scared, too."

"You're scared?"

He nodded. "I mean, we already have a kid, but a baby, shoot, sweetheart, I just… hell, I don't want to fuck it up."

"Language, Benjamin!" Miranda laughed while another cramp attacked her belly.

Tuck looked up from his game. "Are you okay, ma?"

"Yes, b-baby," she managed to reply. "Your sister is just eager to see us."

"Oh," he said before going back to his device.

Ten minutes later, Scotty appeared in the doorway. "Hey, girl, hey!" She squealed.

Miranda clapped. "Yes, my oldest friend, if you loved me… please get this baby out of body," she laughed. Ben and Scotty joined in.

"Sure thing. Let me check you out."

"Okay, that's our cue," Ben said. He kissed Miranda gently, holding the back of her head.

"Love you," she said.

"Ditto." Ben winked at her. "C'mon, son," he said tapping Tuck on the shoulder and walking behind him out of the room.

"I'm in pain. Fix me," Miranda begged, a grimace hitting her face. It had been almost thirteen years since she'd felt like this and it was taking a toll on her.

"Oh, stop it! You don't need to be fixed," Scotty commented. After making sure that Miranda was, in fact, as fine as could be, the two of them were able to talk. "See what happens when you don't use protection?"

The women laughed, causing another contraction. "Stop making me laugh."

"My bad."

"Please just help me."

"Drugs?"

"No, no, no drugs. Not until I absolutely need them."

"Understood." Scotty thought for a second. "Well, there is one thing that might help."

When Scotty was gone and Ben and Tuck were back in the room and Miranda was in bed, she grabbed the side railing, trying to withstand a harsh shaking in her body that creeped up her back. Ben rubbed her head, pushing her hair back from her sweaty face. "I really wish there was a way for me to help you."

Tilting her head and lowering her voice so that only he could hear her, she said: "Well, Scotty did tell me something."

"Yeah?" Miranda confirmed, her heart rattling behind the information that she knew. "Lay it on me."

She bit the corner of her bottom lip. "The body produces natural oxytocin which can reduce my pain."

"How?"

"The general consensus is that…" Ben cocked his eyebrow. "What gets the baby in, can help get the baby out."

"Miranda Bailey!" He whisper-shouted. "If you're suggesting what I think you're suggesting—"

"I am."

"Then, I'm down. Literally." He kissed her cheek. "Do you want me to do it? Or am I just a bystander? Do you want me to go?" She hit his arm. "No, I'm serious, baby. Whatever makes you comfortable."

Their daughter turned in her stomach and yelled. "You can do it. Please."

"My pleasure." Miranda and Ben had tried to get Tuck to go with his father earlier, but he refused to leave their side; so Ben helped the boy find a comfortable spot to play his game and set up him with some food. Back in the room, he made sure the blinds were closed and turned off the light. He let down the railing and pushed a chair close to the bed. "You ready?"

"Yes." Ben kissed her softly, warming her up. Miranda closed her eyes. His hand slipped between her legs, rubbing her gently. Usually the silence would be filled with music or their synchronized sounds, but now— "Talk to me," she whispered.

"Oh, uh okay. Right." He moved closer and whispered against her cheek. "Listen to me." She nodded. "You are the most beautiful and the smartest woman I've ever met." She opened her legs wider. "And we are a power couple." Miranda's moaned loudly, her body rumbling softly. "And you're my best friend." Her husband kissed her deeply, stimulating her body some more. "Now, I need you to do something for me."

"What?" Miranda asked, gasping, so close to her climax. She gripped his arm as his fingers circled slowly.

"I want you to relax." She put her head back. Ben's free hand snaked up her gown, massaging her nipples.

"Easy!" She said rocking her hips against his other hand.

"I got it. I got it," he told her. "How's that?"

"Shhhh!" They laughed and soon Miranda was orgasming, tears flowing from her eyes. She grabbed onto him, pulling him down onto the oversized bed, placing kisses on his face while his fingers continued to stroke her body. "I love you. I love you so much," she said still on a high.

"I know, sweetheart." He held her, hugging her tightly. "I love you, too." Hours later, he was sitting behind Miranda as she pushed, heaving and drenched in sweat. "A few more, baby."

"I'm tired, Ben," she cried, leaning into him. It somehow hurt even more than she remembered and she was struggling to go on. "I can't."

He whispered fiercely in her ear: "You can! You can do this."

"Okay, Mandy," Scotty said. "One more."

The pain was one step before unbearable. Her head went back on Ben's shoulder and she felt his lips press against the side of her head. "Alright, baby, just one more. One more push and we can see our daughter. Her beautiful face. One more and it's all over. And I promise never to do this to you again."

Miranda wanted to laugh but she couldn't process the emotion. "I'm ready." He picked up her hands, locking their fingers together. Then, she pushed. The strangely familiar feeling of her body opening to receive her child returned. Miranda began sobbing as the room swelled with victory.

"You did it, baby. You did it."

"She's here? I don't hear anything. Why isn't she crying? Is… wh—is everything okay?"

"Yes, baby," Ben said. Miranda heard him sniffle and he kissed the back of her hand and she felt moisture. "She's here and she's… God, she's amazing. You are amazing."

She closed her eyes as her husband whispered in her ear. "Okay, y'all. Here she is," Scotty said handing over the quiet child.

"Hi, baby," Miranda said, her voice hoarse. "Hi, my baby."

"She is beautiful."

"Thank you," the new parents responded simultaneously.

"Didn't Kev and I say you two would look good with a baby?" Miranda shook her head at her friend, completely enraptured in the reality of holding her daughter. "I'll go and get Tuck."

"Thanks, Scotty," Ben said. When the delivery crew had cleared the room, he asked Miranda how she was feeling.

"I feel good, considering. But none of it matters. Look at her. Look at her." She slipped her finger into the baby's hand. "And she needs a name."

"It's not 'Baby'?" He laughed, his eyes going from Miranda to the baby.

"No," she chuckled, mesmerized by the now-sleeping child. Her delivery had gone smoothly, but there was still a lifetime to go of raising the girl in a happy and healthy home into a complete person. Miranda was both scared and excited by the challenge. "Let's see the list."

Ben pulled out his phone. "Uh, Laila? Whitney, Angel. Um, Amaya… Ty—"

"Wait, wait, wait. Amaya. Amaya. Amaya."

"Amaya. That has a nice ring to it. I like it, hon."

"Me, too," he said kissing the back of her head. "Amaya Elena Bailey Warren."

"I really like the sound of that," she told him, earnestly.

"Me, too, sweetheart."

"You're sure your mother isn't going to be mad that we're using my mom's name as a middle name?"

They cracked up. "Well, she'll see this face and she'll get over it."

As Ben moved from behind her, Miranda said: "Careful."

"I know. Can I hold my daughter?"

"Do you want to go to your daddy? The other one who's been talking to you all of this time." Miranda asked Amaya. The child stirred in her sleep as she went from her mother's arms to her father's.

"Wow. I've seen your baby pictures," Ben started. "And mine, of course. And our little girl is the perfect combination of us."

Miranda yawned and nodded. The door opened and Tuck walked in with Scotty and Callie behind him. "Hi, baby," he said rushing to Ben. "What's her name?"

"Amaya," Miranda and Ben answered at the same time looking at each other.

"Hi, Amaya," Tuck said.

"That is such a cute name." Callie washed and dried her hands. "Can I?"

"Of course," Ben said handing over the sleeping baby. The rest of the day was filled with visitors coming in and out of the room while Miranda and Amaya drifted in and out of the sleep. She remembered seeing Tucker and Kevin come in and give Ben cigars along Scotty and Andrea were there. Jazmin and Angela popped in with Rosalind and Julia. The room swelled with gifts and balloons and cards. Some of her colleagues came by and everything congratulating her left and right. It was all appreciated and too much. The next time Miranda woke up, the room was dark and quiet. Tuck was in one corner, his long body curled into a ball on a reclining chair, a blanket covering him. To her left, in another corner, Miranda saw her husband sleeping shirtless with their daughter against his chest. Her heart quivered seeing them. She was so full of joy. Her family. She was so glad that Ben had been by her side over the last couple of years—that he'd be there while they watched their children grow. And she was grateful. Honestly, she wouldn't want to do it with anyone else.

Picking up her phone from the table on the right side of the bed, she snapped a picture of Ben and Amaya and one of Tuck. "Hey," she whispered so that she'd only wake him up.

"You whispered?" He said turning to her, smiling.

"I love you."

"I love you, too, babe. Get some sleep."

"I'm not tired." Ben stood up and sat in the chair next to her bed. Glancing at her son, she asked: "Tuck didn't want to go with Tucker?"

Ben shook his head. "Nah, he wanted to stay here with you and Amaya. He's going to be a great big brother."

"He is," she grinned. This little girl was going to be so loved. "Are my parents in town yet?"

"Not yet," he said yawning. "I'll pick them up from the airport in a few hours."

"We have a daughter," Miranda exclaimed.

"We have son and a daughter," he repeated. "And you were fantastic. You are fantastic."

"Because I have you behind me."

"And I will always be there," he said.

"You promise?"

"Every day." Amaya roused and Miranda suggested that she feed her. Ben placed the girl on her chest and Miranda got her settled. "I'm so in love with our family," he told her, his eyes getting watery. "Promise that you'll be there for me, too. For us."

Miranda tried swallowing the lump in her throat. "I promise."

"You know I'm proud of you, Miranda Bailey."

Amaya continued to eat, ignoring them both. "For what?"

"Opening up yourself for me and for yourself, figuratively and literally." She chuckled. "I don't know what I would do without you. The love I feel for you and for our children consumes me every day."

Close to sobbing, Miranda managed to get out: "Well, thank you for letting me into your orbit. Thank you for showing what it means to be loved and loved properly and treating me with respect and helping me grow and heal."

"You make me sound perfect."

"To me you are." He hooked her chin with his finger. "Now, I'm falling in love with you all over again."

"You'd do all it all over again?" Ben asked.

"In a heartbeat," Miranda said fervently. "Wouldn't you?"

"Without hesitation." They kissed slowly. "Damn, now, I'm turned on," he whispered in her ear.

"Stop," she moaned.

"Is it too soon to start thinking about another baby?"

"Do you want me to stab you?" Miranda asked with a raised eyebrow. Ben's eyes widened and the two of them laughed loudly. They'd shared so many over the years. And tears—so many memories. So many times when she wanted to run and didn't. So many times when she felt herself pushing him away only to make them grow closer, clinging to each other, lifting each other up. She wanted to soak up all the joy, all the love, because there were so many more of them yet to come. And she absolutely could not wait.