More Practice - Chapter 9

Cristina had spent the afternoon with Owen. They had talked a lot about his family. His childhood. They had laughed and unfortunately had also cried a bit. She knew he missed his family and now the thought of being reunited with them after the death and horror he had seen, was very terrifying to Owen. But she knew he was looking forward to it and she felt she needed to do her part to help him. She had left his apartment after dialing his mom's number for him. She wanted to leave him alone to tell his mom that he was home and that he would be coming to see her the next day with Cristina in tow. Cristina had made sure to tell Owen to ask his mom to keep it low key at first. There would be time to reunite with his brothers and sister at a later date, but tomorrow would need to be about his mom.

Cristina headed toward the elevators at Seattle Grace only to be met by Meredith when the doors opened.

"Hi. I thought you were off today"

"I am. I came to see you"

"Me? Where's Owen?"

"He's at home. I just left him. Can we go get some coffee or some food and talk?"

"Sure"

Meredith hung up her cell phone as she climbed into the passenger seat of Owen's car. She wanted to let Derek know that she would be late because Cristina needed her. Of course, Derek didn't mind.

"What's going on Cristina? Why are you driving Owen's car?"

"Oh, I was at his apartment and didn't have my car, so I took his. Um……Owen has been back from the war for about 4 months now, and has not told or seen his mother"

"Wow. We better go to Joe's. I think you need something stronger than coffee"

As they settled in at a table in the back, Meredith was happy to finally be sitting down with her best friend after they had had so many problems lately. They were finally back to their old friendship and it felt good. No matter what the problems were, they could always weather them as long as they had each other.

"Where does Owen's mom think he is?"

"In Iraq"

"Wow. How messed up is he Cristina?"

"It's bad Mer. He has seen things that I can't even imagine. He is really screwed up"

"What happened over there? I mean, I know what happened but what happened to Owen? He didn't get shot or anything did he?"

"No. He was involved in an ambush that took the lives of 19 of his friends and colleagues. He was the only survivor of his entire unit"

"Jesus Christ Cristina. No wonder he is so fucked up"

"I know. But he is doing better. He just needs some guidance. I'm trying to help him Mer."

"I know. Where are you two at? We haven't really talked about it much. I mean I see the way he looks at you, but we really have not had a chance to talk about it"

"I love him Mer. I am in love with him"

Meredith couldn't speak. She had never heard Cristina declare her love for anything, let alone a man.

"Are you serious? Your in love with him? When did this happen?"

"I don't know. But I do. I love him. I think about him all the time. I never understood the looks and glances between you and Derek and the mushy, mushy wish wash crap, but now I totally get it. I wake up next to him and I just want to stare at him. And touch him. And have sex with him" this last sentence followed by a huge smile and a bit of a giggle.

Meredith also laughed and couldn't help but ask "So tell me about the sex, because he is rather intense and I bet it is fantastic"

Cristina laughed and rolled her eyes as she pretended to faint backwards into her chair. "Oh god, it is amazing!"

Both woman were still laughing when Joe delivered their second round of drinks.

"So anyways, his mom. He was on the phone with her when I left. He wants me to go with him to meet her tomorrow. It will be the first time she has seen him in over 8 months. What am I gonna say Mer?"

"Well, if he hasn't seen her in 8 months, I don't think you are gonna be the spotlight of conversation. I think they will have a lot to say to each other. He probably just wants you to be there for support. Just go and be supportive of him and just kind of stay back and let them reunite. Instinct will tell you what to do. I tried to be what I thought Derek's mom would want and come to find out, she liked ME just as I was. Me. Just be you. It is who Owen fell in love with; I assume his mom will feel the same way. His mom isn't crazy like our's is she?"

Cristina laughed with a snort, "Shit, I hope not"

"Have you told him you loved him?"

"Yes. Several times"

Meredith smiled as she shook her head at her best friend. She couldn't believe that she had finally found love. She was beginning to think that Cristina had closed off her heart and would never find true love. But she had.

"Well, I hate to say it, but……………I told you so. I told you if you just let love happen, it would"

"I know, I know. I shouldn't have fought it so hard. But, I am glad I did. If I would have married Burke, I would have never been happy and would have never met Owen"

Cristina looked down at her ringing phone as she said his name. "Speak of the devil………………Hello?"

"Hi. Where are you?"

"I am at Joe's with Mer. How'd it go?"

"It was rough. But you were right. She's just happy I am safe. I asked her if we could come and see her tomorrow"

"And?"

"She started to cry. I told her I was bringing you and I asked her to tell my brother's and my sister not to come tomorrow. I told her we could all get together maybe next weekend or something"

"Did she understand why?"

"Yes. Cristina?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you"

"For what?"

"Just pushing me. Pushing me to do this. I don't think I could have done it without you"

"Well, your welcome, but the hardest part is yet to come. Are you scheduled off tomorrow?"

"No, but I already called the Chief. I told him I needed tomorrow off and I told him I needed you with me"

Cristina was silent for a moment. He had told the chief? Wonder how that went.

"What did he say?"

"He said no problem and take care of what I needed to. He knows a little about what happened to me. He understands"

"Ok. Well I am going to finish my drink with Meredith. Did you eat something?

"No. You?"

"Nope. Want me to bring something back with me?"

He had hoped she was coming back soon but didn't want to ask. "Yeah. That would be great"

"Ok, then I will see you in a little bit"

"OK. Be careful. I love you"

"I love you too"

She hung up to a smiling Meredith. Cristina simply shrugged her shoulders with an ornery smile.

"Can I tell Derek?"

"Tell me what?" said Derek as he bent down and planted a kiss on Meredith's cheek.

"I thought you girls were going to eat?"

"We were, but we decided we needed drinks instead. Cristina had some rather big news"

Cristina glared at Meredith but ended up smiling because she knew she was happy for her. She just wanted to share the happiness with Derek. Cristina shook her head at Mer's unasked question.

"Honey, Cristina is in love"

Derek sputtered into the top of his drink, hoping it wouldn't come out through his nose.

"Uh……in love? With who?"

"Dr. Owen Hunt"

"No shit????? Are you serious?"

"Yes McDreamy. What? You think im not capable of love?"

"No. I mean Yes. I think your capable, but I didn't see that one coming"

Meredith smiled into her drink as she stole a glance toward Derek. He was just having fun with Cristina now. "You two kids doing the McNasty?"

"OK" Cristina stood from her chair. "That's enough. I've gotta go. He is waiting on me to bring some food"

Meredith rounded the table to stand in front of Cristina. "It's going to be fine. Just roll with it tomorrow. Instinct will tell you what to do and say. Call me if you need me" She reached for Cristina and gave her a hug which was also returned by Cristina. Meredith was shocked at the change in her best friend over the last few months and could only think of one reason for it. Owen Hunt.

***********************

Cristina slid the key into Owen's apartment door and quietly entered. She heard the TV on and headed toward the living room. She found Owen lying on the coach asleep. She placed their food on the bar and went to his side. She sat down on the coffee table next to him. She didn't want to startle him. She just wanted to watch him. This had become a secret habit of her's lately. She loved watching him sleep. He was so peaceful. The lines of worry on his face were all but gone, only when he slept. As she rose to discard her coat his eye's fluttered open.

"Hi"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you"

"Don't be sorry. I wanted you to wake me. How did your talk with Meredith go?"

"It was fine. I told her about us. And she told Derek"

"Ok. How did that go over?"

"It was fine. Mer is happy for us. I assume Derek is too. They were fine"

Cristina returned to the coach with their dinner. "Is turkey ok?"

"Perfect. I'm starving"

"Me too. How did the talk with your Mom go?"

"It was ok. She cried a lot. She is very anxious to see me. And she is really excited to meet you too"

"Really? Are you sure?"

"I'm positive. It will be ok. I promise"

Cristina settled in next to him on the couch and draped her legs over his lap. "Meredith wanted me to tell her about the sex with you"

Owen choked on the bite of sandwich he had just taken. "What??"

Cristina smiled at him and raised her eyebrows upward.

"What exactly did you tell her?"

"I told her it was insanely hot but that I hadn't had enough of it yet to go into exact details"

"Oh really?"

Cristina sunk further into the couch as Owen lifted her legs from his lap and let them drop back onto the couch. He reached one arm under her legs and the other under her back and picked her up with ease. Cristina laughed uncontrollably as he bent down and kissed her bare stomach while carrying her into his bedroom.

"Well then , by all means, we should practice more"

They both laughed loudly as he dropped them down onto the middle of his bed.