Chapter 3- Mr. Love Of My Life.
The update had been good news, and ten minutes later Cristina was rolled into the recovery room. Against all protocol, Owen joined her there. Nobody had been fool hearty enough to try and stop him. Not with that look on his face.
He'd been very careful not to disturb her, just seeing her took away the pressure on his chest that had made it increasingly hard to breathe over the last hours.
After checking her chart, and making sure all had gone well, he had allowed himself the barest of kisses, needing to let her feel his love through that tiny physical contact.
Then he had settled down in the chair next to the bed, listening to her breathing. Even dozing off at times, now that she was right here with him again.
He wasn't called away, unbeknown to Cristina he had taken this part of the day off, and mercifully, no big trauma's had come in.
Standing up and walking over to look at her once more, a part of him told him he was now a ridiculous, old, man. A nervous wreck, to get terrified over a simple procedure. But looking at her face, so peaceful, surrounded by those curls, another voice won out. Wouldn't he be a damned fool if he wasn't terrified?!. How much blood did you have to see, and how many people could you lose at once, before taking life, and the people you loved seriously?.
What bigger risk was there in this world than to lose the people you love?. Some people would say, he lost his nerve, lost his perspective. When in fact, for all the demons that tore into him at times, there was nothing wrong with his perspective, not were Cristina was concerned.. Just as she would sense his fear, even through the sedation, and try to comfort him. So did he always see her, and wanted to make her happy, even in the darkest, most painful times. He would have to be crazy not to fear her being cut open.
She moved a little, making a sound, and then slept on again. He relaxed even more, glad to see her stir and no longer lie there, completely motionless.
Retreating to the chair once more, he thought of the revelations of that morning.
She had been pregnant and had lost the baby, and a fallopian tube. Had she wanted the baby? It didn't seem like a child would fit into the life she so clearly wanted for herself. That didn't mean she hadn't been heartbroken.
And then there apparently had been a fiancé, the biggest idiot in the world, since he'd left her. That was a real Shock. The idea of their first meeting, and what it would have been like, had she been married to another, made his stomach turn and propelled him out of the chair.
The mere thought had his heart racing, palms sweaty, a bad taste in his mouth. The attraction between them, the understanding during their brief conversation about mistakes, they would have existed regardless. Of that, he was sure. Their connection could never be stopped by a wedding ring or a piece of paper. But her loyalty and both of their decency would have made their love as good as impossible.
He realised she must have been terribly hurt by the break up, but he could not regret it.
The fiancé led him to the part where she'd jokingly mentioned proposing to him. And his thoughts stopped, right there.
A feeling of pure elation bubbled up inside of him, with a strength that send him pacing the room again, smiling now.
He looked at her , "God! He loved this woman!"
He knew it had been just a fleeting thought, retold as a joke in a drug induced state. But the fact that it had even crossed her mind, left him burning with joy and love.
He wondered for the first time, what her reaction would be. He'd have to tell her what she'd said. It had been too much, and too important, for her not to know that he was informed.
Sighing a little, he caressed her cheek, "I love you Cristina". Still asleep, she turned her head, trapping his fingers against the pillow, and he stood like that for minutes, just taking her in. Storing up on this feeling of love and peace, for the bad times that would come for him.
That's how Bailey found them when she came to check, and she waited for him to sit down before going in. not wanting to disturb what was obviously a private moment.
"Dr. Hunt", she nodded, and he stood up again when she entered the room. "Everything all right here?". She was looking at Cris and her stat's as she said it, satisfying herself all was well, before turning around for his answer. He smiled easier, now that Cristina was fine. "She seems to be doing good, Dr. Bailey, looks like you did an excellent job". Warm blue eyes met brown ones, "thank you", he was sincere and very, very handsome. Miranda smiled at him, "You're welcome, I told you; she's my girl too". He shot her a look from the corner of his eyes, not sure if she felt he owed her an explanation. She just turned to face him and smiled some more. "I've got patients to check on, I'll leave her with you, in good hands". For a moment she hesitated, opening her mouth as if to speak, then seemed to think the better of it. She nodded again and left.
Owen watched her go, with admiration. There was another one that would do great in the army. They'd have to start her of as a One Star General though, no way she'd do it for less.
To his surprise he felt a big grin on his face, thinking about her.
Shaking his head, still smiling he walked back towards the bed and saw Cristina was looking at him.
"Hey", came her voice, all hoarse and soft, like a cat's tongue on his ear. "can I finally have coffee now?!". And he laughed.
***
"I love you", she felt his lips move against hers as he said it, and a thrill went down her soul. She kept her eyes closed, letting her lips feel the form of his cheek, his lips. Leaving a trail of light, warm kisses. "I love you too".
She had rested while he went to work, and after their shifts had ended, he and Meredith had pushed her across the street in the wheelchair. Taking leave to return the thing, Meredith had wished them a good night. And Owen had carried her up the stairs. Since then, she had not been allowed to leave the couch.
He sat up and kept his hand in her hair. She smiled and resumed the conversation;
"So you were flirting with my friend, while I was being cut open, and you are now you two are on a first name basis, that's just great". And gave her patented eye roll.
She tried to keep her voice light, but it still betrayed some tension as she went on. "I hope, at least, she did her job, and didn't let me pull an O'Malley?".
He paused for a moment, not sure where to start, and she picked up on it immediately. "What?!".
"Cristina.., Meredith did good, but I screwed up". He drew a deep breath and removed his hand from her curls. "Bailey didn't notice me come in, she was talking about the previous operation you've had in this hospital". He didn't want to say the words but watched her closely as the realisation hit her. The pain in her face hurt him, still he kept going, "I'm sorry Cristina, I shouldn't have been there, but I couldn't stay away, I shouldn't have heard that".
She just stared at him, waiting. "I'm sorry you lost the baby, lost the tube".
Holding his gaze she replied, "I didn't want the baby", then, taking his hand back, "but it was still bad".
After some time passed in silence, he asked, "can you forgive me?". She gave his hand a little squeeze, "I don't believe you did this on purpose, so; we're good". Flashing him a smile and trying to lighten the mood she asked, "Anything else I need to know?".
He looked aside, considering, then looked back at her. He let those blue eyes search her face, like only they could. Before smiling all tenderly.
And, giving a little shrug, he decided to appeal to her sense of humour.
"Well, there was the part where you forgave Bailey for telling the Love of your Life, me, about your medical history". She gave him an incredulous stare, not sure if he was joking or not, but he just smiled.
"Then there's the bit telling bailey just to keep her mouth shut about the fiancé and breaking up at the church". Her expression turned to stone, body rigid, and he rushed on. "That was of course just before you told the Chief, it was no wonder SGH is nr. Twelve, with the privacy leaks and long wait". He couldn't help but smile, as her expression changed again, to unbelieving horror, this time.
And in the flow of the moment, he cast all caution to the winds. "You also proposed, by the way". Now she went completely limp against the pillows, and very, very still.
He let his eyes caress her face once more, "and I accepted".
***
It was quiet for a full minute while Cristina searched his eyes for some clues to this madness he had just unleashed upon her.
*
The love of her life? Yeah.., she bought it. It was not her style, but then, he brought out a Cristina she hadn't seen in decades. So, yeah, she bought it. It was absolutely embarrassing, given the circumstances though, she'd live.
*
Knowing she told him about Preston…, Hell!, that wasn't even so bad. At least it sounded stress-free, and for good measure, she had been anesthetised. It had literally been pain free. Still, he must have questions.
*
Telling the Chief he was running a number twelve joint was bad, There again, though, the drugs came in handy. She'd never known they were so useful. Usually she resorted to alcohol to smooth over emotional painful situations.
*
Proposing to Owen Hunt?
Asking Owen to spend the rest of his life, loving and honouring her?
She didn't know what to think of that. It wasn't that she didn't believe herself capable of asking. She knew it was what part of her wanted. But now? And on a drugged-out whim?
"I don't remember", her eyes met his in all honesty, waiting for his reaction.
He had felt his reason return to him, while waiting in silence. He wasn't sure what reaction he'd hoped for. "I know, I knew when you said it ", he smiled ruefully. I guess I got carried away with the surprises". Adding, after a moment, "I told you I want to be there in forty years, the how and what don't really matter".
She kissed his hand, relieved that this wasn't a problem. Nothing really seemed a problem when it came to the two of them loving each other. Not fiancés, or botched proposals, No ghosts or demons, past or present.
She settled deeper into the pillows,"Good, because marriage is a big deal, and I don't feel ready just yet". He smiled at her, "Me neither, but the forty years are still on, regardless".
They shared a look that acknowledged promises without speaking.
A growl from Cristina's tummy was clearly audible in the silence between them, and she laughed. "What about getting your girl something to eat, Mr. Love of my Life?"
His heart skipped ever so lightly, at hearing himself addressed like that. Leaning over he kissed her with all the love he could convey, without spontaneously combusting.
"Don't move!". Walking to the kitchen, he left Cristina on the couch, purring like a kitten.