Thanks for the reviews! I know my chapters are fairly short, but I guess I want give leave room for people to breathe (bad excuse). I'm still working on the remaining chapters because I want it to be realistic and am debating with myself regarding the ending.

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Ch. 13

"Good evening, we want a room for this gentleman."

"For one night?"

"Yes, that's enough." Samuel butted in before Cristina got a chance to speak.

This man is so stubborn. Why couldn't he stay longer? Where'll he go afterwards? Like father like son. Now Cristina knew where Burke got his obstinacy from.

"Please put everything on my credit card."

"No, Sir, please take mine," Samuel stopped his daughter-in-law, "I had a job after the release. I don't have a lot but I can take care of my bills."

Cristina blushed. She was ashamed of how she assumed he was penniless and homeless by default. "I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry about." If Samuel was offended, he didn't show it in his face; if he was mad, it was over his shameful past rather than Cristina's unintentionally condescending behavior.

Asha was standing on her toes beside Cristina, pulling the rim of her mother's coat. "Mommy, it's late. Daddy will be worried."

"Honey, we're leaving. Let us say goodbye to…uh… Mommy's friend." Cristina tidied her daughter's curls with her fingers.

"Goodbye, Mister. Have a good evening!" Whoever this friend was, Asha knew it was someone important. Otherwise, her mother would not have done so much for him.

"You too, little one." It hurt to hear Cristina call him a friend. He was not sure if he deserved to be called a friend, even though he was more than just a friend. Physically, he could also feel the surging pain, but he hid it with a grin long enough until Cristina and Asha were out of sight.

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As they walked out of the lobby, Cristina knew Asha was right. The sky was completely dark. Not only would Burke be worried, but he would probably be out looking for them now. Once they hopped into their car, Cristina saw several unheard voice messages on her phone.

"Cristina, where are you? Why didn't you pick up the phone?"

"I'm sorry, Preston. I ran into something just now."

"What happened? Were you in an accident? Are you OK?"

"We're OK. I'm sorry."

Burke was not sure how many more sorries he was ready to take. In the past few days it seemed to have become Cristina's favorite phrase. It was a miracle that he did not lash out. "Drive safely, Cristina."

"I'm sor—"

"No more sorries today, OK?" It scares me when you keep saying sorry.

"OK." Cristina sighed. She was expecting harsher treatment from her husband. His gentle and comforting voice only made her feel guilty.

Adjusting her rear mirrors, Cristina heard her daughter ask in a soft but inquisitive tone, "Mommy, does Daddy know your friend? Was he a friend from the hospital as well?"

The question was a more than legitimate speculation. Cristina never really had friends or people she would call friends before she entered Seattle Grace. Thinking further, every friend of hers was also Burke's friend. Except this time.

"Yes, darling. I met him in the hospital. Daddy doesn't know him. I'll have to think about it."

"Good, because he looks sad. We shouldn't let him celebrate Thanksgiving alone." Asha laced her fingers on her chin with a pensive look, a look that was slightly droll when it appeared on a 3-year-old's face.

"Can you promise Mommy not to talk about what happened before I talk to Daddy in private?"

As they pulled into the driveway, Cristina saw her husband standing in the rain, holding up his umbrella in a sexy way, his eyes fondly fixated on her.