He had wanted to drive her but she insisted that they go in separate cars. He kept a close watch on her car as she followed him to the restaurant making sure that she was still there. They were seated in the corner booth of the small restaurant. No words were spoken as they sat down and the waitress handed them menus.
"Babe what do you want order?" Cristina asked lifting the kid's menu to her daughter's attention for the child to pick.
"French Fries!" the small child answered without looking up from her coloring book the waitress gave her.
"Do you want a hamburger or a sandwich with your French fries."
"That one" Melanie said as she looked at the menu.
Burke did his best to hide his smile. She had her mothers eating habits. Watching her as a mother was better then he could ever imagine. After they placed their order his eyes shifted from Cristina to Melanie. "How's your arm doing princess?" he asked.
"Is hurts a little. But mom said I can let my friends sign my cast." She said concentrating on her coloring.
"That sounds cool." Burke said enthusiastically. "What kinds of things do you like?" he asked.
"Horses! I like riding horses."
"You look too small to be riding horses."
"Mommy said I'm big enough I just gotta to be careful."
His gaze shifted back to Cristina who was doing her best not to make eye contact. He had so many things he wanted to ask her but it all seemed too inappropriate in front of her daughter. "So what are you guys planning to do the rest of your trip here?"
"Umm I'm not sure. My mother-in-law wants to take us shopping that is if she doesn't buy out the stores today. And if Stephen doesn't comeback tomorrow night we're going to be heading home."
"Where's home?"
"Oregon. I couldn't stay away form the rain."
"Do you still keep in touch with your friends from Settle Grace?" he asked. The only thing he knew was that Richard had retired six years ago and Sloan had become chief after Derek had went back to New York.
"Not everyone, mostly Meredith and I trade emails with Bailey, Callie and Alex."
"You?"
"No not really I've kept busy with work. I had lunch with Derek when he took time off after everything happened between him and Meredith."
After being married to Derek for only four months Meredith had started having an affair with Mark. So when Derek found out that the child Meredith was carrying wasn't his, he filed for divorce and headed back to New York. "Yeah that was crazy. Settle Grace turned into a bad soap opera."
"I'm surprised they had time to treat any patients." Burke joked.
"So how is it being Chief of Surgery?" Cristina asked wanting to stay on neutral topics.
"Umm good. It keeps me busy." Becoming Chief of surgery was his dream it was why he worked so hard. But when he finally accomplished his dream he had no one to share it with Which made it less satisfying.
"Just good? I can't wait till I become chief!"
"Well it's not everything. I need more." His eyes shifted from her to her daughter back to her.
"So why Mississippi?" she asked changing the subject when she understood what he meant.
"I was in Alabama for a while but then my mother kept setting me up on dates and so I moved here. I wanted to be close to home but not too close. And there happened to be a chief position open here."
Cristina smirked she wasn't surprised that his mother tried to marry him off. It was uncomfortable talking about marriage with him considering everything they went through so she didn't reply. Even though she was curious about why he hadn't gotten married and had kids. She knew that it was one of his biggest dreams.
"So why are you here with your ex husband?" he asked she never wanted to spend the day with him when they were dating.
"Well first of all he's not my ex yet. Second he promised her a horse and she begged me for about a week so we could pick him out. And we came before I won't be able to travel."
He was about to ask what she meant by that when the waitress interrupted them and placed their food in front of them. There was this clam silence during lunch which was only broken when Burke asked Melanie questions and she'd answer. When Melanie had stopped eating Cristina suggested that they should be leaving.
"I promised Melanie some dessert. I'm sure you can stay a while longer."
"Please Mommy!" Melanie pleaded.
"Okay but don't take too long. We can go visit Freddy and you can feed him dinner." Cristina said causing Melanie's eyes to sparkle.
"Who Freddy?" Burke asked.
"My pony daddy bought me." Melanie answered. "Wanna meet him Dr. Burke?"
"I'd love to meet your pony if your momma says it okay." Turning to Cristina. "What do you think momma?"
"I think you're a little to old to be calling ME momma." Cristina said annoyed. "I'm sure you have something better to do."
"Nope. Nothing I'm free."
"I made this for you." Melanie interrupting by handing Burke the picture she had been coloring.
"It's beautiful, princess." Burke said taking the picture. "I'm going to hang this up in my office for everyone to see."
A/N: Sorry this took me sooo long! Hopefully only one more chapter left!