' Erm…. I… I need time to think this over.' Amelia said honestly. ' Can you give me tonight to think? Because I feel rather overwhelmed at the moment- with finding out that I'm pregnant this morning and now this..'
' Sure' said Cristina. ' You both take your time to discuss among yourselves. I just hope that you would consider because Dylan really needs someone to be there for him.'
' Ok, we'll think about it.' said Owen as he held Amelia's hand under the table.
The rest of the dinner passed by with them holding small talk about lighter matters.
The more Cristina talked to Owen and Amelia, the more she knew that Dylan would be in great hands under them. He would have a father, a mother and even a little sibling or more to play with when she was gone. Call it mother's instinct, but she knew that Owen would love their son unconditionally and that Amelia would make a great mother to Dylan. She really hoped that Amelia would accept this.
' Think about it ok?' Cristina whispered to Amelia, patting her shoulder as they walked out of the restaurant.
A couple of hours later, Amelia was pacing up and down their bedroom, with Owen looking at her.
' Please tell me what you think Mia.' Owen pleaded. ' I really need to know how you're feeling and where you stand on this. Because you're my wife and I respect your opinion too.'
Amelia remained silent for a moment.
' You want to know what I think?' she finally said. ' I feel like I'm being put in a difficult position, whereby I would seem like a bad person if I say no. I mean- I like the kid- it's just that I need time to get used to him. How would you feel if someone , maybe a distant relative whom you haven't seen for ages showed up at your doorstep one day and asks you to take their child and care for the child? I'm not totally against taking the boy- it's just that I'm in shock right now…'
' It's ok Mia, I know how overwhelming it is for you- you can sleep on it for tonight.' Owen said.
' I'm scared Owen.' Amelia admitted. ' I'm scared that I'm too damaged by my past to be a good mother to my children. What if I destroy them? What if they learn to take drugs from me?'
' Mia' Owen lifted up her head so her blue eyes met his. ' You wouldn't destroy them. You'll be a wonderful mother to our child, to Dylan and to any other children we might have in the future- I'm sure of that. They'll adore you and proclaim you as the best mother ever. You know how I know? I've seen you with Meredith's children and you're so great with them.'
A smile slowly formed on Amelia's face and her dimple showed.
' Ok.' she said. ' I'm just feeling rather overwhelmed by everything that has happened today.'
' Don't worry- we're in this together.' Owen convinced her. ' We're a team remember? We work together as a team.'
' Promise?' Amelia asked, holding out her little finger for him to shake.
' Pinky promise.' he said linking his little finger with hers.
' I'll accept Dylan because he is your son.' Amelia finally agreed. ' Anything that belongs to you belongs to me too. Isn't that what unconditional love is?'
' Mia- have I told you how much I love you?' Owen cupped Amelia' s face his heart exploding with love for her. She didn't have to accept his child into her life- but she just did.
' Not often enough.' she teased, winking at him.
He ran his left hand through her hair and his right hand on her belly as he leaned in to give her a passionate kiss.
They had celebratory sex the whole night.
Cristina was so grateful when Owen called her the next day to tell her that Amelia had agreed to take joint custody of Dylan. It was as if a huge burden had been lifted from her chest.
' You guys don't know how much this means to me' she said as she was standing in front of the couple that evening after they have both clocked out for the day.
' It's no problem at all- I'll do anything I can to help.' said Owen.
Amelia nodded in agreement.
' Could you both help me to take him for the night?' Cristina asked . ' I just had chemotherapy today and I'm feeling rather weak and tired. I predict I'll be throwing up for the rest of the day.'
' Sure.' both Owen and Amelia replied in unison.
' We don't have any plans for tonight.' said Owen.
' We can take him, no problem.' Amelia added.
Cristina smiled gratefully at the couple.
' I'll get him from the daycare now, and meet you both back here.' she said.
Dylan was a rather shy boy- and he took quite a long time to warm up to both Amelia and Owen. Cristina did warn them beforehand about his personality.
' He would not speak a word to you for the first couple of hours or so.' she had said. ' But later on, once he gets to know you- he would turn into this chatterbox.'
Owen and Amelia discovered quickly how true Cristina's words were.
For the first hour or so, he didn't utter a single word to them.
' Do you want some cookies Dylan?' Amelia asked.
He shook his head.
' How about some pancakes? I can make pancakes for you.' Amelia persisted.
' Yes- auntie Amelia makes the best pancakes ever.' Owen affirmed.
Dylan shook his head again wordlessly. Apparently, even pancakes didn't seem to attract him.
' How about ice cream? Do you want some ice cream?' Owen tried. ' We can bring you to this nearby dessert shop for some ice cream. Would you like that?'
Dylan shook his head again.
Owen sighed inwardly. He never felt so helpless before, not even in the battlefield or at work.
Suddenly Owen had an idea. He dug out a children's book about dinosaurs which little Bailey had left behind when he babysitted the boy, and placed Dylan on his lap to read it to him.
That caught Dylan's attention as he looked at the book with interest. He loved anything to do with dinosaurs, something which Cristina forgot to mention to Owen. He could remember the name of every single dinosaur out there.
Owen and Amelia looked on in awe as Dylan read out the entire book himself and pronounced every word correctly.
' He's a genius.' Amelia said, amazed. ' Zola and Bailey could barely read a few words at his age, and yet he can read an entire book.'
' Well, obviously he inherited that trait from me.' Owen teased, causing Amelia to roll her eyes.
' Ok, ok, I'm just kidding. But seriously, I think he inherited it from Cristina.' he said.
' Maybe she taught him how to read when he was still in utero.' Amelia added , ' Being the competitive person she is.'
' Wow- well done- Dylan- you're a smart boy!' Owen praised, causing the little boy to blush.
' What do you like to eat, Dylan?' he asked.
' Pizza and Spagwhetti!' he exclaimed excitedly. ' I don't like icecweam and sweets because mummy said it's bad for my teeth.
Per Dylan's request, the trio went out to a nearby Italian restaurant for dinner. Dylan was a well behaved boy and Owen and Amelia discovered that he was a joy to bring out. Unlike other boys his age, he wouldn't run around creating noise and annoying adults who were trying to enjoy their meal. Instead, he sat in his seat, picking on his food contentedly, and answering any questions that were asked to him.
That night as Owen and Amelia both tucked him into bed, and Owen read yet another dinosaur book to him,
' Where is mommy?' Dylan asked suddenly.
' Mommy is busy tonight dear.' Owen answered. ' You sleep now- You can see her tomorrow ok?'
' But I want mommy.' Dylan whined.
Owen and Amelia exchanged glances. What should they do?
' I'll call mommy so you can speak to her ok?' Owen offered.
He went to the master bedroom to get his phone to call Cristina, as Amelia stayed in the guest room to comfort Dylan.
' You'll see your mommy tomorrow ok?' Amelia said, stroking his head. ' Your daddy is going to call your mummy now.'
She began singing ' O Sweet Child of Mine' softly as Dylan drifted off to sleep.
Soon, the child was fast asleep on his bed. She took the time to study his features. He was a great mixture of both Owen and Cristina. She had to admit- after spending the day with the boy- she really liked him. He is intelligent for his age, and well behaved. Gaining custody of him didn't seem so bad after all.
She gently pulled the covers over the sleeping boy and pressed a kiss on his forehead.
As she turned around, she saw Owen at the doorway, beckoning to her with a serious expression on his face. He must have seen her interaction with Dylan. She closed the door gently behind her.
Owen pulled Amelia to their bedroom and closed the door.
' What is it , Owen?' Amelia asked, concerned.
' Meredith just called.' he said. ' Just as I was about to call Cristina. Cristina is back in the hospital, she collapsed in Meredith's house after excessive vomiting after chemotherapy today, Meredith found her. She is still unconscious now.'
Amelia gasped in shock, and her thought immediately went to the little boy in the next room.
What should she tell Dylan when he wakes up the next day and asks for his mother?
Comments, reviews and messages are very much appreciated!
P.s. Will Cristina survive this? How long do you think she has left? How would Dylan , Owen and Amelia handle this? Do let me know what you think- I love hearing from you guys!
