The Chief showed up at five a.m., after a long hours wait.

George had tried to call me about fifteen times before he gave up. I didn't want to show my resolve, but it was important no matter if he liked it or not. I just hoped he wouldn't resent me forever.

"Stevens?"

I looked up embarrassed. I must have drifted off in thought.

"Are you okay there? Baby okay?"

"Yeah! Of course!"

"Then why are you blocking the entrance to my office?"

"I'm sorry! But I was looking to talk to you real quick."

"Come on in. What's on your mind?"

"I don't know how much Bailey told you, but my daughter Hannah?"

"The leukemia patient? Yes, I remember."

"Last night her biological father died in a car wreck. I wanted to see if we could work it out somehow so that I could attend the funeral. My mother said in two days, but I don't think she had realized that she was in a new day already. I googled. It's tomorrow. In Chalis."

"Are you sure you are going to be okay to go? Or can I assume you are asking for O'Malley too?"

"No he won't be coming. I'll be fine, though."

"We can work it out. Make sure you get with Grey or Yang about your interns though."

"Thank you."

"But Izzie?"

"Yes sir?"

"I know this is going to be hard on you, but try to remember George too?"

"On the outside it looks selfish, but trust me. I am only thinking of him and the baby."

He nodded and I made my way out. Time to make a call I was dreading.

"Hello?"

"Hey Mom. It's me."

"Didn't think I would hear from you so soon. Especially after your outburst."

"Mom, stop it. I'll be down in the morning. Maybe we can talk before we go?"

"Sure."

"Okay. I will see you then. Bye."

I closed the phone.

At least I was one step closer to the end.

Hours later, my shift was past full swing and coming to an end. I could almost pretend that what was happening, wasn't. I had tedious paperwork, a surgery, and never once saw George. I knew that I would have to face him eventually, but for right now, I was okay with the day sweeping by.

When I arrived home, he was waiting on our bed. He offered no greeting, just soundlessly watched as I began to pack my bags. After a while, silence was too much, and I began to talk nervously.

"Figured I would go ahead and pack up so I don't have to get up so early."

Nothing.

"You know how messy I can be sometimes, I would never make it. I talked to my mom after the Chief. Not much to say really, but I told her that I wanted to talk. I don't anticipate, or want, her to be in our baby's life. I do want her to know that I am okay though. That we have a happy life, and will have a big, happy family."

Nothing.

"Come on George! This is killing me! I hate going against your wishes, but I have to! I have to do this!"

"You can stay right here. We can watch Ellis' surgeries and make cookies. You can stay right here where it is warm, and happy. You don't need to close up shop on your past all alone. We can talk it out right here. Maybe go see your mom later. You don't have to go."

I began to cry. I clutched his hand, and laid my head on his knee.

"I do, George. You are more than welcome to come, but I do have to go."

"I will not go and watch you mourn another man. Especially not after everything that was done."

"It's not about me mourning another man! I'm mourning a memory that was once good. No matter what happens, once you care it's forever. Don't hate me for this. Please don't feel like I am going to mourn a man. There is nothing to worry about because you and I? We are more than caring, or memories, we are forever."

"Let's just go to bed."

It was a minor concession, but one that I would gladly take. Despite his anger, we slept close and well. He didn't say a word when I got up to take a shower. He turned his back to me when I came into get dressed, and offered no goodbyes when I leaned in to kiss him and left.

The drive seemed to stretch out forever in front of me. However, sooner than I had anticipated, I was in front of my old trailer.

I got out to stretch and look around. Even though I was sure it was a trick of the eyes, everything around me seemed weather beaten and bland. Seattle was always rainy, but seemed much more colorful and lush than this. I was accomplishing nothing with this train of thought, so I grabbed my bag and headed in.

When I entered, it was like a blast from the past. Nothing had changed. Mom was sitting at the kitchen table/bed chain smoking steadily, blowing smoke out into an unseen distance. My fourth grade picture sat in a frame marred with grease and dust above the stove. I looked down at myself, and like the past, I was standing with a full rounded belly feeling undeniably young.

"It's been a long time."

"Not much has changed."

"Except you."

"I'm not that different."

"But you sure think you're better, don't you?"

"Didn't know that bettering myself was so wrong."

"That's not wrong, but looking down your nose is, Cricket. You've been doing that for a long time. But you aren't much better are you? You have a fancy degree and Doctor in front of your name, but you are the same stupid, pregnant girl. Are you going to give away another one of my grandbabies?"

"No matter what you think, I never looked down on anyone. I do have a good life now, if you're interested. I have great friends and we share a nice home. My boyfriend George is there too. He loves me, Mom, and our baby. We haven't even set up a nursery and he is running our closet over with toys and blankets. His mother comes over once a month for a day to go shopping, and share meals. His brothers took me to a pig roast and carnival a few months ago, and it was just like home to me. I have a happy life, and a happy family. Can you be happy for that?"

"Sure. If you hadn't abandoned your real family. Billy."

"I did my best for you, but I could only mother you for so long. And Billy? Newsflash! He left me! Apparently, he never changed either. Once a mean drunk, always a mean drunk."

"Well, if your new boyfriend is so great, why isn't he here?"

"He didn't understand why I needed to come and face this place down. But when I go home, he will be waiting for me no matter what."

"Well good luck with that."

"Thanks, Mom. I'm going to go change before we head out. Oh, by the way. Here's a picture of Sarah. Well, she's Hannah now, but this is a picture of us with George, my boyfriend."

"Where'd you get this? Why does she look so sickly?"

"Because she is sickly. She has leukemia, but it looks like it is in remission. We took that picture a few weeks ago after her last appointment. I did the right thing, giving her away. Her family is great. We send emails every few days now."

I left her to stare at the picture.

Within a few hours, the funeral was over. Everyone had long left the cold cemetery, and I was left beside his fresh plot. I awkwardly sat beside the dirt and began.

"It's been forever since I've seen you. You took off right after I told you about the baby, and I was gone when you eventually came back. The baby was a girl. I named her Sarah, but her adoptive parents call her Hannah. She beautiful, and smart, and more than I could have ever thought of. God, she has leukemia, which is so unfair, and she is still perfect! After you left, I became more determined to go myself. I'm a surgeon now. I have great friends, a great boyfriend, and we have a baby on the way. Despite everything, I did really good for myself. I'm sorry I can't say the same for you. Billy, I spent a lot of time hating you, but I don't think I would have the life I have right now if it wasn't for the times we had. I could never appreciate all of my good fortune if I hadn't had a ton of bad luck. Not that you were all bad! I don't mean that! Just that we never won, or worked, so now that it's all golden, I can appreciate that, and you, more. George may never understand it, but you helped me find him without ever knowing it. Too bad I could never tell you myself before you died. He didn't want me to come, but I had to say one last goodbye to you and to my past. So, goodbye. I loved you."

I started to get up, when a hand reached out for mine. I could only smile. George had come. He never would understand, I guess, but at least he was here.

"Let's go home, Iz."