The first 12 weeks of pregnancy had taken their toll on both Cristina and Owen. The morning sickness, constant feelings of nausea, at the most irritating times like on rounds or scrubbing into cool surgeries, and the overwhelming tiredness. On Cristina's part the tiredness was due to the physical changes her body was going through, on Owen's part he was exhausted by his wife's rapidly growing sex drive. He was not complaining, what man would, but his wife had taken to paging him all over the hospital. The mere distance his feet were travelling to find these private places was exercise enough!
They had still not shared their news with anyone other than Meredith, due to the fact Cristina had lived there for the week they no longer mentioned. Cristina was still able to hide her 12 week old bump under a Slightly looser scrub top. They were enjoying it being their secret for as long as possible. Neither one of them wanting to be the topic of hospital gossip.
Cristina was woken by the sound of Owen's voice and the vibrations it sent through her stomach. "do you know what day it is today, baby hunt?" Owen's lips moved against the bare skin of her ever increasing bump. "time for your first photograph." lazily stroking owen's hair, Cristina smiled at the sweetness of her husband talking to their child but couldn't quite push away the niggling feeling that something was going to be wrong.
"Owen, what will we do if there is a problem with the baby?" Cristina was in the shower, watching Owen brush his teeth at the bathroom sink.
Spitting the toothpaste into the bowl Owen glanced over his shoulder and caught sight of the soap bubbles trickling over their baby bump. With a contented sigh, he removed his sweatpants, reached out and opened the shower door. Stepping under the warm water, he took his wife's hand in his and placed it on her stomach.
"this is a healthy baby... He or she is perfect." Owen's soothing tones made Cristina instantly relax. She trusted him like she had never allowed herself to trust anyone. She wanted to believe him. He had so much faith in her and in their future together it made her feel safe.
Pressing her tiny body tightly against him she felt his strong arms envelope her as the water fell over them. Just in those moments as they stood there, the water washed away her fears, her doubts and all she was left with was hope.
Later that day, after a busy morning in the clinic, Upstairs in OB Lying back on the exam table, Cristina was nervous. It had taken her so long to want to be a mother that she silently prayed that everything was where it should be and there would be no complications.
"sorry, I'm late" Owen burst into the exam room, panting from running up the stairs. "I was with a kid who got put through a spin cycle in a washing machine. Crush injuries and some burns. But he's gonna survive."
Cristina nodded wide eyed and made a mental note to get Owen to put a child lock on the washing machine before the baby arrived.
The OB resident swept in to the room in a business like manner. "right, let's get a look at this baby."
Owen positioned himself by cristina's head and she grabbed his hand and squeezed it tight.
"ok, there's the head, the left arm... The..." the resident reeled off the anatomy on the screen.
"We are both doctors we know how to read a ultrasound!" Cristina snapped at the resident dragging the wand across the jelly on her stomach. "just tell me that everything is where it needs to be? It's not eptopic or anything is it?"
As she asked the question, Cristina tried to sound casual. She didn't want Owen to read anything into it.
"no, everything looks good. Size is good for 12 weeks, position is good. Do you want to hear the heartbeat?" the OB resident soften slightly to reassure Cristina. She had read the file so could understand her concerns.
Cristina breathed out and looked relieved. She turned to Owen and asked him " do you want to hear the heartbeat daddy?"
A grin broke across Owen's face and as he slowly nodded Cristina thought she could see tears in his eyes.
The resident flipped the switched on the machine and the rhythmical pumping of the tiny heart filled the room. It was the most beautiful sound Cristina had ever heard! Her baby's heartbeat! Their baby's heartbeat!
Owen's breath caught in his throat. He gazed down at his wife and was overcome with how much he loved her, how much he needed her and how lucky he was to have found his way back to her. To her and this tiny life, whose heart was beating in synch with his own.
He bent down and kissed Cristina. She kissed him back and as he pulled away she gently stroked the side of his face and mouthed I love you, not wanting to interrupt the sound of their child speaking to them.
Once the resident had printed out the pictures and handed them to Owen she switched off the machine, gathered the chart and walked towards the door.
Owen helped cristina sit up and she busied herself wiping the jelly off her stomach.
Just before she left the room, the resident turned and said " Dr Yang, try to relax now. There is no indication at this stage that anything will go wrong with your pregnancy this time."
As the door closed Owen looked at the retreating figure of the resident with a puzzled expression.
Cristina knew the question that was coming. Taking a deep breath as Owen spun round to face her she looked up at him.
"Cristina? What did she mean by this time?" Owen asked quietly, even though he could already guess the answer.
She knew this was the moment she had been dreading.
Sliding off the exam table, she took Owen by the hand. "not here" she whispered as she pulled him behind her, he put up no resistance, and they made their way to the basement, to the place where they had had all their difficult conversations- the vents.