Owen paused to clear his throat once more.
Cristina was becoming more anxious, curious to find out what other surprise announcements he had hiding. "Spit it out already," she demanded.
Owen spoke quickly. "I told the Chief I want to retire as Head of Trauma." He squinted as he finished as though he was expecting to get hit.
Cristina was completely flabbergasted. This was the last thing she was expecting. It caught her off guard.
"What did you say?" She asked as the calm and understanding Cristina retreated.
Owen took in a breath. "I'm retiring."
"Retire?" She asked in a mere whisper.
"Retire?!?" The twins asked in great excitement.
"Yeah," Owen mustered out.
While silence fell upon Cristina, Ethan and Evan took this opportunity to bombard their father with questions. They asked if this meant if he was going to be home all the time, if they were still going to visit their mom at the hospital, and of course if this meant more time for playing. They were mostly excited about the possible extinction of a babysitter.
Cristina's stunned state eventually subsided. Owen and the twins' chit-chat were now becoming more audible to her ears.
She cut in. "You're retiring? Why?"
"Cristina, I just feel like it's time. I've accomplished a lot as a surgeon, made my contribution to medicine. It's time. I want to focus on our family, fully." Owen explained.
Cristina folded her arms. "This is all really sudden. When did you start thinking of retiring? You could have spoke to me about this so I could at least be prepared. It's a shock."
"Well, it was a sudden decision for me. The Chief said some things that really made me lean towards retirement. He talked about how it was time to start paying attention to his home life. Being Chief would keep me away from home, whether Ethan and Evan are in school or not. Being a Trauma surgeon and having our amazing family is tough as it is. This is something I want to do Cristina."
Cristina took a couple minutes to take everything in, every word that left his mouth. She was not upset that he wanted to retire, no that was a lie, she was a little, but it was just very sudden. He always discussed everything and anything with her, even simple things that did not even require her knowing. She wished he would have spoke to her about it. Actually, she always pictured them retiring together, going out with a bang.
Owen approached Cristina placing his hands on her hips.
"I could use your support," He said earnestly.
Cristina gazed into bright blue eyes. "You have it," she said with a faint smile. "Let's eat before our food gets cold." With the twins in their presence she did not want to argue, but she did give him her full support. This news, this sudden news just simple sent springs shockwaves through her.
They took seats next to Evan and Ethan and ate in silence for the rest of the evening.
When the twins were finally down for the night Owen decided to take a lengthy shower. During that time Cristina snuggled comfortably in her pillows and blankets, thinking hard about Owen and his abrupt announcement of retirement. She sank deep into her thoughts contemplating on whether or not she could talk him out of it, but quickly discarded that idea when she remembered she said she supported him. She wondered what he would do for money, not that they would go broke or that he didn't have any saved up but it would only last for so long. In the long haul, how would he handle being the quote, housewife, or Cristina being the primary source of income? All those thoughts and some whirled around in her head.
"Cristina," Owen said softly as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close to him.
"Hey," she answered, bringing herself afloat from her thoughts.
"What's wrong?"
"Hmm? Nothing, just thinking is all."
"Cristina I know this is sudden, but things will be fine. I am really sure about this."
Cristina broke from his embrace to sit up against their headboard. "What are you going to do for money?"
"I'm going to get my old band together and play on the docks near the ferryboats for spare change." He took a moment to chuckle before continuing. "Cristina, I've hardly ever spent any money. Our cars are paid off, so is this house. The money I received from while in the military I saved every penny. I've never spent frivolously and there is more than enough put away for Ethan and Evan to go to college. Money is not the issue and you know it. So tell me what is really bothering you about this."
"I'm going to miss you," she uttered out. "I'm going to miss our morning coffee at the hospital. I'm going to miss scrubbing in on your surgeries. I'm going to miss seeing you in those navy blue scrubs. It's going to be so different not having you there at the hospital. You're not going to be a doctor anymore."
Owen grinned. "Well, I can play doctor at home with you."
Cristina laughed and pushed him away. "Get your mind out of the gutter. I'm being serious here."
"Me and the boys will come visit you everyday and we'll have that crappy cafeteria food with you for lunch."
"Promise?" Cristina asked, smiling now.
Owen motioned for her to lie back down, this time on his chest. "I promise."
- - - - - -
The next day Owen made it official to the Chief and the rest of the staff on hand. Two weeks from today he would officially retire his title as Head of Trauma by handing in his letter of resignation. News of this and of the Chief's own retirement traveled faster than the speed of light. Saying the hospital was in a buzz would have possibly been the understatement of the year. Everywhere Cristina or Owen passed by someone was talking about the double retirements that were to take place with in the weeks to come.
With Owen preparing to hang up his scrubs and stethoscope Alex and George were doing their share of showboating around him. Both making sure they were on time, at the ready, and on point. Owen found it quite amusing, but hoped that whoever would take over as the new head of trauma would keep up that tempo of work ethic up. There was no time to rest on your laurels, or sit down comfortably for even the briefest of moments in trauma.
Cristina disliked slow days. If it was slow it meant she was not particularly busy, and she loved busy. Being busy meant surgery. It's what she craved the most in the hospital, but not today. Today, and the rest of the days leading up to Owen's final second of work she wanted to pass by unhurriedly, to crawl along as slow as a slug. No matter how much he assured her, and all the promises of frequent visits with the twins, Cristina could not be prepared for his retirement.
During each surgery Cristina noticed she commenced in lingering a little longer, double checking valves, ventricles, cuts and sutures. She stayed a little longer in patient's rooms, adding extra details to the surgery she was about to perform or one she recently finished up, which surprised many because she was not known for her beside manner or social skills. All in hopes of making the days last longer. When it was surgery with Owen she watched him more intently. She examined every hand movement, esteemed by the sight of the way his hand steadied the blade to make precision cuts. She scanned his face and admired the way he stayed focus, calm, and assertive. In her eyes his quick thinking and precise decisions needed much glorification. It dawned on her that she would never witness any of this again. It made her appreciate each step of his surgeries, his demeanor as a doctor, and work ethic much more. Aside from her favorite cardio doctors, Owen was one doctor she put up there with the absolute utmost. She would miss him as a doctor.
Family time at the hospital would be missed as well. With Owen soon to become a regular visitor in the hospital he would no longer be allowed in certain parts of the hospital, or galleries to the OR. He would no longer be apart of the 'special' authorized personnel. This unfortunately meant Ethan and Evan would not be able to watch her surgeries, unless a member of the hospital staff escorted and hosted their time in the gallery. Cristina found herself cherishing their family moments at the hospital, everything from showing them hospital equipment, allowing them to press the button to send their dad into the MRI machine, to sneaking them into the skills lab to show them basic procedures their eyes yearned to see, and brains itched to fathom.
In Cristina's time zone, Owen's last day of work materialized too quickly. The dreadful retirement day started out quiet, literally. All were saddened by the thought of losing their father they called Chief and the best Trauma surgeon to ever appear at Seattle Grace Hospital all in one day. The silence that fell upon the hospital quickly led to one thing that followed a quiet day; massive incoming Traumas. How fitting that on Owen's last day he would perform multiple complex surgeries, all showing casing his brilliant medical knowledge and immaculate surgical skills, once again showing all staff on hand exactly what they were saying goodbye to.
By late afternoon the sandstorms of the day's traumas settled immensely. Owen took the rare opportunity and scooped up Ethan and Evan from their caretaker and embarked on one last adventure, as the twins called it. When their doctor and space games ended Owen caught sight of the OR board and decided to watch for the final time one of his wife's surgeries. While Cristina flawless repaired a tear in the aorta of a heart she glanced up to see three sets of bright blue eyes watching her closely. She smiled, cherishing the moment. She did her best to smile, but it saddened her that tomorrow one of those pair of eyes, if not all would be absent. When she finished up, and scrubbed out it was her three favorite people waiting for her on the other side of the door. Ethan and Evan jumped into their mom's arms.
"Wow mom you really rocked that surgery," Evan said in amazement.
Ethan agreed. "Yeah mom, you rock. My favorite part is when you used the saw, and cracked open the chest, and then wow there it is, the heart. So cool."
Before Owen could add to the conversation his pager went off. Another trauma was rolling into the pit, so he said goodbye and ran off to his patient. Not so much a shocker that he ended up back in the OR, with Cristina and the twins watching above. It was an intense surgery, more complex and difficult than the ones that transpired from the morning. As usual, he kept his cool, took action quickly, made on the spot decisions. Ethan and Evan were standing; switching seats from side to side, occasionally biting their nails in suspense of what was going to happen next. It was as though they were watching an exciting playoff game. Most people would look at these children quizzically, but knowing their parents were Cristina Yang and Owen Hunt they were not surprised that they were enthralled by medicine and surgery also.
Owen definitely ended his final work day with a bang. He said his goodbyes to nearly all the staff members that included nurses, interns, residents and fellow attendings. Most of the senior nurses fought to hold back tears, he was one of the few doctors who understood and respected the hard work they did, and always recognized they knew more, and did more than change bed pans or fluff pillows.
All in all the day ended fairly well. Owen was replaced as Head of Trauma with George O'Malley, and Dr. Webber was replaced as Chief of Surgery by the one and only Derek Shepherd. There was no doubt in Owen's mind that he would miss being a surgeon, operating, saving lives, but he was more than confident and content with Ethan and Evan filling that void.
Cristina fell asleep thinking about tomorrow. Tomorrow she would drive a lonely ride to the hospital without Owen caressing her hand, or hearing the back and forth banter between Ethan and Evan in the back seat. She had fallen comfortable into that routine, and all of that was gone now. It would take time to get used to.
The next day, Cristina reluctantly left home and journeyed her way to the hospital where no Owen and no twins would be, at least until lunch time. Instead of sharing morning coffee with Owen, it was her with her friends.
"So Owen begins his first day as a housewife," Alex teased.
"If Owen finds out you called him a housewife, he's going to kick your ass," Meredith stated.
Alex laughed, "I was a wrestler, I can take him."
Cristina snorted. "Your little boy wrestling skills are nothing compared to military training. And he's not a housewife idiot."
"Well what do you call it? He stays home and takes care of the kids now. Sounds like a housewife to me." Alex was still pissed he did not get the position of Head of Trauma. Even though Owen told him he recommended him to take his place, he said Derek chose to go another route.
"Whatever. I bring home the bacon and he fries it. Nothing wrong with that." Cristina took a sip of her coffee and swallowed. "Besides he's coming for lunch today, I'll let him explain to you how much of a housewife he's NOT."
Alex went silent and an expression that said 'oh shit' formed on his face. They all laughed, but before any more banter could continue the sound of their pagers detached them from their social gathering.
Work was normal. It was different not seeing her little ones watch her surgeries, or go and visit them during any spare moments she had or breaks. This would definitively take some getting used to, but much to her delight lunch approached rather quickly and as promised Owen was waiting in the lobby with the twins.
Lunch was spent in the hospital's cafeteria, Ethan, Evan and their father devouring moderate ham and cheese sandwiches, while Cristina enjoyed a spinach salad. When their bellies were full they each shared details of their days that one another missed out on. Owen heard about the comment Alex made, and even went over to his table to approach him and joke around, but Alex scurried off saying he had a thing. It caused Cristina to erupt in laughter.
When Cristina arrived at home it was different and weird to already have her twins and husband awaiting her. Although she missed them dearly at work, it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. She saw tomorrow differently, and thought how this routine would not take long to get used to after all. Her night was spent with Owen giving her a taste of what playing doctor at home was like. The next morning she appreciated his doctor 'skills' at home.
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews; I'm glad you are enjoying the story. Only one more chapter, maybe two and this fic will come to a close. Thanks for reading. :)