Chapter 5 Fresh Starts:

I apologize for the wait. Last week was incredibly busy and then I had a little writer's block. I wanted to make this chapter worth the wait and I definitely feel ready to share it with all of you now!

"It doesn't matter how tough we are. Trauma always leaves a scar."

~ Alex Karev

He and Miranda were sitting in her car, parked outside of a small yellow ranch style house. He had been nervous the further they got from the hospital. Gone were the rundown houses and foreclosure notices that were common in his neighborhood. In their place were large two-story homes with pools in the backyards and white picket fences surrounding the lot. As they drove, he took in the people on the sidewalks. Mothers pushing babies in strollers, children riding their bikes, the blonde girl that was sunbathing in the yard next door. Everything about the neighborhood screamed "suburbia" and was far nicer than any place Alex had ever lived before.

His heart had nearly soared in relief when the car came to a stop in front of the smaller home. With a large oak tree in the front yard and a garden that wove its way up to the front porch, this place seemed much less intimidating than the other homes in the neighborhood.

"Now listen here Alex. I'm not saying that there won't be other families down the line, but you and I both know that the chances of that happening are few and far between. Arizona is different from a lot of foster parents in the system, probably different than any of the ones that you've had over the years. I want you to give her a chance. Do you think you can do that for me?"

"I won't give her a hard time." He sighed, taking in the eyeroll that Miranda shot him.

"That wasn't what I meant. She won't let you give her a hard time, son. I want you to give her a chance. Talk to the woman. Let her help you. That's what she's here for." Miranda explains giving him a shoulder nudge.

"If nothing else, she'll be a friendly face. You could use a few more of those, couldn't you?"

"Okay. I get it. Be nice. Accept what she's willing to give me. Don't bend the rules. Bailey, this isn't my first rodeo." The older woman shoots him a questioning look at the new nickname.

"My name is Miranda. And I really think that she'll help you get your fresh start Alex. So give her the chance to do that." The older woman gave him a shoulder nudge over the console and a soft smile.

Miranda Bailey was different from other caseworkers. She had enough spunk that Alex could goof around with her, but it didn't stop her from doing her job. She genuinely cared about his well being and it felt good to know she was in his corner.

"Okay, Bailey. Now can we go already? My leg is starting to cramp up from sitting in your tiny car for so long. Miranda rolled her eyes at his joke and handed him the set of crutches that were stowed in the backseat of her car. Alex nodded his thanks and began hobbling in the direction of the house.

Standing outside of the house, things suddenly clicked for him. Gone was the cocky confidence he had in the car and in its place was the inexplicable sense of fear. What if she didn't like him? What if he fucked this up and had to go to a group home. Alex Karev was known for fucking things up and there was no guarantee that this situation would be any different than the others.

He looked at the doorbell and back at the door. And he looked at the doorbell, and at the girl next door sunbathing. And then he looked at the doorbell, and Bailey hit it before he had a chance to carry on the internal battle any longer. He shot her a dirty look, but she simply shrugged her shoulders.

"No time like the present, right?" She grinned.

Before Alex had the chance to respond, the door was flung open and revealed a tall blonde woman. A wide grin spread across her face the moment she stepped out of the home, albeit with a slight gait in her walk.

"Bailey! It's been so long, how have you been? Oh my gosh. How are Tuck and Ben?" The taller woman enveloped the shorter one into a hug and Alex watched them exchange pleasantries for a few moments as if was normal for Miranda to be dropping off unwanted kids at the front door. Although it felt like something out of The Twilight Zone he was drawn out of his thoughts when his name was called.

"Arizona, this is Alex Karev. Alex Karev, this is Dr. Arizona Robbins. Pediatric Surgeon, and your new foster mom."

"It's very nice to meet you Alex." For a brief moment, he worried she would hug him like she did Bailey, but instead she simply held the door open and ushered the two of them inside.

"It's nice to meet you too."

An hour in Arizona Robbin's house is all Alex needed before he was able to come to the conclusion that hating her would be nearly impossible. She led him down the hall and he couldn't help but notice the photos hanging on the wall. Photos of her with her family at what appeared to be graduation ceremonies. Photos of her with other doctors dressed in scrubs. Photos of her with small children in what looked like it could be Africa.

The woman saved babies for a living. That alone was nearly enough to make anyone second guess a negative opinion of her.

Her home was a single story with two bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a lot more space than Alex had ever had before. The tour she gave him lasted a mere five minutes before they came to their final destination.

"Alright. This is my room, on the left. I'd prefer it stay off limits given our living situation and a need for some privacy. On the left, is your room." Arizona reached for the gold door knob and gently eased the white door open.

Alex's jaw dropped upon entering the space.

It was single handedly the nicest room he'd ever seen, let alone lived in. With light blue walls and several large windows the afternoon sun made the entire space glow with light. It was a huge step up to the small room that he, Aaron, and Amber had shared in the apartment.

"I wasn't sure what color you preferred, so I figured we could get some bedding and other décor after you settled in. She explained gesturing to the plain white comforter on the queen sized mattress.

"Bedding? Décor? What are you lady? Loaded?"

The moment the words left his mouth, he felt himself blush. It was definitely not the best way of phrasing the question, but it had slipped out before he had a chance to stop it. He tried his hardest to ignore the glare that Bailey sent his way. Arizona, however, burst out laughing.

"I'm not definitely not 'loaded' by any means, but this was a guest room and you're not exactly a guest. At least, I don't consider you to be one. Mi casa es tu casa, amigo mío."

It was clear by the look on Alex's face that she'd startled him a bit with the whole "this is your space too" speech and, though the boy tried to mask it, the fear was evident in his eyes.

"Bailey, how about we leave Alex here to settle in a little bit. I'm sure there are things that you want to discuss with me?" Arizona and Alex share a brief glance with one another and he gives her a small nod of appreciation.

One step at a time. He just needed to take it one step at a time.