Ch 5. THE VOW
The alarm goes off the second time, waking Cristina up. As a habit, she turns around, arms looking for the familiar smooth chest that she loves to lay her hands on. But there is only an empty space.
She blinks her eyes a few times, trying to shake off the dream she just had and gets back to the reality. It's 6:00 am, and normally Owen would kiss Cristina hard at this time before leaving for work. He has kissed her hard every morning, whether she was sleeping or not, for the last seventeen years.
But, this morning is the fourth morning in their seventeen years that Owen left without a kiss on her cheek. Cristina recalled their fight last night, upset at the thought they eventually revisited the topic they had been fighting years years ago. She thought they had moved on. But obviously, the pain was still there, only subsided, until it got a chance to flare up last night.
The worse thing is, how much of the fight did the kids listen to? Cristina groans. She doesn't want to get up, get out of the room and face the issue. But she has to do it anyway.
Owen didn't prepare the breakfast like he normally does, but Teddy is already at the kitchen. Besides Owen, Teddy loves to spend some time cooking for the family.
"Morning, Ma."-She smiles as if she knew nothing of what happened last night.
"Kiddo, why are you up early? What is your plan today?"
"Zola might come by this morning to see Faith, so I guess we just stay at home. What time will you be home today, Ma? I can cook the dinner."
"Eight."
Teddy hands Cristina a plate with a boiled egg, toast and some fruits. Theo has just got downstairs; he plops down at the table next to his mother.
"Morning, Ma. Dad left so early today."
"How do you know?"
"I'm always the early bird. Normally Dad wakes up fifteen minutes after me, but today he made noises when he left that woke me up."
"So, what was wrong with Dad last night?" Teddy quietly sits down next to her brother and glances at her mother.
"Nothing, it's none of your business." Cristina shakes her head and mumbles.
"You always want us to tell you everything even when we don't want to, and now we want to know what's wrong with Dad and you feel uncomfortable and so you don't spit it out?"-Theo becomes upset.
"Theo, your manners." Cristina glances at her son. Obviously, they heard something they didn't want to last night, and now it is time for them to snap back at her.
But her son was right. She knows she has to talk to her children today, otherwise they would have a wrong impression that she doesn't want them.
"We can talk tonight if you guys want. Now I have to go to work. Keep Faith company; she is gloomy even though she pretends she's strong." Mumbling, Cristina gives a concerning look toward the stairs.
…...
The house becomes quiet again as the parents left for work. Teddy retreat to her room, trying to come up with something to do. She is supposed to be excited and happy for the rest of the week because of her graduation, but yesterday Faith and her parents ruined the rest of the week. Bored, she decides to clean up the house.
Teddy visits the library and organizes the books and stick notes that scatter on the desk. Grabbing a sweeper, she brushes the dust before cleaning the glassy surface.
"What are you doing?" Theo enters the room soon after his twin.
"Being a good daughter for a day."-She smiles.
Theo tights up the curtain to let the sun enter the white room. He turns on some relaxation instrumental music from the computer and helps his sister clean up.
"How much did you hear? You were downstairs before me."-Theo asks Teddy.
"Yeah, I went to the kitchen for water but obviously they were so loud they didn't notice me. I was there when Mom said she never wanted children and she wanted to run away from the marriage hadn't Arizona and April stopped her."
"Whoa. That's really Cristina Yang. I was there when Dad said that he was nothing compared to her ambition, and that she traded him for surgeries and a few more things."-Theo continues.
Faith enters the library, a little surprised to see her siblings cleaning up around. She throws herself on the rocking chair, slipping out a sigh. "Zola is not coming. What are you guys doing?"
"Cleaning up and discussing about their fight."
"They fought about me. What's there to discuss?"-Faith asks them.
"You were there for the whole scene. Why act like nothing happened? You're just like Mom and Dad, trying to avoid the topic."-Theo snaps at his sister.
"Are you okay, Theo? You seem very upset since morning. You even snapped at mom."-Teddy looks at her brother, concerning.
"I am a little upset, yes. I feel for Dad. I mean, I can't imagine she traded him for surgeries, and she left him for Zurich. You all know how much Dad loves Mom, and I think he was right, he worked his ass off to earn her love but she didn't really respect him."-Theo explains.
"I've seen them fighting before about the business. You know, Kraum vs. Seattle Grace. But they normally close the door. I hope their previous fights weren't as harsh as last night's fight."-Faith stands up and starts putting the books on the tables and on the chairs to their correct place.
"Do you know about the abortion, Faith?"
"No! All these seventeen years they rarely talk about their pre-wedding life. I mean the wedding that I participated in. I know they married once, then divorced, so there must be conflicts way before but since we became a family, I never saw them talking about their destructive love. And not until yesterday that Mom told me about Dr. Burke. She was pregnant with him and lost a Fallopian tube due to the ectopic pregnancy."-Faith explains to her brother and sister.
"Yeah, and Mom never told Dad about it, so he was surprised last night. That's when he began to panic."-Theo seems to support his dad a lot.
"I never saw him in that stage before. He really looked scary when he had the panic attack. I don't know how Mom knew that hugging could relieve the sympathetic nervous system."-Teddy confesses.
"I guess Dad used to have panic attacks back then. Must be due to the war. All these times he only talked about his men and his patriotism. Never knew he had some huge problems."-Faith concludes.
"So Dad wanted us but Mom didn't?"-Teddy asks them somberly.
"Don't think like that. Teddy. You know she loves you two very much. Don't listen to what she says, look at what she's done for you. I was adopted and she treated me like her own daughter. She even asked Burke to come help her operate on me."-Faith sighs.
"Yeah, she loves you because you have her characteristics. I know she loves us, but it's kinda sad to hear we were not wanted. Also, I still feel sorry for Dad. I think I can see him, based on what I heard last night."-Theo confesses.
"Come on, you two are seventeen. Have some logical thinking. Mom and Dad have their problem, and I know they will work it out, for they love each other so much. Do you see many couples that divorced then remarried?"
"I know, Faith."-Teddy nods.
"And you've heard all of their love stories. You even heard how Dad was lying to me that my mom fled away to find a cure for me. I can tell he was always in love with her, even when she left. On the other hand, Mom did everything she could to save me. Whatever may happen, she is the best mother I've ever wished for."
"That's why you never rebelled. You were always obedient, until now."-Theo laughs.
"I wish I have a husband like Dad."-Teddy smiles.
"Me, too. But seems like Daniel is not the one."-Faith sighs.
"Does he know you're back here?"-Teddy asks her sister.
"I never told him I went to Vegas then home. I just disappeared."
"You're just like Mom, sis. You turn the boys upside down. Haha."-Theo grins.
"Okay, whatever it is. Do you guys want to go to the public market with me? I miss that place so much."-Faith stands up and goes get dressed. The trio leaves the house, heading to the Seattle public market.
…...
Owen enters the house at 7:30 pm to find the children sitting around the kitchen. The white light hanging above them brightens the table with delicious food and cocktails. Faith is explaining to the twins about internal bleeding, and they seem engage in an enthusiastic discussion about a case that Faith learned in class. The scene makes Owen smiles. Unlike Cristina who loves the library the most, Owen goes for the kitchen. He believes the kitchen is the soul of the house, and that family members putting an effort into having a dinner altogether is precious. The scene in front of his eyes melts his heart all the time.
"What are you all up to?"-He yells out to the children.
"Hey, Dad. We cook something you like."
"Okay, let me take a shower first."
He returns to the kitchen and be amazed by the tempting lasagna and Italian salad.
"Have you guys eaten? I can wait for your Mom."-Owen asks them.
"She has a meeting so she will be home at nine. We ate, but we can sit here with you. Theo and Teddy, don't go watch TV. I'm only here with you for a week." Faith turns around, glancing at her brother and sister who are sneaking away to the living room.
The twins return to their seats at the dinner table, watching their Dad eat. Owen smiles thinking about his children surrounding them. He misses the way his Mom sat with him when he was eating. He loves it that Cristina just raised his children the Asian way that she was raised by her father.
"Why are you guys so quiet? The food is great, Teddy."-He wraps his arm around her.
"Yeah? I know you love lasagna."-Teddy genuinely smiles.
"So are you feeling better, Dad? You had a rough night yesterday, I guess." Theo raises his eyebrows, worrying about his Dad.
Owen sighs. He knows the children would want to hear something regarding last night's incident. He and Cristina had been avoiding their issues so well the last seventeen years that he thought it's completely forgotten.
"Kids, I used to have panic attacks when I came back from Iraq. I had a really dark time with nightmares and frustrations. It was really bad that I had to see a shrink. But your mom stood by me. She helped me through my worst. She helped me recover. People say she's cold but she is always the warmth for me."
Faith, Teddy and Theo are all surprised to hear Owen's confession.
"But Mom usually snaps at other people first, Dad. I can tell you were hurt last night."-Theo defends.
"I was. But you all heard about your Mom's childhood and background. She is tough for a reason. I am upset at times, but when the fight is over I think I can understand her. She hides her feeling because she is afraid of the drama. I usually have to stay calm and support her until she finally comes around. She doesn't want to, but she will come around because she loves me."-Owen gently smiles, recalling the past that has been well hidden for almost two decades.
The children remain silent.
"I never told you that I once strangled her, right?"
"Oh god, you did?"-Faith drops her jaw.
"Uh huh, unconsciously, though. Everyone in the hospital knew and kept me away from her. But she didn't break up with me because of that. She understood all my own trauma, and she encouraged me to see my shrink. That's something only love can do."-Owen chuckles.
"Dad, you were a really scary man back then."-Teddy confesses.
"I was. I was brusk. Brush, bruised and battered. Without your mom I don't think I could ever recover. I loved her so much and I wanted us to build a family. But I guessed she was afraid all the times. But let's skip our first marriage and our divorce, because eventually Faith helped your mother see how blessed it was to have children. That's how you two can sit here with me, right now." Owen gestures towards Teddy and Theo, blinking his eyes.
"Faith? Oh come on." Teddy grimaces.
"Yeah, your Mom loves Faith a lot, that's why she goes out of herself and keeps the pregnancy. And turns out she loves you two as well. I wish you could see how she took care of you two since you were peanuts inside her belly. So, she was scared, but don't judge your Mom by what you heard, kids. Think about what she did for you all. She raised my children into beautiful and classy geniuses."
"You sound like nothing happned last night, Dad." Teddy murmurs.
"We were fighting, then she hugged me, didn't you see? So whatever it is, we'll figure it out. I love her. And my love is strong enough to keep her around. I don't think I was wrong last night, but I'm willing to make up to her, kids. Okay, thanks for sitting with me through my dinner. I've got to see Uncle Derek. I'll be back at ten." Owen puts his plates into the sink.
…
The children are watching TV when Cristina arrives home. She doesn't see Owen's truck in the garage so she looks at her watch. It's nine thirty. Why doesn't he come home? Is he still mad about what happened last night?
"Hey Mom!"
"Where's your Dad?"
"Hes hanging out with uncle Derek."
"What do you have for me, Teddy? Cashew chicken?"-Cristina goes to the kitchen and looks around.
"Yes. Cashew chicken." Teddy grins; she rushes into the kitchen to lay out the food on the table. Theo and Faith turn off the TV then join their sister.
"What is it now? Why do you all surround me? By the way, some Swiss chocolate that my employee brought for me." Cristina pulls out the box of candy from her suitcase and puts on the table.
"Yay, almond choc. My favorite." Teddy and Theo jump in excitement.
"Hey, leave a half for your Dad. He loves this one very much." Cristina recalls how Owen and the kids compete for the last pieces of Swiss chocolate with almonds.
The children grin.
"So what is it about the naïve faces? What do you want to hear from me about the fight last night? Just spit it out."-Cristina murmurs as she chews a big chunk of chicken.
"Nothing, Ma. We know you love us very much, even though you said you didn't want us."-Theo grins.
"Uh huh, I'm glad you realized kicking your ass and forcing you to study mean I love you."-She sarcastically responds.
"So, is that what we should do to Dad every time he has a panic attack? Just hug him tight and stand still for a while?"-Faith innocently asks.
"Go research, girl. You're a first year medical student. You should know by now. But yes, hugging helps regulating your sympathetic nervous system".-Cristina says as she continues to enjoy her cashew chicken.
" Is it? Or does Dad calm down because he knows you love him?"-Teddy smiles.
"Hahaha, I guess both. Your Dad struggled for a long time, kids. He had a history. But he did everything he could to become a better man for me. And I really appreciated that fact." Cristina smiles, thinking about those days when he was so happy because he had improved his condition.
"Were you scared when he was moody?"-Theo asks Cristina.
"A little. But I know he's a warm person. People say he's brusk, but he's not. He has a gentleman demeanor. He saved me from time to time."
"Literally?"-Theo is confused.
"Uh huh, the first day we met, I was impaled with an icicle. Nobody was there to help, until your Dad came by and carried me inside and helped me take out the icicle. He also took a bullet for me when there was the shooting in the hospital."
"What? Really? I'm surprised about you and Dad. You never told us any of this."-Teddy drops her jaw.
"We know about the dates and the happy times and the romantic flirting. We also know he somewhat saved you with the icicle incident, but we never knew you were threatened in the shooting and Dad took a bullet for you."-Theo gasps.
"I know , too much to process for you all. Your Dad and I always consider you all too young for all the traumas in our lives, that's why we barely talk about it. But you're grown ups now." Cristina sighs. "I also survived a plane crash, too. That was the worst of all the dramas. We were separate for I was about to leave for Mayo, then the plane crash happened. And this time he was there for me, helping me recover from the nightmare. I must say I had PTSD twice, and he was there for me twice. So, your dad is my hero, kids. And I love him very much. As much as I love you guys." Cristina smiles as she finishes her last bite of the chicken.
"I guess you two wanted to move on and forget all about the drama, until yesterday." Faith murmurs, looking down at the table.
"Hey, Faith, don't feel guilty for all of this. Yesterday we unintentionally remembered all of our issues and trauma so that today I can appreciate that we walked through it all together. Our love survives, Faith. And it only grows stronger. That's why we completely thought the issue was gone. So, even though he is wrong, I'm willing to make up for him. He's the love of my life"- Cristina rubs Faith's head, her eyes sparkle with love.
"Damsel in distress. I'm glad Dad is your prince." Teddy chuckles, admiring her parent's dramatic love story.
"I must admit our family is a trauma as a whole. Not just me."-Theo concludes after hearing his mother's story.
"Uh huh, I have to take a shower now."-Cristina leaves the kitchen.
Faith, Teddy and Theo remain at the dinner table, speechless for a while. They are still processing what their parents have just told them.
"I can't believe they went through all of that."-Teddy comments.
"Now that makes sense why they rarely talk about their previous marriage. If I were them I also want to forget about the drama."-Theo continues his sister's comments.
"It's good that they both change their attitude today. The issues remind them how much they love each other."-Faith remarks.
"Uh huh, except the fact Mom and Dad both think they are not wrong but they are willing to make up for each other."-Theo points out that the conflict is still there.
"Cranky Mom and Dad. I hope their love will be strong enough to end this fight. Otherwise, our graduation party may be cancelled. And I want gifts. I'm broke." Teddy complains.
…...
Owen enters the house at ten. He is surprised to see the children still hanging around at the kitchen table. He walks towards them, handing Teddy a bouquet of roses.
"Why are you still here? Is Mom home yet?"
"She is. What's the flower for, Dad?"
"For your mom, but just put it in the crystal vase, Teddy. Your Mom can see it tomorrow. It would be awkward to bring the bouquet into the bedroom then take it out here again."
"You're so romantic, Dad. Learn from him, Theo." Faith elbows at Theo.
"I know how to win a girl, Faith! I'm even more romantic than Dad!" Theo raises his voice. They both laugh out loud for making fun of Theo.
"What's going on out there? Is your Dad hom…." Cristina walks out of her bedroom, blushing to see Owen. She hates that Owen knows she's looking for him. She fakes a cough:
"Who gives you the flower, Teddy?"
"Dad brought it for you, Mom. But we thought you slept already."-Teddy grins at her Mom.
"I don't like roses." Cristina murmurs then closes the door behind her angrily, trying to cover up her embarrassment.
"Mom is lying, Dad. She always loves roses for Mother's days." Theo tells his dad.
"You bet. I know her for twenty years. Haha". Owen laughs. He slips out a rose stem from the vase that Teddy just places on the nightstand. "Good night, kids." Then he tiptoes into his bedroom.
Cristina is reading a book by the bed light. Owen gently smiles. He loves to look at her reading, for the yellow light illuminates her beauty and she looks glowing. He puts the rose stem on the table and tiptoeing to the bathroom to change to his sleepwear.
As Owen returns, he locks the door, picks up the rose then turns off the light suddenly.
"What are you doing?"-Cristina grimaces.
Owen jumps on the bed, taking the book away from Cristina. She isn't adjusted to the light yet so his sudden moves confuse her.
"Wait, I want to read…"
Out of the sudden, he climbs on top of her, pulling off her shirt before Cristina can react.
"Owen!"
"Quiet."
Cristina lies supine, pacing her breath slowly. She closes her eyes, wondering what he wants to do next.
Still being on top of Cristina, he picks up the rose, gently caress it vertically through her face. He drags the rose very slowly, letting the smoothness of the petals soothing her skin. He pauses at Cristina's nose for a little and she inhales the light fragrance from the rose. Owen continues to pull the rose down Cristina neck. It feels ticklish so she chuckles. Then he slowly goes down to her cleavage and stop there.
"Owen."
Cristina chuckles. She takes the flower away from her cleavage and throws it onto the floor. She pulls his head closer to hers and her lips search for his lips.
"Screw the rose, Owen. I love you." She kisses him passionately.
"I love you, too."-He smiles.
"But, you need to lay down, Owen. I can't breathe. I guess you gain weight."-She pushes him aside and laughs out loud.
"Do I? I'd have to ask Theo to run with me in the morning again. He's the only early bird in the house." He lays down next to her, pulling her into his arms.
"Uh huh, now Theo's more handsome than you, Owen. Girls will follow him around. Especially when he gets into Berkeley."
Cristina reaches for Owen lips and gives him another kiss.
"We still need to talk, Cristina. We always use sex as the resolution and it doesn't work."
"We don't need to. I was just worrying about Faith. Her story reminds me of my wild past and I got emotional. And for your information: I love our children, Owen. Thank you for helping me go through my fear and doubt of the pregnancy. Without your help, I can never enjoy this bliss." She tugs her head closer to him.
"I'm sorry, too. I should understand you more. I had a wonderful childhood, but you didn't. Please, don't hide your feelings to me. I'm here with you, for better or worse."-Owen inhales the scent from Cristina's hair then kisses her head.
"You are repeating your vow. I like it." Cristina chuckles.
"Do you remember your vow?"-Owen asks her.
"The wedding vow? I don't. But I remember my very very first vow about you."
"Very very first vow?"-Owen is confused.
"Uh huh, it's rather a promise of my own. But I remember it."-Cristina smiles.
"Tell me!" Owen insists.
"That day when you showed up injured and you were traching the patient with a pen, Dr. Webber told me: Dr. Yang. Take care of Major Hunt. Take care of him well for the rest of his life."
"Did he really say that?"-Owen suspiciously rolls his eyes.
Cristina chuckles: "Of course not. He told me to take care of you on that day. But I thought to myself: Yeah, If I ever meet this man again, I would try to keep up with that promise."
Owen holds his wife tight for a while without uttering a word. He is moved by her sincere confession. She has been indeed a wonderful partner for him. Cristina is so his partner in crime and partner in love.
"For your record, I told Dr. Webber that Dr. Yang took excellent care of me, while you were lying hopelessly on the patient's bed and I saved you from the icicle incident..." Owen teases Cristina.
"Oh, so you're saying I don't take care of you well?" She stares at him fiercely.
"...and I will come to Webber on his deadbed, letting him know that Dr. Yang's still taken excellent care of me. And I would forever be grateful for his order." He gives her a big kiss as she chuckles.
Cristina doesn't respond to Owen's compliment. She enjoys the tranquil silence, feeling contented that Owen is by her side after a fierce fight. As she snuggles in his arms, she buries her ears into the calm of his heartbeat, and falls terribly in love with the way her calm soul falls softly asleep, in his chest.
...
**I hope you like this chapter. Please keep the reviews coming, I appreciate them! Also, I'm getting busier so I can't update that regularly, but stay with me, because there's a lot more to explore of the Hunt's family!
** I have a review from a guest who wonders if I know Teddy and Theo short for Theodora. Well, if you read Time after Time, you knew the official names for the twins are Theodore and Theodora, so I think calling Teddy for Theodora and Theo for Theodore is fine. You know the girl is named after Owen's friend and the boy is called Theo because that's what Crowen call the hypothetical child in 10x17.
The guest also questions why I name the oldest child Faith, given the parents are atheists. Well, if you read Time after Time, you know why her name is Faith. Faith Yang Hunt :)
Finally the guests comment that my characters are out of character. Do you readers feel so? I hope more constructive feedbacks are on the way for I am the one who loves to stay true to the character. Also you may find grammar errors and sentence fragments, i guess I should post a disclaimer like I used to do that English is not my native language.
But thanks for the reviews, plz keep them coming!