Hey Omelia-Fans :-) This fanfiction takes place in 11x07, right after Sarah revealed Amelia'a drug addiction at the hospital. I hope you'll like it!
Wait... you're gonna do surgery on my mom?! N-no, no, I'm sorry but no, no...“, Sarah said and turned around towards the nurse. „Excuse me, I need a different doctor, she... she cannot touch my mother, it’s not... just... I need a different doctor right now!", she said outraged. „Okay calm down.", Amelia tried to settle her down. „No, I want another doctor!" Sarah panicked, which drew the attention of the other doctors. „Okay, what’s the problem?", Owen asked. „She cannot touch my mother, she's a drug addict. l can‘t have her operated on my parents!", Sahra yelled. Owen, Callie and Meredith looked up shocked. „Hold on, Dr. Shepherd is...", Owen started but got interrupted by Sarah: „...is a Junkie! I met her in Narcotics Anonymous. She's hooked on oxy, she overdosed with her boyfriend and woke up with him dead in bed with her. I want another doctor, now!", Sarah said. Owen looked at Derek, who stared at his sister. „ Come with me. Just come with me, please.", he told Sarah, but she refused: „No, I'm... No, no!" „Just this way.", Owen led her away while she continued screaming: „You keep her away from them!" „Hunt, don't worry. I've got this.", Derek said. He looked at Amelia for a second and left her then. Amelia could feel all eyes on her. She couldn‘t believe what had just happened. How could Sarah do that?! How could she reveal the darkest time of her past in front of all these doctors?! She had seen the disappointed and accusing look on Derek’s face; not even he would stand up for her. She needed to get away from here! She quickly left the emergency department and went to her office. All She wanted to do was driving home and hiding in her bed. But she still had work to do. So after 20 minutes she exited her office and made her way to a patient. But she hadn’t even made five steps and she could already see everyone staring. Word got around. Now everyone knew. How could she escape from that?! She felt tears welling up in her eyes. She Iooked around and realized that she had nowhere to go. The staring people were everywhere.
„So, is it true?", Owen asked Meredith while Derek was operating on Sarah's mother. „I didn't know either.", she said. „Have you seen her? Talked to her?", Owen asked. „No... I haven’t seen her since...it happened.", Meredith admitted. Owen nodded quickly and began to walk down the hallways. He was the chief, so he was responsible for his colleagues. When he arrived at the Neuro department he saw Stephanie. „Edwards! Where's Shepherd?", he asked her. „I... I don't know. I've paged her a hundred times but she won't answer.", Stephanie answered. „Damn.", Owen muttered and continued searching for the neurosurgeon. Maybe she went home? But she came in with Meredith and Maggie, so she didn't have her car. He looked into the next on-call room. Nothing. But then he had another idea. He remembered where he went when he wanted to walk away from all the people. The best place for that was the ventilation room. Ist was always empty and far away from the crowded hallways. He rushed to the next elevator. When he arrived at the ventilation room, he opened the door carefully and immediately spotted Amelia leaning against the wall. Her eyes were red und swollen and she didn't even turn around to Iook who joined her. Owen knew that she probably didn’t want to talk, so he just sat down next to her. „ So you found me.", she said absently after some minutes. „I used to come down here...“, Owen replied, „It's a good place to hide and think." „She let everyone know!", Amelia whispered. „I know.“, Owen said understandingly, „And as the chief, I want to hear your side of the story.", Owen said. „So that you can fire me?", Amelia laughed bitterly. „I don't want to fire you, Shepherd. I just want to hear the whole story.", Owen explained and Amelia lowered her head. „Okay, but can you not be the chief right now? Can you just be... a friend ? Because I really need a friend right now...", Amelia replied with a broken voice. „Okay.", Owen said and put his hand on her shoulder. „Everyone is looking at me. ", Amelia said. „Let them Iook. They don't know you.", Owen replied as if it was that simple. „Yeah. They don’t know me. You don't know me; nobody knows me. The only thing you know about me now, is that I'm an addict. That doesn't make it better.", Amelia replied. „Well, let me get to know you.", Owen said and Amelia turned her head slowly. „You don't want to know me. People who know me; people who I thought were my friends or my family aren’t here right now.", Amelia said hurt and Owen immediately knew who she was talking about. „Derek?", he asked quietly. Amelia pressed her lips together. „He's my brother. He's my brother and he left me alone. ", Amelia almost whispered. Owen felt so bad for her; it was true; he had not seen anyone standing up for her. He pulled Amelia in a hug as tears began fallig down her face. „He loves you. I know he does.“, Owen tried to comfort her and after a little while Amelia stopped crying. „Thank you... for searching for me.", Amelia said shyly after she had calmed down. Owen smiled. „You were wrong.", he said then. „What?", Amelia asked confused. „You were wrong... when you said that I don't want to know you. Because I do want to.", he explained. Amelia turned her head and Iooked at him. „Well, it's at your own risk.", she smiled slightly. „I'll take the risk.", Owen grinned and helped her getting up. „I'm not kidding. I‘m a mess.", Amelia laughed. Owen Iooked into her blue eyes and said seriously: „I'm not kidding either... We're all a mess."
Hello, lovely people! Wishing you all a magnificent Thanksgiving! As usual, I’ve decided to write a holiday-themed fic. I hope you all enjoy!
New Traditions
“Dr. Shepherd, you’re needed in the trauma bay.”
Amelia did her best to put on a smile for the nurse who was calling to her down the hall. She was just the messenger; it wasn’t her fault. “Could you please page Dr. Nelson?” Amelia asked. She sincerely hoped she had succeeded in keeping her tone calm and friendly. “I’m not on call today. I just stopped in to check on a couple of my patients, but I’m trying to get out of here to go enjoy the holiday with my family.”
“I understand, and I’m really sorry, Dr. Shepherd, but there was a pile up on the highway, and Dr. Nelson is in the middle of a surgery that is projected to last another 4 hours. They really need a neurosurgeon down there to help triage. Do you think you could spare a bit of time?”
Amelia winced. She wanted to help. She really did. But Owen, Leo, and Betty were all waiting for her at the Thanksgiving dinner at Meredith’s house, and it pained her to think that she would be missing out on the first Thanksgiving dinner she could ever remember that was going to be the way it was supposed to be: a proper turkey dinner with all the fixings shared with the people you love without any anger or drama. She’d never even had this when she was growing up, let alone in her adult life, and she wasn’t about to give it up. On the other hand, the people in the trauma bay had just had their Thanksgiving plans wrecked far more than hers were about to be, and she felt like a total jerk for wanting to walk out on those people so she could eat some turkey and make fun of the quantity of pie Owen would inevitably eat. “Okay,” she conceded. “I’ll head down there, but Nelson is going to need to take any cases that end up being surgical. I can’t bail on my family all day long.”
“Thank you,” the nurse said with a grateful smile. Amelia headed off to the trauma bay without another word.
Immediately upon arriving in the trauma bay, Amelia was pressed into service. “Trauma bay 2, Dr. Shepherd,” called the nurse who was in charge of managing the steady stream of patients and providers. Amelia obediently filed into trauma bay 2 just in time to hear the paramedic handing off the patient.
“32 year-old male. Motor vehicle accident. Restrained driver in a vehicle that was struck from the rear. No other passengers in his vehicle. Blunt injuries to the head and abdomen. GCS is 12. Bilateral large-bore antecubital IVs established in the bus. 50 micrograms of fentanyl and 150 milliliters of normal saline administered in the bus. Airway is stable.” The patient was transferred smoothly to the gurney, and Amelia immediately grabbed her penlight and took her place at the head of the bed to begin her assessment.
The next 45 minutes seemed to fly. She went from room to room, assessing each patient and determining their neurological risks. A few had been sent for head CTs, but thankfully none of them presented with an obvious neurosurgical emergency. She was now walking into her last consult from this pile-up. She was about to step into the room when a familiar face came into view. “Owen, what are you doing here?” she asked. “Where are Betty and Leo?”
Owen stopped and whirled around to face her. “I got called in for the pile-up. They said trauma was slammed and they needed an extra pair of hands. Betty and Leo are still at Mere’s house. Betty said she and Leo would be fine without us, and Mere, Maggie, Alex, and Jo are all still there with them. I’m hoping none of these cases end up being surgical so I can get back there soon.”
“Unless this person needs emergency neurosurgery, I’ll head there right after this one,” Amelia replied. “I’m not even on call, but Nelson was in surgery, so they asked me to come down and help. I told them I’d help assess patients, but if there’s any patient who needs neurosurgery that doesn’t need to be done immediately, I’m passing that off to Nelson.”
Owen nodded. “Shall we get in there and see this guy so we can get back to the pie?” he asked with a small smirk.
She nudged him good-naturedly. “It’s always about the pie with you,” she said already on her way into the room.
Amelia was extremely grateful that Owen was the trauma surgeon on this last case of the day. Though she worked well with nearly everyone in the hospital, there was something to be said for chemistry. They knew each other’s tendencies, and they could work seamlessly around one another, rarely even requiring words to stay out of each other’s way and anticipate each other’s next moves. Thanks to their ability to work efficiently, they managed to finish their assessments within 5 minutes. “Your head seems just fine to me,” Amelia said, smiling reassuringly at the middle-aged man who looked quite anxious.
“So I don’t need brain surgery?” he asked.
“Nope, no brain surgery,” she confirmed.
“Actually, no surgery period,” Owen chimed in. “It looks like you don’t have any injuries that are really serious. We’ll have you taken back to the ER, and they’ll give you any fluids and medications you need. You should be out of here by this evening.”
The patient breathed an audible sigh of relief. “Oh, thank you, doctors. I really appreciate it.”
“It was our pleasure,” Owen replied on both of their behalfs. They each shook hands with him and wished him a happy Thanksgiving before stepping out of the room. As soon as the door shut, Owen steered Amelia off to the side. “Imagine that: things actually worked out in our favor for once. It looks like neither of us have to go to surgery. Would you like a ride back to Mere’s place, or do you want to drive yourself?”
Amelia was about to respond when their conversation was interrupted by a frantic-sounding intern. “Dr. Hunt, we just got another one in trauma bay 1, and the FAST showed free fluid in his abdomen. Can you take him back to the OR with us?”
Owen didn’t even attempt to hide his frustration. “I’m not the trauma surgeon on call today. I just stopped by because I was told trauma was slammed, but I was at dinner with my family. Can the on-call trauma surgeon take this?”
The look on the intern’s face told Owen he wasn’t going to like the answer. “Dr. Baker is already in an ex-lap that looks pretty complicated, and they’re worried that this patient we have might be bleeding briskly. They told me that they really need you to do it.”
Owen turned back to Amelia and winced apologetically. “I’m so sorry about this. Do you mind going back to Mere’s house alone for a little while until I get this patient under control?”
Amelia smiled widely. “We’ve been tag-teaming for months now. This is nothing new. Go do your ex-lap, and we’ll see you in a little while.” She pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek and then turned and walked out of the trauma bay.
She had just gotten changed back into her street clothes when her phone chimed from its place in her purse. A quick glance at the screen told her that Betty was texting her. She swiped absentmindedly at the screen as she began to walk out of the hospital.
I need a meeting.
Amelia was already calling Betty before she even had time to think about it. She didn’t wait for Betty to speak when she answered the call. “What happened?” Amelia blurted out.
“I’m so sorry,” Betty gushed, the panic evident in her voice. “Seriously, I’m really sorry-”
“Betty, calm down,” Amelia said gently, slowly. “Just tell me what happened.”
Amelia could hear the deep breath Betty took before she began to respond. “It’s nothing. It’s just that everybody here is drinking wine and beer and stuff. And now people are starting to get kinda buzzed. I thought I was okay, but then I went back to the kitchen for more veggies, and I wanted so badly to grab the bottle of wine. I was already grabbing a glass before I even had time to think.”
“Did you have a drink?” Amelia asked, her tone calm and measured.
“No,” Betty replied. “I looked down when the glass was in one hand and the bottle was in the other. I panicked, so I set them back down on the counter, ran out the front door, and then I texted you. God, everybody probably thinks I’m a freak. I just ran out of the house like a crazy person. I’m so sorry.”
“Betty, stop,” Amelia said, her tone firm and commanding. “Do not apologize. You did the right thing. Thank you for texting me. I know it’s hard to walk away and ask for help when you get a craving like that. I’m so proud of you. I’m coming to get you right now, and we’ll go to a meeting. Do you think you’re okay to go back inside and grab Leo, or should I call Meredith and have her bring him out to you?”
“No, I think I’m fine. I can get Leo.”
“Please stay on the phone with me while you do,” Amelia requested. “And stay out of the kitchen. Just grab Leo and come straight back out of the house. I’ll be there soon.”
“But what about everyone else?” Betty asked. “Isn’t it rude to just leave like that without saying anything?”
“Don’t worry about that. Everyone will understand. Your health comes first. It always comes first. Go back inside, grab Leo, and wait outside for me. You don’t need to worry about anything else.”
-
When Amelia arrived in Meredith’s driveway, Betty was standing on the porch staring vacantly at Leo’s covered bassinet. Amelia quickly killed the engine and walked up to meet Betty on the porch. She took the bassinet from Betty as she spoke. “Everything’s going to be okay. Just come get in the car.” Betty nodded slowly before following Amelia back to the vehicle.
With practiced hands, Amelia managed to get Leo fastened into his car seat quickly. When she climbed back into the driver’s seat, she found Betty staring out the window with wide eyes. “Hey,” Amelia said softly, grabbing Betty’s left hand. “Thank you for texting me. I know this probably seems like a lot right now, but we’ll get you through this. I am so proud of you for recognizing that you were struggling and asking for help before you had a slip. That is huge progress.” Betty’s smile was small, but it was enough for Amelia.
When they arrived in the parking lot of the small church, Amelia wasn’t surprised to find quite a few cars in the parking lot. Thanksgiving had a tendency to be a rough day, both because of the free-flowing alcohol and the family drama that tended to be prevalent at Thanksgiving dinners. After putting the car in park and shutting off the engine, she turned to face Betty with a smile. “Do you want to grab Leo, or do you want me to?”
“I’ve got him,” Betty said softly, already beginning to get out of the car. Amelia nodded before going to the backseat, getting Leo out of the car, handing him to Betty, and leading the way into the building.
Once they had settled into a couple of chairs with coffee in their hands and Leo on Betty’s lap, Amelia turned to check on Betty. “Are you doing alright? Do you want me to go first?”
Betty nodded gratefully. “If you don’t mind.”
Amelia smiled kindly. “Of course not.” She waited until a few people had shared before speaking up. “I’m Amelia, and I’m an addict,” she began. “Thanksgiving can be so hard. It used to be awful for me. God, I could bore you for the next hour with stories of poor choices I’ve made on Thanksgiving throughout the years. It just feels like the perfect storm. There’s booze everywhere. There’s too many people around to really notice if you make a bad decision. There’s family everywhere. And for me, that is a big problem. Well, it used to be, anyway. My relationship with my family is complicated, and Thanksgiving was always the time when we were all reminded that everyone else is a rockstar, and Amelia still doesn’t have her shit together. They were never trying to be mean. They love me. I know that. But it always seemed to give me that little nudge I needed to have a drink or pop some pills. Or both. This year is different, though. This year, I’m spending the day with people I love and who love me. People who bring out the best in me. So I haven’t had any cravings today, and I am so grateful to those people.” Amelia didn’t turn toward Betty as she reached over and squeezed her knee, silently offering her thanks and support.
The room was silent for a moment before Betty spoke up. “I’m Betty, and I’m an addict. This is my first Thanksgiving in recovery. I didn’t realize how hard it would be. I thought it would be amazing to have dinner with people who care for me and treat me well and don’t judge me. And it was amazing. I feel like this is what Thanksgiving is supposed to be. But then I ruined it. I saw everyone drinking, and I started to get the urge, and I couldn’t control it. I almost slipped, and then I went outside and texted my sponsor.” She threw a glance in Amelia’s direction. “So now we’re here at a meeting instead of having dinner like we should be because I’m too weak to say no by myself.”
After a few more shares and a recitation of the Serenity Prayer, the meeting came to a close. Amelia waited until they were in the car and on the road to speak to Betty. “Betty, I know we normally try not to talk about our shares outside of the meeting, so please stop me if you don’t want to talk right now, but I really want to say this to you.” Betty said nothing, so Amelia went on. “It kills me that you feel bad about what happened. Because this is exactly what is supposed to happen.”
“What, a junkie teenager keeping you from the stuffing and green bean casserole?” Betty bit out sarcastically.
“No,” Amelia argued, ignoring the snarky tone. “Thanksgiving is supposed to be about the people, not about the food. I’d much rather sit in some old, dingy church sharing love, acceptance, and grace with a beautiful young woman who has brought so much richness to my life than sitting around a fancy table eating delicious food, worrying more about what people think of the casserole I made than the people I’m sharing it with. Thank you for texting me. Thank you for trusting me with your struggles. It means a lot. You have given me so much to be thankful for. I couldn’t imagine a better holiday.”
She glanced sideways at Betty, and she could see the emotion setting into her eyes. Luckily, Amelia’s phone rang, giving Betty a reprieve from having to respond to Amelia’s words. A glance at the screen told Amelia it was Owen calling. “What’s up?” she asked into the phone.
“I just finished up with my ex-lap. I’m changing out of my scrubs. Should I meet you back at Meredith’s place?”
“Change of plans,” Amelia replied. “Betty, Leo, and I are on our way home. Meet us there.”
“Okay,” Owen said. His voice sounded a bit confused, but he didn’t ask any questions. “I’ll see you in a little while.”
Owen ended up arriving at home just as Amelia and Betty had begun to rummage through the pantry and refrigerator. “What’s going on?” he asked while picking Leo up out of his bouncy seat.
“We’re planning Thanksgiving dinner,” Amelia said, turning to face him with an amused grin as she pulled a box of macaroni and cheese out of the pantry. “I’m thinking mac and cheese with a side of canned pears. What about you, Betty?”
Betty shut the freezer door. “I found some pizza rolls and fish sticks. And mint chocolate chip ice cream for dessert.”
“Perfect,” Amelia said. “Owen can, you start preheating the oven while I get going on the mac and cheese?”
Owen still looked utterly confused by the situation, but the look on Amelia’s face told him now was not the time to ask questions. “Sure,” he replied slowly before making his way to the oven to begin working on his assigned role.
30 minutes later, Owen, Amelia, and Betty sat around the table, their plates filled with the comfort foods they had found around the kitchen. Leo sat in his high chair between Betty and Owen, happily grabbing after a few pears with his hands. “Turkey is so overrated,” Amelia lamented. “I vote we do pizza rolls and mac and cheese every year. This is awesome.”
“Just as long as Betty cooks the pizza rolls every year,” Owen responded.
Amelia narrowed her eyes as she turned to face Owen. “Excuse me, what is that supposed to mean?”
“It means you burn them every single time you make them.”
“Are you kidding me?!” Amelia asked incredulously. “I slave over a hot oven to make you food when you’re too caught up in your football game to feed yourself, and this is the kind of thanks I get?” She dipped her index finger into her mac and cheese and swiped some of the cheesy sauce down the side of his cheek. “Screw you!” Betty burst out laughing as Owen dipped his finger into his own mac and cheese to retaliate. Leo chose that moment to slam his hands down into the pear juice on the tray of his high chair, and pretty soon everyone had a bit of food on their faces, hands, and clothing.
Once the excitement had died down, Owen and Amelia set to work cleaning up the kitchen while Betty took Leo to the bathroom to clean the pear juice from his face. “Seriously, can we do this again next year?” Owen asked while putting away the baking sheet. “This was really nice.”
“Let’s do this every year,” Amelia agreed, and she couldn’t stop the smile that split her face in half. There was really something to be said for new traditions.
Hello! sorry for taking so long with this, I’ve just been writing away with this, I already have a lot more to post! I hope you like it, please let me know if you like where its going, and what you’d like to read!!!
All of you feedback is so so much appreciated, good and bad.
Chapter 14
Masterpost
Anyway enjoy xxx
Amelia slept for a few hours, having slept for a long time on their journey. She opened her eyes and found Evelyn awake too, sitting up against the base of the couch, where Nina slept. She felt Amelia’s eyes on her and met them, smiling tiredly.
“Can’t sleep?” Evelyn asked her quietly. Amelia shook her head, pushing herself up, leaning on her arm. “Want to come sit with me?” Evelyn asked and Amelia nodded, shuffling to the end of the mattress and shifting on to her hands and knee’s crawling carefully across the short distance between them. She settled down on a cushion beside Evelyn and sighed softly. Evelyn took Amelia’s hand and held it tightly. They sat in silence, watching the candles flickering light.
“Owen and I….” Amelia began, she looked down at herself. “We should have been more careful, I…. feel so guilty…” She stopped, pressing her lips together tightly, frowning.
“I feel so guilty for bringing a baby into this” she said, tears dropping from her eyes, landing in dark circles on her bump. She shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut.
“Oh Amelia, I know, I know” Evelyn smiled sadly, curling her arm around Amelia, pulling her into a hug. “You mustn’t think that way, this baby will be happy, and loved, and protected, just as she would if the circumstances were different” Evelyn soothed her hand against Amelia’s back.
Amelia nodded slightly, “It’s just, its not fair, I hate that we can’t give them a normal life”
“We’ll find somewhere safe, we’ll grow food, she won’t know any different, it will be okay” Evelyn said holding Amelia tightly. They sat quietly. Eventually Amelia sighed, sniffling, relaxing further into Evelyn’s embrace, it reminded her of her mom’s.
“You think the baby is a girl?” Amelia asked, fiddling with the fabric of Evelyn’s sleeve.
“I do, the way you’re carrying, and I always guess right” Evelyn said, brushing the hair from Amelia’s forehead, letting Amelia relax into her lap. She gently played with her hair with one hand, and rest her other against the side of her bump. Amelia closed her eyes, the comfort of the situation, overwhelming her.
“Why couldn’t you sleep?” Amelia asked,
“I slept in the truck on the way too, are you feeling better?”
Amelia hummed, “yeah, I do, I hope it was just a bug or something. I just want to feel okay, normal. Though I don’t think I’ll be feeling ‘normal’ for a long time”
“I don’t think any of us will sweetie, we’ll find a new normal, hopefully you’ll feel better soon… I had sickness and nausea until six months with Megan”
“Maybe it’s Owen’s genes then”
“Did your mom ever tell you about her pregnancies?”
“No… it never really came up”
“They say the more kids you have, the easier the pregnancies get”
“This is my second…” Amelia found herself saying, Evelyn’s hand stilled briefly. “I had a baby when I lived in LA, he was born without a brain and… He died”
“Oh Amelia, I’m sorry to hear”
“It’s okay, it’s okay”
“You know I had a stillborn, long before Owen and Megan were born, until then, I didn’t know pain like that existed… I didn’t think I could survive, but… I did, and when I had Owen, the pain... it didn’t have as great a hold on me. I could see my baby, my first baby, in him, then in Megan, I still do” Amelia smiled softly, casting her gaze across the room, at Megan, and at her husband, both sound asleep.
“Is the baby normally more active at night?”
“Mostly when I’m awake, and lying down. Makes falling asleep difficult, I think she settles as soon as I drift off.”
Evelyn’s hand splayed against Amelia’s stomach and Amelia closed her eyes. “Do you need to lie down?” Amelia asked, realising that she was falling asleep. Evelyn shook her head, “no dear, I’m comfortable enough here. I don’t feel like sleeping anyhow.”
She continued threading her fingers through Amelia’s hair. Amelia sighed.
---------------------------------
When Owen awoke, it was daylight. He felt immediate anxiety at the realisation that Amelia wasn’t in bed beside him. That anxiety immediately faded when he saw her with his mom. They were both asleep. Evelyn was reclined against some pillows against the base of the couch, with her legs outstretched. Amelia lie with her head resting in Evelyn’s lap. A woolen blanket curled around them, keeping them both warm.
Megan and Richard were awake, sitting with the children, all of them eating sandwiches. Nina was sat up on the couch, with her arms wrapped around her legs, eyes fixed on the grey sky through the window. Arizona and Alex were both still asleep, or appeared to be.
Wind rattled the single paned window, and whistled through the cracks in the wooden frame. Amelia shrugged at the wind in her sleep and pulled the blanket up to her shoulder. Evelyn opened her eyes, looking down first, at Amelia, pulling the blanket up further over her shoulder, stroking her hair back. Owen found himself smiling, seeing his mom care so lovingly for Amelia warmed his heart.
Evelyn looked up, meeting his eyes. “She woke up last night, I was already awake, I couldn’t sleep”
“You’re both okay?” Owen asked, and Evelyn nodded, looking back to Amelia, soothing her hand against her shoulder. Amelia pouted, furrowing her brows. Owen knew she was waking up. “Hopefully no morning sickness today” Owen said, crossing the room, dropping down onto the empty mattress in front of Amelia and Evelyn.
Amelia opened her eyes, closing one and peering up at Owen. He smiled, “he.y”
Amelia closed her eyes again and groaned with exertion as she sat up. She looked around, forgetting, for a moment, where she was. “Hi…”
“Are you alright?” Evelyn asked, folding her arms. Amelia nodded sharply, twisting so that she too leant against the couch base, feet outstretched towards Owen. Owen wrapped his hands around her feet and pressed the pads of his thumbs into her arches. “How are you feeling?” Owen asked, running his eyes over her. She inhaled deeply.
“Okay” she said, nodding, looking to Owen hands as they moved around her feet, “I feel okay, tired”
“Hungry?”
“Sure” Amelia replied, smiling warmly. Owen nodded, looking to his mom.
“Mom?”
“Please”
Owen looked to Richard, “I think we’re just doing sandwiches, that alright?”
The two women nodded, and pulled in their feet so that Owen could walk around them.
“I need to pee” Amelia said, looking behind her to check she wouldn’t be hitting Nina as she got herself up.
She met Owen’s gaze at the door, just as she pulled the chair away from the handle. He smiled warmly, acknowledging her.
-----------------------------------
The hall was illuminated by the light of day, and it looked entirely different than it had when they’re arrived in the night. There were pictures on the walls, of a family. Amelia moved along the hall slowly, running her eyes across the images, there were light patches on the walls where it looked as if picture frames had once sat.
At the end of the hallway shoes were strewn around the floor; a man’s, a women’s, and a small girls. Amelia cast her eyes back at the pictures. They had a baby, maybe a year old. Looking back down at the shoes, she moved forward and lifted the lid of a large wicca box, and found more shoes. A tiny red shoe, just longer than the length of her thumb sat in the corner. A heat overwhelmed her and she took in a sharp breath, leaning down and picking it up. Holding it in both of her hands. She looked back to the pictures.
Owen’s voice shook her from her thoughts, he called her name. She looked down at the shoe, and Owens hand cupped hers. Ray and Ellis moved around her and she could see them peering about, at the shoe in her hand, and then at the shoe box. Their energy was contagious, they were giggling, and nattering away. Ray, saw the other red shoe and gave it to Ellis, telling her to “Give it to Meelie.” Their exchange brought a smile to Amelia’s face.
Ellis waddled towards Amelia, singing, “Meelie, mommy” holding the shoe up to Amelia. Amelia’s smile faltered slightly, as did Owens, but they both recovered quickly. “Present” she said, handing it to Amelia with a big smile.
“Thank you baby” Amelia said, taking the shoe. Ellis reached up for Amelia as soon as the baby shoe left her tiny hand, wanting to be carried. Amelia instinctively bent to pick her up, but Owen got to her first, lifting her the majority of the way and placing her into Amelia’s arms, saving his wife’s back.
“Maybe, we could... Keep these shoes?” Amelia asked Owen, feeling suddenly exposed. Owen smiled, looking to the shiny red shoes. He nodded, and leant in to kiss her, taking the shoes into his hands. “Alright Ellis bear, will you look after uncle Owen for me while I go pee? He gets awful lonely” Amelia said, speaking into Ellis’ ear as if it were a secret between them. Ellis turned her head, looking to Owen, who pulled a sad face, bottom lip rolling. Ellis grinned and lolled backwards, reaching out for Owen to take her.
Ray stayed behind, looking down at all the shoes. “The little girl who left here, looks to be the same size Ray, you want to see if there’s a good pair of boots?”
“What if they come back to look for them?”
“They won’t, because she’ll have taken yours from your house, it’s like a swap” Amelia said, hoping the family were alive somewhere, and not gnawing at dead flesh out in the woods. Ray twisted her lips, gazing down, considering Amelia’s words. “Maybe there’ll be some comfier shoes you could wear too?” Ray shrugged, looking around. Amelia nodded, her smile reaching her eyes.
“Have a look for me, I’ll look with you in a minute”
“Can we talk through the door, I don’t want to be on my own”
“I’ll leave it open a little if you promise to guard the door for me” Amelia suggested, slowly moving past Ray into the toilet. Ray nodded sharply, pulling the bathroom door too, open a gap.
--------------------------------
“Here, sit down” Ray directed Amelia to a chair she had dragged into the hall. Amelia allowed her to pull her towards it, and sat down. “I’m alright Ray, I don’t actually need to sit down?”
“Well…” Ray, lowered herself onto the floor amongst all the shoes she had pulled from the box. Amelia frowned curiously, taking in the little girl’s worried expression. “What is it Ray?”
“I think… well… you have a baby in your tummy… and everything is too dangerous, and I heard Owen talking to Nina in the van… and you weren’t well”
Amelia’s face morphed to one of sudden understanding.
“You had that big fight when you got me… and you almost died, and I don’t want you to get hurt, you or the baby… So I just…” she looked up, spanning her gaze around Amelia, and at the chair.
“Oh Ray, Come here” Amelia said, reaching out her hands. Ray climbed to her feet and moved to Amelia, who held both of her hands. Ray pouted, keeping her gaze from Amelia’s, staring pointedly at Amelia’s stomach instead. “Ray, back then… I wasn’t being as careful as I am now, and plus everyone is looking after me.”
Ray nodded gently, furrowing her brows. Amelia pulled her on to her lap, wrapping her arms around her. “I’m okay, Ray, I promise. I was just sick in the truck, which is normal when you grow a baby” Ray nodded again. ”Everything will be okay… alright?”
Ray smirked, pressing her lips together and nodding. Amelia kissed her on the cheek and held her tightly, “Breathe little one” she whispered, feeling some tension leave Ray. Ray swung her feet and smiled wider. “Oh, look at those lovely shoes” Amelia said, peering down at the red boots on Ray’s feet, they were much like the tiny pair that she’d found earlier. Ray smiled proudly, and nodded.
“They fit nice”
“They do? Well I guess it was meant to to be” She said, hugging Ray tightly, dotting a kiss to her cheek.
------------------
“Are we leaving?” Amelia asked, moving back into the room with Ray at her side. Amelia had a nearly new pair of sneakers on her feet.”Yeah…” Owen said, walking to her and handing her half a sandwich. Amelia took it, nodding slowly, looking around at everyone.
Bags were being restuffed, and heaved over shoulders. Ray sped from her side, over to Ellis and her bag and her toys, and her cat Ginny, who’d become a tame and well behaved version of herself.
Amelia felt the prickle of a shiver sweep over her body as she entertained the idea of being out on the road again.
She wrapped her arm around her stomach and swallowed back a ball of tension in her throat. “Sit on the couch Amelia dear, we’ll get everything sorted” Evelyn spoke kindly, her hand pressing firmly against her back. Amelia released a restrained breath and looked down at herself, moving to the couch without looking up.
Richard stooped over the sofa and passed Amelia another sandwich. He paused behind her, eyeing everyone around the room as they packed their bags. He glanced down at Amelia, at the hand she had pressed firmly against her stomach. He sucked in a chestful of air and pursed his lips. He quashed his worry for her, and for the baby. He met Owens gaze and they exchanged a stream of concern. Richard smiled tightly, and turned away, back to his bag.
Amelia finished her sandwich and smoothed her hands over her bump, closing her eyes. Owen grit his teeth. His worry became weighty, and a sudden dizziness overwhelmed him. He winced, swallowing hard, looking down at his feet, at his bags.
---------------------------------
“We ready?” Alex spoke, pulling the door open.
No one answered verbally, they simply began to file out of the room. Amelia walked ahead of Owen. She was tired, Owen could tell that much from the extent of her waddle. His eyes watered at the prospect of not being able to give her what she needed right now; safety, and certainty. She paused at the door, taking in the morning mist, and the cool grey sky. Owen bit his lip, and ran is hand across her waist. She shuddered slightly, startled, before nodding, stepping out.
The grass was crisp under their feet, ice melting. The van bounced up and down as everyone jumped in. “um, how… how long will we be driving?” Amelia asked, taking Alex by the arm.
“Uh, I don’t know… we… Hey Owen… You and Amelia sit up front with me? Seeing the road might help your sickness” Alex said, gaze locking with Amelia’s again. She inhaled and smiled, awash with relief at the idea of not having to ask to be sedated again. Owen nodded, slinging their bags into the back of the truck and tucking the pillows he was carrying higher up under her arms. Amelia took a step back so the doors could close and moved against Owen’s chest. He pressed a kiss to the back of her head and she smiled, turning to him and briefly dropping her head against his shoulder.
----------------------------------------
The van part the mist as it sped along the barren road, the sky was white. Amelia sat with her back to the window, pillows surrounding her, her calves on Owen’s lap. The window wipers were the only sound, thumping and sweeping against the window. Amelia gazed lazily out the front window, eyes drooping every so often.
Owen and Alex’s eyes were wide and observant, out at the road. They drove along a forest road for what seemed like an hour. Amelia fell asleep after a while, comforted by the repetitiveness of the forest blurring either side of them.
“Are we heading back to the house?” Owen wanted to confirm.
“Richards?”
“Yeah”
“Yeah we are, on the off chance that no one has found our stash of supplies”
“You know the way?”
“I know the direction, I’m hoping to see something familiar eventually, we might need to hit the edge of the city”
Owen nodded slowly, looking back to the road, then across at Amelia. Owen brushed his hands up and down her legs, and them moved one to her bump. He closed his eyes, letting his neck go slack, resting his head back. Under his hand he felt a slow fluttering of movement, and he pressed his lips together, suppressing his smile.
--------------------------------
A loud thump woke them both with a start, and they opened their eyes to find blood splattered against the window. The truck bobbed and bounced as it ran something over. Eyes widened, “Alex, what…” Amelia began, but Alex interrupted her.
“It’s okay, it was one of those… things, a zombie dude.”
It took the couple a while to relax, and to settle back into their seats. They both eyed the front window, as the window wipers streaked blood across the glass. Owen felt Amelia’s cold hand against the back of his, holding his against her. Soon the blood was gone, apart from a few smears at the corners.
They were out of the forest now, rushing along a straight road through frosted fields. Amelia pulled her legs towards her and folded them at the knees. She shuffled to sit up further and hummed, opening the window a crack. Wind crept in and played with the hair at the top of her head. She tilted her head back so she could inhale the cool air, eyes dropping shut. “Are you feeling sick?” Owen’s voice pierced through the sound of the rushing wind. Amelia nodded, uttering “A little, it’s fine.”
She closed the window after a few minutes, pulling a blanket up to her shoulders. “You know what I miss?” Amelia said, breaking the silence.
Both Owen and Alex peered her way, Owen’s eyes lingered on her. “Waffles?” Owen smirked, raising his brows.
Amelia smiled back, shaking her head, “yes but, no… I miss tumours, big butterfly tumours…” She placed her hands at the back of her head and sat back, smiling.
Owen saw the glint in her eye, one he hadn’t known he’d been craving.
“All of them, I miss surgery.”
“I miss waiting at the intake doors of the ER, for the ambulances to arrive… the anticipation of it” Owen said, nodding.
Amelia smiled, so did Alex.
“I miss the simple things…” Alex began, half smiling. “I miss the kids and… just seeing them get better… and go home”
The group beamed, their smiles lingering as they settled their eyes back at the road.
Up ahead, they could just make out the figures of people staggering in and out of the road. Amelia folded her legs in tighter and sat forward, eyes widening to take in the sight. Alex slowed slightly as they passed them. A man, dead, naked, was covered in darkened and blackened blood. The fingers of one hand were missing and the side of his face was mangled and bloody. A little boy followed, also seemingly dead. He walked slowly, on the balls of his feet, head hanging down. His hair spiked towards the ground, soaked and darkened by blood. He wore a oversized tshirt and the remnants of a pair of green shorts. Another man limped along side the boy, randomly changing direction and drifting into the woods as they passed by in the truck. “Fuck” Amelia muttered, sinking heavily into her chair. Alex and Owen both shared the sentiment.
LINK TO CHAPTER 16
Thanks for reading! please reblog and let me know if you liked it and what you’d like to read next!
Maybe This Time deals with the repercussions of Owen and Amelia’s season 14 arc. After their friendly but painful separation, each goes their own way. But just as Amelia is struggling after having lost the contest and therefore the money for her research project, she sees herself with a big problem in her hands. After finding her one day and helping out with a solution, Owen sees the two of them growing closer.
Could it be that together, they will also find solutions for their problems?
Chapters:
One - As Amelia struggles for alternatives to get new funding for her daring project, Owen finds out about her and Tom Koracick
Two - After screwing up badly, Owen redeems himself with an idea that might help Amelia more than he initially thought
Three - Our favorite duo works side by side on the case and slowly realizes they are much better together than apart. Could it be in every sense?
Four - After Kimmie’s procedure, Amelia seeks Owen, finally pushing them to have a much needed conversation
Five - Following up with their fallout, Owen and Amelia spend time together and discover more things about each other
Six - Amelia slowly realizes she hasn’t been herself lately and ponders what could be causing that
Seven - Amelia and Owen share some sweet moments as she comes down with a nasty cold. But after some symptoms linger longer than expected, it’s up to him to help her figure out what it means.
Eight - As Amelia comes to terms with with her unexpected news, Owen finds out details about her past that might finally help them move on to a future together.
thank you @bafy-usy for the amazing edit! you are incredible!
“I hated you,” she admitted, wiping tears from her cheeks again. In a softer voice, she added, “I think I still do.”
Her words hit him hard. He held his face in his hands, unsure of how to process the information she’d just told him. “What was Megan telling me?”
Amelia shrugged. “You never talked about it. All I know is that your mom visited a couple times with you.”
Owen fought to catch his breath, suddenly feeling the walls closing around him. “I…I need to leave.” He stood up, haphazardly looking around for his car keys.
Confusion and hurt written all over her face, she said, “Owen, don’t leave. Where are you gonna go?”
“It doesn’t matter,” he dismissed, feeling on the verge of a panic attack. He felt like he was having an out of body experience, like the Owen that his ex-wife had just described was a completely different person. But no, it was him. He said and did all those cruel things to her, to his family and friends, and the worst part was that he couldn’t figure out why. “I just need to go.” He stormed out of the kitchen and, before Amelia could grab onto him and beg him one more time to stay, he was gone. A deep feeling of dread filled her entire being as she stared at their front door. History was repeating itself. She was unfortunately right when she told Derek that people didn’t change.
The further Owen walked away from the house, the harder the rain fell. By the time he reached the bus stop a few streets down, it was pouring. Sitting at the stop, he held his face in his hands as he tried to calm himself down and figure out his next move, the cold rain barely fazing him.
“It’s all your fault, Eeyore.” Owen jumped, quickly raising his face to see where the voice had come from. There, sitting across from him, was Megan.
“Leave me alone,” he told her, knowing his mind was playing tricks on him.
“It’s your fault I got on that helicopter,” she listed, standing up, “It’s your fault I went missing for so long.” She walked over to him, lowering her lips to his ears. “It’s your fault your wife hates you.” Standing up straight, she corrected herself, “Sorry, ex-wife.”
“I stayed in the army for five years!” he yelled at her, “I looked for you for five years.”
“And I was missing for 12!” she screamed back at him, “Why didn’t you look harder?!”
“I am sorry, Meg.” Owen buried his face in his hands once more, trying to will the hallucination away. “I moved on because I thought I would never find you. I thought you had died.”
“I wish I did,” she muttered. Owen furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, wondering if his brain was subconsciously accessing his memories to create the hateful Megan in front of him now. “Your wife hates you. I hate you. The only person who could hate you more than we do right now, is yourself Eeyore.”
“I do,” he confessed, looking up at the sky. The rain was finally beginning to feel cold against his skin. “I hate myself, Megan. Are you happy?”
“No,” she answered, turning away. Before she walked off, she looked over her shoulder at him. “Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Do something about it.”
“What do you want me to do?” he asked her. When he heard no response, he looked at where he thought she was standing, only to find that she was no longer there. Instead, there was a relatively old man who had just sat down on the bench across from him, shaded by an umbrella. He used the newspaper in his hand to sit on so that the bench wouldn’t wet his attire.
“I’d offer you some shade,” he said, “But I don’t think it would make sense at this point.”
“Yeah,” Owen mused, looking down at his attire.
“Charles,” he introduced himself, “Who were you talking to?”
“Myself, I think.”
“You sounded pretty angry,” Charles disclosed, “I heard you from down the road, not that I’m trying to be nosy.” He looked over at Owen and smiled warmly. “Family problems?” The trauma surgeon’s silence confirmed his answer. Sensing his reluctance to speak about the issue, the man attempted to fill the silence. “I used to ride motorcycles when I was younger,” he informed him, “Or at least that’s what my wife used to tell me.”
Owen stared out at the rain pouring in front of them. “Accident?”
“Lost all of the best memories of my life,” he said, “And the worst.” He sighed looking up at the sky. “Apparently, I used to be a therapist. I had three kids who didn’t understand why daddy couldn’t remember them, and a wonderful wife who was so patient with me that I didn’t deserve it, to be honest.” Owen looked over at the man now, and Charles looked back at him. “But I didn’t remember them, so I didn’t love them; I didn’t even like them. I never imagined myself settling down and having kids, so I felt so trapped when I woke up in that hospital to my new life.”
“I feel like I’m trapped in a nightmare,” Owen confessed, running a hand stressfully through his wet hair, “Like everyone is in on the joke except for me. Like...”
“Like you’re standing up in front of your class, in your underwear,” Charles finished the thought for him, “Yeah, I know that feeling.” The rain began to settle as he continued to speak. “In a way, though, it felt like I’d been given a second chance to do things differently.” He looked over at Owen and asked, “Have you been given a second chance, Owen?”
Owen shrugged, not knowing the answer. “I think my chances have run out.” He covered his mouth as tears fell down his cheek. He had walked right out of the house, more importantly; he’d walked out on Amelia when all she was doing was trying to help. He felt sick to his stomach thinking about the fact that he was doing the same things he did before the accident. It was as if he’d learned nothing from his past behaviour.
“Well,” Charles mused as the rain turned into a light drizzle, “What would you do if you did have another chance?”
“Ask for forgiveness,” he scoffed, as if the answer was obvious.
“There’s only so much forgiveness you can ask for,” the guy chuckled, closing up his umbrella, “If I were you, and I’d been given another chance to fix what I broke…” He looked back at Owen. “Well, I don’t know what exactly I’d do but, for starters, I wouldn’t do the same thing that caused the problem in the first place, again.” Owen frowned at his information. He was right. He’d been cursed with this illness, yet blessed with a second chance to fix his relationship, and here he was, soaking wet at a bus stop, talking to some old guy.
“I have to go,” Owen said, standing up suddenly, “Thank you.”
---
Amelia couldn’t wait any longer on their bed. Owen had been gone for almost an hour, and it was raining. She was confused at his outburst, she was hurt that he’d walked out on her again, but mostly, she was worried about him and his whereabouts. She couldn’t lie to herself; as much as she didn’t want to, she still cared deeply for him; the towel she held in her hands as she waited for him only reinforced that thought, and she didn’t know if that meant that she still had feelings for him or not. All she knew was that she needed to know that Owen was okay.
“I think I might need a new phone,” a voice said. She snapped her head around, only to find Owen at the door of their bedroom, soaked from head to toe. Clothes stuck to every inch of his muscles and, if it wasn’t for the tense situation they were in, she might’ve thought it was kind of sexy. She watched as he walked around the bed and towards her. He then sat in front of her, setting the phone on the floor next to him, and smirked at her.
“I’m sorry,” he told her, his eyes red from crying. Suddenly, a goofy smile overtook her face. “Why…Why are you smiling?” he asked, confused at her sudden change in demeanour.
She eyed his entire being before saying, “It’s hard to take you seriously when there are water drops hanging off of your golden eyelashes.” Owen smiled and laughed softly as Amelia used the towel in her hands to pat his face dry. He then proceeded to pull his shirt over his head before she ruffled his hair with the same towel. Owen stared at her fondly through the entire experience, a soft smile on his face.
“What was it like?” he asked her as she dried his neck and chest, “Before all the bad stuff. What were we like?” She remained silent for a minute, trying to find the right words to describe the kind of love they used to have.
“We were every sense of the word imperfect, but we were so happy,” she disclosed, running the towel along his arms, “A lot of crappy stuff happened to us, but we made it through.”
“What kind of crappy stuff?”
In a casual tone, Amelia recalled, “Hypothermia, relapses, PTSD, car accidents, a miscarriage...” She smiled to herself as she added, “Come to think of it, most of these things happened to me, actually, not us.”
“You are really unlucky,” he joked.
“Yeah,” she agreed, “The most normal thing to happen to us that was bad was that time you had your appendix taken out and the time I got my appendix taken out.” Owen laughed, finding the statement hilarious. They were bad luck charms.
“How have we lasted this long?” he wondered, still chuckling.
“We didn’t,” she reminded him, accidentally darkening the mood. Once she realised what she’d said, she added, “No filter. Sorry.”
Owen curled his lips into a coy smirk as he analysed her previous statement. “I should be the one apologising.” She stopped drying him and held the towel in her hand, gazing at him as she shrugged. She passed the towel through his hair one more time as she contemplated whether to say what had been on her mind for a little while.
“Ex-wife to ex-husband?” she teased, handing him the towel. He rolled his eyes playfully at her choice in labels, but waited for her to finish. “Sometimes I forget what it was like when we were happy, even what it was like to just kiss you.”
“If it makes you feel better, I don’t remember it at all,” he joked, making her giggle. He liked the sound of her laugh and the way it made her dimples sink into her cheeks. He didn’t know if it was a habit or if she did it to get his attention, but Owen didn’t miss the way she softly bit her bottom lip, trying to hide her smile. In one swift motion, he got up on his knees to be on her level, causing his body to get closer to hers. His sudden invasion of her space made her cheeks turn red and her heart jump with adrenalin. He was giving her that look. That look that he used to give her right before he was about to kiss her. She didn’t even think he knew he was giving her that look.
Resting his hands on either side of her on the bed, Owen unapologetically stared at her bitten bottom lip. “Can I kiss you?” Although she knew that was what he was going to do anyways, hearing him ask it made her heart race even more.
For a moment, she lost her voice, opening her mouth and no words coming out. “We…shouldn’t.”
“You’re right, we shouldn’t.” He nodded, but made no movements to distance himself from her. He knew she didn’t have many residual feelings for him, but he couldn’t resist so instead, he got even closer, his nose brushing against hers as their foreheads touched. Relishing in the all too intimate feeling, Amelia closed her eyes and sighed peacefully.
“We have a lot of problems,” she reminded herself more than him, her cheeks flushing the longer they stayed so close to each other.
His hands made their way to her thighs before slowly running up her sides. “So you’ve told me.” Dear lord, she couldn’t get the thoughts that were going through her, out of her mind. The smell of her shampoo was flooding his senses now. It was all so familiar, yet all so new.
“We are divorced,” she added, hoping the information would discourage him from continuing. She wouldn’t stop herself if he kissed her, so she needed him to be the bigger person and stop.
“You’ve also told me that,” he whispered, his hands making their way to her shoulders now. They snaked up her neck and cupped her cheeks, his thumbs caressing the skin there. At this point, she felt as though her heart would leap out her throat.
“Owen…” Before she could finish the rest of her sentence, his lips were on hers. He’d started off slow, soft touches and brushes of his tongue against her bottom lip; he wasn’t sure how she liked to be kissed. However, unbeknownst to him, the gentle kissing only served to provoke Amelia and make her want more. She pulled his hands away from her face, fed up with being treated like a fragile antique, and laced her hands in his hair, softly pulling on it and knowing that he would part his lips, giving her entrance into his mouth. Owen moaned softly at the assaultive kiss; he was surprised at how assertive she was being. He somehow thought of her as a modest lover, but the way she was kissing him right now, he could tell she was anything but that. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her as she lay back on the bed. He went with her, holding his body up by his hands as he covered her body with his. If they kept this up, pretty soon she’d be able to feel his excitement, and he wasn’t sure if she was planning to go that far with him.
“Pants,” Amelia rasped as she pulled away from him, pushing on his chest. Or maybe she was planning to go that far.
“Are you sure?” he sought to confirm, not wanting to push her too far.
“No, Owen,” she exclaimed, “Your pants are wet.” Quickly, he leapt off the bed, but the damage was done. There was a huge wet spot covering Amelia’s lower body and shorts, not to mention the comforter.
“Sorry,” he sheepishly announced, his cheeks red with embarrassment, “I thought you meant-,” Just then, her pager went off. Disappointment filled Owen’s entire being as he remembered that she was on call.
“I have to go,” she said as she read the message. She stood up, heading to the bathroom while he searched for some fresh, dry clothes.
Almost 10 minutes later, she reappeared in black jeans and a plain t-shirt, grabbing her items from her bedside table as she made her way out of the bedroom. At the door she paused and turned around, remembering that she’d left some unfinished business.
She walked to where Owen was patiently sitting down and planted a quick peck on his lips. “We’ll finish this when I get back.”
Owen nodded; he was fascinated by this side of her that he’d managed to bring out. “Okay.” She kissed him one more time before leaving the bedroom. “Amelia,” he called, stopping her exit. She quickly turned around and looked at him expectantly. “You should wear your hair down more,” he said, “I like the way it looks.”
Her cheeks turned red yet again as she processed the compliment, but she eventually settled for smiling shyly. “You told me that when we first started dating.” And with that, she was gone. Once he heard the front door slam shut, Owen fell back onto the bed and exhaled loudly, closing his eyes as a stupid grin took over his face. He had kissed Amelia. He had finally kissed Amelia. He sighed dreamily, replaying the kiss in his mind.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes wide and froze with fear. He just made out with his ex-wife.
“Oh crap,” he berated himself, covering his eyes with the palms of his hands. He had a feeling this was going to get very messy very quickly.
Kind of follows my previous story Who’s Got Game 2.0. It follows present timeline it’s an optimistic story involving Omelia. Let me know what you think.
Also as a side note: sorry for any mistakes, or if this story doesn’t make sense, I hit my head last night and might have a concussion.
Patients not a specialty of mine, a girl can only wait so long. As much fun as flirting with Owen is, it’s not enough anymore, I know what I am missing, I need more, I want more. I’ve had enough of waiting around, I’m ready for us to take the next step, so I’ll just have to give Owen a push.
All week at work in between consults and the surgeries, I debate how I am going to get me and Owen to the next stage of whatever it is that we are doing. I still don’t know what to call it, technically we are still married, hell, we are still living together, and we flirt, but we don’t talk not like we use to. Not like we need to in order to, get us back to us, back to what I miss so badly.
I could just ask him out on a date, but than I give him all the power. I could just keep flirting and hope we get to the next stage soon. I could drop hints in hopes of getting him to ask me out. I could pretend to move on. I could actually move on, but I really don’t like that option.
But maybe pretending to move on will work… It’s a risky move but I’ve never been one to back away from risks. I decide to go with that plan… at least I’ll get some sort of reaction out of him.
That night I put my plan into action, he is sitting in the living room watching some sports game when I walk into the room. He is going to be completely blind sided by this…
“So, Owen, you know how we talked about dating, or well more specifically if I was dating anyone?” I pose the question to him.
Without turning his head from the screen, I can see him raise his eyebrows in confusion and he nods in remembrance, so I continue, “Well it got me thinking… and I have a date.” There I said it now to wait for the bomb to go off.
That catches all his attention, his eyes turn to look at me. His breathing is shallow in an attempt to control his emotions. I turn on my heel and walk away, because I know him, he won’t be able to pretend I didn’t just say that. He won’t let me leave without talking about this, not after our history of me running and avoiding.
“You have a date!?!” I hear his voice boom, slightly confused from behind me as he comes closer. He is mad, or more likely jealous, I’ve succeeded, I pushed him and he is pushing back. “You are going on a date? What about us, Amelia?” I can hear the slight whimper in his voice as he says my name. It tugs at my heart, but I’m not going to roll over yet.
“What about us, Owen?” I challenge back, I don’t know if it is the right step. I might be pushing him too hard, but I can’t back down. I have to see my plan though, I’m doing this for me and Owen I tell myself as I lock my eyes on his. The look in his eyes causes my breath catch in my throat.
He doesn’t say anything he just moves his body closer and closer to mine, pushing me backwards. I can feel the kitchen counter pressed against my back, I still have my eyes glued to his he is hovering over me, dangerously close. Every coherent thought I’d been trying to put together is gone instantly when he crashes his mouth against mine.
Next thing I know I’m on the kitchen counter, with my legs tightly wrapped around him, my lungs screaming for oxygen. We eventually pull apart, but only by a few inches, my breathing is still erratic making me uncapable of talking. Owen catches his breath quicker than me, he is still only an inch or two from my face, I can feel his hot breath tempting me for more. I’m trying to control myself when he says, “I love you. That is what’s about us, that is why I don’t want you to date some guy. I want you to date me, love me; Amelia, I love you.”
All I can do is smile and pull him back into another passionate, oxygen deprived kiss, as I have no words to explain how thrilled I am to hear him say those words.
I created a poll on twitter asking “Most likely to buy a giant Great dane without asking his/her partner” and so far Owen is in the lead so this little idea crawled into my mind.
It’s short but sweet. Enjoy!
Amelia was happy to finally park her car in the driveway and go home. She had been paged before 5am and basically spent the whole day at the hospital. She couldn’t wait to hug her kids, kiss her husband, take off her shoes and go straight to bed. As Amelia locked the front door after she entered the house, she heard giggles from the living room. She smiled as she thought about her family enjoying itself and having a great time. She was so eager to see them that she almost threw her purse and jacket.
When she entered the living room nobody noticed her. Her husband and their three kids were all sitting on the floor with their backs facing Amelia and laughing. She figured they were probably playing a game.
“Hey, I’m home,” she smiled as she observed them.
Everyone turned around at the same time and stopped laughing. The kids all glanced at Owen who had a guilty yet adorable face.
“What?” wondered Amelia aloud. But she didn’t have to for too long. A black puppy walked from behind the kids and Owen directly towards Amelia, wagging its tail, eager to meet the person who has just entered the room.
Amelia opened her mouth and looked in between Owen and the puppy. “What is that?” she asked as the pup sniffed her legs.
“A doggy,” innocently smiled Emma, their youngest.
“I can see that. What is it doing in our house?”
“She’s ours. Isn’t she pretty?” asked Hannah.
“Yeah, she’s…” Amelia observed the dog, “…great.”
Owen noticed that Amelia was caught completely off guard. He couldn’t tell if she was angry, surprised or overwhelmed but he wanted to talk with her without the kids. “Why don’t you take Minnie to the backyard. She probably needs to pee,” he suggested.
All three kids excitedly stood up and ran through the back door to the fenced back yard with their new family member – Minnie.
“Owen, what the hell?”
“Well, we have a dog,” the redhead smiled sheepishly.
“I can see that. We agreed on getting a dog but we were going to take some time and not jump into it.”
“I know but I was scrolling through my phone and the shelter posted a picture of Minnie and she seemed perfect. I went to check her out and… She is the perfect puppy, you have to admit it.”
“She’s barely a puppy. She’s huge!” Amelia exclaimed.
“Yeah… She’s a Great dane.”
“A Great dane?! Owen, are you kidding me? Couldn’t you find a larger dog?”
“We could always get a Mastiff.”
“This is not even funny. And her name is Mini? What kind of a joke is that?”
“It’s Minnie, like Minnie in Miki Mouse not Mini. But she already had that name. I swear,” he said, putting his hands in the air.
Amelia just exhaled loudly, not even believing the situation she was in. The couple had agreed on getting a dog just a couple of days earlier but they wanted to talk to some breeders and visit some shelters to see their options and find the right dog that would also be great with kids. Never did she think Owen would bring home a giant Great dane puppy named Minnie.
The kids were already back in the house while Minnie loyally followed them.
“She peed outside,” Michael said and rubbed Minnie’s head, “You’re such a good girl.” The dog proudly wagged her tail and then approached Amelia. She sat down in front of her and stared directly in her eyes.
Amelia stood there with her hands crossed, not knowing what to think of the situation. Sure, they wanted a dog but were they prepared for it? Was Minnie, the not so mini dog, the right option? She didn’t know the answers to those questions but she knew that she was already falling in love with the pair of dark eyes that stared at her. She kneeled down and observed the fury family member. Amelia stretched her hand and scratched Minnie behind her ear. Minnie stuck out her tongue as she enjoyed the gentle rubs. “I guess you’re stuck with us, girl. Don’t eat my shoes and you’ll be ok,” she commented. Minnie lay down and stretched on her back, eager for some belly rubs.
“I think she likes you, mom,” said Hannah as she joined Amelia and rubbed Minnie’s belly as well.
“I think your mom likes her, too,” added Owen.
Amelia looked at Owen, smiled and shook her head, annoyed that she couldn’t even be angry at her husband. Minnie seemed like a great dog and Amelia naively believed she was going to stay like that forever, not even sensing how many shoelaces Minnie would tear out of their shoes in the following weeks. Maybe Amelia’s shoes would have to go away but Minnie wasn’t going anywhere for sure.
