Romancing Dr. Bailey

The Craziest Thing

Pulling up to the park, Miranda noticed that it was packed again. She and Tuck got out of the car. Miranda pulled her shorts up a little and stretched before closing the door as Tuck jogged to the courts. "Miranda?" Miranda closed her eyes and inhaled sharply. Ben. She turned around and looked into the face of her ex-husband. She exhaled and smiled.

"Hello, Tucker Jones," she said smiling. She hadn't smiled at her ex in a long while. It wasn't that she wanted him back, but their divorce had been so exhausting that it'd taken a complete toll on her life. And he reached out and gave her his obligatory hug; she actually hugged him back and didn't pat him on the back like a stranger. She did a sweep of the park and didn't see Jazmin or Ben. She relaxed. "How are you?"

"I'm good. How are you?"

"I'm fine. Still a surgeon," she said shouldering him. "How's Jaida?"

"She's good. She keeps telling me to invite you over to dinner, but I told her that you're always busy."

"Not always." Miranda leaned against the car.

"How's... Eli?" Tucker asked crossing his arms.

"Eli's good. I guess. We, you know, it's a funny story, we actually broke up last night," she replied laughing. Tucker looked at her like she was crazy. "Well, it wasn't funny last night and it's hardly funny now, but whatever."

"Wow. That was, um, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm great. Thank you."

"So, I'll change the subject. Are you playing today?"

"Your son practically begged me to play on the way here. We came here a couple of days ago and we had so much fun."

"I heard you met Jazmin and Ben." Miranda cracked her knuckles as he started to stretch by pulling his knees up to his chest. Miranda admired his six and a half foot frame. She'd always loved when he lifted her up, loved that when she was standing up and he was on his knees, he could satisfy her.

"Yeah, I did. But, I knew Ben—,"

"I know. I know. I told him that you did."

"No, he, uh, he said that you told him your wife worked in the hospital."

"Oh, shit," he said laughing and clapping his hands together. "My bad. Can you believe that even though it's been years, I still forget that you're not my wife? That we're not together?" Miranda's mouth dropped open. "And, no offense, it's not that I want you back, but you were my best friend and if I have really great news, sometimes you're the first one I want to call. I miss you and it sucks that our divorce was disgusting and I'm sorry for that. That's my fault, but I do miss you."

Miranda felt warm and it wasn't just because the sun was shining. "I miss you, too, Tucker. And I feel the same way. Exactly the same way. It really was your fault... the divorce. You said some really crappy stuff," She giggled.

"Miranda, I'm sorry that I hurt you. I'm so sorry. It won't happen again.

"It most certainly will not," she said shaking her head and chuckling.

"I should not have made you choose. You know, between General and Pediatrics Surgery. That wasn't my place."

"You're damn right it wasn't," Miranda said thinking back to the seemingly thousands of arguments that they had about why she shouldn't (Tucker) and why she should change. Change. She really wanted a change, a different direction. She wanted to learn new things and meet new people and help new patients and Peds would help her with that. They argued about potential changes in schedule and who would care for their son while she would go in another medical direction and who would keep up the house and make sure everything ran smoothly. Tucker really wanted to know was: How was she going to still be a General surgeon studying Pediatrics while being a good mother and managing the household? She had stormed away after realizing what he'd actually meant. She'd stormed right out of their house and through the doors of the Seattle Grace. She'd spoken to Arizona and had taken her up on the idea to become a Peds surgeon. Tucker was furious. He became a stay-at-home father, something that he regretted and resented her for. For a year, he worked from home, taking care of their one-year old.