Romancing Dr. Bailey

Wordplay

As they settled in and order drinks, Julia looked up from her menu and said: "Miranda, thank you for meeting me." Miranda nodded. "You really don't have a reason to want to meet me. I wasn't the nicest person the few times we met."

"Well, that is an understatement," Miranda said before she could stop the words from leaving her mouth.

"You're right. I deserve that." Julia paused to thank the waiter for the bread and drinks. The women placed their orders. "And I know I owe you an explanation and an apology, Benjamin gave me no choice. I mean, I've never seen him so adamant about something in his life, especially a woman." Miranda picked up a piece of bread and listened. "I was rude. And unkind and I didn't give you a chance." Miranda picked up her glass of wine. "Am I missing anything?"

"How about you tearing at our relationship?" Miranda asked without looking at Julia. She continued to eat her bread. If she ate enough of it, she'd soon get full.

"Miranda." The way the woman said her name made Miranda look up. She looked up at the woman. "I apologize for my—how I behaved the other day. I was wrong, yeah. But what I was really doing was testing you." The surgeon fought the urge to cut her eyes at the woman. "I know my son and he has good taste in women, present company included, but I also know that if I don't like her, the future that he has with her is grim."

Miranda exhaled with a smile. "I'm glad that I'm getting the chance to talk with you. One on one. But what... what Ben and I have will last whether you like me or not." Miranda gave the woman a smile and it widened afer she realized that what she'd said was true. Even if Ben went to California or even if he stayed right in Washington, they'd be okay. "With all due respect."

"You didn't let me finish. I do like you." Miranda was honestly shocked, she hadn't been expecting that. "You're mature and successful and obviously driven. You are a surgeon after all. You're exactly who I'd want him with. So I tested you and tried you and I was kinda rude and I'm sorry because it wasn't needed. Ben knows what he wants," Julia said giving Miranda a smile of her own and for the first time it was genuine. "So, can we start over?"

Miranda inhaled. "Sure."

"Good. Now that that's settled. Can we eat?" Julia asked as the waiter placed their food in front of them. They chatted while they ate. "So, Miranda Bailey, tell me about yourself."

"Okay, I'm a mother of a beautiful 7-year old boy who thinks the world of me. And I think he's the best thing I've ever done." Julia smiled and ate a spoonful of her chowder. "And, um, I'm Head of General Surgery at Grey Sloan Memorial," Miranda said confidently. Sometimes when she said her job title out loud that she was shocked by the power that it wield. "And some people think I'm kind, others think I'm mean and cold. But your son loves me so I can't be that bad, can I?" The two of them chuckled.

"No, you're not. And Angela confirmed that as well. She told me about how you helped find Jazmin and that you're a good person." Miranda nodded. "Thank you."

"For what?" Miranda asked as she finished her burger.

The woman put down her spoon and looked at Miranda. "For loving my son and being hospitable to me even while I was being somewhat of a b—jerk." Miranda burst out into a fit of laughter. She picked up her drink. "No, seriously. And I think—and please don't tell my son I said this, but you're probably going to be the woman he ends up with."

Miranda nearly choked on her wine. "Excuse me?"

"You're perfect for him," Julia said simply. The waiter came back for their empty plates and offered dessert. Julia looked at Miranda with a smile. "Dessert?" Miranda didn't respond. "Okay, Danny, we'll have an apple pie with vanilla ice cream and a brownie explosion. "So, what were we talking about?" Miranda opened her mouth. "Oh, right! You and Ben."