Romancing Dr. Bailey

Have You Ever Loved Somebody (Epilogue)

"Okay, but I don't want any fanfare, I just want to go in, do the thing and be done," Miranda Bailey told the man lying beside her.

Her husband rolled his eyes, completely used to her nonchalance. "Yes, sweetheart, whatever you want."

"I'm serious, Benjamin." He put down his phone. "It doesn't have to be a whole thing. I don't want anyone to see me either."

"It's childbirth, woman. Not a midnight run to Wal-Mart."

They laughed together, easily. It had been that way for five years. Their chemistry had never faltered. Their intimate relationship had stemmed from their friendship. And that had been the foundation for their marriage. A marriage that was resilient, full of romance and respect. Miranda had never loved anyone the way she loved Ben. Had never felt love like that either. "Oh!" She grabbed his hand and put it on her stomach, pressing slightly. "She's moving."

"And you probably think that her moving means she agrees with you."

"Of course she does."

"Are you two ganging up on me already?"

"Get used to it," Miranda chuckled. She reached out and touched his cheek. "Shouldn't you be getting back to the hospital?" Ben had started his residency in L.A. and it had been tough with him traveling back and forth. For the first few months, she ached to be with him. A year in and she'd finally gotten used to the dull pain that kept resurfacing whenever she thought about how long he had left in his career. It kept her up at night. There was even a point when she was regretting her decision to marry him. She didn't want to be away from the love of her life. After their blissful wedding ceremony and week-long honeymoon, she watched him board a plane back to California. And the cycle of anguish started again. And then something happened. Something that was both God-awful and bittersweet. A power outage in the hospital sent a resident to the basement to find the electrician. Unfortunately, they were electrocuted and unable to be revived during surgery. She died and her death sent a shock through the hospital. Three weeks later, she was paged to Richard's office. He told her that while Jo Wilson had been a special part of the hospital, her spot in the program was still unfilled and did she have any ideas about how to find a candidate. Did she? Before the conversation was completely over, Miranda was on the phone with Ben giving him the good news. Luckily, he was still in town for the funeral and rushed over the hospital, interviewing on the spot and earning a place in the prestigious program. That had been two years ago and now... well, they were as happy as ever. And she was as pregnant as ever.

"I'm going," Ben said snapping her out of her thoughts. "I just dropped in to see my boy and say 'hi' to my girls."

"Hello," she whispered, putting her lips on his face. Ben smiled at her. That was his only face looking at her now. She was having his child and looked at her with heart-eyes.

"Hey, baby girl, stay calm for mommy until I come back. You two get some sleep." Ben smoothed her stomach. "I know, I know."

Coming face to face with Miranda, she kissed him again. "And that was from the baby."

"Thank you to you both. Love you."

"We love you, too." He got off of the bed, blew her kiss and left the room. Miranda heard laughs coming from her pre-teen's bedroom. Tuck was twelve and it shook her when she thought about raising another child. She wasn't ready to give birth again and if it were anything like her first one, she'd rather eat ice cream sprinkled with glass.

The next morning, Miranda felt Ben hold onto her from behind. She smiled and picked up his hand. "You're awake?" He asked in her ear.

"Yes. Your daughter is doing somersaults like Simone Biles in my stomach," she said.