What Happens In

What Happens in Seattle II

Miranda Bailey eased her eyelids open and looked around. She knew exactly where she was. She knew this place well. Or at least she was starting to. Ben's bedroom. Lately, she was spending so much time there—she was there nearly every weekend. He was her... boyfriend? Her man? They had kind of fallen into a rhythm and hadn't discussed it formally. She didn't know really, but he was definitely her lover. And a good one at that. She smiled and turned in his direction. How was it that she got here? In the arms of a great guy who put a smile on her face the size of Minnesota. She laughed to herself, covering her mouth with her hand. That's where they met and what a meeting it had been. First strangers, then lovers, then friends... Miranda sighed. What was next? Ben's eyes fluttered open and the first thing he did was reach for her. She let him pull her close. "Good morning," she said softly.

"And a damn great night," he said kissing her cheek. He put his lips on her neck and she readjusted, throwing a leg over his body. "Do you want to continue it?"

"No, no..." He kissed her lips softly at first. "I can't."

Ben kissed her again, harder this time, arousing her. "Why not?" She rolled out of the bed, taking the sheets with her leaving him naked and exposed. She grinned over her shoulder. "Not funny."

"Not funny, but definitely sexy." Her cheeks grew hot with that statement. Miranda grabbed her clothes and started to put them on.

"No, seriously, are you... what are you doing?"

"I'm putting on my clothes?"

"Unh-uh, the opposite should be happening."

"The clothes should be putting me on?" She laughed.

He got off the bed and tugged on his boxer-briefs. "Smart ass." Her laugh got bigger. After a few months, they were so comfortable with each other. Miranda and Ben were friends. They could crack jokes and be flirty, even dirty—it was all so fun and such a breath of fresh air. Nothing like how it was with her husband the last few years, but that was all about to change. "So...?" Ben wrapped his arms around Miranda.

"Yes, well, I still can't."

"Why not?"

"Did you forget what today is?"

"Of course not," he said. That was a lie. "It's 'Make Love All Day' Day."

Miranda laughed, her shoulders shaking. "No, I'm signing some important papers today." He shrugged, vibrating her body. He kissed her neck. He really couldn't seem to keep his lips to himself. And she didn't mind. "Well, I'll let you think about it while I put on my... where's my bra?"

"Uh..." He looked around. "Over there. I tossed it right before you—"

She walked over to the dresser. "Got it. I was there, remember?" She said stretching out the last word and giving him a look that made his jaws clench. "Anything coming to mind?"

"Oh! Your divorce papers!"

"Yes! Ding! Ding! Ding!"

"I'm so conflicted, babe. I want to say congratulations, but I'm also sad for you."

"Don't be. I'm not." Even as she was saying it, she knew she was lying. She'd been married to Tucker for over a decade. And they had been friends for a few years prior. That was almost fifteen years of friendship and fights and holidays and their son. Her son, Tuck, was the light of her life. If there was any part of this that devastated her, it was the harm it could cause her son as he grew older. The surgeon shook her head. She couldn't think about any of that now. She was finally being freed of relationship that was weighing her down and making her miserable. And stepping into one that was giving her nothing but joy.