B E T T Y | Grey's Anatomy

8

For the first time in a year, Betty takes a full deep breath upon waking in the morning. Usually, she's hesitant to breathe too deeply, not wanting to exacerbate the burning hole in her lungs. This morning, that hole has been filled. Betty rolls over, wrapped in white cotton clouds, afraid that if she wakes too much, the dream like scenario she's found herself in will dissolve before her. Her eyes stay shut, for fear that if she opens them, the walls will be her own cream, covered in band posters and song lyrics, instead of the pale green of Amelia's classy spare room. The dreamscape continues with soft rustling of Amelia in the kitchen and her quiet humming to the morning radio. The birds have long finished their morning chorus, the teenager having slept heavily through it, so her sleepy haze is only percussed by the occasional tweet of a jaybird. The serenity encases Betty, like the soft pressure of a hug. 

The same can not be said of Amelia's morning, whose serenity bubble is smashed when she drops a saucepan. She freezes, listening for movement from Betty, and when it seems that she thankfully hasn't disturbed the teenager, she crouches slowly to retrieve the metal with her teeth clenched. Amelia removes herself from the kitchen and its hazards asap. 

Betty looks to her left and notices white linen curtains blowing in the slight breeze from the ajar window. She closes it, not wanting the chill, or to waste Amelia's central heating, before realising that the change of orientation, from lying to standing, has fully awoken her and her bladder. Betty panics, unsure of where the bathroom is, only knowing the way to Amelia's ensuite. That is, conveniently, when Amelia decides to pop her head into the spare room.

"Bathroom?" She questions, seeing Betty's panicked face. "On your left. Sorry, I should've shown you yesterday."

Once both women are settled in the kitchen, Amelia asks Betty what she'd like for breakfast. There's a slight hesitance, with Amelia fighting the urge to just make Betty's 'usual'. The teen grumbles that she can't eat in the mornings- her stomach is simply asleep, which surprises Amelia, who remembers Betty eating her out of house and home before she even left for school. Amelia rolls an apple across the table anyway, giving the child strict instructions to eat it. When met with resistance, all Amelia has to do is raise her eyebrows and Betty takes a tentative bite. She doesn't notice Betty throw the barely eaten fruit in the bin, and assumes that she's had a semi-decent breakfast at least. 

"We really need to talk." Amelia breaks an uncomfortable silence.

"I feel like I should get out of your hair."

"After last night? After showing up here with weed?" Amelia raises her eyebrow, clearing away her bowl of cereal.  "I'm not stupid Betty. You're staying here until I can see you coping better with cravings."

"Isn't that kidnapping?" Betty gasps at her own mouth. "Sorry! Sorry! I am grateful to be here! Please don't hurt me!"

Amelia abandons the bowl and washing up to stand in front of the teen. She crouches only slightly, Betty being at a decent height on her tall bar stools. 

"What did I tell you before?" Amelia wants to place her hands on Betty's thighs to ground her. She flicks her eyes down to Betty's legs and sees her tense immediately, so she veto's that idea.

"Hmmm?" 

Betty still doesn't relax.

"Betty, I will never ever hurt you. Where has this come from? Why are you so convinced I'm going to hurt you?"

"People change." She whispers. "I've changed. I can't decide whether you have."

"I have changed, I have a son now." Betty blanches. "Which only means my heart is bigger." Amelia seeks to correct Betty's panicked face, not quite linking it with the mention of her son. Betty is still trying to come to terms with Amelia officially being someones mother, and yet not being hers.