B E T T Y | Grey's Anatomy

11

Tears dry in salty lines on Amelia's cheeks, whereas Betty's continue to wet her skin, but in a much slower, melancholy dribble, an improvement from the torrential gushes that exploded with her sobs. Amelia is a louder crier, and with such vocalisation, there's little energy left for heavy teardrops. Betty's insistence on muffling her whimpers (after the initial onslaught of sobs) means she can keep up the tears for longer.

Amelia is forced to leave Betty in the bathroom to lay Scout down for a nap, although, the one-year-old could obviously sense his mother's distress as he refuses to let go of her tank top straps.

"Come on Buddy!" Amelia sighs in anguish as the toddler struggles. "It's time to settle down."

The door bell rings.

"Betty, I need you to get it!" Amelia calls, finally in a position where Scout is somewhat laying down and she daren't move a muscle incase he becomes agitated again. Surprisingly, the bolt of bathroom clicks open, and a second click signifies the front door is too.

"See baby, I'm not going anywhere!" Amelia coos with a smile, which is reciprocated by her son.

"What are we gonna do with Betty, huh?" The baby babbles in response. "We can't let her keep hurting herself, can we?" 

Scout works quite well as a sounding board, Amelia realises.

The eventual calmness of Scout's nursery is laughable, when you see the commotion at Amelia's front door. 

"Let me in!" A perky blonde, currently without the voice to match, rams her foot in the door just before Betty can attempt to slam it. 

"No!" The brunette cries, a mixture of fear and anger. "I don't know you!"

"You do!" The blonde chuckles through her frustration.  "You're Betty! I don't know why you're here though.... let me see Amelia!"

Betty stops and stares for a moment, not releasing her pressure on the door however. She searches her brain for the face before her. The defined, pointed chin does ring a bell, as does the perfectly blonde hair, not platinum or honey, somewhere in between. Deep blue eyes contrast Betty's, and they're much bluer than the green tinge found in Amelia's orbs. The outfit the woman wears does little to help Betty remember either. She's dressed in a long coat, down to the middle of her calfs, a tan colour darker than Betty's beige coat. It looks expensive, and well dry-cleaned, or even just well looked after. Betty doesn't think it's the most appropriate coat for Seattle. Firstly, it doesn't have a hood, and even if it did, the imitation (or maybe even real) suede would do little to keep the blonde dry in one of Washington's torrential downpours. The coat is closed by suede belt tied in a loose knot, and with one gust of wind, it would fly open revealing whatever the woman hides underneath. 

If it were a different time, Betty might be inclined to give the woman who is familiar, but not familiar enough, a chance to speak with Amelia, but Betty is far too high strung to take that chance. 

"No!" She decisively asserts, before asking,  "How do you know my name?"

"I saw you at the hospital. Please Betty" The blonde begs. "I really want to see my friend!"

"She's busy." Growls Betty, and the shorter blonde woman scowls, very uncharacteristically, in return.

"Amelia!!!!" She calls, before Betty threateningly steps forwards and shuts her up with a harsh whisper, "Don't you dare shout for her!" A tone she wouldn't dare take on with another adult in fear of being hit. Betty would do anything to protect Amelia though. 

"She needs a rest.  Let her have a few moments to herself."

The frustrated woman changes tactics. She's experienced with overwrought kids after all. "Come on darling, you gotta let me in!"