You're Mine

chapter 58

Saturday, 9th October:

---

"Okay, I made the potato salad, but hear me out.", Amelia joked. "Owen has started asking me to cook more for our family and he loves my food whenever I make some, right babe?", she grinned at her boyfriend, who was sitting next to her.

"Absolutely.", the redhead agreed, proudly kissing her temple. They were having their very last grill-party of the year and also in that house. "Meg, are you good over there?", he chuckled, watching his sister grill. She had insisted on doing that.

"Do you think I'm not?", the trauma surgeon questioned, rolling her eyes. "I won't spoil your food Eeyore, no worries.", she informed him, focusing back on the task at hand, noticing how Amelia shoved her brother a little and shook her head.

"Not at all.", Owen lied. "I'm gonna go get the kids. Somebody wanna help?", he asked the group, watching Derek get up to join him. Evelyn was looking at a book with Leo in her lap, while Ellis was asleep in her stroller.

"Hi, mama!", Layla happily greeted her mother and reached for her. She would be sitting at the kids table with her cousins but wanted to give her mom a kiss first. "Can I have some of your grilled corn, please?", she politely wondered. "I don't want a whole one."

"Hi, my little angel.", the brunette's face lit up as she hugged her daughter. "Of course, sweetheart. How much do you want?", she softly questioned, while her boyfriend and his sister filled all the plates.

"Like twenty little pieces.", the five-year-old requested, causing Maggie to beam at her. "What's up, Auntie Maggie?", she curiously wanted to know, having seen the cardio surgeon's facial expression.

"I am just so proud of you because you are such a smarty.", she explained and shrugged cutely, causing her niece to blush a little as she shyly glanced up at her mama, who smiled at her.

"But twenty is not a hard number.", Layla let everyone know, confused why this was supposed to be such a big deal. Her dad lifted her into his arms to take her to the kids table but answered her question first.

"Not to you. But many children your age struggle with numbers that come after ten. And it's fine. Knowledge of numbers is hard to gain.", her father replied. "It is really great that you're so good with them and that you're so smart but don't forget to be sensitive with others when it comes to learning stuff.", he advised softly, watching his girlfriend beam at him. "And now, let's take your plate and eat."

"Dad of the year goes to-", his girlfriend started but was interrupted by her former mentor who had been offered a permanent job at the hospital by the redhead.

"Me, thank you very much.", Tom pointed out. Although Owen still wasn't fond of him, which had nothing to do with the fact that he was Teddy's baby-daddy anymore, Amelia had insisted on inviting the couple, since they were basically family, too.

"You love sitting with grandma, don't you?", the female neurosurgeon changed the topic and addressed Leo, who nodded happily, now sitting in his baby chair waiting for his dinner to be served. "Let's see, what do we have for you.", she thought out loud while her boyfriend dressed their son in his bib. Evelyn remained on the baby's other side.

"MAMAMAM!", the one-year-old yelled for food, ready to eat all of it. He excitedly clapped his hands, making everybody at the table respond with "Awww!" "MAMAMAM", he repeated and insisted on getting his meal.

"Maybe some bread.", Owen suggested, adding a slice to the plate. "A sausage cut into pieces and without the skin.", he continued, causing Amelia to start preparing the meat. "And some cucumber and apple.", he decided. "Enjoy, baby!", he said, kissing his boy's head before he took his seat on the brunette's other side again.

"The potato salad is really great, Amelia.", Teddy told her friend and made her smile. "So, which movie did the kids want to watch after dinner?", she asked. Nobody would have a sleepover tonight, but it was a Saturday, so the children were allowed to watch something before everybody would call it a night.

"Thank you.", Amelia said. "Horton Hears A Who.", she answered. "Would you please set everything up for them?", she addressed Owen, who nodded. "Alrighty, then I'm gonna go get this one right here ready for bed.", she explained.

"I'll help you, man.", Nathan informed his best friend, who gratefully nodded after giving his son a big kiss to say good night to him. Leo sweetly waved at his family before he cuddled into his mother.

"Okay, cute little snuggle-bear, let's give you a bath then, huh?", she beamed. "Do you guys hear that?", she wondered once she came back outside half an hour later. Nobody knew what she was talking about, so she set the baby phone down on the table. "The whimpering?"

"Oh, yeah. I hear it too!", Meredith realized and got up to search the yard with her sister. Megan and Derek joined them. "Do you see something?", she questioned. "Oh my God.", she commented upon seeing Amelia.

"Hi!", the neurosurgeon greeted a very dirty husky puppy and lifted it into her arms. "You were stuck in the fence.", she let the shaking tiny dog know and held it close to her.

"Owen's not gonna like that.", her brother chuckled, already sure where this would go. They all followed the brunette back to the table, where she showed everyone what they had found.

"We're not gonna keep it, babe.", Owen decided firmly. "Stop pouting into my face, we will not keep it.", he repeated. "Overnight is fine because I don't want the poor thing to freeze, and we can give it a bath but that's it."