Let's Not Stay Away Anymore (Kaimelia)

29: Ready if you are

(omg hi, it's been a while, huh)

As their gaze grew desperate, Amelia's hands had found themselves painfully free from the self-assigned responsibility of feeding a non-existent kindergarten class. Leaning against the counter, her eyes fell shut, the darkness expertly complimenting her general state of mind.

All of a sudden, Kai wasn't sure why they'd asked, because the confirmation, if one were ever to come, would hurt more than the absence of it. Rational thinking had once again yielded to the want, the need to be seen by her, noticed. But, as seconds had turned into minutes, they scolded themself for growing impatient, their body remaining extremely still, matching hers, all the way across the counter, back turned to them.

If words were to be spoken now, Amelia considered, she'd regret them. She'd let it slip.

When Kai finally exhaled loudly, preparing to speak, their phone beat them to it with a light buzz.

David, his crackly voice breaking the spell immediately, sounded impatient in his own, very different, way. Amelia had nodded to noone in particular, starting out of the kitchen.

That's largely how the morning had gone, except...

By the time she'd gotten ready, Kai was gone, the only remainder of their presence - a small note left on the kitchen counter.

'Called a cab - David was waiting.

-K.

P.S. Whenever you're ready' it read.

At face value, the morning might have seemed uneventful to a regular passerby, observing Amelia making her way to the car minutes later. Perhaps a neighbor might have noticed her leaving for work like she did most mornings. However, as the cool late morning air grazed her cheeks on the short walk, it had proven especially difficult to handle keys, a coffee cup and bags, since the methodical running of fingers over the piece of paper now tucked away in her pocket didn't seem to cease. And, just as seamlessly to those not privy to the details of Amelia's life, the morning bled into day.

Between two clipped aneurysms and another yet to come, as well as the removal of a big, juicy tumor, she found herself surrounded by sisters, on one of those rare occasions where all of them could have lunch together, uninterrupted.

Even Mer enjoyed the company, not too often actually engaging in conversation. For the most part, it was Maggie and Amelia who had the most to discuss, with the third sister's nose buried deep in her phone.

Today though, Meredith was more involved than usual, having spent a substantial amount of time being caught up to the inner workings of Dr. Bartley's mind. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she now had a vested interest in this working out.

Has it come to this? Am I getting soft in my old age? She wondered to herself sarcastically, before shaking it off and turning her attention to the bright-eyed brunette.

"Did you and Dr. Bartley talk?" She interrupted the pair's otherwise non-confrontational chat.

Heads turned in surprise, and Amelia shook her head, now taking her sweet time chewing on her pasta salad.

"I better find someone to deep-clean the house then," The blonde smirked, receiving another round of equally frazzled looks. 

"Those two have decided that, instead of talking, they should just have sex about it. So forgive me, if I don't trust that just because I left the both of you in the kitchen this morning, that's where you ended up," feigning surprise, she elaborated, clearly filling in Maggie while maintaining eye contact with her neurosurgeon sister.