Ash on the Wind

Chapter 3

After breakfast, Kai and Amelia checked out of the hotel. They spent the morning shopping, buying the items that they would need to get them started in their new home. Kai’s roomy rental car was quite full by the time they purchased Scout’s new cot. Even flat packed, it wouldn’t fit into the vehicle, so they arranged to have it delivered to the apartment later in the afternoon. Kai insisted on buying some little extras that they hadn’t discussed, such as toys and clothes for Scout. At the toy store, they wandered down the aisles, taking some time to choose a selection of new playthings for the toddler, refusing to accept any contribution for their cost from his mother.
During lunch at Joe’s, Amelia called Link. He offered his condolences to her on the loss of the house, extending an offer of accommodation to her at his place. On learning of the couples new living arrangements, Link was happy for them and understood their desire to have Scout with them. He explained that he and Jo Wilson had been planning to take him and Luna to see a puppet show in a local theatre, but he promised to drop him to the apartment at about 6.30.
“Maybe we can call to Maggie’s. I haven’t seen the others since, well, you know”, Amelia said.
“Sure. I understand. It’d be good to see them. Plus, we can tell them our news”, Kai responded.
Thirty minutes later, Kai brought the car to a stop on Maggie’s drive. They took Amelia’s hand as they walked up the drive and knocked. Maggie’s flustered face greeted them when the door opened, but her face lit up on seeing them.
“We wondered where you had gotten to. Glad you’re okay. Kai, welcome to my home. Please, come on in.”
They followed her in and found Mer and the kids playing a rather rowdy game of go fish in the living room. Mer smiled a greeting and completed the game, before leaving the kids to it to join them in the kitchen. Kai stood and offered a hug to the blonde surgeon, extending their apologies. Meredith was philosophical about events, glad that no-one was hurt. Things could be replaced, she stated. People couldn’t.
“So where did you disappear to?” she asked Amelia.
“The Central. I didn’t mean to leave you guys but seeing the kids in such shock got to me. I was having cravings, so I had to get away to protect my sobriety. So, you know, I have been to a meeting and with Kai here, I feel better.”
“Good for you”, Mer offered a warm smile. “I get it. How does that line go from the Big Book? You call it, you got it? Something like that?”
Amelia nodded, relief clearly visible on her face. “I was so worried you’d be mad.”
“Not at all. To be honest, this place has felt beyond chaotic. I’d have gone to a hotel if I had had the choice”.
“That’s got to be expensive. You two should stay here until you figure things out. It’s tight here but we’ll find you a spot”, Maggie offered.
“Actually, that won’t be necessary.” All eyes landed on Kai. “She’ll be coming to live with me. We are moving in to together. Here, in Seattle.”
There were a million questions, demands to see pictures of the apartment, but, the women were happy for them.
Talk inevitably turned to the fire. The investigation into its cause was still ongoing but it was likely that lightening was the culprit. While the insurance company was playing hardball, they were likely to pay out. Meredith thought that she would sell the plot and draw a line under her time in Seattle. Her move to Boston had been delayed by a month, giving her time and space to get her business complete. In the meantime, she would be working on a part-time basis but not as chief. That role was currently being fulfilled by Teddy Altman, who it was hoped would be given the position permanently.
With the apartment still to be prepared, Kai and Amelia said their goodbyes just over an hour after they’d arrived. Amelia was much more at ease now that she had seen her sisters and that she knew that they weren’t mad with her for staying at the hotel.
The apartment was on the second floor of a nice looking complex. It was spacious, with two bedrooms, a bathroom, a living room, and a kitchen. It faced onto a communal garden that showed evidence of children. The furniture was old but very serviceable. With a few throws and strategically placed cushions, it would be a comfortable space.
After a walk around to open the windows and air out the place out, Kai set about bringing the shopping in from the car while Amelia wiped out the kitchen cabinets and stored away their groceries. Next, they vacuumed and dusted, before making the bed and unpacking their clothes and toiletries.
When they were finished, Amelia made coffee and they plopped down on the sofa for a well-deserved break.
“So, Shepherd, are you happy?”
“Yes. It’s small. I mean, where will all your stuff fit? Your drum kit and guitars need to be kept away from Scout, or else our new neighbours will kill us!”
“I will have to put them in storage I guess.”
Amelia was quiet for a few minutes, thinking the situation over. It didn’t seem right that Kai should go without their stuff. If only there were more space.
“What if we looked at houses?” she suggested. “When you’re here full time. I mean if you are planning on staying here permanently. There’d be room for your music stuff and a yard for you to fill with plants.”
Kai’s smile widened as she spoke. “Great minds think alike. I was literally just thinking the same thing.”
She laughed. “God”, Kai thought. “She’s so beautiful when she’s happy”. They looked at her, eyes moving between her eyes and lips. They felt themself drawing closer before their lips meet in a soft, tender kiss, which was cut painfully short by a knock. “That’ll be the cot”, Kai sighed.
Using tools from a hefty looking toolbox, Kai made short work of putting it together. They made it up, placing plushies around it for Scout to play with. With careful thought, Kai arranged the other toys around the room. The finished product filled Amelia’s heart with joy. There had once been a time when she had thought that Kai would never accept her son and now, here they were, fussily arranging toys in a room for him.
Wrapping her arms around their waist, she pulled herself close to Kai. “Thank you, for everything. This is wonderful, perfect and I love you”.
They turned in her arms and rested their chin on the crown of her head. “I should be thanking you. In my wildest dreams, I could never have seen this happening for me. You, me and Scout, our family. You gave me this and for as long as I live, I will thank you for that.”
“You are giving that to me too. This wouldn’t be happening to me without you, and I will love and thank you forever for that.”
“Forever. I like the sound of that.”
“Give it a week, you might just change your mind.”
“Not a chance, Shepherd. Not a chance.”
They lifted their chin and with a finger, lifted hers so that they could kiss her. The kiss was deep and passionate, full of the purest love and emotion. As they were leading her to their bedroom, another knock came. They moaned in unison and frustration. “Link”, Amelia said. “Scout!” added Kai.
The toddlers face lit with a big toothy grin when they saw Kai with her mom. “Kai-Kai”, he babbled, reaching out for them to lift him from his father’s arms. Amelia rolled her eyes in mock annoyance. “Turn coat”, she playfully chided the boy. He didn’t seem to notice as he focused on Kai’s smiling face. Link could see how comfortable Scout was with Kai and how they clearly doted on him. It put his mind at ease to know that he was in such good hands. Wishing them well, he left them to settle Scout in and to enjoy their evening together.
Kai gave Scout a tour of his new home, showing him its key features and points of interest. It ended in his room, where the two spent an hour playing with his new toys. Having left them to enjoy their fun, Amelia smiled to her self as she prepared  Scouts dinner in the kitchen. She had to call Kai twice before they came down the hallway to eat.
Scout ate sitting on his moms knee. It was messy and prompted her to comment on the need to get a high chair in the coming days. When he was done, they bathed him together. Kai had him in fits of giggles, splashing him gentley with water and giving him a bubble beard.
In his pyjama’s, Kai read him a story, doing the characters voices. He was soon asleep, tuckered out by the days excitement.
Kai insisted on cooking for her and she was happy to let them. Cooking wasn’t her forte. They whipped up a simple pasta in sauce meal and they ate in comfortable silence. After, they tried to watch some TV but found that they too were tuckered out by the day. They shared the bathroom as they washed up and brushed their teeth. In their room, they slipped into tshirts and short and fell into bed.
Amelia rested her head on their chest, listening to their heart beating. She felt her eyes grow heavy as the played with her hair. Kai loved the feel of her head on their chest. They felt like her protector and it give them a sense of pride.
In the space of two days, Ms Amelia Frances Shepherd had changed their whole world and they couldn’t have been happier. Sure, they’d have to be back in Minnesota for a few more weeks, getting their loft there vacated and tying up loose threads at the clinic. Normally, the thoughts of being away from her would cause them to ache. Knowing that this time would be the last time it would be happening, they felt positive and upbeat.
“Love you, ‘artley”, Amelia muttered, already half asleep.
“I love you too, Shepherd. More that you will ever know.”