A Healing Love

4

Ben felt like a teenager on prom night. He sang in the shower and danced around his hotel room as he got ready.

"You Ben Warren are one bad mother watch yo mouth" He brushed his teeth. Tonight had to be perfect. He got dressed and sprayed his cologne. They agreed to just meet at the restaurant. Despite Ben wanting to pick her up and drive her. Miranda Bailey was stubborn. And Ben found that to be one of her best qualities. He left his hotel and stopped to buy flowers

"A lucky lady" The florist smiled at Ben

"I'm the lucky one" He payed for the flowers and jogged back to his car. They agreed nothing too fancy for their first date. He pulled up to the diner and walked in. He got a booth and waited for Miranda. As the seconds ticked by and turned into minutes. He felt his nervousness rising. Every time the bell on the door rang he turned his head hoping to see Miranda Bailey. She hadn't called or texted him and he contemplated if he should call her. He tapped his hand on the table nervously.

"Are you ready to order or you going to wait for your guest" The waitress walked over to him

"Just a soda for now. Coke please" He smiled
He continued to wait. He checked his watch his date was supposed to start 15 minutes ago. Just as he was beginning to think Miranda appeared.

"So sorry as I was leaving I got pulled into a quick case" She sat down

"Everything okay" He asked

"Yeah kid in the ER shoved a lego up his nose" She chuckled "I did a successful lego extraction"

"Putting those years of surgical training to good use" He laughed

"You know as much as I love surgery, the non surgical cases are a breath of fresh air. It's a nice break"

"Well I know a lot about noses. You could've called me in for a consult"

"You know next time a kid comes in with a foreign body up their nose I'll call you the surgeon who doesn't even work at my hospital to come look at it" She smirked

"Yeah okay you got jokes" He admired her

"Your date finally showed huh" The waitress returned
Miranda snapped her head and shot the waitress a look that could kill

"Right, mind just taking our order" Ben also gave her a look. Miranda held back her laughter. They gave the waitress their order and she walked away with a slight attitude.

"Women like that frustrate me" Ben shook his head

"You told her I was your date"

"Aren't you" He raised an eyebrow

"We're two people who like food remember" She laughed

"Well you see that was all just a cover for a date. So yes Dr. Bailey this is in fact a date"
He was so nervous he almost forgot that he got her flowers.

"Oh I got you these" He handed her the flowers

"I guess that officially makes this a date then" She blushed
Once their food came they enjoyed their meal and really enjoyed each other's company. They talked about everything from their childhood to residency. Ben felt his nervousness subside as they talked. Suddenly Miranda Bailey was someone he could talk to for hours.

"So your intern had to help you deliver because your husband was having brain surgery. And whole time there was a freaking bomb in the hospital" Ben couldn't believe what he was hearing

"That was a hard day" She shook her head

"You are amazing wow" He sat back and just smiled "A real superwoman". He thought about his mom. She would love Miranda. At this moment Ben felt that he loved her. Ben was a ladies man as his friends teased him but this was different. He saw his entire future in her eyes. She caught how he was staring and avoided looking into his eyes

"Am I making you nervous now" He laughed

"I like you. From the conversations we've had that has been made clear to me. I like you. And you make me nervous yes" She covered her face

"You're melting" He chuckled

"Oh shut up" She waved her hand

"When can I have my second date" He leaned on the table

"How long were you planning to be here" She laughed "you are really a surgeon right"

"I'm here to help them with Libby her first few days maybe first week post-op" He smiled

"You're good with her. Ever imagined kids of your own"

"Maybe one day. What about you, you want another"

"Always wanted a girl" She nodded

"That would suit you well being a girl mom. A little you running around behind you bossing everyone around"

"I do not boss people around" She laughed

"Right, I hear you run that whole surgical department even non peds cases. Which is very attractive if you ask me"

"Well is that so Benjamin"

"Ben"

"Benjamin like I said"

"Yes that is so Dr. Bailey. I like a woman in charge. Something about the command in your voice"

"Is that a kink or something" She laughed

"You know, I don't think so" He laughed shaking his head. They laughed and laughed. And he choked a bit on his soda. Which made them laugh more. Now Ben was certain. This was love.

"Hey I'm going to run to the bathroom real quick" She wiped tears from her eyes that accumulated while they were laughing.

"I'll get the check" Ben wiped away his own tears. Man he could get used to this. He flagged the waitress over and got the check. As he was standing waiting for Miranda he noticed some men looking and talking about him. Then once Miranda walked back over they were obviously checking her out. This was their first date and he had no claims to her and yet he wanted to show those guys that she was all his.

"Hey ready to head out" She smiled

"See those guys" He whispered

"The ones checking me out. Yeah you get used to that when you've been full figured since high school" She shrugged

"Follow my lead" He winked
He dropped to one knee and took her hand. He looked at those guys and they were gawking
"Babe here in this little diner could you make me a very lucky man and agree to be my wife"

Miranda covered her mouth as if she was crying but she was really holding back laughter. She got a quick look at the men and they were staring anticipating her response. Ben smirked. He cleared his throat and Miranda looked at him

"Yes" She nodded
He jumped up and hugged her tightly and spun her around. Everyone in the restaurant clapped. He saw the looks on the guys face and grabbed Miranda's ass and winked at them.
Childish of him but it felt so good to do. Not only to see the look on their faces but also because he had this amazing woman in his arms.

"So when can I have my second date"

"I guess sometime before the wedding huh" She laughed as they walked out of the diner.