strangers in love

chapter 20

OWENS POV
I was sitting across from Amelia at breakfast. We were both eating and she looked like she was thinking about something.
"Whatcha thinking about?" I asked.
"I wanna tell Emma," she said.
"Okay," I said.
"I think she might not be mad at me," she laughed, "I'm not sure, but she's asked multiple times if we're dating so she's obviously figured it out."
"Okay," I said, "whatever is comfortable with you is perfectly fine with me."
"Okay," she smiled, "I just really don't want to tell Joey and Izzy because I know they won't understand and will get upset because of Spencer."
"Yeah I get it," I said.
"Thank you for being so understanding," She smiled, "you've been the best."
"Of course," I said.
"Maybe I'll tell her when I get home from work tonight," she said, "I don't know because she asked about Spencer this morning."
"Oh," I said.
"She wants to see him," She sighed.
"Well what do you want to do?" I said.
"I don't want to take them," She said, "at least not Joey and Izzy they don't even know where he is and I don't want to introduce them to the atmosphere at this age, but then again I feel so guilty keeping them from their father."
"Maybe you could ease them into it," I said,
"Maybe start off by telling them where he is in bits and pieces and then maybe try for a visit?"
"Yeah I don't know," she said, "it's really hard."
"I can imagine," I said, "but you know I'm always here."
"Yeah," she smiled cutely, "so you got anything going on?"
"Well I was talking to my mom and she wants to meet you," I said.
"Awe she wants to meet me?" She said.
"Yeah," I said, "she says I talk about you too much she needs to put a face with the name and meet you." She chuckled and smiled.
"I hope you say good things about me," she joked.
"Of course," I chuckled.
"You're cute," she smiled.
"You're cute too," I said.
"I don't want to go to work I'd stay here and eat breakfast with you all day," she chuckled.
"When do you ever want to go to work?" I joked.
"You got me there," She chuckled, "but work is fun when I see you."
"Yeah," I said.
"Oh shoot we should get going it's 11:40," She said and looked at her watch.
"Oh shit yeah," I said. We hurried up and payed, and I walked out with my arm around her and kissed her head.
AMELIAS POV
I had two long surgeries this morning and now it was already 6pm. I was filling out a chart when I felt someone touch my waist and hug me from behind.
"Hey," I said happily because I knew it was Owen.
"Hey," He said.
"I'm tired," I chuckled.
"Me too," He said.
"Hey you wanna come over later when I tell Emma?" I asked.
"Yeah of course," he said.
"Okay," I smiled. I checked the last box off on the chart and turned and kissed him.
"How did your surgeries go this morning?" He asked.
"Good both are fine," I said, "you?"
"Good as well," he said. He leaned down and kissed me softly and I smiled. Both our pagers went off and Owen frowned and kissed my forehead.
"I'll see you later," he said. I smiled and ran down the hall. I ran into the ER and there was a girl with a very bad brain bleed, she was maybe 13 or 14, right around Emma's age. I took her up to the OR right away and scrubbed in with Edwards. It was really bad and I didn't know if I could save her.
-
I walked out of the OR trying not to cry. The girl died, and all it made me think of was Emma, and I couldn't face the family, I couldn't. I was approaching the waiting room and I saw the worried mother with her son patiently waiting, hoping their daughter would be okay and I couldn't tell them.
"Hey you Okay?" Meredith asked.
"I can't tell them their daughter didn't make it," I said, "she was Emmas age I can't do it."
"Oh Amelia," Meredith said, "I'll tell her."
"Thank you," I said crying. She hugged me tightly and I watched Meredith talk to the mother and I watched the mothers heart break and I know I never want to be in that position.
OWENS POV
Amelia and I were walking out to my car and she was very quiet, more quiet than usual. I figured maybe she had talked to Spencer again, but that wasn't the vibe I was getting.
"Hey what's wrong?" I asked.
"I lost a patient today," she sighed, "A 13 year old girl."
"I'm sorry," I said.
"She reminded me of Emma," she said, "I couldn't tell the mother that her child didn't make it, the way her heart would break the way that she would probably blame me, I couldn't do it."
"It's okay," I said. I put my arm around her and she started crying. I rubbed her back as she cried into me and I knew all she was thinking about was her kids.
"Why don't I take you home and you can see them," I said.
"Yeah," she said, "thanks." We got in the car and I gave her some tissues.
"I still want to tell Emma," she said quietly, "I don't want to keep it from her."
"Okay," I said.
AMELIAS POV
I unlocked the front door and Owen came in behind me and the kids were watching TV on the couch. I gave them extra big hugs because of today.
"Owen can we play a game on the Xbox?" Joey asked, ever since he went to Owen's he's gotten into the Xbox again. Owen looked at me and I nodded, I could tell Emma without him being next to me. Joey pulled Owen into the other room to play with the Xbox and I smiled.
"So I have something I want to tell you," I said to Emma.
"Is it bad?" She chuckled.
"No," I chuckled. She followed me into the kitchen because I didn't want Izzy to hear.
"So what is it?" She said.
"I mean you've figured it out but," I paused, "Owen and I are dating."
"I knew it!" She said.
"You can't tell your siblings," I said.
"Yeah I know," she said.
"So you're not mad?" I said.
"No," she said, "if you're happy I'm happy."
"Awe," I said. I hugged her and kissed head. Owen came into the kitchen and he gave me a look of "does she know?".
"Yeah," I chuckled. He walked over to me and kissed my head and I smiled.
"Are you hungry?" I asked Emma.
"Eh," she shrugged.
"Okay," I chuckled. My phone rang and I looked over and it was Spencer. I flipped the phone over and Emma looked up.
"Can I answer?" She asked.
"No," I said.
"Why not?" She said.
"Because I said so," I said.
"Why," she said, "so I can't talk to him?"
"No," I said.
"Well how is that fair?" She said.
"Life's not fair," I said.
"Just because you hate him doesn't mean I have to hate him," she said.
"I don't hate him," I said.
"Well why can't I talk to my dad?" She said.
"Fine once don't tell your siblings," I said frustrated. She picked up the phone and Owen followed me into the other room. I sighed as I looked up at him.
"It's going to be okay," he said softly. He pulled me into a hug and I nuzzled into his chest. He rubbed my back and I felt safe with his arms wrapped around me.