"Hi I'm Dr Shepherd, Christopher's Mother." I say, he runs up to me and hugs me. The school receptionist lets us go and he walks out to my car. "Where are we going?" He asks curiously. "Where do you want to go, kiddo?" I say back. He's 5 and doesn't know much so The travel is up to me but if he wants to see something, he will. I have the money and nothing to do with it. I already set half of it away for his college fund and much more. Being a surgeon comes in handy sometimes. We stop home and pack quickly and then head off to the airport. I have no idea where I even want to stay but I guess I'm planning it when I get there.
"2 tickets to New York please" I say to the airline receptionist who smiles and charges it on my card. I figure we should get to NYC and then over to Europe. Our flight lands and he's sleeping, so I pick him up and he rests his head on my shoulders. We exit the plane and I grab out bags and leave the airport. We're staying in the city for a day then leaving tomorrow, I've only been here a few times and wanted to see it before I.. "Wow!" Chris says, then starts talking about how tall the buildings are. We take a taxi to our hotel and then drop our stuff in our room before heading out to explore the city. I take three Advil before we leave, my head is pounding as always. We see all the tourist locations and eat at a cute little bistro in little Italy before our short walk back to the hotel. He's asleep in my arms, as I peacefully walk into the hotel doors. He wakes up when I set him on his bed, there's two in the room so I figured I'd take one and he's have the other. "Can you sleep with me tonight Mama?". His voice cracks in tiredness and it makes my heart melt. "Of course LoveBug." I say, putting pj's on and brushing my teeth and then cuddling with him in the bed.
After a few days in London and a few more in Paris, Chris is passed out in the airplane on the way to Rome. I've always wanted to see Italy, especially since a lot of my family is from there. We land and are in a taxi on our way to the hotel when Meredith calls. Chris is asleep in my arms, I Pick the phone up and say "hey what's up?" She interrupts me and says "you need to come home right now, we found a way to take this tumor out. you're going to make it, Amelia." I sigh, she has the highest hopes. "Mer I don't want the surgery. I don't want to risk paralysis or memory loss when I could spend my last few months with Chris and with you guys, you know this. I'll be home in a month, okay? Thank you for trying but I don't want it." I say, hanging up. Truth is, part of me does want the surgery. I don't want to leave Chris. He's my everything. And I wish I had more time with Arizona, I really feel like we could get somewhere.
About 14 hours later, I woke up to the sound of banging on the hotel door. I rush to my feet and open the door, trying not to wake Chris up. He's exhausted. I open the door and my jaw drops. "Arizona?" I say. She starts talking about how she rushed here to see me and to convince me to come home but I interrupt her by kissing her. I put my arms around her and passionately make out with her, keeping as quiet as possible due to my sleeping son about 20 feet away. I pull away after a few minutes and take her hand, pulling her into the side room off the bedroom in the hotel.
"I need you to come back, I need you to try this surgery because I need more time with you. Chris needs more time with you. Please Amelia. At least listen to what Mer has to say. We all want you here as long as possible." I interrupt her, again. "Fine. I'll come home. We'll try the surgery.". She smiles widely and says "I love you, Amelia." I bruh her blonde curls behind her shoulder and say "I love you too, Arizona." I wait another go before waking Chris up and breaking the news to him. He wants to stay and travel more but maybe after the surgery I will. He doesn't know about the tumor, he doesn't know why we're doing what we're doing. I can't stand to tell him.
We're back in Washington, and before even stopping home we walk into the hospital. Arizona takes Chris and entertains him. I walk to the conference room, inside is Meredith, korasic and Richard. I set my purse down and sit with them at the table. Korasic explains his plan. First Chemo, then a surgery to remove most of the tumor, then more chemo and if needed a second surgery. I agree to it and Meredith Brings me time the oncology wing. I'm plugged into machines and the chemo starts. Fuck. I think, what am I going to tell Chris.
