She has always been a disaster when it comes to relationships, but not this time. The pandemic, the burn out, the end of Grey Sloan’s residency programme and her year working at Joe’s have changed Taryn in so many ways, that meeting someone who makes her heart flutter and falling in love feels right.

Love. They haven’t said the words out loud yet and Taryn doesn’t even know if Mika feels that way about her. Sometimes she thinks she sees it in the way Mika looks at her, or the way Mika always brings her a sandwich from the canteen when she can’t get away for lunch, or the way Mika massages the tension out of her shoulders to stop them from hunching around her ears. But she doesn’t say the words out loud and Taryn is too scared to be the first person to say them, in case the sentiment is not reciprocated.

“Ok, ready!”

Lost in her thoughts, the voice makes Taryn jump and she curses under her breath as she spills soda from the can coke in her hand all over herself. Brushing the droplets of liquid from her skirt, she opens the door and steps out into the fading sunlight. Mika immediately takes her hand and guides her round to the back of the van.

“Ta-da!” Mika cheers proudly.

Taryn smiles widely at what she sees. The back doors are open, with fairy lights strung up to bring light as the sun begins to set. On the grass just behind them is a blanket and cushions, a hamper and a bottle of cheap champagne.

“This looks amazing,” Taryn gushes.

She looks over her shoulder to where Mika stands and leans over to kiss her.  

“Thank you,” she says sweetly.

“Well, you deserve it,” Mika says. “You’ve been working so hard, you deserve some pampering.”

“Oh.” Taryn wiggles her eyebrows suggestively, revelling in the laugh that escapes from Mika. “You deserve it too. You’re really kicking butt at work, you know? Everyone’s impressed by you.”

Mika’s face lights up. “They are?”

Taryn nods. “As they should be. You’re awesome.”

Mika’s face flushes pink. “I think you’re awesome too.”

Mika makes the first move this time, stepping forwards and pressing her lips against Taryn’s, kissing her hard.

“Come on, let’s eat.”

They settle on the blanket and Mika pops the champagne open, pouring it into two plastic flutes and handing one to Taryn.

“To you.”

“To us.”

They clink their glasses together and Taryn takes a sip, enjoying the warmth that spreads through her at the taste. She nods towards the hamper.

“So, what’s for dinner?”

Mika pulls out bread and meat and olives, and an array of cheeses, the final piece the French camembert she knows is Taryn’s favourite.

“Oh my god!” Taryn cries, knowing that Mika must have made a special trip to the deli across town to pick it up. “I really do love you.”

The words fall out of her mouth before she can stop them and they hang in the air between them. After a beat, she feels compelled to fill the silence.

“I didn’t… I mean, I do, but…”

“Taryn,” Mika says softly, trying to stop her freaking out.

Taryn sighs. “I do love you,” she confesses. “And it’s okay if you don’t feel the same right now. Or ever…”

“Are you kidding?” Mika says. “Truth is that I'm so damn in love with you that I don't know what to do with myself.”

Taryn stares at her, dumbfounded. No-one has ever said that to her before. “Really?”

Mika smiles. “Really. I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you and I thought maybe I would tonight.” She pouts playfully. “I guess you beat me to it.”

Taryn laughs.

“So…” she hesitates, unsure of herself. “What now?”

Mike lifts herself onto her knees and shuffles forwards, kissing her more tenderly this time, her tongue sweeping into Taryn’s mouth as she rests her hands on her shoulders, pushing her towards the ground.

“Mika – we’re in public!” Taryn squeals as her back curls onto the hard floor.

Mika lifts her head and looks around, shrugging nonchalantly. “There’s no-one else around.”

She lowers herself on top of Taryn, capturing her lips in another kiss before she can object any more.

Romantic moment prompts