Megan smiled widely and led Amelia away from the nurses’ station. She was barely back at work, spending lots of time at the lab trying to regain her confidence – so far, it wasn’t working.

She’d done a couple of consults and avoided most of her colleagues. It was still ridiculously hilarious to her, how the infamous neurosurgeon had had a brain tumor for years. Amelia Shepherd and her tumor was all everyone was talking about lately. The fact that she was avoiding all and everything probably wasn’t helping her much.

“How’s your head?” Megan asked gently after a while of walking around the hospital.

“Better,” Amelia responded and sighed. “I used to have these headaches, you know? I always thought they were stress related, this job can be… challenging.”

Megan nodded in silence, waiting for her sister-in-law to continue. And she did.

“Anyway, they’re gone now.”

“That’s good,” acknowledged the red-head and looked down. She clearly wanted to say something, but waited another moment. “Look, I’m sorry for saying those things about you to my brother. I really shouldn’t have intruded like that.”

“No, you probably shouldn’t have,” Amelia agreed, but kept the slight smile on her face. “But I’m glad you did. I was a bitch. I said a lot of things – and did a lot of things.”

“Yeah, you truly seemed like a stone-cold lady,” Megan chuckled.

“I’m not though, at least I hope not. A part of me has to believe that some of the choices I made, when I hurt Owen and all the people around me… that the tumor affected me.”

She had been thinking a lot about that. Wishing and hoping it was not all her. She’d heard Meredith make some inappropriate joke about it, how good it could be to blame every mistake on a tumor. Amelia didn’t blame her for it, she kind of agreed.

But there was a balance to uphold, as an adult and person, to take responsibility for her own actions.

“I’m only talking about myself, how’s your son? How’s your new abs?”

“He’s good. And everything’s good,” Megan answered truthfully. “The reason why I wanted to talk to you… I wanted to make sure you’ll look out for my brother when I’m gone.”

“I will,” Amelia promised. She meant it. It didn’t matter how things between them progressed, she would always care about her husband. She would have his back, and from now on, things would be different.

“I think I have to get back to my room, make sure Farouk doesn’t eat all my chips,” Megan explained, and was about to walk away.

“Megan?”

“Yeah?”

“I do love your brother,” Amelia confessed, almost shocked by her own honesty. 

“You should tell him that. You two love-birds should really communicate more.”

What if she can’t save her mother? The little voice in Owen’s head whispered, sending a shiver up his spine. He shook the thoughts away, no use in thinking about the unlikely. Beside him Ruby was looking down at her shoes, an occasional yawn escaping from her. She shook her head adamantly, like she was reprimanding herself for being tired.

“Ruby?” Owen nudged her, catching her attention, “You can take a nap if you want. It’s been a long day.”

“No thanks. I’m not tired-” she started, only to be cut off a yawn. She looked over to Owen giving him a sheepish smile.

“Come on, there’s an on-call room just down the hall that you can sleep in,” he tried, sighing as she declined.

“I’ve got to stay here, just in case we get any news. I can’t have her wondering where I am, she’s got to focus on my mom.”

Owen chuckled at her stubborn demeanor, reminded of another steadfast brunette. He checked his watch, there would still be hours before Amelia was done. Reaching behind Ruby he grabbed the pillow, placing it on the far end of the gurney, “Why don’t you nap here. That what we’ll know as soon as anything happens.”

“I already told you, I’m not tired,” she argued, her brows furrowing in frustration.

Suddenly Owen got an idea. He slouched against the wall, wrapping his arms over his torso and closing his eyes, “Well I am. If you don’t mind I’m just going to take a quick nap.”

Ruby didn’t respond, watching the rhythmic rise and fall of Owen’s sturdy chest. After a few minutes, when she was sure he was asleep, she secured the pillow over his legs, her head falling heavy on it. Owen smiled in his “sleep”. Quirking an eye open he saw her little frame curled up, her breaths coming evenly, a tell-tale sign she was asleep. Carefully he ran his fingers through her fine chocolate hair, massaging her scalp gently.

The creak of the door broke Owen out of his reverie. Looking up he saw Amelia approaching, a solemn look plastered to her face. He shook Ruby gently, rubbing her shoulder to bring her out of her sleep. The young girl stretched like a kitten, her body adjusting after being dormant in a curled position. She lifted a heavy lid, finding the pretty young doctor she had seen earlier staring back at her, a pitiful smile on her face.

Ruby sat up quickly, nearly toppling over from the force of her movement. Her sleepy eyes ran over the surgeon’s face, looking for any clues about her mother’s condition. She straightened her shoulders, wanting to appear put together and strong as she cleared her throat, “Are you finished now? Is… is my mom dead?”

Amelia nodded slowly, worrying her lip between her teeth, “We’re all done Ruby, your mom is alive.”

Ruby scrambled off the gurney, wrapping her arms tightly around Amelia’s midsection. Her words were muffled by the young woman’s scrubs, “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Amelia’s watery eyes met Owen’s as she embraced the girl in her arms. His eyebrow raised in silent question, wondering the cause for her upset. Her eyes slid closed as she mouthed one word:

Coma.

Owen’s muscles tensed as guilt wracked his body. His eyes focused on Ruby, who was glued to Amelia’s torso. He cleared his throat gently, before opening his mouth to speak. Ruby turned her attention to Owen, her smile fading at the serious look on his face.

The little girl paled significantly, “What? What happened?”

Owen and Amelia looked to each other, silently battling over who would break the news. Amelia nodded slightly before squatting down to Ruby’s eye level.

“Ruby, do you know what a coma is?” Amelia asked gently, her hands grasping the younger girl’s.

Ruby nodded gently, her eyes welling, “That’s when someone won’t wake up, right?”

“That’s right,” Amelia confirmed, her voice thick with emotion.

Ruby looked to Owen, “Is my mom in one? In a coma?”

Owen looked down at his hands before looking back, “Yes, Ruby.”

Ruby dropped Amelia’s hands and hugged her arms around herself, tears slipping down her cheeks. Owen slid off the gurney, and kneeled down, wrapping Ruby in his arms. She struggled before succumbing to the comfort he radiated, her wet tears beginning to drop on his shoulder. Owen rubbed a hand along her back, the other reaching out to grasp Amelia’s fingers, giving a comforting squeeze. The brunette’s eyes locked on his before turning her attention back to Ruby. Eventually Ruby’s tears slowed, and only the occasional sniffle was heard. Slowly, she disentangled herself from Owen, and turned to look at Amelia.

“Is she ever going to wake up?” she asked, her voice small and weak.

Amelia pushed a lock of hair away from Ruby’s face, “We won’t know for a while Ruby, there’s no way for us to tell.”

Ruby’s shoulders sagged and she took in a few ragged breaths, her eyes welling once again. Amelia’s heart tugged for the young girl, “Would you like to see her?”

Ruby nodded slowly, looking to Owen for reassurance. He smiled down at her gently, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder as Amelia led the way to her mother’s room. The neurosurgeon stopped them just before the room, and got down on Ruby’s level again.

“She will look a little bit sick, with some tubes coming out of her arms, and she’s got a big bandage on her head,” Amelia warned Ruby, “Would you like us to come in?”

Ruby took a big breath, and shook her head, “I think I just want to see her alone if that’s okay.”

Owen nodded, “Of course. We’ll be right out here if you need us okay?”

Ruby slowly walked into the room, her breath hitching slightly. She sat in the chair beside the bed, and carefully reached for her mother’s hand.

“Hi momma,” she whispered, tears leaking out of her eyes.

Amelia inhaled sharply at the interaction before her eyes, a young girl and her incapacitated mother. To her left, she heard Owen do the same. Slowly, she linked her fingers with his, tethering herself to him.

“What now?” Amelia whispered, turning her gaze to Owen’s solemn face.

He shrugged, “We ask if she has family, emergency contacts or anything.”

Amelia worried her lip between her teeth, “And if she doesn’t? What then? Do we - do we call CAS?”

Owen released a breath he didn’t know he was holding, his face hardening, “We’ll get there when we get there, ok?”

Amelia squeezed his hand tightly, bracing herself emotionally, “Okay.”

Owen gave her a small smile with soft eyes before turning to look back at the room before them. Ruby was whispering something to her mom. Carefully she stood, leaning over to place a kiss on her mother’s cheek. She hastily wiped her eyes on her sleeve before exiting the silent room.

She slid the door closed behind her before turning to the surgeons. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her voice hoarse, “So what now?”

The three sat in an empty conference room. Ruby swayed back and forth rhythmically, enjoying the movement of the spinning desk chair. Her legs swung carelessly as she worried her lip, eyes shifting between the two adults. Owen ran a hand over his face, taking a few deep breaths. He felt Amelia’s small hand cover his, squeezing reassuringly.

“Well,” Amelia started, shifting her eyes between Ruby and Owen, “we need to figure out where you are going to stay while your mom is here.”

Ruby nodded slowly in understanding.

Amelia smiled gently at the young girl, “Do you have any family Ruby?”

Ruby shook her head quickly.

Owen tensed, his eyebrows knitting together, “What about your dad, Ruby? Or your grandparents?”

The young girl took a shaky breath, sniffling occasionally, “I never met my dad, or my grandparents. It’s just Mom and me.”

Owen’s eyes slipped closed as he tried to calm himself down. Amelia’s eyes had welled, a lone tear slipping down her cheek. She laced her fingers with Owen’s and turned her attention to Ruby.

“Don’t worry, it’s going to be okay. We’re going to help find someone really nice to take care you, ok?” Amelia reassured, her voice wavering slightly.

Owen stared at Ruby, watching her lip quiver as she tried to look brave. His heart clenched in his chest at the sight of her.

Amelia leaned over to Owen, whispering in his ear, “I’m going to call CAS and get Bailey.”

She stood, smiling briefly at Ruby, “I’m just going to call, ok?”

“Wait!” Owen said, startling both his companions.

Amelia quirked a brow at him, her head cocked. Ruby’s eyes shot to Owen, confusion written all over her face with the slightest glimmer of hope in her eyes.

He wrung his hands before placing them on the table in front of him. He cleared his throat, searching for the right words to say. He focused his gaze on Ruby, “What if - well, uh - what if I said you could stay with me, at my house? Would you - would you want to do that, Ruby?”

“Instead of staying with strangers?” she questioned, her sniffles dissipating slightly.

Owen nodded softly, “Yeah.”

“Owen,” Amelia interrupted in a warning tone, concern evident in her eyes.

He broke eye contact with Ruby, looking over to Amelia, “I’m a registered foster parent, ok? It’s fine, so long as Ruby agrees.”

Ruby smiled for the first time in hours, dimples sinking in her cheeks, “Would you really let me stay with you?”

Owen smiled back, nodding, “Of course, Ruby.”

She looked back at him, “And we could visit my mom sometimes?”

Owen nodded again, “Whenever you want to.”

The young girl stood from her chair, and walked over to Owen. He turned in his chair to face her, his eyes searching her face for an answer. She threw her small arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. He reciprocated, his arms circling her small frame.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice muffled by his coat.

“Of course,” he replied, running his fingers through her hair.

Amelia watched the scene, her eyes connecting with Owen’s. He smiled slightly, asking for reassurance. She nodded in return, lovingly smiling at him.

Owen released Ruby gently, “Let’s go make a few calls and get everything sorted, okay?”

Ruby nodded, grabbing his hand. Amelia smiled at the pair, walking with them. Suddenly Ruby looked up at Owen, “So where will I stay in your house?”

Amelia’s eyebrows shot up, turning her attention to Owen, she waited for the answer as well. Owen stalled for a moment as a sheepish look came over his face, “Well, that’s something we might have to figure out.”

Damn it!

He looked at the time on his phone and saw a text ticking in from his soon to be ex-wife. That certainly wasn’t helping.

Owen yawned for the five hundredth time that night. He’d respond to Amelia later… Or talk to her further into the day, it was 7 am and he was tired as hell.

He sighed and started typing; about how he would pleasure her till her knees buckled and wait - making her long for the climax. He would devour her body in all ways that pleased her. He typed and typed, describing it in detail.

If this didn’t get Carina’s attention, he didn’t know what would.

Five hours later, and a beeping page threw him out of the bed. It would have to do – work was calling, literally.

He ran past Dr. Robbins and the receiver of his previous text, Carina. They were in deep conversation, but DeLuca smiled carefully, responding to his huge grin. Had it worked? He swore he saw a glee in her eyes.

Owen kept running, keeping up the pace. He would think about his sexual duties later.

Swooping into trauma room, he yelled, “What do we got?”

“Multiple GSW to the chest, patient awake and responsive. I’m worried there might be more enteral bleeding,” April explained and he got to work.

Together, they ran to the OR when the scans came back showing massive enteral bleeding and a bullet lounging itself in between the ribcage and lungs.

It was bad, really bad. They both knew it, but worked as quick as they could. Richard Webber assisted and gave them both the calm they needed.

But the patient condition was critical, it was doubtful he would make it. His family was updated and was currently praying with all their might.

When they scrubbed out, they knew they couldn’t have done anything else. Now it was up to fate.

After a quick chat with Dr. Bailey he was allowed to borrow the conference room to relax. Every on-call room was occupied, apparently.

His duties to Carina would have to wait even longer.

Owen was almost falling asleep again, when a knock at the door interrupted him.

“Come in,” he responded softly and looked at his phone screen. Still no response from Carina. This was getting unbearable, his libido nearly going through the roof.

Amelia’s head peeked into the room. She had an elusive smile on her face.

She closed the door, and to his surprise, she turned the lock.

He remembered how he hadn’t responded to the text he’d gotten almost 8 hours ago.

“About that text, I’m sorry-” he started, but was cut off by his wife.

“Yeah, me too,” she said, instantly. The smile on her face grew. Owen frowned in return.

“Hmm?” he uttered slowly.

“I’m sorry, about not taking you up on that offer… Actually, I’m sorry about wanting to take you up on that offer.”

He stared at her dumb-founded, what offer?

“We just can’t,” she continued, not noticing he was completely thrown off and had no idea what they were talking about. “Even though I really want to.”

“To...?” Owen wanted to know. Hadn’t she texted him about some books she still had at the house?

“To have sex with you,” Amelia confessed and looked down a moment before meeting his eyes again. “You didn’t need to go into detail, though. I know how good you are with your hands, no reminder needed.”

It hit him. With Amelia standing in front of him, all puffed up with her beautiful smile – there was just no way he had sent that text to Carina.

Had his subconscious screwed with him?

“Right… right,” he answered and cleared his throat. He didn’t know what the hell to do. There was a small panic in his stomach, but also a small voice at the back of head saying ‘Why not just go with it? You’re technically not lying’.

“I understand,” Owen mumbled and nodded. Then he smiled, it was awkward, but he knew he would probably laugh about this in a few years.

A small silence between them. They both stared at each other. He knew that look all too well, that stupid, stupid glowing look in her eyes.

“I probably shouldn’t have done that… It was wrong. No matter how much we both… want to,” he took a small breath. “We’re getting divorced and I was just stupid, you know?”

“I know,” she whispered, so quietly he could barely hear it. He didn’t know what the hell he was doing, but he somehow stepped forwards.

She got closer, herself and leaned in, gave him small kiss on the lips. It was familiar, and yet so good.

Amelia stared at him with her wonderful eyes, and he captured her lips in his again. Their lips met in a beautiful dance.

They broke away, probably both remembering that they were separated, and soon-to-be-divorcees.

“This is a one-time thing,” she announced.

“This is a one-time thing,” he repeated. She turned around and started walking towards the door.

Owen was sure she was leaving, but she closed the blinds, threw her head back and gave him a grin. He hadn’t seen her so care-free in a long time.

Her hands found her shirt and she threw it on the floor. A chuckle came out of his mouth - when they got closer once again, they kissed passionately.

It was a one-time thing. And this was their last ever one-time thing. He would make it memorable, sort of like a farewell-gift… Just with his hands, and eventually, his penis.

Her thoughts were chaos and the stress of the situation got to her. Damn it, damn it. She would never be happy, would she? Something always happened, something always screwed it up.

Tears fill her eyes and she tried to calm her breathing.

“Hey, hey,” she heard a male voice say and she looked up to find Owen standing in the door-way. He was making his way over to her. Her sobs filled the room, and he stroked her back.

“It’s okay, you’re okay,” he told her, but she was still in doubt. The baby. “Just breathe.”

Owen found his phone and started typing with one hand, and stroking her back with the other.  

“What are you doing?” Amelia asked, and discovered her voice was really hoarse.

“Paging Dr. Robbins.”

She stared at him, confused and dumb-founded. Arizona? Wait – was she still pregnant?

Not long after, the blond joy-spreader walked into the room and closed the door. She had a large smile on her face, but she was still serious. Everyone was quiet, Amelia was about to snap. Speak, damn it.

“You had a Placental abruption,” Arizona explained and let it sink in.

“How bad was it?” Amelia asked, almost holding her breath.

“Moderate, but still serious,” Robbins replied. “You had tetanic contractions, elevated heart rate and some bleeding. The fetus was in slight distress, but everything seems to be fine.”

“The baby, it’s fine?” she asked, needing verification once more. Her voice was about break, this was really tough.

“You’re still 20 weeks along. You didn’t lose it, Amelia.”

The young shepherdess turned to her husband, and started crying hysterically. She threw herself in Owen’s arms and held on tight, like she was about to lose him.

She’d been so scared. All the emotions overtook her. It was fine, so far. The baby wasn’t gone, she was still pregnant. As she was in Owen’s arms, she felt his body shake as well, and hear his quiet sobs along with hers.

He, too, had been scared.

After minutes, and minutes of sobbing and crying, and sniffling, Arizona told her about the temporary bed-rest.