The show Grey's Anatomy and the characters are the sole property of Shonda Rhimes and do not belong to me.

Chapter 23

Late in the evening after they had cleaned up the bedroom and showered and changed. She sat at the table watching Burke prepare dinner. She wanted to make the dinner but he insisted that she shouldn't. She wasn't sure if it was because as he said, she needed her rest or because he thought she couldn't cook. After all, when they lived together before, he did all the cooking. He may not have noticed the many cookbooks she had acquired since then. When Christopher came along, she learned to cook because to her children shouldn't eat junk food. It was then that she realized that Christopher should have already been home and when she mentioned it to Burke, he wasn't concerned. "What is it you're not telling me?"she asked suspiciously.

"Christopher is having dinner with your parents this evening. They'll bring him home later."

"How much later?" I feel like I've abandoned him. Like he's been passed from one friend to another and now my family. We have hardly had any time alone, together. This morning I could feel him holding on to me as if he didn't want to leave."

Burke understood and empathized with her. It must be hard for her to adjust to so many changes.

And for Christopher the adjustment must seem greater. But Christopher was still very young and children were quite resilient so he wasn't too concerned. He knew that the worst thing that could happen to their son was for him to enter his life and then leave, so moving in would have the opposite effect. "This will be it, I promise. Your parents will be leaving soon and this is their only opportunity to spend time with him."

"What time are they supposed to bring him back?" "After I'm finished cooking, we're finished eating and you've had your way with me one more time."

"You know. We can't make up for three years in one day. Besides sending me home to recover means that I have to be able to exercise . . . walk"

He walked over to her, knelt down in front of her and whispered. "We may not be able to make up for three years in one day, but I'm having a whole lot of fun trying, and you don't have to walk . . . I'll carry you. As for exercise, you're getting enough."

"You think you have the answer to everything."

"Nope, just the answer to what ails you. Now just be quiet and let me concentrate on food right now because if you don't we're going to end up in another room doing other things."

She left him then, telling him she had phone calls to make. She went into the bedroom and closed the door. Meredith picked up the phone on the first ring. Without saying hello she said. "Cristina, what took you so long. I didn't want to intrude so I didn't call. What's going on?"

"Are you sitting down?"

Meredith could not control her excitement, she knew that if Cristina asks if she was sitting down it had to be something big. When Cristina finally spoke, it floored her.

"How would you like to be my maid of honor?"

"Your what! Who's getting married, who are you marrying? When?" Meredith was totally confused.

"I'm marrying the door man. What's wrong with you, snap out of it Meredith, this is serious. I'm marrying Burke. He asked and I said yes."

"Congratulations, when did this happen? What did you do to him? What did he do to you?"

"He gave me a ring, a gorgeous pink diamond ring and I think I must have screwed his brains out because he wants to marry me."

"And where was Christopher when you were screwing his father's brains out?"

"With my parents."

"So all is well on that front?"

"All is well. I think they gave him their blessings to change my status from potential spinsterhood to wife."

"Cristina, I'm so happy for you. I knew this day would come. I knew you guys would find your way back. You tell Burke he owes me one. He was so mad at me the day he first came to see you at the hospital. Someone mentioned Christopher and he thought you had a boyfriend. When I saw that reaction, I knew. That man never stopped loving you."

"Okay Meredith, I can't stay long. There's something else I have to tell you but that can wait."

"Is there an inscription in the ring?"

"What, how am I suppose to know that. I haven't taken it off since he placed it on my finger."

"Well take it off stupid. Every engagement ring has an inscription."

She took the ring off and looked inside. There were two hearts intertwined, similar to the Olympic rings and an inscription which read. You're welcome.

"What does it mean?" Meredith asked confused. The hearts I understand, but the you're welcome, what's that about."

Cristina was perplexed. "I have no idea."

"Well, I hope you won't be too busy doing you know what to ask him."

"I'll ask him later. In the mean time keep this to yourself. I don't want it all over the hospital before I come back to work. And Mer, thank you."

"For what?"

"For knowing what I needed and for getting George to call him, and for being there for Christopher."

"No problem, now go find out about the inscription. I'll talk to you later."

She walked back in the kitchen with her ring not on her finger but in her hand. "So what does it mean."

"What does what mean?"

"Burke. You know what I'm talking about. The inscription in the ring, what does it mean."

"I wondered how long it would take you to notice that."

"So" She was getting impatient.

He turned around to face her, looking deep into her eyes. "Do you remember the day you walked into the On Call room while I was changing?"

"I walked in on you changing a lot of times."

"I'm talking about the very first time. The day that I had the meeting with Meredith, the chief and the hospital lawyer regarding the popped glove incident."

"Yeah" She remembered.

"Well, after the meeting, I saw you with your friends waiting for Meredith. We looked at each other and I felt a connection. By the time you walked in the room I was totally conflicted. You walked in looking so sure of youself but by the time you closed the door, I knew you were scared, just like I was. You said, thanks for the coffee and I didn't answer. Instead I .. Well you know what happened next. I always wondered how different our lives might have been if I had handled that situation differently. So, that is your answer, the answer I should have given you then. You're welcome.

She reached up and pulled him down toward her. Kissed him and whispered, "I love you."

"Say that again."

"Shut up and kiss me back."

On a bright autumn afternoon in a small chapel on the outskirts of Seattle, Dr. Cristina Yang Married Dr. Preston Burke. The wedding though small, was the epitome of class. Only close friends and immediate family members were invited. The bride wore a gown designed by Vera Wang. The simplicity of the gown only serves to enhance its beauty. As she entered the aisle to walk toward him, Burke's eyes never left hers. Standing next to him was his old college friend from Tulane who served as his Best Man. Meredith served as Cristina's maid of honor and Cristina's sister, Izzie and Bailey served as Brides Maids. They recited their own vows and when they were finished there wasn't a dry eye in the church which prompted the Minister and the Rabbi to remind everyone that this was a wedding, not a funeral. After the vows, and the breaking of the glass and the and the kiss, a kiss that minister had to interrupt because they wouldn't stop, Mr. And Mrs. Preston Xavier Burke was presented to those in attendance. They finally jumped the broom, figuratively and actually because their ceremony encompassed their individual heritage as well as their religions. Christopher, who sat quietly in his maternal grandmother's lap during the entire ceremony, now started to fidget, wanting to go to his parents. So Cristina's mom let him go and he ran towards them. Burke picked him up and they left in the Limo for their reception.

They spent one night in their apartment before going to a one week honeymoon. Burke made the arrangements so Cristina had no idea where he was taking her. That night which should have been the best night of her life Burke noticed that she was a bit quiet, almost sad. "What's wrong?" he asked quietly.

"I know that I promised to leave him with Meredith but I can't do it. I can't leave him again. He's going to be scared, he thinks that everytime I leave I'm going to meet in an accident and leave ham again. I can't do it."

"You won't have to leave him, he's coming with us."

"He is!" She was surprised, all along Burke lead her to believe that they would be leaving Christopher with Meredith.

"Yes."

"Did you read the inscription in your ring?"

"Is there an inscription?" He asked her teasingly.

"Just read it."

He removed his ring and inside was inscribed with the two interlocking hearts like the ones in her engagement ring and the words, I love You.

He pulled her closer in his arms and Whispered. " I love you Mrs. Burke"

She curled into his body and answered, shut up and show me."

Authors' note: And so it ends. My very first attempt at a fanfic. Thanks to everyone who read this story and a special thanks to those who took the time to review.

Blueorchids.