"Mere, where are my shoes?"
Meredith looked over from the counter top where she was currently making (or at least trying to make) dinner for the party they would be having later. Zola's 12th birthday was today and everyone was running around trying to make sure everything was perfect. Well, aside from Maggie that is, who had a date but promised she would be back in time for cake and maybe bring Sanjay around as well if he was up for it ("and he will be up for it" Maggie had said in a warning voice which made Meredith snicker.) Meredith had assured her everything was fine and that she could handle it.
"Your shoes? The leopard print ones?"
Maggie was currently adjusting her mini-socks while holding the stair railing, her eyes peeling back and forth around the shoe rack , "No, not the leopard print, the dark black ones. You know the one with the big heels which makes me cry for days in pain but are the damn sexiest? Remember?"
"Ohhh, someone's getting all fancy~" teased the mother of three, scoffed when she heard Maggie's sigh of resistance, "And, I don't think ... Actually, didn't I see them at Amelia's house now that I think about it?" She hummed in thought.
"Oh my god, Amelia!" yelled Maggie, as if she just remembered something, "I completely forgot I let her borrow them! Oh god, I have to leave now and get them before it's too late!"
"Why don't you just wear the leopard ones? I like the leopard ones."
"With this outfit, Mere? Really?"
Meredith looked over from the kitchen, taking a double take against her sister's figure who just walked into view. Maggie Pierce was wearing a grainy-yellow maxi dress which hugged her body perfectly. Her hair was flared and pretty, her eyes accentuated by dark eye-liner and eyeshadow, "Right, nevermind. Better hurry fast."
"Ohh!" Maggie dragged on, looking for a couple of extra shoes she could walk in while taking out her phone to dial Amelia's number. Really, she was desperate. Sanjay had been a patient of hers two years ago, a business man with bad lungs. She'd often find him banter angrily at his phone, which was definitely not good for his condition, but like all businessmen all he wanted to do was argue so eventually Maggie let it be, but made sure to follow closely with his condition even after his surgery. She had gotten close to his mother who would often drop by, noticing the way he changed when he was around her, awoke something in her, thoughts of her own mother. They talked about it, about eachother, he told her about his father who had died when he was a young child. She, herself, let slip of her own birth parents, but made it apparent that she had never felt the absence of love in her life.
Webber noticed the connection Maggie was having with the hardass, and tried to keep them apart by scheduling her more in the OR and keeping her busy. That had only brought the opposite effect however, and she soon found herself missing him and apparently she wasn't the only one. So one day after walking by his room after her third surgery for the day, they engaged in another chat and he asked her out, calling her adorable which forced her in a blubbery mess long enough to say yes. Two years later they were still dating strong, surprisingly, around their busy schedules, and really everyone expected the 'question' to pop up anyday now.
"Pick up, pick up, goddamnit Amelia!" Maggie sighed in frustration, kicking her feet into her unfortunate red flats while grabbing her purse and jacket. She quickly wandered over to Meredith to give her a kiss on the cheek, gave a double turn to the cooking pan and asked whether it was really okay if she left. Meredith had rolled her eyes and shooed her away. Maggie put her hand over her chest thankfully, turned down some of the heat out of the already burning pan and sauntered towards the door quickly.
She squeaked when the knob opened and wandered to the side, holding the door out to the man who seemed like he had his hands full, "what's all this?" she asked, somewhat amused. Special Balloons around his wrist, balancing one large box in one hand with a cake-box ontop of it, a few large bags in the other while simultaneously struggling with his keys. He thanked her quickly as she took the cake from him, moved inside to drop the box and bags slowly and carefully on the floor before rubbing his fingers in order to get the circulation back again.
"Just some party favors Mere asked me to get. Is she here?" He asked, before blinking as he took a sniff of air and said, "Kitchen?"
"In the kitchen," Maggie repeated, nodded solemnly, "I told her I could stay for a bit, but she kept kicking me out so. Maybe you could deal with that, Nathan?"
"Right, I'll try. You look nice by the way. Hot date?"
She chuckled, ratting her body back and forth in a motion that got him chuckling, "You know it. But don't worry, I'll be back just in time promise."
"I don't doubt it," He nodded, before moving to take the box back from the ground in order to diverge it towards the couch. She moved to help him, having completely forgot about her predicament till Meredith's voice broke her thoughts.
"Why are you still here? Go, go!"
Maggie blinked, quickly placed the cake back down on the counter and moved to run away. Nathan raised an eyebrow, watching her leave while trying to adjust her shoes. "Is she late for her date?" He asked towards Meredith.
"Nah, she just has to go to Amelia's place."
"Amelia?" Nathan asked, turning to her questioningly before turning back, "Oi Pierce! Amelia and Owen are taking the kids to see Moana 2 in theaters, so you're probably not going to see them there!"
"Ohhhh god!" returned the voice. Meredith's laughter had took all his attention away, however, as she moved to take a look at what he brought.
"Streamers, extra balloons, confetti. I brought the banners, some glue and glitter, and tule or whatever you call it. You have really nice writing, are you sure you're a doctor?" teased the man, as he took out the list she had given him in the morning. Meredith had rolled her eyes, grabbed the list back from him, "Tableclothes, napkins, plates, the juice dispenser is in my car. Webber said he'll be bringing candles. Can you believe the supermarket had all this, but they were out of those purple '1-2 singing candles' you oh so wanted me to get."
"Is that sarcasm?" She knitted her eyebrows, but obviously not caring as she made sure everything from the checklist was there. Now it was his turn to roll her eyes. She grabbed the packet of extra balloons and ripped the wrappings apart, shoving it against his chest, "Blow."
"Blow what?"
She gave him a look as he chuckled and grabbed the balloon with both hands, twisting his fingers around the top and stretching the elastic, "You look exhausted, maybe you should get some rest?"
"There's no time!" She grabbed the cake to put in the fridge, walking passed him towards the stove. She grabbed the wooden utensil and began to stir frequently as Nathan continued to blow up the party favors.
"I don't see why you're so nervous. Last year you were so calm and alighted, and didn't kick me out of bed at five in the morning to drop the kids off at Owen's house before waiting a few more hours in the car for the shops to open."
She proceeded to hum, pretending that he didn't hear him.
"I just want this to be perfect. She's my little girl." she told him while stirring, the smoke easing up slightly with the opening of windows. The man smiled solemnly and moved towards her, standing behind her, one hand snaking over her waist, and the other pressing the bottom of the half-blown balloon together,
"Our little girl, you mean."
"She was mine first!" she said making a face at him,
Nathan pulled the balloon behind her, and let go, causing the balloon to inflate with a large steaming noise which made her jump, "You jerk, Don't make me whack you with my spoon! Hurry up!"
"I was just - ow!" Nathan threw himself back as she did - in fact - do just that.
"I warned you!" she simply said, holding the wooden tool in front of her threateningly.
"Okay, okay!" Nathan put his hands up in defense, and ran back towards the couch to continue with the decorations. Meredith rolled her eyes and turned back to the hot pan, knitting her eyebrows together and putting the heat up, wondering why the food was sticking to the pan in that way…
Almost an hour later, the take-out was ready and put in plates, the house was lined up with various balloons in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, front doors. The drinking dispenser was filled with Zola's favorite drink - pink lemonade - and the streamers and lights and tule was decorated around the entire living room set, tables, closets. The party was just for a handpicked group of friends and family, and it showed.
So there Nathan sat - with a party hat on his head and beside him, Meredith was blowing into a party horn slumped against the couch. They both looked completely exhausted and worst for wear, having yet to dress up for the big event. Surprisingly they had finished up pretty early, with about an hour more to spare before the first guest would arrive. Alex promised to be there as soon as possible with his pregnant wife, Jo Karev-Wilson who had yet to take her maternity leave with her clinical trials still running.
"What now?" Nathan mumbled, looking at her from the side.
Meredith slowly turned her head towards him and sighed, "I don't know, it's been a while since we've been able to sit like this, alone, without the kids." she commented lightly. He paused and slowly nodded.
"... Yeah." he said, looking in front of himself, "I miss them. The house seems a bit quiet."
"I could text them. Amelia said she'll keep her phone handy just in case."
"It's a gosh darn amazing movie, don't ruin it for them, let them enjoy," said Nathan and Meredith gave him a suspicious glance but agreed.
He then looked at her with a quiet grin, "But you know, the party isn't for a while … we still have time to-ow!"
Meredith smacked him over the head. Laughed at his sulking expression. And kissed him.
Am I the only one who thinks we were robbed? Of course the thing between Megan Hunt and Riggs was beautiful and I cried, but I still could not get over this couple as hard as I tried.