"Dad, there's only one extra room which I use for weights. I have to give that up for a most likely bitchy, uptight junior who I don't know, but am supposed to call step-sister." Mark complained to his dad the day his new step family was supposed to move in.
"You don't even know her yet. And yes you do have to give it up so I want everything out by the time they get here; which is in an hour." Mark's father, Andrew, told him but stopped before he left the room. "She has a daughter, too."
"Another daughter? So I have to deal with two step-sisters?" he groaned but Andrew shook his head.
"No, Ellis has one daughter. But, Meredith she has a 4-week old." Andrew explained and Mark just laughed. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing, just that when the rest of school finds out that the new girl had a month old daughter, she's going to be eaten alive." He started to clean up his old room. "So am I like a step-uncle or something now?"
"I guess so." Andrew walked out of the room and downstairs.
"I don't understand why they can't move here; everyone knows me at my school. Now, I'm going to have to go through the same thing again?" Meredith sighed looking at her sleeping daughter while in the airplane.
"Because I was offered a amazing job offer at Seattle Grace and people at your new school are eventually going to understand." Ellis told her.
"I guess; does Mark know?" Meredith asked. She didn't want to walk up to the door and him to be surprised.
"He should. Meredith, everything is going to be fine. Your not starting school until a couple of week either." She told her.
"We will be arriving in Seattle, Washington momentarily. I hope you have enjoyed your flight. Thank you," the Pilot announced and Meredith braced herself; she was not a fan of flying.
"Mark! Are you done yet?" Andrew yelled up the stairs. "Ellis and Meredith are going to be here soon."
"Yeah I'm done. All the shit's in my room, but they other room is empty." Mark yelled back. "Oh, a few friends are coming over tonight. It's okay, right?"
"I guess; just stay in the basement." he yelled back up as a car pulled into the drive way. "Come downstairs." He yelled back up as he walked outside to meet Meredith and Ellis. "Ellis!"
"Andrew," she smiled and hugged her husband, apparently they did a whole city hall marriage thing. Not too complicated to two very popular surgeons.
"You must be Meredith," Andrew smiled. "I've heard so much about you." He smiled and she smiled back.
"I've heard a lot about you too." Meredith replied, leaning against the car. She reached into the back of the car and unhooked her daughter, picking her up. "This is Marlee, she's been sleeping the whole time, basically."
"What a cute name," Andrew smiled. "You can walk inside; my son's somewhere inside."
"Thanks," She followed what he said, bringing the car seat with her. Honestly, she loved being a mom, but the stares got to her. Meredith couldn't blame them though. Before she got pregnant, she would have done the same thing. Meredith walked into the living room and placed Marlee into the car seat. She cured her hand into a fist and placed it against her cheek.
"What's her name?" Meredith stood up and turned around to see a guy a little older than herself. Most likely Mark.
"Marlee," Meredith told him. "Your Mark, right?" he nodded. "I actually expected you to be that guy, the one who judges everyone before he actually gets to know them."
"I usually am, but your basically family so I won't this time." He laughed. "Marlee, that's a cute name"
"Thanks and good to know," Meredith nodded and reached into the diaper bag grabbing a bottle. "Where's the microwave?"
"Over there," he pointed to where the kitchen probably was. "Why do you need a microwave?"
"To heat up the bottle." She explained like it was common knowledge. "Never heard of that?" Meredith laughed as the microwave beeped. She walked back over to Marlee and cradled her; Meredith held the bottle tilted so she could eat.
"I see you two have met." Andrew said as himself and Ellis walked through the front door. "Or three rather." He smiled. "Ellis you remember Mark." She smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, well Dad, if you don't need me anymore, ill be at Derek's until later toni-," Mark started for the door, but was cut off by his father.
"I don't think so. You need to help move everything, then you can have a few friends over. Remember?" Andrew reminded him.
"Yeah, I remember." Mark said walking outside to grab a few boxes. Most were just marked 'E', 'M', or 'B'. Ellis, Meredith, or Baby. Ellis' things went into the master bedroom. Meredith and Marlee's things into the old weight room.
A few hours later, Meredith walked into her new bedroom and placed her daughter on her bed. Marlee's crib was next to the bed. She dug through one of the unemptied boxes to find all the sheets for the crib.
After setting that up, Ellis walked into the room. "Hey, Meredith, do you mind if I go to the hospital? There's this intern mixer and Richard told me that the whole staff is there." Richard Webber, Chief of Surgery.
"No. Go ahead, I'll be fine here. Theres food in the fridge, isn't there?" Meredith laughed and Ellis nodded and walked out of her room closing the door behind her. Meredith sat on her own bed with her knees upright. She picked up Marlee and placed her on her thighs. "Hi, baby. We had an exciting day didn't we?" Meredith cooed in a baby voice. "Yes we did." She smiled. This time she got her own voice back. "Your new family's not that bad either. Your uncle's seems pretty nice and your grandpa's the same. I told you this wasn't going to be impossible." She smiled.
All Meredith had to do was place her finger on Marlee's stomach and she would giggle. That was the best sound ever. If she could, Meredith would probably make that her ringtone. "I love you, baby."
Marlee cooed three times and Meredith swore she was saying 'I love you' back, but we all knew that was impossible.