DISCLAIMER: I own nothing except this plot line and the character of Meredith Oliver DeSantos. She's Tommy's twin sister and Jason's ex-girlfriend and Rocky's wife.

PREMISE: Meredith is supposed to be the perfect twin, Tommy's best friend and sister. What happens when what appear to be little secrets lead to bigger secrets yet to be revealed? How will it affect the lives of everyone involved?

Secrets, Best Left Hidden.

Chapter 1

Jason sat down on his bed and mulled over what had just happened. Not knowing exactly what to think, he did the one thing he knew would help him. He pulled out his cell phone, pressed a button and waited for the person on the other end of the phone to answer.

"Dr. DeSantos."

"Hey, Meri. You have a minute," Jason said.

"For my favorite ex-boyfriend, I might be able to give you a minute. I'm finished with my clinic patients for the day and I'm heading out to meet Rocky," Meredith said.

Meredith Oliver DeSantos was a pediatrician. She had been married to Rocky DeSantos for the last four years. She and Jason had always been friends, but he'd come to rely on her as his relationship sounding board since they broke up. Meredith and Jason had been in a serious relatinship and he wanted to marry her, but Meredith realized her heart belong with Rocky. When he proposed to her, Meredith started crying because she didn't want to break his heart. Jason thought she was happy and didn't understand when she said, 'No, I can't marry you. I love you, but I'm not IN love with you any longer." Jason was hurt, but with the help of his friends, including Merdith's twin brother, he understood that Meredith wasn't his any longer. He hadn't told anyone he was proposing to her and, in light of the refusal, was glad he hadn't. Everyone believed they had grown apart and the two never admitted anything more than that. He was very happy when she and Rocky got engaged and later married and she always included him in things, that's probably why they are still friends to this day. He considered her his best friend, not like he and Kimberly, but different because they had dated seriously for several years and maintained their friendship even after they broke up. Jason often thought that if it wasn't for Meredith, he would have never told Katherine how he felt.

"What's on your mind, Jase," she asked.

"It's about Kat," he said.

"OK. Judging from your tone, you're conflicted about something," she said.

"Kim is basically pushing me to ask Kat to marry me," Jason quickly said.

Meredith was quiet on the other end of the line. Jason knew she was processing the information and figuring out what it meant to him.

"So...Kim told you that you needed to do something or you were going to lose Katherine. You're feeling pressured and just a bit fearful because of what happened the last time you proposed to someone. Because of what happened with me," she said.

Jason sat straight up on the bed. Meredith had an uncanny ability to read him no matter how he tried to mask what he was feeling.

"Yeah, actually," he said.

"Jase, you know that I love you and only want you to be happy, so don't take this the wrong way, but you're being an idiot," Meredith said.

Again, Jason was taken aback by Meredith's tone and answer. He had never experienced Meredith lashing out at him and calling him an idiot.

"Yes, I said idiot," she said, clarifying.

"How do you figure," he asked her, as soon as he found his voice.

"Because you're scared you're reading more into your relationship with Katherine than what is there. Jase, she's not me. We were in a relationship where it was get married or break up. We both had different ideas. Plus, I realized how much I loved Rocky and couldn't be with you. Katherine doesn't have that problem. Other than that little crush on my brother, you're the one she's shown interest in and that's saying a lot. Katherine isn't going to hurt you like I did, even though it was an accident," she said.

"Why did I call you," Jason asked.

"Because you know I'll tell you the truth. I know you, Jason. You were my first love and, while we didn't work out, we are the best of friends. I loved you and I love Rocky. They are both just as intense, but Rocky and I have a different kind of love. You and I were all about first loves and all that entails. Rocky and I have a 'grown-up' relationship. Just because I've moved on with my life, doesn't mean that I've given up on that love we shared. I know we'll never be again, but it has shaped my relationship with Rocky. Rocky knows what I like and how to treat me. He and I know the mistakes we made the first time around and the mistakes you and I made so we can avoid them as much as possible. You need to give this thing with Kat a chance. Stop comparing her to me and every other date you've had. I was your first love. Kat is that forever love for you, I think. Kat understands our relationship now, and since she wasn't there the first time, she doesn't understand how we were together. Don't compare us. She knows I'm married and am not trying to get you back. She doesn't have to try to be better than me. Each woman in your life has been different, Jase. And stop comparing her to Kimberly. You two have been friends longer than we have and you love a lot of the qualities she has and are seeking a combo of her and me. Don't. Katherine is her own person and you have to accept that. You can't take back any of the experiences you've had, but learn from them. Kat's good for you, Jase. I really believe that." she said.

Jason leaned back against the headboard of his bed. He pondered what Meredith had just said and it made sense. He loved Meredith, but that was different than his love for Kimberly and different than his feelings for Kat. He totally understood what Meredith was trying to tell him.

"So, I should bite the bullet and propose."

"Yep. You're getting your own place soon, so invite her to stay with you and show her the city," she said.

"Meri, you are too much. I hope Rocko realizes how totally awesome you are," he said.

"Oh, trust me, he knows. He's always saying that," she said, laughter in her voice. "I'm heading to Tommy's with Rocky this weekend, so I'll see everyone then, but I've gotta run. Rocky's standing on the porch wondering why I'm not inside. He's so protective that way," she said.

"Thanks Meri, you're the greatest ex-girlfriend a guy could ever have. See you later," he said, before he hung up the phone.

Jason set the phone on the bedside table and was amazed at how Meredith had pegged the entire conversation. She knew him so well and he loved that they were able to talk about this kind of thing. He couldn't talk about it with Kim, she always gave him what he wanted to hear. Meredith wasn't afraid of him in the least. He never realized just how much Meredith was entrenched in his life. Not only was she his best friend, but she was also the sister of the man he thought of as a brother, Tommy.

He and Meredith had started dating when they were 15 and 16. They dated for a year, before he moved away with his parents and his dad's new job. They were both devestated, but Meredith had moved on and fallen in love with Rocky. When Jason returned a year later, Meredith and Rocky were the golden couple of their high school, a place he had held with her before he moved. Rocky was intimidated when Jason returned and broke up with Meredith, thinking she wanted him back. Unable to change Rocky's mind, Meredith began dating Jason again, but didn't feel the same way. They broke after the embarassing proposal by Jason and Meredith went back to Rocky, hoping he'd get back together. They did and they were stronger than ever. Jason was saddened that his first love, the girl he wanted to be with for the rest of his life, wasn't with him anymore. However, he developed a friendship with Rocky, based on his friendship with Tommy and they became great friends. Jason saw how Meredith's relationship with Rocky was very different than their relationship had been and he was glad that they were happy together. Meredith told him a few weeks after their second break up that she wanted to be his friend, but only if he wanted that as well. Since that day, Meredith and Jason had been close friends. Rocky had a lot of respect for his girlfriend's relationship with Jason and was never jealous or uncomfortable about it.

Jason was still pondering his conversation with Meredith when he heard a knock on his door.

"Yeah," he replied.

Tommy cracked open the door and stuck his head into the room. "You want to talk about it," he said.

"Actually, your sister just took care of that. She helped me figure stuff out," Jason said.

"You talked to Meredith about your relationship with Kat? I'm shocked," Tommy said.

"Why? Just because we aren't together doesn't mean I don't still talk to her about the big stuff in my life. Meredith is a wonderful listener. She's great, but you know that because she's your sister," he said.

"Yeah, Meredith is the greatest. She and Kim are number ones in my book. Rocky tells me that just how great Meri is all the time," Tommy replied.

"Meri talked me through the whole thing and told me I was being an idiot. She helped me realized that I do love Katherine and I do want to marry her. I guess I just needed Mer to tell me that," Jason said, smiling at Tommy.

"Well, I'm glad you feel better about it. I'm glad that you and Mer have stayed close after all this time. You must really respect her because you don't let anyone call you an idiot. You must have said something for her to call you that and you must agree," he said.

"Yeah, you're right about that and I am glad I have Meredith to talk to about stuff. I'm going to go on a run. Wanna join me," Jason asked.

"No, I've got some papers to go over and lesson plans and such. You go. Dinner will probably be ready when you get back," Tommy said, turning around and shutting the bedroom door.

Jason changed into his workout clothes, grabbed his ipod and his cellphone, just in case, and headed out his door and down the stairs. He put his ear buds in his ears and walked through the kitchen. Waving to Kim, he turned on the ipod and headed out to run the trails behind Tommy's house.

Tommy headed toward his bedroom.

Tommy thought it was weird, but was very glad that his best friend and the guy he thought of as a brother had someone he could talk to. Tommy did sometimes get jealous of Meredith's relationship with Jason. He knew Meredith had that kind of relationship with Rocky, but they were married. He had accepted sharing that part of his sister with her husband, but her relationship with Jason was, sometimes, hard for him to take. He just didn't have that kind of relationship with his ex-girlfriends, but he didn't think they had had that kind of a relationship when they were dating to have what Jason and Meredith have together.

He knew all about intense feelings, he had those with Kim, but he didn't understand how Jason and Meredith could still be close despite the others in their lives. As long as Meredith was happy and Rocky was cool with it, Tommy couldn't complain. He just still didn't understand it, despite the fact he held a doctorate.

***What's going to happen? Please R/R. This is my first fic, so, please, be kind. :-)***