Come Away With Me
A.N: This is the sequel to "The World Spins Madly On," if you haven't read that... I would have to say it might be beneficial for you to read that before reading this story.
Same rules apply here though. None of the episodes that aired after "As We Know It" apply here, and in these stories Dr. Bailey was never pregnant.
This is a Derek/Meredith fanfic, and while other characters will be involved, I've decided to just label it as that.
Also, just want to thank everyone who reviewed the first story. You guys are the reason why I am writing this one, and a big thank you to everyone who reviewed the first chapter of this story!
Disclaimer: I do not any part of Grey's Anatomy... even though I really wish I did.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Chapter 2: Fireflies
About a year ago was the last time I remembered my mom being lucid enough to comprehend everything I said to her. Conversations between my mom and I were few and far between, but there were times when she let down her rough exterior and treated me like her little girl. We didn't have the mother-daughter relationship that most girls had, and even now I sometimes found it hard to go visit her. Not because I didn't love her, but because it was painful to hear her repeat some of the things she'd said to me over the years. There were times when I wished that she could understand where I have taken myself... that I was a doctor, even though she didn't think I was cut out for it. I just wanted her to be proud of me.
As we walked through the doors of the nursing home, I began to be afraid of what my mother might say in front of Derek. Sensing my hesitation, he grabbed my hand and walked with me to the front desk so I could ask the nurse where my mother was. The nurse pointed towards outside, telling us that she was sitting at a table outside and having a good day.
Before we continued outside, I stopped him, "There's something you need to know before we go in there."
"What's that?"
"My mother and I didn't exactly have the best relationship."
"Yeah?"
I nodded my head. "So if she starts yelling at me, I'm sorry."
He reached forward and enveloped me into a hug. "Meredith, don't worry... it'll be fine, and I'll be right there with you."
"I'm just saying..."
"I know." He pulled away from me and grabbed my hand, leading me outside.
When we got outside, I steered us in the direction of the table my mother was sitting at. She recognized me as we got closer, and stood up to greet us.
"Mom, this is Derek Shepherd."
He reached out his hand to shake my mother's, and she firmly shook back, "It's nice to meet you Derek. I'm Dr. Ellis Grey."
"How are you today, Dr. Grey?" He smiled at my mother.
"I'm fine, just fine. Enjoying the beautiful weather while I can. You never know when it might start raining around here."
Derek laughed, "Yes, I'm still getting used to that."
"You're not from around here?"
"I just moved here about a year ago. I was living in New York City before."
"What brought you out here?" When my mother asked the question, I just looked at him. I knew he wouldn't tell her the real reason on why he left the city, and I didn't expect him too because it wasn't important anymore.
"A job offer... one that I couldn't turn down. Oh, and the ferry boats. I'm a sucker for ferry boats."
And then she laughed. It was the first time I've heard her laugh in a long time. She even had a smile on her face. "What kind of job?"
"An attending position at a hospital." I sensed the hesitation in his voice as he spoke the words aloud. He didn't want to trigger anything that could make her good day turn bad.
She turned and looked at me. "Meredith, a doctor? Didn't you get enough of that growing up?"
"Guess not, Mom." I smiled at her, even though it was hard knowing that my own mother didn't even remember that I, myself, was a doctor. But it wasn't her fault, it was the disease. The disease that was slowly killing her and me at the same time.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
We stayed until just before lunch time, talking with her. Her good day remained in tact for the most part. There were times when she wouldn't remember things, but it was nothing significant enough to call today a bad day, and as we walked out of the nursing home I felt a sense of relief. I was relieved that my mother hadn't embarrassed me in front of Derek, and I was relieved that she had liked him.
"That wasn't too bad." Derek said as we walked towards the car.
"She likes you."
"I'm a likable person."
I snorted. "Sometimes."
"Oh, come on. Your friends like me."
"You're their boss."
"So?"
He opened the passenger door to the car for me and I climbed inside, "They have to like you."
As he started to protest, I closed the door and he made a face at me. He got into the driver's seat and looked at me, "What was your mom talking about earlier?"
"About what?"
"The fireflies."
"Oh nothing, it was a silly thing I used to do when I was little," I blushed.
"Come on, tell me." He started the car and began to drive out of the parking lot.
"It's silly."
"I like silly things... almost as much as I like ferry boats."
"I used to catch fireflies."
"There's gotta be more to the story than that."
"I used to think they were Tinkerbell."
"And?"
"I used to think that I was part of Neverland, and that's why I could see Tinkerbell and no one else could."
He gave me a quick glance and smiled, "That's cute."
"You don't think it's silly?"
"It's your imagination. I used to have an imaginary friend."
I laughed, "What was his name?"
"What makes you think it was a he?" He said as we made our way through an intersection, and before I had the chance to respond I saw a car speeding through the red light.
"Derek!" I screamed, "watch out!"
Please remember to write a review! Thanks!
