CHAPTER TWO: BE STRONG

Ellis Grey was an intelligent woman, everyone knew that. She had changed the world of surgery for women. But when it came to raising her only child she hadn't been the best. Looking back she realised that and once Richard came into their lives she went about changing it. Meredith had been 12 when Ellis had married Richard and for the first time in her life she had had a proper family. Ellis often wondered if the childhood Meredith had had a major affect on her. There was no doubt that she was insecure and sometimes it was said that she was damaged.

Ellis walked outside as Meredith pulled up in the driveway in her rental car. Richard had called her to tell her that Meredith was in town and to warn her something was up. She couldn't help but let a small smile creep to her face at the thought of seeing her granddaughter. When she had first found out Meredith was pregnant she hadn't taken the news well. She had just begun her internship – she had her career to think about. But she was proud of the way Meredith had managed.

"Dad called didn't he" Meredith said as she got out of the car, kissing her mother on the cheek.

"Yes he did, he was worried about you Meredith" Ellis told her daughter.

"Can we at least get inside before the lecture begins" Meredith groaned.

"I'm not lecturing Meredith I just want to know what is going on" Ellis said honestly. "Now where is that granddaughter of mine?"

"She is sleeping" Meredith replied reaching into the backseat to gather the sleeping girl into her arms. "Shh" Meredith hushed as she began to stir awake.

"Take her straight upstairs and put her on my bed" Ellis said as she collected the rest of their things out of the car.

"So why are you here Meredith?" Ellis asked after making tea and ensuring that Matilda was settled upstairs. She had been making small talk with her daughter for too long and now she wanted answers.

Meredith looked up at her mother and finally broke down. She had been holding back the tears all day but now she could finally release the pain she was feeling. She wiped away the tears and took a deep breath.

"If I'm going to tell you this you can't say I told you so or that's what you get, I couldn't handle something like that right now" Meredith said looking her mother right in the eye.

"Of course sweetheart, you can tell me" Ellis said genuinely, she hadn't always been the best mother but she couldn't stand seeing her daughter so upset.

"Mark and I had been trying for another baby" Meredith began noticing the surprised look on her mother's face. "We weren't going to tell anyone until I fell. Tilly had just turned 3 I was further in on my residency it made sense" Meredith continued. "But after 6 months of waiting and nothing we got impatient and snappy toward each other, I was working more and focussing my spare time on Matilda, I guess it's kind of my fault."

"Don't ever say it was your fault Meredith, you are a strong woman, I don't know what happened but it's not your fault" Ellis stated firmly.

Fresh tears spilled down Meredith's cheeks as she continued. "2 days ago I was supposed to work late but I had found out that it's finally happened, I just wanted to go home and tell Mark. I walked in the door and called out to him, no reply. I walked up the stairs and looked in on Tilly, she was sound asleep. Then I heard a giggle from the bedroom" Meredith stopped and took a deep breath to stop herself from breaking down again.

"Oh Mer" Ellis gasped squeezing her daughter's hand knowing where this was leading.

"It was the nanny" Meredith managed as she gasped for air as sobs overtook her body. "I just grabbed Tilly and some things and walked straight out of the house" Meredith explained.

"Meredith honey" Ellis soothed as she raced around to Meredith's side of the table taking her fragile into her arms and cradling her.

"I'm having a baby and I have no idea what I'm going to do" Meredith sobbed into Ellis. "And there is Matilda to think about, how could he do this to us?" she cried.

"I know sweetheart but you have to be strong. Matilda needs her Mom and so does this baby" Ellis said holding Meredith's head in her hands so she looked at her. "We are here for you, you made the right decision coming here to us" she continued.

Meredith brushed the tears away from her now puffy red eyes. She heard soft footsteps coming down the stairs and turned to see Matilda standing there confused.

"Hey Tilly, come here" Meredith said stretching her arms out to the little girl who willing walked into them. Meredith pulled her up onto her lap and cuddled her, placing a kiss in her hair. "Are you going to say hello to Nana?" she asked the little girl.

Matilda sleepily rubbed her arms and reached out hugging Ellis. "Hello Nana" she said with a little smile.

"Hello sweetie, my you've grown" Ellis commented receiving a nod from the small girl.

"I almost this many" she said holding up 4 fingers to her grandmother. "I thirsty" she said looking at Meredith.

"Wow your getting to be a big girl now" Ellis said getting up to get her some juice. A few moments later she returned with some juice in a sippy cup for her granddaughter. She smiled as she saw the way she was snuggled into Meredith.

Matilda looked up to Meredith noting her still red eyes. "Are you sad Mommy?" she asked.

Meredith nodded. "Yeah Mommy is a little bit sad but it's going to be okay" Meredith reassured her daughter.

"Is it 'cause of daddy?" she asked still not understanding why her daddy wasn't there with them.

"Yeah it is baby, but it's going to be alright. We are going to stay here with Nana and Pop for a little while then we will see what happens" Meredith said knowing that she couldn't stop Mark from seeing Matilda, she didn't want her little girl growing up without a father like she had.