11:00 AM-

The trip was fairly quiet, they took their time as they drove, the two brothers remaining quiet as the snow fell softly. As soon as Greyson had hung up the phone with his mother, he had begun to shift around in his seat. "I'm not going to talk about anything." He said up front, his eyes moving to Richie as Richie glanced to his brother.

"I'm not going to ask you anything." Richie replied. "You don't have to talk about anything you don't want to talk about."

"Good, because I don't want to talk about anything." Greyson replied.

They were silent for a little while longer as Richie slowed the car slightly as a gust of wind sent a flurry of snow cascading into the side of the car, causing a white out for a moment, the sun's glare only increasing the inability to see. "I wish the freaking snow would melt."

"The snow is nice." Greyson replied. "It's clean and pure…"

"Its slippery and cold and nasty and…" Richie muttered as he listened to his brother sigh. "Sorry…" He said softly as Greyson shook his head.

"It's fine… I'm just in a weird mood." Greyson replied.

"You seem like you're in a pretty crappy mood."

"I'm fine… just thinking a lot… see, you're doing it again." Greyson said as he glared at his brother.

"Doing what again? I'm not doing anything…"

"You're trying to get me to talk to you. I don't want to talk to anyone about it! I'm coming home to see Mom and Dad… and if one more person asks me how I'm doing, I'm going to punch them in the face. This is why I didn't want to come home… I just want things to remain in the past, and I don't want people bugging me about my goddamned fucking feelings." Greyson muttered.

"Well, you answered my question…" Richie replied.

"Shut up, Richie…" Greyson muttered.

"I think I'll just leave you to your sulking…" Richie replied as Greyson grumbled and turned his head, staring out into the snow covered landscape.


"So who is minding the hospital while half of the hospital comes on this trip to your mother's house, Derek?" Mark asked, listening to his friend chuckle.

"Ask the boss…" Derek laughed, "She's in charge of such things as making sure shifts are covered."

"Oh, I left the derelicts in charge… or was it… I left with the derelicts?" Ellis said as she smirked at Derek's smile in the rear view mirror. "Things get fuzzy around the holidays." She said as Meredith turned her head to watch the war of smirks between Ellis and her husband.

"Are you two going to be at one another's throats the entire time?" Meredith asked as Derek's smirk was now directed at her.

"Why mess with tradition?" Cristina chimed in, as everyone laughed.

"Daddy?"

"Hmm?" Derek said as he saw his daughter's face in the rear view mirror.

"Are we having an anniversary cake for you guys tonight?" She asked as she watched her father's hand go to her mother's. "You've been married for like twenty years or something, isn't there supposed to be a party?"

"We'll celebrate it the same way we always do." Derek said with a smile to his daughter. "I'm sure Granny made a cake."

"Awesome!" Mariellis said with a giggle.

"Did I remember to say happy anniversary to you today?" Meredith asked as she gave him a confused look as he gave her a serious glance. "Derek?"

"No…" He laughed, a smile spreading across his face. "Of course you didn't forget…" He grinned as she nudged him.

"You're going to get it… trying to trick me like that…" She said with a laugh as she cuddled closer to him. "I've just been a little stressed out."

"I know." He said softly as he kissed her head. "But you'll get to see your boys, and everything will be back to normal again."

"Awesome." She whispered, listening to him chuckle against her hair as he squeezed her tightly as he drove.


"My father, by Richard Shepherd…" Richie said as he read off the paper in front of him. He looked up at Meredith who was watching him carefully.

"It's a good start." She said with a giggle as Richie shook his head and laughed.

"Mommy, I'm supposed to interview daddy… and people who know daddy… so I can write my paper for school." He explained as Meredith nodded.

"Did you write down some questions?" Meredith asked, watching the dark haired little boy nod his head.

"Well what kind of questions do you have written down?" She asked as she leaned on the table slightly and glanced at Mariellis out of the corner of her eye as she played with her dolls.

The nine year old boy smiled at his mother as he lifted his paper up. "How long have you known my father?" He asked, watching Meredith smile.

"About… twelve years…" Meredith said with laugh. "Give or take…"

Richie put the paper back down and began to write, looking up to his mother as she smiled on. "Okay… um… What do you think is the best thing about him?"

"The best thing about him?" Meredith said as she closed one eye and looked to the ceiling as if she were thinking really hard. "Can we skip that one?" She asked as Richie shook his head and giggled. "We can't skip that one?"

"Nope." He laughed.

"Okay… the best thing about your daddy is… his bravery." She said with a smile.

"Bravery?"

"Mama?" Mariellis said as she stood up against the table and put her hands atop it, glancing to Meredith. "Mama, can I have some juice?"

"In a minute, princess… mama is helping Richie with his homework."

"I wanna help!" She exclaimed as she pulled on Meredith, who lifted her into her lap.

"You want to help?"

"Mom, she can't help… she's three… she doesn't understand what we're talking about."

"She understands, Richie." Meredith confirmed. "Mari… what is your favorite part of daddy?"

"His nose." She said with a giggle. "He goes 'honk, honk'" She giggled as she squeezed her nose.

Meredith looked to Richie who had his eyebrows raised. "I told you she wouldn't get it." Richie said as Meredith laughed. "Okay, Mom… what is the worst thing about daddy?"

"The worst thing?"

"Stinky breath…" Mariellis said as she waved her hand in front of her nose and giggled.

"Mari!" Richie exclaimed. "Mom… this question is for you."

"Well, your dad doesn't brush his teeth as much as…"

"Mom!" Richie exclaimed as he dropped his pen.

"Alright, alright… worst part of your daddy… is… his impatience…" Meredith shrugged. "He doesn't take the time to just wait… he's always in a hurry, and he always thinks he's right."

"That's two things." Richie said as he started to write.

"Nobody's perfect." Meredith shrugged with a giggle. Her head turned as the door opened. "Speak of the devil…" She said as she heard Derek speaking low to someone and the sound of two feet stomping up the stairs. Meredith stood up and walked toward the doorway as Derek walked in. "Did you get him?"

"Daddy!" Mariellis exclaimed as Derek lifted her into his arms and kissed her cheek.

"I got him… and he's going to stay up in his room until after dinner, and Richie can bring it up to him."

"Derek, I think that's a little harsh."

"He was expelled from first grade, Meredith… How do you get expelled from first grade, Meredith?"

"My guess would be spitting at the teacher…" Meredith shrugged.

"Yes, after stomping on her foot… nice guess… you'd be right…"

"I should go up and talk to him…" She said as she walked toward the stairs.

"Merhe's alright…"

"No… you probably yelled at him the whole way home… I want to talk to him."

"I didn't yell…" Derek said as she disappeared toward the stairs."

"You talked sternly…" Richie said as he rolled his eyes and laughed as Derek gave him a smirk.

"Get back to your homework…"

"Actually, Daddy… I have a couple questions…" Richie said as he held up his paper and smiled.


Meredith walked up to her son's room and knocked lightly on the door. "Greyson?" She said as she knocked again. "Grey, baby… you alright?"

"No." His voice was muffled and mixed with tears as he held tightly to his pillow and Meredith stepped inside. "Go away…" He muttered angrily, not caring who was at the door.

"Greyson, it's mommy… talk to me."

"No." He muttered, his face still buried in the pillow, his tears hot and full of anger.

"Grey…"

"Mommy…" He muttered angrily as he pulled the pillow from his face and looked at her with a red, angry face as he let the tears roll down his cheeks. "I don't want to be here anymore. I want to die." He said as he covered his face with the pillow and rolled over, crying loudly into his blankets as Meredith sit on his bedside completely taken aback by his comment.


Greyson's tiny voice pushed through her thousand thoughts, the differences between her two sons was astounding, and the emotional baggage that her younger son toted around had been heavier than she could ever imagine. She had worked with him through school, through social programs, therapy, and sports programs, always encouraging him, always helping him do something for himself.

She felt tired as she stared into the snow covered hills they were driving through. She felt emotionally exhausted, as the more recent events with Greyson weighed on her mind. Richie was never one to have to worry about. He was responsible and smart, very sure of himself. Mariellis was quick and bright, her daddy's little girl. Greyson was different, and he always worried her more than the rest, and as the school year had begun, she thought she had made a mistake by having him go away to school, but Derek thought it would be best. He felt that their son could develop and grow physically, emotionally, and more productively if he wasn't under the constant watch of his mother.

She looked up as she felt Derek's fingers lacing through her fingers with his own, the sounds of the other passengers in the car became sharper, and Derek's facial expression was one of pure and utter concern. "I'm fine, Derek." She whispered as she felt a kick to her seat from behind her.

"Snap out of it, Mer…" Cristina's voice shook Meredith's resolve slightly and she turned her head.

"I'm just worried about the snow…" She said quickly as her eyes met Derek's, telling him a different story.

"Well, whatever you're worried about… don't be… we're here to have a good time, not to watch you go into an anxiety induced coma. Got it?" Cristina said as she and Ellis exchanged a glance.

"I…"

"Got it?" Cristina asked as she interrupted Meredith's excuse.

"Cris, I…"

"Got it?" Cristina said again, driving the point home.

"I got it…" She said with a sigh, and a slight smile. "Well… if you don't want me to worry… why don't you engage me in some conversation… you people are so dull!" Meredith exclaimed with a laugh as everyone laughed, and finally the conversation in the car involved everyone's attention.


2:00 PM-

Greyson sighed as his brother drove slowly, he glanced to see Richie glance at him. "What?" Richie asked.

"This trip shouldn't be taking this long." Greyson mumbled as he felt his brother put his foot on the brake. "And it's not going to go any faster if you keep driving like a little old woman."

"Do you think you can drive better?"

"I do."

"Well then, it's too bad you don't have your license, isn't it?" Richie replied.

"Where the hell are we, anyway?" Greyson asked as he glanced out the window.

"I took a shortcut."

"A shortcut typically means it will take a shorter amount of time, Rich. This is taking us into the mountains. We need to get around the mountains."

"It's easier to go over them."

"Oh God. You're taking me out here to kill me, aren't you? Mom and Dad are finally fed up with me and they sent you out here to kill me." Greyson said as he gave his brother a frightened look. Richie knew better than to laugh, thinking his brother was joking around. This wasn't the first time that they had this conversation.

"Stop it."

"No, I mean it. You're going to bury my body out here in the woods, and mom and dad are going to report me missing. This is awful. This is really bad… really, really bad." He said as he began to tremble, his hands tapping on his leg as he tried to calm himself.

"Greyson, stop it with the paranoia bit. It gets really old, really fast… this is just a shortcut, it'll get us there faster."

"I should make some kind of mark in your car that lets people know I was here. You'll probably abandon it or something." Greyson said as he began to hyperventilate. "You'll set it on fire and abandon it, probably burn my body and…"

"Greyson. Stop it."

"No…no… come on, Richie… you love me, right? You wouldn't kill me. I'm your brother! you wouldn't."

"Greyson, Stop it!" Richie exclaimed as Greyson fell silent, the fear in his eyes was so real, his hands trembled. "Have you been taking your meds?"

"Shut up." Greyson said as he stared at his hands.

"Grey, I'm serious. If you're not taking your meds, then there is no way that I am taking you home to Mom and Dad. There is no way that I'm letting them see you like this."

"I don't need medication, Richie." He said as he glared at his brother. "I think you all need medication."

"Grey."

"You all need medication. I'm the normal one, and you just drug me up so that I won't know the difference. Well, I see it. I see the difference. Maybe you should be taking the medication…" He growled.

"Greyson!" Richie exclaimed angrily, watching Grey quickly calm as he took a deep breath and release it very slowly.

"I'm taking the goddamned medicine, alright?" He exclaimed, his fear turning to anger as he slammed his fist down on the dashboard.

"Cut it out right now, or I will leave you out here to die. Do you hear me?" His threat empty, but his anxiety high.

"I…"

"I will… I'll leave you right here in the cold… and you'll freeze to death… do you want that?"

"No."

"Then straighten out. No more shit, Greyson." Richie said as he watched Grey stare into his lap as his shoulders began to tremble and he began to cry. "Aww… man… don't cry…."

"I'm sorry…" He whimpered as he sniffled loudly. "I'm sorry, Richie… I'm sorry…" He sobbed as he felt his brother's hand on his back, as he rubbed it softly and continued to drive, and Grey tried his hardest to control his emotions, while Richie tried to do the same. "I'm sorry, Rich."

"It's alright, little brother… don't worry… we're going home…" He said softly as he held his brother tightly. "We're going home…" He whispered.


3:00 PM-

Derek smiled as they turned down the street where his mother's house was, the snow was sticking and Meredith had stopped paying attention to it as the conversation in the back seat had gained in volume and excitement.

"We're almost there." Derek said with a smile as Meredith turned her head to see out of the windshield.

"Wow. There already? You made good time." Meredith said with a smile, watching his eyes glance to hers for a moment.

"I'm not going to dignify that with a joke." Derek said as he pulled into the long, winding driveway.

"Now that's a first." Ellis chimed in as Derek laughed as they pulled up the driveway. "Next thing on the agenda is to make him speechless." She said as everyone laughed.

"Ha." Derek said as he shook his head and glanced in the rear view mirror. "You're not going to get me down this Christmas, Ellis Grey."

"Shame." She said with a smile as Derek parked the car.

"Alright. We're here. Grab your bags and your selves… and get out, get out, get out…" Derek said as he watched the door to the house open. "Look at that. You're too slow. Granny is going to step out onto the porch and catch a cold!" Derek teased as the two girls leapt from the car and ran toward the house.

"Granny!" Mariellis exclaimed as she and Mikala made their way to the house.

"Granny!" Mikala exclaimed as well as she giggled and the two girls hugged the older woman as she wrapped her arms around them.

"Woah… what's all this?" Marion exclaimed as she squeezed the two girls tightly. "You guys are the first ones here…" She said with a laugh as she looked up to see Derek helping Ellis from the car.

"Can we go have some cookies?" Mariellis asked with a giggle as Marion nodded.

"Right inside…" She said as she nodded and the two girls ran into the house.

"Are you feeding them already?" Meredith asked as she stepped up the porch steps.

"Of course… I need to keep everyone fed and warm." Marion said with a smile as she held out her arms for Meredith. "Oh, Meri…" She groaned into the younger woman's hug. "How are you doing?"

"Better." Meredith nodded into her body as Marion nodded.

"Good." Marion said softly as Meredith kissed her cheek softly and stepped into the house as Cristina and Mark each climbed up the steps and each gave Marion a hug. "I'm so glad that you all could make it… everyone else is on their way…" She said as she watched Derek walk down the path with Ellis on his arm. The two of them were bickering back and forth and as they reached the porch steps, Derek let her climb them herself.

"Thank you…" She muttered to Derek as she climbed the steps and approached Marion. "You would think that I was an invalid the way that man coddles me." She said as she rolled her eyes and gave Marion a hug.

"Oh, he loves you." Marion said as she smiled to Derek and watched as he rolled his eyes and laughed as Ellis glanced his way.

"He just knows who signs the paychecks." She said as Derek nodded.

"You got that right…" He said with a laugh as Ellis walked inside. Derek stepped up the stairs and was immediately enveloped in his mother's arms. "I missed you…" He said softly as he felt her squeeze a little harder.

"I missed you." She said with a soft whisper. "Where are my boys?"

"They're on their way." Derek nodded. "They're probably three or so hours out."

"I hope they're here before dark." Marion said as she and Derek walked into the house. Suddenly, he was hit by the smell of cookies, cinnamon, and burning candles. It was a smell that could knock him off his feet and send him years into the past. He found himself breathing deeply as Marion watched him smile. "Derek?"

"They'll be here." He said as he smiled and glanced to his mother.

"And…"

"She'll be fine." Derek said softly. "She's been taking it well. She's been alright." Derek said softly as he watched the concern in his mother's face. "He's fine too, Mom."

"I want to believe you, Derek. But I can't, not until I see that face for myself."

"He's looking forward to seeing you… now tell me about these new great grandbabies that you have coming over today."

"Oh, Derek! They're getting to be so big!" She exclaimed happily as she grabbed her son's hand and led him into the living room, where everyone else was gathering.


3:00 PM-

Richie drove in silence, slowing here and there as the wind blew the snow in his path. He was content driving, and after not hearing Greyson after a short time, he assumed his brother was sleeping. He had glanced at him a couple of times before, but Greyson had snapped at him for acting like a mother hen, so he decided to not look at him unless Greyson talked to him. After several minutes of silence, he assumed that his brother had fallen asleep, and his eyes passed to the passenger side.

Greyson sit in the seat, his eyes staring off into space, his mouth hanging open slightly as he seemed to be nearly sleeping with his eyes open. "Grey, you alright, man?" Richie asked his brother as he watched him continue to stare straight forward, absolutely unresponsive. "Grey…?" Richie said as he thought about touching his shoulder, to do something that would bring him back from his daydream. "Greyson!" Richie exclaimed as he reached to touch his shoulder, as suddenly, Greyson's hand reached around and his fist went full force into Richie's ribs.

The wind was knocked out of Richie's lungs, his hand jerking the wheel, sending the car sliding sideways down the road as Richie screamed out in pain. Greyson stared at his brother wide eyed as he screamed, not only for the pain in his side, but because he didn't know where the car was going to end up. Greyson didn't scream, it was as if he had no idea what was even happening as Richie closed his eyes, and the car came to a stop in the middle of the road. "Oh my fucking God!" Richie screamed. "Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!" Richie shouted as he looked back and forward, and upon seeing no cars, he slammed on the gas and felt the car slipping as he pulled it hard into a snow plow turn around that it had come to rest beside. "Holy Fucking Goddamned Fucking...!" Richie screamed as he slammed the car into park and threw his seatbelt off. He got out of the car and leaned down as he tried to catch his breath.

Between the impact of his brother's punch, and the sheer terror of sliding on the ice, Richie was a mess. He stomped back and forth holding his side as he screamed obscenities at his brother. His voice was loud and echoed through the snow covered mountains as a thick snowfall continued to sprinkle down on them, covering the road and trees around them. "Holy mother fucking goddamned piece of fucking shit! Goddamned fucking idiot! You idiot! You goddamned fucking idiot!" He screamed as he slammed his fist down on the back of the car, pulling it back quickly as he realized what he had done, relieved that he hadn't left a dent or a mark on the car's finish. "I am going to fucking kill you!" Richie screamed. He stomped over to the passenger's side of the car and noticed that Greyson still hadn't moved, he was just staring at his hand. "I am going to kill you!" Richie screamed as he breathed heavily, his face was red, his hands were cold, his breathing erratic as he stared at his brother as he stared straight ahead, his head slowly turning to face Richie, as he breathed heavily and stared angrily at his brother.

Suddenly, a look of confusion came over the younger man's face as his brow furrowed. "Shit…" Richie whispered as he realized that Greyson had no idea what had happened.

Greyson reached forward and pushed the button for the window, opening it a crack. "Rich?"

"Grey…" Richie said as he tried to catch his breath.

"Richie, why are you outside?" He asked as he swallowed hard and flexed his hand.

"I…I…"

"Did you have to take a piss or something?" Greyson asked. "Why are you just standing there?"

Richie was speechless for a second as he stared at his brother. "Yeah… Greyson… I had to take a piss…" Richie muttered as he turned sharply and stomped around the car, swinging the door open, he fell into his seat.

"Why does my hand hurt?" Greyson asked as he moved his fingers awkwardly and gave his brother a confused glance.

"Maybe it's just the cold…" Richie muttered as he closed his brother's window and put the car in drive, silently driving down the road as Greyson sit beside him, staring curiously at his hand.


Greyson sat in daycare, staring down at his paper. He had been sitting there for several moments just staring at the page with the blue crayon poised over the paper. "Grey?" A voice said from above him as he stared down at it. "Greyson?" He didn't hear them call his name, he only focused on the paper. "Grey." The voice was a little louder, making him jump, his eyes flashing to the source of the voice as a smile came to his face. "Hey there."

"Hi, mommy." He said sweetly as he tilted his head, and looked up at her.

"Hey." She said to her four year old son as she pulled one of the little chairs out and looked into his eyes. "How are you doing today down here?"

"Okay." He shrugged. "It's lonely without Richie." He said as his lip stuck out slightly. "I want to go to school too."

"I know. I know. he's your buddy."

"Uh huh…" Greyson nodded.

"What do you say me and you go on a little lunch date? Just you and mommy…"

"Is Mari coming too?" He asked as he glanced to the infant nursery as he looked back to his mother.

"She doesn't have to come if you don't want her to come… I will visit her after our lunch date if you prefer."

"So it's just me and you?" Greyson asked with his eyebrows raised.

"Just me and you." Meredith said as her son giggled.

"What will daddy think that you're taking another boy to lunch, mommy?"

"Oh, I think daddy knows where my heart is." Meredith said with a laugh as she stood up carefully and reached for her son's hand as he latched on securely, and the two of them made their way out of the daycare room together.


"Watching the tree again, dear?" Marion's voice broke through Meredith's reverie as their eyes met and she tried to push off the feeling of embarrassment.

"I'm sorry?" Meredith whispered as she tilted her head, watching as Marion smiled softly.

"You're watching the tree again. You're watching it, and you look so concerned."

"I think I'm just a little tired. I'm just tired, thinking about today and everything… work… and all the people that will be here, it's just a busy day… Christmas eve… and it's snowing."

"It's going to be a beautiful day, a beautiful afternoon, and when everyone is here, safe and secure, I'm sure you'll relax."

"The tree is beautiful this year." Meredith said softly. "I mean… it's beautiful every year, but I don't know, it just seems a little more mesmerizing each year."

"Mer, snap out of it." Cristina said as she squeezed her friend's hand. "Call them on the phone if you need to… stop worrying so much, they're fine."

"I know… I know… I'm not thinking about them, I'm thinking about…other things, it's okay… let's get some coffee… let's tell some stories or something while we wait for everyone else. Marion, I want to see some pictures of those great grand babies." She said with a smile as her eyes flashed to Derek as he walked into the room from the kitchen holding a tray of coffee. "See that, the man reads minds." She said as she grinned, waiting for her mother's reply as Ellis glanced to Derek.

"It's too easy, dear." Ellis said as she laughed at Derek, as he walked into the room with the tray of coffee with Mark right behind him.


5:00 PM

Richie drove quietly as the darkness settled in on the mountains. The sky was still a deep, blue, but the snow was coming down harder, making it more difficult to see out the windshield.

"Can you see okay?" Greyson asked softly as he watched Richie struggle to see out the window.

"I'm doing alright. Are you nervous?"

"No… no, I trust you." Greyson said as he nodded and looked out the window. "I tried to call Ange… there's no cell service." He said softly.

"Probably not. We're up in the mountains." Richie replied. His eyes went down to his brother's hands and he watched them for a moment as they trembled. "You're sure you're alright?"

"Yeah." Greyson replied, looking down at his hands. "That's… that's… that's just the medicine, just the medicine." He stammered as Richie nodded his head and watched Greyson struggle for a moment as be blinked rapidly. "I…I… I'm just going to close my eyes for a few minutes, rest… rest for a little bit." He said as Richie nodded.

"Yeah, just relax, and I'll get you home."

"Safely."

"I always do." Richie said as he gave his brother a half smile as Greyson smiled slightly and closed his eyes, tipping his head back.


Meredith's eyes went to the window again as a set of lights flashed in the window. She was tempted to stand up, but instead decided to remain calm and listen to the story that Joann was telling her as she held her newest granddaughter in her arms. Meredith played with the baby's fingertips as she listened, laughing at the story as she looked up at the door opening, and sighed slightly as she realized it wasn't her sons.

There were people everywhere, and just about everyone had arrived. They were awaiting only a few more people as everyone settled in the living room, the family room, and many went upstairs to prepare their bedrooms for the overnight stay. She felt a hand on her shoulder as she looked up into Derek's eyes.

"Isn't she precious?" Meredith asked as Derek smiled and nodded.

"She ought to be." Derek said with a grin. "She's your son's goddaughter." He whispered as he leaned over Meredith and touched the baby's cheek as she cooed and grinned at Derek.

"Richie was so honored when Timothy and Lindsay asked him." Meredith said as she glanced over to Timothy as he talked to one of his cousins and glanced to his daughter as he held his wife's hand in his.

"Well, they asked someone they knew they could trust. And Richie and Timothy have grown to be such good friends." She smiled as Derek reached for the baby. "Where are you taking her?"

"Oh, Uncle Derek wants to hold her because he can." Derek said as the baby laughed at Derek as he held her up in his arms and watched her hands as they wiggled, and her fingertips wiggled toward him as he brought her down toward his face and made a silly sound, listening to her giggle. "One of these days, Mer, you're going to have a grandchild… and…"

"Wait." Meredith said with a laugh. "Wait right there. I'm going to have a grandchild? What about you?" She laughed as he looked down at her as he settled the baby on his chest for a moment and held her securely.

"Huh?"

"You said, one of these days, I'm going to have a grandchild."

"Oh yeah…" Derek said as a smirk raised on his face. "I'm too young to have grandchildren." He said with a laugh as he turned sharply and disappeared into the crowd with his great-niece, as Joann laughed at the look of shock and amusement on Meredith's face as Derek disappeared.


Richie drove silently and glanced to his brother as he tried to sleep. There was something about his appearance that wasn't sitting right with him, and he couldn't quite figure it out. "You're staring at me again." Greyson mumbled as he opened his eyes.

"Are you sure you've been eating?"

"I've been eating, I've been eating. Why do you sound like mom?"

"I don't know… there's just…"

"Just watch the road, Richie…" Greyson mumbled. "I am trying to get rid of this goddamned headache." He muttered as he held his hands to his temples.

"Headache…"

"It's probably the medicine…" He muttered.

"You're blaming an awful lot on that medicine." Richie replied.

"Well it's doing it to me!" Greyson exclaimed angrily. "It's this stupid goddamned medicine! I was better off without it! I have a fucking pill to take care of the depression, a pill to take care of my behavior, a pill to take care of the stomach aches from the first two, and I goddamned am not taking another fucking pill… I am so much better without it! So much better…" He muttered as he held his head tightly in his hand.

"You were better off without it? Without it, you had a fucking knife to your wrist and you were holding your family hostage!"

"I wasn't holding you hostage."

"Not literally, dumbass." Richie rolled his eyes. "You just… you just look sickly, is all I'm saying… not like the medicine is doing it… I don't know. I'm sorry, I didn't want you to think I was being too worried… or whatever…"

"I'm fine." He whispered as he touched his head. "I do appreciate your concern… I'm just… I'm just not feeling well, is all."

"Maybe you should have told Mom that you couldn't make it."

"Stop worrying about mom…" Greyson mumbled. "Everyone is always so worried about her, she's fine, she's strong… she's been through this with me time and again."

"Yeah, and she had to clean up your blood off the goddamned floor, Greyson. She's not doing well, she's not doing better. She doesn't need to see you suffering like this." Richie said, as his brother's eyes paled, his head leaning back as he stared at the side of his brother's head as he drove.

"Are you saying that I'm killing mom?" He whispered.

"No… no… I'm… I don't know what I'm saying, Grey. I'm just… I'm just watching you deteriorate and I'm just, I just can't stop thinking the way mom was feeling when you went to the hospital…. And when you left for school out here." Richie replied. "And you look sicker than you did before. I don't know what it is."

"It's… it's understandable." Greyson whispered. "I'm sorry I became so defensive." He whispered.

"It's fine." Richie replied. His eyes continued to stare out the windshield as a big gust of wind hit the car, sending billows of snow into the air, blocking the view of the road.

"Richie… slow down…"

"I'm not going fast, Grey, I'm not going to… Holy shit!" He exclaimed as he turned the corner and slammed on his brakes. A car was stuck on the side of the road, it's headlights half buried, sending Richie sliding down the road sideways again as he tried to avoid it. They missed the other car, but they didn't miss the ditch, or the tree. Richie turned the wheel trying to lessen the impact, but with a dull thud, and a crash, the passenger side of the car slid into the ditch, and slammed into the tree beside it, sending broken glass, snow, and ice through the window into the car, as it finally came to rest on the side of the road, deadly silent and smoking, wedged at a sickening angle against the snow packed ditch.