Meredith and Mark met up with Lisa, Greg, Jimmy and Katie at the steak house. Meredith was so excited to see Katie that she was literally jumping for joy. They gave each other a quick once over, before embracing each other.

Meredith had left mark to fend for himself against Greg, Lisa and Jimmy, and he seemed to be holding his own. Meredith caught up with Katie about college, med school, boys and later babies and the upcoming wedding.

There meals had been served and Meredith dug straight into hers as she had an empty stomach.

Mark laughed at her before he ran his hand up her thigh.

Meredith smiled at Mark, and threw him a look that her family didn't miss.

"So Quints" Lisa started.

"Yeah" Meredith sighed, "I was scared at the thought of having 1 baby, but 5 is wow... terrifying."

Mark grinned at Meredith. "Some of the crap you've survived Mer, I think we will be able to handle it."

Meredith took another mouthful of food and began to chomp down on it.



"So... Richard Webber" Greg opened. Meredith rolled her eyes until she caught the look on Katie's face.

"Yeah, what's the deal with you guys and Richard? I mean he's been there for Mer quite a bit these past 3 years. I mean there was the bomb, the drowning, the father thing, the appy, oh and not to mention the ambulance thing, Ellis lucid and the pain full ex." Mark rattled off. "He's really been protective of Mer."

Greg put his knife and fork down and looked between Meredith and Mark.

Meredith nodded to say it was the truth.

"Uncle Greg, I came out here keeping this big secret about mum and her illness. I was doing a pretty good job too until she was admitted to the hospital. But that's beside the point. Seattle is one of the best programs in the U.S. When I found out Richard was Chief I was naturally curious. I mean here is the guy that split up mom marriage only to decide not to leave his wife. I also wanted to know what Katie's father was like."

Mark was a tad shocked. "Richard is your dad?" he asked Katie, she nodded.

"Not that he knows it. When mum found out she moved us all to Boston, and then to New York so we could have the support of Uncle Greg, Aunt Lisa and Uncle Jimmy."



Mark was a bit shocked that Richard did not know about Katie. "After mom got sick" Meredith explained. "Uncle Greg and Aunt Lisa made themselves Katie's foster parents, and then we all moved."

"Right! Digression over" Greg pulled the conversation back. "Why didn't you tell us about Richard?" he asked.

"Because I knew you would flip out." Meredith replied.

"I'm not happy that you didn't tell us." Greg said sternly, Lisa and Jimmy nodded in agreement.

"So of all the things Mark rattled off, there were things u didn't mention, such as your mother being lucid, and what was the drowning thing and father thing?" Lisa asked.

Meredith swallowed hard, these were 3 things she had wanted so hard to forget.

Meredith looked nervously around the group and began to explain...

"All 3 things link together." Meredith replied. Mark held on to her hand as she explained about the angry lucid Ellis who had called her ordinary. How she had been knocked into Elliot Bay when doing triage, only to momentarily not swim, and drown. Then she told how Thatcher entered her life only to blame her for the death of her step mother.

Through all this she silently cried, before she knew it she was on Marks lap. Lisa and Katie were crying alongside her.


"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." she told them "it's just telling you all this has made it real."

Her uncle Greg softened around the edges. "Richard was there for all of it?" he asked.

Meredith nodded. "He has been like the dad Katie and I never had." she told him and felt a little guilty in saying so.

Greg shook his head. "Unbelievable"

Lisa put her hand out to cover his. "Greg" she began, "maybe he's changed."

Greg shook his head. "No, he's taken advantage of her" he growled. "He couldn't be there for Ellis and she needed him."

Meredith buried her head in Marks shoulder.

Mark ran his fingers through her hair, as he gently soothed her.

Mark looked round the table. "Look Richard has been there for Meredith when no one else could. I don't know what has happened between your family and Richard. Maybe this was his way to redeem himself. All I know is that he has been hurting because Mer couldn't invite him to our wedding. Let alone how upset Meredith has been about it."



Greg hung his head, he was thinking hard. Slowly he lifted it and met Meredith's eyes. She had pulled herself together. "I'm sorry, hormone overload." she explained.

"Mer I can't... I can't...forgive him for hurting my big sister, for hurting my nieces." Greg paused, "but I can call a truce if that's what you want. If you want him at your wedding then I will try."

"That's all I ask." Meredith sighed.

Meredith looked at Katie. "Are you going to be ok?" she asked. "With all of this?"

Katie shrugged, "I don't have a choice, and besides he doesn't even know that I exist."

Meredith sighed. "Do you want him to?"

"I DONT KNOW, I really just don't know." Katie replied.

"Again, I'm sorry guys; I was selfish and forgot how much my decisions affected my family." Meredith spoke honestly.

Slowly the conversation shifted to Mark. They wanted to know all about him. Meredith relaxed as he told his story. He also explained how he and Meredith had come together.

Meredith could see it all.



She had been hurting so much after Derek had kissed Rose. She hurt so much that she begged Richard to give her 2 weeks off. She didn't want to see him, them, together in the hospital. She didn't want to hear the whispers of the sordid tale and the rumours that were bound to accompany it. Meredith had dragged herself out of bed, only to book a flight to New York. She had hoped she could spend time with her sister.

Meredith didn't catch the flight though. There she was standing in the boarding line when she felt nauseas and dizzy. She had moved towards a bin, but hadn't managed to bring anything up, instead, things turned blurry and she blacked out into the safety of darkness.

Mark had apparently seen her collapse and had run to her. He had told her later that he had been going to New York to finalise everything with his practice. Mark had called the ambulance and had accompanied her to Seattle Grace.

Apparently everyone was quite shocked to see him clamber out of the Ambulance with her.

He had been so worried that he refused to leave her side. He was even the one who told her that she had miscarried.

Christina and Richard organised to keep her in a private room, and refused to pass on her stay to Derek who had heard that she had been going away.

When Derek found out about Meredith being in the hospital he tried his 

darndest to get to her. Meredith could hear him at her door while the Chief and Mark had told him to leave. "She's broken beyond your repair." Mark had told him. "Your scrub nurse better be worth it."

After that, Mark was always with her. Derek didn't find out about the miscarriage until 9 months later. He turned around and accused her of doing it deliberately. When Mark heard, he had made Derek hurt.

It was almost amusing when Meredith thought how Addison had given Mark and Derek's friendship the hard knock, but Meredith was the one to make it shatter.

At one stage Meredith could remember feeling guilty. But not anymore.

Meredith shook her head in efforts to shake off the thoughts and memories.

Everybody seemed to have finished eating and had been right into a discussion with Mark.

Meredith tried hard to focus but she was too tired and couldn't hold back a yawn.

"I didn't know we were boring you." Jimmy stirred

"Oh, what no, never" Meredith quickly responded.

Lisa threw a look over at Jimmy, before turning to Meredith. "I suggest you go home and sleep Mer, your way too tired."


Meredith nodded. Mark was quick on his feet. "I guess we will see you guys tomorrow."

They all said their goodbyes before Meredith rested her head on Marks shoulder and sighed. "Well be home soon" he whispered, not having expected her to fall asleep in the car.