Hey guys, thanks for the reviews. I think this is the quickest I've ever posted a new chapter, yay me.
To Lady-Josie: Thanks for your review, I know what you mean about Mer and Addison being friends I love that too. I made for Addison and Meredith's friendship start of at a good pace even though it was at a weird time for a proper meeting. They will have more of a relationship as the story moves on.
Disclaimer: Not mine or season 6 would have ended differently !
Chapter 7: Comprehensibility
It had been two weeks since Meredith had arrived in Miami, met Derek and basically started a new life in Florida. A few days ago Addison Montgomery had arrived and dropped a huge bomb on Mark, she had told him she was pregnant. Mark being Mark did not take the news very well, he freaked out and needed Derek to be there for him. In all of the craziness he hadn't stopped to think about how this affected Addie. She was the one who was carrying the baby, this was going to be a tough journey for her especially since she was going to be pregnant during her first year as a doctor. Also if Mark wasn't going to step up she would have to do this alone. A single mother balancing her baby and her stressful hours that an intern has was definitely not her plan.
In all of this she had looked towards Meredith to be her friend, the only girl there who she actually saw herself being close with at some point. Let's face it when she had met Christina she knew right away she was not the easiest person to get along with. With Izzie, well that was just not going to happen, she didn't really feel jealous or threatened by her because she knew how Mark was like around girls. She did appreciate Izzie trying to help her and Mark's relationship by admitting there was nothing between them and backing off right away. Yes, Meredith was someone she could get along with. She seemed like a nice girl to Addie, and the way she and Derek acted around each other it was sure they belonged together. She wasn't going to judge their relationship based on their age difference, to her age was just a number.
Walking on the beach with Meredith, Addie was venting to her about her fears.
"I don't know Mer, what if I can't do this?"
Meredith sighed, she knew nothing about this subject, thankfully she had never gone through it "I don't think, I mean are you sure Mark isn't going to step up and be a dad? Take responsibility for himself?"
Addie looked at her with tears in her eyes. "I think he could be, the problem is he doesn't. Mark is the life of the party, the big guy on campus but in reality he is the guy with the lowest self confidence." she paused. "I should explain, Mark did not have the best childhood. He came from a wealthy family but horrible parents, they were never there for him especially his dad. I guess that's where his fear come from, he grew up with Derek as his brother and was basically a Shepherd since kindergarten. He thinks just because his dad was that way that he will be too, I know he loves me but he is scared of letting me in all of the way. A baby would tie us deep forever."
Meredith had learned from Derek that Mark really was like a brother to him. It made sense that Mark would lean on only him, since they knew each other since they were little he could confide in him. "Look you shouldn't take it personally, believe me when you go through stuff like that, it doesn't ever go away. It makes you look at life differently growing up, you don't trust people as easily and you really can't blame them. I know."
Addie turned to Mer confused, she didn't know anything about this girl, but it seemed like part of her was coming out. "You mean you've gone through that?"
Now she was stuck, she always did this, she let herself ramble about things she preferred people didn't know and then she had to let the truth out. "Well, yes kind of, I mean.." Mer sighed. Might as well do it now, not that big of a deal. "I grew up like Mark. Kind of. My mom is Ellis Grey, one of the biggest names in surgery."
Addison nodded, of course she had heard of Ellis Grey.
Meredith continued "When you have that kind of title or job or whatever you don't really have time to pay attention to your family. I guess that's why im an only child, anyway, I guess my dad couldn't put up with it so he left. He left my mom and he left me, and I was only five years old. Never seen him since."
Addie really felt sympathy for Meredith, she could only imagine what she goes through, having watched Mark when the subject of his parents come up. "I'm really sorry Meredith, that must have been tough. I guess I get what you mean by the trust thing. Still, it hurts that Mark won't talk to me about this, and he can't support me. I don't know what im gonna do, but I feel better by talking with you. You know im really getting to like you Meredith Grey. " Addie put her arm around her.
Meredith smiled, yeah she was definitely getting close to her. "I am too."
Mark was being accompanied by Derek in their room while sulking. That's what he had been doing for days, the only person he had been around was Derek. Addison was certainly not talking to him, she had been getting close to Meredith and talking about whatever girls talked about. Of course he wanted to make things better with Addie but how could he when he didn't even know how to make things better for himself. He was going to be a father no matter what, the problem was what kind of father would he be? With his luck he would turn out like his own father, he didn't know any better, the only other kind of dad he had seen was Derek's. He had spent little time with him because of his early death but he saw the way he was with his kids. That's how a father should act, but there was no way that was a possibility for him. He always messed everything up, all of his relationships and now with Addie.
As always Derek was there for him, he listened to what he had to say about the matter but didn't really give his input which was not like him. Every time he asked Derek what he should do hi answer was the same, "I don't know".
"Come on man you're more level headed about things just tell me what to do here." Mark pleaded sitting up on the bed.
"Mark, this is a situation in where I can't tell you what to do. You have to decide what you want to do about it, step up and be there for Addie or run." Derek concluded staring at his friend from across the room. He knew Mark better than anybody else and he knew he was a good guy, underneath the layers he creates for himself in front of others, he know how emotional he is. This was one time though, Derek did not know exactly what Mark would do. Could he really see Mark with Addison being a typical family and raising a kid?
Mark groaned putting his face in his hands, "I don't know, I don't know. Im not that guy Derek, Im not the go buy diapers, stay at home daddy type."
"Why not Mark huh? Why? I don't understand this, why can't you be that stand up guy who takes care of the woman he loves and his kid?" Derek stood up and walked closer to Mark.
Mark finally snapped, he jumped up and got very close to Derek, "Its NOT me! Addie deserves way better than anything I could give her!" Mark was really blowing up, it was all coming out " If I did this I know I would mess this up just like my dad did, and my kid deserves way better than a piece of shit dad!"
Mark had broken, he was scared. He was scared of what he would be. As his friend, Derek felt like it was his duty to help him through this and help him realize its not the way it has to be. "Mark, you are not your father. You will never be anything like your him, you are a great guy, I know I've had to put up with you my whole life." Mark smiled. "I know you, and I know you care about Addison and that baby. Think about it, you get to do what your dad didn't. You get to be the complete opposite, you'll take care of your kid and get to give him what you didn't have and only you can do that. When we were younger what was the thing you always wished for on your birthday?"
Mark didn't even need to think about it, "For my dad to be there."
"Exactly, do you want your kid to wish for that every year, to feel like a very big part in his life is missing." Derek asked, he knew with this he had definitely made Mark realize that maybe he could do this fatherhood thing.
"I never thought about that." Mark sat back on the bad, now calm he tried to process everything he had said. Maybe he could do it, maybe Derek was right. He could see it, he would be playing catch with his son, reading his daughter to sleep in her princess themed room. The problem is, will Addison take him now? It had been a few days and he had been ignoring her, she probably thought he couldn't care less.
"You think Addie will take me back?"Mark looked hopeful.
Derek smiled, "Mark, its been a few days not months, I think she will understand."
Mark nodded and sighed, "I'm going to be a dad."
Derek laughed and patted Mark on the back, "You are. There's gonna be a mini Mark running around, chasing women."
Mark smiled "The legacy continues."
The next day Meredith and Derek were finally able to spend some time together after the whole Mark freak out They hadn't seen each other in a few days because Meredith was with Addison and Derek was taking care of Mark. Even though it really killed him not seeing Meredith, he was glad she and Addison had become friends. It was nice that she was getting involved with that side of his life because Addison and Mark were his family and now it included Meredith.
Currently, they were walking hand in hand down the beach. It was the middle of the day and a lot of people were out and about but they didn't really care as long as they finally got some time together. "You know, im really glad you and Addison are getting close. It was really nice of you to help her out."
Meredith smiled, "Yeah well, you were busy with Mark I had nothing better to do." They both laughed, "I actually kind of like her, shes kind of gorgeous."
"You are gorgeous Meredith."
Meredith blushed a bit, "Well, I'm glad they worked it out. It's just kind of weird thinking that Mark is gonna be a dad, he doesn't seem like the settling down type."
"He will be, I know he will."
Mer turned to face him and enveloped him in a deep kiss. "I did miss you though."
He smiled, "I did too, I thought about you all-" Derek didn't get to finish his sentence because a very recognizable voice cut through their moment.
The woman took her black sunglasses off, "There you are honey, I've been looking everywhere for you."
Derek's head whipped to the woman, he sighed "Adrielle."
Well thats chapter 7, the next one should be up within a week. Review please, it really makes my dad and encourages me to write more.
-Greysqueen
