Hello again! I have returned from little vacation hiatus and I'm back and raring to go! I apologize for the delayed update! Okay so after this update, there will probably be a short lull period because I have summer assignments that need attending too haha. Anyways here's the next chapter, Maeve is now nine, Emily six and Jack is two. As always I encourage everyone to look at the pictures. Sorry for the excessive rambling lol, Happy Reading!
Meredith groaned as the alarm started beeping loudly, awaking her from her peaceful sleep. She smacked the alarm with her right hand before turning back over and burying herself in the blankets. She was trying to forget that it was eight o'clock in the freaking morning, on a Saturday and that it happened to be her and Derek's only day off this week.
"Was that the alarm?" mumbled Derek sleepily from his spot in the crook of Meredith's neck. He opened one eye slowly and then shut it quickly due to the brightness shining into the room.
"Yeah." said Meredith said as she snuggles deeper into the pillow, hoping that the soft object would barricade her from the day. "I miss the Saturdays when we used to get to sleep."
"Before we had kids?" asked Derek with a grin as he slowly kissed her neck. "When we could lie in bed all day."
"I love our kids, I just don't love their activities." said Meredith as she turned to face Derek and gently stroked his five o'clock shadow.
"Ems got her ballet recital, right?" asked Derek with a yawn as he lazily ran his fingers through Meredith's waves.
"Yeah at twelve, Maeve's got gymnastics and Jack's got a birthday party. So I'll go right from the birthday party to the dance recital, and then swing by and grab Maeve on the way back." said Meredith, as she rubbed her temple, trying to release some of the pressure that was slowly building in her head.
"Won't Maeve be waiting around?" asked Derek.
"Emily's performance is like number four in the program. After she's done, I'll go backstage and get her and then we'll dart out with plenty of time to spare." said Meredith, as she sighed. "It's going to be a long day."
"Mhmhm" agreed Derek, before turning his attention back to Meredith's neck. He slowly began biting her neck, making Meredith arch her back slightly in response.
"A quickie?" asked Meredith as she turned her head and began kissing Derek quickly and continuously. "A quickie will make me feel better." mumbled Meredith in between kisses.
"We definitely need a quickie."
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"Maeve Alison Shepherd, you better be down here in two minutes! We're going to be late!" shouted Meredith up the stairwell.
She the quickly handed Emily a bowl of cereal and gave Jack some cut-up fruit and a yogurt. She tapped her fingers impatiently as she stood by the toaster waiting for it to pop. She sighed as she waited impatiently.
"Is the toaster, now broken?" asked Meredith as she peered into, inspecting it further. Suddenly the toast sprung out, hitting Meredith sharply in the face and scorching her face slightly due to the heat. "Crap!" yelled Meredith.
Emily gasped from the table, and Meredith whipped around to see Jack and Emily sitting there, she had forgotten they were present in the room for that spilt second.
"Mommy you said a bad word." said Emily with wide eyes.
"Yes Mommy you did." said Derek with an amused grin as he leaned up against the kitchen doorframe, hoping to watch how the rest of this scene would unfold.
Meredith eyed Derek as he chuckled slightly; she then walked over and sat down next to Emily. "You're right Em; Mommy did say a bad word. A word that you shouldn't say and Mommy is very sorry." said Meredith.
"It's okay I forgive you." answered Emily with a cheeky smile as she went to slurping her cereal.
"Me too!" shouted Jack with a mouthful of banana. "I forgives you too Mommy" said Jack as she took a large sip from his sippy cup.
"You forgives me too?" joked Meredith as she ruffled Jacks hair. She loved how Jack was at such an innocent age, where he was a kid, but he was still a baby. She then pressed a kiss on his forehead.
"Thank you both for forgiving me." said Meredith as she stood up and walked back over to the toaster, to see if the toast was edible. As she was brushing the crumbs off the counter, she felt Derek's arms wrap around her. She turned toward him, and quickly glanced in the direction of her kids, before playfully swatting him.
"What was that for?" asked Derek with a grin as he pulled Meredith closer to him, and she looped her arms around his neck.
"You didn't even bail me out over there. I can really feel the love." answered Meredith a smile. "Wont even pull the woman you love out of a dire situation." said Meredith as she clucked her tongue disapprovingly.
"Well I thought I showed you how much I loved you this morning." whispered Derek, as Meredith let out a giggle. "But I guess I'll just have to remind you later."
"I guess you will." said Meredith with a smile, her smile faded when she saw her wrist, and the time that it read. "Oh my god we've got to go!" said Meredith as she quickly pecked Derek on the lips and grabbed her bag from the counter.
"Mommy am I coming with you now?" asked Emily as she took a sip of her orange juice.
"No Em, Daddy's bringing you to the recital. But I'll be there to watch and pick you up afterwards." said Meredith as she undid the buckle on Jack's booster seat. "Maeve come on we've got to go!" shouted Meredith up the stairs as she grabbed her bag.
"I'll see you later in the auditorium." said Derek as he handed Meredith the wrapped present for the party, and pecked her on the cheek.
"I'll see you later." said Meredith as she shifted Jack farther up on her hip. "Maeve, I'm counting to three. One……. Two" started Meredith.
"I'm here, I'm here. I was putting on my leotard." said Maeve as she came running down the stairs in her gymnastics ensemble.
"It took you that long?" asked Meredith with a slight raise of her eyebrows. "Alright, lets just go." said Meredith as she grabbed her car keys.
"No time for breakfast?" asked Maeve, as she grabbed her duffel bag and pulled on a sweatshirt.
"If you had come down the first time I called you, you could've had something better than just a banana." said Meredith as she handed Maeve a banana. "Come on, we've got to go." said Meredith.
"Okay but remember I have my meet at twelve thirty. At the gym." said Maeve as she started heading out the door. "One of you will be there right?" asked Maeve.
"Umm… Derek you can take the kids right?" asked Meredith as she looked back towards Derek, her mind now spinning with the list of today's agenda.
"Yeah I'll take them from the dance recital." said Derek as he rinsed the breakfast bowls.
"I'll be there." said Meredith as she turned and nodded at Maeve. She shook her head and smiled gently.
"I'll be there."
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Meredith rubbed Jack's back as he continued to wail. Meredith unfortunately had to leave the party early to make it to Emily's dance recital. Jack had not been too pleased and had been hysterically crying for the last seven minutes. Meredith opened the door to her SUV and buckled Jack into his car seat.
"Would you like some juice?" asked Meredith as she saw Jack beginning to calm down. Jack sniffed and nodded his head. Meredith fished around in her tote purse before producing Jack's sippy cup of apple juice. She handed it to him and he gratefully accepted. She brushed a tear away from his face and kissed his forehead, before shutting the door and getting into the drivers seat.
"Mama where we goin?" asked Jack as he continued to sip his juice and kick his feet against his car seat.
"We're going to Emily's dance recital, remember?" asked Meredith as she pulled into an empty parking space in the parking lot of Seattle Community College, where the recital was being held. "Remember when you went with Mommy and Emmie and we picked out her pretty pink tutu?" asked Meredith as she turned off the ignition and grabbed her keys.
"Uh-huh. We watch Emmie?" asked Jack as Meredith grabbed her bag from the back seat and lifted Jack into her arms.
"Yes we're going to watch Emmie. But you have to be very quiet because it's a quiet place. Okay?" reminded Meredith as they approached the door and walked into the lobby.
"Okay." answered Jack as he played with the toy car in his hand.
She walked a few feet before she reached the auditorium. She looked amongst the crowd until she saw Derek waving at her a couple of rows ahead. She walked over quickly and put Jack down in one of the chairs and her bag on the floor.
"I didn't think I was going to make it." said Meredith as she sat down next to Derek and looked around at the crowd of people, casually talking. "Why hasn't it started yet?" asked Meredith.
"Someone came on and told us technical difficulties. They said they'll be starting at twelve thirty." said Derek as he shifted in his seat to get more comfortable.
"Great just great." groaned Meredith as she ran her fingers nervously around the ends of her hair.
"Mama? We see Emmie in her pretty pink tutu?" asked Jack as he looked curiously at the stage and then to his parents.
Meredith giggled at her son's words, while Derek eyed Meredith slightly, guessing that he had repeated what she said.
"Hey Buddy, how about after this you, me and Emily go to the toy store and Daddy will let you picked out a new truck?" asked Derek.
"Okay!" said Jack excitedly as he continued to move his small toy on the armrests of the seat.
Derek sat back with a satisfied smirk, as Meredith laughed softly at his behavior before patting his knee softly in reassurance. She stretched her arms up as she leaned forward.
"Well I guess if we'll be here awhile, I'll go get myself a drink from the stand outside." said Meredith as she stood up.
"I already got you something." said Derek as he leaned down next to him and produced two Doctor Pepper's. He then cracked one can open, releasing the strong smell.
Meredith grimaced slightly as she tried to shake the nauseous feeling in her stomach. She shook her head as she rubbed her side to ease the feeling. "I think I'm going to go get a seltzer water." said Meredith as she walked out of the auditorium and into the lobby.
She proceeded to get on the end of the refreshments line and stand and wait. She sighed inwardly as she tapped her foot anxiously. "This hectic day is almost over." she thought to herself as she moved forward in line. She examined her watch to see that it was only twenty five after twelve. Almost being the key word.
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Meredith drummed her fingers against the steering wheel, as she sat at a red light a block away from Maeve's gymnastic center. She was five minutes late picking Maeve up and she hated think she was waiting there by herself. She quickly pulled up alongside to see Mark, Izzie, Leah, Kyle, Kara and Maeve standing there. She rolled down the window a confused looks evident on her face.
"What are you guys doing here?" asked Meredith.
Izzie and Mark both looked toward the ground as the kids started towards the car. Izzie looked at her watch.
"Well we really should be going." said Izzie as she and Mark both turned to leave. They both waved before quickly turning around.
"Hold it. Why are you here?" asked Meredith as they both spun around a guilty looks on both their faces.
"Because they remembered to come to my gymnastics meet." answered Maeve as she held up her ribbon. "The meet that got me sent to the State Championship."
Meredith's face fell as she heard her daughter speak. She looked at the time and then back at her daughter. "Oh Maeve." said Meredith, as that was all she could utter.
"Its fine I don't care." said Maeve bitterly as she climbed into the back seat and hastily pulled on her seatbelt. She rolled down her window. "Thanks for coming." said Maeve to Mark and Izzie as they nodded their heads.
Meredith looked at Izzie dumbfounded before indicating she'd call her later. She then took off in the direction of their land. The car was silent for most of the drive, but Meredith wanted to break it. She looked into the mirror to see Maeve absentmindedly staring at the passing scenery.
"Maeve, I'm so sorry. I lost of track of the time and your sister's show started late. There was traffic. I'm so sorry I couldn't be there." rambled Meredith.
"You didn't lose track of the time at Jack's birthday party or miss anyone else things. You only missed mine." said Maeve.
"I know. And I'm sorry I couldn't be there to see you compete." said Meredith as she entered onto the land. "I'm so proud of you." said Meredith with a smile.
"I don't care." shot back Maeve.
Meredith stopped the car in the driveway. She turned around in the seat a stressed look on her face. "Okay I know I messed up, but you're not allowed to talk to me like that. Are we clear?" asked Meredith firmly.
"I hate you. You're the worst mom ever!" shouted Maeve as she got out of the car, slamming it on the way out.
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Derek sat playing with Jack on the carpet of the living room, when he heard the door slam and looked up to see Maeve stomping in the door, and she then proceeded to run up the stairs. Derek looked towards the stair bewildered, he then heard the door open again and looked up to Meredith enter.
"I missed her gymnastics meet." said Meredith simply, as she pushed her hair back and sighed. "I'll be upstairs." said Meredith as she quickly exited and jogged up the stairs.
Derek looked at Jack, who was happily playing with his car oblivious to the situation. He patted him on the head as he stood up.
"You stay here buddy, I'm going to go talk to Mommy. Okay?" asked Derek.
"Okay." said Jack as he continued to move the little toy around the carpet.
Derek quickly walked up the stairs, and into his and Meredith's bedroom to see Meredith lying in a fetal position on the bed. He walked over, and then sat down on the edge of the bed.
"She said I was a horrible mother." mumbled Meredith into the pillow. "And that she hated me."
"Meredith she didn't mean it. She was angry and upset. She loves you very much, you know that." said Derek.
"Derek I used to say that to my mother. I like to think I'm not like her. But as of today I am. I forgot to go to something my child thought was important. I am a horrible mother." said Meredith emotion rising in her voice with every word.
"Meredith." started Derek, trying to reason with her, but knowing it wouldn't do anything.
"I mean think about. I try and balance all three schedules, share my time evenly with each of them. Make them feel loved. How am I supposed to do that with four? When I can't even handle three?" asked Meredith.
"Four? Are you counting the dog? Because Lacy really doesn't need much attention, you pat her on the head every once in awhile and she's fine." joked Derek.
"I'm not talking about Lacy." said Meredith.
"Then who are you talking about?" asked a bewildered Derek.
"The child I'm carrying!" screamed Meredith.
"What? You're pregnant?" asked Derek. His eyes widening slightly, he quickly ran his fingers through his hair.
"Yes! And how I am supposed to freaking add a fourth child into this mess? Hmmm? I'm already the worst mother ever, how the hell am I suppose to raise a fourth?" asked Meredith as tears filled her eyes.
"Meredith." said Derek as he walked closer to her, shortening the length between them and pulled her into him.
That was all it took for the dam to break. Meredith started to sob into Derek's shoulder, as he soothing rubbed her back and kissed her temple. He lifted her face up gently to face him, her tears streaked with tears and fresh ones already making their way out of her pools of green.
"All of your children love you, and so will this baby. We've just to give Maeve some time to cool off." said Derek as he tucked a piece of hair behind Meredith's ear.
Meredith nodded as she pulled herself back into Derek, and held on tightly. She wanted so badly to believe him and believe that everything would blow over. But what if didn't?
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Meredith tiptoed out of Emily's room after checking on her. She normally didn't check on her kids after she put them to sleep, but occasionally at night she'll get that feeling in the pit of her something, the feeling that she has to check on them. All of them.
She quietly opened Maeve's door and walked in. She saw Maeve curled up on her side hugging the sheet for warmth. Meredith walked over to the window and shut it, blocking the cool spring breeze drifting in. She walked back over to Maeve's bed and pulled the quilt up and tucked her in gently. She then leaned down and kissed her on the forehead, and turned to exit the room.
"Mommy?" called Maeve sleepily as she sat up slightly in her bed. "Mom is that you?" asked Maeve again, slight fear evident in her voice.
"It's just me Maeve. Go back to sleep." said Meredith with a small smile. She then walked over and tucked Maeve back in and kissed her on the head once again.
"I love you." said Maeve sleepily, as she shut her eyes, falling back into a peaceful slumber.
"I love you too."
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