Meredith and Cristina had been working all afternoon on getting things ready for their meeting. They made sandwiches for the kids, steaks for the guys, and chicken for the women. As the time got closer to when everyone would start coming over Meredith got more and more nervous. She still has no idea how they are going to go about explaining divorce to all of the kids. She doesn't know if it will just be her and Edward or if they'll be able to call on their friends for help. She opens the refrigerator to make sure they have enough to drink for everyone. There is plenty. Her and Cristina shuffle around the kitchen trying to get it all set up by the time people arrive so they won't have to worry about that. They keep the meet in the oven to keep it warm and the sandwiches in the refrigerator to keep cold. The doorbell rings at 6:30 and she stops dead in her tracks. She knows it's Edward.
"Mer, are you ok?" Cristina asks. "Do you want me to get the door?"
"I just want to thank you so much for helping me with all this. I know I have been distant these past few years. I just…I'm sorry. You have been my life support through everything."
"That's what friends are for. You've gotten me through some pretty tough times so I am glad to be able to do the favor. I'll even push Edward down the stairs for you if you want."
Meredith giggles, "No, that won't be necessary. I'll let him in." Meredith walks to the door and opens it. Edward walks in without saying a word. He knows he is not wanted in this house and he respects that Meredith probably wants to cut off his balls so he just walks into the living room where Meredith and Cristina had set up chairs and sits down in the back. Meredith walks back into the kitchen to continue preparing. "Do you think I should talk to him about what we should say?" Meredith whispers.
"That would probably be a good idea since people will be here in 15 minutes," Cristina whispers back. "And why are we whispering?"
"Ok, I'm going in." She walks into the living room and sits down next to Edward. "Maybe you should go tell Louis first…before anyone else gets here. Tell him that you're leaving."
"You don't know who is getting custody. That's why we agreed to wait to tell him." It frustrates Meredith that he is acting like this isn't all his fault. He still doesn't know that she knows he's been cheating. She has decided not to tell him until they meet with the lawyers. She can't wait to see his face when he realizes that Derek is her lawyer and Derek is that same person he met at the strip club.
"Well you need to tell him something. He's been up there in is room since we got home. He's pretty mad at you right now. I am just trying to do what is best for him. This was your decision and now you have to deal with it."
Edward stands up and walks up to Louis's room. He opens the door and Louis is sitting on his floor coloring a picture. When the door opens Louis turns around, sees Edward, and goes back to his picture. Edward sits down next to Louis. He knows he can't push him too far or he'll just run out of the room to Meredith. "What are you drawing, buddy?"
"Cristina," he says not even looking up from the paper.
"I know you're not happy with me right now. I want to explain to you what's going on. Your mother and I have grown apart. We still love you though. We will both always love you as much as we always have. My job is moving me to another state and we both can't take care of you at the same time. We don't know who you're going to stay with yet but you'll still get to see them on the weekends."
"Why do you have to go? I don't want to be away from you or mommy," Louis says as he finally stops coloring and looks up at Edward with his big brown eyes.
"I know but I have to listen to my job."
"Why can't you get a new job?"
"I just can't, buddy, and I am sorry." Edward puts a reassuring hand on Louis's back.
"Can you leave my room now?"
Edward knows that it is his time to go. There is nothing he can say to make this situation better. He is going to wind up hurting his son either way. He stands up and walks downstairs and returns to his chair in the living room. Everyone else has already arrived so Meredith goes upstairs to get Louis so they can start. She slowly opens the door and at first she doesn't see him. She starts looking around the room and finally sees him in his head. He is holding onto his teddy bear that she had gotten him when he had to get stitches. "Everyone is downstairs, Louie. Do you want to stay here instead?"
"I want to go with you." He pulls the blankets off from him and runs over to her and hugs her. She hugs him back. He runs over to his table to get the picture he made for Cristina and hands it to Meredith. "Did you make this for Cristina?" She almost giggles because he had tried to spell Cristina but it came out like Kritna. He just nods his head yes. "Do you want to give it to her?" Meredith hands the paper back to Louis and he runs downstairs. Meredith shakes her head knowing that she is dealing with a little crush that Louis has on Cristina. She follows after and walks back downstairs to join her friends for the reason they're all there.
Cristina and Izzie had begun to pass around the food when Meredith got down stairs. They were all in the living room. The adults are on the chairs and the kids are sitting on the floor. Meredith had set up a bar stool in front of the room so she could sit up front and face the group. As she sits up there she realizes that she isn't all that great in speaking in public. That had always been Edward's strongpoint. She knows she can't count on him for this though. They should be doing it together but at the same time part of her just wants to do it on her own so it's all in her words. She knows she can count on Izzie and Addison if she needs it. She doesn't want to leave them out because even though they hadn't planned on it this has affected all of their families.
"So this is kind of weird for me. I didn't really imagine all of this would end in a press conference and most families wouldn't have to do this when divorce comes up but we are not like most families. We are all best friends and our children are best friends. When something affects us it affects them too and sometimes we get wrapped up in our own lives that we forget that they don't really know what's going on and they have a right to know." She looks down at the little faces of the three children sitting in front of her. They're all paying attention so closely. "Today Louis and CJ got into an argument about something that CJ had overheard. We realized that we need to be more open with our kids about what is going on so that's what I am trying to do. I feel like I am rambling though. Please stop me if you have something to add, any of you."
"You're doing a great job so far, Mer," Izzie says, "If you need help just ask."
Meredith addresses the kids. "Divorce is just another word for when people who are married that break up. They won't be together anymore. One parent will move out. In Edward and my case Edward's job is moving him across the country so he won't be around as much anymore. We have to meet with some people to determine where Louis is going to stay. This doesn't mean we love Louis any less. We both still love him very much but we have just grown apart. This doesn't mean that your mommy and daddy will be splitting up. This is just what is best for us right now."
"Don't you love each other anymore?" Jessica asks.
Meredith hesitates. She isn't sure how to answer that. She knows even though that no matter what she will never stop loving him. She knows that nobody else can help her answer this question but her. "We…I still love him. We just aren't in love anymore."
"Oh that's sad," Jessica replies then takes a bite out of her sandwich.
"But what if Louie has to go away?" CJ asks, "I would miss him. He's my best friend." CJ hugs Louis.
"We'll make sure you'll get to see him, pal, you're not going to lose your best friend," Alex answers. He doesn't want CJ to get upset. They definitely wouldn't split the boys up. If Alex had to fly with CJ out to Seattle once a month he would do it and he knows Izzie feels the same way. If it were up to Alex Louis would stay with Meredith. A boy needs his mother and every since they heard about Edward cheating they would rather not see him ever again. What's worse is that Edward made Meredith feel as if this is what she wanted. He manipulated their friend. If they were to see each other one on one Alex would probably punch him in the face.
"If any of you kids have any questions about what is going on you can always ask us," Addison adds to take some of the pressure off of Meredith.
"Yeah and Louis is going to need you guys to be extra supportive. This isn't easy for anyone so it's your job to cheer him up when he's feeling sad," Denny says.
CJ and Jessica both put their arms around Louis's shoulders. "We can do that, daddy," Jessica says with a smile on her face.
"Yeah!" CJ says enthusiastically. The parents can't help but laugh at the sight of their kids together like that. They're lucky they all get along. They know that no matter what happens, the kids have a special bond with each other that most 5 year olds don't have. They understand the value of friendship and they truly love to be around each other. They all think that CJ may have developed a little crush on Jessica. He's so protective of her like she was his own sister.
"Does anyone else have any questions before we get the ice cream out of the freezer?" Meredith asks. Louis raises his hand as if he was in school. "Go ahead, Louie."
"Who chooses where I go?"
Meredith wasn't expecting that question from him. She isn't sure how to put it into terms a child would understand. She would just have to answer the best she can and go from there. She doesn't even dare look to Edward for help. "Mommy and daddy's lawyers get together with a judge and they decide. You know what a judge is. It's that guy who gets to wear that long black robe in the court room." Louis still looks a bit confused but he doesn't ask any more questions. Maybe if Derek would ever speak to her again she could introduce Louis to him so Louis can understand who he is.
CJ raises his hand next, following Louis's lead. He doesn't wait to be called on though. As soon as Meredith looks up at him be begins talking. "Can we have ice cream now?"
The room collectively giggles. "Yes CJ, you can have ice cream now. Everyone into the kitchen!"
The kids stand up and run first into the kitchen. They form a line in front of the table that Cristina has set up. All the different flavors of ice cream are sitting on the table for the choosing. They have vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. They even have a toppings station where the kids could choose from sprinkles, chocolate chips, chocolate syrup, or cherries and whipped cream. As soon as they began to enjoy desert the tension in the house eased up a bit. Edward decided it was best that he probably should just leave. He wasn't any help at all. Meredith had thought he would have at least tried to explain a little why he was leaving but he sat silent and kept looking at his cell phone. He was probably texting "her" or something. All in all it was a good night. The kids seem to have a better understanding what is going on with the Russo's and what has been going on with Louis. They now know that he really needs them to be there for him when he is upset. And they know that even though Meredith and Edward might not have worked out that doesn't mean that all parents will go through a divorce. Meredith makes a note in her journal what time Edward left and the fact that he hadn't said anything the whole time. At least Louis now knows just what a horrible person his father is. She wishes it didn't have to be this way but she has no choice. He fought dirty and now it's her turn.