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Chapter Eleven

Wisdom

Friday came slowly for Lily. Nathan really hadn't respected her wishes and he hadn't even tried to stay away. Sometimes he would wait outside her class rooms and then proceed to apologize a hundred times while she used all her energy trying to ignore him. He would even put notes in her locker expressing his sorrow. Most notable, he and Sally had a big blow out in the hall on Wednesday. Sally accused Nathan of emotionally cheating and Nathan broke up with her. Lily couldn't deal with another day of Nathans sad eyes. Thank God her mom had let her skip out today to pick up her Grandmother from the airport. Jack hadn't been happy about not being able to skip too, but he had three tests.

Lily waited in the terminal looking for the familiar sight of her Grandmother. After five minutes she saw Grandma Shepherd. She now walked with a cane after her last hip replacement surgery, but was otherwise in good health and was still going strong. Lily stood up and went to meet her grandmother. When she reached her Lily embraced her in a big hug. Her grandmother's warmth overwhelmed her and she finally let go of all the frustration, anger, and sadness that she had been bottling up all week.

"It's okay sweet heart." Grandma Shepherd assured, "I'm here now."

"I hate him Grandma." Lily chocked out. She didn't care about what the multitude of people in the airport thought of her. She just needed her Grandmother's hug and kind words of comfort.

"I know," she said, "I know. Just let it out."

888

"So tell me everything that happened with you and Nathan." Carolyn Shepherd said to her Grandmother. The two sat on a park bench on a rare sunny day. Carolyn had treated her granddaughter with ice cream and insisted that Lily get some fresh air.

"The long version or the short version?" Lily asked.

"Somewhere in between." She replied with a smile.

"Alright," Lily began, "I started having feelings for Nathan, but he was dating slutty- I mean Sally so I didn't tell him. Then I decided not to wait around for him and so I went on a date with Wesley Kennedy."

"Let me guess," Grandma Shepherd interrupted, "This Wesley is smart, attractive, a senior, and possible on the football team."

"Quarterback." Lily verified.

"And Nathan hates him right?" She guessed.

"Yeah," Lily agreed, "So I went on a date with him and at the end of the date he kissed me. I guess Nathan saw us and he took off. When Wesley was kissing me it was nice, but it wasn't like when I kissed Nathan. So the next day I went to tell him what I was feeling and Sally answered the door in her underwear."

"I'm so sorry sweetheart." Carolyn said "I've known that boy forever and I practically raised his father. In a lot of ways their alike, they make the same mistakes. But they also have their differences. Nathan learned how to really care about a woman before his father did."

"So should I forgive him?" Lily asked her grandmother setting aside her milkshake.

"If not for him then for you," Her Grandmother told her, "Trust me when I say that all that anger is really just punishment on yourself." Lily reflected over these words for a moment. "You know sometimes it throws me off that I see so much of your dad in you and then you act like your mom." Lily smiled at this. "Do you have a prom dress yet?"

"No I haven't gotten around to it."

"It's next weekend." Her Grandmother reminded her. "Come on I'll take you to the mall."

888

"Shouldn't Lily and my mother be here by now?" Derek asked his wife when he arrived entered the house from work.

"She texted me and told me not to worry." Jack replied grabbing a chip bag out of the counter.

"I wouldn't worry about it." Meredith agreed with her son. "You know how your mother likes to spoil the kids."

"Did he call again?" Derek asked. Meredith and he shared a knowing look and she nodded.

Before they could discuss the matter any further Lily and Carolyn Shepherd entered the house with bags in their hands giggling madly.

"What have you two been up to?" Derek asked surprised but happy. He hadn't seen his daughter be genially happy in a while.

"Well my Granddaughter informed me that she didn't have a dress for prom so we went shopping to get one and then we needed shoes and accessories so we made a day of it." She told her son. "Jack sweetheart would you mind getting m bags out of the car?"

"Sure Grandma." Jack said starting to head out the door.

"Hug first." She told her grandson. She pulled him into a warm embrace. "You're getting so big."

"Thanks Grandma." Jack said grinning. He pulled out of the hug and headed to the car.

"Mom you didn't have to spend all that money. How much did it cost? I'll pay you back." Derek insisted.

"You'll do no such thing." She reprimanded. "This is my gift to my granddaughter. Why don't you go try on your dress for the family Lily?"

"Sure Grandma." Lily agreed taking a bag into her arms and heading upstairs.

"How did you get her to smile?" Meredith asked curiously.

"We just talked. Buying the dress didn't hurt and she looks so beautiful in it."

"Do you think she'll be okay?"

"Of course," She insisted, "She's just like her parents. She's a fighter."

"Thank you for coming down." Meredith said, "She really opens up to you."

"Well I had to when you told me what was going on. After you called me on Saturday I decided the next day I was going to come and then of course you got my call Monday. So have you heard anything from Nathan?"

"Yeah He's been calling the house since three."

"Where do you want me to put your bags grandma?" Jack asked coming back into the house straddling numerous bags in his arms. Just set them down on the floor sweet heart." Jack let the bags fall with a crash.

"So how was the trip?" Jack asked.

"It was just fine. I slept most of the time."

"So did you get me anything?"

"Jack!" Meredith admonished which caused Carolyn Shepherd to laugh.

"It's alright Meredith I always get him something when I come to town don't I?"

"So where is it?" Jack asked excitedly.

"It's in the front zipper in the red bag." She replied. Jack hurried to get the front pocket open and found the box of chocolates from his favorite chocolate company inside.

"Thanks Grandma!" Jack yelled excitedly.

"You're very welcome Jackson." The good mood was cut off with the ringing of a phone. Everyone knew who it was. Jack picked up the receiver before anyone could react.

"Hello." He said with an edge to his voice.

"She told you to stay away from her Nathan and if you don't you deal with me."

"Jack let me talk to him." His Grandmother said. With a slight reluctance, Jack handed over the phone. "Hello Nathan this is Mrs. Shepherd….Well I know that you want to tell her how you feel, but at this point I don't think she'll listen to words……she'll listen to action. Be creative…Give your dad my love and let him know I'll be in town till next Sunday….okay bye Nathan." She hung up the phone and turned to see the family staring at her.

"Do you think it was wise to encourage him?" Derek asked his mother.

"Yes," Carolyn said with certainty, "they love each other and he's the one for her. She's his Meredith. He just found her a little earlier in life is all."

"Fine, but if he hurts her again I'll punch him. I don't care if he is my God son."

"Violence is never the answer son." Carolyn teased her son.

"Wow Lily you look beautiful." Jack spoke up upon seeing his sister in her prom attire. She was wearing a black dress that had a white trim on the straps that crossed in the back.

"Do you really think so?" Lily asked biting her bottom lip.

"Absolutely," Meredith assured, "you look wonderful Lily."

"Dad, what do you think?"

"I think that I need to lock you up and get a bat to keep all those boys away." Derek said seriously.

"That's how I felt when he brought Addison home except the bat was just for her." Carolyn whispered to Meredith who snorted.

"What was that mom?" Derek asked suspiciously.

"Nothing dear."

A/N- I love Grandma Shepherd so I needed to bring her into the story! So I've neglected Mark and Lexi for a while so the next chapter will have them in it. Review please!