Chapter Twelve

It's Time

Meredith sat at the Kitchen table the next morning sipping a cup of tea Izzie had made her. This time it wasn't the ordinary tea, but peppermint. And Meredith found a great liking to it. Maybe because it soothed her stressed nerves. For today, Max was to get her new pancreas. And with a transplant like that, or with any transplant, it was dangerous.

Mark walked into the Kitchen and saw Meredith sitting with her head leaning back, eyes closed, and the cup of tea clenched in her grip. He smiled and then walked behind her. Putting his hands on her shoulders and rubbing them.

Meredith didn't jump or fret. She new that it was Mark. He always did this when she was stressed.

"You know..." Mark started, "...Maybe, it'd be best if you stayed home today."

Meredith's eyes opened and her head straightened up.

"Mark..." Meredith sighed, " She's like a daughter to me. Or a sister. I can't tell anymore, but she's apart of my family now. Apart of our family. She was from the very beginning. I can't just stay here and sit around while she's going to be in surgery. I have to be there."

"Mer, your pregnant... you can't scrub..."

"I wasn't saying I was going to scrub in, Mark. I was just saying that I have to be there. I don't have to be in the OR. I just... I need her to know I'm there. She needs me to be there." Meredith told him and wiped at her eyes that were welling up with tears. Damn these hormones, Meredith's mind cursed.

"Ok." Mark said and went and knelled in front of her, "Ok, how about we leave around noon then. So, you can see her awhile before. How's that?" He asked smiling up at her.

"Sounds good." Meredith said smiling and taking a sip of her tea. Then, handing it to Mark so he could taste.

Mark took a big gulp and gaged, "What the hell? Is that?" He asked coughing.

Meredith laughed, "Peppermint Tea."

"Why did Iz throw the coffee out again?"

Meredith shrugged "Babies aren't a big fan of caffeine. Well, at least she thinks that. Bailey told me that it's alright with lots of cream and sugar."

Mark stood up and started looking through the cupboards, "Why didn't you tell her that?" He asked rummaging.

"I did." Meredith affirmed, "But, she just rolled her eyes and through it away, anyways."

"Ah hah!" Mark exclaimed and then looked to Meredith, "Did Iz already leave?"

Meredith nodded and then Mark gave a big smile and then slowly took out a round container that was hidden behind the raisin brand.

"Mark... You little..." Meredith started.

"Hunk of burning love?" He said smiling widely.

"Have you been hiding that?!"

"No, I bought it yesterday." He said still smiling.

"Izzie's gonna kill you." She said matter of factly.

"Stevens doesn't have to find out." Mark said also in a matter of fact way.

Meredith's lips started to curve into a smile as she stood up, "I'll get the coffee maker ready." She said smiling and walking over to it, kissing Mark on her way. Peppermint tea might help her stressed nerves, but coffee helped everything.

(((((Greys Anatomy)))))

At noon, Mark and Meredith walked into Seattle Grace and made their way to Max's room.

"Hey." Max said nervously.

"Hey." Mark and Meredith said in unison.

"Dr. Webber just left." Max told them.

Meredith's brow furrowed, "Really?"

"Yeah, according to him... They did the procedure early and the pancreas is ready for them to go and get."

Meredith smiled and went to her side, "That's great." She said taking her hand, "Seriously."

"Yeah, I know." Max said with a nervous tone.

"You scared?" Mark asked.

"A little." Max confessed, "But, that's normal, right?"

Mark gave a small laugh and then nodded, "Yeah, it's normal."

"Where's Conor?" Meredith asked.

"He went to the bathroom. He left just a few seconds before you two came in." Max told them. "He's been with me all night."

"He's a good guy." Mark said.

"Yeah, he is." Max said smiling. "After this he says we need to get an apartment together. Here in Seattle too. That kind of surprised me since he goes to college at Cornell which is in Iowa, but he says that he'll transfer here at Seattle University." Max looked to Meredith, "Guess that ruins our plan, huh?" She said with a laugh.

Meredith smiled, "If you want to move in with him we'll just have to find you guys a place close to us, then."

Max nodded, "Sound like a deal and a new plan,... mom."

Meredith's eyes widened.

"Just wanted to see what it sounded like." Max said with a small smile.

"How'd it sound?" Meredith asked.

"It sounded right to me." Max told her.

Meredith nodded and a tear slid down her cheek, "It sounded right to me too."

Mark looked at the two and smiled.

"I guess I'm just the guy who married your newly pronounced mom." He told Max, sarcastically sad.

Max and Meredith both laughed.

"Oh, whatever..." Max said laughing, "...Dad."

Mark was struck for a moment. Actually hearing someone call him dad was strange, but he liked it.

(((((Greys Anatomy)))))

Everyone was in Max's room. Or well, everyone that Max considered to be her family. Which was, Meredith, Mark, Conor, Izzie, Alex, George, Callie, Cristina, and Preston. Oh, and Richard and a couple of Nurses. Which made the room completely full.

"Ok, well it's time." Richard said and gave a small smile to Max and then Meredith. He new that Meredith and the girl connected and he hoped that Bailey and himself could help this girl and not kill her. For the girls sake and Meredith's.

Everyone started giving Max hugs. Even Cristina. Meredith and Conor were left last. For they mattered most to her.

"Remember, my dalin." Conor said, "You'll be fine and once your out we're going to live together near Meredith and Mark."

Meredith gave Conor a smile and then looked down at Max, "Yup, and your going to be a big sister to Jude." Meredith told her.

"Or Tristan." Mark said.

Meredith rolled her eyes and Max just gave a small laugh.

"You'll be just fine, ok?" Meredith said giving Max a hug.

"I know." Max said hugging her back.

When they parted, the Nurses started to roll Max out of the room.

"I'll see you all when I get out." She called to them and they all laughed.

(((((Greys Anatomy)))))

"Thank god." Richard said as him and Miranda started to sew Max back up.

But, before the needle even came close to connecting with skin the monitor started to show that her heart rate was going down. And a high pitched beep sounded the room.

Miranda looked to Richard, " Spoke to soon." She said and grabbed a hold of the defibrillator paddles.

A/N: Hi, everyone... Thank you for the reviews and I'm glad you liked the last chapter. I hope you like this one and I'm sorry to say that there will only be one more chapter to this story and then it will be finished... Thank you for reading this. And please stay in tune for the last chapter, which will either be posted tomorrow or during the weekend. :)