"You don't have to do this," Meredith says while climbing into bed.
"I haven't done anything yet. I'm just putting it up for sale, and if I get a good offer I'll consider it," Andrew replies. He's sitting up in bed typing on his laptop. "I bought the bike, because I needed to embrace life more, and I have. I don't need it anymore." Meredith is pleasantly surprised by her boyfriend yet again. She smiles.
"I think you should sit your computer on the nightstand," Meredith says rolling over and propping her head up on her hand. Andrew looks down at her and smiles before putting his computer off to the side. He slides down into bed and leans over to kiss Meredith passionately, and Meredith climbs over to get on top of him. "I'll always have the memories of how hot you look riding on it," Meredith says softly before leaning down to kiss him again.
"Then it was best purchase I've ever made," Andrew says between kisses.
The next morning Andrew is laying on his stomach with his right arm across Meredith's body when Amelia barges into the room and plops down on the bed near their feet.
"So Owen's been in therapy for awhile now, and we've been getting along pretty well. I love Leo too," Amelia says out loud not caring that Meredith and Andrew were asleep. "I don't know if I'll ever be over Owen...but Link… he's sooo lean. You know? He's got like zero body fat, and he's funny and he's sweet. It's just so much easier."
"Do we need to be here for this conversation?" Meredith says without opening her eyes or otherwise moving.
"I just don't know what to do, Mer," Amelia says before getting up and beginning to pace.
"Havv you mmmd coffee?" Andrew's words were muffled by his pillow. He hadn't moved off his stomach or lifted his face from his pillow before speaking.
"Yes, there's a whole pot," Amelia replies, and Andrew rolls out of bed and heads towards the bathroom.
"I'll leave you ladies to have your sister time. I'm gonna make breakfast," Andrew says as he closes the bathroom door behind him. Meredith finally sits up.
"You're happy with Link. Why mess with happy?" Meredith asks.
"That's the recurring question of my life," Amelia says plopping back down on the bed with a frustrated sigh. Meredith shakes her head.
"What do you want in your pancakes?" Andrew asks Ellis who is sitting at the table coloring. "Chocolate chips or blueberries?"
"Choc chips!" Ellis yells excitedly.
"Ok. One big chocolate chip pancake coming right up!" Andrew responds reaching for the chocolate. "Can you do me a favor sweetheart? Go ask your brother and sister what kind of pancakes they want." Ellis nods and runs off towards the stairs when there's a knock at the front door. Andrew leaves his bowl of batter and walks over to the door. He opens the door to see Dr. Lincoln on the porch.
"Hey," Link says smiling.
"Hi," Andrew says stepping aside to let him in.
"Amelia and I are going apartment hunting," Link says after stepping inside and following Andrew to the kitchen. "I texted her and she said she'd meet me down here."
"I... ugh didn't know you guys were moving in," Andrew replies.
"We aren't," Amelia says walking into the kitchen. "He's looking for his own apartment. I'm just tagging along. Moral support." Andrew just nods and turns to pour batter on the griddle. Amelia turns to look at Link and says to him, "We've got to get another sushi burrito today. Thanks for exposing me to that awesomeness by the way. I'm going to have to run another mile at the gym tonight." She smiles and walks over to kiss him on the lips enthusiastically. "Let's go find you a new place to live." Ellis runs past them on their way to the door.
"Hi, Thor!" Ellis yells at Link as she speeds by. Amelia looks confused at Ellis and then Link. Link just shrugs it off and reaches for the door.
"What did they want?" Andrew asks Ellis as she barrels into the kitchen.
"Choc chip waffles," Ellis says standing on her tippy toes at the island. Andrew walks around the island to face her.
"I'm making pancakes, guys" He starts to walk towards the stairs, but stops after a step. He smiles, turns, and walks over to grab the waffle iron. "Waffles it is," he says to himself. Ellis is already back at the table coloring.
While eating breakfast Meredith is unusually quiet. Andrew and the kids do most of the talking. While they are washing dishes Andrew decides to dig. "What's going on?" he asks while handing her a plate to dry.
"I'm just thinking about my research. I hit a brick wall awhile back, and it's been on my mind today," Meredith answers, and Andrew takes note that she's much more open with him now.
"Will you tell me more about your research?" Andrew asks, but his tone makes it clear he's not pushing. Meredith agrees and explains the dream she had and the ideas she's working on. They talk about more and more of her research over the next several weeks, and Meredith even gets some new ideas just by talking things through with him.
Meredith and Andrew are at the hospital reviewing some recent blood tests for a patient struggling with an infection. "It looks like gastroenteritis," Meredith says to Andrew walking towards the patient's room. Andrew is walking beside her, and then he stops. Meredith walks a bit further before realizing Andrew is no longer walking with her. She stops and turns. "What?"
"That's it," Andrew says looking at her with a growing grin on his face.
"That's what?" Meredith asks.
"AHL! We could build a device to detect acyl-homoserine lactone. That's how we can use the ingestible device to detect and monitor for infections in the gastrointestinal tract." Andrew says confidently. "That's the solution to your problem." Meredith turns and takes a step away from him, and then stops and turns back.
"That's genius," she says softly walking towards him. She walks up close and slaps him on the shoulder. "That's genius!" she is yelling this time. They high five, and after discussing the idea a little more they go back to discussing their patient's case and head to update the patient and her family. After updating their patient Meredith and Andrew head to the whiteboard. Meredith has two surgeries on the board for tomorrow.
"Dr. Bailey!" Meredith calls out to Bailey who is walking by. Dr. Bailey stops for her.
"What can I do for you, Dr. Grey?"
"Are you interested in getting in the OR tomorrow? I have two surgeries I need to hand off so I can get in the lab. I have a new idea I have to research. It could be huge," Meredith says excitedly. Bailey nods.
"You will owe me," Bailey says walking away.
"Thank you!" Meredith replies smiling.
"Yeah. Yeah," Bailey says without looking back.
Meredith turns and walks back over to Andrew. "I know you are on my service this week, but I'm not going to be in the OR now."
"You're going to be working on my new idea, right?" Andrew asks.
"Yes," Meredith replies. She is looking down at her tablet as they talk.
"I want to work on this with you. I think I can help. AHL was my idea, Mer," Andrew says and Meredith looks up at him surprised.
"Of course if I publish or trademark anything related to this research I'll give you credit for your contribution," Meredith says sitting her tablet down. "We need to go so we can pick up Bailey from Karate."
"I am not done talking about this. I want to work on this with you, Meredith. Do you not want that?" Andrew says as he pulls Meredith into the on call room.
Meredith walks towards the bunk beds and turns back to look at Andrew who is still standing by the door. She looks uncomfortable and replies, "Andrew, you're working with Alex, and you picked Pediatrics. I just think you should focus on Peds. Alex has really embraced teaching you. He was mentored by Arizona, and she changed his life. He wants to be that for you. He still wants to make up for what happened before."
"Jo became a fellow instead of becoming an attending," Andrew answers back.
"Bailey had a fellowship position to offer. I don't, Andrew," Meredith answers back walking towards him. She puts a hand on his chest and looks him in the eye. "Thank you for the idea. You'll get full credit. I'll keep you updated on all developments. Let's go get Bailey, ok?" She leans up to kiss Andrew quickly, and then he nods in agreement. She smiles and then walks past him towards the door. Disappointment is evident on Andrew's face as soon as Meredith looks away, but he puts on small smile and turns to follow her out of the room.