Disclaimer: I do not own Grey's!
LyssLovesTiva33 chapter!
Sorry again for the hiatus, this again was my fault! I really feel like I cannot wait for AP exams to be over because then I will honestly have the worst case of senioritis ever and just be writing something everyday haha!
Okay… as promised… let's meet the Shepherd's!
"Cassandra Noelle Shepherd, if you even think about standing up you are sadly mistaken," Derek warned from behind her and Cass wiggled in her seat. The minute the seatbelt light had turned off, Cass was slowly testing how far she could go.
"But Derek," Cass began.
"No buts Cass, listen to your father," Meredith warned. Cass huffed and folded her arms across her chest. For her first plane ride, Cass was rather calm. Maeve was the complete opposite. She had wailed for the first hour until the medicine Meredith and Derek brought on the plane had calmed her down enough.
This morning had gotten off to a rocky start. Cass was excited since they began planning for the trip to New York but this morning, the day before Christmas, she had gotten nervous. Her nerves had already been shot after her day at school yesterday, telling all of her "friends" that she was transferring to another school. Lauren was extremely upset and it made Cass upset. Most of the other girls understood why but the boys began relentlessly teasing her until she cried the whole way home. Then, as Meredith was helping her pack this morning and Derek was covertly hiding all of their presents in their luggage, Meredith asked if she was excited for Santa to come.
They had never honestly talked about the subject of Santa, because Cass told them that Christmas' used to be a bad time at her house. This is why when Cass got really angry at her and tried to lock her out of her room, Mer was very shocked. After coaxing from both her and Derek they learned that David and Eileen had beaten her over this very question and they told her the truth. That ended that conversation very quickly.
Ever since, Cass had not been the same. Maybe she suddenly realized that she was a meeting a lot of people all at once who were now her family or she was just sad. For whatever reason Meredith and Derek had been very careful up until the point she started causing trouble in both the airport and now in the air.
"Fine," she stuck her tongue out at them, the sparkle in her eye reminding Meredith and Derek their Cass was still in their somewhere. "I have a question though?"
"Yes baby." Derek answered.
"How many of my cousins still believe in Santa?" she asked.
"Well how many are younger than you?" She counted in her head.
"Four! Plus Mae!"
"That makes at least four, so you know what that means?"
"I play along," she nodded.
"Do you want to practice again?" Mer questioned.
"Yes!" she giggled. "Carolyn is Derek's Mommy. And then there is Aunt Nancy, Aunt Kathleen, Aunt Elizabeth, and Aunt Amelia!"
"Very good so far," Derek smiled, looking down at Maeve who was now fast asleep in her car seat. He was glad she was calling them Aunt; he knew it was weird to call their friends Aunt and Uncle except maybe Lexie and Mark eventually, but she knew that these were all directly Derek's family and wanted to call them all Aunt and Uncle.
"Aunt Nancy is married to Uncle Ryan, they have three kids. The oldest Anna is 18, then there is Brian who is 15, and then they have Jake who is 10. Then Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Robert have four kids. Their oldest is Sarah, who is 18, then Lori, who is 14, then Michael who is 11, and Carrie who is 9 like me!"
"Next is Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Matt. They have SIX kids. Their oldest is Jenna, who is 15, then Nicole who is 13, then Sammie who is 9!" She is rather excited about Carrie and Sammie who were her age. "Then she has twin boys Sean and Cody who are 7, and then last Alexis who is 3. But Aunt Liz is pregnant again! Finally Aunt Amelia and Uncle Karl have three kids. Twins Caitlin and Ethan who are 10 and Lydia who is 1, she is close to Maeve's age!"
Meredith was impressed, she had met Derek's family all of two times and she hardly knew their names. The first at their wedding, and the second at Thanksgiving last year. Both times, the only people who seemed to enjoy her company were Carolyn and Elizabeth, Derek's closest and according to him, nicest sister. As she glanced at both her daughters and then her baby bump, she hoped they would be a lot more receptive to them then they were to her.
"Derek, why are we so late?" Cass asked as he picked up Maeve, who was crying from her car seat. It was already dark out. Her eyes widened in awe at the site of his mother's large house. Cars lined the driveway and it twinkled with Christmas lights.
"Because Meredith had to pee like fifty times at the airport," Derek joked.
"Your baby is using my bladder as a trampoline, forgive me," she snapped. Cass giggled and took a second look at the house.
"She only has white lights, just like our house," she said. "You said that colored lights are like a Christmas sin." Meredith snorted at her husband's logic, because that statement was true.
"My father only ever put up white lights, so we only ever put up white lights," Derek informed them.
The family, with Maeve still whimpering slightly into Derek's shoulder, approached his childhood home that was still alive and lit up with people at 10 pm. Tomorrow was Christmas Eve and for the next several days all five Shepherd children and their families would be staying under one roof. Derek turned to opened the door but saw Cass's sudden fear flash across her face.
"Cass honey, what's wrong?" Meredith asked.
"What if they don't like me," she whispered.
"How could anyone not like you, your sweet, beautiful, and a Shepherd," Derek reassured her. She smiled up at him and noticed Maeve stopped crying.
"Mae's being brave, so can I," she lifted up her chin as Derek pushed opened the door.
"DERBEAR!" a cacophony of voice shouted and immediately Maeve started to wail again.
"Girls," Carolyn Shepherd's voice interrupted immediately. "For having 16 children collectively, I'd think you should know how to act around a baby. Especially you Amelia." The girls fell silent and allowed Meredith to take in the scene in front of her. The guys were by the tv, like always. The girls were just coming out of the kitchen, like always. And the kids 10 and younger began to look out of the playroom while everyone else began to sneak up the steps leading from the basement.
"What took you so long," Kathleen asked.
"Meredith needed to go to the bathroom and we had a lot of luggage," Derek said.
"Right," Nancy whispered loud enough for all of them to hear it. "The slutty interns pregnant." An upset gasp escaped from Cass's lips as suddenly everyone realized her presence now behind Meredith's legs and remembered Maeve who was quickly calmed in Derek's arms.
"Oh Derbear," Elizabeth smiled. "Maeve… that's her name right. She's just so adorable."
"And you must be Cassandra," Carolyn said. "You talked to me on the phone remember? You are so big; I was expecting a little girl." Cass peaked out from behind Meredith's legs. She looked at the five women in front of her, the widespread of kids that began to pour into the living room, and the men who had finally taken their eyes off the TV to acknowledge their presence.
"Cass," Cass murmured.
"What was that?" Carolyn said.
"You can call me Cass," she said.
"I think formal introductions are in order," Elizabeth said. "I'm your Aunt-"
"Elizabeth," Cass finished. "And you're my Aunt Amelia, Aunt Kathleen, and Aunt Nancy. Derek showed me pictures of you and quizzed me on your names. I wanted to remember you all." They all looked at her in shock. Embarrassed, she turned red and ducked behind Meredith again.
"She still calls him Derek, "Nancy scoffed under her breath to Amelia and Amelia rolled her eyes. Cass missed the exchange, but instinctively she moved around closer to Derek to where he held Maeve.
"And this is Maeve, right?" Carolyn said.
"Her middle name is Amelia, kinda like Aunt Amelia," Cass piped up. Even Amelia smiled at that.
"Derbear, you have like, your own little family now," Kathleen said. "Sorry we've been so rude, nice to see you again Meredith." Nancy and Amelia muttered greetings while Elizabeth ran to hug her.
"Where is all of your stuff?" Carolyn said. "I know you must have a lot of stuff for a family of 4+, Maeve must be getting close to a diaper change. Boys!" she called to all those on the couch. "Go with Derek to get their bags." The mumbled and did as they were told, greeting Meredith, Cass, Maeve on the way.
"You all must be tired," Amelia said. "Where are they all sleeping mom."
"Derek's room is open, I'm sure that they want to put Maeve's bassinet in there. I don't know if there will be enough room for Cass, I know we have an extra sleeping bag we can throw in the little girl's room," Carolyn explained.
"But that's only for cousins," Nancy blurted out and Cass visibly flinched and moved closer to Meredith who had Maeve now in her arms. Amelia and Elizabeth glared at her.
"I can hold her," Amelia offered. "Lydia's so independent now she prefers to sit on the floor."
"Thanks," Meredith said cautiously. Amelia was usually in cohorts with Nancy. Kathleen was usually neutral but tended to side with Amelia and Nancy more. Right now it seemed like Kathy and Amelia switched.
"Sammie! Carrie! Get over her," Elizabeth called. Two little girls, both of them with the trademark Shepherd curly brown hair, ran over.
"What?" the girl, who Mer recognized as Sammie, asked.
"This is your new cousin," Elizabeth said, smiling down at Cass. "Cass. She's your age."
"Hi!" Carrie smiled. "I'm Carrie, so she's obviously Sammie."
"You want to meet some of the other kids," Sammie said. Cass looked up at Meredith.
"Go honey," she said.
"Okay," she murmured cautiously as Carrie grabbed her hand and the three of them ran over to the group of kids. Meredith looked after her worriedly.
"Cute kid," Nancy muttered. "So Meredith, how's… adjusting." Her tone was accusatory and Meredith sighed, she was putting up a good front for Cass and now that she was gone, the insults would go flying. The fact that Nancy still managed to insult them while Cass was still around was, unnerving.
"I'm not sure if adjusting is the correct term," Meredith said. "Cass loves the house and loves her new family and Maeve is a sweetheart, plus we have practice for this one." She placed a hand on her baby bump.
"How far along are you again Meredith," Elizabeth grabbed onto her. "I'm just about 20 weeks."
"I'm 16 weeks," Meredith answered.
"They are so close! I'm having a girl, I hope your having a little girl too, we need to outnumber the boys still!"
"Liz, they are not going to outnumber us," Amelia said. "We are still 10 to 6."
"12 to 6," Meredith muttered.
"What was that Meredith," Nancy said smugly.
"Cass and Maeve make it 12 to 6," Meredith said louder.
"Uh huh," Kathleen shrugged. She turned to the baby in Amelia's arms. "She's how old?"
"8 months," Meredith answered.
"She's really tiny for 8 months," Kathy pointed out.
"Such a shame that her hair's strawberry blond too," Amelia said.
"Why? I think it's adorable," Elizabeth piped up.
"It calls attention to the fact that they aren't blood," Nancy rolled her eyes.
"I-" Meredith began to retort but Carolyn, who had excused herself earlier in the conversation to make sure that Cass was getting the proper introductions, interrupted.
"Alright everyone," she said. "It is almost 11pm and it is time for the house to get some sleep. Kids, in your respective rooms, adults, I expect you to behave. We had a lot of excitement being introduced to my 17th and 18th grandchildren but I figure they and most everyone else are asleep on their feet." Everyone hustled around and Meredith caught Cass looking confused as Carrie and Sammie urged her to follow them. Meredith and Derek rushed forward, Maeve now safe in their arms again.
"If you don't want to go with them, its okay honey," Meredith told her. "The Shepherd's are overwhelming, I know."
"I… I'll go," she murmured. "Carrie and Sammie are really nice and so are Sean and Cody and some of the older kids."
"That's great sweetheart," Derek kissed her head. "Are you okay then?"
"Yeah," she smiled. "Goodnight, I love you." She hugged both of them and kissed Maeve and Mer's baby bump. "Night Maeve, night baby."
"Sweet dreams," Meredith called as she ran to follow Sammie and Carrie. Derek led them to his childhood room. Mer let out a giggle. "No matter how many times I come in here, I always laugh. Remind me to show Cass tomorrow."
"Remind me to tell my mom to change it before we come here next," he groaned and set up Maeve's bassinet. Meredith placed her in it.
"I know it's a strange place baby, but Mommy and Daddy are right here," Meredith told her and Maeve's let out a whimper.
"You took a shine to your Aunt Amelia today too, good job kiddo," Derek smirked and kissed the baby before pulling down the covers to his bed. "Goodnight love."
"Goodnight corny man," Meredith laughed and settled in next to him. "You think Cass is okay, do you think she will like it here."
"It seems like she does," Derek reassured. "Like I said before, everyone loves Cass and Maeve." Meredith bit back a comment about how his sisters treated them earlier and went to sleep.
"Here's an extra sleeping bag," Carolyn said, handing it to Cass. Cass took it gratefully and looked around to where Carrie and Sammie made space for her.
"Thanks Carolyn," Cass said. "Are you okay that I am not calling you…"
"You don't have to call me Grandma until you are ready," Carolyn told her. "It was great to finally just get to meet the little girl I heard so much about. You are perfect for our family. Now get some sleep sweetie." Carolyn kissed her head and made her way around to the rest of the kids. Cass laid out her sleeping bag and climbed in.
"So is our family as big and scary as you thought," Carrie said.
"Bigger and scarier," Cass admitted.
"We're not too bad once you get to know us," Sammie joked. "Holidays are great. Every single one is like this, Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving."
"And how great is it to have Uncle Derek as a daddy, I always used to wish he was my daddy, he's so cool," Sean added from across the room.
"It's great," Cass mumbled.
"Well we should go to bed, tomorrow is gonna be awesome. We go into Times Square usually after breakfast and then we have all day to hang out until dinner," Carrie babbled. "Goodnight!"
"Night," Cass whispered and turned over in her sleeping bag. Her new extended family was really big and scary like she said. She had tried to be brave but Aunt Nancy and Aunt Kathleen didn't seem to like her all that much.
Then Aunt Elizabeth, who she really thought she could like called over Carrie and Sammie, the girls she couldn't wait to meet. They were really nice but they introduced her to the other kids. Sean and Cody were okay but the other twins Caitlin and Ethan hardly looked at her. She preferred that to what Jake, Aunt Nancy's son did, he glared at her like she was an alien. Alexis was too little to honestly care who she was but the older kids were a lot more receptive.
Everything was strange; she thought that Izzie, Alex, Mark, and that bunch was strange but here in New York there were so much more people that she didn't know. Cass doesn't like meeting this many people at once. She knows that Mark was like Carolyn's second son, and she really wished he was here right now. Unfortunately he wasn't coming with Lexie until late tomorrow, she loved Mark and Mark loved her. She also knew that her Aunt's liked Lexie, a lot more than they seemed to like Meredith.
Cass's mind was still reeling when she went to sleep.
She was woken up by a jolt at around 7 in the morning.
"Cass! Get up!" Sammie whispered in her ear.
"What?" she mumbled, opening her eyes?
"It's 7, if you are going to be a part of this family you need to learn that Grandma goes out to the bakery at 6 and is home by 6:20, it takes her 40 minutes to make all the other breakfast food she serves and then puts it onto the table. It's first come first serve and no one else is up!" Sammie explained.
"So let's go!" Carrie giggled and grabbed her hand. Cass was fully awake by the time she was practically dragged to the stairs and forced to run down them. Still disoriented her mouth watered at the smell of all the food.
"Why did I expect this," Carolyn's laugh came from around the kitchen. "You two are trouble together and I think I will now have to start saying the three of you."
"Grandma, are you done yet?" Sammie asked.
"Yes my dears," she shook her head, amused. "Cass, did they wake you up just for this."
"Yes," Cass smiled. "At least I am hungry."
"Good, dig-" all three girls shot towards the table. "In."
They filled their plates high and ran into the living room to take over the tv. It was about 15 minutes until the next wave and people showed up. It was Anna, Jenna, Sarah, Lori, and Nicole who couldn't care less that the little kids beat them. They were too into not eating all that much and saving for later. When Caitlin, Ethan, and Jake came down the stairs, Cody, Sean, and Alexis following close behind; they began to complain.
"Why did she get first dibs," Caitlin huffed.
"It's not fair, she got a better donut," Jake accused. Cass flinched and looked down at her plate. Her Aunt and Uncles slowly started to emerge, Lydia in Amelia's arms even wanting food. Almost immediately Cass was surrounded by everyone, no one whom she knew very well, Meredith and Derek showing no signs of waking.
"Aunt Nancy, why is Uncle Derek's new daughter so old? I thought she was supposed to be a baby," Alexis, the youngest cousin who was probably too tired last night to talk, asked her Aunt who was helping her get her plate. Cass was close enough, getting a second donut.
"Lex, she's not your Uncle Derek's daughter, she's his charity case," Nancy said.
"Nancy!" Amelia said. "Did Cass hear you?"
"She's not even around," she shrugged. Little did she know, after this exchange, Cass ducked under the table to hide her tears from her new family. They walked away and Cass emerged, running straight into her Uncle Matt.
"Whoa there, I don't think we got to really meet last night… I'm your Uncle Matt," he said warmly. Immediately Cass smiled, self consciously wiping away the residual tears from her cheek.
"Hi, I'm Cass," she said. She liked him already, especially because he was her Aunt Elizabeth's husband and she was the nicest out of all her Aunt's.
"I told you from the pictures she's exactly what I pictured Meredith and Derek's daughter to look like," Aunt Liz said from behind. "Am I right?"
"You are," he nodded.
"What?" Cass questioned.
"Well your father has curly hair and blue eyes, and your mother has blond hair… and you have blue eyes and curly blond hair… I think that it means they were meant to be your parents," she said to her. "Why are your eyes blotchy sweetie, were you crying?"
"No," Cass lied and already felt dirty, she was about to you an excuse she used to with David and Eileen. "Carrie and Sammie got me up too early, that's all."
"They told you about the tradition huh," she laughed. "Oh well." They left her alone and immediate Cass felt sad again. She needed Meredith and Derek.
"Carolyn," Cass said, coming into the kitchen.
"Cass," Carolyn smiled. "What is it?"
"Where are Meredith and Derek staying?" she asked.
"You're a little overwhelmed?" she guessed. "You need them." Cass nodded. "I'll take you."
"Thanks," Cass said and allowed her new grandmother to lead her upstairs.
"This is Derek's room," she told her. Cass nodded, smiled, and opened it. Laughing as she saw the Star Wars posters, the action figures, and everything she'd imagine a dork would have in his room. Maeve was sitting up in the bassinet, looking around too.
"Hey Mae," she giggled. "You're like the rest of the Shepherd's, wide awake. I don't know about you but I am taking the side of Meredith and Derek and wished I slept in. You're lucky you won't remember this Christmas. The first Christmas you'll remember will be normal, you won't need introductions to complete strangers. You won't remember Aunt Nancy and any of her comments." Cass picked her up and winked at her little sister as she placed her where Derek and Meredith slept tangled in a Superman bed spread. As if Maeve knew, she crawled over to Meredith's face and began patting it. "Good girl."
"Hmm what?" Meredith mumbled. "Derek stop doing that! What time is it!"
"Doing what?" Derek turned over. "And it's too early for you to be up!"
"What do you mean what are you doing?" Mer snapped. "Stop patting my-" She opened her eyes. "MAEVE!" And the next thing Cass knew she was rolling off the bed and hit the floor with an, "Oof!"
"Mer!" Derek exclaimed as Maeve started whimpering. "Maeve what are you?"
"Cass!" Meredith gasped as Cass collapsed on the floor with hysterical laughter. Carolyn, Liz, Amelia, Nancy, and Kathleen all came running in at all of the noise. They opened the door to find Meredith half tangled in the covers and on the ground, Maeve in the middle of the bed now sobbing, Derek looking at the baby as if he still didn't understand how she got there, and Cass looking up at them sheepishly.
"I don't even want to know," Carolyn laughed as Nancy, Kathleen, and Amelia rolled their eyes and Liz ran to comfort Maeve. Once Cass convinced Meredith and Derek to come downstairs after the wake up debacle, she was a lot more relaxed. Derek's presence made Nancy, Kathleen, and Amelia behave and coo over the much calmer Maeve. The whole family began to take an interest in the baby and Meredith's unborn baby, it was Mer's turn to feel uncomfortable from their attention all the while Maeve was enjoying every bit of it. Cass was completely content to play with Carrie and Sammie.
The morning turned to the afternoon as Carolyn made sure Cass got a proper introduction to New York City as the whole family took a train ride into Times Square. Meredith and Derek had never seen her so fascinated, not even when they brought her to their house for the first time. And for the first time, Cass seemed to fully enjoy herself without any caution. She especially enjoyed herself when they split into groups, Nancy and Kathleen with respective husbands going with the older kids which left Amelia and Elizabeth with their respective husbands, Carolyn, and Meredith and Derek with the younger kids.
She opted out of going on the Ferris wheel with Meredith and Derek and went on with Carrie and Sammie; let Liz and Amelia take her, Sean, Cody, Sammie, Carrie, Alexis, and Lydia into M&M world; and even asked Amelia if she could hold Lydia for her for a second when she had to search for Caitlin and Ethan.
Cass was happy and it was clearly shown. Around two o'clock Carolyn rounded up all of the troops, the little kids laden with candy and toys and the older kids laden with shopping bags or in the boy's case miserable faces.
The entire Shepherd family arrived home and Cass, Carrie, and Sammie ran to the kitchen to help Carolyn make dinner, apparently another tradition for some of the youngest grandchildren. Meanwhile, Meredith sat on the couch talking with the other husbands and introducing Maeve to Lydia. Maeve looked a little upset that her new playmate could walk and she had only just begun to crawl.
"Gah rah!" she babbled and she crawled around.
"Where are you going silly girl," Derek laughed at her. She looked up at him innocently.
"Wow, who ever thought that Derek Shepherd would become mush around a baby," a new voice said.
"Markie!" Kathleen exclaimed as Mark and Lexie walked in through the front door. Mark was loved by the Shepherds and had actually been home more than once, with Lexie, so Lexie was loved too.
"Uncle Mark!" Caitlin smiled.
"Unca Mak!" Alexis giggled. He and Lexie were surrounded quickly.
"Oh Mark," Amelia shook her head and sat down next to Meredith who had picked up their babies immediately once everyone began to run towards the front door. "He's always surrounded by women."
"That's why Derek tried to ban him from going out with Lexie; because he considered her a little sister once we got married," Meredith smiled.
"Which is why we try not to mention how many times the four of us hooked up with him before we got married," Amelia joked. "Right Lydie." Meredith chuckled.
"You should see…"
"MARK!" Cass exclaimed as she ran from the kitchen. "LEXIE!"
"Cass around him," Mer said.
"She likes him," Amelia commented.
"They have a joke that they tolerate each other, when we first became her foster parents all they did was squabble," Meredith carefully danced around the subject of how Mark made sure Cass had no scars. Derek's family didn't know and they preferred to keep it that way.
"Hi Cass," Mark smirked as the nine year old launched herself in his arms. "Seems like your enduring the Shepherd's well."
"You act like we're a disease loser," Nancy pushed him as Cass tried to move on to Lexie but found it hard to make it through the crowd of people.
"Sometimes you can be Nancy Pants," he teased.
"Let me hug my adopted son and daughter-in-law," Carolyn snapped as she made the rest of them make way. "Lexie dear, is he treating you right."
"Yes he is Carolyn," Lexie said as the older woman hugged her. She looked around for her niece who she heard trying to get to her but was quickly surrounded again. Meanwhile Cass sulked back to the kitchen. Carolyn, Sammie, and Carrie returned seconds later with Jake, Caitlin, and Ethan following.
"I have even more helpers now," Carolyn smiled widely as she gave them each a task. Thankfully Carolyn had Cass help stir the Italian wedding soup with Sammie and not Caitlin who originally wanted to do that.
"How do you know Uncle Mark?" Sammie asked.
"He lives in Seattle with us," Cass explained. "He claimed godfather of Meredith's baby already. He likes to fight with me about if it's gonna be a girl or a boy and visits our house in the woods all the time."
"You're so lucky, I love Uncle Mark," Carrie said.
"Spoiled." Cass heard that come out of Caitlin's mouth who was still glaring at her.
"Mrs. Shepherd is dinner almost ready," Mark stuck his head into the kitchen.
"Mark Sloan, no men in the kitchen," Carolyn said.
"Jake and Ethan are in here," he said walking in and moving to the island where all of the cookies were spread out.
"Grandma, why does Uncle Mark get to have a cookie," Jake whined.
"MARK!" Carolyn exclaimed. "Those are for AFTER dinner."
"Oh but Mrs. Shep," he teased. "I'm sure the boys and most certainly the girls have already snuck them."
"They have not," Carolyn said. "But now that you've given them all an idea you can go usher them all into the playroom because everything I need help with is finished."
"Grandma," Carrie pouted.
"Go get the rest of your little cousins and watch them," Carolyn ordered. They all obeyed and Cass got upset. All day she had been with an adult, and now they were all still falling over Mark and Lexie who were now in the group where Meredith and Derek were. She only had Carrie and Sammie.
"You wanna play team hide and seek," Cody suggested.
"Fine, let's pick our teams, I'll be a captain," Jake said proudly.
"And I'll be the other," Caitlin smirked, Cass gulped. "Cody."
"Sammie."
"Carrie."
"Ethan."
"Michael."
"Sean."
"Alexis."
"Okay, let's play!"
"How was your flight Lex," Meredith asked.
"It was good, how was yours? Was Maeve okay?" Lexie questioned.
"She slept the whole way, luckily," she smiled.
"How was Cass's first plane ride?" Mark said.
"She wanted to skip all over the place, it was kind of amusing," Derek answered.
"This was her first plane ride… but she's nine," Nancy said.
"Well…" Meredith began.
"She was in foster care Nance, what do you expect," Liz rolled her eyes. Mark, Lexie, Meredith, and Derek looked at each other but decided to drop it for now.
"So you two love birds are married, when are you gonna give us more nieces and nephews," Kathleen said. "We have two more on the way, I wanted more. We still need to outnumber the boys."
"You'll get a nephew soon enough out of me," Mark said. "And Mer."
"Your niece will never forgive you for calling her a boy," Meredith stuck her nose in the air. She looked at the play pen Amelia set up for Lydia and told Meredith to place Maeve in with her. "I'm planning on having three daughters by the end of this pregnancy."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Liz teased.
"So how is my Maeve adjusting," Mark said.
"She loves playing with my Lydie," Amelia boasted. "Good choice in character that little girl."
"How about Cass?" Lexie asked.
"Carrie and Sammie have helped her get integrated with the cousins," Derek explained. "She didn't sleep in my room, she slept in the guest room with all of them."
"So she didn't see the Star Wars posters yet?"
"No, she caused enough trouble this morning in it," Nancy made a snide comment.
"She did what she loves to do," Meredith laughed. "Put Maeve in our bed. I can't wait to see what happens when there are two babies in the house."
"I'm surprised she's actually left her side," Lexie said. "She hardly ever does when she's in a new place, especially if Maeve has cried at all."
"She's been quite the angel," Liz told them. As if on cue, Maeve started to cry.
"Of course," Derek smiled and ran to pick up his daughter. "Shh, it's okay."
"Derek, your such a good daddy," Kathy cooed at him. He had Maeve calmed down within the minute. "Can I hold her, I haven't held her yet."
"Go to your Aunt Kathy baby," Derek said and placed her in his sisters arms. The house began to settle down with the tv in the background, the sound of teenagers down stairs, and a surprisingly quiet play room. That lasted all of one minute when a scream and crying suddenly erupted from the play room.
"MOMMY!" a boy wailed. Over top of his crying came a girls sob.
"That's Jake," Nancy said.
"That's Cass," Meredith said. Immediately all of the adults ran to the play room. What they found was Jake on the floor, clutching his arm. And Cass standing a few feet away, sobbing into her hands.
"Jakey baby what happened," Nancy asked. He looked up at her and then pointed angrily at Cass.
"Cass hit me!" he cried.
"What?" Nancy growled angrily. Cass looked up at Meredith in dismay.
"Mommy," she sobbed and ran to hug her legs.
"Right now that your gonna be in trouble you call her Mommy," Nancy hissed and Cass started to cry harder.
"Cass honey, why did you hit Jake," Meredith asked her, concerned and shocked that her daughter suddenly decided to call her Mommy.
"I wanna go home," Cass started to cry harder.
"Mommy, what's wrong with Cassie," Alexis asked. Before Meredith could do anything, Cass turned around.
"DON'T CALL ME CASSIE!" Alexis turned to Elizabeth and started to sob as well.
"What's going on in here?" Carolyn exclaimed. Derek walked up to Cass, knowing something had to had happened to her for her to act like that. And Alexis, unknowingly, called her the name that brought her too many bad memories.
"Cass, calm down sweetie," he bent down and tried to pick her up.
"NO DEREK!" she pushed him away and clung to Meredith. "You brought me here! NO!" Her cries escalated to sobs and she buried her head into Derek's shirt.
"I did nothing Mommy, she just hit me," Jake sniffled. "She isn't playing nice at all, she isn't fitting in."
"I know Jakey," Nancy said and stood up to turn to Meredith. "It's your Aunt Meredith's fault anyway, she forced your Uncle Derek to take in kids he never wanted. She and Maeve are not your cousins by blood; you shouldn't be forced to treat complete strangers like family."
"Nancy," Carolyn and Derek gasped.
"It's true Mom," Kathy defended. "One second they're trying for a baby and the next second they have two children and one on the way."
"We don't even know where she came from," Amelia stuck her nose up in the air. Meredith turned to Liz for support, but she said or did nothing.
"Don't you dare speak about my daughter in that way!" Meredith screamed at them. "You don't know anything about her, or Maeve, me, or your brother!" She picked up her still sobbing daughter. "We're going home and we're never coming back! If this is how you treat someone who has only ever wanted a big family and hit the jackpot of big families, then you are NOT her family or my family for that matter." Before anyone could say anything, she picked Cass up, and marched upstairs.
Not a sound came out of the house except for Cass's fading unchecked crying and the slamming of a bedroom door.
Quite the meeting huh? Poor Cass can never catch a break but… well, you'll see!
Please R&R! iSeriouslylovegrey's chapter next!
