Meredith was grateful for Addison the week she and Mark were in NYC; Addison was constantly at the apartment wanting to be with Grace, leaving Meredith time to nap and do things around the apartment that never would've gotten done. For once the apartment was in perfect order, clothes were washed, and food was made for the four of them, and they could be adults again while Grace slept snugly in her swing, blankets tucked around her. This September was cooler and rainier than Meredith had remembered, or maybe she was just used to New Hampshire and it getting cold in July and snuggling up in blankets with Derek.
Addison couldn't put Grace down and Meredith smiled at her, knowing she'd make a great mother. Carolyn visited every day, helping her out and gearing Addison up for the life of a Sloan by telling her stories about Mark from when he was young. Meredith and Addison could only laugh at the stories; Mark and Derek were usually out in the city doing god knows what but Meredith was content to be at home with her mother in law, best friend, and daughter.
Thanksgiving came soon enough, and again Meredith and Derek hosted it at their spacious apartment. This year Meredith had invited her mother, and to her surprise Ellis accepted. Meredith was shocked; surely Mass Gen couldn't run without her, but Thanksgiving morning she arrived around ten, just after Amelia had bounced in with her boyfriend James and as Meredith was popping part of brunch in the oven.
"Mom…hi…" she said awkwardly, as Ellis stepped inside the neatly cleaned apartment. Grace was in the bassinet in their room napping, Derek was doing god knew what to the turkey, Mark was getting to know Amelia's boyfriend, and Addison was in charge of making mimosa's. The rest of the Shepherds were due any moment.
"Hello dear," Ellis said, kissing her on both cheeks and walking into the apartment. Meredith stared at Addison, wondering what alien had taken over her mothers body. Even Derek turned around and gave her a stare and she shrugged her shoulders. "Come on mom, sit on the couch, Derek's mom and sisters should be here soon. Well, Amelia is here. Amelia, this is my mom," she said, and Amelia looked up with wide eyes.
"Hi, Dr. Grey, big fan," she said, stumbling over her words, before moving past her into the kitchen, her long black curls bouncing with each step.
"Meredith, Ellis Grey is in the living room," she whispered, wrinkling her nose.
"Yeah, I know, she's my mother," she stated, raising a brow. Amelia sighed.
"Mer, you know I worship her. She's like, the Queen of medicine," she pointed out, and Meredith began to laugh.
"Amelia, you know she's my mom. And yeah, she's kind of an amazing doctor. Parent, not so much. You know I lived with you and your mom forever because my mom sucks," she shrugged, sipping on a cup of coffee. Amelia rolled her eyes.
"If I was Ellis Grey's daughter I'd be sooo different from you," she teased, and Meredith rolled her eyes right back.
"You say that because you aren't Ellis Grey's daughter, idiot, she laughed, grabbing a pan of some special French toast Derek had made and popping it into the oven. She could see Grace stirring on the baby monitor and a moment later she heard her crying, so she quickly washed her hands and waltzed into the bedroom, looking down at her daughter. She had grown so much just since August and she scooped up the three month old In her arms, patting her on the back to soothe her.
"Oooh it's okay, mommy's here, and so are a lot of other people who are keen on seeing you, angel," she smiled, laying her down so she could change her diaper. Luckily there wasn't a mess and soon enough the diaper situation was taken care of and Meredith had changed her into a cute little onesie that said "My first Thanksgiving" because she and Derek were those parents. Holding her against her chest she walked out to the main rooms with her. Amelia looked up at the sight, going gooey-eyed and melting at the sight of her youngest niece. Meredith laughed and passed Grace, along with a blanket and a burp cloth over to her.
"Someday you're going to make a really great mother. Meanwhile Addison is going to be too busy drinking mimosas," she teased Addie, who was sitting on the couch talking to Ellis. It was nice, though, having her mother here and actually be part of her family, even though it had taken 23 years.
Soon the rest of the Shepherds started dwindling in with their families, or in Lizzie's case, fiancée, and eventually brunch got started, with everyone filling Meredith and Derek's huge dining room table with Gracie between Meredith and Derek in a rock and play at the corner of the table. For the first time in her life Meredith felt like her family was complete, especially with her mother sitting to her right, talking to Carolyn about all of their now adult children and their various places in school.
After brunch, Derek and the rest of the men offered to clean up, and Meredith headed into the bedroom to feed Grace, the sisters following her. It didn't really bother her as she flopped into Grace's rocker, Gracie gently nudging onto her breast and suckling, the sisters gathering around her. At one point or another over the last 5 years, they'd all seen each other naked and it didn't phase her, especially after communal bathrooms at Yale. Nancy was the first to bite.
"So? How do you feel being a mother?" she said from her position, leaning against the crib that Gracie had yet to use – she was still in the bassinet in her and Derek's bedroom, but she was quickly outgrowing that.
"It's…the best feeling in the world. I always thought loving Derek was the best feeling, but then this tiny little person came into my life and I can't give her enough love. Neither of us can. But it's different than loving Derek; I love him just the same, but Grace is different. I would do anything and everything for her. I made her, we made her, and no one else can take credit for that," she smiled, her fingers smoothing down Gracie's dark Shepherd hair. The sister's collectively 'awwww'd' as they watched the tiny baby in Meredith's arms, and Meredith giggled as she watched her fall asleep. She was the sweetest baby she could ask for; she was good, she only cried when she needed something, and she was a good sleeper. She had rolled over at about one and a half months and now she just did it to show off, but only when she wanted to.
"I just feel blessed," she said with a smile, gazing down at Grace, asleep in her arms.
Hours later, and many women in the kitchen, Thanksgiving dinner was ready. Grace was napping again, this time trying out her crib, and everyone crowded around the table. Derek had said that everyone had to go around the table and say something they were thankful for, and when it got to Meredith she giggled.
"Totally cliché but I'm thankful for my family," she smiled, before looking up at Derek, who kissed her on the forehead. They said a short prayer before digging in, Ellis on Meredith's right again, next to Carolyn as well.
Dinner was a success, as was the three pies Meredith had managed to make, and once again the men cleared the dishes and packed up the leftovers. Meredith found herself standing at the doors to one of the balconies, staring out at the sun setting over the city, feeling content with herself and her life when she felt someone touch her shoulder. Turning, she smiled lightly when she found it was Ellis.
"Meredith, darling," she said, and Meredith took a breath. She was either in for a lecture, or they were going to have a talk that would either end good or bad.
"Mom," she said lightly, sipping on her glass of merlot.
"You've made quite the life for yourself," she said, and Meredith nodded slightly, not sure where this was going.
"I have, yes. I think. Is that good or bad?" she exhaled. She was 23, she was taking a gap year between her first and second years in med school, and she had a three month old daughter. She was surrounded by people who loved her day in and day out, who would do anything for her should she need it.
"It's good, it's…very good. You have it all. I was your age when you were born, and I didn't take to it very well, and I'm sorry for that, for what I put you through all those years, that I wasn't a good enough mother to you. I see you with Grace and you're what I wanted to be, but didn't know how. The difference is you're driven in both ways. You want the professional life, but you want the personal life. And you have it, Meredith. You have it all. And don't let go of it," she said, squeezing her arm. Meredith smiled sympathetically, before wrapping her arms around Ellis.
"Thanks, mom," she said, knowing that her words would never be able to make up for her shitty childhood, but knowing her mother had regrets – it mattered to Meredith.
Later that night, after everyone had cleared out, Meredith was exhausted. She had Grace in bed with her when Derek came in the room and smiled, climbing into his side of the bed.
"Look at my two favorite girls," he smiled, kissing Grace on the cheek before leaning over and kissing Meredith. He settled down in his pillows and gazed at both of them, Grace and Meredith, wondering how he had gotten so lucky, thinking back to that day over five years ago when Meredith had flat out run into him in the quad, green eyes wide and taking everything in. He laughed out loud and Meredith looked up for a moment.
"What's so funny?" she smiled, not wanting to pick up her head.
"Just thinking back to the day we met. I never thought we'd end up here." Meredith had to laugh at that and shake her head.
"You were just the boy across the hall."
"And you were just the girl across the hall."
"And your name is Meredith Shepherd and we have a child," he smiled, as she smiled happily.
"That is is, she yawned, closing her eyes and reaching across the bed for his hand. She would forever be the girl across the hall.
So I got tired of Meredith being at odds with Ellis, plus she's growing older. I know it's out of character but I like the idea of it since she's growing older. If you don't like it, say it with me: character development. Meredith is growing older and she's no longer a teenager and therefore is now able to understand things with her mother a lot more. It's really just as simple as that and it's nice writing Ellis as a nice person. She's not a great mother but she's trying as a grandmother! Anyway, if you want to throw me ideas, give me some in reviews! I know where this is going but ideas are always great :)