SORRY I HAVENT UPDATED FOR A WHILE – HAVE BEEN AWAY AND GOT CARRIED AWAY WITH MY GIRL.

Everyone had settled down to the barbecue. Derek and Mark worked the grill while Izzie, Natalie and Kathleen had worked on the salads.

All had eventually eaten by the time Lexie and Richard had arrived. Everyone was talking about Meredith and Marks race.

Richard had been shocked to hear that Meredith had beat Mark and was not happy that they had raced in the first place.

Meredith was now seated talking to all the girls and George while all the guys were doing their own thing.

Meredith ran a hand over her stomach, as she took another drink of sprite.

"Was what your uncle saying earlier true?" Christina asked curiously.

"In what regards?" Meredith asked.

"Your accolades. You being a child prodigy." Christina answered.

Meredith groaned. "It's no big deal."

"You act as if it isn't, but it is." Christina answered.



Meredith shrugged. "It didn't make much difference. I didnt go to the nationals."

"How did you rank at Med school?" Christina pushed.

Meredith rolled her eyes. "I am so not having this conversation with you."

"Come on." Izzie encouraged, "You keep so much to yourself, you never tell anyone anything."

"I dont boast." Meredith explained.

"She's got artwork in a few galleries. Has sold a few too." Lisa told them "And she ranked first at Med school" Lisa told them.

Meredith sighed.

"Hey Chief" Christina called.

Richard looked over to the girls.

"Who is ranked 1 out of all of us?" she asked.

Richard groaned. "You last tests had Meredith ranked 1 over you by 2 marks."

Meredith sighed.



Christina didnt look happy.

Pete walked over to her with her keyboard and Mark was carrying her electric violin.

Meredith looked at her aunt. "Help please." she pleaded.

Aunt Lisa chuckled. "You are allowed to show off you know."

Meredith made to stand and move towards the house.

Derek watched her go to flee and cut her off.

"What's wrong Mer?" he asked.

"I don't want to play, and i don't want to compete." she groaned.

Derek chuckled. "Forget all of them. From what Greg was saying music and painting was your first love."

Meredith shrugged. "I did a lot of things."

"Well embrace it. Let your hair down Mer. Play a little. I haven't heard you play for a while." he encouraged.

Meredith looked at him curiously.

"I once heard you play the organ in the hospital church." Derek smiled. "It was when i was still married to Addie. You had gone in there to 

escape me. You had been on my service, and you were supposed to be at lunch."

Meredith moved uncomfortably.

"I dont know what it was you played but it was beautiful. I sat in the back of the room and listened for about half an hour."

Meredith could now remember that day he was talking about. "I felt you there Derek. I knew you were there. That's why i played what i did and not what i had originally started out playing."

Derek nodded, he had heard the change in what she had been playing. "So play for them." he told her.

Meredith turned to where Mark and Peter were standing with her keyboard and violin. "You owe me." she muttered to Derek.

Derek chuckled.

Meredith smiled and made her way back to Mark and Pete.

"Play for me?" Mark asked.

"Cant we do this another time?" she asked with a sigh.

Pete laughed. "Nice try Mer, but you have an audience waiting to hear your beautiful music."



Meredith rolled her eyes. "set it up then." she told them.

Pete smirked and katie laughed.

Mark leaned in and kissed her. "thank you" he whispered.