Disclaimer: I don't own Grey's and I'm glad I don't because I would never be able to come up with an episode like last night's (: MARK AND LEXIE ! Woohoo !

So, I apologize for the wait. With the end of vacation and back to school on Tuesday, everything sort of got a little hectic. This is sort of a space filler, but I hope you enjoy anyway !

Meredith had had a lot of visitors the next day. But they were much better company than when she had been in the hospital the time before. They smiled when they talked to her, and didn't treat her like she was in a hospital bed. They treated her like she was herself. Their fellow resident.

Lunch had been fun, almost like old times. Alex, Cristina, Jackson and Lexie had all brought their lunches up to her room and sat in various chairs or tables. Cristina just settled herself on the edge of Meredith's bed.

"So Derek heard Rose's rumor today, finally," Cristina said.

"How did he react?" Meredith asked.

"He was furious," Jackson said with a smile.

"Does that mean I'll have to deal with his rage?" Meredith then asked, almost afraid.

The others just exchanged glances.

"What?" Meredith felt excluded.

They looked back at her and smiled. "Derek will be relieved by the time he comes to visit you next," Lexie started. But she was cut off.

"Because he just fired the witch!" Cristina finished with a boom.

"He did?" Meredith asked. The others nodded. "That's too bad…"

Cristina gave her an incredulous look. "What?"

"I wanted to give her a piece of my mind!" Meredith laughed at her friend's reaction.

They all laughed with her.

It was then that Addison made an entrance.

"What's all this laughing I hear from down the hallway?"

"We're celebrating," Jackson announced.

"Celebrating what?"

"You didn't hear?" Alex exclaimed.

"Hear what?"

"The horse has been kicked out of the barn!" Meredith exclaimed. Everybody just looked at her, Addie still not understanding.

"What the hell are you talking about Mer?"

Meredith shook her head. "Never mind."

"I still don't know what's going on," Addie reminded them.

"Oh yeah, Derek finally fired our nurse friend," Lexie explained more clearly than Meredith.

"Rose is gone?"

They all nodded.

"Finally!" Addie exclaimed.

"You've got that right," Alex said.

It went quiet, then Lexie let out a small laugh. "The horse has been kicked out of the barn. I get it now!"

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Derek was whistling. Whistling was good. He had finally washed his hands of a problem that had caused him and Meredith so much trouble in the past few months. Today was a good day.

Meredith was back to herself, laughing and having a good time with her friends. It was good to see everything back to normal again. He felt like a whole new Derek. And Richard noticed that right away.

"Good day I hear?" Richard said as he caught Derek on the catwalk watching over his hospital.

"Is it ever! You coming over for supper tomorrow night?"

"Of course! Adele will be coming too. I wouldn't miss finding out what happened to my little girl for all this time for anything."

Derek nodded to his old mentor, and somewhat now father-in-law. "I respect you Richard. More than I thought I did. But you're a new person now, not only for me, as the father of the woman I'm in love with, but you've changed as a person. You seem so much…"

"Happier?" he tried finishing Derek's statement. "I've found my true place in the world. I don't need to be chief of surgery to be me. I have a wife who loves me and children who treat me with respect and love. I finally discovered what I've wanted in life all along. A family."

Derek nodded and gave the older man a tap on the back. "I'm going to see Meredith. Would you like to join?"

Richard nodded. "I was meaning to go see her sometime today. Now sounds great."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Amy had the day off, but after talking to her husband and children, the family ended up at the hospital anyway. But not for the reasons Amy was usually at the hospital for.

"Uncle Derek!" Alyssa exclaimed as she saw her uncle when they got on the elevator.

"Alypie!" He lifted his little niece in the air and tickled her tummy with the hairs that he hadn't had a chance to shave yet. He hadn't seen his sister's family until now since he hadn't really had the spirit to play with the kids he usually loved to play with while Meredith was missing.

He set down his little niece and then brought Kayla in for a hug. "How are you liking Seattle so far?" he asked her.

She smiled. "Really good. My new neighbor is my age and she's really fun to play with. We were outside all day yesterday, even when it rained, and we played on her trampoline and then she came over and helped me decide what I was going to do with my room!"

Derek laughed. "That's good to know. What brought all of you guys to the hospital today?" He was pretty sure he knew the answer, but he decided he'd ask anyway.

"We here to see Auntie Meredith!" Alyssa exclaimed.

"Well I guess I'll just have to show you how to get there," he said as the elevator stopped and him and Richard got off the elevator, followed by Amy, Daniel in her arms, and the two little girls. Alyssa had grabbed Derek's hand, but it was soon gone once they had made it to Meredith's room.

"Auntie Meredith!" Alyssa exclaimed as she ran over to the bed.

"Alyssa! How'd you get here?" she asked in a playful voice. Only Lexie was still left in her room. The others had gone back to work.

"I came with my mommy and Uncle Derek silly!" she answered.

"I think your Auntie Lexie wants to see you too," Meredith said as Alyssa spun around with big eyes, looking for her other aunt.

"Auntie Lexie!" she exclaimed once she found her and she ran over and jumped onto her lap.

"Hey there Alyssa. It's good to see you again."

Kayla made her way into the room and Meredith invited her to sit on the edge of the bed. "Liking Seattle so far?" Kayla nodded and told Meredith the same story she told Derek just minutes before on the elevator, but this time with more details.

"Kids always seem to be able to bring the best out of people," Richard said as he watched the scene in front of him.

Amy nodded. "They can be a pain sometimes, but it's worth it."

Derek debated on whether he should tell them about the fact that it would be much sooner than they had expected that they'd have two little ones to take care of, but decided against it. They would find out tomorrow like everyone else.

"A party and I wasn't invited?" Mark's booming voice came up behind them. Derek jumped.

Meredith laughed. "Now you know how I feel when you sneak up on me!"

Derek smirked, knowing his wife was right. He turned around and smiled at his best friend. "Plenty of room."

Mark laughed as he took in the patient room and the little amount of space actually left. "I'm sure one more person won't change much."

"How 'bout three?" they then heard behind them. Meredith looked up from where Kayla and her were discussing all the different things she could do in Seattle when she recognized the voice.

"Sienna!"

Her cousin walked in, pushing her son in front of her.

"I heard that you had gone missing through Molly, and then that you were back and had gone through surgery yesterday from Addison. Cody and I decided that we'd come down and visit for a few days."

She hugged her cousin and Cody then did the same, with difficulty.

"There's plenty of room for you to stay with us," Derek said from where he was standing by the doorway.

Sienna turned around and smiled. "Thank you."

She got out of the way and joined the others who were shoved up against the wall.

"Whoah," Addison said as she came in. "I didn't expect to see this many people."

Meredith laughed. "Neither did I."

Addie noticed the non-Seattle member of the assembly. "Sienna, you did come!"

Sienna nodded. "James is gone to Toronto for a conference, so it was a great time to get away."

Addie nodded then looked around to everyone else. "So I've got good news," she then looked straight at Meredith. "You'll be released first thing in the morning. That'll give you plenty of time before your supper."

Everyone cheered and Meredith smiled. "Thanks Addie, for everything."

Addie smiled as she left the room.

"Party at the Shepherd house!" Mark exclaimed.

Everyone laughed.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Addison had gone through with her announcement that Meredith would be released first thing the next morning. Meredith was out of the hospital before eight o'clock, only after having had been repeated over and over all the things she should and shouldn't do.

"I want you to rest as much as you can," Addie started for the tenth time. "No heavy lifting, not too much up and down stairs, avoid driving, get lots of sleep, and absolutely no, and I mean no sex until further notice."Addison made sure she directed this one to Derek.

"I'll make sure she doesn't try to seduce me," he said as Meredith slapped his arm.

"Okay then, I'll see you guys tonight?"

Meredith nodded. "Of course. Invite Sam to come along if you'd like," she added.

Addie smiled. "I'll see if he's interested."

And with that, she left the couple.

"Ready to go home?"

Meredith nodded. Home. It had been so long.

The drive home was filled with discussions on what they needed for that night for supper. But when they got back to the house, they were surprised to note that somebody was already there.

"Hello?" Meredith called into the house when they came in the doorway.

"Meredith!" Izzie exclaimed as she ran up to her friend and gave her a great big hug. "It's so good to see you again! I missed you!"

Meredith laughed. "I missed you too Iz, but could you let go?"

Izzie immediately let go. "Of course, I'm sorry!"

Meredith continued to laugh. "It's okay, you were just squishing me."

Just then, the kitchen door opened again.

"Oh Meredith hun, it's good to see you back!"

"It's good to see you again too Adele."

The older woman brought her in for a hug, not quite as strong as Izzie's, which Meredith was quite thankful for.

"We decided to come over and help wherever we could for tonight, since we knew you would be in no shape for party planning."

"It's greatly appreciated," Meredith answered. The four of them headed into the kitchen and started working on plans for the big get together that evening.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

They hadn't let her do much most of the day, and Derek insisted she take a nap, so Meredith agreed, realizing she was in fact very tired.

It was close to three thirty when she awoke, and when she heard voices downstairs, she decided to get up and see who the newcomers were.

"There's our little miss sleepy head!" Mark exclaimed when she came into the living room. Sitting there with Mark were Derek, Richard, Addison, Sam, Sienna and Cristina. Cody was playing in a corner with Tuck. She looked at Tuck with a funny expression, considering he obviously didn't come alone, but Miranda wasn't among them.

"Miranda's in the kitchen with Adele, Izzie and Jackson," Richard answered her silent question.

"Jackson?" she asked.

Cristina laughed. "Yeah, I've discovered I'm dating a part time chef. His food is amazing."

"I'm going to go see if they need help," Derek said as he got up and came over to Meredith and kissed her forehead. "But the last time I attempted to help, they kicked me out."

Meredith laughed at her husband. "Kicked out of your own kitchen."

She went over and sat down in the seat Derek had just cleared, Mark sitting on the armrest.

"It looks like tonight will definitely be a party to remember."

Just then, they heard the door open and Amy, Lexie and Catherine came in, along with Kayla, Alyssa, Daniel and Stephanie.

"Looks like it's not going to stop getting bigger either."

Before supper had started, lots of other people had joined. Alex and Preston were the next to show up. Molly, Shawn and Laura were soon behind. Arizona and Callie had also come, and although he hadn't come with the rest of his family, Julian decided he'd show up.

"Woah, is there going to be enough food for all these people?" Mark asked once Izzie and Miranda had announced supper was ready.

"Oh there will be plenty, don't worry," Jackson answered. Everyone grabbed a plate and filled them, before heading outside to enjoy they're meal in the good weather.

"Can I have everyone's attention," Izzie called out above the crowd. "I just want to say how glad we are to have you back amongst us Meredith and that you are safe and sound."

Meredith smiled at her old roommate. "It's good to be back."

"Now," Mark started, "we all want to know where you've been for the last two weeks."

Meredith nodded. "I needed some time away from everything so I hoped on a plane, and went to New York." She looked over to Amy who smiled. "I stayed with Carolyn, and Natalie and Amy kept my mind off things until it just didn't hurt anymore."

"You knew?" Lexie said incredulously towards her sister in-law. She nodded.

"She wasn't the only one," Derek added as he glanced over to Addie.

"Amy and Addie knew," Meredith admitted. "And I apologize to everyone for all the trouble I caused. But I just needed to feel alive again."

"We understand Meredith, and I hope I speak for all of us when I say that we don't blame you," Miranda spoke up. "We didn't know what to say or what to do without hurting you, so we just didn't do or say anything."

Meredith nodded. "It's okay, and I'm glad everything is back to normal again."

Everyone cheered.

"Wait!" Cristina exclaimed. "That still doesn't explain the surgery."

Meredith looked at Derek. This was the moment of happiness they were about to share with all the people who were closest to them.

"I was told something that made me decide to get a checkup done," Meredith started, not specifying the reason for the checkup. "That's when I found out that our baby's heart wasn't getting the blood it was supposed to get. So Addie performed a surgery that allowed the blood to get to our daughter's heart."

Meredith noticed all the faces light up when she said daughter. "A girl?" Amy exclaimed.

"And a boy," Derek added.

"Twins?" almost everyone exclaimed at once.

"We're expecting twins," Derek confirmed with a smile. "A boy and a girl."

Mark was the first one to grab his brother. "Congrats man," he said as he gave him a brotherly hug and patted him on the back.

"Oh my goodness Meredith!" Lexie exclaimed. "This is so exciting!"

Meredith giggled at her sister's enthusiasm. "I know! I was a little worried at first, but it's an amazing feeling to know I'm carrying two lives in me."

Both of them were congratulated by all of their friends who were present. But the night started to calm down. Some had to get back to the hospital, others home to bring their kids to bed. Only Meredith, Derek, Addison, Sam, Mark and Lexie were left. Sienna had gone to bed with Cody, the trip taking it's toll on the both of them.

"Your announcement has brought so much more enthusiasm in our circle," Lexie said as she sat down on the couch beside Mark.

"It's a good thing. And we've decided we're ending the secret," Meredith added.

"Really?" Mark asked.

"It's about time," Meredith answered. "And people are starting to get suspicious."

Addison smiled. She then looked at Sam, and back at her friends. "We have our own little announcement to make, but I wanted to tell you guys first," she said, mostly to Derek and Mark.

"You guys are getting married?" Mark asked.

Addie and Sam laughed. "Soon, probably, but we're not doing the big wedding. A few friends, city hall…" Sam explained. "Casual."

Addie nodded. "It was a mutual decision," she cleared up, because by the look on Derek's face, he didn't believe it.

"So that's not the announcement though?" Meredith inquired.

Addie shook her head. "We're adopting a little boy," she then said with a smile.

"Congratulations Addie, Sam!" Derek exclaimed. "That's great news!"

Mark did the same and they hugged both of the new soon to be parents.

"Do you already know where you're getting him?"

Addie nodded. "His mother is due in two months, and she lives here in Seattle."

Meredith thought about Elisabeth, and how she was due around that time. Addie noticed her expression.

"Meredith?" she asked.

"Huh?" she was knocked out of her trance.

"Are you okay?"

Everyone was now looking at her.

"Yeah, of course… I was just thinking about a girl I know, she's due around that time, and I think she might be putting her baby up for adoption…"

"Elisabeth, right?"

Meredith nodded.

"She's keeping her baby," Addison informed her. Meredith nodded.

"More the reason for you and Izzie to get the plans for your mother's home up and on the go," Derek exclaimed.

"Derek, we have to be moved out of here before we can really start thinking about that."

Derek nodded. "You can start looking into financial stuff and support groups. You'll be off work for a little while, so it could keep you busy. Besides, the house is coming along great. And if you really get into this project and you want to have it done before the house is done, we could always rent temporarily until they've done building."

Meredith smiled. "That sounds like a plan."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

A week had gone by since Meredith was home. And like Derek had suggested, she focused her time off mainly on the mother's home. Izzie had been over almost every day, and they had spent a lot of time discussing, planning and even making phone calls for getting all the help they could get. And things were looking promising.

"What should we call it?" Meredith asked. "All the companies suggest we find a project name, a name that will be used for the facility so that it makes it easier for applying for funding."

Izzie shrugged. "Last time I named a building was the clinic. And that was because I used Denny's money, so it was only natural to name it Denny Duquette memorial clinic. Maybe you could use something out of the past to name this place."

Meredith thought about it. "It was my mother's house," she said out loud. "But we're trying to inspire troubled mother's that they can be good mom's, and my mother is definitely not a good example. So that scratches that out."

"What about something that has happened since it's been your place?"

Meredith laughed. "The first night I spent here was with Derek. I'm definitely not going to call it 'The One Night Stand Home for Young and Single Mothers.'"

Izzie laughed. "Definitely not a good idea."

"I got it!" Meredith suddenly exclaimed. "You, George and I were the first people to really live here, this was our home." Izzie nodded. "Why not the O'Malley Residence for Young and Single Mothers?"

Izzie smiled sadly. "That's a great idea."

Meredith heard the pain in her voice. "You still really miss him, don't you?"

Izzie nodded. "He was like my version of Cristina. Except nicer," she said as Meredith let out a small giggle.

"I miss him too Iz, but it's been over a year. It's time we celebrate his life, rather than dwell on his death."

Izzie nodded. "O'Malley Home it is!"

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Derek had had a long day. And a very terrible, sad one at that. Dr Nelson, or better known as 'Shadow Shepherd' hadn't come into work that morning. Derek thought maybe he was sick and just hadn't had time to call in yet, but when the time for his craniotomy came and went, and he still hadn't shown up, Derek started to get suspicious.

He performed his craniotomy, not wanting to let the fourteen year old patient and his family down, and he came out completely successful. But when he made his way down to the ER, everybody had a sad look on their face.

"Richard, what's going on?" he asked.

"Dr Nelson was in a car accident this morning. He suffered from a major blow to the skull. By the time the ambulance got here, it was too late…"

Derek was speechless. He hadn't been the greatest friends with the man who had taken up head of Neurosurgery when he became chief, but he knew him quite well.

"That's terrible," he said. "Has his family been contacted?"

"It almost seems as if he has none. Other than a cousin, his family has all passed away. He has no children, and was never married. No brothers or sisters. And his parents both died."

"Contact his cousin," Derek decided.

Richard nodded. "But if we can't find him?"

Derek thought about it. "We'll organize a funeral. It's the least we can do."

Richard nodded and headed off to find a nurse who would try and find their deceased coworker's family.

Derek just shook his head. Ironic, he thought. A neurosurgeon who dies of a brain injury. He saved so many other people who had gone through similar incidents, but he couldn't save himself.

He decided to wait until after the funeral to go looking for another Neurosurgeon. Right now, he had a hospital to keep under control, and a fellow doctor to remember.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

The funeral had been the following Tuesday. A lot of hospital staff attended and a few friends of his from outside of the hospital. Derek said a few words, the little he could say about the man he barely knew, but did say a little.

After the ceremony, most people just went back to the hospital. Although the few unfamiliar faces stayed around longer, wanting to pay their respects to their friend before the burial.

"Dr Shepherd, Chief of Seattle Grace, I presume," a man came up to Derek.

Derek spun around and faced the man. "Yes, how can I help you?"

"I'm a old friend of Jim's," he started. "We met in medical school. And then we both did our interships together, and both ended up neurosurgeons." He paused. "I know you'll be looking for a new head of neurosurgery, and in honor of my old friend, I want to apply for the job."

Derek stood there, surprised. "Well, yes… I was going to wait a little while before I started looking, but I'll definitely look into your credentials… that is, if I knew who you were," he added with a small laugh.

"Oh right, my apologies. Dr Malcolm Lewis, Head of Neurosurgery at John Hopkins," he introduced himself.

"You're Dr Malcolm Lewis?" Derek exclaimed. "You're legendary! Are you sure you want to step down from such a high ranked hospital to come to ours?" he then asked, hesitant.

Malcolm nodded. "There's a lineup of young ambitious Neurosurgeons wanting my job at Hopkins. It's time I give them a turn."

Derek nodded. "Well if you come by tomorrow, we can look at a contract."

Malcolm nodded. "I'll be there."

He started walking off, but he turned around. "Oh, and Dr Shepherd?"

Derek turned around. "Yes?"

"If I'm legendary, you're a God. I'm a big fan of your work."

Derek smiled. "As am I of yours."

"I can't wait to work with you."

Derek smiled. "Same here."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Meredith had left with Richard after the funeral. Richard was off today, so she decided to spend a little time with him and Adele. She had spent so much time on the O'Malley Residence that it was giving her a headache.

"You and Stevens seem to be working hard," Richard said as they drove to his place.

Meredith nodded. "The home is coming along great. We've found so much funding, with Derek and Addison's help and I have a very good feeling it's going to be a success."

"Have you guys found a name for it yet?"

Meredith and Izzie had decided they were going to keep the name a surprise until the grand opening. "We have, but it's staying a secret for now."

Richard nodded. "How are my grandbabies doing?" he changed the subject.

Meredith laughed. "They're doing great," she told him. "It still sounds so weird, the thought of there being two of them still shocks me."

"It's a good thing you've got someone like Derek as their father, or else you'd be in over your head."

Meredith sighed. "I think I might be anyway."

They pulled into the driveway and once Richard turned off the engine, he turned to face his little girl.

"What's bothering you Meredith?"

Meredith looked up into Richard's eyes. "I'm worried about how him being chief will affect his time with us."

Richard saw the pain in Meredith's eyes. "Are you using me as an example?"

Meredith couldn't say no, but it wasn't quite that. "Sort of, but mostly, it's the image of my mother that comes to mind. Since I've been pregnant, surgery doesn't mean as much to me as it used to. And that's when I realized I won't be my mother because surgery was always her first priority. You didn't have any children, or that you knew of, so that wasn't calling you to come home. But my mother had me. And her being chief took even more time away from the very little time she already only spent on me. And I know Derek isn't my mother, oh how very far from that… but I still can't help but worry about what will happen if surgery doesn't end up coming second to his family."

Richard wrapped his arms around her. "He gives up surgeries to come home to you, you know."

"Really?" Meredith asked.

"Really," Richard confirmed. "His family already comes before surgery so you have nothing to worry about."

Meredith nodded. "Thanks Dad."

Richard smiled. "Any time."

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