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Chapter Thirty Four

Nobody's Perfect

Meredith couldn't believe that she was doing this. But she felt she had to. She needed to get Rachel's side of the story. Most of her daughter's actions the last few months involved Rachel. Derek and Meredith didn't know what they could do. At first, Derek didn't like the idea of talking to Rachel. He then knew that his wife was right. They had to get to the bottom of this.

So Meredith got out of the car and went up to the front porch. She knocked on the door. As she waited for someone to answer, she looked around. The house was old. The paint was coming off. The front porch needed sweeping. Before Meredith could look around anymore, Rachel answered the door. "Dr. Grey, what are you doing here?" she asked, surprised.

"I wanted to get your side of the story," Meredith replied. Rachel then called inside that she was going to take a walk before closing the front door.

"What do you want to know?" Rachel asked as they walked through the front yard.

"Well, I have been trying to understand why Sam is friends with you," Meredith said, hoping that it didn't offend her.

Rachel knew immediately what she was talking about. "I'm not my parents. Ok, I admit that I don't obey the rules sometimes. It's only when I thought the rule needed breaking. That's why I suggested Sam bring the rascals along to the basketball game," Rachel explained.

"I'm sorry then. We misjudged you," Meredith replied.

"I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused. Sam's my best friend. I would never want to get my best friend in trouble on purpose," Rachel said.

Meredith smiled. "Apology accepted. I'm sure that after everything is sorted out, then you can come back over again. Then we can get to know you, the real you."

Rachel nodded. As Meredith started walking back to the car, Rachel called her. Meredith turned around. "Just remember that nobody's perfect including Sam."

Once Derek got home, Meredith told Derek her conversation with Rachel. After thinking about it, Derek knew that they have been too harsh on Sam about Rachel. "Let's go talk to her. Then you'll go play with the other kids. I think they have been feeling left out," Meredith said gently. Derek nodded and they went upstairs.

She knocked on the door. Sam told them to come in. They did. Meredith sat on the edge of the bed. Derek stood. "What did I do wrong this time?" Sam asked.

Derek shook his head. "It's not you. It's us. We want to apologize to you about Rachel. We misjudged her. We're sorry for that."

"I'm sorry too. I knew that going to the basketball game was wrong. I knew that hitting that other girl was wrong. It's just that I was trying to be a good friend," Sam said.

"We know that. It's just that disobeying us or hitting isn't the best way to do it," Derek replied.

Sam nodded. "I know and I'm sorry."

"You're still grounded. I think we can lower the grounding to the same day that your suspension ends. Then you are going to invite that girl over so we could really get to know her," Derek said. Sam jumped up and hugged her parents tightly. "Now, I'm going to see what your siblings are up too."

Derek left and Meredith started to follow him when Sam stopped her. "Mom, can I talk to you?" Meredith nodded. "Why is it that you guys got so upset when I did this stuff?" she asked.

"I guess because you were breaking the rules. You never really got into trouble like this before," Meredith replied.

"Mom, are you kidding?" Sam asked. Meredith looked confused. "Don't you remember when I lost Jake at the mall? You were so upset with me."

Meredith nodded, now remembering. It was a family outing. Meredith was pushing one-year-old Mackenzie in the stroller while Derek was holding Noah's hand. So that left eleven-year-old Sam in charge of three-year-old Jake. Sam had let go of Jake's hand for one second while she tied her shoe. Luckily, they found Jake in the toy store.

"What about the time I broke your favorite glass figure? You yelled at me and sent me to my room."

"Ok, you made your point. Now, why don't we head downstairs and play with your brothers and sisters, as a family?" Meredith asked.

Sam smiled. "Sounds good to me." She followed Meredith out of her room.

Once again, Meredith cuddled up next to Derek. "I think this whole thing with Sam and Rachel have finally ended," Meredith said relieved.

"I think so too," Derek replied.

Meredith sighed. "I thought it would be easier as they get older. Instead, it's the complete opposite," Meredith said.

Derek nodded. "Just wait until Sam enter high school next year. Then the drama starts," Derek replied.

"Don't forget the boys, driver's license and probably a cell-phone," Meredith added.

"She's not dating until she's thirty," Derek reminded her.

Meredith giggled. "Do you think we are ready for the high school years?"

"We have a few more months to get ready for it."

"Something that Rachel said made me remind myself that we can't expect Sam to be a good girl all the time. There will be times where she will break the rules. She'll make mistakes. We just have to let her make them. Otherwise, she'll never learn," Meredith said.

"Wise words we will have to remember," Derek replied.

"Good night, non-perfect dad," Meredith said, kissing him.

"Good night, non-perfect mom," Derek replied.