Disclaimer: Still don't own it, never will!

So I am updating at a regular pace now! Granted it's currently midnight so basically I am just updating as much as I can so that I can study for AP Calculus Exam which on Wednesday and then AP Bio next Monday!

This chapter is Thanksgiving with all of the Shepherds... Emily's Seattle family will be there but none of them have kids yet so, Emily will be thrown back into their world… how will it go?

"Mama why you cleaning? You NEVER clean," Emily giggled as she followed her mother around the house, her hippo in her hands.

"Remember Em, today is Thanksgiving," Mer told her.

"It not Thanksgiving yet, no turkey," Emily informed her. "It only 7!"

"Well… there will be a turkey soon," Meredith told her.

"You no make turkey Mommy, house go vroom… up in flames!" Emily informed her, dramatically making her arms wave. Meredith was going to kill her husband for ever mentioning that to her daughter.

"I'm not gonna make the turkey Emi," Meredith began cautiously. "Your Grandma's making the turkey." Emily shrunk back from her mother immediately and Meredith's heart sank. Last week Meredith had informed Emily of their plans for Thanksgiving and she had yet to really grasp the concept that Derek had more family then the ones in Seattle. Meredith hoped that Emily's reunion with Derek's side of the family would be like the one with the Seattle family. In the airport, something had clicked and allowed Emily's to remember them, but unfortunately, the Shepherd's would not be people fresh in their mind. They had last seen them on Christmas, which was almost a year ago and before all of this happened.

"Oh," she whispered. Quickly she ran over to the couch and curled up on it.

"Em baby, what's wrong?" Meredith said, concerned.

"I member a little," she told her. "But does Grandma know?"

"Grandma knows," Meredith nodded. "And she has been waiting months to see you, and we wanted her and everyone else to be with us on Thanksgiving. Doesn't that sound fun?"

"Else?" she asked.

"Our Seattle family of course," Meredith told her. The little girl's eyes lit up immediately. "And remember what I said about daddy having sisters just like Aunt Lexie is my sister." Her smile fell slightly.

"Yeah, but I don't remember them," she whimpered. "I want to but I don't."

"Honey, remember what Dr. Chance said… you might not ever remember them from back then, because of what Jason did, but you will make new memories with them… that's what this Thanksgiving is about," Mer reassured. "I want to put the past behind us, don't you baby girl?"

"Yeah," she sighed. Meredith kissed her nose and Emily giggled.

"I love you Mommy," Emily sighed.

"I love you too my Emi bear," Meredith said. "Why don't you watch a movie until Grandma gets here? She's gonna get here before everyone else, would you like that?"

"Okay," she nodded. Meredith stroked her growing curls and turned on the TV. "What do you want to watch?"

"RELLA!" she exclaimed.

Your forgiven princess," she said. "Now... you wanna go watch Cinderella."

"Rella! Rella!" Emily giggled and started jumping up and down. Meredith put the DVD in for Em and cleaned up from lunch before sitting down with her. It wasn't long until Emily was asleep, Meredith, not realizing it was her nap time. Instead of putting her upstairs she allowed her to sleep on her lap for the majority of the time. She was still upset about Amanda and was easily comforted by her daughters sleeping form. Of course, it didn't take long for Emily to wake up as soon as the hour and a half passed. Immediately she became the rambunctious two year old again.

"Mommy what we do now!" Emily giggled. Meredith was about to suggest coloring but the thought of crayons and markers in the already messy living room made her shutter.

"Em, why don't you go to your play room for a little and maybe we can go for a walk later," Meredith suggested.

"Okay Mommy!" Emily giggled and grabbed Beary by the arm. Meredith shook her head as she felt the thump of her little feet through the floor on the way to the play room.

"Careful Em," she laughed and began picking up some of Emily's toys and DVD's that were scattered over the rug in the living room, despite the fact that they had a play room. That is when she heard a door creak open.

"Em!" she called. "Emily Elizabeth answer me!" There was no answer. All she heard was a door close.

"EMILY-" she broke off as something struck her in the back of the head and she fell to the floor and everything went black...

Meredith pushed those thoughts from her head, not today. Not until Emily needed her to remember, so she could comfort her.

"When's Grandma gonna be here Momma?" Emily asked as she relaxed comfortably, playing with the soft fabric of her pajamas still.

"Probably around the time Cinderella is over," Meredith told her.

"Huh," Emily gasped, and then let out a sly smile. "You NEVER gonna finish cleaning the house by then!"

"Oh Em," Meredith murmured, kissing her head before returning to her vacuum. She looked around the rest of the house, unfortunately her daughter was right.

"She's here," Derek breathed as he saw the town car from the airport arrive at the driveway. It was currently about 8:30. His mother came early for two reasons, one to cook the turkey and make everything else, and two because she was the only Shepherd Emily had the slightest memory of.

"She's gonna be fine Der," Meredith reassured. "We all will. We will take it slow. Let's see how she is with Mom first."

"Okay," Derek nodded.

"Momma, that Grandma?" Emily asked, suddenly coming out from behind them. "Rella's over!"

"Yeah, that's Grandma Em," Derek picked her up as the door bell rang. Meredith looked over at Derek confused and opened the door.

"Meredith," Carolyn breathed with a smile.

"Mom, why in the world are you ringing the doorbell?" Meredith asked immediately, giving the older woman a hug. "You don't have to."

"I just didn't… oh," Carolyn gasped. She looked at her granddaughter in shock. The little girl she had last seen on Easter was no longer a little girl. Her still slightly fragile frame aside, she had grown so much when she was with Jason height wise.

"Grandma?" Emily questioned looking at Derek. Everyone's heart sank; they hadn't shown her pictures, because they didn't want to get her upset. But maybe that was a bad idea. "Daddy down!"

"Ok princess," Derek put her on the ground. Emily ran towards Carolyn and hugged her legs, giggling.

"I 'member!" she said proudly. "Grandma I 'member you!" Carolyn exploded into a smile mixed with tears. She picked up one of her youngest grandchildren and pulled her into her chest.

"I'm so happy Emily," she sighed contently. "Because I remember you. And I love you very much and I'm so glad to see you."

"Me too," Emily said. "Where turkey. I want turkey now! Momma said you make turkey!"

"Well it takes a while to make a turkey; can I count on you as my special helper?" Carolyn asked.

"Yes! I can cook, me no make big fire like Mommy," Emily giggled.

"Emily Elizabeth," Meredith chastisized with a joke. "You better stop teasing me about my cooking skills."

"Why Mommy," Emily said innocently.

"Because this might happen," Meredith laughed and she scooped her up, immediately ticking her unmercifully.

"Grandma, Daddy, help me," Emily squealed in delight.

"Sorry Em," Derek chuckled. "I gotta help Grandma get her stuff from the car." Meredith carried her over to the couch to snuggle for a little while Carolyn got settled.

"Derek," Carolyn said. "How are you?" She looked at him seriously as he pulled his wallet out to pay the town car. He sighed and looked at her.

"There are good days and bad days," he told her. "Every day with her is a blessing. Like yesterday, she came running into our room at 6 o'clock exclaiming how she didn't have a nightmare that night. And then when we dropped her off at day care and she let go of us so quickly."

"It-"

"But then last week, at her appointment with Dr. Chance, god mom I wanted to punch someone I… she talked about Howard, the man who ra-who rap- I can't even say it," he growled. "And all she did the rest of the day was cry and ask if we were mad at her."

"Derek, she's doing well considering," Carolyn reassured. "She… she remembered me, didn't she? I haven't seen her since I came down here for Easter."

"Exactly Mom, she saw you at Easter. She last saw everyone else at Christmas," Derek said.

"Oh," Carolyn said. "She doesn't remember them then."

"No, and it kills me," Derek said. "She doesn't remember her family. And Audrey, oh god Audrey. Meredith told me what happened when she came to visit in May. Audrey remembers her and Em's gonna beat herself up because she doesn't remember her."

"Derek, we're gonna have to take it slow," Carolyn said. "Remind her of her Aunt's first. Then her Uncle's. Start with the older ones. They will help Audrey and Emily. All of them are just so excited to see her, they won't care and by the end of our visit, she'll remember us all." Carolyn stroked his cheek gently.

"I sure hope your right Ma," he mumbled. Picked up a couple of her bags, and walked into the house.

"Auntie Lexie and Uncle Mark are having a baby," Emily babbled to her grandmother. Emily couldn't help much, but Carolyn managed to find her a job of handing her all the small things that she needed. It gave Emily something to do and gave Carolyn time to connect with her again. "Mommy and Daddy says it's a boy, boys are yucky! I wanted a girl cousin!"

"Well Em," Carolyn said. "You know you have cousins on your daddy's side too." Emily looked down.

"I do," she whispered.

"Yes, and they are all very excited to see you and-" Carolyn trailed off as Emily retreated to get her hippo. "Oh, who is this?"

"This is Hippo," Emily told her.

"Does Hippo have a name?" Carolyn asked, thankful that she managed to get onto a different topic.

"Nope, I have thinked of one yet," Emily informed her. "He still Hippo. Daddy wanted me to name him Hippy cause I gots a Bear named Beary, but Hippy a silly name!"

"Your father is a very silly man, right Em," Meredith said, coming in. "Why don't you come watch the parade with me while we let your Grandma cook."

"No, I wanna stay with Grandma, I cook good, right?" Emily smiled.

"Yes you do," Carolyn agreed. "But I have to use the hot oven now, so I think you should listen to your Mommy." This was a lie, it was almost noon and that was when the rest of the family was set to arrive. They gave them about an hour so then the Seattle family would come.

"Okay," Emily huffed. "What happen in da parade?"

"Well there's-" Mer broke off by the sound of a car coming up the driveway. Derek walked into the foyer with her.

"This would be the one time they come early," he sighed. Emily started to play with her dress nervously.

"Who coming," she whimpered.

"Daddy's family," Meredith said as Derek opened the door just as Nancy looked to be about ready to ring the doorbell.

"Derek," she gasped. "You scare the he-" She trailed off as she caught eye of her niece standing in the middle of the foyer. Her eyes wide, scared, and curious all at the same time. "Oh… Em."

"Derbear!" Liz giggled running in to hug her brother, before she could; she stopped beside Nancy, in the same fashion. By the time Kathleen and Meg came to move beside them, Emily had rushed behind her mother's legs. She was thankful the rest of the family hung back and was still getting out of the cars.

"Emily," Meredith murmured, prying her off her legs and picking her up. Em buried her head in her shoulder. "Come on princess, don't you want to see them?"

"Mama," she whimpered.

"Please let us see your pretty eyes baby girl," Derek begged as tears pricked his sister's eyes when Emily finally looked up. "Sweetie, this is your Aunt Nancy, Aunt Kathleen, Aunt Liz, and Aunt Meg. Can you say hi?"

"Hi," Em whispered and nuzzled into Meredith again.

"Hi Em," Liz was the first to speak to her directly. "You have a lot of cousins who want to meet you too, would that be okay?"

"Cousins? Like Aunt Lexie and Uncle Mark's baby?" Emily turned to her mother. "I really do have more!" She turned around to Carolyn who nodded at her reassuringly.

"They all missed you just as much as we did," Kathy smiled at her.

"I sorry," she mumbled.

"For what sweetheart?" Meg questioned.

"I no 'member," she said almost incoherently.

"You don't have to," Nancy told her. "You might never remember everyone, you want to know why?"

"Why?"

"Because we're even bigger than your family here in Seattle," Nancy smiled.

"That's big!" Emily exclaimed. Meredith placed Emily on the floor and kept her hand firmly in hers as the Uncle's entered.

"That's your Uncle Tom, Uncle Matt, Uncle Sean, and Uncle Greg," Kathleen told her but even though Emily was talking to them, the second she took a step towards her, Emily retreated. Meredith silently cursed herself for not taking Em upstairs and gradually introducing them the second the kids piled into the house. The last one in, Henry, slammed the door shut.

Before anyone knew what was happening, Emily let out a scream and jumped into Derek's arms, fearing for her life. The last time she heard the front door slam, she was leaving her house for 7 months in the arms of Jason.

"No Daddy, no!" she sobbed. Derek, without pausing to think, ran upstairs with her in his arms. Meredith closed her eyes and let out a distressed sigh as the older kids quickly shuffled the younger ones who were rather confused into the living room.

"I knew she was doing too good," she said, turning to the stairs.

"Oh Mer," Elizabeth exclaimed and reached out to hug her sister-in-law. "She's doing so well considering, you should be so incredibly proud. She's beautiful, she's so big… it's so…"

"Amazing," Kathleen finished. "She talked to us, for a second but she did. She acknowledged us and since you all had to take a psych rotation I know you should realize how incredible that is. Especially with all that she's gone through."

"I… I should make sure she's okay," Meredith murmured.

"Derbear's got it Mer," Meg interrupted. "He's a good daddy. I've never seen him like this, even before this happened. He's so protective."

"Why don't you call your friends and sister and Mark they could come early," Nancy suggested. "People Emily is familiar with."

"They probably left already, it takes an hour to get here with traffic and the ferry ride," Meredith mumbled.

"Let's go into the kitchen Mer, we can talk and wait for Derbear and Em to come back down," Liz grabbed onto Meredith's arm. Mer smiled at them and nodded hi to all of the boys and kids who were paying attention to her.

They got her to sit at the kitchen table although she was still looking at the stairs.

"We now know how Em is," Nancy said. "How are you?"

"I'm… fine," she whispered. "And really fine fine. Not Meredith fine." Mer looked up and laughed at their serious faces. "Every day I spend it her it's a miracle and it's a blessing. Things she says and remembers amazes me. And then… sometimes it's just…"

"Just what?" Megan questioned.

"She tells us things like, how she got the scar on the back of her neck or why she runs on the stairs. Things that happened when she was away from us and-" Meredith turned abruptly to look at Elizabeth, Carolyn, and Kathleen. "Thank you Mom, Liz, Kath… I don't-"

"It's nothing," Kathleen shrugged.

"Kathy," Meredith whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "If you didn't recognize her, she would have- she would have been gone again. He was leaving again and was caught all because Liz called Mom and Mom you showed him that picture of our family. Without any of you, somehow distracting me when Derek was in Nevada or simply being the family that shares Em's blood… I don't know what might have happened."

"Meredith we are yours and Emily's family, we would do anything for you all," Carolyn reassured.

"I would do it all over again," Kathleen nodded.

"I know, I love you guys," Meredith smiled.

"Mommy," Emily whispered from Derek's neck who was now standing in the doorway.

"Em, come here baby," Meredith outstretched her arms. Emily gratefully latched onto Meredith's neck as Mer sat back down. Emily refused to look up. "Emily's what wrong?" She didn't answer. "Sweetheart are you embarrassed about what happened? You don't need to be embarrassed, they are your family, and they don't care."

"Don't," she said.

"No we don't, your daddy's very used to getting embarrassed by us," Nancy smirked at the little girl.

"Daddy you 'barrassed?" Em giggled.

"When you are older, we will show you pictures," Liz smiled. "Your other cousins and mommy have seen tons."

"Speaking of other cousins," Meredith said. "Would you like to meet some of them?" Emily looked up at her.

"Not all at once," Carolyn promised.

"Otay," Emily sighed. Meredith stood up and Emily squirmed down. Her hand rested securely in Mer's hand and Mer watched in amazement as Em's hand reached out for Carolyn's hand as well, who came to her other side.

"Rebecca, Lauren, Kristen," Carolyn called over the three oldest of the Shepherd girls. With them they brought Alyse, Audrey, Sammy, and Amy; the youngest and closest in age to Em.

"Emily," Meredith said. "I know you probably don't remember, but these are some of your cousins, Rebecca, Lauren, and Kristen they are older. But Alyse, Audrey, Sammy, and Amy are all around your age. You used to play with them." Emily's wide and timid green eyes scanned over the group of girls.

"Hi," she said shyly. Meredith could tell she was trying hard, she was so proud of her.

"Hi Emily," Rebecca said. "I'm Rebecca, just call me Becca all the other cousins do." Em nodded.

"I'm Kristen," Kristen said. "And this is my little sister Audrey, she's your age." She pushed her little sister forward and both of the three year olds looked wary. "Aud, are you gonna say hi."

"Hi Emily," Audrey finally said and suddenly Emily smiled widely.

"Audrey," she whispered. She leaned into her mother's ear. "Mama, I might 'member her! Just like I might 'member Aunt Nancy and…"

"Say hi silly goose," Meredith chuckled, pressing a kiss to her head.

"Hi," Emily smiled tentatively to her cousin. Audrey smiled back as Sammy, Alyse, and Amy said their own hellos. Emily didn't remember them, but she was warming up to Audrey almost immediately.

"Wanna meet some of the other cousins Em?" Lauren asked her, holding out her hand for her little cousin. Emily looked at her hand warily.

"You have to meet my obnoxious twin Henry," Rebecca giggled. "I need one more little kid to annoy the heck out of him." Emily looked back anxiously at her Mom, Dad, Aunts, and Grandma.

"Go ahead Em," Derek urged. With a giggle Emily reached out for Lauren's hand and she led her over to the group of cousins. Immediately after Meredith collapsed gratefully into Derek's arms.

"I really think we are gonna be okay," Meredith smiled as her daughter branched out for the first time since being kidnapped. Everyone watched in awe as she met everyone, rather timidly, but she did not need her parents. Audrey was glued to her side the whole time. The cousins had always been close even before.

"I smell Mrs. Shepherd's turkey," a new voice exclaimed from the front door.

"UNCLE MARK!" Emily exclaimed. Her eyes widened as everyone else followed suit, but she charged head first for her godfather who scooped her up in one swoop.

"What's up munchkin," he said.

"Uncle Mark, no 'kin!" Emily pouted.

"Come on Em, we don't like that face," Alex teased from behind. Emily giggled and smiled at him.

"That's what I love to see," Arizona kissed her hello.

"Aunt Lexie," Em said. "It's okay now dat the baby in your tummy a boy, I gots lots a girl cousins on my daddy's side!"

"Well I'm glad," Lexie chuckled as Emily jumped down and allowed the Shepherd's to greet Mark and the rest of the family. Emily ran over to Meredith and Derek shyly. Derek picked her up and pecked her on the cheek.

"You okay princess?" he asked.

"I'm fine Daddy," she rolled her eyes dramatically, Derek and Meredith burst into laughter. That was their Emily.

"I think we should go around the table before we start eating and say what we are thankful for," Carolyn suggested.

"Carolyn," Sean laughed. "There are almost fifty of us."

"Counting the kids, which is why there is a kids table," she retorted. Meredith and Derek turned around, surprised that Emily was sitting over there for the time being.

"Still too many, I wanna eat," Mark complained.

"I'll start," Mer volunteered. "I am thankful for my baby girl. For, what we have achieved in these past couple of months." Meredith's hand twined with Derek's under the table. "I get to watch her grow up, and grow so much from all she has been through. I am thankful to all of you, who are supporting us and Emily through this time. And…"

"And everything else goes without saying," Derek added quietly.

"Perfect," Mark laughed, breaking the tension. "We all agree, let's eat!" Everyone shared a laugh, interrupted by a tiny voice.

"Mama," it was Em.

"Yes pretty girl," Meredith turned around.

"Eat with you," she asked.

"Of course," Meredith said, picking her up and placing her on her lap. Derek got up and grabbed her plate and apple juice from the kids table before placing it in front of her. While they were passing out dinner, Emily snuggled into Meredith but was no longer afraid of the Shepherd's. Even with her Seattle family she was being shy. Someone who didn't know Emily was usually bouncing off the walls by now at a family party would think that nothing ever happened. They would just think that she was a shy little girl.

Her family knew better, but it was a step. Maybe one day she would be as hyper as she used to be, although Meredith and Derek debated whether or not that was a good thing.

"What do you want Em?" Carolyn asked. Em looked up from her mother's shoulder and took a look at the food that spread across the table.

"Everything," she giggled slightly and smiled widely as it earned a smile from almost all of the adults at the table.

"You are a hungry little girl," Liz laughed.

"Definitely doesn't get her eating habits from her father," Nancy shot at Derek.

"Mama says Daddy eats like a bird, he likes muesli and it's yucky," Emily's eyes glinted as she looked at Derek.

"Be careful Em," Derek warned playfully. "The tickle monster might come to your bed tonight." Emily giggled softly before settling gratefully in Mer's lap again. Mer pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head before sighing contently as everyone began to dig in. Dinner went smoothly, to keep her talking, the adults alternated from the Shepherd's to her Seattle family, and Em enjoyed it. Although it almost seemed like she regretted leaving Audrey though, because she was, besides the children in the hospital daycare, one of the only kids she remembers meeting that is her age. After dinner, everyone was surprised as she ran over to her and began talking like they used to.

Meredith and all of the women insisted on helping Carolyn clean up in the kitchen while the men sat down and continued to watch the football game. From the corner of her eye she saw Rebecca introducing Emily to the recent additions to the family, Ryleigh and Andrew. Two of the cousins Emily wouldn't have ever known, so the little girl was excited to kiss Ryleigh's little nose. Ryleigh was Liz's baby who according to the doctor's was a boy, poor Sean was completely enchanted with his baby daughter but his poor son Keith was left as the only boy in the family. Andrew, Meg's son, was obviously loved because he was the first boy in a while. However, the fact that girls dominated the Shepherd's automatically made Emily love them.

"She seems to be doing much better," Carolyn commented. "Especially after…"

"After what?" Lexie said worriedly.

"After one of the boys slammed the door, she, she had one of her episodes," Meredith explained.

"But Mer, she's talking a lot more than she usually does, even with us," Izzie said.

"What does her therapist say Meredith?" Kathleen said.

"Leave it to the shrink to ask about the shrink," Meg teased.

"Mer, you never did say why she cut it back to only two weeks," Arizona pointed out.

"She's been growing so much, and, Dr. Chance is impressed with her progress and credits it to us and you all," Mer smiled softly. "But my Em's strong, there's times when I forget I'm the parent, she talks like she older than me sometimes."

"Are there any specific problems, like the front door," Kathy pressed.

"Goodness Kathy," Nancy rolled her eyes. "She has her own therapist for a reason."

"Technically Mer doesn't," she offered. "And besides she's my niece."

"Actually, Derek and I decided that we should start going to a therapist as well; now that Emily is getting better, we need to work on taking care of ourselves," Meredith sighed.

"That's so great Mer, why didn't you tell us," Lexie exclaimed.

"Because going into therapy in not something to celebrate Lexipedia," Cristina rolled her eyes. Lexie let out a dejected sigh and collapsed in a kitchen chair, exhausted.

"Sometimes it is," Carolyn said. "Lexie dear, you better stop helping. Mark is an adopted child of mine, so technically that baby is my grandchild too!" Lexie giggled.

"Mer, you never answered my-" Kathleen started.

"NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! HE'LL GET YOU IF YOU GO IN THERE! STOP! PLEASE!" a distressed wail came from the hallway adjacent from the kitchen.

"Em," Mer gasped.

"I think that just answered your question Kath," Liz shook her head.

"But-"

"Her playroom," Callie finished for her. "Em won't go in it still. And if she's thinking about it she won't step on the living room rug either. She'll do it by accident sometimes." They walked out to see Audrey slumped in a corner sobbing and shaking from fear. Liz let out a gasp and ran to her daughter's side. Meredith and Derek had Emily in between them as her body convulsed in sobs.

"But Mer said on the phone she was sleeping in her room, that's where he actually got her," Nancy mentioned.

"We don't know why," Lexie came up more slowly, guided by Carolyn. Mark came over to her side and he helped her the rest of the way.

"You get used to it," Meg nodded, understanding.

"Kathleen, what's wrong?" Carolyn said as she looked at her second oldest daughter, staring intently at her brother, her sister in law, and the girl sobbing in their arms. Kathy stepped up.

"Em," she whispered, nodding at Meredith saying she had an idea. "You don't like your play room huh."

"Jason," she wailed. "He… he…"

"You were in here, when he came into the house right?"

"Yes!"

"And you walked out to find your Mommy lying on the living room rug, hurt," Kathleen led on. Emily looked up, her tear stained face turning towards Kathy.

"Yes," she hiccupped, trying to stop crying.

"Are you afraid that by going in there or stepping on the living room rug will make other people get hurt?" Kathleen whispered, reaching out to push a stray curl off her face.

"Jason," Emily gasped, her little body still trying to recover from the sobs that previously wracked it. "Would tell me, he'd k-k-kill you all if I no do what he say. If I 'member you all."

"He can't get you now, you know that princess?" Derek murmured. "I won't let him."

"But Mommy gots hurt when-"

"Em, I won't get hurt if you want to go in there and have fun with your cousins; I'll be with your daddy and he can protect me," she reassured.

"But," she whimpered.

"You don't have to sweetheart," Meredith rubbed circles on her back.

"But if you do Emily, we will be right there," Kathleen said. Emily squirmed down from her mother's arms.

"Let me see," Em whispered. She secured her hand in her mother's, like always; but instead of Derek, she reached for Kathy with a smile. Together, Kathy and Mer, brought Emily to all corners of her playroom; Derek reminding her of her kitchen, and her play box, and all of her dolls and other stuffed animals. Suddenly Emily ran out of the room.

Alarmed, they followed her only to see her standing in front of Audrey, reaching out to hug the girl.

"I sorry Audrey, I didn't means to scare you; I just… I forgot that I liked my play room, that it not always bad," Emily said.

"It otay," Audrey smiled at her. "Mommy said you didn't mean it and that you were just scared." Emily flashed a smile at her.

"Want to go play," Emily giggled and held her little hand out for her cousin. Audrey nodded.

"Can Sammy, Lysee, and Amy come too!"

"Acourse," Emily said, and together they all ran to the play room, though the adults saw Emily's still slightly scared eyes watch her parents closely.

Meredith and Derek sat back, and watched their daughter play with her cousins. They couldn't believe it, this was their daughter, she was here; finally.

"I'm so proud of her," Meredith sighed as Derek kissed her gently.

"You should be," Kathy said. And the whole family settled down, ready to face whatever came next.

"I didn't want to eat here anyway!" he boomed as the waiter threw him out of the Denny's restaurant. He was in Ohio now heading west. He had gone all the way south to Florida, thinking about trying to get to Mexico or somewhere in the Caribbean; of course he had killed Howard, he was the only one skilled enough to forge a passport.

For Thanksgiving, he went out hoping for a small comfort. Jason wasn't a fan of being on the run, he just always was and he was used to it.

He missed his daughter Amanda, his real daughter.

Last year she was with him, eating in a very similar Denny's across the country somewhere, he wasn't quite sure.

If that brat hadn't been staring at him, he could've ate. Instead he freaked out and was kicked out of the diner. Sometimes he felt like it would be easier just to turn himself in.

But Jason couldn't do that, he still had some unfinished business to attend to.

Well, they couldn't be completely happy but, all in all it was a very cute chapter I think (:

Please R&R!

So… the finale… I'm pretty much in denial and all of my stories, present or future will always have Lexie in it because she was one of my favorite characters ever! Anyone else feel like this season her character was tossed aside? She had the one storyline with Meredith screwing up with the patient, she whined for several episodes about loving Mark and being too scared to tell her, and now she's dead!