Disclaimer : I do not own Grey's Anatomy, but during times like these where they leave us hanging, I wish I did ...

"No, I'm his half sister, Meredith Shepherd," she introduced herself. "And you are?"

"His mother, Helen Avery."

After the initial shock had passed, Meredith had found her voice again. "It's… it's a pleasure… to meet you. Why don't you… come in?" she invited her.

"No that's all right, I don't want to bother you."

Meredith smiled. "It's no problem at all," she answered sincerely. "I could take you to the hospital if you'd like, well I mean, my friend Cristina could take us, since my car is still there, but I could show you how to get there… I mean, if you want to go there, because that's where Jackson is… at the hospital."

Helen laughed. "You ramble just like him, if not more."

Meredith smirked and nodded. "Yeah I get it from both sides apparently."

Helen laughed. "Well if you wouldn't mind showing me how to get to the hospital, I would be glad to drive you so you don't need to bother your friend."

Meredith suddenly remembered that Cristina was in the other room. "Actually, she might want to meet you before you leave. And I might just take you up on your offer. But come in, make yourself at home for a little while."

This time, Helen did come in and took a seat in the small living room.

"Would you like something?" Meredith asked, playing polite hostess, even though this wasn't even her home.

"No I'm alright."

Meredith smiled and swiftly went back into Jackson and Cristina's room.

"Who was it?" Cristina asked, now settled down.

Meredith smirked. "Of it was just someone looking for Jackson."

Cristina suddenly seemed curious. "Another girlfriend?" she asked with a laugh.

"Better," she said as she dragged her friend out.

"Helen, meet Cristina Yang."

Helen got up and made her way to the two women and shook Cristina's hand. "It's nice to meet you. You must be the girlfriend."

Meredith laughed. "Yeah, that's her. Not me."

Helen laughed a little too. "I'm sorry about that," she apologized. "It's just, that's usually what it is."

Meredith nodded. "I know what you mean." She then looked at Cristina's confused expression. "Oh right, I forgot about you," she said to her person. "Cristina, this is Helen Avery."

Cristina's eyes suddenly shifted from confused to surprised. "Avery… as in… Jackson's…"

"Mother," Helen finished. "Well adoptive mother. His real mother… well I'm sure you know the story."

Meredith nodded. "His real mother was a terrible mother. He should be thankful to have had someone like you."

Helen looked at Meredith. "Ellis Grey's daughter. Her first child."

Meredith nodded. "And her only, until we found out in April about Jackson's true identity."

Helen nodded. "I was instructed by your mother to not reveal his true identity until he was old enough to understand, but I was punished because of it."

Cristina finally spoke up, interested in what the older lady was saying. "Why?"

"He hasn't talked to me since the day I told him he was adopted. Or his father for that matter. And although him and his sister were close when they were younger, she hasn't made much effort to keep their relationship strong once she had moved away for university."

They all nodded and Meredith informed Cristina that she was going to show Helen to the hospital and that they'd see each other in the morning.

"So how did Jackson find you, I mean, once he found out who his mother was?"

Meredith smiled. "We work together. We have been for almost a year now. We had actually just become closer in the few days before he found out we were related. He was living at my place because there had been a fire in his apartment and my house has been the hospital resident dorm since the beginning of my internship, so he asked me if he could stay a while. And that's when we got to know each other."

Helen nodded. "You seem like quite the nice young woman considering all the circumstances. I was told your mother wasn't the best mother." Meredith didn't put the pieces together. But she would soon find out what she meant. "I had an old friend from college who knew your mother quite well. Before we adopted Jackson, I used to talk to her all the time. We talked about everything, and she told me about you, since she used to look out for you. I haven't talked to her since I found out Ellis, the person she had so much hatred for was the mother of the child I was about to adopt. I sent her a Christmas letter that year, with a picture of Jackson, but that was it. She didn't need to hear about the coincidence that could have changed everything between us."

Meredith knew who she was talking about. "She knows about Jackson, and she knows that he's your son."

Helen seemed shocked. "You still know Adele?"

Meredith nodded. "Quite well actually. Even more now since we all found out Jackson's true identity."

"I didn't think she'd take all that much interest, especially since she hated his true mother, no offence, because of our friendship."

Meredith shook her head. "Although that did help, that's not the true reason."

"Then what is?" she asked confused.

"Her husband, Richard Webber, is Jackson's father."

Helen gasped. "What…? Richard… Richard had an affair?"

Meredith nodded. "I take it you know him?"

"When they met, I was Adele's closest friend. I went through their relationship. I had even come to their wedding, even if we weren't the friends we had been. But Adele said it was important since I had been there for the beginning of it, that she wanted me there."

Meredith smiled. "That's sweet."

"How have you stayed in contact with the two of them?"

Meredith laughed. "Richard was the chief of surgery at Seattle Grace until just recently. He was my boss. That's how I found out about the affair he had with my mother."

"Has Jackson had the chance to meet his birth mother?" Helen then asked, timidly.

Meredith shook her head. "No, she passed away a few years ago. She had Alzheimer's."

"Oh that's terrible," Helen said. "I wouldn't wish that on anybody."

Meredith shrugged. "Karma?" she suggested.

Helen just smiled. "Maybe."

They were quiet for a few moments. Meredith pointed to the exit they needed to take, then they continued silently for a few more moments.

"Cristina, what does she do as a living?"

Meredith laughed. "Pretty much all of Jackson's friends that you'll meet while you are here are surgeons. Other than the Harrington's, which I know you already know."

Helen's eyes lit up. "He's gotten to see them?"

Meredith nodded. "Yes, we've all met them."

"Do they still have the Inn?"

Meredith nodded. "It's such a beautiful place. I don't know why it doesn't get more business."

"You've been there?"

She smiled as she thought about the time she spent at the Inn. "Yes, several days actually. It's a long story, but the gist of it is that Jackson and the rest of our friends planned my husband and I a surprise wedding as a thank you. We were already married, sort or, but we had given our actual wedding up for two of other friends, one of which was dying with cancer."

"Oh my goodness. That's terrible."

"She survived," Meredith smiled. "She was a fighter. Anyway, they planned it at the Inn. It was amazing. And now four of our friends are living in two of the cottages."

Helen smiled brightly. "That's good to know." She paused. "I know this is sort of personal, but I want to take a guess here. Your husband, he's a doctor too?"

Meredith laughed. "You've caught on. He's the chief of surgery actually."

Helen laughed too. "Well I knew he'd have something to do with the hospital. From what I've heard, there are quite the exciting ties between all of you. Confusing ties, I should add."

Meredith couldn't help but laugh a little again, even though when you thought of it, it was quite scary. "You have no idea. That's only about half of them."

Helen shook her head. "I'm disappointed I've missed out on such a big part of my son's life. I mean, he's never really had real friends most of his life since he was younger than all of his classmates, and a nerd, but you guys seem to have found something nobody else has. And he's never been in a real relationship before, but it looks like him and Cristina are pretty serious, just from the fact that they're living together."

Meredith nodded. "Cristina shocked me tonight. She's never really been the 'fall in love with the perfect guy' type of girl, but I really do think that this is it, for both of them."

Helen smiled. "My little boy…" she sighed. "I just wish he hadn't pushed me away."

"Maybe seeing you will make him come to his senses."

Helen looked up hopefully. "You think so?"

Meredith nodded. "I hope so. You seem like such an amazing woman. I don't know how someone can ignore having a woman like you in their life. You remind me so much of my mother in law."

Helen laughed. "Isn't that usually a bad thing?"

Meredith laughed too. "No, Carolyn is amazing. She treats me just like her other daughters and she's the first real mother figure I've had in my life. Other than my old resident and Adele. And I know that that goes against the bylaws of the in-laws, but it's true. "

They were now pulling into the parking lot and as Helen parked the car in the visitor area, she took a deep breath.

"Here goes nothing."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Jackson was still discussing rings and the future with Lexie when they heard voices coming towards them.

"Looks like we're about to get caught," Jackson whispered as he hid his pile of paper in the charts he had brought with him that he should have been getting done.

"I knew I'd find you down here," Meredith called out when she saw Jackson and Lexie. He was about to make a comment, but he lost all train of thought when he saw the person who came in behind her.

Meredith ignored Jackson's reaction and proceeded by introducing Lexie. "Helen, this is Lexie Grey, my half sister, on my dad's side," she précised.

"Delighted to meet you," Helen shook her hand. "I'm – "

But she was rudely interrupted.

"Stop," Jackson commanded, and Helen automatically did.

"That's not very nice," Lexie said as she smacked him in the arm. But Jackson wasn't in the mood for games.

"What are you doing here?"

Helen's eyes became misty. "I wanted to see you. I missed you."

Lexie had never seen this Jackson before. "Jackson, why are you acting so rude? Are you trying to be cruel?"

Jackson spun around, and Lexie saw the anger and the pain in his eyes. "Do you know what's cruel? Keeping my true identity from me for a quarter of my life! Keeping my real family a secret!"

Meredith didn't like this, so she butted in. "Jackson, she is your real family. Family isn't classified by who's blood is running through your veins. It's by who shows you love and tenderness, treats you like a human being. You're not allowed to complain about not knowing what family is when you had such a perfect family, and I lived with a mom who didn't care!" Meredith's eyes started to well with tears.

"Meredith, I'm sorry…" Jackson didn't know how to comfort her. He was sure it was the hormones, but she was still hurting as her past came into play.

Meredith ran off and Jackson was about to follow when Lexie intercepted. "I'll go make sure she's alright." And with that, Lexie was gone too.

"Is she… is Meredith alright?"

Jackson now realized something he didn't notice just moments before. "How did you meet Meredith?"

"I went to your apartment, and I met her and Cristina," she smiled as she said the last name. "Meredith offered to show me to the hospital, and I offered her a ride here in exchange, since she told me her car was here. We had a chance to get to know each other on the way."

Jackson didn't believe his ears. And not about meeting Meredith. "Hold up. You met Cristina?"

Helen nodded. "She was quiet, probably shocked since I kind of just showed up, but she seemed nice."

Jackson smiled. "She's amazing mom." As he let the last word out, he knew that he had been overreacting this entire time and hurting his mother for no reason. "I'm sorry mom," he pulled her in for a hug and the two of them let out a few tears as they both said their apologies.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

"Meredith!" Lexie called out. She knew Meredith had run this way, but as she looked down the hall, there was no one in sight.

"Shhh!" somebody whispered, and then chuckled. She then felt a pull at her wrist and it took her into the closet. The lights flickered on and once her eyes adjusted to the overly excessive amount of light, she recognized her kidnapper.

"Meredith, are you okay?"

Meredith nodded and had a devilish smile on her lips. There were no more tears or pain in her eyes. In fact, she didn't look upset at all.

"What happened just there?"

Meredith smiled. "I softened Jackson up by getting upset so that his mother wouldn't get as much of his anger as she would have, if he had stayed as mad as he was. I knew these pregnant hormones would come in handy someday. Who knew I could use them for the good of others?"

Lexie was shocked, but couldn't help but let out a giggle. "So you're okay?" she asked, back in the role of worried little sister.

"Actually, I'm really good. Had a great night with Cristina, then got to meet Helen, and made the world a better place."

"So that's Jackson adoptive mother?" Lexie sort of asked, as if looking for a confirmation.

Meredith nodded. "Yes and I already like her better than my mom, even though that's not hard to beat."

Lexie laughed. "I wonder how long it will take before Jackson forgives her."

Meredith giggled. "Probably not long. Jackson's a sap."

Lexie nodded. "So I've noticed."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

After Meredith had left, Cristina realized she had a lot to think about. Her relationship with Jackson had in fact been so perfect since the beginning that she didn't even notice the changes. Everyone around her seemed to realize she wasn't the same, that little things were changing, but to this point? She didn't know where all of this had come from, the thoughts of marriage and starting a family. This was not the person she had pictured herself to be. When she started her internship, she was nothing but an amazing student who was willing to learn anything medical as long as it advanced her life as a doctor. Even with Burke, they're relationship was being strengthened by the time they spent together in the OR, not the love they really shared.

But with Jackson everything was different. Surgery had nothing to do with it. The only reason the hospital was even part of their relationship was because that's how they met and got to know each other. It was also where they were able to spend most of their time together. But it had nothing to do with medicine. Their relationship was just as strong outside of the four walls than it was inside of them. Even more outside, because there, they weren't competing against each other for surgeries.

A family. Was Cristina really mother material? She couldn't help thinking about her first pregnancy. The results weren't the best. But she realized she had been emotional. It had done something to her. Just being pregnant had changed her. Only for a few hours, maybe, but she hadn't been the same person for those few hours. Maybe being pregnant wasn't that bad of a thing in the end. Look at Meredith! Meredith who used to be dark and twisty was now pregnant, and happy about it, married and smiling all the time. Cristina seemed to want that more and more, and it started scaring her. What has happened to me?

Meredith was her person, Jackson was her love, and when Cristina really thought about it, she didn't have many other people she confided in. Sure, her and Lexie had been getting closer, and Izzie had come to her for help, but they weren't people Cristina was ready to talk to on this much of personal levels. Meredith had so many people. Why couldn't Cristina have the people Meredith did?

And that was when Cristina realized what she had never realized before. She was jealous. Jealous of her best friend, her person. She had life good right now, maybe not easy, but it was good. And Cristina couldn't help but wish that maybe her life could be good too. It was, but as good as Meredith's.

If anyone finds out, she thought, I'm doomed.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

"You seem in a good mood," Derek greeted Meredith in the lobby with a kiss. He had just finished everything up for the night and was headed to his car when he recognized the silhouette standing by the door, watching the light rain fall down. "What are you doing back at the hospital?"

Meredith smiled at Derek's loving gesture, the gesture she would have thought was pathetic not so many years ago. She thought about how much she was the complete opposite of how she used to be, with just a touch of her old ways and habits, like her dark and twisty moments and her uncontrollable rambles, which she never seemed to be able to completely leave behind.

"I was making the world a better place by showing Helen how to get to the hospital so she could reunite with the son who will no longer speak to her."

Derek gave her a puzzled look and laughed. "Meredith, what happened to you? Making the world a better place? And who's Helen?"

Meredith laughed too . "I sounded like you and your corniness. And Helen is Jackson's mom, well… you get it."

Derek smiled at her. "I get it. And Jackson's mom is here?"

Meredith nodded. "She's such a nice lady. Jackson is so lucky. Helen reminds me so much of your mother."

Derek grabbed her hand and started leading her through the rain to his car. "It seems like the two of you have gotten a chance to get to know each other."

Meredith nodded. "We have. An entire drive from Jackson and Cristina's apartment to the hospital worth of time. She's very sweet."

Derek opened the passenger door like a gentleman and Meredith couldn't help but roll her eyes, even though deep down, she loved it. He made his way to the driver's side and once the car had started moving he started talking again. "So how was yours and Cristina's night, up until meeting Jackson's mom?"

Meredith smiled. "It was great. It had been so long since we had done something like that. I always seem to be too busy with you and the babies, that I didn't realize I was pushing my person aside."

Derek smiled as he grabbed her hand. "Don't ever let Cristina get away from you. A friendship like yours is hard to find."

Meredith smiled at how respecting Derek was of her friendship with Cristina. He knew that Cristina would always be a part of who she was, and that even if he didn't like her that much, he still wished that they stay friends forever. It took a real man to respect that.

"I've learnt to start liking Cristina lately," Derek admitted. "Now that she's not in our bed or on the phone with you all night, she seems to be a great person. And is it just me, or has she changed in these last few months?"

Meredith smiled at how quickly Derek caught on. "She's been different since her and Jackson started dating," Meredith agreed. "You know what Derek? She's talking about marriage and babies and family stuff. Cristina Yang is talking about a family!"

Derek wasn't as shocked as Meredith had been. "I saw it coming," he admitted. Meredith was intrigued at what she had missed in all of this, how Derek was able to see it coming, and her, Cristina's person, had been shocked. So he continued. "The time, where… where you were… gone," he said with difficulty, staying focused on the road, "Cristina was crushed. I found her in crying in the residents locker room one day," he admitted.

"Yang?" he called out as he walked in to the almost empty locker room. She had been on-call the night before and her shift was just coming to an end. Derek had seen her go into the locker room, but she hadn't come back out immediately like she usually did. It had been a good fifteen minutes since he had seen her go in from the place he was studying his charts.

"Cristina?" he called out again. He finally found her in the corner, head in her hands, knees curled up. "What's wrong?"

She knew she had been caught. And when she looked up and saw the face of the person who she knew was going through more pain than her right now, she didn't know what to answer. But he did it for her.

"She'll be back you know."

Cristina nodded slowly, figuring that if Derek, out of all people could keep hope, than so could she. She finally decided to speak.

"She's my rock, she's the one who keeps me solid. Without her, I'm like a surgeon without a scalpel, I can't perform properly. She's the one who gives me hope in life. She's been through hell, and yet, she still comes to work with a smile on her face. She's not dark and twisty anymore, and I don't want to be dark and twisty alone."

Derek was surprised not only by how his wife's person had just opened up to him for the first time, but also by how much she didn't seem like the Cristina he had grown to know.

He didn't know how to answer to that, but he didn't have to. He saw her gaze shift from him to over his shoulder, and then a small smile built on her lips. Derek turned around only to notice the only person who could make Cristina seem so loving. Jackson was standing in the doorway a worried expression on his face.

"I was waiting for you, but you weren't coming so I thought I'd check on you." Her smile grew bigger and she looked at Derek, a look Derek had never seen Cristina give anybody before, and as she got up slowly, she whispered a light 'thank you' to Derek, and as she turned to Jackson she mumbled a quick 'let's go home.' When she was at his side, he wrapped his arm around her waist and she leaned on him, as if looking for support. Derek was blown away. What had Jackson done to her? He would only realize later, while talking to Mark, that Jackson had done the same thing to Cristina as he had done to Meredith and Lexie had done for him; made her believe that true love did exist.

"Cristina opened up to you?" she asked, surprised.

Derek nodded as he pulled onto the park that overlooked the ferry boats. It was still a little early, and he knew how much Meredith loved this place. A few minutes here would be nice.

"She wasn't the Cristina I was used to having around," he admitted. "She had feelings."

Meredith hit him and Derek laughed. "I know what you mean though," Meredith admitted. "About her having feelings. She has shown more emotions lately."

Derek nodded and smiled. "She's changing little by little, just like you had done. And look at where you are now."

Meredith smirked. "Have I changed that much?"

Derek knew that the truth was yes. But how hormonal could Meredith get? Would it be a mistake to tell her that she had in fact changed majorly since the first year of their relationship?

"You have changed a lot Meredith, every bit of you. You're sentimental, you see life more positively and you've found a caring motherly side of you you didn't even know existed. You have changed a lot, but there's nothing that makes of you someone you are not. You've changed for the good, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Teary eyed, Meredith leaned over the console between them and gave Derek a quick peck on the lips. "I love you Derek, so much."

Derek smiled and placed his hand on her cheeks. "I love you too, more than you can imagine. And I love what our love has created for us." He pulled away one of his hands from Meredith face and placed it on her belly, where Meredith instinctively placed her hands too so that her were resting on top of his. It wasn't long before they were sharing a kiss that would remind them of everything they were grateful for in life.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Jackson had suggested grabbing a coffee at the coffee cart, then heading to the cafeteria to catch up a bit with his mom. The cafeteria wasn't very busy this time of night, so it wasn't too hard to find an isolated corner where they could talk privately.

"So I take it you're enjoying it here, at Seattle Grace?" Helen decided to start off light, not knowing what her son was comfortable sharing with her at this point.

He smiled. "I'm loving it, much more than I imagined I would. Especially since I've gotten in with the Seattle Grace crowd. They're great people, they look out for one another and they're very forgiving, so if I mess up, I know they won't hold it against me. They're so much different than the people I'm used to being around."

Helen nodded as she took in the bright smile on Jackson's face. She didn't remember ever seeing a smile quite as full of joy as the one splayed across his face in that very moment.

"I haven't had the chance to meet very many of them, and other than Meredith I can't make much of an opinion on them since we didn't get the chance to speak all that much, but I hope I get the chance to meet more of them."

"How long are you staying?" Jackson then asked curiously.

"I'm not too sure yet, but I'll leave if you don't want – "

Jackson cut her off. "No, no! I was asking because I was hoping you'd be here long enough to meet everyone. If you were only here for the night, than it would be difficult, but I really do want you here. I missed you too, and I am truly sorry for the way I've treated you since that day, where you told me the truth."

Helen was glad her son didn't want to get rid of her right away, and that he wanted her to meet the people whom he spoke so highly of. "I understand, about how you reacted. I know, it's tough, especially at this age, but I hear you've gotten a lot out of learning the truth."

Jackson nodded. "Richard and Adele weren't able to have kids, so they've treated me like their son. They invite me over for supper almost once a week and Richard and I have gotten the chance to do a lot of father/son bonding. And Meredith, I couldn't ask for a better sister. I mean, Vicky was great when we were younger, but Meredith is such a loving person, even with all the crap she's been through in life, and I don't know how she does it, especially since things are tough on her right now too."

Helen didn't want to be nosy, so she didn't ask about what he was talking about. But she did want to make sure she was okay. "I hope she's okay. I mean, about how she ran off. Does it hurt her that much when family is brought up?"

Jackson shook his head. "I think it was mostly brought on by the hormones. She hasn't been bad since the beginning of it all, but they come out here and there."

Helen seemed confused. Jackson noticed right away, and then thought about how he had phrased that.

"Pregnancy hormones. She's pregnant."

Helen smiled. "I was going to guess that, she does have a little baby bump, but I didn't want to make a comment and …"

Jackson laughed. "I know what you mean. I had guessed it and asked her about it, hoping I was right, or else it would have very awkward."

Helen laughed. "I've done it before. It's not pretty."

Jackson laughed along with her and they sipped on their cooling coffees.

"She must still be early in her pregnancy for her bump to still be very unnoticeable."

Jackson laughed. That's what everyone thought. She only started looking pregnant in the last few months, so people didn't believe her when she told them she was almost at the beginning of her third trimester. "She's about 26 weeks along."

Helen's shocked expression made Jackson laugh harder. "But she's… she's so tiny!"

"Then you won't believe me when I tell you she's carrying twins."

Helen just couldn't believe her ears. "There's no way there are two babies in that tiny stomach of hers."

Jackson nodded. "Well there is."

As if someone force above them knew Helen still needed proof, Addie chose that exact moment to enter the cafeteria.

"Dr Montgomery!" Jackson called out.

Addie looked around to see where the voice who was calling her was coming from and smiled when she saw Jackson. "Hey Jackson," she said as she approached.

"Tell my mother that Meredith is at the end of her second trimester and is carrying twins." He then remembered introductions. "Oh right. Addison, meet my mother, Helen Avery. Mom, meet Dr Addison Montgomery, Neo-Natal specialist and Meredith's OBG."

Addie smiled. "It's nice to meet you," she said with a hand shake. She chuckled slightly. "And as hard as it is to believe, Meredith is in fact pregnant with twins. According to doctor/patient confidentiality, I shouldn't have been able to tell you that, but I'm not her doctor right now, I'm just another one of her friends and as a doctor at Seattle Grace, I have to admit I love gossiping," she added with a laugh.

Jackson invited her to join them and Addie accepted, not having anything better to do. Her patients had all been taken care of, charts were handed on to residents and paperwork was filled. Waiting for someone to page her was all she had going on right now.

"My mom's staying here a while so I'm trying to introduce her to as many of the members of the Seattle Grace Crew as possible before she leaves."

Addison nodded. "So far you've met Meredith, I'm guessing. Anybody else we can scratch off the list?"

"I met Lexie very quickly, and Cristina, but I haven't gotten to really meet them. Yet," she added with a smile. "I'm especially interested in getting to know Cristina."

"Good luck," Addison mumbled and Jackson just rolled his eyes.

"She's different than she used to be," Jackson said more to Addie than to his mom. "The Cristina you met as an intern is different than the Cristina today."

Addie smiled. "I know. I'm just playing with you." She decided to change the subject. "So Mrs. Avery, where are you staying?"

"Call me Helen," she said with a wave of the hand. "And I'm planning at staying at the Harrington's Inn, if they'll let me," she added with a laugh.

Jackson caught Addie's eye quickly. This topic could get interesting.

"They were like sons to me, and I haven't seen them in quite a while. Are they all still staying at the Inn?"

Jackson had to keep himself from laughing at the turn of events. "Mike and Noah still live in the little cottage. Sam moved out though. Living with his girlfriend."

"It's time one of those boys has a serious relationship. I've got to meet this woman and tell her she's one lucky girl to have found a way into that amazingly wonderful young man's heart."

Addie could feel her face reddening. And Jackson couldn't keep it in any longer. He let out the laugh.

"What's so funny?" Helen asked. She then noticed Addison's expression. "Oh my…"

Between laughs, Jackson managed to keep control, to explain to his mother what she had just done. "He and Addie have been dating for five months now. And yes, it's the first time he's been in this serious of a relationship."

Helen looked back over to Addie, her own cheeks heading towards red. "I'm so sorry. I didn't realize. I mean, what were the chances?"

Addie smiled. "It's… it's okay."

Helen smiled back. "You'll have to tell Sam that I've still got that big mouth of mine."

Jackson laughed. "They've missed you mom. We all have."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Meredith and Derek were now cuddled in bed, on the verge of falling asleep. It was still quite early, but Meredith had had an exhausting day, and Derek knew it, so he didn't want to keep her up.

"I can't sleep," she mumbled as she turned towards him. Derek smiled his McDreamy smile and gave her a quick kiss.

"You're exhausted but you can't sleep," he said, in a mocking tone. "That sounds like a Meredith type of situation."

Meredith hit him. "You're son is keeping me up," she added with a pout.

Derek laughed at her childish pout. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "And I thought they were our children?"

"They are when they're behaving. They're yours when they're keeping me up."

Derek wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, so that she could cuddle in his chest. He then remembered that today had been Meredith's first work day in a long time.

"Hey, you didn't tell me how your first day back was."

Meredith looked up. "It didn't feel like my first day back."

"It just all comes back naturally, doesn't it?"

Meredith nodded. "Two surgeries, charts, getting to see everyone in their scrubs again…" She then remembered her interesting meeting with the newest Seattle Grace doctor. "Everything was the same, except for the new guy."

Derek looked intrigued. "You met him?"

Meredith nodded and giggled slightly. "Let's say he has already decided he wants to get to know me."

"What?" Derek didn't think he liked where this was going.

"I have a hot date with a Neurosurgeon tomorrow."

Derek was taken by surprise. "Meredith, what … what…?"

Meredith giggled. "You should see your expression right now. It's priceless."

Derek was dumbstruck. Did his wife just say she had a date with another man. A hot date to be precise? "Meredith, you're not going anywhere with that man. I'm not letting you go anywhere other than the OR with him. I don't care if it's just for fun. I don't trust him with you."

Meredith liked jealous Derek. "And why not? What is it about him that makes you not trust him?"

Derek shook his head, but Meredith saw the small smile build on the edge of his lips. "He reminds me too much of me."

Meredith giggled. "Don't worry about him. I've already got a hot Neurosurgeon I'm much more interested in."

Derek didn't get it. "Who?" he asked pained, and angry. He still wasn't over Meredith's date tomorrow night.

Meredith laughed. "You're an idiot sometimes."

Derek caught on. "Oh, you were talking about me."

Meredith smiled as she continued to giggle. "There's only one person for me, only one McDreamy in my life."

Derek kissed her as he thought about how he was the luckiest man on the earth. He couldn't imagine sharing his life with any other woman than the one falling asleep in his arms.