A/N: Thanks everyone who has left comments. I really appreciate those that take the time to comment.
A fairly short chapter, but thought it was a great place to end this chapter. The rating has been changed to Mature.
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"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us." ― Helen Keller
Friday evening Cormac picks up groceries on his way home from the hospital and arrives at the house before Meredith. He lets the nanny leave knowing Meredith was just minutes behind him, having stayed at work until Amelia had finished nursing Scout. Amelia and Link are headed out for a romantic dinner and a movie, something that was difficult to do with a little baby at home. Over the summer, Meredith and Amelia had started taking turns so they could each have nights out with their dates.
Cormac has Zola, Bailey and Ellis set to work preparing dinner and setting the table with his help.
"Dr Cormac, where are Liam and Austin?" Bailey asks while he helps put the plates on the table.
"They are at a party," he replies.
"Like a birthday party?" Zola asks.
"Kinda," he says hoping she doesn't ask for an explanation, knowing they wouldn't understand a teenage party, just hanging with friends for pizza and pop and being silly. Thankfully it was at one of their soccer friends, and so both his boys were at the same party. He felt a little more comfortable with them out together.
When Meredith and Scout arrive home dinner is nearly on the table, and Meredith's kids come running to meet her at the door. Ellis says, "Mommy, we made dinner with Dr 'Mac."
"It smells yummy, but I can't pick you up El. I have Scout," she replies.
"Where's Auntie Amy?" Bailey asks.
"Remember she's out for dinner with Link," Cormac replies.
"Oh. I miss Link," Bailey says.
"You'll see him tomorrow. Why don't we wash our hands and have some dinner," Meredith replies. They all sit at the table, and the kids tell them all about her day, explaining everything they learned at school and the fun they had in the playground with the nanny after school.
After dinner, Meredith does the dishes sending Cormac into the living room with all four kids. She knows she got the easier end of this bargain. Luckily Scout is happy so he is laying on the floor watching Zola and Bailey.
"Dr 'mac, can you read me a story?" Ellis asks, climbing onto his lap with her book. Meredith arrives back into the living room to see Cormac with Ellis and Scout cuddled on his lap reading a story while Zola and Bailey finish a puzzle.
At bedtime, she took her three kids up to bed, handing Cormac the bottle to feed Scout. He expertly cuddled with Scout and offered him the bottle of expressed milk, and then climbed the stairs to put Scout in his crib. Grabbing the baby monitor, he brought it downstairs and sat on the couch waiting for Meredith.
She finally gets the kids to settle and heads back downstairs to join him on the couch, saying, "Finally alone. This is hard work for a date night. Sorry."
"Mer, don't worry. We are both parents. I understand," he says.
"But…," she says wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I love spending time with both you and your kids. And I really like Scout," he says.
"Oh?"
"Yes, I love that I can leave him with his parents and not deal with the middle of the nights," he teases.
"You just get to worry about your teenagers out being teenagers," she says, bringing her lips closer to him. They put on a netflix movie but soon they aren't really watching it as they make out like teenagers on the couch.
"I would probably be an irresponsible babysitter, if I took you upstairs to my room," she muses, untucking his shirt and sliding her hands onto his warm skin.
"Why? We're adults. Better than making out on the couch," he says, enjoying the feeling of her hands on his skin, wanting more. He slides his hands under her top finding her warm bare skin.
"Well… ah...," she gasps, inhaling deeply as his hands release the front clasp of her bra and his hands quickly cup her breasts.
"I think we should head to your room. We don't want Amelia walking in on us," he says, standing up and holding out a hand for her.
"Are you sure?" she asks. She doesn't want to push him to the next step, as much as she'd love to get closer to him, to hold his naked body.
He nods, so she stands up and pulls herself into his arms for a kiss before they head upstairs. Leading the way, she grabs the baby monitor and directs him into her room and locks the door. Once safely in her room, he slips his hands under her top, lifting the top up and over her head and she slides her bra off her shoulders. He quickly has access to her bare chest, running his hands over her soft skin. She moans as he starts kissing his way slowly down her neck to her breasts and then nipping and licking at her nipples.
She lets him set the pace lead knowing this is his first time since Abby. She wants so much more, but slowly unbuttons his top, not wanting to rush him, but wanting to feel his bare skin against hers. After the buttons are undone, she slides his shirt off his shoulders and reveals his warm and naked torso.
One of his hands slides into her leggings cupping her bare skin, pulling her closer to him. She can feel his erection pressing against her abdomen. As he's about to slide down her leggings, his phone rings.
"I have to get that, it's Liam," he says reluctantly, coming back to reality.
"Go," she encourages, catching her breath as he steps back to grab his phone from her dresser.
"Feck, I must rescue the lads," he says, his facial expression showing how much he wishes he didn't have to leave.
"What's up?" she replies.
"A 911 coded text from Liam, the party has gotten out of hand and he doesn't feel safe," he says.
"Go. Take care of your kids. They come first," she says handing him back his shirt and slipping hers back on without her bra.
"I feel bad. I don't want this to end here," he says.
"We are parents of five kids, this is bound to happen and probably more often than just tonight. The safety of our kids needs to be first. Call me when you get them settled and I'll tell you the story of the rubber duckies," she says.
"The ones you were telling me about the other night?" he asks as they head downstairs.
"Yes, now go. Your boys need you," she says quickly kissing him and sending him out the door.
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Meredith locks up downstairs, pours herself a glass of wine, turns off the lights and TV, sends Amelia a message saying she's headed to bed and heads up to her bathroom for a nice hot soak. If she can't have sex tonight, then she will take the time to pamper herself. Turning on some relaxing music, filling the tub with lavender smelling bubbles and stripping her clothes off, she slips into the tub and enjoys the relaxing water for the next half hour until she's getting cold.
She wraps herself in a large fluffy towel and heads to find a nightie and panties. Opting for something a little fancier than her Dartmouth tee and cotton panties, she grabs a pair of lace undies and a silky nightie.
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Cormac arrives to pick his boys up about 15 minutes after getting their text. Everything considered he'd made good time driving to the party. Liam, Amahle and Austin are waiting for him and quickly jump in the car and Liam asks, "Do you mind dropping Amahle off at home?"
"No worries."
"Thanks Dr Hayes," she says. He headed to her house, waiting while Liam walked her to the door, and quickly kissed her before jogging back to the car.
Cormac says, "Want to talk about it?"
"At home over tea?" Liam responds.
"Sure," he says, knowing that Liam is probably processing something from the party. At home, he quickly pulls out some cheese, salami and crackers and puts the kettle on to make tea. Liam loved sitting over a cup of tea to chat. Austin grabs a glass of water and says, "Thanks for picking us up. Can I go to bed?"
"Yes. Did you want anything to eat?" Cormac asks.
"Not really," Austin says, shaking his head, but grabbing a few crackers before heading to his room.
"He's upset because I made him leave," Liam says sitting down at the table and addressing his dad. Liam switches to Irish to tell his dad about the drugs and alcohol that were at the party and that he didn't feel safe due to some of the kids that arrived in the middle of the party.
"You did the right thing, Liam. I am proud of you," Cormac says, reaching over and patting his oldest on the shoulder.
"I interrupted your date. But you were out with Meredith," Liam protests.
"As Meredith said when you texted, we are parents of five kids, dates will be interrupted. Our kids need to be safe," he replies, blushing slightly as he thought back to what Liam had interrupted.
"Did you let her know you got us?" Liam asks.
"Yes, while you walked Amahle to the door," he says.
"What were you doing tonight?" Liam inquires.
"Grocery shopped, then cooked spaghetti with Zo, Bailey and Ellie. Then Meredith came home with Scout for dinner, we played with the kids, put all four to bed and were watching Netflix," he replies. "Oh, and I forgot the hummus and cream in her fridge."
"I'll run to the store in the morning for the cream," Liam offers.
"Sure. Thanks for calling me. You did the right thing," Cormac reiterates getting up to clean the remnants of their snack.
About 2 hours after leaving Meredith's, Cormac finally has finally gotten both boys settled, cleaned the kitchen and is ready to call Meredith. Not knowing if she'd still be awake, he texts her, "Everything is settled here. You up to chat now?"