This chapter is brought to you by Virgin Australia airlines, thank you for their tireless work in creating contained writing environment. The lack of internet in their craft gives me the time and space to write without getting distracted by my phone. Highly recommend paying a mere AUD$136 to have this incredible experience. Food and drink not included.
Anyways, here is the much-anticipated dinner party!
Meredith makes it back from the shops just as the first guests are arriving. Pulling into the driveway she sees the Owen and Teddy making their way up to the front door, their arms full of kids and bags. She laughs, seeing Leo wriggle around in Owen's arms as he tries to run into the house when Amelia opens the door.
Owen sets Leo down with a chuckle and he is off running into the playroom. Ellis greets him with a grin, asking if he and his pet lion Aslan want to join her and Raffle on their jungle adventure. He nods quickly before running back to his parents and demanding his stuffed toy.
Amelia welcomes Owen, Teddy and Alison into the living room and Meredith gets out of her car. Walking to the trunk to grab the ice, she sees Jo and Jackson walking up the street, Harriet in his arms as Jo laughs at something one of them said. Meredith quickly looks away, not wanting to impose on the family they are forming.
They reach the footpath as Meredith closes the trunk, bags of ice on the ground and all walk up the footpath together. Upon reaching the house, Harriet is quickly drawn into the game Ellis and Leo are playing, and Meredith leads Jo and Jackson into the living area.
"Can I get either of you something to drink? We have beer, wine, and alcohol-free options" Meredith says as she puts the ice down on the one free part of the island counter.
Jo holds up the bottle of sparkling apple cider in her hand saying, "a glass and some ice would be great, thanks!"
"I'll have what Owen is drinking" Jackson says, pointing to the can in Owen's hand.
"Great, I will grab those for you, make yourselves comfortable" Meredith replies, pointing to the couches where Owen, Teddy and Link are sitting.
As Meredith is giving Jo and Jackson their requests, she sees Hayes pull up. She quickly excuses herself, making her way to the front door. She opens it as the family of three start up the front path, smiling at the way the boys banter with their father.
They reach the door quickly, and Meredith directs the boys to the video game console in the living room, "Bailey and her boys will be here soon, I thought you four would have fun with that, otherwise there is the soccer goal in the backyard" she says, and the boys quickly thank her.
"Hey" she says, turning to Cormac with a soft smile as the boys enter the house.
"Hey, how is it going do far?" he asks, stepping towards her.
"Oh, you know, Jackson professed his love for Maggie, at least it was now instead of her wedding, and I may have tied Amelia up to stop her moving and doing things, but other than that, all is well!" Meredith says with a smirk.
"What?" Cormac says, looking completely confused.
"Oh, forgot you weren't here for that, a story for another time, maybe later when we break out the contraband you brought. You did bring emergency liquor, right?"
Cormac leans in to whisper "It is tucked away in my car, I brought both tequila and whiskey, thought we should both be happy if it is bad enough that we need the goods" Meredith grins, neither noticing Jo watching them with a smirk from the entry to the living room.
They make their way into the living room, finding the boys playing a game that honestly neither could name on the TV and the adults sipping drinks and chatting. "Can I get you anything to drink" Meredith asks Cormac, pointing to the kitchen.
"Ach, yeah, do you have any good beer? None of that watered down stuff you Americans call beer" He says with a grimace.
"Why don't you come have a look yourself" Meredith says, shaking her head.
He follows her into the kitchen, heading to the fridge, after a quick glance he shakes his head, turning around. "I have a nice red open, if I can tempt you with a glass" Meredith says, noticing his antics. "That sounds lovely" he says, with a smile to her.
She pours them each a glass before gesturing to the living room, "shall we?" They sit down on the spare seats, joining into the conversation with their friends already seated.
Bailey and her family arrive ten minutes later, the boys bickering as they come up the path. Meredith greets them at the door, "thanks for coming! Boys, Liam and Austin are in the living room with the video games, thought you guys might have fun together? There is also soccer in the back yard if you would rather?" she says and they instantly perk up, "can we?" they ask, turning to Bailey who nods he head. "Thanks Dr Grey" they say, eagerly entering the house.
"You have made their week" Bailey says, "they are busy with the end of year exams and such so we have been limiting their time playing."
"Oh, should I have not offered? I should have checked" Meredith says, remembering how pissed off she gets when someone else gives her kids something she told them they couldn't have. "No, not at all, we don't mind it socially, just when they spend hours at home on that screen when they could be getting some movement after studying sitting all day at school" Ben says.
Meredith smiles, "thanks, sorry I didn't check first either way" she says, leading them into the house. "Can I get either of you something to drink?" she asks as they enter the living room.
"I'm on call tonight so no alcohol for me, what options do you have?" Bailey asks with a dejected sigh.
"We have ginger beer, sparkling apple cider or San Pellegrino" Meredith responds.
"Singer beer sounds great" Bailey says, turning to Ben, "you?"
"I'll have a pale ale if you have some?" he says to Meredith who nods, "I'll get you what Owen and Jackson are drinking."
Once Meredith has gotten everyone their drinks, Maggie clinks her glass, calling everyone's attention.
"Hi guys, thanks for coming, s glad you could all make it" she says, as Winston follows her out of the kitchen. "I just wanted to introduce you all officially to Winston, Winston, these are my friends, colleagues and family, everyone, this is my amazing boyfriend Winston" she says in her usual upbeat manner.
Everyone quickly gets up and crowds around, those who didn't meet Winston at the hospital or house previously introducing themselves. Before long, they settle down, chatting and getting to know the newest member of their hospital family. "Aren't you glad you didn't get this kind of interrogation, joining as staff instead of significant other" Meredith says, leaning over to Cormac.
"You saying that they won't give me an interrogation once we tell them" he says, eyebrows raised. "I cant promise anything" Meredith says with a smile, "but I hope whatever happens is worth it"
"I already know it will be" he says, with a soft smile only for her.
Ok, so I was loving writing the group dynamics so much that I had to break this into multiple chapters, I mean who doesn't love seeing them interact outside of the hospital (I'm talking about the weddings, baseball, camping, gala, dinner parties. Some of my favourite points in Greys history) Anyways, hope you enjoyed this! I still have 40 minutes of my flight, so time to start the next part!
Thank you to everyone who commented, to the new readers, welcome! Glad you have joined us.