A/N : This is a little, fluffy one-shot to brighten M/H fans' day. Wrote it fairly quickly. So I apologize for any error.

Prompt : Meredith runs into Irene, Liam and Austin at the grocery store. (Set around episode 17x16, when Meredith is back home, recovering from COVID.)

Hope you all enjoy :)

There comes a time in every single parent's life—or any parent, really—when an ice cream party for dinner becomes an acceptable option. Recovering from COVID will do that to you.

As Meredith ambles down the aisles of the grocery store, her first trip in a heck of a long time, she tries to imagine anything making her kids happier than ice cream. Boy, do they deserve it after the last few months.

Wheels of her cart rattling, taunting her for her poor parenting choices, each footstep brings her closer to the Holy Grail…the frozen desserts section.

Standing in front of the multiple freezer shelves, the options are endless as the summer months slowly approach. It seems like every year, more and more choices become available, from the interesting to the utterly over-the-top. And COVID times are no exception. Maybe she should get a little of everything to appease everyone? Is that a terrible idea? She'll be alone at home with them… Will she be able to handle three kids hopped-up on sugar? She was starting to second-guess the wisdom of her decision.

Ice cream is alright for ONE night, right? No one will send her to mom-jail for that. Her kids won't collapse; they might even give her cuddles. No one will even have to know. Maggie is working a night shift and Amelia is back at Link's with Scout. Unless the kids get sick from all that sugar. Maybe she could add bananas and strawberries. Oh, God! What is she thinking? Child protective services would definitely not approve.

So wrapped up in her own thoughts, Meredith doesn't notice the movement to her side. She's startled out of her musings when her name being called out finally breaks through. "Dr. Grey?"

She turns quickly, her shopping cart clinking against the glass door of the freezer. Standing before her is Liam Hayes, beaming eyes visible even with a mask on, looking way more grown up than she remembered as she takes him in from head to toe. She then notices Austin close behind, whispering in a woman's ear, conspiratorial grins lighting up their faces, raising Meredith's curiosity. She's almost certain she hears Austin murmur, "That's her."

"Hi... Liam and Austin, right?"

Eyes glimmering with relief, Liam says, "You remember?"

"Of course I remember. You're both a tad taller than the last time I saw you, though."

They chuckle at the recurring observation. Biting her lower lip in morbid curiosity, Meredith glances behind them once again, trying to keep her gaze steady and not overly inquisitive.

"Hi, Dr. Grey. I'm Irene, these two fools' aunt." Irene pats her nephews on the shoulders before waving at Meredith from her position behind their cart.

Relief runs through Meredith's body. Their aunt! Hayes had brought her up in passing. Confusion tears through her chest at her initial, instinctive, jealous reaction. She elects to ignore, for the moment, the motive behind her swirling emotions.

Smiling with her eyes, corners crinkled, Meredith offers her own greeting back, "It's nice to meet you. How are you all doing?"

"Oh, you know... Surviving as best we can. Trying to keep ourselves entertained, and these two out of trouble," answers Irene, eyebrows quirking up mischievously.

"Hey! We're not that bad. We're not the ones who needed to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance," Austin shoots back.

Brow raised, Irene snorts, "Fine. Point taken."

Concern filled Meredith's eyes. "Hayes mentioned you had kidney stones a while back. Are you feeling better? I know how painful and sudden it can be."

"The docs patched me up. But I know I gave everyone a scare, considering..." The words left unsaid, but Meredith knows. Considering what happened to her sister, the boys' mom and Hayes' wife.

Irene adds thoughtfully, "We should really be asking how you're doing. We were all so happy to hear you were back on your feet after everything..." The boys nod vigorously.

Meredith lowers her gaze, loose hair shielding her from their sympathetic expressions. The survivor's guilt still gnaws at her insides, but it's her cross to bear. She mumbles under her breath, "Thank you. It was hell, honestly, but I had an amazing support team." Never comfortable being in the spotlight, Meredith asks, diverting the unwanted attention away from herself, "Have you had your follow-up, yet?"

Irene rolls her eyes, familiar with a change in subject when she sees one. "You're like a mini-Mac."

Brows furrowed, Meredith wonders, "Mac?"

"That's our dad's nickname," Liam chimes in. A soft smile lights up Meredith's features at the glimpse into Hayes' home life.

"Checkups are important, you know. Most medical complications come from patients not following doctors' orders or letting things slide by the wayside," Meredith delivers very matter-of-factly.

Her three companions chuckle, sharing conspicuous glances. Irene finally breaks their laughs. "Definitely a mini-Mac."

Meredith sighs. "Fine, fine. I won't push. I'm sure you're used to having a drill sergeant at home."

"You have no idea," the boys simultaneously insist, rolling their eyes at the apt description of their dad.

"You know, we called your name twice before you heard us. Must have been some pretty intense deliberations you were having," Irene teases.

Meredith turns red, stammering, "I...no, no. I was just browsing. Nothing to see here."

Irene smirks, comprehension dawning. "Ah... I like your style, Dr. Grey. Ice cream for dinner, I take it? Been there."

Meredith laughs, shaking her head. "Call me Meredith, please. Does that make me a terrible mom?"

"Meredith, then. Lord, no. Your kids will love you. I mean, when you think about it, lots of ice cream flavours are actually healthy." Irene's grin widens as she continues, opening the freezer door and grabbing different kinds of ice cream. "If you choose carefully selected flavours, you can make it work. Strawberry, for example. The way I see it...you're basically feeding your children fruit. Healthy as can be. Mint chocolate chips...it's green ice cream. Need I say more?" She pauses, taking in the selection before them. "Vanilla, a classic. Practically just milk; growing food for their bones."

Irene turns to an amused Meredith and asks, "How many kids do you have?"

"Three growing hellions."

Irene nods thoughtfully. "You'll definitely need more ice cream," she jokes. "How about chocolate as a treat to compensate for those nourishing flavours?"

Liam pipes in, "Oh, most definitely. A real dessert after those "healthy" flavours. You can't forget the chocolate fudge and whipped cream."

Meredith can't help the laugh escaping her chest. "Oh, God! You guys are worse than me. I'm definitely giving my kids diabetes after this."

The boys join in, snickering. "We have to look out for your poor, deprived children," jokes Liam.

He glances ahead at the chips section and says, "We're just going to go grab a few things we forgot. It was great to see you again, Dr. Grey."

Irene warns the boys, playfully, "Don't get things I'm just going to have to put back."

They snicker as Austin joins his brother. They wave goodbye and leave their aunt and Meredith to talk.

"Meredith, I'm really happy we met. I...I asked about you, when I was in the hospital. Even wanted to meet you. But Mac told me you were on a vent... It hit close to home for all of us, you know." Irene takes a moment to gather her thoughts, shrugging wistfully. "He talks about you a lot, by the way. Without even meaning to. I wish you could have seen the smile on his face when he told us the good news...that you were awake, and doing better. It's been a long time since I've seen him that carefree."

Flush creeping up her cheeks, a small smile tugs at Meredith's lips. "That...that's surprising, honestly. He always plays it so cool with me."

Irene rolls her eyes before quirking an eyebrow, muttering under her breath, "Oh, Mac." She shakes her head at his familiar, stoic behaviour. "Give him time, please. It's been a while since he's been out there. But I'm telling you, he...he likes you. He lights up whenever he mentions you."

"You're giving me so much ammunition right now," Meredith comments in jest, hesitant to let her insecurities run wild. She bounced nervously on her feet, clasping her hands tightly together, rubbing them. Fear lacing her words, she finally admits, "Honestly, after everything that's happened this year, I...I don't know if I'm ready to start anything right now. Especially something that has the potential to be...important, you know? Something that affects a lot of people, a lot of children." Meredith bites her lips, worried her words might alienate her budding friend.

Irene simply nods, eyes tender with compassion. "Meredith... No one's expecting you to bounce back right away, or ignore everything that's happened. You lived through something horrific. It's understandable that you'd need time to settle back into your life, find your rhythm again. I'm sorry if it seemed like I was pushing."

"No, no! I didn't mean it like that. I just...I don't want to disappoint Hayes, you know? It's not fair to ask him to wait, I guess." Voicing her last words through gritted teeth, Meredith knows she has to let him go for the time being...even if it means losing him completely to someone not constantly plagued by endless traumas.

"Meredith, that man is dealing with his own grief. Seeing you on a vent...for someone like him...was harrowing. He was also confronted with the depth of his attachment to you...an attachment he didn't necessarily expect or want. It's okay that you're not ready. The fact that you're considering his feelings, though...it tells me you're already entangled in this dance with him. Whether you want to be or not. At the end of the day, just be honest with him...and try not to push him away."

"You're a good sister to him."

Irene snorts at the statement. "If you could have seen us when my sister was alive. We fought like cats and dogs. My sister, with this stubborn Irish man, with an accent thicker than mud." Meredith joins in with her own chuckle. Irene adds, "In a weird way, it took her getting sick for us to become closer."

"I get it. Too well, unfortunately."

A long minute of silence ensues as the two women simply stare at each other, silently sharing their grief.

"I just moved down from LA." Irene says, breaking the moment. "I don't really have any friends around. And it hasn't been easy to make new ones with the pandemic." She smiles longingly, adding, "It's lonely, you know."

Meredith nods, her eyes piercing Irene's. "I...I do know. You lost a sister. You lost your best friend. The person you could tell everything to." Tears warming her eyes, Irene tilts her head at Meredith, squinting in confusion. Meredith elaborates, "I...I lost my sister. A few years ago."

Irene's eyes widen, gasp audible even through the mask. "I had no idea. Mac never mentioned it."

"I haven't told him. I never talk about it. I don't even know if he's aware." Meredith squirms lightly on her feet. "I'm not the most in touch with my feelings, to say the least." She snorts at the understated description of herself, legendary for running away from any hint of serious emotions. "It was traumatic. So it's hard for me to talk about." She shuffles on her feet, revealing honestly, against her own private nature, "I still get nightmares about it sometimes."

"I'm so sorry for your loss," Irene consoles, moving her hand forward for a second before letting dropping it, remembering damned COVID protocols.

"I just wanted you to know that I get it. That loss, the pain of losing your best friend. That deep sadness you feel when you realize you can survive alone, but don't want to. Through all the loss I've experienced, I think that's the thing that's surprised me the most, and still has the ability to hurt me. When I feel myself get too happy, the guilt inevitably creeps up." Meredith smiles through glassy eyes, "If you ever need to talk to someone, I'm here. I'm not the best person, by any means, but it does help. I know it must not be easy in a house full of men."

They share a laugh at the all-too-true statement. "I could use a friend like you," Irene admits.

"Well, you have one now. So...any embarrassing stories about Hayes you'd like to share in the interest of cementing our friendship?"

Irene grins widely, "Man, the stuff I could tell you would need a whole night. And an entire bottle of tequila."

Brows raised in delight at the surprising choice in alcohol, Meredith says, "I can tell we're definitely going to be good friends."

Irene just stares at the woman before her for a moment, taking her in. Finally, she confesses, "I like you, Meredith."

Meredith grins wryly, "I like you too, Irene. If you ever want to hang out, get away from the testosterone in your house, give me a call. Hayes has my number. My door is always open. I mean that literally. My house is a bit of a frat house. Stop by anytime. My home is your home."