News all around

It's been a month since Meredith and Grace moved to Seattle. Everything is as it should be. Meredith is no longer at Izzie and Alex's. She didn't want to over stay her welcome. She knew Izzie didn't mind seeing as she kept expressing it every time the subject of Meredith finding her own place came up. But Meredith did know that Alex could only take so much. He didn't verbally inform her that he was getting sick of it, but that's just how Alex is. To Meredith, he is easy to read, or maybe it was just because she's known him forever. Anyway, she knew she needed her own place and could certainly afford a house but she stuck with an apartment five minutes from the hospital. Within walking distance for Grace if she decided she wanted to go after school

Grace is now back at school. She just enrolled three weeks ago. She's way more popular at her new school then she was in Portland. She's a happy girl and Meredith loves to see her happy. What mother wouldn't? Also, Derek Shepherd made an exception on Meredith's behalf to let Grace come to the hospital and hang around in the Gallery or with Meredith and the others when she wanted to. She was very mature for her age and he knew she wouldn't stir up any trouble. Also he knew what kind of an impact it would make on her if she saw what a hospital brings. At such a young age, it can help her cope with such tragedies earlier in her intended career. She told him she wanted to be a surgeon. He admired her for having her heart set on such a big career.

Grace and Derek get along very well. He's taken her fishing a few times . She loves his dogs, Ruby and Chance. They follow her every where she goes when she is over there. She doesn't mind the trailer either. On weekends when he has it off or doesn't have to go in until the after noon. And none of her friends can hang out, he will either pick her up and they will go somewhere, or Meredith will bring her over there. Meredith doesn't mind Grace hanging with him. She thinks he will be a positive influence on her daughter, seeing he is the chief of surgery, her sort of friend, and a brain surgeon. A speciality both he and Meredith are in, and one Grace seems to enjoy watching in the Galleries.

When Derek is with Grace, he is instantly reminded of Meredith. The way she acts, the way she fiddles with her bracelet when she's nervous. Her laugh, her smile, her stubbornness and how she has to express her point so far a crossed that it doesn't even matter anymore. He is always wondering how she grew up. He wishes he was there for everything, that Grace was his daughter and not some god damn rapist's. It makes him so angry when he thinks about it. He is so proud of Meredith for being able to live through that, to still be okay.

Grace loves Derek, she wishes he could be her father, not that she feels like she needs one. She's lived ten years without one. But Derek...she doesn't know. There is just something about him that draws herself to him. Her mother hasn't been with anyone. She knows it's because she doesn't trust anyone. She knows she still has that reminder of what happened to her hanging over her head. Grace doesn't blame her. Grace just wishes that something would happed between Derek and her mother. She knows they have a history, she now knows why her mother left Seattle. Meredith doesn't know this. Izzie slipped one night when Grace and her where having one of their chats. Grace knows there is a spark still lingering. She can see it in Derek's eyes when he looks at her mother; in the way her mother ties to avoid his gaze, as if she'd get sucked right in if she looks into those blue eyes to long.

Meredith can't help but watch Derek with Grace. He is so good with her. It melts her heart when he makes her laugh, seeing how happy she is. She knows that deep down her Daughter wants a father. She knows Derek would be a great one. She's just so unsure. She doesn't know if she can trust anyone. She hasn't even tried it with anyone since the rape. That's a long time without sexual pleasure. But if you had seen what it did to her. She was not fine when she told her friends that she was going to be okay. She sent them back home and berried herself into a shell for a long time.

She knows she can trust Derek again, she doesn't know how to get back into it, or if he even wants to try it with her. It's been so long, they are different people now, at least she is. He seems to be though.

Nothing has happened between Meredith and Derek. They are just friends and colleagues. There are a few moments where it would seem like something more would happen. But they both keep it under control and strictly platonic. That's the way they would both like it...for now.

Today is a rainy day. Grace left for school fifteen minutes ago and Meredith and Alex didn't have to be in until nine. Meredith came over to Izzie and Alex's. Two hours with nothing to do. The bed is made in the spare room and Meredith is lying on top of it. She's staring up at the ceiling. There is nothing to do, and she doesn't feel like doing anything.

"Are you as bored as I am?" Alex yells from down that hall. He is also laying on his bed. Meredith sighs.

"No!"

"Well I am..."

"Wanna talk?"

"Do we have to?" Alex wines.

"What else do we have to do?"Meredith yells and Alex gives up.

"What do you want to talk about?" Silence ensues while they both think about what to talk about.

"Do you want kids Alex?" Alex is silent for a moment. He and Izzie have been married for a while now.

"I don't think I'd be good with kids." He answers back. He looks so unsure.

Meredith sits up in bed and looks towards the door but doesn't get up, "Your good with Grace." Meredith says. He is very good with Grace, they hang out all the time. Alex has grown out of the "preppie boy bitch" faze.

"Yeah..." all goes silent again. Alex finally spoke, but he seemed unsure as he said it, "I'm ready...I think I am."

GAGAGAGAGAGAxGAGAGAGAGAGA

Christina is sitting down for lunch. She's thinking about how her life is right now. She's a cardiac surgeon and a damn good one at that. She loves her job and is still a workaholic. She's been married to Burke for nine years. It's going strong. She didn't think she was the marring type. But she wasn't a lot of things before she met Burke, or any of them for that matter. She's gone soft. And she shows a little more emotion then she used to. She's the hard core bitch Attending when it comes to Interns though. She can't stand them half the time.

Burke is supposed to have lunch with her today. She's just waiting for him at a lone table in the corner of the courtyard. She has something to tell him. If she hadn't known Grace and seen how Meredith is with her Daughter, she wouldn't be as reluctant and excited to tell Burke her news. She's telling him first because she knows he hates being the last to know things. So she told him she had to talk to him as soon as possible.

Burke walks up behind Christina and kisses her neck. He then sits down next to her with a smile. She smiles back at him. She loves him so much.

"So, how's your day so far?" She asks him, trying to stay focused and un nerved.

"Good, I have Coronary Artery Bypass in an hour and a half." He takes a bite of his food. "How about you?"

"It's going Good..." She doesn't know how to tell him.

"What's the matter?" He suddenly asked. She seemed nervous to him.

"I have something to tell you." She says, growing more confidence. He looks at her intently waiting for the news. "I've decided I want a child." A smile creeps onto his lips and he takes her hands in his a crossed the table.

"That's great news!" He kisses her hands.

"There is something else." She takes in a deep breath

"More? I think that was over whelming enough." He says, his eyes twinkling with delight.

"We don't have to wait long."

"What?"

"I'm Pregnant." She finally says, her face is serious.

"Are...Are you serious? Seriously?" He stammers.

"Seriously." He jumps up form the table and bends down to her level. He kisses her and hugs her to him. She feels tears coming but wills them back. She's so happy that he is happy. She knows she will be a good mother. She didn't think she would have been a long time ago, but she's changed. Everyone has.

Burke lets her go and kisses her again. "Does anyone else know?" He asks.

"Nope, you're the first I've told." He seemed very happy at that statement.

"When you going to tell everyone?" He goes to sit back down in his chair a crossed form her.

"That's another thing I wanted to tell you. Callie and George are having a random get together this weekend, well random to me seeing as they didn't specify a reason...anyway, I thought we'd tell them all then." She finishes, a huge grin on her face.

"Sounds good to me." Burke replies. He is finally going to have a family.

GAGAGAGAGAGAxGAGAGAGAGAGA

Saturday night rolls around. Callie and George are running around, cleaning and preparing for their get together. Everyone is coming, Christina, Burke, Izzie, Alex, Meredith and Grace and Derek.

"We should just call Izzie, I'm not much of a cleaner." George says from the kitchen, He's sweeping the floor. Everyone should be there in about fifteen minutes.

"Kinda late for that sweety." Callie says from the upstairs bathroom. She then walks down, drying her hands with a paper towel. "All done!" she says. She hugs George and he kisses her deeply almost dropping the broomstick. The door bell rings and they are forced to break apart.

"I'll get it," George puts the broom in the closet and goes to open the door. It's Izzie and Alex. Izzie is carrying a cake.

"Hey you guys!" Callie greets with open arms as the first arrivals come inside.

"Let me take that for you," George takes the cake that was handed to him and brings it into the kitchen. Alex hangs up his coat and follows close behind. The two girls go to the living room talking all the while.

"So how are you Georgie?" Alex asks, clapping a hand to George's back. George sets the cake on the counter.

"I'm good, long day at work." George sighs and sits up on the marble counter top.

"Tell me about it." Alex slumps in a chair. Both men sat in silence. George inspected the cake Izzie made. He knew she'd make one. It's her thing. It was chocolate. Sometimes he wonder what was with women and their chocolate cravings.

"Meredith and Grace are here!" Izzie and Callie scream from the living room. Alex gets up and he and George leave the kitchen to greet Meredith and Grace.

And hour and a half later everyone is here minus Derek, he had some one come in with a Sub dural hemorrhage and had to go into surgery. He wont be there for another hour. At the moment everyone is sat at a round table playing Texas Hold em. They aren't playing for money though, because Grace is playing. And winning no less.

"Beginners luck!" Alex teased from a crossed the table. Grace stuck out her tongue and smiled. Meredith winks at her at her seat next to her. What the rest didn't know, was that Meredith taught her to play when she was seven.

"I'll see you and raise you...150!" Christina says to Callie.

"She must have a good one!" Meredith says. She did. She had a ten and a queen and the river was Ace, King, joker and a six.

"I fold!" Alex and Burke say in unison and Alex throws his cards down, he only had a pair of six's. They all laugh.

"Me too, Grace declares, pushing her cards over to George who was the dealer. She knew she was going to loose anyway.

"I mine as well too." Meredith folds.

"And me." Izzie says getting up. "I'm done for good."She goes and sits on Alex's lap.

"Guess it's just you and me O'Malley." Christina grins at Callie no longer keeping her poker face cause she knew she had is in the bag.

"Show em." George says. Callie goes first with three of a kind, kings. Christina throws her's down in victory.

"Royal Flush!" She screams.

"What's going on in here?" Every one turns but Christina who is pulling the huge pot to her side of the table. Derek shrugs off his coat and hangs it on the hook. He then walks over to the table behind Grace. He places his hands on her shoulders. She looks up at him smiling.

"Christina just beat the shit out of Callie in poker." Alex says. "Pull up a chair. You can play for Izzie." Derek sits down and the cards are dealt.

They all put in small bets. George puts out the flop. Derek sneaks a peek at his cards, starting it off with a pari of aces. He checks it to Meredith who's beside him, Grace on his other side. He's in between his two favorite women. Meredith bets fifty. Derek gives her a look but she keeps her poker face. The next card is out and Derek still has a pair of aces. Everyone bets and he puts in a black chip, hundred. Meredith looks at her cards. She also puts in a black chip. A sly look on her face. All is done in silence. They can all see the competition growing between Meredith and Derek and they all make a silent pact. Third card dealt. Nothing for Derek but he bets fifty anyway.

Callie folds. Followed by Burke. Alex stays in and just throws in a twenty five chip. fourth card. Derek now has three aces. He throws in both a red and black chip, one fifty. Meredith sees him and raises a hundred. Grace folds looking at her mother. Alex folds also. Christina sighs after looking at her own cards and folds.

It's just Meredith and Derek. Last card to be dealt. It's a king. They both bet black chips a last time before nodding an agreement to show. Derek goes first. Three aces. He looks pleased with himself. Meredith stays serious as she shows. A flush.

"Aww!" They all say triumphantly, they were silently rooting for Mer. Derek stands up, defeated and kicked in the ass as he was, he still shook her hand. They stared at each other longer then they should have.

"Good... game." Derek stammers.

"Not so bad yourself." Meredith smiles at him and gives his hand an affectionate squeeze. Derek hides his pleasure. He's been waiting for this kind of contact, small as it was.

"I have some news!" Callie say standing up, she then looks at George and smiles at him. "We...have some news!" She holds George's hand, he gives it a squeeze.

"Well lets have it!" Grace says impatiently. Everyone laughs.

"George and I are going to have a baby!" Callie screams. Christina's mouth was the first to drop.

"Well damn!" She yells. She was smiling though. "What a freaking coincidence!"

"What?" Everyone turned in her direction.

"Sorry Callie...I don't mean to take your spot light." She looks so uneasy now.

"It's okay, to nights a night of great news!" Callie walks over to Christina and hugs her.

"in that case." Izzie says. Everyone is now looking at her. "Alex and I decided we want to have children." Meredith hugs Izzie and Callie and Christina.

"All of our kids will grow up together." Callie says. She sits down on the couch with George. Everyone then looks at Meredith and Derek. Grace just watches.

"No news here..." Meredith says. "How about cake?" She tries to get everyone on a new topic. She and Derek aren't anything.

GAGAGAGAGAGAxGAGAGAGAGAGA

Meredith sat on the front porch of George's house sipping a martini. She needed some fresh air. Grace is inside talking to the girls and the men are talking about..surgeries she guesses. She remembers back to the poker game. She doesn't know what brought her to do that. It was only minor. She guesses it was hope. Hope that things would change between them. It wasn't all her either. He's been giving her that look of his all night. She's missed that look.

She sips her martini. A change form her usual tequila. But it was good. The night is cool and there's not a cloud in the sky. She can see the stars. There are so many of them. She thinks to herself. A crisp breeze settles in and she hugs herself for warmth. She wishes she grabbed her jacket. She could go in and get it but she doesn't feel like getting up.

" I thought you might be cold." It's Derek. She turns to see him holding her jacket. She smiles at him.

"Thank you," she says quietly. Silence.

"How are you Mer?" It's a completely harmless question. Meredith sighs.

"I'm...lonely..." She admits.

"What about Grace? And the others?" He didn't seem to get it at first. Meredith laughs slightly. The he gets it. "What about me?"

"What about you?" She snaps. He's taken aback. "Sorry." she then apologizes.

"Don't...don't apologizes."

"I donno, I've been alone for so long..."

"You don't have to be." He's looking at her now. Longing in his eyes.

"I know...and I want what's best for Grace...and what she needs is a father." Meredith looks him in the eyes. She's sees understanding in those deep blue ones that are looking back at her. "And then I see you with her...she really loves you." Loves. It was true. Grace has gotten quite attached to Derek.

" I love her to..." He says. He looks down at the sidewalk.

"Derek?"

"Yes Mer?"

"Do you...I mean.." She didn't know what else to say.

"I care about you Meredith...deeply actually. I never stopped"

Wow...this one is longer. I've been working on it all day. Haha. Well I'd type for a while and then get kicked off the computer. Happened about six times. So, I hope you liked it! Please review!