A/N: Thanks for your patience. Been struggling to get writing into my day. I don't know why. But back at it. Thanks for everyone who is looking and commenting on my work.
Summary:The afternoon/evening with the Grey-Shepherd and Hayes families.
Meredith's house
After breakfast, Meredith sets her kids up to do their homework while Scout has his morning nap. Meredith and Maggie trade off time for their personal morning self care and doing household chores. The laundry progresses, the dishes are done, the grocery list has been updated, the kids homework is completed, and Scout is still napping.
"Not bad for a Valentine's Day," Meredith says to Maggie as they sit down with a cup of tea.
"Hey you got a kiss from your guy," Maggie teases.
"Mine doesn't live on the other side of the continent," she retorts, referring to Winston who is still living and working in Boston.
"True. But we haven't figured out if it's worth moving together. And where would we go? I don't want to move back to Boston and he doesn't want to leave his grandmother," Maggie complains.
"You'll work it out. Just go to the same conferences," Meredith suggests.
"Great idea. That was how we met again," she replies, thinking to the conference that she and Winston missed so much as they were in his hotel room.
Scout woke minutes before Amelia and Link arrived home, like a sixth sense. "Amy, look who just woke from his nap," Meredith says.
"Ma-Ma! Ma-Ma!" Scout yells as Amelia walks into the room, as he bounces on the couch beside Meredith.
"How about Da-Da! Say hi to daddy too?" Link says feeling left out. Scout had recently learned Ma-Ma and hadn't progressed beyond identifying his mom.
"Were you a good boy for Auntie Mer? I missed you," she asks her son, picking him up, and handing the small cooler to Meredith.
"He was great. Woke early this morning, but we cuddled on the couch with his bottle and he went back to sleep. This for the fridge? Or freezer" Meredith says looking at the cooler she was just handed.
"I have a long day at work tomorrow, so probably best in the fridge. Thanks. Did he have a recent bottle?" Amelia says settling down on the couch with her son who was quickly looking for access to his milk.
"No, I figured you'd be home soon, and he prefers you," Maggie says.
"Yes Momma's boy," Link says coming into the living room with 3 small gifts for the women in the living room.
"What have you got there?" Meredith says looking at the small pink boxes in Link's hands.
"I have a special gift for each of you, but these are for the kids. Through some miraculous scheduling, you three have this afternoon off, so I booked you each a Massage, Manicure and Pedicure at the Spa."
"Thanks, Link. You didn't need too," Meredith says.
"You three do so much, I thought you needed a little sister time. And some pampering," he says.
"Wow! What will you do?" Maggie asks.
"Take the kids to the park, and then make dinner."
Cormac's House
"Dad, we need to leave," Liam says standing at the front door. He has a small bouquet of roses for his date.
"I'm ready. You'll make your way home after?" Cormac confirms.
"Yes dad. Or I'll call for a ride," Liam says.
"And you have everything you need? Just in case?"
"Dad! Really, we aren't planning anything… Should I be asking you if you carry protection?" Liam says, rolling his eyes at his dad.
"Do you want me to show you my wallet? Because I do have a condom in my wallet," he replies.
"I believe you. We haven't done anything," Liam says. Cormac drops the subject but suspects if Liam and Amahle haven't gone all the way, they have gotten very close. He'd had the safe sex, the be responsible and all other talks with his sons, so just hoped some common sense prevailed.
Meredith's house
After dropping Liam off at Amahle's house for their date, Cormac decides to swing by Meredith's house and drop off another gift he has for her. For tonight he has a small self care package with a bath bomb, candle and a playlist of some of his favourite Irish songs. As he drives past the park he notices Link and the four kids walking home, so when he parks, he walks back towards them. Ellis runs towards him and is once again jumping into his arms.
"Hey El."
"We were at the park with Uncle Link," Ellis tells him.
"Mom's not at home, she's out doing girly things with Auntie Amy and Auntie Maggie," Bailey says.
"Girly things?" Cormac asks.
"I sent them to the Spa for a massage, manicure and pedicure. We were just headed home for snack time and then a movie, or nap," Link says, catching up to them.
"Want help?" he asks.
"Sure. Can you do the snack? Then I can feed Scout. I so rarely get to give him a bottle."
"Definitely. Any requests?" he says to the kids.
"Cucumber and hummus," Ellis says.
"And those Lace Biscuits," Bailey says.
"Apples?" Zola adds.
"Sounds good, we'll cut up some apples, cucumbers, carrots and get out the hummus and biscuits? Wash your hands and I'll meet you in the kitchen," he says to Meredith's three kids. Snacks are quickly plated, and consumed. They clean up the kitchen mess, the kids head downstairs to watch a movie and he heads back to the living room. "Want anything to drink?" he says to Link.
"Want a beer? I should've been the one offering, I kinda live here," he replies joking.
"No problem, you have a little one there. I can grab a couple from the fridge. Pale Ale ok?" Cormac asks.
"Sounds good. Thanks," he says. The guys sit and chat while Scout drifts off to sleep. Link explains that he and Amelia are looking for a house in the neighbourhood, thinking they should move out soon. They are struggling to find one that is move-in ready, and might need to undertake some substantial renovations if they want to be within a few blocks of Meredith.
"Guess I should put this one down for his nap, and make dinner," Link says.
"You went all out for Valentine's. Dinner & hotel last night and then sending the sisters out together, and cooking a family dinner. Amazing," Cormac says, amazed at the changes he'd seen in Link since Scout was born.
"Meredith and Maggie are great. They have been wonderful this year. And well, Amelia is my love," Link says trying to downplay everything as he lays Scout down in the playpen.
"They have an amazing relationship," Cormac says.
"It's amazing. Especially when you think of their past," Link says. He knew Cormac had slowly learnt the history of Meredith and Amelia's family as well as Meredith and Maggie's introduction.
"I think they are closer than many sisters that grew up together," Cormac says.
"I think so. But I'm an only child," Link says.
"I just have two brothers," Cormac replies.
"Are you staying for dinner?" Link asks as he pulls the chicken from the fridge.
"Austin is home alone, so I should go make dinner for him. Liam is on a date," Cormac says.
"Why don't you go pickup Austin and come back for dinner? I'm making chicken, rice, steamed cauliflower broccoli and cut veggies. I can easily add extras."
"You don't mind?" Cormac asks.
"Of course not, it's family dinner. We often have random extras. If it wasn't Valentine's day, I'm sure we'd have a few extras popping over. Jo often comes over, but she volunteered to work today. Not into the whole Valentine's and love thing right now. Jackson and Harriet often come over too," Link explains.
"Can I bring anything back?" Cormac asks.
"Something for dessert? They inhaled the cookies you made yesterday."
"Sounds great. I'll be back in under an hour." Cormac texted both Liam and Austin letting them know the change in plans and zipped home to pick up Austin.
He was in the kitchen helping Link prepare the salad and veggie platter when the three sisters arrived home.
After dinner Austin, Bailey, Link and Cormac headed outside while Maggie supervised baths for the girls and braided Zola's hair. There was no sense braiding Ellis' fine blond hair as it wouldn't stay in a braid overnight. Amelia sat in the kitchen watching Link play soccer, so totally in his element.
"So you got dinner with Cormac tonight…," Amelia remarks to Meredith.
"Your partner invited him. Link was wonderful. That was a great afternoon, and then everyone to dinner," Meredith replies as she finishes washing the dishes.
"He totally surprised me with the afternoon out. We should do that more often," Amelia says.
"Like we'll find the time," Meredith says.
"We'll have to make the time. Just like your plans for Friday night," she says.
"Those started a few weeks ago. My lingerie order arrived. And had an ob/gyn appointment," Meredith says.
"Everything OK?"
"Just my annual, and she checked my IUD. It'll need to be replaced next year."
"I had one inserted after Scout was born. I don't know why I took the pill for so long, this is so much easier," Amelia replies.
"I agree. And hopefully no surprise pregnancies," Meredith adds.
"I love Scout, but he was a shock. I'm going to get Scout ready for bed," Amelia says seeing Cormac approach the backdoor.
"Goodnight Amelia," Cormac says walking into the kitchen and pulling Meredith into his arms. She quickly kisses him, knowing he'd need to leave shortly. He hesitated slightly and looked outside.
"Let's go into the living room, Austin won't be able to see us there," she suggests sliding off the stool and taking him into the living room.
"Thanks, he's just not completely on board with me kissing anyone," Cormac says.
"How many teenagers are into their parents making out? And then add that I'm not his mom, this is tough for him," Meredith says understanding.
"But…," he says, pulling her close.
"Ask Richard how I went off on him in my Intern year when I found out about his and my mom's affair. And I was definitely no longer a teenager!" she says.
"That must be some story, but I don't think I'll ask him about that one," he smirks dipping his head for a kiss.
"I could hand you mom's journals. Many were just scientific, but some are quite graphic about her affair with RW," she adds.
"Oh my!"
"That wasn't the worst of it. But I'd rather kiss you than talk about them," she says capturing his lips once again and reaching her arms up and caressing his neck and holding him close. His hand slips under her sweater finding bare skin, and one hand traces over the lace edge of her bra.
"Mm-mmm lace," he whispers.
"But we need to stop, we'll have an audience shortly," she says, pulling away from him.
"Friday night is a long time away," he grumbles.
"Don't pout. It'll be worth it. A whole night just the two of us," she teases.
"That isn't helping. But I have to grab Austin, and we are picking up Liam on our way. Hopefully he didn't get more action than I did."
"Good night," she says, giving him one more kiss before separating and heading to the backyard to say goodbye to Austin and send Bailey for a bath.