A/N: This is just a short chapter. Thought it better to get something out, than nothing. Struggling with all of my stories at the moment. Have lots of future words written but need to build the next chapter for each.
Thanks again for your support and comments.
Meredith arrived at home just as Carina DeLuca arrived. She'd touched base with Amelia and had found out that Andrew was still on the couch. "Guess he's still here," Meredith says to Carina.
"Yes. Amelia says he's still on the couch."
"I'll help you get him to your car," Meredith says.
"I'll try not to disturb your kids," Carina says as she sees them sitting on the floor.
"I'll send them upstairs so we can get Andrew out." Meredith turns to her children and sends them upstairs to let Amelia know she was home.
"Thanks. Andrea, andiamo a casa! Time to go home," Carina says before switching to softer words in Italian. It took them nearly half an hour to get Andrew into the car.
Meredith walks into the kitchen and decides she needs to make dinner. She calls the kids to the kitchen to help and pulling various items out of the fridge she decides that quesadillas are her speed. It was something that with the help of a timer she could make without burning. It isn't any more difficult than grilled cheese, tortillas, cooked chicken, onions, peppers, cheese and canned beans. Placing the baking sheets on the counter the kids help her assemble dinner. She served dinner with salad, baby cucumbers and carrots, with mild salsa for the dip.
After dinner she sits with Link and Amelia and they work on the article about Cobalt poisoning from the hip replacement, especially outlining the symptoms and Link included descriptions on the damaged cobalt parts he removed. He'd had photos taken of the removed parts that clearly showed the damage that they would include in the submission.
Meredith had enjoyed cuddling with the baby while Amelia and Link had typed up the document. As he started fussing, Meredith went to hand him back to Amelia saying, "So does this hungry cutie have a name yet?"
"No. We can't agree," Link said.
"Choose something soon as I'm sure he won't like Baby Boy when he starts school," Meredith said laughing.
"So how did you choose?" Link asked.
"Zola was named by the Malawi orphanage. Well Dr Bailey saved my life during my delivery, doing the emergency splenectomy in the dark, so we named him Bailey. Derek wanted his name in there so it's Derek Bailey. Ellis Alexandra. I was all alone and spent many hours thinking of my mom and how now that I'm alone I don't want to raise my kids like she did. To remind myself of my love for my children, for my love of surgery. Her middle name, Alexandra is after my sister and Karev."
"Bailey was with me too, but I'm not naming him Bailey too. That would be confusing. How about Richard? You were with him during our delivery," Amelia comments.
"No. No Dick, Dickie or Richie," Link says.
"Fair," Amelia says.
"What about Derek or Mark?" Link suggests.
"And make me sad everytime I say his name? And I already named my first after my dad," Amelia points out.
"Well don't use Thatcher," Meredith says.
"Definitely a no. And no Abraham," Amelia adds.
"So do you agree on anything other than Scout?"
"No. But that was originally a joke. I'm going to do the dishes and leave you girls to talk," Link says.
"As long as we change the subject. No more kids names," Amelia says.
"Are you two able to watch my kids Friday night?" Meredith asks, changing the subject knowing they weren't going to get an answer on a name.
"I'm not going far," Amelia comments pointing to her baby.
"But are you up for watching my kids? Or do I need a sitter?"
"Where are you going?"
"Dinner."
"Do I get more info? With who?" Amelia inquires.
"Hayes."
"You're going on a date! Yes we will watch the kids," Amelia excitedly answers.
"Amy, it's just dinner with a colleague," Meredith says trying to deflect from talking about her love life, or lack of it.
"McWidow! Your gift from Cristina. He's hot! If it's just with him, then it's a date."
"Amy, you shouldn't be looking at other guys. Your guy is pretty hot too."
"I can look. Just no touching! But Link's mine!"
"I know. We almost dated, but I made a dumb decision," Meredith replies thinking of when she chose DeLuca over Link.
"But if you hadn't done that, I might not have gotten together with Link, and we wouldn't have this beautiful boy," she answered cuddling her baby.
"So true. You two are great together."
"We are trying. I am still damaged."
"Amy, aren't we all damaged? I definitely am."
"Don't think Maggie is!"
"Well, OK. But how many can be that sunny and happy?"
"Link! No you and I are dark and twisty."
"Yes Link is very bubbly!"
"So you and Hayes?" Amelia tries to turn the conversation back to Meredith as her baby starts fussing.
"You better go deal with your fussy baby boy. I have work to do," Meredith says. As Amelia gets up and heads upstairs to bed, Meredith picks up her laptop and finishes the draft they'd been working on that evening.
The next day, she receives a message from Carina, 'Psych admission a go. He's still barely responding to verbal commands.'
Meredith is done with DeLuca. She doesn't want to be responsible for him, to date him, to support him. DeLuca reminds her in way too many of the negative ways of Derek.
The things about Derek she hated. The things that had threatened their relationship. As much as she hates to admit it, she often doubts she would still be with Derek if he hadn't died. She loved him. Still loved him. But she hated him too. Yes she hated him for dying, but also for going to DC, not putting his family first, not putting her career on equal footing as his. Her visits with Dr Carr after her trauma due to the postictal patient have helped her work out some of her memories of Derek and their marriage. She'd also restarted seeing Dr Carr after Riggs left. She'd told Riggs that if it was Derek she'd be gone, but the more she lived without Derek, the more she realized that maybe she wouldn't. Sure Derek was her true love, but their relationship was toxic. She wants a partner who is an equal and she had recently realized that wasn't Andrew.
Andrew DeLuca is cocky, hot tempered, Italian, good looking, caring and sensitive, but his temper has gotten the best of him recently. Sure she found his attention flattering but he isn't what she wants in a long term relationship. His recent mental health issues don't help, but that isn't the reason she needs to move forward.
She needs to take care of herself first. Do something for her. She needs to talk to her person.
To Alex she texts, 'Tequila night needed! You are too far away :('
