A/N: Sorry for the delay in posting and update. Got sidetracked by a couple of seasonal stories. All my Meredith & Cormac stories are from the same universe at this point.
Thanks everyone for your comments, likes and follows.
And if you have anything you'd love to see in this story, please comment or message me and I'll see what I can do...
Cormac walks out of OR2 after a successful surgery with Jackson and says, "Another child will have a beautiful smile thanks to your skills."
"Some of my favourite work, making smiles. I'll update the family," Jackson says proudly before heading towards the waiting room.
Cormac walked into the lounge and saw Meredith sleeping on the couch. Quietly he walks over and whispers, "Hey sleepyhead, time to get up and go home."
"I'm not sleeping," she argues.
"I'm not fighting you on that, but time to get changed," he says, hanging up his lab coat and grabbing his clothes out of his locker.
"Give me a hand," she says reaching her hands up for him to pull her up.
"Now go change," he orders once she is standing. He'd been tempted to pull her into his arms, but not here, not at work, not in the lounge. They both go off to change and when she arrives back he's talking on the phone. Some of the words she doesn't understand, he's talking in Irish. Must be his boys, as the next thing she hears is, "Go ahead and finish all the lasagna... Féach tú níos déanaí, buachaillí."
"Hungry teens?" she asks.
"Definitely," he replies with a smile.
"What are we picking up for dinner," Meredith asks.
"You aren't cooking?" he asks.
"I'm sure you've heard stories of my success, or lack thereof, in the kitchen. Setting it on fire is more my skill. Although with supervision I can heat up food, or possibly make waffles," she replies honestly.
"What do your kids prefer? Mexican? Pasta? Thai?" he asks.
"Mexican all three will eat without complaints," she says.
"How about we order from Malena's Taco Shop? The boys and I order there all the time," he says.
"What do you want?" she says.
"Check out this order," he says handing her his phone with his last order pulled up.
"Looks good. Just order an additional bean tostada," she says. He places the order and they drive to her place stopping briefly to pick up dinner.
Walking into the front door she is quickly met by all three kids and the nanny. "Thanks Cassie. See you Monday," she says quickly letting the nanny head home.
"Zola, Bailey, Ellie, this is Dr Cormac Hayes. He's a pediatric surgeon."
Ellis says, "Like Uncle Alex?"
"Yes, I work in the department your Uncle Alex used to work in," he answers.
"We brought mexican home for dinner," Meredith says to the kids.
"We need to wash our hands," Zola instructs and her siblings follow her to the bathroom.
"Let's go unpack dinner," Meredith says, directing Cormac through the living room. "Water? Milk? Might be some beer left in the fridge over there," she says pointing to the bar fridge.
"Not much of a drinker?" he asks.
"We don't keep much around. Alex used to keep that fridge stocked. Link and I don't drink much around Amelia. She's mostly been clean since before Bailey was born. She did have a slip when I was attacked by a patient. She blamed herself because we were fighting and she didn't answer my neuro page so I was alone with a patient," she explains.
"I didn't know. Never noticed she didn't drink when we are all at Joe's."
"Most of the bartender's know to pour her and Richard the AA special, the soda and gin without the gin! So they just order 'the usual'," Meredith replies.
"Richard's an alcoholic too?"
"Yes, we can talk about the details on that later. Here come the kids," she says. They all sit down at dinner and chat about their week and enjoy the evening together. He hangs out in the living room while she puts the kids to bed, and Link, Amelia and Scout arrive home while he's sitting there.
"Late surgery?" he asks as they come in.
"Yes. We were both in the surgery. Glad we have the amazing daycare on site. Do you mind if I feed Scout here?" Amelia asks.
"Not a problem, as long as you don't mind if I'm here. I'm a paediatric surgeon, I'm supposed to support breastfeeding," he replies with a smile.
"Thanks," she says sitting down and getting comfortable with Scout.
"Amelia, do you want something to eat," Link asks.
"Please, whatever you can find," she answers.
"There's mexican beans and rice as well and a Tostada, and half a burrito," Cormac says.
"Oh that sounds good," Amelia answers.
"Coming right up. Water or tea?" Link asks.
"Iced tea would be wonderful. Guess Mer is putting the kids to bed?" Amelia says. He nods in response. Link arrives in the living room with two plates of food, the mexican leftovers from tonight, and it looks like some leftover fried chicken is added to the plates too.
"How are your kids doing now that school is almost out?" Link asks.
"They are both excited. Liam is still finishing US History. His course load was a little different this year as we moved from Europe. He needs US History to graduate, but had credit for AP European History from Switzerland. Austin is glad to be done. They are both working at the community centre this summer summer camp programs," Cormac says.
"Liam's finishing grade 11? And Austin?" Link asks.
"Yes Liam is officially finishing Grade 11, because of moving from Switzerland mid-year he's finished a good number of Grade 12 courses. He'll mainly be doing AP courses next year so will have his first year of university covered, possibly more depending on how many courses they'll let him complete."
"Where does he want to go to university?" Amelia asks.
"Éire. National University of Ireland Galway School of Medicine is his first choice. He's also interested in University College Dublin School of Medicine or Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in Dublin. He's working through his Irish Language Certificates. He wants to complete the more advanced B2 level, so if you hear me mumbling in Gaeilge it's because he's testing my skills. The Centre for Irish Language B2 certificate will help get him into the university program because then he can take either the Gaeilge or English courses."
"Wow! Have you always spoken it at home?" Amelia asks, as Meredith joins them in the living room. She sits on the bean bag chair as the sectional already has 3 adults on it.
"Aye. That's all I spoke at home with my parents. They both speak English fluently, but I've only heard them use it at home when Abigail was there," he continues.
"And with your kids?"
"Mostly Gaeilge. They will speak English with them, mainly to explain the language. Austin has a basic grasp of the language, but Liam's always had the ear for it. He's already done two years of online courses and will Skype and chat with my mom for hours. She's a highschool teacher, so she loves it."
"That's amazing. So what are his chances of getting into Med School in Ireland?" Meredith asks.
"Given his marks, great. Especially with his level of Gaeilge. Even at home his language mark would put him at the top, his A1 exam mark was 97%. The Advanced Irish Language initiative is pushing for those with strong Irish into all fields, especially medicine. His only downfall is that he has to apply as an International student," he says.
"Wow! Let us know if he needs anything for his application," Amelia says.
"He'll need some hospital volunteer time as in Ireland you start directly in med school," Cormac explains.
"That should be easy to get. He can work in my lab or when the UW med school students visit, he can join with them," Meredith says.
"I'll have him contact you," he says. They sit and chat for another hour or so with Amelia and Link before Cormac decides he should get home to his kids. Meredith walks him over to the door and says, "Thanks, I had a great night."
"Another first, dinner with your kids," he says.
"The harder one is next," she says.
"What?"
"Dinner with your kids!" she answers. And he chuckles.
Not quite ready to kiss her especially with an audience, he squeezes her hand and gently rubs her cheek with his other hand as he leans in and whispers in her ear, "Buona notte e sogni d'oro."
"Sogni d'oro. Ci vediamo domani," Meredith replies letting go of his hand.
Meredith picks up Harriet from the hospital daycare and heads to the summer camp program at the University she's enrolled her three kids in. Now they are all school aged, she's able to put them in various camps together, as she wonders how her baby is heading to Kindergarten in the fall.
"Richard, you are looking great," Meredith says as she walks in with the four kids.
"Thanks, Meredith. This location is amazing for rehab," he admits.
"Grandpa!" "Grandpa Richard!" yelled the youngest two kids.
"Ellie! Harriet!" he says, giving the little girls a big hug.
"Hi Dr Richard," says Zola.
"Hi there, Miss Zola," Richard responds, shaking her hand that's offered.
Turning to Bailey he says, "And hi Bailey."
"Sounds like our dinner guests are here. Mer, thanks for picking up Harriet," Jackson says walking down the stairs from his bedroom, freshly showered and dressed.
"No problem. Did you get a run in?"
"Yes, I went out with Ben," Jackson confirmed.
"Maggie said she'd be a little late, she was still in surgery when we left."
"Dr Maggie was doing a quad bypass, daddy," Harriet says.
"Did Auntie Meredith take you to the gallery, ladybug?" Jackson inquires.
"Yes, we saw Dr Maggie and Dr 'melia. Dr 'melia was doing a cran...", she answers.
"A craniotomy?" Jackson confirms with his daughter.
"Yes! Can I go play with Ellie?" she asks.
"How about we wash our hands for dinner and then eat. You can play after dinner," Jackson says.
"Everyone wash your hands for dinner. Mer, can you help me get food to the table?" Jackson says.
"What can I do?" Richard asks.
"How about you check the scrubbing in the bathroom?" Jackson says listening to the kids running to wash their hands.
"Bailey, please be careful. Don't run into anyone. Dr Richard is still recovering," Meredith yells at her son.
"We've got this, don't we Bailey?" Richard says, putting his hand out to catch Bailey and chatting as they head to the bathroom.
Meredith and Jackson plate up dinner for everyone, knowing it would be easiest for the kids if their food was already on their plates. Jackson had picked up a bake-at-home lasagna from the local italian deli, sourdough bread from the bakery and made a caesar salad and fruit platter.
Maggie arrives as the kids are finishing their meal so Jackson lets them go play while Maggie joins them at the table with her meal. Turning to Richard she says, "So how is physio going?"
"Going well, I've ditched the cane inside. Still use it for walks outside," he says.
"And the neurologist clearance?" she asks.
"I'm cleared. I just need to be cleared by physio and I can come back to work," he says.
"That's wonderful. We miss you at the hospital," Maggie replies.
"So you will need to spend time in the teaching lab before heading back into the OR," Meredith says.
"I figured that. I'm the one that implemented those protocols," he replies.
"You can take over my teaching," she offers.
"Oh, you are going to enjoy this," Jackson teases Meredith.
"Yes, first she strong-arms me into living here, and now gives me all her teaching," Richard replies.
"Would you have preferred the rehab facility? Would you have been pushed as much?" Jackson says.
"No. I'm thankful for you three. You have been great. And I love having Harriet and Mer's kids around," Richard says.
"She's loved having her grandpa here. You are welcome to stay as long as you need," Jackson says thinking of how Richard and Catherine aren't yet talking. He knows his mom needs to apologize, which isn't something she does easily. And he hopes they can figure something out before Richard starts back at the hospital as he doesn't want a showdown in the hospital hallways.
"Grey, I have a patient coming in from Spokane that needs your skills. Care to scrub in?" Cormac asks finding her in the ICU.
"Sure. What's up?" she says.
"A nasty tumour. Can't tell from the scans sent what organs are involved. She'll arrive tonight and if she's stable I'd like to operate tomorrow," he says.
"Sounds good, I'm just headed to surgery now, so let me know when updated CT/MRI scans are available," she says.
"Are we still on for tomorrow night?" he asks quietly so it can't be overheard. They were going to watch the end of the boy's soccer game. They had joined a summer team and were both playing on the same team, making it easier for Cormac to watch both of them.
"Yes," she replies.
"Great. See you tomorrow for sure," he says heading back to the paediatric unit.
They spent most of the next day in surgery together. She ends up in the lounge at the end of the day while April, Teddy and Maggie are discussing some recent cardio trauma cases. Wanting to listen in and not worried about quickly changing her top and slipping on jeans with the current staff in the Attendings lounge. Meredith gets caught as she slips off her scrub pants and starts stepping into her jeans.
"Hey this isn't the change room," Jackson teases pretending to cover his eyes as he walks into the lounge with Cormac.
"You've seen her bare legs before," Maggie snaps.
"Jackson, you were never shy in the Residents lounge," April teases.
"Given the number of times I've been a patient here, almost everyone has seen me naked or nearly so," Meredith adds as she finishes getting dressed.
"Not me," says Cormac with a sparkle lighting his eye.
"How many times as a patient? 4?" April asks, trying to count back.
"D0 you really want me to count? Bailey and Webber have been here for all of them, same with Alex. He also rescued me from San Diego," Meredith admits.
"The shooting, plane crash, Bailey's birth," says Jackson.
"Ambulance crash with Alex," April added.
"The postical ER attack," adds Maggie.
"After the shooting I was at Seattle Pres as a patient, and you couldn't see anything during Bailey's birth," Meredith replies.
"Right, that was a dark OR in the power failure," says April.
"You guys missed the ones when I was an intern," she says.
"Are you sure this is a safe place to work?" Teddy asks, knowing most of the trauma that had occurred here.
"Teddy, have you asked Owen about the scar down his right leg? He didn't get that overseas."
"Really? I just assumed...," she says.
"He brought in an injured patient during an ice storm when he was home on leave. He'd received a huge laceration on the outside of the leg and didn't want to wait for it to be sutured, so he stapled it himself. Cristina did the last few as he couldn't reach. He also pulled an icicle out of her chest and stitched her up," Meredith says.
"Yang was hit by an icicle?" Cormac asks as he grabs his clothes and heads to the change room. Everyone else in the room just shook their heads at another of the strange events that had occurred at Seattle Grace/Grey-Sloan.
"Yes. She wasn't a patient as often as I waw. Think 3 times," Meredith replies. Meredith and Maggie headed to the daycare to get Ellis and head home. They arrived home and are thankful that Link has already started dinner.
"Oh, I love having them home on leave," Maggie says.
"I agree," Meredith replies.
"Hey, I'm back at work. Just working shorter days," Link says.
"We love having you home early to cook. You've taken over Alex's job," Meredith replies.
"Ha ha! But I don't drink Tequila," he teases.
"Fair," Meredith replies.
Cormac knocks on the door and the kids run to open it. "Hi Dr Cormac," Zola says.
"Hi Zola," he replies, catching Ellis as she runs into his legs. He grabs her, lifting her up and she wraps her arms around his neck. "Hi, Ellie. Nice hug."
Walking into the living room, he high fives and fist bumps with Bailey and brings Ellis into the kitchen in his arms. "I found a cuddle bug," he says showing off Ellis cuddled in closely.
"Lucky you. I'll send her home with you, and you can cuddle her all night," Meredith teases.
"No mommy, I cuddle with you at night," Ellis replies, reaching towards Meredith.
"Elliebell! You only like cuddling me at night?" Meredith asks, reaching out to catch her youngest.
"Auntie Maggie is OK to cuddle with. But you are bestest," Ellis says, cuddling in.
"I'm headed out tonight, so will you read and cuddle with Auntie Maggie," Meredith asks.
"OK. Will you be home before bedtime?"
"I'll be home after your bedtime. I'm not sleeping at the hospital tonight," Meredith replies.
"Okay, Mommy," Ellis whispers in her ear, giving her another big hug before wiggling to get down. Meredith gives her kids hugs and says goodnight to them, and thanks her sisters for watching them tonight before she heads out.
Once in the car, Cormac says to her, "She's cuddly."
"Ellie? Yes. She's gotten clingy over the last few months," Meredith says.
"Jealous of Scout?" he says.
"Probably a little, and Link's moved in. Add in that Alex is no longer in town," she replies.
"She had a special bond with Alex?" he asks.
"Yes. She and Alex have a very special bond. She often called him da-da until she was two and then switched over to Uncle 'lex. He's the only dad she's ever known. Zola and Ellis are the most upset that Alex isn't living here anymore. Bailey loves Link," she says as he parks at the community centre.
"You up for some football?" he asks.
"You told Liam and Austin I was coming?" she asks nervously.
"Yes we talked about it. Liam thought it was wonderful. Austin thinks you are magic because you knew where the video games were in the hospital," he teases.
"Ah! Successful!" she laughs getting out of his car. They walked to the bleachers and sat down watching the soccer game. Cormac reached over and slipped his hand onto her thigh, she placed her hand on top of his hand gently squeezing his hand in acknowledgement.
After the game, the boys ran over to check in with their dad. As they ran over, Cormac pulled his hand back onto his own lap, not sure of how the boys would react to him showing affection to someone other than their mom. "Dad, we're going to shower," Austin says.
Liam teases his father, letting him know that he caught him holding Meredith's hand by saying, "A Dhaid, is féidir leat lámh do chailín a shealbhú." (Dad, you can hold your girlfriend's hand.)
"Liam, no talking in gaeilge. Or you could try Italian as she understands Italian."
"Sorry," he says, running off to change.
The four of them head to a local diner to grab a late meal. Over the meal the four of them chat, Meredith asking them about school, their time in Switzerland, and soccer. Liam asked her about her family, while Austin only answered questions that were directed at him. Meredith could tell Cormac was getting frustrated with Austin, but she put her hand on his knee to get his attention and gave him a quick shake of the head as she continued the conversation with Liam.
After dinner Cormac drove them to their townhouse and invited Meredith in. On their way into the house, Meredith held back with Cormac so she could quietly remind him that Austin needs time to process. "Give him time. He was polite when talking directly to me. That's all that mattered."
"But…," he objects.
"He's a teenager. He lost his mom. I'm the first person you've brought home. Give him time."
"Are you sure?"
"He's a good kid. He may need some time before he truly joins in with me," Meredith sasy.
"How did you get so smart?"
"I was a pink haired, partying teenager. I've battled my own mommy and daddy issues. Took me a lot to accept Thatcher's wife," she quietly answers.
"Thatcher?"
"My dad, he abandoned me before I turned 5 and I didn't see him again until my intern year," she replies.
"OK. At some point you'll need to tell me about your intern year. It sounds like it was hell," he says before directing her into the house.
"We'll need whiskey and a night or two for those stories," she says quietly as they arrive in the kitchen.
Cormac found Meredith alone working in her lab and slipped inside and sat down beside her, his hand placed gently on the small of her back and leaned in for a quick hug. The summer had slipped by quickly, they'd gone on a few dates over the summer, but had been busy and had barely seen one another for the past few weeks. Passing in the hallways, meeting for a quick coffee at the cart outside, eating the odd lunch together in one of their offices, working together on a few surgeries, but no dates. He'd taken the boys to see his parents in Ireland and then dropped them with Abigail's parents for a few days. When he'd arrived back strangely without kids for a few days, Meredith was away with her kids. Amelia booked a family retreat in Seaside, Oregon taking Link, Scout, Meredith, Zola, Bailey and Ellis. They met up with Derek's ex-wife, Addison, her husband, Jake & son Henry for a week at the beach. Meredith couldn't say no to her kids and a very persuasive Amelia, so she wasn't home when Cormac returned from Ireland.
It is now mid-September and a new school year has started. Liam in grade 12, Austin in Grade 9, Zola in Grade 4, Bailey in Grade 2 and Ellis in Kindergarten. They still haven't found a time to introduce all the children together.
He thinks back to a conversation he'd had with Liam recently. Cormac had been on the receiving end of endless teasing from his oldest.
"Dad, have you even kissed her?" Liam asks.
"It's none of your business," Cormac replies thinking of how close they'd come to kissing a few times. But been either interrupted or he'd chickened out.
"You're going to lose her, she's not going to wait forever for you," he continues.
"We are good friends," Cormac says.
"Dad, it's OK to move on. Mom said we should encourage you to find someone. It's time to move forward. Meredith is lovely," Liam states.
"Uh-huh," Cormac mindlessly replies, thinking of Abigail and Meredith.
"Maybe we should meet her kids?" Liam states.
"Hey, you found me," Meredith says, his touch pulling her from her work.
"Come to our football game on Sunday," Cormac says, her voice pulling him from his thoughts.
"Football - American football? Or soccer?" she asks.
"Aye, soccer, the rest of the world calls it football," he says, his irish accent stronger.
"You're playing?"
"Yup. Liam's high school team is having a family day with various kids games, activities and the finale is a student-parent game," he says.
"Sounds fun. Is that the best time for our kids to meet?" she says.
"I'm sure your kids will love the games and ice cream. We can do dinner on our way home, or pick up something to eat on our way," he says.
"Sure, you looked lost in thought when you came in."
"Aye. Liam's been hassling me."
"Everything OK?"
"It will be. He's being a know-it-all."
"Oh fun! That stage comes back?"
"Definitely!"
"Crap!" she says, shaking her head and thinking of her bossiest child. Zola, her know-it-all, first-born.
"Zola?"
"Yes she's gotten a bit better recently."
"First borns…," he says.
"Technically I'm the oldest child of four, but was raised as an only child. I had two half-sisters that are only months apart in age," she says.
"Maggie, she's Richard's daughter? Correct?" he asks.
"Yes. My mom was pregnant with a love-child between her and Richard when we hastily moved to Boston at the end of her residency, she did her fellowship in Boston. Maggie was given away for adoption when I was 5. And Lexie, is the oldest of my dad's other family. She was months younger than Maggie. They never met one another, Lexie had died before Maggie found us," Meredith says.
"Lexie Grey?" he asks, having heard a few of the stories through the rumour mill.
"Correct. I met her when she started her internship. Lexie came here to do her residency as a last minute switch. Thatcher wasn't doing well on his own, so she came back to Seattle to be a good daughter. She was killed in the plane crash. Mark Sloan later died due to his injuries, and lack of will to live. They loved one another," Meredith says.
"When did Maggie move here?"
"Cristina hired her before moving to Switzerland."
"But Yang wasn't the head of cardio," he sounded confused as to why she would do the hiring.
"No. Teddy had already left for Germany, Owen was Chief of Surgery at the time and he asked Cristina to hire the next head of cardio."
"Did she know she was your sister?"
"No, that came out later, after Cristina left."
"You said there are four of you?"
"Thatcher had another girl about 2 years after Lexie. Her husband is in the military and I haven't seen her since Lexie's funeral. She blames me for her mother's death, her father's alcoholism, and Lexie being in a plane crash."
"Wow. And now you live with your sister and your sister-in-law?"
"Yes. Amelia moved in when Bailey was little and she moved to Seattle. She never found another place. She bounced in and out when she was married to Owen. She looked after my other house when I ran away," Meredith says.
"And Maggie?"
"She moved in when Ellis was newborn, when I moved back to my mom's house. I kicked Alex out. He'd bought the house from me when Derek had built the house on acreage and I couldn't live in it without Derek, so I asked Alex if I could live in my mom's house. I just wanted to live in it for a bit until I was settled, but he sold it back to me and moved out, kinda, " Meredith says.
"Kinda? Dare I ask how one kinda moves out?"
"Being my best friend, he was around the house lots, helping me with the kids. He and Jo didn't have the easiest relationship, so kinda like Amelia moving in and out, so did Alex. For a while I'd never know who would be in their room, and who would be on the couch."
"And now you have Link and Scout," he says.
"I grew up alone, now I collect housemates. During my residency my house was nicknamed the frat house," she replies.
"I've heard some stories about the frat house. Are you done for today?" he asks, shaking his head.
"Might as well be," she says.
"How about a stop for a whiskey on our way home?" he asks.
"Good idea. I don't have to be home until 6. Meet you at the Blarney Stone?" she continues, suggesting the Irish Pub on the way to her place.
"Sounds good."
