It had been a couple weeks since that surgery, and Christmas Day had finally arrived. Amelia and Jo were in the kitchen with Meredith getting the food ready. Link, Nico, and Schmitt were watching the kids, while everyone else lingered in the living room speaking casually.
"So, is Hayes coming?" Amelia asked in a teasing tone.
"Yes, he is," Meredith said flatly.
"That's it? No excitement or butterflies?" Jo asked wanting a bigger reaction from Meredith.
"We're just friends I don't know what else you want from me."
"He is a very attractive, thoughtful and giving friend. Who very obviously likes you," Amelia said.
"And she obviously likes him as well. Don't forget that part," Jo quipped.
"Oh yeah. Can't forget that part" Amelia said.
"Will you two be quiet?" Meredith said, and the doorbell rang right on cue.
"I wonder who it could be," Jo said, knowing that Hayes and his kids were the only ones that hadn't shown up yet.
Meredith rolled her eyes, walking to the door to answer it.
"Hey guys come on in," Meredith said as she opened the door and stepped to the side. She had met Hayes's kids before but for some reason, she was more nervous this time.
"Guys, this is Dr. Grey. You've met her before but it's been a while since then, so," Hayes said, a little awkwardly. He didn't really know why everything was awkward. He suddenly forgot how to act.
"Hey Dr. Grey. I'm Liam. And this is Austin," Liam said as they both took turns shaking her hand.
"Well, it's nice to meet you again. All the older kids are upstairs in the room to the right if you want to join them. Or you could stay here with your dad. It's all up to you," Meredith gave the boys an option.
"We'll go up. Thank you," Liam said as him and Austin started walking up the stairs.
"Hey! Best behavior please," Hayes said from the bottom of the staircase.
"Yes, dad," they both said simultaneously, leaving Meredith and Hayes alone in the foyer.
Meredith and Hayes chuckled at them. It was then that Meredith noticed Hayes had a present in his hand. She looked down at it and he saw the question in her eyes. He rocked back and forth then held out the gift.
"This is for you. And before you object, I know we didn't agree on getting each other gifts, but I wanted to anyway. So, it's okay that you didn't get me one. Also, it's kind of a thank you. When I first got here, I was a bit of a jerk. But you were kind, and forgiving, and agreed to start over. And from then on, you have been the best person in my life. You understand me in a way that no one does, and it's because of an unfortunate pain but I'm glad to finally have someone there in my corner. I don't want to sound corny, but you really have become my best friend, Grey. And I am forever grateful for your place in my life... okay, now open it," he said, trying to avoid the slight emotion building in his voice.
She could've sworn she saw a tear or two in his eyes. Meredith was grinning wide, and she couldn't stop. She didn't care what was in the box. She was just so grateful to have met the man standing in front of her. She took the present out of his hands, and he watched as she moved it around to try and figure out what could possibly be inside.
"Go on," he said gesturing to the present with a slight chuckle.
She tore the wrapping paper off of the present and couldn't move. Her eyes immediately started to water. She couldn't believe what she saw. It was a 1984 Cabbage Patch doll that looked exactly like her. It was what she always wanted. She was speechless.
"I'm not sure if it's the exact one you wanted but…"
"It's perfect," she interrupted him. She couldn't help the tears that were falling from her eyes as she stared at him. She put the box on the side table and stepped towards him. His breath hitched as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He slowly wrapped his arms around her waist and squeezed.
"Thank you," she whispered in his ear as she held him as tight as she could.
"Of course," he whispered back.
This was it. Their first hug, and it was perfect. There was something about being in each other's arms that made them both emotional. They never wanted to let go, so they didn't. They stood there for what seemed like an eternity. Breathing each other in. Enjoying each other's presence. Meredith put her head in the crook of his neck, and he put his head on top of hers. They swayed back and forth a little until they were interrupted.
"Hey Mer I was," Jo walked in, and they reluctantly let go of each other and backed away. She felt terrible for interrupting their moment and continued speaking.
"…looking for you. But, I will… Look elsewhere," she said in a half awkward, half teasing voice. She quickly walked away back into the kitchen. Meredith knew she would never hear the end of this. She picked up the doll box and spoke.
"We should probably..." she said implying that they should get to the party.
"Yeah, yeah, we should," he said. He would be lying if he said he wished Jo never walked in. Holding Meredith had a strange comfort to it, and he ached for more of it.
"I'm just gonna go put this upstairs. I'll be right down," she said. He nodded at her in response and went to the living room.
Did that just happen? She asked herself. Hayes bought her the one thing she's always wanted. She knew how hard it was to find one of those things, and he still did it. How much was it? Where was it? She had so many questions, but she knew the answer would always be that he was a very selfless man willing to do whatever it took.
Jo ran to Amelia who was putting a cake in the oven.
"They hugged." Jo said excitedly.
"Meredith and…"
"Hayes! Yes. And it wasn't a normal hug. It's like they were consumed in each other. They were holding onto each other as if one of them would fly away if they let go. It was... it was an intense hug," Jo described. She was looking up at the sky like she was fantasizing about a fairytale. She looked at Amelia with her raised eyebrows and excitement in her eyes.
"What is it?" Amelia asked knowing the look in Jo's eyes was mischievous.
"I know we're adults. And this is completely childish. But I have a husband that left me for his ex-wife and no love life. So I can't help it. Can we get them under a mistletoe somehow?" Jo questioned. Amelia's eyes immediately lit up.
"You mean like the one hanging right by the entryway to the living room?" Amelia said with a smirk that let Jo know she was completely game for the idea.
"All we have to do is get them under at the same time. Meredith still has to come downstairs. I just have to get Hayes by the doorway and once she comes in, I'll back away. And boom, we got them," Jo came up with the master plan, and to their surprise it worked.
Hayes was standing right under the mistletoe not knowing what was about to happen. Jo casually walked over to him to start small talk, and that wasn't out of character for her, so he went with it.
Meredith walked down the stairs. As soon as Jo saw her, she quickly ended the conversation with Hayes and left him there. Meredith saw him standing alone and walked over to him.
"Hey," she said smiling.
"Oh!" Amelia gasped in exclamation from the couch where she sat next to Link. Everyone fell silent and looked towards Meredith and Hayes.
"Am I missing something?" Meredith asked.
Jo coughed and pointed up. Hayes followed her finger and realized what was happening. There was a mistletoe hanging over them.
"You can't be serious right?" He asked Jo, smiling.
"Oh, I am so serious. I take Christmas very seriously. The rules are: If you are under the mistletoe with someone else you guys have to kiss," Jo said, gesturing between the two of them.
"Wilson you're pushing your…"
"Hey! Don't hate me, hate the game. I didn't make the rules. I just make sure they're enforced," Jo cut Meredith off with a wink to them both.
Hayes looked at her, and he wasn't uncomfortable or uneasy. Truthfully, he wouldn't mind kissing her right here in front of all of these people, but he knew she didn't know that. So, he reassured her.
"I don't mind if you don't," he said.
"I guess we have to shut them up somehow," she replied.
Hayes tried not to smile but he failed. He put his hand on her face and slowly leaned in. Everyone tensed up. Amelia looked at Jo. Did that actually work? They both thought to themselves as the scene played out in front of them. Meredith waited for his lips to touch hers.
Their lips met, and they both forgot anyone was watching them. Meredith's hand wrapped around Hayes's head and pulled him closer. He responded by wrapping his free hand around her waist. He wrapped his hands in her hair and slid his tongue across her bottom lip. It wasn't long before Meredith opened her mouth inviting him in. The kiss was getting heated very fast, and it didn't seem like they had any intention of stopping anytime soon.
"Ahem," Jackson faked a cough to let the two know it was a bit much.
They both begrudgingly snapped out of the magical moment they were having. Hayes's lips lingered very closely over hers for a while before he finally decided to pull all the way back. He took a step back from her and cleared his throat. While Meredith turned away and fixed her hair.
"Was that enough for you?" Hayes asked Jo. As he fixed his jacket which got disheveled during the kiss.
"I think the real question is, was that enough for you?" Jo countered.
"What was it you said? We were just playing the game," Meredith said.
"Right. Following the rules," Hayes agreed with a nod.
"The rules asked for a quick peck, not an act of cannibalism, but I digress," Jo said, putting her hands up.
They all shared a laugh and continued on with their night together. The adults joined in on games together. Despite being distracted Meredith and Hayes couldn't seem to stop thinking about the kiss that was supposed to mean nothing to them. The problem is, it meant everything.