Meredith wrapped her arms around Maggie, gently moving her towards a chair. Her neck was damp from the tears Maggie had shed. Meredith rubbed up and down her back trying to get the girl to talk to her.

Maggie gulped in a bug breath of air before speaking, "I need to come live with you and Derek," was a mumbled reply Meredith received as Maggie had buried her head back in to Meredith's neck.

Meredith stood there shocked at what her daughter's statement was. She could not fathom why Maggie needed to come live with her and Derek as she had her adoptive parents back in Boston. Of course Meredith did not have a problem with it, she would be willing to do anything for her daughter.

"You have to tell me what happened first," Meredith told her gently, trying to get to the root of the problem. She hadn't heard anything from the Pierce's that would cause Meredith to worry, in fact just the week before she had spoken with Cindy over the phone about graduation plans.

"We were going camping. There was a curvy road and an animal came out of nowhere, Dad tried to stop but the road was slippery from rain. We spun in circles and ended up going off the road," Maggie sputtered, never stopping to take a breath. She wanted to tell the facts and never speak of it again, the pain still fresh.

Meredith had an idea of where it was going, but she needed to be sure, "…is everyone…"

Maggie shook her head signaling the answer Meredith feared. She was thankful her daughter seemed unharmed physically, but devastated that the family she hand picked for her daughter was cut short. "Okay…okay. We'll be a house of four then. I'm sure Lexie will love having you there as much as Derek and I do." Meredith hugged her daughter tightly, her heartbreaking for the teen.

Lexie walked down the hall reaching the OR board. Derek was standing there having just removed his scrub cap. She walked over to him and relayed Meredith's message.

"Meredith said she was looking for you. Didn't say what about, just for me to pass the message along," Lexie stated.

Derek looked at her, "would that be why she paged me a few minutes ago?"

Lexie shook her head, "Could be. I left her about ten minutes ago, so it might not be. She sounded like she meant business."

Derek laughed with Lexie as he knew the tone she was talking about that Meredith spoke with. "Guess I better go find her then. See you later, Lex." Derek waved as he walked off in search of his post-it wife.

He found her hugging a woman in the waiting room, first he believed it was the family of a patient as she had her compassionate doctor face on, where he could tell she was doing her best to hold back her emotions. But as he walked closer, he realized that the woman was not a patient's family member, but a member of his own family.

It was as if Meredith sensed his presence. Derek's eyes met Meredith's immediately, with Derek having a rather confused face. He saw Meredith whisper in Maggie's ear before hugging her closer. As he walked towards the two, he heard what Meredith was saying.

"We'll get you settled in the lounge, okay? I have to work another hour or so, and then I'll take us both home. Do you want anything to eat or drink?" Meredith received a shake of the head, and guided the girl towards the attending's lounge, motioning for Derek to follow.

He watched as Meredith got her daughter settled in in the lounge and waiting outside the door for her. When Maggie was settled, Meredith told her that she would be back soon and made her way out toward Derek.

He held on to the top of her arms as she let out a shaky breath. His questioning eyes had her speaking immediately.

"Cindy and Sam had a bad accident…Maggie was in the car with them, watched them…" that was her undoing, Meredith crumpled into her post-it husband's arms and let her tears roll down.

Derek caught her as her weight went in to him, doing his best to soothe her. He was shocked to hear what had happened. And he knew if he wanted to know the whole story he would probably have to drag it out of Meredith later that night or the next day.

"I'll talk to Owen, tell him there was an emergency. You take Maggie home and I'll meet you guys there, okay?" Derek made the offer and was relieved when he felt Meredith nod her head. She did not have the energy to protest, rather she wanted to be with her daughter more than anything.

Meredith swiped at her eyes riding the rest of the tears before going back in to the attending lounge. Maggie looked up when she saw her with a confused look on her face.

"Derek is talking to the chief, I'm taking you home now. We both don't need to be here."

Maggie nodded her head in agreement and the two headed out. The teen then became nervous. Would there even be any room for her? She had never been to Meredith's house before, so she had no idea what she was getting herself into.

"Is there…I mean, am I…going to be in the way? I don't want to be a burden on anyone."

"No. You are not a burden, there is more than enough room for you. Lexie has her own room, and we have two open bedrooms. Technically one, down the hall from us. I would let you choose which one, but Derek and I were hoping to keep the one across from us empty."

Maggie eyed her birth mother. She was trying to see if there were any differences since the last time she had seen her. "Are you having…"

Meredith sighed and shook her head, "No, we can't. But we were thinking of looking into adopting a patient we have from Africa. I just…I don't want to make things difficult for you. Overwhelm you with more family when you just…lost yours." She didn't mean to say all of that out loud, it sort of just came out. Partially because she needed to tell someone what she and Derek were thinking of doing as they had kept it between just the two of them.

Maggie looked at Meredith and shook her head. "Go ahead with the plans. I don't want you to out everything on hold for me. In fact, I think having a sibling might even help. I like having a big family. That's why I'm hoping you and Derek will let me stay."

Meredith reached over with her right hand and rested it on Maggie's folded hands. "You don't even have to ask if you can stay. Stay as long as you want, live there when you go to college, whatever you want. We just want you to feel safe and loved. And I know Derek feels the same way. You've always had him wrapped around your fingers ever since you were two or three."

"He'll make a great dad," Maggie said but then got quiet. "Are you okay with me not calling you mom? At least not just yet…I mean I know you're my mom, but…"

Meredith cut off the girl's inevitable rambling, "I don't expect you to call me mom, Cindy raised you, she will always be your mom. You have always called me by some form of my name, keep doing that. Whatever makes yo feel comfortable."