Hey guys! Thank you for the kind reviews and suggestions! I appreciate your feedback because I see it as a connection between writer and reader that helps bring feedback to improve the story and create something that the reader can enjoy and feel a part of. My favorite part of reading is when I feel connected tot he characters! Anyways, I would never write Meredith's reaction as disowning Zola because it's completely out of character, however, you'll see how Meredith and the twisted sisters handle it! And I'm working on establishing a relationship with her and her daughter. Because during teenage years it's typically for mother and daughters to have a certain distance, and I wanna close that gap between Meredith and Zola in this chapter, so you don't get the idea that she doesn't have a relationship with her mom! Anyways, I will be busy writing the next fees days and working, so I'm gonna try to change my idea and publish new chapters on Fridays! Don't worry, there will be more, see you Friday! Here's a short chapter to fill you in!
Chapter 4
"Am I the only one that doesn't hear things until the moment comes around in this house?!" Meredith asks in exasperated, flailing her hands around in frustration.
Zola tucks herself deeper into the couch cushions, watching her mother frantically pace the living room in front of the coffee table, and looks to her aunts for help. Maggie smiles reassuringly for moral support, but she knew even as her aunt and her confident, this should be something she should be telling her mother, from her point of view, not her aunt.
Zola had always confided in Maggie, since little on, from deciding early on that she wanted to be like her daddy to deciding on colleges. But Maggie knew that she was not Zola's mother and if she was in Meredith's position, she'd be hurt to know that her daughter was afraid to open up to her. She'd sit down with her kid and try to open a more comforting line of communication. She was happy to help Zola, but she was not her mother, and she wanted Zola to be less afraid.
Meredith was a doctor; If her patients didn't tell the truth it would make it harder to treat them or diagnose them and it couldn't even lead to fatal errors. Though Zola's "condition" wasn't fatal, it would be easier for everyone once she opened up. Maggie wanted Zola to have a relationship with her mom.
After all, Meredith was wise beyond her years and once past the initial shock would be more than willing to help. She would never turn a patient away, so when it came to her own daughter, she'd do the same, if not more for her or any of her children. So Maggie encouraged a reluctant Zola to talk to her mom.
She was the one who could really help and she didn't want to interfere. Though they were all her number one support system, she knew the importance of Zola talking to her mother. She was only the aunt, after all. Zola needed her mother, and Maggie knew exactly where her place was and which lines she should not cross as an aunt.
"Well, what do you have to say for yourself, Zola?" She demands, waiting for her to speak up and explain.
"Mom, I'm really, really sorry." Zola began, unsure where else to start and watches as her mother's face softens.
"Well that's a start. But Zo, it doesn't change the fact that you're pregnant! Or that you went behind my back to go to Arizona's office. Do you think that was fair to make her or your aunt Maggie keep that secret from me?"
"No mom." She shamefully agrees, trying not to raise her voice as her mother was trying to do also. "It was stupid, just an act out of pure thoughtlessness of the consequences. He told me I'm beautiful, stroked my hair as he began to…" She begins.
"No sweetie, not that." Amelia warns, trying to be helpful but Meredith shoots her a look of disapproval before she shuts up, wondering if she should even be there.
"Mom, I understand that is was stupid. If you wanna throw me out or disown me like they do in every other one of those tv dramas, or if you want to accept it, that's up to you. But I know what I did was wrong, I understand that. I just want you to love me, no matter what choices I make."
Zola plead repeatedly, trying to throw in lighthearted humor that poked fun at tv shows where the mother would become livid and immediately throw their kid out, without a chance to explain. Zola found comfort in knowing that even though she believed her mother would never do that, it was still not going to be a walk in the park. Her mom's been through a lot, and this was just another unfair disappointment she didn't deserve.
Meredith's face softens, seeing the actual guilt and hurt on Zola's face, causing her heart to ache for the young girl more than she had intended. After all, she was still her mother at the end of the day and tomorrow, and she would never let anything change how she felt for her kids. She was their biggest advocate, but at some point they had to be their own advocate, learn independence and self discipline from mistakes. Everyone screws up, but somethings can be avoided.
"I'm your mom; There's nothing big or small you could do to make me love you any less and I would cross burning bridges for all my children, no matter how stupid the decision. The thing that matters most to me is that you are who I raised you to be. Someone who is true to themselves, and kind to others, puts them first."
Meredith sits on the end table, looking her tearful and sheepish daughter in the eyes firmly, and though she looked and sounded extremely disappointed, there was a certain comfort and sadness in her mom's eyes. Meredith grabbed Zola's hands, her creases at the edge of her mouth slightly smiling.
"Zola, as disappointed as I am in you, I will always love you. You shouldn't feel like you have to hide things from me. And it's okay to confide in Maggie and Amelia, but I'd rather you come to me with things first instead of hiding them."
Meredith sighs, brushing Zola's hair from her face and saw the shame and worry in her face, but ultimately relief that Meredith wasn't screaming, wasn't denying her as her own, or throwing her out and disowning her. After all, her mom was a doctor so she felt as if she had to be the perfect little child. She felt like she had done her mother dirty, making her mom look like she doesn't know how to take care of her own kids or teach them the basics about human anatomy and sex.
"Ultimately they can't make the decisions for you. You were given choices, and you chose the wrong ones. We can't help you go back and change that. But we can be here as you move forward and take this one mistake and make it into a lesson."
"I'm sorry mom. I've made you look bad. Not only to your fellows, but as a doctor. I've disappointed you."
"Maggie and I are doctors too , you know." Amelia slurs, wine thick on her lips.
"Do I need to kick you out? You're not helping!" Meredith warns Amelia, irritated with her unwanted banter and comments when she had been drinking.
Amalia was basically unnecessary to the conversation and irrelevant, hard to take seriously when she was on her third glass. Meredith chose to ignore the rest of her talking and turned back to her distraught daughter, fearfully wringing her hands together on the couch, as her arms held a couch cushion to her stomach.
"Zola, I couldn't care less what this makes me look like as a doctor or what others will think. Being a doctor doesn't exempt you from being human and making mistakes. This is not a reflection on our characters or me as a parent. The only thing that matters is how we react to it, how we move on and learn from it. That's all I want aside from your well being."
Zola feels relief flood over her as Meredith reaches out to hug her rigged daughter, shaking from the bones out, goosebump apparent on her arms, complimented by heavy breathing. Zola's tense body slowly sunk into her mother's as she relaxed, the tension no longer thick enough to cut with a knife. Meredith eventually pulls away, first whispering an 'I love you' in her ear.
"Now, you have adult decisions to make; Do you know your options?" Meredith slightly chastens her, taking away from the bittersweet moment to become more serious again.
"Well, adoption is a beautiful thing. I want to find my baby a mother that's as wonderful and you and dad have been. As open minded and welcoming, selfless even. Someone who knows that family is more than just blood. And is willing to sacrifice as much as you, dad and the aunts have for us these past several years."
Zola's heart feels as if it was going to burst, more than just nervousness and shakiness in her voice, but the happy rythme that reassured her that everything was going to be okay and brought comfort.
"I couldn't agree more." Maggie piped in, taking another sip from her wine glass.
"We love you Zo, and couldn't be more proud of who you've become, despite this one thing." Amelia pitches in, greatful that even if she couldn't have a child herself, that Zola could be a darn good mother in her place.
"Yeah, a mother's love is limitless and unconditional." Maggie added, trying to be more helpful than Amelia had been.
"One more thing before we let you go," Meredith finally adds, seriousness painted all over her face. "Even though you're forgiven, it doesn't mean you're getting off so easy. You're still for certain grounded."
"Moooom..." Zola groans before realizing how lucky she was getting off. "How long?"
"For 'til college." She blatantly dismisses, as if she didn't even need to think about it. That being said, you will be riding the bus to school the rest of the year. Your curfew will be eight on school nights, and nine on weekends for the rest of the school year as well."
"Can't we have an except for "good behavior" or something?" She attempts to joke lightheartedly.
"Zo, this isn't the time for jokes. Your mom is being more than fair." Amelia warns, and Meredith nods, despite the fact that it was more "drunk" Amelia speaking.
"Please mom, the bus when I'm extremely pregnant? By the end of the year I'll be over eight months pregnant!" Zola pleas.
"Right. You should've of thought of that before you decided to have sex… at all." Meredith chastens before yawning. "Get your butt upstairs and brush your teeth, it's time for bed." Meredith demands, watching as Zola obediently scurries up the stairs gratefully before Meredith changed her mind.
"Boy, did Derek get a lucky break on having to deal with that! That was waaay too much and unexpected for even the twisted sisters to handle, but we did it." Amelia smiles lopsidedly, only to be shot a look of disapproval and shock from the other two.
