2008: Spring

Ages of the kids: Maggie - 16, Beth - 12, Joel - 8, Luke and Daniel - 6 , Noah - 4

Hershel took Meredith out for a long weekend for their anniversary, they went to Atlanta from Friday night to Sunday afternoon. They came home to Otis and Patty along with Noah, Luke and Daniel watching a movie. "Maggie and Beth left to go to town earlier.." Patty said sitting back.

"Aright." Hershel smiled hugging the boys with Meredith. Maggie had just gotten her license and had her 16th birthday, she also drove one of the farm trucks to school now along with dropping Beth off to school on her way in.

They talked for a while, then Patty and Otis left to go enjoy the rest of their sunday. Maggie and Beth came home a bit later.

"Hey mama?" Maggie said walking into the kitchen as Meredith filled up a glass of water.

"Yes honey?" She asked then took a drink, then sat it down on the counter. "What's wrong?"

"I uhm - Can we go for a walk outside?" Maggie asked zipping her coat up.

"Sure honey." She grabbed her coat and put it back on and walked outside threw the slightly melted snow to the barn to check on the horses.

"Mama.." Maggie said leaning against one of the stalls petting her horse - Bolt.

"Yes honey?" She asked checking on the other horses.

"I….I want to go on birth control." Maggie said softly. "I don't have a period for almost 6 months and then when I do it's really awful." She sighed.

"Oh. Well, we can get you into the doctor."

"I don't want to go to our doctor in town…" Maggie looked down. "Can I go see yours in Atlanta?"

"I think they are taking new patients." She sighed. "You can call in the morning and get an appointment."

"Okay." Maggie sighed softly. "Thanks mama." She said hugging her.

Meredith nodded and hugged her back. "Anytime kiddo."

Maggie called and got into the doctor, they went a few weeks later and got her in. Maggie decided to end up telling her dad she was going because she was having problems and just leaving it at that. She asked her mom to go with her, and she went. Meredith went back with Maggie because she was asked and Maggie didn't want to go alone.

Maggie was suggested to get some additional tests done and she found out she had issues with her one ovary having a cyst on it, and in a lot of pain in general.

Later on that month Maggie went in for surgery to have the cyst removed and tested. She ended up getting good news that it wasn't cancerous. She was taken home by Meredith and Hershel. Maggie laid against Maggie being exhausted from the long day. Meredith rubbed her back and hummed a lullaby the kids liked when they were little.

"Thank you Mama." She said softly.

"Anytime honey." Meredith said rubbing her back more and kissed her forehead.

The following week Beth got asked out to go on a date with the farmhand; Josiah's son named Jimmy. Meredith and Hershel decided to go but to also keep an eye on them. They sat at a seperate table and a few rows back at the movie theater - they went to go see :

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Josiah told them what movies were okay for Jimmy to see - and they agreed with the movie choice that that Jimmy and Beth wanted to see.

Beth closed her eyes during a few scenes that slightly scared her. Meredith laughed softly to herself during the scenes. "The cgi is so bad in this."

Hershel chuckled slightly kissing her neck. "It is… At least in the others it was slightly more believable."

Meredith smiled and tilted her head. "So true. Harrison Ford looks good though for being 65."

"Hey now, don't go letting your eyes wander." Hershel said patting her thigh.

She bit her lip. "I won't." She winked teasing him. "Only 17 years older than you are." She leaned in and smiled.

"Looking forward to me at that age?" He raised a eyebrow, smiling slightly.

"Shhh!" Someone behind them sighed.

Meredith smiled, kissing him. "Possibly." She teased rubbing her hand on his thigh. They continued watching the movie and when it was over they went to the car and drove Jimmy home. Beth and Jimmy walked to the house and talked for a bit. They tried not watching but caught a little bit of Beth getting a kiss and a hug. She slowly walked back to the car and got in, smiling but keeping quiet. She was playing with the bracelet he gave her.

"Thank you for taking us daddy and mama." Beth said finally after a while, she played with her blonde hair while playing with her bracelet also.

"You're welcome honey." Hershel smiled.

Meredith smiled walking inside with them. "Did you have fun?"

"I did." Beth smiled walking upstairs lost in her own little world.