Chapter 66:

May 13, 2026- Seattle, Washington

The reunited family got in their car on a rainy Seattle morning. Meredith seemed to be in a daze and Derek kept a very watchful eye on her while holding her hand in the car. Their daughters sat in the back, silent, not knowing what to expect; none of them did.

When they reached the cemetery, Derek turned off the car and everyone got out except for Meredith. She didn't move. She hadn't been there since they buried her mother twenty years ago and she wasn't happy about being back. Derek got back in the car while his daughters waited knowingly outside.

"Mer, we can go home if you want," Derek said a little unsure of how to approach her.

"No, I should be here. It's the right thing to do, right?" she asked looking at him with her eyes full of vulnerability.

"Only you can decide that," Derek said squeezing her hand.

Meredith took a deep breath and looked out the window, "Okay, I can do this."

"You can do this," Derek repeated before getting out of the car. He opened an umbrella and walked over to the other side of the car for Meredith to get under it as she got out of the car.

Meredith looked up at Derek for reassurance before taking a step closer to the funeral. He smiled down at her and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. She relaxed a little and the family made their way towards the large group of people.

Meredith's eyes immediately met those of her father's wife. Derek felt her tense up a little and he pulled her closer. The woman was crying as she looked up at Meredith. She gave her a look full of hate and confusion, one that Meredith didn't deserve.

The funeral went on as Meredith stood close to Derek with their daughters in front of them, in the pouring down rain. Eyes continued to look over at Meredith and her family. No one knew who she was other than the rest of the Grey family. As the funeral came to an end, Derek squeezed Meredith's hand tighter and she looked up at him.

"I think we should go," she whispered. Derek gave her a sympathetic smile and kissed her on the forehead before turning around with his daughters following them.

"Meredith? Meredith!"

Meredith felt tears running down her face as she ignored the noise behind her. She didn't want to deal with the family she never had. Celine and Aimee quickly got in the back of the car as Derek opened her door for her.

"Meredith."

Meredith looked up and met the eyes of a woman that she'd only seen once before in her life, but could have recognized anywhere. Her image was glued next to her father's, in the place where her mother should have been.

"Meredith, could we talk?"

"Actually, we were on our way out," Derek said coming to Meredith's rescue. He knew she wasn't ready to deal with this and he didn't want her to hurt anymore then she already had been.

"It'll only take a moment."

Meredith wiped away her tears before looking towards the woman, "What is there to say?"

Derek was surprised that she'd said anything, but he didn't stop her. There were lots of times that he didn't understand her actions, but he knew to just let her do what she needed to do.

"I just wanted to let you know that he really did love you. He'd always tell people that he had three daughters, not two. And after he found you, he'd brag about you and say how successful you are. He's always been proud of you."

"Well, he never told me that so I really don't have any reason to believe it. I'm gonna go because my daughters are in the car," Meredith said turning to get back in her car.

"Wait, Meredith."

Meredith turned around and looked at the woman. She looked sad and desperate. She looked broken. Meredith almost sympathized with her; after all she'd felt like that way too many times in her life. Meredith looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

"Did you get it? The envelope he was bringing you? Did they give it to you?"

"Yes."

"Did you read it?"

Meredith shook her head, "No. I didn't and I don't think I'm going to. I've moved past what my father did and now I have my own daughters to worry about. I'm not going to let him or your family make me feel guilty for never forgiving him because I'm still not going to. Please, just leave us alone."

Meredith got in the car and looked over to Derek who was sitting with his hands on the steering wheel. She looked back at her daughters and gave them a half-hearted smile telling them that it was okay. Or at least that it would be okay.

She looked back at Derek who started the car and began to back away from the funeral. She looked over towards her father's wife and saw that her daughters had joined her. The daughters were trying to comfort their mother who never took her eyes off of Meredith until she was out of sight.