DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN GREY'S ANATOMY, I wish I did.
Meredith and John both looked at each other. They could tell something was wrong with Lois. John walked right over to his mother and gave her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Meredith followed suit.
Lois: I have missed you both so much! How have you been?
John: We've been good. But you, you don't look so good, Mom. Are you alright? (Meredith nodded her head in total agreement.)
Lois: I'm great! I had this terrible flu. It had me down for a couple of weeks, totally knocked me out. I am doing well now. (She had lost quite a bit of weight, and she looked pale.)
Meredith: The flu can be nasty! Did you get the flu shot like I told you to?
Lois: Yes, and every time I get one I get the damn flu.
Meredith: Well, It probably would have been worse had you not gotten the shot. So are you hungry?
Lois: A little. I made sure I ate before I left, but I could have something.
John: Good, we have this wonderful little family owned Italian restaurant that we go to. You will love it!
They arrived at the restaurant and were seated immediately at a little table in the corner. The restaurant was cozy, and always busy. It was the best kept secret in Seattle. They had their favorite waiter, Tony. John and Meredith always got the same dish.
Tony: Good evening! How are you two tonight?
Together: We're good.
Tony: And who is this lovely lady? (Motioning towards Lois.)
John: This is my mother, Lois.
Tony: Nice to meet you.
Lois: Very nice to meet you too.
Tony: What can I get you to drink?
John: We'll have a bottle of Merlot for the table. Is that OK, Mom?
Lois: That is fine.
Tony: Do you know what you want tonight? The usual?
John: You know me too well!
Meredith: Your ravioli is the best ever!
Tony: And for you?
Lois: I'll have the spaghetti.
Tony: I will be back with your salads in a few minutes.
Lois: So Mer, how is the internship going?
Meredith: I love it. I love working at the hospital.
Lois: That is great, honey. Jonathan, how is the law firm? I am so happy for you, being a senior partner. Your father would have been so proud. Of both of you. (The bell on the door dings and three familiar people walk in.)
Meredith: I really miss him, Jim, I mean. (She sees Derek walk in with Mark and Addison. Meredith is praying they don't notice them. She does not want Lois to know about Derek.)
Lois: We all do, he was a great man. He loved you both so much. God, I miss him.
John: Oh, look honey, it's your friend from work. (John waves at Derek, partially because he is jealous, and he wants to make Meredith uncomfortable. He immediately feels guilty about it.) Derek, how are you? (Meredith's face lights up, and Lois notices this.)
Derek: I'm good, and you?
John: We're wonderful.
Derek: I'd like you to meet my friends, Dr. Mark Sloan, and Dr. Addison Montgomery-Sloan. This is John, Meredith's husband. Of course you guys know Meredith.
John: Very nice to meet you. This is my mother, Lois. She just came in from Boston.
Lois: Nice to meet you! Do you work with Meredith?
Meredith: I work for all of them. They are all the Attendings in their field's.
Addison: I think we all consider Meredith more of a friend, than an employee. (She smiles.)
John: This place is great isn't it? You are more than welcome to join us, if you'd like.
Mark: Oh no, we wouldn't want to impose. Enjoy your dinner. (They all nod and say goodbye.)
The whole dinner Meredith was distracted, and everyone noticed. She couldn't help but look at him. He drew her in like a current. She couldn't come up for air. Derek was doing the same thing. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her. She was so radiant. He felt a wave of jealousy. It should be him at that table, just him and her. He wanted to walk over an shove John off the chair, just because he looked like he was enjoying himself. They locked eyes. Derek had a look of jealousy and envy, whilst John had a look of anger and hurt. They could both read each other. Meredith noticed them staring each other down and she was feeling very uncomfortable. She began making small talk with Lois to distract her. Meanwhile, over at the other table:
Addison: Maybe we chose the wrong place. (Saying to Mark, as she motions at Derek.)
Mark: They have the best food. Besides, the meeting wasn't that bad. Was it Derek? Derek?
Derek: What?
Mark: Nothing.
Addison: So he seems nice.
Derek: Yeah, for an asshole. (He says angrily.)
Mark: Oh come on, if you were in his position you would feel the same way. There is a guy less than fifty feet away from his table, who wants to bang his wife.
Addison: Mark!
Mark: It's true! I've known Derek my whole life.
Derek: (Anger building up.) He's the one that wants her to date! He obviously doesn't want the divorce. He thought he could trick her, now the joke is on him. This is war! I will fight for her, it doesn't matter what he does, she is mine. Oh he's going to try, but it won't make a difference! (Mark and Addison are take aback.)
Mark: Whoa man, calm down!
Addison: I have never seen you like this about a girl!
Derek: I have never been like this about a girl. (The group walks over.)
John: It was a pleasure meeting you both. Derek, nice to see you again. I hope you enjoy your dinner. Goodnight.
Meredith: See you guys tomorrow!
Mark and Addison: You too, goodnight.
John: Come on honey, Mom is probably tired. (He puts his arm around her resting his hand on her hip. Derek wanted to jump up and strangle him. The minute they walked out of the door Meredith pushed his hand off of her. Derek, Addison and Mark all saw this.)
Mark: Did you see that? I don't think you will have a hard time winning this war.
Derek: I hope not.
Addison: I hate to say it, but I don't think he is going to throw in the towel.
Mark: What makes you say that?
Addison: He still loves her, you can see it. He has a few tricks up his sleeve. Don't expect a retreat.
Derek: I've got to go...
Mark: We didn't get our food yet...
Derek: Suddenly, I'm not hungry. (He throws money down on the table.)
Addison: Derek...wait. (He walks out.) Oh no, this is bad.
Mark: Really bad.
Addison: He has fallen hard. I hope to God she gets a divorce. If she doesn't, it will crush him.
Mark: You aren't kidding, and John isn't too shabby.
Addison: That's for sure. (Mark raises his eyebrows at her. Addison couldn't deny that he was the sweetest kind of man candy.)
The ride home was pretty quiet. Lois could sense the tension in the car. She didn't want to bring it up. When they got home John gave Lois a tour of the house. She was so proud of her son. The house was over the top, but she knew he didn't grow up with a lot so she didn't say anything. She was growing tired and John could tell so he showed her her room. Meredith came in tell her goodnight.
Lois: So, they were nice, especially Derek.
Meredith: Yeah, he's a good boss.
Lois: So, when are you going to be honest with me?
Meredith: About what?
Lois: Derek.
Meredith: It's nothing.
Lois: Meredith, you are practically my daughter. Your face lit up when he walked in. I haven't seen you look like that in years. I remember your wedding say. You were the most distraught bride I had ever seen. I knew something was wrong. I could see the sadness in your eyes, and the guilt in his. Things were never the same after that. I don't know what he did to you, I don't even want to know. I just know you two have not been happy in a long time.
Meredith: You are right. John did something that hurt me so bad. It crushed my soul. My spark went out. (She starts to weep.) I can't forgive him, I just can't. Last week, I asked John for a divorce. He has this stupid plan. He is making me date for two months. Can you believe it? Derek, he's great. We went on a few dates. He makes me feel so good. Like John used to. I feel so guilty. I can't take it anymore. I don't know what to do. I miss John, I miss how it was.
Lois: You know when I first heard the name Meredith Grey? (Meredith nods her head no.) John was 10. He walked in after baseball practice. He was in an especially happy mood. Jim (his father) asked him what was on his mind. Do you know what he said? "I'm in love." Ten years old, and he's in love! Jim asked him who the lucky girl was and he said "Meredith Grey, she is like an angel. We're going to get married and have two kids, a boy named Jack, and a girl named Bella. I will be an attorney, and she, she'll be whatever she wants. We are going to be so happy." Jim said "And what does Meredith think about this?" and John said "She doesn't know yet. But I'm not worried, she will, I love her." (Meredith is smiling and crying.) I thought it was a joke, and look what happened. I was so happy for you two. You were meant to be. I am not saying this to change your mind. I just want you to know that John loves you. It's an all consuming love. You have to make yourself happy. I love you as much as I love my son. I want you to both be happy, and if you aren't you need to move on. It will crush him if you get a divorce, but if you aren't still friends, it will kill him. No matter what, he is strong, he will be OK. He loves you enough to let you go. (Meredith is still crying. Lois is right. She laid there next to Lois for a long time, neither of them talking. Meredith realized that Lois was asleep, and went to her bedroom.)
When she got to her room, John was in her bed. She didn't want to tell him that Lois knew, she knew that he would be upset that she told her. He never gave his mom enough credit, she was a strong person. She grumbled and she got under the covers. He was already asleep. He was snoring loudly. He wouldn't stop. She couldn't sleep. She pushed him, kicked him, tried to roll him over. He kept snoring. It was so enticing as he honked like a fog horn in the night, to just shove him off of the bed. She had to stop herself from smothering him, she fantasized about. Finally, with a last attempt before insanity set in, she plugged his nose with her fingers. It was 2 am and she had to be up at 4:30.
John: What the hell? I knew things were bad, but I never thought you would try to kill me!
Meredith: (Raises her voice.) If I wanted to kill you, I would make it a little more painful! You have got to stop snoring! I can't take it! I have to get up in two hours. You are like a boat. I'm waiting for the captain to say "All Ashore."
John: I AM NOT! I do not snore!
Meredith: The bags under my eyes say otherwise. I do not want to have to go sleep on the couch.
John: OK, OK. I will try not to. I will sleep on my side.
Meredith: Goodnight! What is left of it. (Within ten minutes, Meredith was asleep. She was snoring just as loudly as he was, and now he was tossing and turning. The alarm went off at 4:30, and she didn't wake up. John tried to get her up, but she wouldn't wake up, she just kept on snoring. He finally shoved her right of the bed. She jumped up.)
Meredith: What the hell? (She jumped on the bed and they began wrestling around, she won, and straddled him.)
John: Now this is a good position. (She just shook her head and got up and went to the bathroom to get ready for work. When she looked at herself in the mirror, she looked terrible. It was going to be a fun day.)
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I will write about the Law Firm party tomorrow. It was going to be in this chapter, but this one ended up being pretty long on it's own.