DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN GREY'S ANATOMY, I wish I did.
Meredith: Der- get up. What time do you have to be at the hospital?
Derek: Good morning to you too!
Meredith: Good morning.
Derek: I have surgery at 8. You have the day off, right?
Meredith: Yeah. I need to get the house cleaned up. I have some packing to do.
Derek: Packing?
Meredith: Some of John's things and pictures of us. I'm sure you and your Mom don't want to see pictures of us around the house. It's time.
Derek: About that.
Meredith: What?
Derek: I guess my mom can be slightly judgmental.
Meredith: So I've heard.
Derek: From who?
Meredith: Addison.
Derek: My mom loves Addison.
Meredith: Yeah...OK. So what's up?
Derek: I don't think we should mention John. She will already have you under the microscope.
Meredith: Oh, so I should just re-write my life. I should just be exactly what she wants. FINE! I can do that! (She gets up, and runs into the bathroom shutting the door.)
Derek: Mer! I'm sorry! (Runs to the door.)
Meredith: Please, just leave. I can't deal with this right now.
Derek: I'm sorry. My mom, she can be a pain in the neck. I just want her to love you as much as I do.
Meredith: You mean the me that she wants me to be.
Derek: That's not what I meant! Be yourself, If she doesn't like you, too damn bad. Please open the door. (The door clicks. He opens it and walks over an kisses her.) I love you. You know that, right.
Meredith: Of course.
Meredith spent the day cleaning up the house and getting ready for Lynn. The more she thought about it, the more she wanted to make it work. She packed away all of the pictures of she and John. She left his room and office, she couldn't bear to pack that up yet. She shut the doors, hopefully Lynn wouldn't be nosy. She was determined to be optimistic about it. Lynn was arriving tonight. Meredith knew she couldn't cook a meal, so she planned on ordering out. Maybe she could fool Lynn into thinking she was an excellent cook. She decided to call Derek.
Derek: Hey you.
Meredith: Are you busy?
Derek: I'm never too busy for you.
Meredith: Everything is ready. We won't tell her about John. We won't tell her about the trailer. As far as she knows we live in the house together. It can be yours. Whatever. I just want this to work. I need this to work. I need us to work.
Derek: Mer. You don't have to-
Meredith: It's done. Don't worry about it. I'm doing it for you. That's what a relationship is all about, right?
Derek: Mer-
Meredith: It's my other line, I'll see you tonight. Dinner will be ready when you get here. (She flips her phone shut.)
Derek: Mer- Hello. Hello? Shit, shit, shit. I should have just told Mom not to come. Meredith is going to resent me. Shit. She already has an attitude about this. Lying was a bad idea. I hope this ends well. Crap.
Addison: Everything OK?
Derek: Not really. Mom is coming tonight.
Addison: Promise you won't throw Meredith to the wolves.
Derek: Addie- She's not that bad!
Addison: Derek, yes she is. Don't screw this up. You need to decide how important Meredith is to you.
Derek: She is the most important thing to me.
Addison: Prove it. (She walks away.)
Meredith got a call from the law office where John was a partner. They needed her to clean out his office. This was something she had been avoiding for a while. It was ending. At least with all of his things around, she didn't feel like he was missing. She had convinced herself that he was on a very long vacation. She made her way to the office. She begrudgingly pushed the elevator button, hoping that she never made it up there. When the doors opened, several people looked at her. She hated the empathy. It made her feel vulnerable. It made her feel like she was naked in the spotlight.
Chris: Meredith. I'm so sorry. I don't want to rush you. We just-
Meredith: You just need to moved someone else in. The world doesn't stop because he's dead, right? Do you have any boxes? (She definitely exuded anger and sadness.)
Chris: Of course. I will have Debbie bring them in.
Meredith unlocked the door and shut it behind her. The room was quiet, stale. She wanted to run the other way and not have to face this mess. Tears began running down her cheeks. Debbie brought the boxes in and didn't say a word. Meredith started grabbing books and placing them in the boxes. What the hell do you do with this stuff? He's dead, he doesn't need it. I'm not going to law school anytime soon. What is wrong with me. I need to calm down. Why the hell am I so angry? She grabbed the various photos of them. She remembered the happy times. The times when it was just them. John made her feel safe. Derek makes her feel safe too. She loves him, but the stress of his mother was too much to take right now. She looked at her watch and couldn't believe that she had been there three hours. She had to hurry. She had to grab dinner for the three of them. The three. The dread. Shit! She is going to hate me! Meredith makes her way to Chris' office. He is sitting there with Noah, the guy who hit on her at the law firm party.
Meredith: I'm done. I will load up the boxes. I don't know if I will be able to get them all in one trip.
Chris: Noah can follow you in his car. You have a truck, right Noah? (Meredith groaned, she was not going to put up with his crap.)
Meredith: Sounds good. (Turns to walk away.) The desk.
Chris: What?
Meredith: The desk. I need to get that too.
Chris: I thought the desk stayed.
Meredith: The desk does not stay. I bought that for John when he graduated law school. I will send some movers for it next week.
Chris: Oh, OK. Meredith once again, I'm sorry for your loss.
Meredith: Yeah, I know. Everyone is. (She smiled politely and walked away.) My address is 3535 Berkshire Ln. I have to stop and grab dinner. It will be about an hour before I get there.
Noah: I will wait a while before I leave.
Meredith loaded the last box in her Jeep and headed to the little Italian restaurant that she loved so much. She ran into the restaurant, seeing Tony, her favorite waiter.
Tony: Ah, Mrs. Thompson, it's been while! Are you here alone, or will Mr. Thompson be joining you?
Meredith: I, um. John died. There was an accident. He's gone. (She was on the brink of crying.)
Tony: Oh, I'm so sorry. I had no idea.
Meredith: Thank you. OK, then. I need spaghetti, enough for three. Some bread, salad. I can't cook you know.
Tony: Coming right up. Only the best for you!
Meredith grabbed the food and made her way home. She ran in the house, and put everything in dishes. She ran out to the garage and started pulling boxed out of her Jeep. She stacked everything in the corner. She felt guilty about it, but she was thinking she could donate the books to the local university or something. What is wrong with you? That was his livelihood. How can you just give it away? I need to move on, I have to! She heard the doorbell ring and ran to get it.
Noah: Beautiful house.
Meredith: Thanks. It was John's I would have never wanted a house like this.
Noah: So how are you?
Meredith: I'm fine. (Her response was cold and distant.)
Noah: I'm sorry about that night at the party. I was an asshole.
Meredith: Yes, you were.
Noah: You certainly don't pull any punches.
Meredith: I loved him you know.
Noah: I'm sorry. I should have never said anything about your relationship. It was none of my business. (They start unloading boxes. Just then Derek pulls up.)
Meredith: Shit!
Noah: What?
Meredith: Nothing. (She sees that he is alone in the car. She feels relieved. Maybe Lynn isn't coming.)
Derek: Hello, honey. (He kisses her. He is wondering who this man is. He wants him to know that she is his.)
Meredith: How was your day? Where's your mom?
Derek: My surgery ran late. She is coming in a cab.
Meredith: Oh. (She was definitely disappointed.) Oh shoot, Derek this is Noah. He works at the law office. I had to get his things today. Noah, this is Derek, my um, boyfriend.
Noah: (Extends his hand.) Nice to meet you.
Derek: You too. I'm going to go take a shower.
Meredith: OK. (He walks away. Noah walks to his truck, they are done with the unloading.)
Noah: So you don't waste anytime.
Meredith: What?
Noah: I mean, John's been dead for how long?
Meredith: It's none of your damn business! Who the hell do you think you are?
Noah: John's friend.
Meredith: More like employee. (It was low, she knew it right when she said it.) An employee who tries to feel up his so called friend's wife. Get the hell out of here. (He gets in his truck and drives away. Asshole!
Meredith made the table and got the house ready. She was nervous. She never remembered being this nervous. It was like her life depended on it. She loved Derek. She wanted to live happily ever after with him. What if his mom hated her? Every man cared about what his mom thought. Derek came jogging down the stairs.
Derek: Is she here yet?
Meredith: Nope. Wait. I think she is.
Derek: I'll get the door.
Meredith: (Takes in a deep breath.) Here goes nothing!
Derek: It will be fine.
Meredith watched as a beautiful dark haired woman climbed out of the cab. Derek walked out and helped her get her bags. Meredith watched her and she headed towards the door. She exuded power. She was bossy, and used to being in charge. Meredith could tell just by looking at her. Meredith felt the knot in her stomach twist tighter and tighter.
Derek: Mom, I'd like you to meet Meredith. (Meredith stuck her hand out for her to shake it, she does.)
Meredith: It's nice to meet you.
Lynn: You too. (She smiled a smile that was meant to be nasty but appeared civil.)
Meredith: We are having spaghetti for dinner. I hope you like it.
Lynn: It depends on how it is made. (Meredith ignored her and walked over toward the kitchen.) Derek, she's a little plain.
Derek: Mother!
Lynn: What? I expected something more. She just has that 'plain jane' look to her. Your house is beautiful, though.
Derek: Be nice. I'm glad you are here.
Meredith: Dinner is ready! (Lynn and Derek walk over to the table.)
Derek: It looks great!
Lynn: Looks. (Meredith felt like she had been slapped. The woman hadn't even been in the house 10 minutes and she was already insulting her.)
Meredith: Would you like some wine?
Lynn: Yes, I would. (Meredith runs down to the cellar. She dials her phone on the way.)
Cristina: Hello.
Meredith: I'm in hell. She is a bitch.
Cristina: Do McDreamy's mom?
Meredith: Is McBitchy.
Cristina: Don't put up with it. You are not a damn doormat!
Meredith: I gotta go. Just wanted you to know that I am suffering.
Cristina: Bye. (Meredith goes back upstairs with a bottle of red wine.)
Lynn: Oh-
Meredith: Is there a problem?
Lynn: I like white wine.
Meredith: I thought red would be good with pasta.
Lynn: Oh, I guess so...
Meredith: White is is! (Derek gives her an apologetic look. Meredith runs downstairs and grabs another bottle. She also drinks a shot of tequila, she was going to need it.)
Lynn: That's better.
Meredith: How is the spaghetti?
Lynn: It's OK, a little tomato-y.
Meredith: That's what it's made out of!
Lynn: I know that, dear. (She glares.) So do you live here with my son, in sin?
Meredith: (Almost chokes.) You could say that.
Lynn: Well, isn't that nice. So you are an intern. My son is your boss?
Meredith: Yes.
Lynn: Isn't that against the rules?
Derek: Mom! It's fine. It's OK. The chief knows. I love living with Meredith. We are happy. (Meredith is drinking wine like water.)
Lynn: That's good dear.
Meredith: So what did you do for a living?
Lynn: I raised my children.
Meredith: Oh, that's nice.
Lynn: You don't think that's a real job do you?
Meredith: I do.
Lynn: No you don't. You don't know what it is like raising children. (Meredith felt sick. She would have known. Derek looked at Meredith and mouthed 'I'm sorry.')
Derek: Mom, it's getting late. Let me show you to your room.
Lynn: Meredith and I were talking.
Derek: Meredith has to work early in the morning. I am off tomorrow.
Lynn: Oh. I was hoping to spend the day with her. (She gives Meredith a bitter smile.)
Meredith: I'm sure we'll get to spend time together.
Derek: Come on, mom. (Derek heads upstairs with her bags.)
Lynn: Goodnight, Meredith.
Meredith: Good night, Mrs. Shepherd.
Meredith snuck down and grabbed a bottle of tequila. She started cleaning up the kitchen. She was shaking she was so upset. How could that woman be so nasty? This was going to be horrible. Meredith slammed another two shots of tequila, then she filled the dishwasher. She heard Derek coming down. She slammed another shot. She wanted to climb underneath the sink and disappear.
Derek: Mer, I'm sorry.
Meredith: It's not your fault.
Derek: What's this? (Grabs the tequila.) You don't need this.
Meredith: Yeah, I do. (She grabs is away from him.)
Derek: She will warm up to you.
Meredith: No, she won't. I'm going to bed. I have work in the morning.
Derek: Well, goodnight. (He kisses her.)
He wanted to go up with her, but he could tell she wasn't in the mood to talk. She walked upstairs. She was glad he didn't come. She was afraid that Addison was right. He wasn't going to stand up for her. His mother was going to make her life hell. Maybe she should just give up. Derek waited an hour before going to bed. He could hear her snoring as he made his way up the stairs. She always snored louder when she had been drinking. He looked in on his mom, who was sleeping peacefully. It was the only time she was peaceful. He laid down in the bed and wrapped his arms around Meredith. How was he going to make this work?
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I almost didn't write tonight. I am in a funk about the promo for Grey's next week. I made the mistake of reading the message boards and Shonda's Blog, and I totally regret it! I know she won't die, but if she does, I am going to be crushed. This better not drive a wedge between Mer/Der. I am too emotionally involved in this show!