DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN GREY'S ANATOMY, I wish I did.
Meredith had been at the hospital for two days. The dinner was tonight, and she had no idea how she was going to pull it off. Lynn could only get a flight that would arrive on Tuesday morning. She had promised Meredith that she would prepare the dinner. Lynn was originally supposed to arrive on Monday, leaving her plenty of time to get everything ready. Now she was going to be a day late. Her flight was going to arrive at nine. It was seven o'clock in the morning. Derek had surgery at seven-thirty and Meredith had gotten up with him. She was going to go to the grocery store and buy all of the supplies that Lynn needed to make the dinner. Meredith had only gotten four hours of sleep and was feeling pretty damn tired. She grabbed her purse and jumped in her Jeep, making her way to the grocery store. She was just pulling in the parking lot when her cellphone rang.
Meredith: Hello?
Lynn: Hello, Dear. I have bad news.
Meredith: Oh God, what?
Lynn: My flight has been delayed, it hasn't even taken off yet.
Meredith: What? You have got to be kidding me. When is it supposed to depart?
Lynn: I am supposed to arrive in Seattle at five.
Meredith: Shit! (She gasps.) Sorry, I didn't mean to say that. This is unbelievable.
Lynn: The dinner, I'm so sorry.
Meredith: It's not your fault. Now what am I going to do?
Lynn: We could go out...
Meredith: No. I don't know, I'll figure it out. (She runs her hand through her hair.)
Lynn: I'm sorry.
Meredith: I have to go. Um, I will make sure that Derek picks you up. See you later. (She hangs up.)
Lynn: Oh dear.
Meredith: (Dials Derek's number. He answers.) Hey.
Derek: Hey. I only have a minute, I'm headed into surgery.
Meredith: We have a problem.
Derek: What?
Meredith: Your mother isn't arriving until five.
Derek: What's wrong with that?
Meredith: What's wrong with that? What's wrong with that?! (She raises her voice.) She is the cook!
Derek: Oh. Well, we could go out.
Meredith: No. That's not how it's supposed to be. No, no, no. (She is getting upset.)
Derek: I will cook.
Meredith: You are working. Besides, you have to pick your mom up, at five.
Derek: So what are we going to do? We could get take out...
Meredith: I am a well-educated, capable person.
Derek: Yes--you are.
Meredith: I will cook.
Derek: What! Mer, no. We will go out. (He begs.)
Meredith: I can do this. I can.
Derek: I have to go. Please. We'll go out.
Meredith: Bye, Derek. (She hangs up.)
Meredith heads into the grocery store. She pulls out the list that Lynn had e-mailed her. She could do this. It can't be that hard. She is a surgeon. All she has to do is follow the directions. Reading words off of paper and following them, simple. Of course the dinner Lynn had planned was complex. It was going to be great. It would have been even better if Lynn were here to do all of the work. She grabbed her cart, and started making her way down the aisles. She threw fresh vegetables, beef tenderloin, garlic, shrimp, tomatoes, cheese, and many other ingredients. Had she completely lost her mind? She was beginning to wonder herself. After buying a cart full of groceries, she headed home. She had a lot of work to do.
Meredith went over the recipes over and over again. She second guessed herself a dozen times. She started cleaning the house and getting everything ready. It was a big day. This was important. After cleaning the house, she started preparing the food that could be cooked early. She knew she was going to have a hard time getting herself ready, as well as the meal. She started making the breadsticks that she was going to serve as an appetizer with different dips. The breadsticks were already made, all she had to do was bake and glaze them. She was on cloud nine when her first project was completed with success. She also pre-made the cocktail sauce that was going to be served with the shrimp cocktail. The day moved along and Meredith had taken a shower, and now it was time to start making the main dish for the meal. She felt like she had everything under control. She pulled out the beef tenderloins and started chopping the mushrooms, shallots and garlic. She followed the steps precisely. Just like surgery, she thought. She was going to wow them. That was until the smoke started to billow. She was burning the mushrooms, and garlic. She quickly got everything under control, and continued. She was covered in food. It was hard enough to cook, let alone for thirteen people. She panicked several times, but got herself under control. She was just finishing up when Derek and Lynn walked in.
Derek: You're really cooking?
Meredith: Yes, now leave my kitchen.
Lynn: (Hugs her.) How are you?
Meredith: Good. Stressed out. Now go! If I have to do this, I want the credit. Or the blame.
Lynn: I'm sure it will be good.
Derek: (Yells from upstairs.) You haven't tasted her ravioli!
Meredith: Derek! It wasn't that bad. (She looks at Lynn.) It was. Look's like I'm as done as I can be for the moment. I need to go get dressed. Everyone will be here soon. Oh, your room is ready with fresh linens.
Lynn: Thank you. It's good to see you!
Meredith: You too. (She goes in their bedroom.)
Derek: Are you going to join me?
Meredith: No! I already took a shower. Besides, I'll never come out. You get me into trouble.
Derek: That was the point.
Meredith: Nope. I have will power.
Derek: You do not. Come on... (He cocks his head.)
Meredith: No, Derek. Now hurry up! (She walks in her closet and puts on a knee-length black dress. The one that Derek loves. He gets out of the shower as she does her hair.)
Derek: Wow. You look amazing.
Meredith: Thank you.
Derek: You look even better without it.
Meredith: Later, Dr. Shepherd. Later.
They both head downstairs. Meredith goes in the kitchen and starts putting the appetizers on plates. She hears the door bell ring. Everyone starts coming in one after another. She hears Derek offering them drinks. She goes out and greets everyone, then goes back to the kitchen. Derek is in the living room with them.
Derek: I'm so sorry.
Mark: For what?
Derek: Meredith cooked the meal.
Cristina: Oh, God. Damn-it Preston, I told you we needed to stop somewhere.
Burke: It can't be that bad.
Izzie: Oh, yes. It is.
Addison: You guys!
Callie: Give her a chance.
George: She might pull it off...
Alex: Fat chance.
Ellis: If she's anything like me...this could be a disaster.
Richard: She can do it.
Lynn: It smelled good.
Derek: I will pay for you all to go out to dinner when you leave.
Addison: Derek!
Derek: You have no idea... I'm surprised she hasn't burned the house down yet.
Lynn: Derek, you are not doing that. Not unless someone sneaks food back for us!
Derek: Okay, now who's bad?
Meredith: Okay, everyone...It's ready!
Lynn: Oh, good. (Everyone makes their way into the dining room. The appetizers looked pretty. Everyone takes their seats, and Derek begins pouring wine.)
Addison: These breadsticks are good.
Mark: They are. The dip is good too.
Derek: Wow, Mer.
Meredith: Thanks. I worked on it all day.
Derek: So, I'm sure you are all wondering why you are here. (He looks at Meredith.)
Meredith: We've picked the day!
Lynn: Your wedding day? (She had a huge smile on her face.)
Derek: Yes. One month from today.
Ellis: Are you crazy? That's not enough time!
Lynn: One month? That's thirty days, and today is over. Twenty-nine days?
Izzie: Oh my gosh...
Meredith: I have been planning for awhile.
Cristina: So you're actually going through with this?
Meredith: Yes, Cristina.
Lynn: So, what are you doing? With the wedding.
Meredith: We're getting married in the Italian Riviera.
Izzie: How romantic.
Derek: We know it is short notice, and we realize it is far away. If you can't make it, we will understand. (The interns look at the Chief.)
Richard: I'm sure we can arrange something...
Meredith: I will give you all the details after dinner.
Derek: There's more.
Lynn: I knew it! You're pregnant!
Meredith: No, I'm not pregnant. I haven't gotten pregnant since you asked me on Thursday. (Everyone laughs.)
Lynn: I can hope...
Burke: So, what's the news?
Derek: They broke ground yesterday. We are building a house.
Meredith: On the property.
Mark: You're building a house?
Callie: How awesome is that?
Richard: Do you have blueprints.
Derek: They are in the office. It's timber framed. Five bedrooms.
Richard: That will go nicely with the property.
Ellis: A little rustic, don't you think? Meredith, that's not you.
Derek: Actually, she is the one that had the idea.
Ellis: (Surprised.) Really?
Derek: So we are putting this house up for sale.
Addison: Really...We were actually looking... Mark.
Mark: Oh God. She already wants it.
Derek: It is very "Addison".
Mark: Don't encourage her. I will have to work seven days a week to pay for this.
Meredith: Oh, please! (She laughs.) I will show you around before you leave. (She smiles at Mark.)
Ellis: I will have to see it too. Since I've never been here.
Meredith: Not because you were unwelcome.
Ellis: I suppose if I'd been--(She felt Richard grabbing her leg.)
Meredith: So how was the hospital?
Cristina: I scrubbed in on an aortic aneurysm.
Burke: It was a good one.
Richard: It was busy.
George: I was in the pit.
Alex: I was on the vagina squad.
Addison: Karev!
Alex: Hey-we're not at work!
Izzie: I was with Dr. McDreamy.
Derek: Oh, please. You're at my house, just call me McDreamy!
Ellis: You are McDreamy? (She laughs.) That's all I hear all day. McDreamy this and that. My daughter is marrying McDreamy... So how's you get that name.
All: Cristina! (They all continued small conversation. Meredith brought out the pear and asiago cheese salad. Everyone commented on how good it was. Meredith went into the kitchen and Derek followed.)
Derek: So who helped?
Meredith: What?
Derek: You expect me to believe you made this yourself?
Meredith: I did.
Derek: You... are amazing. (He walks over and kisses her on the neck. The kissing becomes passionate. After a while Cristina comes in, and then walks out.)
Cristina: Pay up! I told you. They can't keep their hands off of each other. (They come out carrying shrimp cocktail.)
Meredith: What?
Izzie: Cristina was talking about how sex crazed you are.
Meredith: What? No.
Alex: They cannot keep their hands off of each other.
Derek: That's not true...
Callie: So, Meredith can't cook, huh? Doesn't seem that way to me... (She tries to change the subject.)
Meredith: Thank you, Callie!
Derek: Oh, no. You never experienced the ravioli. It was rancid.
Meredith: Derek!
Derek: It was date three, I think. She had a quota to meet, you know. Ahh, fond memories. She tried to cook ravioli. It was horrible. She burned the bread. We weren't that hungry anyway. Not for that, at least. (She smacks him in the arm.)
Izzie: Was that when you broke your nose, Der. And Mer- you sprained your ankle?
Lynn: You broke your nose. How on earth?
Cristina: They almost got caught...
Meredith: Cristina! (She is getting stressed out.)
Cristina: What? John's dead. He doesn't care. Yep, they had to sneak out of the house in the morning. John almost caught them. Derek tripped and broke his nose.
Addison: (Laughs.) And he wiped his blood on her alpaca sweater!
Ellis: You cheated on John? You had sex?
Meredith: Oh, God. (She moans.) John and I...we had an understanding. (The understatement of the year.) It's a long story.
Ellis: We will talk about this later.
Meredith: That's like the pot calling the kettle black. Don't you think? (She gives Richard an apologetic look.)
Lynn: Ellis, relax. I think we all know they have a sex life.
Ellis: Oh, I know. I've witnessed her. She and John. How old were you? Sixteen?
Meredith: Oh dear lord. (She covers her face.)
Ellis: I caught them in the act. It sure didn't look like the first time. She definitely knew what she was doing.
Lynn: You let your daughter have sex when she was seventeen? Where the hell were you?
Ellis: I had a job. A very important high power job! I didn't just sit around raising children.
Lynn: Oh, that's all I did? It's a full time job. You would know if you'd done it. Meredith did a great job raising herself!
Ellis: And Derek wasn't having sex at that age?
Lynn: Absolutely not!
Ellis: Sure...Meredith is responsible. I just thank God she never got pregnant. She would have never made it with a child riding on her back. (Everyone looks at Ellis with concern.) What?
Meredith: Yeah, boy was I lucky. So, I'm going to get the beef. (She walks in the kitchen, she needs air. Cristina walks in.)
Cristina: You never told your Mom? About the baby?
Meredith: What part of not speaking to her did you not understand? Did you think we had weekly lunch dates?
Cristina: Geez.
Meredith: Let's just get this shit done. (They come back out with the food. The conversation has moved along.)
Burke: This is wonderful! (Everyone agrees.)
Meredith: I'm glad. (Her mood has changed from happy to sullen.)
Burke: So, I heard your stalker has left.
Derek: What? (He raises his voice.) Stalker?
Meredith: It's nothing.
Burke: I would hardly consider a man sneaking into your backyard nothing!
Meredith: You have got to be freaking kidding me! Cristina!
Cristina: What? He heard me talking to you.
Meredith: You were right to try to leave him at home.
Cristina: I told you...
Derek: You told her, but not me? (Everyone is quiet.) Well this explains why I have a bruise the size of Texas on my stomach.
Lynn: What happened?
Derek: Apparently, Mer's old friends Matt had been stalking her. I came in the other day, and she blasted me with the fireplace stoker.
Meredith: I said I was sorry.
Derek: It's not that...And how the fuck did he get in?
Lynn: DEREK! Language...
Meredith: I don't know. I handled it, didn't I?
Derek: We will talk about this later!
Meredith: Fine. I admit it.
Derek: What?
Meredith: Your "Man-Tuition" was right.
Mark: Mantui-what?
Meredith: Man-tuition. Like woman's intuition. Derek was right. He said Matt was trouble. I think this is why we get along so well. (She is trying to lighten the mood.) See, we can have sex, and I can roll over an go to bed. Derek, on the other hand, needs to cuddle and talk. He's the woman, I'm the man. (Everyone laughs.)
Derek: You did not just say that!
Meredith: Oh, I did! Is everyone ready for dessert? (She brings out lemon sorbet. Everyone makes small talk. The men go down to the basement to look at the house plans. The women stay upstairs and look at the wedding plans.)
Lynn: You did great, Meredith.
Meredith: (Carrying dishes.) Thank you.
Izzie: This is so exciting!
Cristina: Oh yeah. (She rolls her eyes.)
Meredith: Oh, Cristina!
Izzie: So what are the plans?
Meredith: The beach at sunset. Tons of candles. Cristina: You are the Maid of Honor.
Cristina: Oh, yay.
Meredith: Fine. Izzie-
Cristina: No, no. It's me! I'm your person.
Everyone continues to drink and look over everything. They were having a good time. Meredith knew that Derek was really upset with her. She knew there was going to be no fun after everyone left. Ellis told everyone how she had planned Meredith's wedding to John. Meredith didn't have any part in it. Meredith gave everyone a tour of the house. Addison completely fell in love with it. Meredith knew no matter what, that Addison and Mark would end up with it. After a couple of hours, everyone said their goodbyes. Meredith was finishing up the dishes when Lynn came in.
Lynn: You look sad...
Meredith: I wish my mom were here.
Lynn: She was.
Meredith: No, Lois.
Lynn: The mother-in-law.
Meredith: Yeah. You know, she would be here. Even if John hadn't died, and we had gotten a divorce, she would have been here supporting me. She knew about Derek. She was the best. I miss her so much...
Lynn: I'm here. If you want me.
Meredith: I appreciate that. I'm going to get some air. (She goes outside. Derek walks up.)
Derek: Where's Meredith?
Lynn: She's outside. (She could tell he was angry.) Derek?
Derek: Yeah.
Lynn: Be easy on her. She is more fragile than you think.
Derek: I know she is. (He walks out to the hammock. She has her eyes closed.) I'm not going to lie.
Meredith: What?
Derek: I'm not going to lie. I'm pissed! But, I know how you are. It's frustrating as hell. You take one step forward, then I turn around, and there you are ten steps behind me.
Meredith: You have enough going on. I didn't want to worry you. Besides, I knew I could handle it.
Derek: You don't always have to be strong you know. (He lays down on the hammock with her. He wraps his arms around her.)
Meredith: I'm learning that...
----------------------
I'm so glad the story alerts and review alerts are back...yay! This chapter was hell to write. Maybe because almost all of the characters were in the same room. I hope it was okay.