DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN GREY'S ANATOMY, I wish I did.
The dinner party was a success. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. The girls gave Meredith tons of input for the wedding. She was starting to feel a little overwhelmed. She thought it would be a lot easier. The flowers, the cake, the dresses. It was all too much to worry about. Especially when you are working one-hundred hour work weeks. Plus it was in Italy and everything had to be shipped or made there. She knew her friends didn't have time to help her. She finally broke down and got ahold of a wedding planner. Her life was going to get much easier. Meredith was walking down the hallway to find Dr. Bailey when her phone rang.
Meredith: Hello?
Sam: Hi Meredith. It's Sam. The attorney.
Meredith: Oh, hi.
Sam: Chris wanted me to let you know that the sentencing is tomorrow.
Meredith: Chris couldn't call me himself?
Sam: After upsetting you, and your friend calling, he didn't think it was best to call you himself.
Meredith: My friend called?
Sam: Yes, um Derek, is that his name?
Meredith: Oh. What time?
Sam: What? I'm not sure-
Meredith: The sentencing.
Sam: Oh, nine.
Meredith: Okay. Thanks for letting me know.
Sam: Have a good day.
Meredith: You too. (She makes her way to Dr. Webber's office.)
Richard: Come in.
Meredith: I need a favor.
Richard: Sit down. Like what?
Meredith: I need to come in late tomorrow. I have a thing.
Richard: A thing... the sentencing?
Meredith: Yeah. (She frowns.)
Richard: No problem. I'll talk to Dr. Bailey about it. I think it will help you. To go, I mean.
Meredith: I don't want to, but I know I need to.
Richard: I had a good time at the dinner. Thanks for including us. Your mother, she's, well you know.
Meredith: Yeah, I do. I'm trying.
Richard: I know it doesn't seem like it, but she is too.
Meredith: I know.
Richard: Now about this wedding...
Meredith: It's crazy, I know.
Richard: You deserve it. That's why I am doing this.
Meredith: Doing what?
Richard: I've talked to Dr. Bailey. She had agreed to let Karev, Stevens, Yang, and O'Malley have four days off. This is a teaching hospital. You interns are students. We can survive without you. Dr. Hahn will be standing in for Dr. Burke. Sloan has pushed his surgeries, and Addison is sending her cases to Dr. Murray. And last but not least is Dr. Torres. So basically the whole hospital will be at your wedding.
Meredith: Oh my gosh! (She is happy, but at the same time overwhelmed. She was expecting that they wouldn't be able to come.) Thank you. Thank you so much.
Richard: You're like a daughter to me.
Meredith: Oh, that reminds me. I wanted to ask you if you would--if you wanted--or could... walk me down the aisle.
Richard: (A huge smile covers his face.) Really? (She nods.) Of course! Yes--I'd be honored!
Meredith: Good. I better get back to work.
Richard: Have a good day. (She walks out. She sees Derek up ahead.)
Meredith: You! (She pointed.)
Derek: Me? (He points at himself.)
Meredith: You called my attorney? What did you say? He was afraid to call me!
Derek: Oh that...It was nothing.
Meredith: Why do you have to be such a man! (She puts her hands on her hips.)
Derek: I thought I was the woman...(He smirks.)
Meredith: Well...
Derek: Last night I was not the woman. Last night I was quite manly if I do say so myself!
Meredith: You. You, and your stupid...boy penis!
Derek: (Laughs, then becomes serious.) Goodbye, doctor.
Meredith: Dr. Shepherd...(She nods and walks off finding Dr. Bailey.)
Bailey: Where have you been?
Meredith: Talking to the Chief.
Bailey: Well we have a bowel resection scheduled. I was getting ready to page you.
Meredith: Sorry.
Bailey: Go prep our patient.
Meredith: Right away.
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Bailey: So, you owe me big time. (She is working on the patient.)
Meredith: For what?
Bailey: For what! I am giving you my interns for four days. You have single handedly taken five interns from me.
Meredith: Your whiney, kiss-ass, surgery hungry, pain-in-the-ass interns?
Bailey: Yes--those. I am a little disappointed.
Meredith: About what?
Bailey: I wasn't invited.
Meredith: You wouldn't have come.
Bailey: Maybe I would. You don't know.
Meredith: Well, consider yourself invited.
Bailey: I can't come.
Meredith: That's what I thought... (She smiles.)
Bailey: Maybe if you weren't taking the whole hospital staff...
Meredith: Twelve people! That's it.
Bailey: Twelve people from the same hospital. A top neurosurgeon, plastic surgeon, cardio thoracic... Do I need to go on?
Meredith: No...
Bailey: Well, enjoy it. Take it all in. It only happens once.
Meredith: Or twice, in my case. (She chuckles.)
Bailey: I think this will be your last. You know how I feel about attendings dating interns. You two just fit. Now enough of this. You are supposed to be learning, not socializing! If you breath a word...
Meredith: What? That the Nazi is human? I won't say anything.
Bailey: I know you won't. And don't think that fact that you will be married to my boss is going to change anything.
Meredith: I don't.
Bailey: Good!
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Meredith tossed and turned in her bed. The blankets were all over. Derek had awoken several times. Each time he would huff, and pull the blankets back over himself. She should tell him. She should. He deserved to know. She knew she was falling into her old trap. Old habits die hard, they say. It was three in the morning. She was tired, but no matter what, sleep wouldn't come. It wasn't Ray. It was Derek. Finally, she caved.
Meredith: Derek. (She whispered.) It's not too late. He didn't hear me. I could just not tell him.
Derek: Yeah? (He moans.)
Meredith: Shit. Nothing.
Derek: Nothing? That's why you've been tossing and turning all night?
Meredith: Fine. The sentencing is tomorrow. Okay. I said it.
Derek: I was wondering if you were going to tell me.
Meredith: You knew?
Derek: Of course. I'm going with you.
Meredith: No, you're not.
Derek: Yes, I am.
Meredith: Why?
Derek: Because you need me.
Meredith: You really don't need to.
Derek: I'm going. Now, goodnight!
Meredith: (Moans.) Fine. (She rolls over and falls right asleep.)
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Derek: You need to eat.
Meredith: I can't. I'm not hungry anyway.
Derek: You really need to eat.
Meredith: Please! I'm fine.
Derek: Okay. (He grabs the paper. She sits, looking out the window. Neither of them talk for a long time. Derek looks at his watch.) We need to go.
Meredith: Yeah... (The ride to the courthouse was silent. He could tell she was on edge. Anyone in her position would be. They go in and sit down.)
Sam: Meredith, I'm glad you came. (He puts out his hand.) Derek.
Meredith: I'm not. (She said sternly. She was now regretting this.)
Sam: (He looks at Derek who nods.) I understand. It should be quick.
Meredith: I cared. I did. But it was just too hard. I couldn't do it.
Sam: I know.
Bailiff: All rise. Court is now in session. The Honorable Judge Hackler, presiding. (He motions for everyone to sit. Meredith quite listening. She couldn't do this. She wanted to run. She would have, had Derek not had his hand on her leg. They brought Ray in. He looked her right in the eyes. A shiver washed over her body.)
Ray's Attorney: My client would like to address Mr. Thompson's family. (The Judge looks at Meredith. She nods.)
Ray: (He turns to her.) Meredith. You will never know how sorry I am. You were completely innocent. It was never you. You did nothing wrong. I turned you from a confident child, to an untrusting, unhappy adult. I know what I did was wrong. I can't change the past. If I could, I would. It was inappropriate and unacceptable. I never meant to hurt you. I had never realized how I had affected you until now. Now that I have looked in your eyes, I know that I've changed the course of your life. If you had never met me, you would have been better off. I don't expect you to forgive me. I don't even deserve it. So please, try to be happy. Try to move on. (He turns, and faces the judge.)
Judge: Mr. Jenson--(Meredith just keeps playing his words, over and over. She quit listening to the judge. Then she heard it.)...25 years in a state penitentiary. (They put hand cuffs on him and walk him out. He looks back at her one time. She could see it in his eyes, for the first time ever. It was compassion. She quickly walks out of the courtroom and to the nearest restroom, and begins to cry. Derek rushes in after her.)
Lady: Sir, are you aware this is the ladies room? (She snaps.)
Derek: Yes. (He points.) She needs me. (The lady leaves.) Meredith. (She doesn't answer. He walks into the next stall and stand on the toilet, looking down.) Hey.
Meredith: Hey.
Derek: I'm here.
Meredith: I know. It was just...intense. He's sorry Derek. (She cries.) He was never supposed to be sorry. It was easier to hate him. And now. Do I have to forgive him? Is it wrong if I do? What if I don't? (She cries. He climbs down and she opens the door. He embraces her.)
Derek: Whatever you need to do it fine. It doesn't matter what's right or wrong. It's about what you need, what makes you better.
Meredith: Let's go home..
Derek: Okay. (They walk out.)
Woman: Excuse me, Mrs. Thompson?
Meredith: Yes?
Woman: I'm Joyce. Ray's daughter. (She was older than Meredith by a few years.) I'm sorry, about what happened. What was my dad talking about. I don't understand.
Meredith: What do you mean?
Joyce: It sounded like you had a past. It sounded like he hurt you. He wasn't talking about the incident---the murder. (She almost whispered.)
Meredith: (Looks at Derek, and back at Joyce.) Your dad dated my mom. We didn't get along. That's all. Have a nice day.
Joyce: (Relief washed over he face.) Oh, good. I was worried. He's not a bad guy...
Derek: Bye. (They walk away and make it to the car.)
Meredith: I couldn't tell her. I couldn't tell her who her father really is.
Derek: I know.
Meredith: I looked at her face. He deserved it. I should of told her. I just couldn't. I couldn't ruin her life, tarnish her father.
Derek: It was big of you.
Meredith: I'm glad you came.
Derek: I will always be here for you. Always.
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This wedding is stressing me out! I think it is going to be very hard to write. It should be coming soon. I am still researching.